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truth_n companion_n fall_v great_a 32 3 2.0654 3 false
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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A64275 The young man's guide in his journey to heaven, or, Travelling spiritualized S. T., 17th cent. 1700 (1700) Wing T60; ESTC R24165 54,625 129

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themselves whether they have not a longing desire to get all the Company they can to Heaven with them and it is no wonder if we consider how sweet the Work is and what a blessed Reward is promised to it And they that Dan. 12. 3. be Wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever So now it is clear that herein the Earthly and the Heavenly Traveller agree that both labour to have as much Company with them as they can CHAP. X. A Traveller in his Journey will keep Company with such and such only as are going the same way that he is and to the same Place AND this Christian calls for thy special Imitation if thou art resolved for Heaven thou must keep Company with such as are going Heavens way and shun the Company of those who are going in the contrary way to Hell and Destruction I shall begin with the last first First Thou must shake Hands with those who were thy old Companions in the Ways of Sin Can two walk together except they be agreed And what Amos 3. 3. agreement can there be between the Children of Light and the Children of Darkness between the Children of God and the Children of the Devil between those who are resolved for Heaven and those who are at agreement with Hell Will Sheep flock together with Swine or Doves with Vultures Psal 38. 15. Who would make those his Companions on Earth who must be Companions of the Devil and his Angels in Hell for ever Therefore as the Psalmist saith I have not sat with vain Persons so do thou say I will not walk with vain Persons thou wilt be sure to receive no good by them but wilt be in danger to receive much hurt For it is as impossible for one in pure White to embrace 〈◊〉 Chimney-Sweeper and not to be sul●ied as for a Man to hold familiar and ●utimate Converse with Prophane Men and not be defiled That Man is got half Way to Heaven that is rid of his wicked Companions The general Experience of Christians will Seal to this Truth that when God hath changed the Heart and a Man hath changed his Courses he will also change his Companions Paul when the Scales were fallen off his Eyes and he was brought in to the right Way he would have no more Familiarity with his great Friends the Chief Priests nor with his old Persecuting Companions and he left their Friendship So they became his bitter Enemies and when he left persecuting the Saints of God they fell to persecuting of him We read indeed of good Jehosaphat that he entred into a strict League and Intimacy with wicked Ahab but we know that he was out of his Way when he did so and it was like to cost him his Life and though God preserved his Life yet he was displeased with his Act as you may see in the Story 2 Chron. 19. 22. Now this is one thing that thou must imitate the Traveller in namely thou must shun the Company of those who are going in a contrary Way But Secondly Thou must consort with those who are going thy Way thou must not only separate from Sinners but converse with Saints Thou must avoid the Society of the wicked least they hinder thee in thy Way and thou must associate with the Godly that they may further thee in thy Way Thou must shun the one that they may not be a Bridle or Curb to hold thee back Thou must embrace the other that they may be a Spur to quicken thee and put thee forward It is a common Saying and it may be called a Traveller's Proverb An Eloquent or Pleasant Companion on the Way is instead of a Chariot And Facundus comes in Via pro Vehiculo est it may be said that Godly Companions in the Way to Heaven are instead of Elias his Chariot they will be helpful to thee many ways First By their Counsel Secondly By their Holy Example Thirdly By their Heavenly Conference Fourthly By their faithful Reproofs Fifthly By their fervent Prayers First They will forward thee in thy way to Heaven by their good Counsel and Instruction The Heathen Poet speaks like a Christian in this From good men thou wilt learn good things And doth not the Word of God speak to the same purpose from that Divine Proverb He that walketh with wise men Prov. 13. 20. shall be wise but a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed We know that Solomons Wise man is the good or the Godly man and certainly there is no such wise Man in the World as he that is wise for his Soul and for Eternity so here is one benefit thou will reap by keeping Company with the Godly thou wilt have good Counsel and Instruction from them and see what a benefit this was to Jehoash He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehojada the 2 Kings 12. 2. Priest instructed him Secondly Thou wilt be promoted in thy Way by their Holy Example The Examples of good Men are more taking Exempla plus prosunt quam praecepta than their Instruction Their Practices than their Precepts He is like to write the fairest Hand who writes after the fairest Copy If thou canst say with David I am a Companion of all those that fe●● Psal 119. 63. the Lord what a Pattern wilt thou have for thy Imitation when thou dost behold their Holy Convesation when thou dost every Day see how careful the● are to walk by Rule how Conscientious to perform their Duty before Go● and Man How Holily they behav● themselves in the World In their Families In their Closets In their Callings In every Condition In every Relation How Chearfully they do How Patiently they suffer the Will of God How can this but stir up thy Mind to an Holy Emulation And what an help will this be to thee in thy Way to Heaven Thirdly They will be helpful to thee by their Heavenly Conference As evil Communication corrupts good Manners so good Communication must needs promote good Manners It is said The Lips Prov. 10. 20. of the Righteous feed many and this is sweet food indeed Christ saith of the Church Thy Lips drop as the Honey-comb Cant. 4. 11 What Sweet and Holy Discourses will the Saints of God have when they meet together How will they provoke one another to Love and good Works How will they communicate their Christian Experiences How will they like Coals kindle one another and raise up one anothers Affections Heaven-ward How will they encourage one another to hold and persevere in the ways of Holiness by setting forth the Joys and the Glory of that Heavenly Country whether they are all going As Prophane Wretches never meet but they harden one another by their lewd and rotten Speeches so the Children of God never do or at least never