_Direct._ VIII. Specially labour to mortify those sins, which the unavoidable discourse of your company doth most tempt you to; that where the devil doth most to hurt you, you may there do most in your own defence. Doth the talk which you hear tend most to heresy, seduction, or to turn you from the truth? Study the more to be established in the truth; read more books for it; and hear more that is said by wise and godly men against the error which you are tempted to. Is it to profaneness or dislike of a holy life, that your company tempt you? Address yourselves the more to God, and give up yourselves to holiness, and let your study and practice be such as tend to keep your souls in relish with holiness, and hatred of sin. Is it pride that their applauding discourse doth tempt you to? Study the more the doctrine of humiliation. Is it lust that they provoke you to, or is it drunkenness, gluttony, sinful recreations, or excesses? Labour the more in the work of mortification, and keep the strictest guard where they assault you.
_Direct._ IX. Be not unacquainted with the particular weaknesses and dangers of your own hearts, or any of your sinful inclinations; that when you know where the wall is weakest, you may there make the best defence. That wanton word will set a wanton heart on fire, which a sober mind doth hear with pity as a bedlam kind of speech. A peevish, passionate heart is presently disturbed and kindled with those words which are scarce observed by a well-composed soul.
_Direct._ X. Hear every sinful word as dictated by the devil; and suppose you saw him all the while at the speaker's elbow, putting each word into his mouth, and telling him what to say. For it is as verily the devil that doth suggest them all, as if you saw him. Suppose you saw him behind the railer, hissing him on, as boys do dogs in fighting, and bidding him, Call him thus or thus: suppose you saw him at the malignant's ear, bidding him revile a holy life, and speak evil of the ways and servants of the Lord: suppose you saw him behind the wanton, bidding him use such ribald talk, or on the stage, suggesting it to the actors; or at the ear of those that would provoke you to passion, to tell them what to say against you: this just supposition would much preserve you.
_Direct._ XI. Suppose you heard the end annexed to every speech. As when you hear one tempting you to lust, suppose he said, Come, let us take our pleasures awhile, and be damned for ever: so also in every word that tempteth you to any other sin; if the tempter put in the sin, do you put in God's wrath and hell, and separate not that which God hath adjoined, but with the serpent see the sting.
_Direct._ XII. Observe when the infection first seizeth on you, and presently take an antidote to expel it, if you love your souls. The signs of infection are, 1. When your zeal abateth, and you grow more indifferent to what you hear. 2. Next you will feel some little inclination to it. 3. Next you will a little venture upon an imitation. 4. And lastly you will come to a full consent, and so to ruin. If you feel but a remitting of your dislike and hatred, or any filth or tincture left on your thoughts and fantasy, go presently and shake them off; bewail it to God in true repentance, and wash your souls in the blood of Christ, and cast up the poison by holy resolutions, and sweat out the remnant by the fervent exercises of love and holiness.