Then & Now · 15 of 44
12. Wicked Company
12. Wicked Company
The twelfth Device that Satan hath292 to draw the ſoule to ſin, is, to affect wicked company, to keep wicked ſociety, and oh! the horrid impieties and wickedneſſes that Satan hath p. 120 drawn men to ſin by working them, to ſit, and aſſociate themſelves with vaine perſons.
- 292. 12. Device. [dropped from the edition]
The twelfth device that Satan hath to draw the soul to sin, is, to affect wicked company, to keep wicked society, and oh! the horrid impieties and wickedness that Satan hath drawn men to sin by working them, to sit, and associate themselves with vain persons.
THe firſt Remedy againſt this device293 of Satan, is, to dwell (till your hearts be affected) upon thoſe commands of God, that doe expreſſely require us, to ſhun the ſociety of the wicked, Epheſ. 5. 11. And have no fellowſhip294 with the unfruit fud works of darkneſſe, but rather reprove them. Prov. 4. 14, 15, 16. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and goe not in the way of evill men. Avoid it, paſſe not by it, turne from it, and paſſe away. 1 Cor. 5. 9, 10, 11. 2 Theſſ. 3. 6. Prov. 1. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. turne to theſe Scriptures, and let your ſoules dwell upon them, till a holy indignation be raiſed in your ſoules, againſt fellowſhip with vaine men. God will not take the wicked by the hand, as Job ſpeaks, why then ſhould you? Gods commands are not like thoſe that are eaſily reverſed; but they are like thoſe of the Medes, that cannot be changed; if theſe commands be not p. 121 now obſerved by thee, they will at laſt be witneſſes againſt thee, and milſtones to ſinke thee, in that day, that Chriſt ſhall judge thee.
The first remedy against this device of Satan, is, to dwell (till your hearts be affected) upon those commands of God, that do expressly require us, to shun the society of the wicked, Eph 5:‸11. And have no fellowship223 with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Prov‸ 4:‸14, 15, 16. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 1 Cor‸ 5:‸9, 10, 11. 2 Thess‸ 3:‸6. Prov‸ 1:‸10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Turn to these Scriptures, and let your souls dwell upon them, till a holy indignation be raised in your souls, against fellowship with vain men. God will not take the wicked by the hand, as Job speaks, why then should you? God’s commands are not like those that are easily reversed; but they are like those of the Medes, that cannot be changed; if these commands be not now observed by thee, they will at last be witnesses against thee, and millstones to sink thee, in that day, that Christ shall judge thee.
- 223. Non parentum aut majorum authoritas sed Dei docentis imperium, Jerome. The commands of God must out-weigh all authority, and example of men.
The ſecond Remedy againſt this device295 of Satan, is, ſeriouſly to conſider, that their company is very infectious,296 and dangerous, as is cleare from the Scriptures above mentioned. Ah! how many have loſt their names, and loſt their eſtates, and ſtrength, and God, and Heaven, and ſoules, by ſociety with wicked men? As ye ſhun a ſtinking carcaſe; as the Sea-man ſhuns ſands, and rocks, and ſhelves; As ye ſhun thoſe, that have the plague-ſore running upon them: ſo ſhould you ſhun the ſociety of wicked men. As weeds endanger the corne, as bad humors endanger the blood, or as an infected houſe the neighbourhood: ſo doth wicked company the ſoule. Bias a heathen man, being at Sea in a great ſtorme, and perceiving many wicked men with him in the ſhip, calling upon the Gods; oh ſaith he, forbear prayer, hold your tongues, I would not have the Gods take notice that you are here, they will ſure drowne us all; if they ſhould. Ah ſirs! could a heathen297 ſee ſo much danger in the ſociety of wicked men, and can you ſee none?
- 295. 2. Remedy. [dropped from the edition]
- 296. Euſebius reports of John the Evangeliſt, that he would not ſuffer Cerinthus the heretick, in the ſame bath him, left ſome judgement ſhould abide them both. Euſeb. lib. 3. cap. 25. A man that keepeth ill company, is like him that walketh in the Sun, tanned inſenſibly.
- 297. Prov. 13. 20. v.
The second remedy against this device of Satan, is, seriously to consider, that their company is very infectious,224 and dangerous, as is clear from the Scriptures above mentioned. Ah! how many have lost their names, and lost their estates, and strength, and God, and heaven, and souls, by society with wicked men? As ye shun a stinking carcase; as the Sea-man shuns sands, and rocks, and shelves; As ye shun those, that have the plague-sore running upon them: so should you shun the society of wicked men. As weeds endanger the corn, as bad humours endanger the blood, or as an infected house the neighbourhood: so doth wicked company the soul. Bias a heathen man, being at Sea in a great storm, and perceiving many wicked men with him in the ship, calling upon the Gods; oh saith he, forbear prayer, hold your tongues, I would not have the Gods take notice that you are here, they will sure drown us all, if they should. Ah sirs! Could a heathen225 see so much danger in the society of wicked men, and can you see none?
The third Remedy againſt this device298 of Satan, is, to looke alwayes upon wicked men, under thoſe names and notions, that the Scripture ſets them out under. The Scripture calls them Lions for their fierceneſſe, and Beares for their cruelty, and Dragons for their hideouſneſſe, and Dogs for their filthineſſe, and Wolves for their ſubtilneſſe. The Scripture ſtiles them Scorpions, Vipers, Thornes, Briars, Thiſtles, Brambles, ſtubble, dirt, chaffe, duſt, droſſe, ſmoke, ſcumme; as you may ſee in the margent. ‘Tis not ſafe to look upon wicked men, under thoſe names, and notions, that they ſet out themſelves by, or that flatterers ſets them out by; this may delude the ſoul; but the looking upon them under thoſe names, and notions, that the Scripture ſets out by, may preſerve the ſoule from frequenting their company, and delighting in their ſociety. Doe not tell me what this man calls them, or how ſuch and ſuch count them; but tell me, how doth the Scripture call them? how doth the Scripture count them. As Naballs name was, ſo was his nature; and as wicked mens names are, ſo are their natures; you may know well enough what is within them, by the apt names that the Holy Ghoſt hath given them.
- 298. 3. Remedie. 2 Tim. 4. 17. Iſa. 11. 7. 29. Ezek. 3. 10. Mat. 16. 9. Revel. 3. 5. 10. Mat. 3. 7. Iſa 10. 17. 27. ch 4. 55. 13. Ezek 26. Judg. 9. 14. Job 21. 18. Pſal. 18. 42. Pſa. 14. 18. Pſa. 42. Ezek. 22. 18, 19. 65. Eſa. 5. Ezek 24. 6. Lactantius ſaith of Lucian (nec diis, nec hominibus pepercit) he ſpared neither God, nor man; ſuch monſters are wicked men, which ſhould render their company to all that have taſted of the ſweetneſſe of divine love, a burden and not a delight.
The third remedy against this device226 of Satan, is, to look always upon wicked men, under those names and notions, that the Scripture sets them out under. The Scripture calls them lions for their fierceness, and Bears for their cruelty, and dragons for their hideousness, and Dogs for their filthiness, and Wolves for their subtilness. The Scripture styles them Scorpions, vipers, Thorns, Briars, Thistles, Brambles, stubble, dirt, chaff, dust, dross, smoke, scum; as you may see in the margent. ’Tis not safe to look upon wicked men, under those names, and notions, that they set out themselves by, or that flatterers set them out by; this may delude the soul; but the looking upon them under those names, and notions, that the Scripture sets them out by, may preserve the soul from frequenting their company, and delighting in their society. Do not tell me what this man calls them, or how such and such count them; but tell me, how doth the Scripture call them? How doth the Scripture count them? As Nabal’s name was, so was his nature; and as wicked men’s names are, so are their natures; you may know well enough what is within them, by the apt names that the Holy Ghost hath given them.
- 226. ‸ 2 Tim‸ 4:‸17. Isa‸ 11:‸7. Ezek 29:‸3. Matt 10:16. Rev 9:3, 5, 10. Matt 3:‸7. Isa 10:‸17; 27:‸4; 55:‸13. Ezek 2:6. Judg‸ 9:‸14. Job 21:‸18. Ps 18:‸42. Ps 1:4. Ps 18:‸42. Ezek‸ 22:‸18, 19. Isa 65:‸5. Ezek 24:‸6. Lactantius saith of Lucian (nec diis, nec hominibus pepercit) he spared neither God, nor man; such monsters are wicked men, which should render their company to all that have tasted of the sweetness of divine love, a burden and not a delight.
The fourth and laſt Remedy againſt299 this device of Satan, is, to conſider, that the ſocietie and company of wicked men, have been a great griefe and burden, to thoſe precious ſoules, that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven. Pſal. 120. ver. 5, 6. Woe is mee that I dwell in Meſech; that I ſojourne in the tents of Kedar. My ſoule hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. So Jeremiah, Oh that I had in the wilderneſſe a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and goe from them; for they be all adulterers, an aſſembly of treacherous men, Jer. 9. ver. 2. So they vexed Lots300 righteous ſoule by their filthy converſation; they made his life a burden, they made death more deſirable to him then life; yea, they made his life a lingering death. Guilt, or grief is all the good, ſoules get by converſing with wicked men.
The fourth and last remedy against227 this device of Satan, is, to consider, that the society and company of wicked men, have been a great grief and burden, to those precious souls, that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven. Ps 120:‸5, 6. Woe is me that I dwell in Mesech; that I sojourn in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. So Jeremiah, Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people, and go from them; for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men, Jer‸ 9:‸2. So they vexed Lot’s228 righteous soul by their filthy conversation; they made his life a burden, they made death more desirable to him than life; yea, they made his life a lingering death. Guilt, or grief is all the good gracious souls get by conversing with wicked men.