the Crofs, and refift unto Blood; ftriving against Sin; that by living as the Saints once did, we may at length inherit those Promifes, which they by their Faith and Patience in this World, now inherit in the

next.

Q. Wherein confifts the Advantage of propounding the Examples of the bleffed Saints for our Imitation?

A. It convinces us of the Poffibility of performing our Duty, by fhewing us Men, clothed with Flesh and Blood that have practifed it; and fo is apt to cure that Sloth and Defpondency, which the Weakness of our Nature is apt to fuggeft to us. It gives us fenfible Evidences of the happy Fruits of a pious Life, which make greater Impreffions than thofe Confequences which Reafon draws for our Conviction; and hereby difpofes us vigorously to imitate thofe Virtues which fhined in them with fo great a Luftre.

Q. If Examples at fo great a Diftance have fuch a Power, ought we not to exercise great Care, in reference to what Company we daily converfe with?

A. Solomon hath long fince observed, that he that Prov. xiii. walketh with wife Men fhall be wife; but that the 20. Companion of Fools fhall be deftroyed: Which fufficiently denotes, that if we defign any Progrefs in Piety and Virtue, that Wisdom which Solomon recommends, we must frequent those who are eminent Examples of it; and avoid, as much as is poffible, fuch Fools who make a Mock at Sin. And this Method is common to Mankind in all other xiv. 19. Cafes; when they aim at Perfections in any particular Skill or Part of Learning, they covet the Conversation of those that are known to excel that Way.

Q. Is it poffible, in the general Converse of the World, to avoid bad Company?

A. It is very difficult for those whose Business and Circumstances carry them into a great deal of Company

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Company always to avoid that which is bad; and Charity fometimes may oblige good Men to converfe with fuch in order to their Reformation, where there are any probable Hopes of making bad Men better; but however it is very much in every Man's Power to chufe what Sort of Company he defigns for his Diverfion and Entertainment; a Matter of fuch Importance, that it requires most ferious Confideration.

Q. What ought a Man to confider chiefly in the Choice of his Company?

A. He ought chiefly to fix upon fuch as have virtuous and Christian Principles, and who endeavour to fhew the Effects of them in their Lives and Converfations; for as Men of no Principles are very much unqualified for Friendship, becaufe they have no Foundation to fupport it; fo Men that act contrary to their good Principles, give but a fcurvy Proof of their Sincerity. Befides, Men fceptically inclined, may endanger the Firmnefs of our Faith, as wicked Men may the Strength of our Virtue.

Q. What other Rules may be obferved in the Choice of our Company?

A. When we have fecured the main Point, and fenced against the greatest Danger of Converfation, we ought to have a particular Regard to the Temper and Difpofition of thofe we pitch upon for our conftant Companions; for if they have a great deal of Peffion, and a little Share of Senfe, our Freedom and Friendship will expofe us to vexatious Difficulties. Though we are never fo much upon our Guard, a great deal of Fire will sometimes heat us; we may be provoked, and then we are the worse for fuch Company. After thefe Cautions, I think the Advantages of Learning and Wisdom, of Quicknefs and Vivacity, may juftly challenge a Regard, fince they muit be very agrecable Entertainments,

when

when good Men of mild Tempers are the Masters of them.

Q. Who ought to have the greatest Regard to the Choice of their Company?

A. It concerns all good Chriftians to take Care in this Point; for the Contagion of Vice is powerful, and their greatest Security is in standing at a Diftance from it; the Frailty of Virtue is great, therefore all Caution fhould be used not to expofe it to an infe tious Air. But young Men, when they first appear in the World, ought to have a particular Regard to it, their future Happiness, both Temporal and Eternal, depending fo much on the Qualifications of thofe they converfe with. Though they have received good Principles in their Education, yet they want Practice to confirm the Habits of Virtue, and Courage to refift the Allurements of Vice. They are apt to catch at any Thing that indulges and countenances their irregular Appetites. The Misfortune is, when they want Prudence moft, they have leaft of it; therefore it is happy when they will liften to the Advice of their Parents, or fome experienced Relation, who is able to direct them in an Affair of fuch Conféquence.

Q. What are the mifchievous Effects of bad Company to good Men?

A. If they are not by Degrees entirely corrupted, yet the Horror they ought to have for Sin, is very much abated by their feeing it frequently committed. They are led into uncharitable - Thoughts concerning their Neighbour, whofe Reputation in fuch Company is never fpared, but loaded with all injurious and contumelious Ufage. Befides, it makes their own Duty difficult, for by not discountenancing fuch Practices, by one Means or other, they may contract a Share in the Guilt of them, and embroil their own Minds by reflecting, whe ther or no they did what became good Chriftians

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upon

For the
Imitation

of the Saints.

For the I ove of God.

For following the Example of

upon fuch Occafions. So that Fire may as well be taken into a Man's Bofom without burning, and Pitch touched without defiling, as bad Company frequented and delighted in, without receiving Damage and contracting Pollution.

The PRAYER S.

1.

ALMIGHTY God, who haft knit together thine Elect in one Communion and Fellowship, in the myftical Body of thy Son Chrift our Lord; grant me Grace fo to follow thy bleffed Saints in all virtuous and godly Living, that I may come to thofe unspeakable Joys which thou haft prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

II.

GOD who haft prepared for them that love thee, fuch good Things as pafs Man's Understanding; pour into my Heart fuch Love towards thee, that I, loving thee above all Things, may obtain thy Promifes, which exceed all that I can defire, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen. III.

ALMIGHTY God, make me so wife in this

State of Probation and Trial, as to provide for Eternity, by walking in thofe Paths that congood Men ducted thy bleffed Saints to everlafting Blifs. Keep departed. it for ever in the Purpose of my Heart, as it was in

theirs, to obey thofe Laws which thou my Maker and Sovereign haft enjoined, and according to which I fhall be one Day judged. Grant that I may with all poffible Care avoid Sin, the greatest

Evil, and the most mifchievous to my main Intereft: and that I may at any Expence feek thy Favour, which is better than Life: That following thy bleffed Saints in the Meekness and Humility of their Minds, in the Mortification of their carnal Appetites, in their entire Submiffion to thy divine Will, in their Charity to the Souls and Bodies of Men, in their Patience under Sufferings, and in their Readinefs to take up the Crofs; I may attain that Happiness they now poffefs, and inherit those Promises which they are made Partakers of, through the Merits of Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

M

IV.

the Perfe

of good

Men.

OST gracious God, the Author of Sanc- Thankf tity, and Lover of Unity, whofe Wifdom giving for hath established an admirable Communion between verance the Members of the fame myftical Body, whereof thy Son Jefus Chrift is the Head; I blefs and praise thy Holy Name for all thy Servants departed this Life in thy Faith and Fear. I congratulate their Victories over the World, who overcame themselves, and led in Triumph their own Paffions. I commemorate with all Thankfulness their heroic Piety, who served their Lord in Hunger and Thirft, in Prison and Chains, on Racks and in Tortures, and who undauntedly encountered Death, armed with the greatest Terror. I rejoice in the Glory and Happiness they are now advanced to, the Greatnefs of which the Heart of Man cannot conceive. Befeeching thee to give me Grace fo to follow their good Examples, in the wife bestowing of my Time here below, that I may follow them in their happy Paffage out of this World, and with them be made Partaker of

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thy