1I cannot for my life so carry my self, but I shall sometimes fall amongst wicked men. Whilst I am amongst them I endanger my soul, either by complying with, or conniving at them in their evil actions. There is no safety in evil society. Such Pitch is apt to defile my conscience; Who can expect to come off without loss from such Cheats and Jugglers? It is the peevish industry of wickedness to find or make a fellow. Besides, they are Children of the world, whose friendship is enmity against my God; they are Children of disobedience, therefore contrary to my new nature, and so must needs be uncomfortable to me; Children of the Devil, therefore Traitors against Christ, and so abominable to my God. I cannot be certain, not to meet with evil companions, but I will be careful not to be their consorts. I would willingly sort my self with such as should either teach me virtue, or learn of me to avoid vice. And if my Companion cannot make me better, nor I him good, let me rather leave him ill, then he should make we worse. Though if I depart from •hem, the world will judge me proud, yet should I stay with them needlessly, my God would count me profane; and is it not better that men accuse me falsely, then God condemn me justly? What need I care what men think, so God approve! Tis to his judgement ⟨p. 231⟩that I must stand or fall for ever. It is likely that those who cannot defile my conscience, will injure my credit, and publish to their fellows that I am a precise fool; But this is my comfort, there is a time coming, when innocency will cause the greatest boldness; and freedom from sin, will do me more service, and be infinitely more worth, then the highest renown that ever mortal acquired. Lord, thy people in this world, are as Lilies among Thorns; The Canaanites of the Land, are Thorns in the eyes, and Pricks in the sides of thy true Israelites. Woe is me that I dwell in Meshech, and my habitation is in the Tents of Kedar; My soul hath long dwelt with them that hate peace. They like not me, because I am not like to them, and count my Company not good, because it is not bad, and I dare not sin with them. They are mine enemies, because I follow the thing that good is! O how black are their tongues with railing, and their hearts with rage, against them who dare not provoke thee as much as themselves!
1I cannot for my life so carry my self, but I shall sometimes fall amongst wicked men. Whilst I am amongst them I endanger my soul, either by complying with, or conniving at them in their evil actions. There is no safety in evil society. Such Pitch is apt to defile my conscience; Who can expect to come off without loss from such Cheats and Juglers? It is the peevish industry of wickedness to find or make a fellow. Besides, they are Children of the world, whose friendship is enmity against my God; they are Children of disobedience, therefore contrary to my new nature, and so must needs be uncomfortable to me; Children of the Devil, therefore Traytors against Christ, and so abominable to my God. I cannot be certain, not to meet with evil companions, but I will be careful not to be their consorts. I would willingly sort my self with such as should either teach me vertue, or learn of me to avoid vice. And if my Companion cannot make me better, nor I him good, let me rather leave him ill, then he should make we worse. Though if I depart from •hem, the world will judge me proud, yet should I stay with them needlesly, my God would count me prophane; and is it not better that men accuse me falsly, then God condemne me justly? What need I care what men think, so God approve! Tis to his judgement ⟨p. 231⟩that I must stand or fall for ever. It is likely that those who cannot defile my conscience, will injure my credit, and publish to their fellows that I am a precise fool; But this is my comfort, there is a time coming, when innocency will cause the greatest boldness; and freedom from sin, will do me more service, and be infinitely more worth, then the highest renown that ever mortal acquired. Lord, thy people in this world, are as Lillies among Thorns; The Canaanites of the Land, are Thornes in the eyes, and Pricks in the sides of thy true Israelites. Wo is me that I dwell in Meshech, and my habitation is in the Tents of Kedar; My soul hath long dwelt with them that hate peace. They like not me, because I am not like to them, and count my Company not good, because it is not bad, and I dare not sin with them. They are mine enemies, because I follow the thing that good is! O how black are their tongues with railing, and their hearts with rage, against them who dare not provoke thee as much as themselves!
- 1Conclusion.
