Firſt, Becauſe vanity is thee • o • ked with poverty, look upon the outward frame of wickneſs, and you will find poverty ever attending vanity, Pſalm 62.9. Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are as a lye to be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter t • en vanity, Now I do not ſay th •• • very poor man in the world is a vain perſon: poverty is ſervant to vanity, but vanity may not be a ſervant to poverty: we read of poor Job, but not of vain Job, his poverty was not vanity, nor poor Lazarus was not vain, Lazarus vanity, would be no ſervant to poverty, neither to Job nor to Lazarus, but yet for all this, there is a poverty that attends vanity, either Temporal or Spiritual, if not Temporal, yet for the moſt part Spiritual or Eternal; Dives had not Temporal poverty, but when he was in hell, he had ſo much poverty as ſatisfied for his cruel covetouſneſs, for whereas before on earth he would not give one crumb, in hell he muſt not have one drop: ſurely then ſirs, here was poverty enough, ſo much poverty, as to make him eternally miſerable.

Secondly, Poverty attends vain perſons, becauſe of the vain glory that is in them, vain perſons take glory in their vanity, like unto the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3.19. That ſaid ſhe was rich and encreaſed in goods, and did not know her poverty, Now that ſhe was, retched and miſerable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Thirdly, Poverty attends vain perſons, becauſe of that ignorance that is in vain company, there is a palpable ignorance in vain perſons, Epheſ. 4.17, 18. This I ſay therefore, and teſtifie in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles, walk in the vanity of their mind; Having their underſtanding darkened through the ignorance that is in them, becauſe of the blindneſs of their heart. Surely 〈◊〉 , where there is ignorance, there is blindneſs and poverty.

Fourthly, Poverty attends vain company, becauſe of their evil Councel, vain perſons are vain counſellours, this you may ſée plainly in Roboam King of Iſrael, when he forſook the Councel of the A • cients that ſtood before Solomon his Father, and took Councel at his Companions, that we called young men that were brought up with him, 1 King. 12.8. then the judgement came upon him, and all the Tribes were taken from him, to be governed by Jeroboam, ſave only the Tribe of Judah, which he and his Poſterity raigned over: So you 〈◊〉 . Beloved, that there is reaſon why pove ••• ever attends vain company, becauſe ••• verty is yo • ked to vanity: poverty is ſéen 〈◊〉 the vain glory of vain perſons; there is a palpable ignorance in vain company, and becauſe of the evil of the bad councel that vain perſons are apt to giue to thoſe that attend them, and company with them: I might give ſeveral other reaſons, as grounds to confirm this truth, why poverty attends vain company, as the unprofitableneſſe of vain company, the diſcredit that you ſhall have by following of them: the evil of their ways, the loſſe of • our precious time with ſeveral other grounds that for brevity ſake I omit at this time.

But now by way of Inference my Beloved (if poverty attend vain company) In the firſt place, this lets us ſée the great unprofitableneſſe that is in vain company, as for the firſt r • nk of vain perſons before ſpoken of, expertence may teach you the proof hereof, how many have we ſéen in England, by waſting their precious time (and ſp •• in • g thereof) become temporally poor, by following after vain jeſters, and i • le ſ • oriors, and by del • g •• ing in their lies, 〈◊〉 • éen given up to ſtrong deluſions, to 〈…〉 before then will i • h • ace the 〈…〉 Theſſ. 2.11. and have not only • alled 〈◊〉 outward • ſtates, but are by this ine •• ns brought into the ſtate of e • ernal miſery, without ſpéedy repentance, for which end they were giuen up to the ſtrong deluſions, verſ • 12. that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſſe. Again, how many perſons have we ſée by experience amongſt, us; that have been poſſeſſed of good eſtates, in this Nation, I think I may ſay without fencible error, that almoſt every Wila • e, Town, throughout England, can exſperience it, as many • a •• waſted all their outward eſtate by following after vain drunkards and whoremongers and common gameing and gameſt •• d, and ſuch like Company, which companying with them, hath brought them into the depth of pover •• , ſo that then have thereby conſumed their outward • ſtates, and brought themſelves to beggery, and thrown themſelves, down under poverty temporally, wanting neceſſaring for the outward man, but it were well it this w • re the •• rit, 〈◊〉 this is lu • t the ſmalleſt l • ſſe 〈◊〉 •• the by, they are in w ••• of all things that ſhould he • e •• e • to the ſ ••• , they want ſpiritual ſtrength to ſtand, they want ſpiritual power to pray, they want ſpiritual relief for the ſoul, for in ſuch company they never hear of, or ſee, or fóel any good, or comfort for the ſouls refreſhing, and is not this pover • p enough think you, Nay, that which is more, this beget • your eternal milery both of body and ſoul, at the day of judgment, when we ſhall all appear before the judgement ſeat of the Almighty God, there c • ••• ive our ſentence of ſalvation or damnation, if then you be put on the left hand, with this ſentence, Go you curſed, Mat. 25.41. Is not this poverty enough think you to be deprived of beaven, and thrown into eternal miſery • nay you ſhall find many that have made profeſſion of Chriſt. many that have received the Miniſtry, and teachings of Chriſt, to the outward ears, that have done duties, and ſought after Chriſt, to fall ſhort of heaven, and ſurely this you may ſée, Mat. 7.22, 23. Many will ſa •• to me in that day, have we not propheſied in thy name, and in thy name have caſt out diveſs, and in thy name have done wonderful words; Sirs you ſée here are people making a great profeſſion in duty, they have pro • be ſied in the Lords name; Nay, that which is more, in his name have caſt out divels, theſe people a man would think ſhould be in high labour with God, they had done wonderful works too: I pray you conſider of it theſe were for from vain perſons that could propheſie, caſt out devils, and by wonderful works, and yet ſall ſhort of heaven, yea verily, verſ. 23. and then will I prof • ſs unto them, I never knew you, Depart from ye workers of iniquity. Ah! poor ſouls, that are running the haz • rd of your upon deſtruction. Conſider this, if theſe men that have thus outwardly pro • eſt Chriſt, by propheſ •• g in his name, & caſting out of Devils, and doing wonderful works ſhall be ſhut out of heaven, what will become of you that have done none of theſe things. Again, what do you think by as ſuch as are deſpiſers of Gods People Scoffers, and Scorners of them that profeſs Religion, and the ways of godlineſs; Beloved, all manner of wickedneſſe is vanity and nothing, wicked perſons are vain perſons they ſay, as in Pſalm 12.4. We have ſaid with our tongues we will prevail, our lips are our own who is Lord over us, the Prophet David was hear complaining, v. 2. Saith he, they ſpeak vanity every man to his neighbour, with flattering l • ps and with a double heart, do they ſpeak well, ſaith he, verſe 3. the Lord will cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that ſpeaketh proud things: Sirs, you ſée here the palpable wir •• edineſs of vain perſons, therefore he perſwaded ſo look ſo pant companions, As for the •• . Fanſſo • valſt perſons •• cious, mortal woudly many th • ſelf righteous men, you 〈◊〉 no good nor inward comfort by them; Becauſe they want that one thing u •• dful there is one thing lacking, & that is their following of Chriſt, and paſting with the world; the young man in the Goſpel was Morra ••• righteous, he had kept the commandemeni •• of the Law, yet onething was lacking, Go, ſell all that thou haſt and follow me and thou ſhalt have crea •• e in heaven. Beloved, a man may be 〈◊〉 careful in obſerding his duties, and 〈◊〉 the commandments of God, and pro •••• have In • ge poſſeſſions of the world in his heart, he may be ••• ned to many ſuper • it • o •• worldly ••• onts, be 〈◊〉 have his he gre ••• upon the treaſures in the world, or 〈◊〉 the Pleaſures of the world, many a 〈…〉 maken profeſſion, and yet the 〈◊〉 of the world draws away his heart, of the Pleaſures of the world draw 〈◊〉 off, 〈◊〉 becomes • ain: we read 〈◊〉 Mar ••• 〈…〉 buſie-avaine the world, into 〈…〉 thing the 〈◊〉 when as Mary 〈…〉 , word the aking in 〈…〉 of Mary, there •• one thing needful, & Mary had choſen the better part.

Thirdly, The third rank is unſound profeſſors of Chriſt, theſe are as dangerous as the firſt, nay mo •• da ••• is in falſe profeſſors of Chriſt, a man may as well never profeſs Chriſt at all as profeſs him in an e •• onias may the Papiſt thoſe Paſs mon • ers that profeſs Chriſt under a notion of Image worſhip, & mens • raditions, & indentions of men cenſe ••• 〈◊〉 Darers of Popes, and Cardi • olls; and as they ſay the Auriquitie of the 〈◊〉 of Rome, whom they firm to be the Mat • er Church of the World, and the Pope the head thereof, declaring him to 〈◊〉 Peters Succeſſor • and to fit in Peters their whoſe Declaration is falſe, and their Religion pernicious, and the Pope himſelf an Im •••• the 〈◊〉 Antechriſt of the Wor •• 〈…〉 of yt danger of them but 〈…〉 fined to keep in 〈…〉 Soſinians, 〈◊〉 will not alow the Deſep of Chriſt, prede thrée ſubſtances in the God heart, whic • is falſe and 〈…〉 Script 〈◊〉 there is a ſubſtance of the Father ••• making man at the firſt 〈◊〉 his own. 〈◊〉 that be not ſuff •••• to prove the ſubſtance of a perſon, Chriſt is called, Heb. •• the expreſt Image of his Fa • hers perſon Secondly, Chriſt his ſelf come down from his Fathers hoſo • e, took upon him the ſimilitude of man and dyed yi • lded his body to the ſmiters; ſursly here was the ſimilitude of a perſon in C •• iſt, who had a humane body given unto him. Thirdly, the Holy Ghoſt He then affirm not to be a perſon: if that perticle (He) be not ſufficient to prove him a perſon in the Deity; where Chriſt ſaith (He) ſhall tell you all things, yet there is a bodily ſhape put upon him when Itſus was baptized by John in Jordan, in the 3. of Luke, it is ſaid, the Holy Ghoſt deſcended upon him like a Dove, there was a bodily ſhape, to prove this undenyable truth; and then the Arminians that hold Frée, will, and general Redemption, as if perſons had power within themſelves, of themſelves to ſtand or to fall at their own will and pleaſure; Theſe-company beloved are very dangerous to comply with for the avoyding of which, take this word of exhortation, if it be ſo that poverty attende •• vain company, then •• ee vain company & the company of vain perſons, & that you may thus do.

Firſt, Conſider the diſcredit that is attained by vain company, it is a diſgrace to be found complying with vain perſons Pro. 28 7. Whoſo keepeth the Law, is a wiſe ſon, but he that is a companion of riotous men, ſnameth his Father, Prov. 13.5. a wicked man is loathſom and cometh to ſhame, Secondly, Conſider the great waſt you come by, by following vain perſons, whoſe ſociety many times waſteth your outward ſubſtance, Prov. 29.3. Whoſo loveth wiſdom, rejoyceth his Father, but he that keepeth company with Harlots ſpendeth his ſubſtance: the Prodigal in the Goſpel waſted his ſubſtance after this manner. Luk. 15.13. Thirdly, Conſider the advice that is given you by the holy Scriptures, the Apoſtles & followers of Chriſt, exhort you to fly had company, 1 Cor. 5.9. I wrote unto you in an Epiſtle, not to company with fornicators, ver. 10. Yet not altogether with fornicators of this world, nor with coverous not extortioners, for then muſt you needs go out of the world, but now have I writ unto you ver. 11. not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with ſuch a one do not ea • . Fourthly, Conſider that ſuch companions are reſerved for deſtruction, & ſhall be thruſt out of heaven without repentance, Rev. 21.8 The fearful and unbeleiving, the a • ominable and murtherers, and whore mongens, & & forcerers, & idoliters & all Ipers, ſhall have their portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimſtour now beloved, if you ask what you may do to avoid the evil, take theſe helps along with you.

1. Eye your company, watch • v •• your ſelves, while you enjoy the preſen •• of your Companians, and cry them vp the Word of God in their diſcourſes, for with the holy thou ſhalt be holy, and with the prophane, thou ſhalt learn prophaneneſs, 2 Theſ. 3.14 If any man obey not our word by this Epiſt • e note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be aſhamed. 2. Get into the company of all thoſe that fear God & kéep his commandements, Pſalm 119.63. I am a Companion of all thoſe that fear and keep thy precepts. 3. Set your delight on ſuch as fear God really, let your ſoul delight in them, Pſa. 16.2, 3. O my ſoul, thou haſt ſaid unto the Lord, thou art my Lord: my goodneſs extendeth not to thée: but to the Saints that are in the earth, & to the excellent its whom is all my delight.

Dearly beloved in our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, conſider of theſe things, you have heard what evil attends vain company & the Lord of his infinite mercy and goodneſs, in Jeſus Chriſt the great Shepherd and Biſhop of our ſou • s, ſet it home upon your hearts, to whom be praiſe and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.