Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness

therefore if the Lord help thee to break through that spare of the fowler, there is great hope, that thou shalt escape with the life of thy soul, and be delivered from those snares of death and hell, which Satan seeks to take thee alive in.

4. Sinful Company-keeping will be bitterness in the latter and.

It may be in his life. Many a foolish creature, hath been through: to great poverty, shame and misery by this means. His Estate wasted, his Credit lost, his •ealth impaired, his Friends and Relations (as well as himself) brought into disgrace; and all by his following the company of vain persons. To this purpose doth the Scripture speak, Prov. 28. 7. He that is a companion of riotous men, shameth his Father: and in verse 19. it is said, He that followeth after vain persons, that have poverty enough. And the dismal experience of multitudes doth sadly confirm the Truth hereof. How few are there, amongst those that by Debaucheries have been brought from a flourishing ⟨p. 183⟩state into a condition most wretch […] and rueful, (and many such instances these lose sinful days have afforded) but if they be asked the reason, will tell you, it was evil Company that did it? Or, however, this sin is like to prove bitter, upon a Death bed. Oh! that young men would consider of it, and hearken to the Word of the Lord this day. Shall I tell you what some young men in this place, have said upon death-beds: when they have felt their Souls going out of their bodies, and launching into the infinite Ocean of Eternity. There have been some, that when I have seen them dying, and in great anguish of spirit, I have enquired of them what sin it was that die then most of all trouble them; and the Answer hath been, with a bitter and a doleful ery, O that sin of Company keeping! That's the evil that most of […] troubleth me now I am dying; that's it that hath do […] many other sins, whereby my Soul hath been ruined. Young men, think of it, and let it make you tremble to fall into bad company. And know you for certain, that without Repentance, your Company-keeping, will be bitterness after death for ever. For they that have been Companions in sinning in this World are like to be Companions in suffering, in another World for ever. Was it not said to Jezebel, I will cast her into a bed, and th that commit adultery with her, into great tribulation,