Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Atten. I thought something when I heard you make mention of it before.
Thought I, this is a shrewd sign that he had not grace in his heart.
Birds of a feather, thought I, will flock together: If this man was
one of Gods children, he would heard with Gods children, his delight
would be with, and in the company of Gods children. As David said, I
am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy
precepts. {165b}
Wise. You say well, for what fellowship hath he that believeth with
an Infidel? And although it be true, that all that joyn to the godly
are not godly, yet they that shall inwardly choose the company of the
ungodly and open profane, rather than the company of the godly, as
Mr. Badman did; surely are not godly men, but profane. He was, as I
told you, out of his element, when good men did come to visit him, but
then he was where he would be, when he had his vain companions about
him. Alas! grace, as I said, altereth all, heart, life, company, and
all; for by it the heart and man is made new: and a new heart, a new
man, must have objects of delight that are new, and like himself: Old
things are passed away; Why? For all things are become new. {165c} Now
if all things are become new, to wit, heart, mind, thoughts, desires,
and delights, it followeth by consequence that the company must be
answerable: hence it is said, That they that believed were together;
that they went to their own company; that they were added to the
Church; that they were of one heart and of one soul; {165d} and the
like. Now if it be objected that Mr. Badman was sick, and so could
not goe to the godly, yet he had a tongue in his head, and could, had
he had an heart, have spoken to some to call or send for the godly to
come to him. Yea, he would have done so; yea the company of all others,
specially his fellow sinners, would, even in every appearance of them
before him, have been a burden and a grief unto him. His heart and
affection standing bent to good, good companions would have suited him
best. But his Companions were his old Associates, his delight was in
them, therefore his heart and soul were yet ungodly.
Atten. Pray how was he when he drew near his end? for I perceive that
what you say of him now, hath reference to him, and to his actions,
at the beginning of his sickness? Then he could endure company, and
much talk; besides, perhaps then he thought he should recover and not
die, as afterwards he had cause to think, when he was quite wasted
with pining sickness, when he was at the graves mouth. But how was he,
I say, when he was (as we say) at the graves mouth, within a step of
death? when he saw, and knew, and could not but know, that shortly he
must dye, and appear before the Judgment of God?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account