218 THE NECESSITY, EXCELLENCY, RARITY, [Heb. XII. 14.
come to the word, but come not to trample upon it, come not to scoff or mock at it, come not to despise it or to revile it, but come and lay it to your hearts, and it may do you good for ever. There is no better way to make thee holy than to attend on the holy word. But,
(4.) Fourthly, If ever you would be holy, then associate yourselves with those that are holy. Look, as he that walks with the wise shall be wise, so he that walks with the holy shall certainly be pressed and provoked to be holy, Prov. xiii. 20. As Socrates made it his business to better others by his company, so a holy man will make it his busi- ness to make others holy by his counsel, prayers, and example. He knows that it is one of the most noble and divine employments in the world to make others holy, and therefore he sets upon that work with aU his might. Look, as there is no greater a hindrance to holiness than the society of the wicked, so there is no greater a help to holi- ness than the society of those that are godly, Ps. cxix. 115, and i. 1. Look, as the beginning of ungodliness is to keep company with those that are ungodly, so the beginning of holiness is to keep company with those that are holy. Look, as one drunkard makes another, and one swearer makes another, and one proud person makes another, and one worldling makes another, and one formalist makes another, so one holy man makes another ; or look, as one sober man makes another, and one prudent man makes another, and one resolute man makes another, and one zealous man makes another, and one heavenly-minded man makes another, so one holy man makes another. Ah, sinners ! sinners ! there are no companions in the world that will pity you as these, that will weep and mourn over you as these, that will strive and wrestle with God for you as these, Kom. x, 1 ; there are none that will be so tender of your salvation as these, nor none that will labour so much for your conversion as these, nor none that wiU so spend them- selves to prevent your damnation as these, 2 Cor. xii. 15. 0 sirs, upon trial you will find that there are none so able to counsel you, nor none so faithful to reprove you, nor none so ready to help you, nor none so compassionate to sympathise with you, nor none so strong to support you, nor none so advantaged to convert you, as those that are holy ; and why then will you not labour to be one of this society ? O sirs, of all fellowships the fellowship of saints is the most noble, the most honourable, the most pleasant, the most amiable, the most de- sirable, the most profitable, and the most commendable fellowship ; and why then will you still live strangers, yea, enemies, to this fellow- ship ? Ah sirs, holy men will still be awakening and alarmiag of your drowsy spirits, they will be still a-knocking at the door of your hearts, and asking of you whether it be good going to hell ; they will still be inquiring of you what provision you have made for another world, and how all things stand within ; they will still be jogging at your elbows, that you may not die in your sins ; and they wUl still be whispering in your ear, that your souls may live for ever. The Jews have a proverb, that ' two dry sticks put to a green one will kindle it.' Oh, there is nothing in all the world that contributes so much to the kindling, to the firing, and to the inflaming of men's hearts after holiness, as the society of those that are holy. Algerius, an Italian martyr, ' had rather be in prison with Cato, than to live with Ceesar in
HeB. XII. 14.] AND BEAUTY OF HOLINESS. 219
the senate-house.' Oh, it is ten thousand times better to live with those that are holy, though in a dark prison, than to live amongst those that are unlioly, though in a royal palace. Urbanus Eegius, having one day's converse with Luther, tells us, ' that it was one of the sweetest days that ever he had in all his life.'i 0 sinners, did you but experience for one day the sweet and happiness of the com- munion of saints, you would then cry out, ' Oh, there is no society to the society of Grod's holy ones.' And therefore, as ever you would be holy, let holy men have more heart-room and house-room with you. But,