Asse that feares he is not loved unlesse he be lose and scattering that strives so to be like a god in bounty that he throwes himselfe into the lowest estate of man He that gives to and spends upon all abundantly which is for none to doe but him that hath all he that had rather keepe company with the dregs of men then not be the best man he that ravells out a spacious fortune upon flatterers he that out of vaine glory will be worship't and kneed to the spending of a faire inheritance and then ends his dayes in lewdnesse and contempt as what is it that ambition will not practise rather then let her port decline he is a foolish Steward that thus showers away in one yeare what his ancestors have beene gathering twenty yea he is a mad man that makes his kindnesse to others prove cruelty to himselfe and all his posterity Ob. Againe others are all for mirth they keepe company at the Taverne with none but curious and quaint wits eloquent Poets and Orators now aske them as Manoah did Sampson Is there never a companion for thee among thy Brethren the people of God that thou must associate thy selfe with these of uncircumcised hearts and tongues They will answer Give me only these for my companions for they please me Answ Can none please thee but such as displease God dost thou not know that who so will be a friend to such makes himselfe the enemy of God Iames 4.4 or art thou ignorant that pleasant wits viciated in accustomed lewdnesse with sweete tunes entise men to destruction as is morald in that fiction of the Sirens they delight the sense but slay the soule and will any man poyson his body to please his taste or goe into an infected house to fetch out a rich suite or put his finger into a firie Crusible to take out gold It 's true like Iugglers and such as play trickes of Legerdimaine they will deceive us with a kinde of pleasure and delight but is it any priviledge for a man to be tickled to death that so he may dye laughing Their discourse may be resembled to the fruite that undid us all which was faire in sight smooth in handling sweet in taste but deadly in effect or to the Clarian water which made men eloquent but withall short liv'd or the gifts which those Elfes called Lamiae used to present unto children which made so many as accepted of them loose their comlinesse for ever after And he that much affects their company being an honest man is just like that free Citizen that so doted on a female slave that he would needs marry her though by that match he were sure by the Law to become a slave with her He overvalues the drunken and reeling love of these men that buyes it with the ruine of himselfe his estate and family Wherfore as in Meates we doe not only stand upon pleasantnesse but wholesomenesse so let us regard wholesomenesse as well as pleasantnesse in our discourse and company A good man can lend nothing to the increase of mirth in wicked company and he that will not lend let him take heede of borrowing And so much for defence against what they doe which may be avoided If you would have as much against what they say which must be endured Reade a late Treatise called THE VICTORY OF PATIENCE In the meane time thinke what account you shall give of that you have read FINIS THE TABLE A ADmonition admonitions and corrections the chiefe offices of friendship 826. no admonishing a drunkard 52. he is incapable of good counsell 106. drunkards and swearers contemne it 98. admonition to sellers of drinke Officers c. 711. Adultery looke drunkennesse Agents some for Christ some for Sathan 714. Sathans agents have many advantages above Gods servants in winning soules 714. and keeping 727. and improving them 734. Aggravation the drunkards sin aggravated by eleven circumstances 465. Atheisme drunkards and al vicious men Atheists in heart 229. 558. 590. B BElieve drunkards will believe nothing except their senses say Amen to it 623. they have no faith in the Scriptures 229. few men believe the whole written Word 590. they seeme to believe the promises but really and indeed believe no part 558. Bitter why so bitter and tart 9. Blessings no blessings without God blesse them to us 658. C CEnsure 347. of it foure reasons 349. Chide them sharply when they pray for them heartily 848. Children wel born children are touched to the quick with the injuries of their parents 824. wicked men children of the divel and partake of his nature 407. those whom they hate traduce c. children of God and partake of his nature 407. each must do the works of their father 402. Combine wicked men combine against the godly 391. and lay divellish plots to destroy them ibid. Company evill a maine cause of drunkennesse 286. exhortation to avoid evill company 856. and keepe good company 858. that it is lawful to shun their company and how 776. five reasons why 781. 1 that they may look into themselves 782. 2 that we may not be infected by them 787. 3 that we may not be infeoffed in their punishments 805. 4 because their company wil bereave us of much comfort 811. 5 that we may be at peace 821 many objections about leaving their society answered 796. excuses for keeping company taken away 860. drunkards would have our company in sinne 382. and likewise in torment 436. they think it will be some ease to have company 448. but it will prove contrary 449 Confident why worldlings are so jocund and confident 109. Consideration want of it the cause of all impiety 490. Consciences of wicked men will be awakned when perhaps the gate of mercy will be shut 488. Constancy and inconstancy 840. change in the vicious as rare a vertue as constancy in the vertuous ibid. Contempt of religion the greatest rub in the way to heaven 532 Corruption will mix with our purest devotions 574. Covenant that we will forsake the divel and all his works constantly believe c. one part of the covenant of grace â—64 Covetousnesse a cause of drunkennesse 275. covetous men fooles 613. in 6. main particulars made good 621 Cowardlinesse one speciall cause of drunkennesse 282. it will not suffer a man to doe well 749. but this is base blood 753. a coward pot-valiant will kill and slay 48. Counsell we should go to counsell and advise with others 668. wicked men give divellish counsell to others against the godly 392. Custome of sin takes away the sense of sin 427. D DEath as men live so commonly they dye 236. defering repentance til death 579. death may be sudden and give a man no leave to be sicke 580. or if it be not repentance is no easie work 581. and late repentance is seldome true ibid. death in a good cause shall pleasure not hurt us 769. which hath made many preferre it before profit pleasure
many who inquire not into the reason of ought but the practice and judge of truth not by weight or value of voices but by the number But what sayes the Proverbe of bad customes bad opinions and bad servants They are better to hang then to keepe I confesse where the Law written doth faile we ought to observe what is approved by manners and custome but though in this case custome be of great authority yet it never brings prejudice to a manifest verity and there are other cases wherein singularity is not lawfull only but laudable when vice groweth into fashion singularity is a vertue when sanctity is counted singularity happy is he that goeth alone and resolves to be an Example to others and when either evill is to be done or good to be neglected how much better is it to goe the right way alone then to erre with company Yea most happy is he that can stand upright when the world declines and can endeavour to repaire the common ruine with a constancy in goodnesse that can resolve with Ioshuah what ever the world doth yet I and my house will serve the Lord Iosh 24.15 It was Noah's happinesse in the old world that he followed not the worlds fashions he beleeved alone when all the world contested against him and he was saved alone when all the world perished without him It was Lot's happinesse that he followed not the fashions of Sodom It was Abraham's happinesse that he did not like the Chaldeans Daniel's happinesse that he did not like the Babylonians It was good for Iob that he was singular in the land of Vzz good for Tobias that he was singular in Ninive good for Annanias that he was singular in Damasco good for Nichodemus that he was singular among the Rulers as now they all finde to their great comfort and exceeding great reward Yea it was happy for Ruben that he was opposite to all his brethren happy for Caleb and Ioshua that they were opposite to the rest of the spyes happy for the Iewes that their customes were divers and contrary to all other people though Haman was pleased to make it their great and heynous crime Ester 3.8 happy for Luther that he was opposite to the rest of his country And no lesse happy shall wee bee if with the Deere we can feed against the winde of popular applause if with the Sturgion and Crab-fish we can swimme against the streame of custome and example if with Atticus we can cleave to the right though losing side or if we doe not we shall misse of the narrow way and consequently faile of entring in at the straite Gate for the greatest part shuts out God upon earth and is excluded from God elsewhere Math. 7.13 14. But the graciously prudent will in things not indifferent rather doe well alone then let it alone and thinke it no disparagement to be singular among the vicious yea they know if the cause be good the more stiffe and constant the mind is so much the better If Jesus Christ and his twelve Apostles be of their side they care not though Herod and Pontius Pilate and all the Rulers and the whole nation of the Iewes together with a world of the Roman faction be against them And indeed if thou wert not a foole thou wouldest thinke it better to be in the small number of Christs little flocke which are to be saved then in the numerous heards of those Goates which are destinated to destruction And so your excuses are taken away and all proved vaine coverings even no better then Fig-leaves which though they may seeme to cover thy nakednesse from such as thy selfe yet they will stand thee in no steede another day Wherfore drink not without thirst here that you may not thirst without drink herafter Lu. 16.24.25 Play not the foole as Lysimachus did who being in battell against the Scythians for the satisfying of his appetite onely and to procure a little drinke to quench his thirst gave himselfe over into his enemies hands and when he had drunke his fill and was haled and leading away captive into perpetuall misery while he saw his countrimen returne home with joy began to acknowledge his folly in these words O said he for how little pleasure what great liberty what sweet felicity have I lost and forgone Yea turne your laughter into sorrow your feasting into fasting be revenged of your selves of your lusts and meete your God and make your peace while now we call and you heare yea the Lord of his mercy awaken men out of the dead sleepe of this sinne that so seeing their danger they may be brought to confesse and forsake it that so they may be saved Pro. 28.13 § 56. BUt what doe I admonishing That drunkards have no faith in the Scriptures or speaking sence to a drunkard this is to make him turne the deafe eare and a stone is as capable of good counsell as hee besides they have no faith in the Scriptures they will not beleeve what is written therefore they shall feele what is written Wherefore politicall physicke the fittest for them In the meane time it were very fit if it pleased Authority they were debarred both of the blood of the Grape and the spirit of Barley a just punishment for consuming the countries fat for even cleere rocke water were good enough for such Gormundizers except we had the water of Clitorius a Well in the midst of Arcadia which causeth the drinker of it to loath wine for ever after I doe not wish them stoned to death as God commanded such ryoters and drunkards to be under the Law Deut. 21.20.21 nor banished the land as the Romans did all vicious and voluptuous persons that the rest might not be endangered and Lycurgus all inventers of new fashions least these things should effeminate all their young men for then I thinke the land would be much unpeopled Indeed I could wish there were Pest-houses provided for them in all places as there are for infected persons or that they were put by themselves in some City if any were big enough to receive them all as Philip King of Macedon built a city of purpose and peopled it with the most wicked gracelesse and irregular persons of all his subjects and having so done called it Poneropolis that is the City of wicked persons And certainely if it were considered how many Brokers of villany which live onely upon the spoyles of young hopes every populous place affords whose very acquaintance is destruction the like meanes of prevention would be thought profitable for our times Yea this were marvelously expedient considering the little good they doe being as so many loose teeth in the Mandible of the Common-wealth which were better out then in and the great hurt by their ill examples by devouring the good creatures of God which they never sweat for by disturbing the peace of the Church and Common-wealth by pulling downe heauy judgments upon the land and
unto them both here in respect of our consciences and hereafter in respect of our soules As I have read of a Christian that to save his life turned Turke but this could not save him for they presently in derision hanged him up vvith these vvords Morieris in fide Turca hovvever thou livest thou shalt dye a Turke § 102. ANd so you have the drunkards heart and tongue delineated 2. There malice and envie would breake out at their hands if they were not manacled by the Law and therein vvhat they doe to us in case vve vvill not runne with them to the same excesse of ryot Novv see vvith the like patience vvhat they vvould doe in case the Lavv restrained them not and hovv the malice and envie of their hearts would break forth at their hands for having done all this and not finding the issue to answer their expectation viz. that they cannot discourage us but that we still perfevere and hold out in our peremptory course of well doing and will not reconcile our selves unto them nor the world doe they what they can they would proceed further if they durst and might bee allowed by the Law as First they would combine together and lay divellish plots to destroy us First they would combine themselves together and cunningly undermine us 1 Samuel 18.17.21.25 Ieremiah 18.18 Acts 6.9.10 yea lay divellish plots to destroy us Daniel 6. Exodus 1.9.10 Psalme 83.3 4 5. Acts 4.26 27. and 19. Chap. and 23.10 14. Secondly 2 They would deliver us up unto the Magistrat they would deliver us up and falsely accuse us to the Magistrates 1 Sam. 22.9.10 and 23.19.20 and 26. 1. Acts 6.8 to 15. and 24.13 Thirdly 3 Give devilish counsell against us cause us to be imprisoned they would perswade and give devilish counsell to them against us Rev. 2.14 Ier. 38.4 Act. 17.13 and never leave untill they had in the fourth place shut us up in Prison 1 Kings 22.27 Ier. 36.5 and 15.10 Luk. 21.12 Acts 5.18 and 12.4 and 4.3 and 22.25 and 28.17 2 Cor. 11.23 and in case we would not yet yeeld to associate them in evill doing nor conforme to their lewd and wicked customes then would they give us bodily correction as First 4 strike us they would strike us 1 Kings 22.24 Ier. 20.2 and 37.15 Acts 23.2 2 Cor. 11.23.24.25 Secondly 5 hurt and maime us they would hurt and mayme us Numb 14.10 Iudges 16.21 Acts 14.19 Thirdly Lastly drunkards would kill us for being forefractory if all this would not doe in the last place these drunkards and vicious livers would kill us for being so refractory they would make us either bow or breake they would kill our bodies if they could not corrupt our soules if we would not part with our innocency we should part with our lives as it fared with the three children that were put into the fiery furnace because they would not worship the golden Image as others did Dan 3. and all the Prophets of the Lord whom Iezabel slew because she could not bring them to her owne bow 1 King 18.4 and those numberlesse Martyrs whose soules St. Iohn saw under the Altar Rev. 6. which were killed because they would not doe and say as the rest yea even for the word of God and for the testimony which they maintained ve 9. And why fares it not so with us why doe not the same drunkards vicious liveers and other enemies of holinesse which now enuy hate censure scoffe at nicke-name raile on and slander us even strike maime and kill us but because their hands are tyed by the Law I dare say it fares with many of them because they cannot have their wills as it did with Achilles who is feigned to eate his owne heart because he might not be suffered to fight Why are not our Sanctuaries turned into Shambles and our beds made to swim with our bloods long before this but that the God of Israel hath crossed the confederacy of Balack It is no thank to wicked men that their wickednesse doth not prosper the world would soone be over-runne with evills if men might be so ill as they would Alasse if our Gracious King and State did not maintaine true Religion and countenance the same it would be otherwise then it is with the people of God as the Word of God and former experience witnesseth § 103. 1 First The same prooved by Scripture the word of God witnesseth the same as looke but Rev. 13. and you shall find it foretold by the Holy-Ghost that so many should be killed as would not worship and give honour to the Image of the Beast that man of sin that man of pride that opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called god or that is worshipped 2 Thes 2.4 and our Saviour foretelleth that we shall not onely be hated of all men and Nations for his names sake but be killed and put to death Mat. 24.9 Yea he affirmeth expressely that we should not onely receive this hard measure from strangers and enemies onely but from our deerest and neerest friends that the Brother should betray the Brother to death the Father the Sonne and that children should rise up against their Parents and cause them to dye even for his names sake Math. 10.21.22 meaning when they are not restrained by godly Kings and their wholesome Lawes Neither doe we want examples to make good these testimonies for by whom was upright Abel persecuted and flaine but by his owne Brother Caine Who scoffed at righteous Noah but his owne Sonne Cham By whom was that vertuous and religious Lady Barbara put to death for embracing the Christian faith but by her owne Father Dioscorus And lastly by whom was our Saviour Christ betrayed but by his owne Disciple Iudas 2 But to goe on experience 2 By experience of former ages as well as the Scripture proves it In the time of the tenne persecutions it was no more then sacrifice or dye In the time of Queene Mary the Martyrs must either deny their faith disclaime their pure Religion and service of God worship that bloody whore of Rome according to her damnable traditions or be chained to a stake and burnt either part with their faithes or part with their lives if they would not obey them rather then God they had a Law by which men ought to dye Yea at this present although we blessed be God and our Gracious Protector for it endure little but the lash of evill tongues which is the most favourable persecution yet in Spaine and other places our brethren doe groane under a mercilesse Inquisition Oh the quintessence of cruelty that they have wrung out unto them the rehearsall whereof would make a mans eares to tingle and his heart to tremble For as in the time of the ten persecutions it would cost a man his life to professe himselfe a Christian the Heathen Emperors making it death by their Edicts and as
themselves and to plot selfe-Treason then which there is no greater when the betrayer and betrayed spell but one man There is yea this is a kind of wisdome which is more contrary to wisdome then ignorance and indeed whence proceeds the subtilest folly but from the subtilest wisdome For as from the extreamest friendships proceeds the extreamest enmities and from the soundest healths the mortallest diseases so from the rarest and quickest agitations of our mindes ensue the most distempered and outragious frenzies there wants but half a pegs turn to passe from the one to the other In madmens actions we see how fitly folly suiteth and meetes with the strongest operations of our mindes who knowes not how unperceivable the neighbourhood is betweene folly and the liveliest elevations of these wits yea their crafty wisdome the occasion of their folly thy wâ—sdome and thy knowledge saith Isaiah they have caused theâ— to rebell Isaiah 47.10 and what is rebellion but folly as Iob 28.28 Proverbs 9.10.12 and 11.3 Deut. 4.6 Hosea 14.9 Iames 3.13.17 2 Tim. 3.15 and other the like places shew If then to use our Saviours words the light that is in them be darknesse how great is that darknesse Matth. 6.23 If their wisdome and knowledge be ignorance how great is that ignorance yea how inconceivably great is the folly of that ignorance surely in my judgment it is such that if the Law admit any to be beg'd for fooles these are the fittest and I cannot but wonder to see how the most are mistaken in them but being thus discouered I hope it will appeare that as love and lust are not both one so a cunning man and a wise man are not both one Wee have seene some that could packe the cards and yet cannot play well And even such fooles are the voluptious Now as I have shewen these two sorts of men their folly so it were as easie to shew that the voluptuous are fooles also though of all men they are the wisest in their owne conceits because they live the merriest and freeliest of all others Yea I could make it plaine to them that the very worst thing in religion even the reproach of Christ is better then the best pleasure that is in the sweetest sinne for so it was to Moses a man of a right esteeme and that one day in the courts of God viz. his holy Temple is better then a thousand elsewhere for so it was to David a man of a refined and reformed judgement yea S. Paul a sanctified man after hee was rapt up into the third heaven reckoned so meanly of the things below that he could hardly find forth a comparison for them homely enough Philipians 3.8 It is true carnall men think that if they once embrace religion farewel all joy and delight but they only think so it is not so for a good conscience when it is at the worst is even filled with joy Act. 5.41 2 Cor. 1.5 thus it fared with Steven Act. 7.55.56 and those disciples Chapter 13.52 yea a good conscience made Peter more merry under stripes then Caiaphas upon the Judgement seat and Paul happier in his chaine of iron then Agrippa in his chain of gold Neither have Gods children a lesse portion of outward blessings then the wicked when God knowes the same good for them Abraham was as rich as any of our Aldermen David as valiant as any of our Gentlemen Salomon as wise in humane skill as any of our deepest Naturians Susanna as faire as any of our painted peeces c. But I feare mee Egypt hath beene so teadious to you already that you aske for Goshen though indeed you have beene all this while in the light that you have look'd upon darknesse for darknes could never be seene by it self but by the light Besides I have search'd and rubd enough this sore only the plaister is wanting wherefore I will winde up this objection with a few helpes to or meanes of true wisdome and saving knowledge that so each one may bee able to understand the Scriptures and what qualifications God requireth in such to whom he will shew mercy and so much the rather because the worke of regeneration begins at illumination a man desires not that he doth not know saith Chrysostome neither are unknowne evils feared § 163. If any would obtaine this excellent grace of saving knowledge 6. Helpes to saving knowledge let him use these six helps and furtherances 1. Discard all filthy lusts and unruly affections 2. Get an humble heart 3. Procure the eye of a lively faith 4. Bee constant in Prayer 5. Be frequent and studious in the Scriptures 6. Advise with others First let him be careful to dispell and remove al filthy lusts and lewd affections for these are our eves First discard al filthy lusts and affections which doe deceive us our Dalilahs which lull us asleep while wee are deprived of the strength of our reason our enemies that are ever fighting against our soules as Peter speakes 1 Peter 2.11 Yea there needs no more to besot a man then the inordinate love of money for had one as many eyes as the Poets feign of Argus the melody of gaine would play them all out or fast asleepe Our affections like fire and water are good servants but evill masters for being corrupted and overswayed by lusts there be no such enemies as these home-bred and of a mans owne houshold Sinne is like the Albugo or white spot in the eye which dims our understandings and makes fooles of Catoes and Platoes and Tullies and Achitophels leaving them never an eye to see withall For as the Arke would not stay with the Philistins so wisdome and grace will not stay with sinners but flieth from them as believers would doe from a persecuting Tyrant If Ierusalem forgets her first love presently her right hand forgets her cuning and her tongue cleaves to the roofe of her mouth Psalm 137.5.6 If sinnes come in at the fore-dore graces will go out at the postern what communion hath light with darknesse they will not keepe company together vertues drop from such a tree like leaves and fruits in a great wind yea one sin openeth the doore for many vertues to goe out If one vertâ—e be offended she lureth away all her fellowes as when Abner was offended he drew away many of Ishbosheth's friends and they shrunk from him As a Judge to acquir his office must be free from passion and affâ—ction touching either party and as our eyes could not aright judge of colours except they were void of all colours nor our tongues discerne of tastes unlesse freed from tasts so no man can judge aright of passions except his mind be altogether free from passions Wherefore bee not so much led by lust passion or affection as by reason Wee know appetite in a burning Feavor will call for cold drink even to the overthrow of our lives if reason gainsay it not But as they that would see more
our first Parents which tended to the ruine of them and all mankind It is usuall with drunkards to kisse when they meete and kill when they part Drunken Alexander killed Clytus for whom sober Alexander would have killed himselfe The Danes and Norwayes once purposing for England fell drunke on shipboard and so slasht one another that there was an end of their voyage Out of their gallant disposition you shall have one kill another upon the interpretation of a word a manifest confession that their life is not much worth sith they will sell it so good cheape yea there are not wanting of them that resemble Fimbria of Rome who meeting a Citizen that he hated gave him a deadly thrust into the body with his sword and the next day entred an action against him that he had received but part of his blade into his body and not all as he meant it Yea perhaps they may make you to doe that which you never dreamt of like Herod who cut off Iohn Baptist's head only to answer the expectation of the standers by Matth. 14.9 As for flattery it never wants welcome while selfe-love is at home but the plaine dealing man cannot live among these Vipers and not be stung by them yea he lives most in trouble that most seekes to have peace with them by a familiarity Well then if they are so offensive to the stomacke of our company that they will not let us be at peace our best way wil be to spevv them out to deale with our old vicious consorts as the Fox in the Fable did by his Fleas who wading backward into the water by degrees drew them all into a lock of Wooll which he had in his mouth and then left it swimming even leave them without taking leave of them or if you like not to teare friendship asunder upon the sudden you may unsowe it by little and little He that would not continue a friend may but neglect him and have his ayme § 203. OB. The agreement of wicked men not worthy the name of peace But I heare none boast so much of peace as the ungodly nor none taxed so with contention as the religious Answ Boast of it they may but it is apparent that the way of peace they have not so much as knowne indeed they have some kind of agreement among themselves and so have Serpents and Beares and Wolves it is a rare thing to see one Wolfe devoure or fight with another yea they have made a covenant with death and are at agreement with Hell Isay 28.15 and yet as there is no peace to the wicked Isa 57.21 so there is no peace among the wicked for every combination in evil is rebellion not peace rather a conspiracy then a concord like the agreement of Absolom and Achitophel combining together against David or of Herod and Pilate conspiring against Christ or of the false Apostles plotting against Paul so meeting in malice to doe mischiefe but a godly dissention is better then such a wicked peace Neither can any wonder that wicked men doe so conspire in evill that there is such unanimity in the broachers abbettors of it if he but take notice of those Devills which being many in substance were yet one in name action habitation even a whole Legion in one man Marke 5.9 all the praise of concord is in the subject if that be holy the consent is angelicall if sinnefull devilish true peace is to have peace with God warre with our lusts Ro. 5.1 and 7.22.23 peace with vertue warre with vice whereas they have peace and are at league with their sinnes but are at warre with God and good men all at once but a just warre is a thousand times better then such an ill conditioned peace yea it no way deserves the name of peace except we be at enmity with the Serpent at unity within our selves we ought so to be at peace with men as that we doe not warre with God and his graces peace must be followed with holinesse Heb. 12.14 wherefore Zachary joyneth faith peace and truth together Zach. 8.16 and St. Paul peace and righteousnesse peace and edification peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17.19.20 c. Thus the Scripture sets us our bounds for peace which we may not passe and shewes that ungodly men are not guilty of this grace that they doe but talke of peace not practise it But suppose we could enjoy peace in their company A dâ—unkard can never love him that is sober and religious yet we can never expect to have their loves for drunkards only love drunkards and one wicked man another but care not a rush for any that are good being like Phalaris the Tyrant who would never grant any request except it were to a dissolute woman but such he never denied Likenesse we know is the cause of love and love the cause of likenesse whereas the beleiver and the unbeleiver are altogether unlike the one being crucified and dead to the world Gal. 6.14 but made alive in Christ 1 Cor. 15.22 The other being spiritually dead even while they are alive 1 Tim. 5.6 We seldome see different dispositions entirely loving for hence growes the height of friendship when two similary soules doe blend in their commixions And hence it is that two friends are said to come into Vulcan's shop to beg this boone of him that he would either beate them on his Anvile or melt them in his Fornace both into one the which he granted I'ts likenesse that makes the true love knot of friendship when we finde another of our owne disposition it appeares the same soule in a divided body Nature that makes us love our selves makes us with the same reason love those that are like us A friend is a more sacred name then a Brother Pro. 18.24 For what availes it to have the bodies from the same originall when the soules within them differ And yet some Rehoboam-like passing over the religious will joyne themselves with ungodly persons like as some put away honest wives and goe to harlots wherein they deale as wisely as if a man should cast away his fleshy leg and set on another of Wood. Causa patrocinio non bona pejor erit Or A wicked mans love mercenary inconstant and not worth the having admit thou shouldst enjoy a wicked mans love it is but mercenary base and inconstant and so not worth the having Indeed there was never such abject and servile prostitutions of presentations as life soule devotion adoration servant slave c. as there is now amongst our drunkards and rorers and what love they expresse to one they professe to all every one they know or salute is their friend but friendship so distracted like as the River Ganges was by Cyrus into 365. brookes both looses her name and nature a lover of so many never loves any Or admit a drunkard doe love thee either he loves thee for his owne sake because he