A35535:2275
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…
An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the book of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus near the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and the thirty fourth chapters of the booke of Job being the substance of forty-nine lectures / delivered at Magnus neare the Bridge, London, by Joseph Caryl ...
London: printed by M. Simmons, 1661
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Note first.
To associate with wicked men, or to choose wicked men for our company, is the mark of a wicked man.
To associate with wicked men, or to chuse wicked men for our company, is the mark of a wicked man.
A godly man may be among wicked men, but he doth not choose their company. He while with them is as Lot was in Sodom, his righteous soul is vexed. A godly man is among wicked men, as his graces are among his corruptions; as his humility is with his pride, his faith with his unbelief, these are all in his soul at once, but his faith doth always strive against his unbelief, his humility opposeth his pride, his grace of self-denial, resists his self-seeking, his meekness his passions, and his patience the unquietness of spirit. A godly man is pained in the company of wicked men, as David was (Psal: 120.5.) Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech, and dwell in the tents of Kedar. David was there but he did not delight to be there. To associate with the wicked is proper to the wicked. The Apostle gives that caution (Eph: 5.11.) Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Seeing the works of darkness are unfruitful of any good, it must needs be bad to have fellowship with them. As we must not at all join with wicked men in spiritual communion or Church-fellowship (2 Cor: 6.14.) Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what communion hath light with darkness, and Christ with Belial, &c. Come out from among them, and touch no unclean thing. So we should have as little civill communion or fellowship with them as we can; and when we are necessitated to have civill communion with them, we must utterly avoid all sinful communion with them, that is, communion with them in their sins. It is both a shame to Gospel profession and a great offence to the sincere professors of the Gospel, when they who profess it are much in the company of the workers of iniquity, and walk with wicked men.