PAR. 25.
FOr if they had rangled, and rambled farre off, the evill Angell, who watcheth such opportunities, might have taken them stragling, and whilst they sought to joyne themselves to remoter Company, they might have beene lost, and de∣stroyed; aliquod bonum, propter vicinum bonum; the next neighbour in this case, was the great good; hence neighbours are taught not to be over-thwart neigh∣bours; communicating neighbourhood is the best; agreement amongst next neigh∣bours is commended, especially in things concerning the Service of God; I was glad, when they said unto me, wee will goe into the House of the Lord, Psal. 122.1. Oh come, let us worship and fall downe, and kneele before the Lord our maker, Psal. 95.6. Innocentius (Epist. 97. ad Augustinum) Communibus, & alternis plus agimus orationi∣bus, quàm singularibus, out privatis: vis unita fortior; Sacred exercises seeke not cor∣ners, but delight in publique meeting; private Corner-Conventicles, in a gracious time of peace, argue distempered, factious braines; and Conventicles, are places of Repitition forsooth, for divers families, were never in use, or allowed, but in times of persecution; and now are both scandalous, and hurtfull: God comman∣ded next neighbours to joyne in pietie,
Vique alior alii de religione docerent, Contiguas piet as jussit habere domos.Saith Stigelius, that is,
And that of poynts religious they might the better tell, By piety they charged were like neighbours neere to dwell.