[ 1301] Evill Company, a great hinderance in the wayes of God.
AS one that is a Suitor to a Woman,* 1.1 and being very earnest in the prosecu∣tion of his love, another should come and tell him, that he knowes some∣thing of the Woman by way of ill report, some impediment or other; the Man hearing this, is presently taken off, and the suit ceaseth; So it is with many a Man, who begins to be a suitor to Religion, fain he would have the match made up, and he growes very hot and violent in the suit, and falls a working his Salva∣tion, but then there comes some of his old consorts,* 1.2 and they tell him, that they know something by Religion, that is of ill report; As that there must be much of strictnesse and Mortification, that he must never see good day more, and hereupon he is discouraged, and the Match broken off; So that evill Company like the wa∣ter in a Smith's forge, quencheth the Iron, be it never so hot, and cooleth the af∣fections to God-ward, be they never so ardent.