[3.] Gratitude to Christ maketh us to prize all that belong to him, and to own them, and to be companions with them in all conditions : 1 John iii. 16-18, ' Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us ; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth ; ' 1 John iv. 11, ' Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.' God loved us greatly, sent his own Son to die for us ; now, how shall we express our thankfulness but by a dear and tender love to those who are Christ's? As David, when Jonathan was dead, inquired, 'Is there none of Jonathan's posterity to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake ? ' and at length he found lame Mephibosheth ; so, is there none upon earth to whom we may show kindness for Christ's sake, who is now in heaven ? Yes ; there are the saints. Now these should be dear and precious to us, and we should be companions with them in all conditions.
[4.] Because of the profit and utility redounding. A true friend is valuable in secular matters, much more a spiritual friend : Prov. xxvii. 17, ' As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth a man the countenance of his friend.' When a man is dull, his fi-iend puts an edge upon him ; he is a mighty support and stay to us : Prov. xvii. 17, 'A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity ;' Prov. xxvii. 9, ' The perfume of an ointment rejoiceth the soul, so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel ; ' and in some cases he telleth us, ' A friend is better than a brother.' Now, if an ordinary true friend be so valuable, what is a Christian friend ? A holy, heavenly, i'aithful friend is one of the greatest treasures upon earth ; therefore we should seek out such and associate with them.
Use. Let us see, then, whom we make our companions ; let us avoid
180 SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. [SeR. LXXI.
evil company lest we be defiled by them, and frequent good company that we may be mutually comforted and quickened : ' I am a com- panion of them that fear thee.' Interpreters suppose it was spoken in opposition to the bands of the wicked mentioned ver. 61. If they unite, so should we. This, then, is our business, the rejecting of evil company, and the choice of good companions. To enforce this, take these considerations: —
1. Friendship is necessary, because man is ^coov ttoXItlkov, a sociable creature. Man was not made to live alone, but in company with others, and for mutual society and fellowship ; and they that fly all company and live to and by themselves are counted inhuman : Eccles. iv. 9-12, there the benefit of society is set forth, ' Two are better than one ; for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow : but woe to him that is alone when he falleth ; he hath not another to lift him up again : if two lie together they have heat ; but how can one be warm alone ? and if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him.' Thus far Solomon. The Egyptians in their hieroglyphics expressed the unprofitableness of a solitary man by a single millstone, which alone grindeth no meal, but with its fellow is very serviceable for that purpose. The Lord ap- pointed mankind to live in society, that they might be mutually helpful to one another : he never made them to live in deserts, as wild beasts love to go alone, but as the tame, in flocks and herds. The Lord hath given variety of gifts to the sons of men, — to all some, but to none all, — that one might stand in need of another, and make use of one another ; and the subordination of one gift to another is the great in- strument of upholding the world. Man is weak, and needeth society ; for every man is insufficient to himself, and wants the help of others : and man is inclined by the bent of his nature ; we have a certain desire to dwell together and live in society.
2. Though man affects society, yet in our company we may use choice, and the good must converse with the good, for these reasons : —
[1.] Because like will sort Avitli like. Friendship is very much founded in suitableness, and maintained by it : idem velle et nolle, est amicitia. The godly will have special love to the godly, and they that fear God will be a companion of those that fear him ; they are more dear and precious to them than others ; as a wicked man easily smell- eth out a fit companion : Ps. 1. 18, ' When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.' Like will to like, and therefore the godly should be dear and precious to one another. Every man's company wherein he delighteth showeth what manner of man he is himself. The fowls of heaven flock together according to their several kinds. Ye shall not see doves flocking with the ravens, nor divers kinds intermixed. Every man is known by his company. They that delight in drinking, love swilling and drunken com- panions ; in gaming, love such as make no conscience of their time ; in hunting, love such as are addicted to such exercise ; in arms, love men of a soldierly and military spirit; they that delight in books love scholars and j^ersons of a philosophical breeding. That which every man is taken withal he loveth to do it with his friend ; so certainly they that love and fear God delight in those that love him and fear him, and their company is a refreshing to one another.