A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

2. God forbade familiar conversation with these heathens, that they should not dwell together with his people, nay, not in the land with them, Exod 23. 33. lest one of them being familiar with an Israelite, might call him to a feast, and make him eat of things sacrificed to idols, Exod. 3. 15, Compare this with Jud. 1. 21. Psal 106. 35. Now the Apostle layeth much more restraint upon us, from conversing, eating and drinking with a scandalous Christian, 1 Cor. 5. 11. then with a Pagan or unbeliever, 1 Cor. 1. 27. There is a conversing ⟨p. 175⟩and companying with wicked persons, which is our affliction, not our fault, that is when we cannot be rid of them, do what we can, 1 Cor. 5. 10. which is an argument against separating and departing from a true Church, because of scandalous persons in it. The Apostle gives this check to such, go where they will, they shall find scandalous persons all the world over. There is again a conversing and companying with wicked persons, which natural and civill bonds, or near relations, or our calling tieth us unto, as between husband and wife, Parent and Child, Pastor and People, Magistrate and those of his charge. But wittingly & willingly to converse & have fellowship either with heretical or profane persons, whether it be out of love to them and delight in them, or for our own interest or some worldly benefit this is certainly sinful and inexcusable. If we take care of our bodily safety, by flying the company of such as have the plague, yea if we take care of the safety of our beasts, and would not to our knowledge suffer a scabbed or rotten sheep to infect the rest, shall we not much more take care of our own and neighbours souls, by avoiding and warning others to avoid the fellowship of the ungodly, whereby spiritual infection comes. Remember it was but a kind visit of Jehoshaphat to Ahab which was the occasion of engaging him into a confederacy with that wicked man, 2 Chron. 18. 2▪ 3.