4. *Another necessary branch of true Christianity, is peace-making, or doing of good. That this is equally essential with any of the other parts of the religion of _Jesus Christ_, there can be no stronger argument to evince (and therefore it would be absurd to alledge any other) than that it is here inserted in the original plan he has laid down, of the fundamentals of his religion. Therefore to set aside this, is the same daring insult on the authority of our great Master, as to set aside mercifulness, purity of heart, or any other branch of his institution. But this is apparently set aside, by all who call us to the wilderness; who recommend entire solitude either to the babes, or the young men, or the fathers in _Christ_. For will any man affirm, that a solitary Christian (so called, tho’ it is little less than a contradiction in terms) can be a merciful man? That is, one that takes every opportunity of doing all good to all men? What can be more plain than that this fundamental branch of the religion of _Jesus Christ_, cannot possibly subsist without society, without our living and conversing with other men? 5. But is it not expedient however (one might naturally ask) to converse only with good men? Only with those whom we know to be meek and merciful; holy of heart, and holy of life? Is it not expedient to refrain from any conversation or intercourse, with men of the opposite character? Men who do not obey, perhaps do not believe, the gospel of our Lord _Jesus Christ_? The advice of St. _Paul_ to the Christians at _Corinth_, may seem to favour this. [83]_I wrote unto you in an epistle, not to company with fornicators._ And it is certainly not adviseable so to company with them, or with any of the workers of iniquity, as to have any particular familiarity, or any strictness of friendship with them. To contract or continue an intimacy with any such, is no way expedient for a Christian. It must necessarily expose him to abundance of dangers and snares, out of which he can have no reasonable hope of deliverance. But the apostle does not forbid us, to have any intercourse at all, even with the men that know not God. For then, says he, _ye must needs go out of the world_, which he could never advise them to do. But he subjoins, [84]_If any man that is called a brother_, that professes himself a Christian, _be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner――Now I have written unto you not to keep company_ with him; _with such an one, no not to eat_. This must necessarily imply, that we break off all familiarity, all intimacy of acquaintance with them. [85]_Yet count him not_, saith the apostle elsewhere _as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother_: plainly shewing, that even in such a case as this, we are not to renounce all fellowship with him: so that here is no advice, to separate wholly, even from wicked men. Yea, these very words teach us quite the contrary.