8. Thirdly, Keep good comp)any, and such as by their life will discover to thyself thy corruptions and j)erverse estate ; and thus when thou findest it,
4. Consider what a miserable estate thou art in. We amongst us account it a great eyesore to see a body that should be straight to be crooked. Oh that we had eyes to see this spiritual crooked estate we are in ! Oh what fear and grief would possess us ! How would we labour to free ourselves of it, and to straighten ourselves every day, lest we should be found unfit for God's building, and good for nothing but to burn ! With such as walk perversely God will deal perversely. Lev. xxvi. 28. It may be he will seem to sleep for a while, but at the hour of death it will shew that he looked for better courses at thy hands.
5. Pray with the psalmist, Ps. cxix. 5, ' Oh that my ways were so direct, that I might keep thy statutes ! ' Observe again, that the godly here live in the midst of lions and wolves ; those that are of a froward and perverse heart. For those that live under the means of grace, and will not be wrought upon, they are much worse for it. There is more innocence in a Turk than in some that profess better. And those that profess most, if they be hypocrites, of all other make the most bitter opposition against the truth.
The reasons hereof are : First, God hereby shews his power, in that he can and doth preserve his children among lions from the wrath of the lion. Christ he must rule, but it is in the midst of his enemies ; and therefore his church must be in the midst of his enemies, for he is king of his church.
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THE CHRISTIAN WORK.
2. Again, in regard of tbo wicked, it justifies their just condemnation. They cannot say but that they had the means, as well of the gospel as the examples of those that were good. Thus did Noah justly condemn the old world, and Lot Sodom.
3. Furthei'more, those that are not desperately wicked, but of whom we may conceive some hope, sureUj theij hj livinr/ with the (jodbj may be won ; as when they see religion in others bringing forth good works, they see religion is no impossible thing, for they sec men troubled with the like infirmities that they are that practise it ; and they see it is sweet, because it makes men tractable and loving.
4. Moreover, in regard of the godly, God suffers them to be amongst the wicked, for it refines them. Envy and malice are quick- sighted. God's children know they live in the midst of envy, therefore they are wary. liot lived more uprightl}'- in Sodom than when he was out of it. Wickedness binds in religion, and makes it more forcible, even as by an antiperistasis ;* it unites it and strengthens it. It makes the godly to be more careful, to be unblameable, and to watch to keep themselves from doing hurt, and from taking hurt ; for wicked men are watchful to take advantage of any ill example in the weak Christian, and to follow it. But, on the contrary, the weak Christian is overcome, and carried away with the streams of vice, and therefore are the more watchful.
' Directions for life.'
1. Bememher thy calling — that you are sons of God; and forget not your profession, and fetch reasons from your callings. You are God's children ; you are called with a holy calling. Shall I do thus, and offend against my Father ? and shall I disgrace that holy calling, and scandalise it ? Shall I give cause to make the enemy to blaspheme ?
2. Again, Observe the persons ivith whom thou converscst. Are they malicious and envious ?
3. Beware how thou (jive them offence; especially watch thy natural cor- ruptions and weaknesses. Take heed of secret ill thoughts..
4. Carry the example of David about icith thee ; see in him what his thoughts wrought. That which thou tremblest to do, tremble to think on ; for God justly leaves such in great sins that solace themselves in ill thoughts.
5. Again, Look to duties of the second table. These sins are great sores in the eyes of our enemies.
6. Use a loving, pitiful carriar/e towards them that are without. Though they be never so wicked, give them their due, and consider the goodness thou hast was given thee. Therefore be not puffed up in thine own con- ceit, but fear continually.
' Among whom you shine as lights in the world.'
These words contain another reason why the children of God ought to be unreprovable. For, saith the apostle, ' you are lights.' All God's children are lights, but so as there is an order of them. God is the ground of all light ; he is the Father of lights. Christ he is the Sun of righteous- ness. These are the grand lights. The word of God is also a light and 'a lantern to light us in the dark ways of this world. From hence light is derived to the saints, who receive it from Christ by the word and Spirit. You being therefore thus enlightened, you are to converse amongst men as lights, saith the apostle. For the better understanding thereof, consider in what things God's children resemble light ; and,