VIII. Be much in the company of the godly, walk with them who walk with God. He that walketh with the wise, shall be more wise: he that walketh with the humble, shall be more humble: he that walketh with the holy, shall learn holiness. As there is no greater hinderance to the work of Christ, than the society of the wicked; So there is no greater furtherance to it, than the society of those who fear God. For there is none will be so ready to pity and compassionate you, to counsel and direct you in the way to Heaven, as these: none so ready to provoke and egg you on unto godliness, to encourage and cheer you up when you do well, and to reprove you when you do amiss, as these: none so ready to communicate their experiences to you, O come, say they, and we will tell you what the Lord hath done for our souls. So that in the company of the godly there is much good to be got; they being like Lanterns which disperse their light round about. If thou beest much in their company, thou ⟨p. 130⟩shalt hear much of God, much of Christ, and much of Heaven: they use to be talking much of the riches of that Country, and the glory of that holy City, whether they are travelling. They will be opening to you the excellency of Jesus Christ, the riches of his love, the all-sufficiency of his Sacrifice, his willingness to receive all poor sinners, who will go unto him, and adventure their souls upon him. And who knoweth how much their discourse may warm thine heart, and raise up thy desires after Christ. Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian, whilst he was talking with St. Paul. And the Eunuch was not only almost, but altogether persuaded, whilst he was conversing with Philip. As therefore thou desirest to further the work of grace begun in thy soul, be much in the company of those who are gracious; who will be exceedingly helpful to thee therein, as by their prayers, so by their counsel and good example. For their lives tell thee what it is to walk in the Spirit, what to mortify the flesh, and to live abo•e all the alluring vanities of the world.
VIII. Be much in the company of the godly, walk with them who walk with God. He that walketh with the wise, shall be more wise: he that walketh with the humble, shall be more humble: he that walketh with the holy, shall learn holiness. As there is no greater hinderance to the work of Christ, than the society of the wicked; So there is no greater furtherance to it, than the society of those who fear God. For there is none will be so ready to pitty and compassionate you, to counsel and direct you in the way to Heaven, as these: none so ready to provoke and egg you on unto godliness, to encourage and cheer you up when you do well, and to reprove you when you do amiss, as these: none so ready to communicate their experiences to you, O come, say they, and we will tell you what the Lord hath done for our souls. So that in the company of the godly there is much good to be got; they being like Lanthorns which disperse their light round about. If thou beest much in their company, thou ⟨p. 130⟩shalt hear much of God, much of Christ, and much of Heaven: they use to be talking much of the riches of that Countrey, and the glory of that holy City, whether they are travelling. They will be opening to you the excellency of Jesus Christ, the riches of his love, the all-sufficiency of his Sacrifice, his willingness to receive all poor sinners, who will go unto him, and adventure their souls upon him. And who knoweth how much their discourse may warm thine heart, and raise up thy desires after Christ. Agrippa was almost perswaded to be a Christian, whilest he was talking with St. Paul. And the Ennuch was not only almost, but altogether perswaded, whilest he was conversing with Philip. As therefore thou desirest to further the work of grace begun in thy soul, be much in the company of those who are gracious; who will be exceedingly helpfull to thee therein, as by their prayers, so by their counsel and good example. For their lives tell thee what it is to walk in the Spirit, what to mortifie the flesh, and to live abo•e all the alluring va•ities of the world.
