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The Company of Wicked Men to be avoided. [ 1229]

IT was once the Prayer of a good Gentlewoman, when she was to die, being in much trouble of Conscience;* 1.1 O Lord, let me not go to Hell, where the Wicked are; For, Lord, thou knowest I never loved their Company here: the same in effect, though not in the same words, was that of holy David, Lord gather not my Soul with Sinners.* 1.2 Thus if Men would not have their Souls gathered with Wicked Men hereafter,* 1.3 they must take heed of joyning with them here; Can God take it well at any Mans hands, to go and shake hands with his Enemies? God himself will not so much as reach out his hand to the Wicked.* 1.4 Why then should any of us do so? Can we be in any place where we see God dishonou∣red, and sit still as though not concerned therein? Certainly, the sight of Sin,

wheresoever,* 1.5 or by whomsoever it is committed, should cause horror in the Soul, it should make us forbear coming into such wretched Company.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Jer. Burroughs Moses choyce,
• * 1.2

  Psal. 26. 6.
• * 1.3

  ☜
• * 1.4

  Biblia vulgat. edit. Iob 8. 28.
• * 1.5

  Psal. 119. 5••.