A view of the threats and punishments recorded in the Scriptures, alphabetically composed with some briefe observations upon severall texts / by Zachary Bogan ...

Company of wicked men, those that keepe it threatned

With their punishments. Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sinnes, Num. 16, 26. Moses thus spake to the people concerning Dathan and Abiram. Elihu when he would convince Job of being justly punished by God, told him of this sinne; as reckoning it for a very

hainous one: What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scorning like water; who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, & wal∣keth with wicked men Job 34, 7, 8. Solomon thought that those who kept drunkards company, had cause to feare their punish∣ments: for otherwise, that were no argument, which he brings to diswade a man from it: Be not among wine bibbers, amongst riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glut∣ton shall come to poverty Prov. 23, 20, 21. The servant, that shall eat and drink with the drunken, is threatned, that his Lord shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an houre that he is not aware of, and shall cut him in sunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites Mat. 24, 42, 49, 50, 51. Hypocrites; such as he himsefe was: for if he had been sincere, he would have loathed the very garment* 1.1 spotted with the flesh.

John sayes that he heard this voice from heaven concerning Babylon: Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sin, & that ye receive not of her plagues Rev: 18, 4. Partakers of her sinnes; so it is render'd: But so they might be, if they were partakers on∣ly in the guilt, viz: by not reprooving them, or not greiving, and mourning for them; though they did not commit the like them∣selves. and therefore methinkes it may very

well be render'd, partakers in their sinnes viz: by approving of them, & joyning in them. The words in the originall are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , which will imply asmuch. For so is the same verb us'd by Paul with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 workes. Have no fellowship with the un∣fruitfull* 1.2 workes of darknesse, but rather re∣prove them Ephes. 5, 11. where there can∣not be so little meant by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as not reproving only; as there cannot be so little meant by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 com∣municating with my affliction Phil. 4, 14. as the Philippians their not adding affliction only to Paul's bonds. I thinke, that when a partakeing of that thing which an other hath, is understood, the thing is put rather in the genitive case with the adjective 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Rom: 11, 17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Phil: 1, 7. Besides, to be partaker of mens sins in that manner spo∣ken of before, is expressed by the simple verb only, as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Is partaker of his evill deed's 2 ep. John: 11. spoken of him who doth but bid the person God speed. Now this a man shall quickly do, I meane beare a part also with wicked men in sinning; if he once yeeld to beare them company: because their disease is so catching. Sinne will hang to a mans heart, as bad as pitch will to his fingers. I may say of most

sorts of sinners, as the Son of Syrach says of the proud man. He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it; and he that hath fel∣lowship with a proud man will be like unto him Ecclesiasticus 13 1. The Rabbines have a saying 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Every one that is pro∣phane maketh prophane: which may be inter∣preted as well of society, as otherwise: as in the Law, whosoever touched him that was unclean was unclean also. The infectiousnesse of sinne is prettily expressed by Seneca in the word allinit besmeareth, applied to the persons with whom we converse: as if they were like new-whited walls, which a man rubs along by and thinks not o•• it. He uses this word in his Epistles; and I think it not amisse to tell you part of what he hath in in those Epistles delivered against using much company & for this reason, because of being drawn into sinne. He sayes we are drawn into sinne in company especially these two wayes: First, By our being plea∣sed with other mens sinnes, Nemo non ali∣quod nobis vitium, aut commendat, aut im∣primit, aut nescientibas allinit Epis. 7. Se∣condly by seeing them pleased with ours; especially if we are vaine glorious,* 1.3 and de∣sirous to be conform'd * to the world, and loath to be absurd (as they call it) or dis∣pleasing to our company: irritamentum est

omnium in quae insanimus admirator & con∣scius: ubi testis ac spectator abscessit, vitia subsidunt, quorum monstrari & conspici fru∣ctus sit▪ In many sins our only aime is to please men; and if no body saw us we would not cōmit them, ep: 49. Which was the reason, why Pericles knowing himselfe to be addicted to vaine glory, abstained altogether from feastings, and merry meetings 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Plu∣tarch, in his life. I am not of their opinion who say* 1.4 aut societas, aut mors: either soci∣ety, or death. Seeing therefore there is so∣much danger in company, either be alone without company, or (according to the same Pilosopher's advise) as much as possibly thou canst, be alone while thou art in com∣pany: tunc praecipuè in teipsum secede, cum es∣se cogeris in turba Epist: 25. Be continu∣ally reflecting upon thy selfe; keep thy heart, with as much feare and care as thou would'st thy face, if thou wert a midst a swarme of bees: watch over it and gard it with as much solicitude, as any Souldier does a fort, when he lookes to be assaulted by his enimies every moment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jude 23.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Rom: 12, 2.
• * 1.4

  A pro∣verb among the Jewes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉