Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

When a man declineth familiar society with all ungodly men, then he may be said, not to sit with vain persons. Thus it was with David, he would not make such his Familiars, or companions. Therefore in another place, he saith, I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts, Psal. 1 19. 63. Not vain Persons, but the fearers of God, were the men that he would be familiar with. And when the Prophet Jeremiah, saith, I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, chap. 15. ver. 17. his meaning is, that he had not familiarity with such as those were. If a Professor of Religion, shall make a vain person the man of his counsel, or enter into a league of special friendship, with such an one, he doth exceedingly sin against God. It is noted in the Scripture, as Jehoshaphats great failing, that he was too intimate with Ahab, for which the ⟨p. 165⟩Prophet Jekn, did faithfully reprove him, And the Lord did sorely afflict him for it, by his providence so ordering, as that Jehoshaphats ••e was endangered, because he had sat with so vain and vile a person as Akab. more then he should have done; & besides that, the Lord to show his displeasure, let loose many Enemies upon him, whereby he and the whole Kingdom was brought into distress. And when he became guilty of the same error again by joining himself with Ahaziah the King of Israel, who did very wickedly. Eliezer prophesied against him, that blasting strokes of God would follow him, for that very sin; and so it came to pass, 2 Chron. 20. 36, 37. To be occasionally civil and courteous unto a wicked man may be both lawful and laudable, but to be Familiar with him, or to make a companion of him, is always sinful, and good is never wont to come of it.

When a man declineth familiar society with all ungodly men, then he may be said, not to sit with vain persons. Thus it was with David, he would not make such his Familiars, or companions. Therefore in another place, he saith, I am accompanion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Percepts, Psal. 1 19. 63. Not vain Persons, but the fearers of God, were the men that he would be familiar with. And when the Prophet Jeremy, saith, I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, chap. 15. ver. 17. his meaning is, that he had not familiarity with such as those were. If a Professor of Religion, shall make a vain person the man of his counsil, or enter into adeague of special friendship, with such an one, he doth exceedingly sin against God. It is noted in the Scripture, as Jehoshaphats great failing, that he was too intimate with Ahab, for which the