The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

Table of contents

Title page

❧ TO THE NOBLE AND Religious Lady, the Lady MARIE VERE, increase of ioy and peace in Beleeuing.

The Contents of the whole Booke.

CHAP. I. Containing the Preface, which shewes the drift, warrant, profit, and vse of the ensuing Treatise.

CHAP. II. Containing such Rules as in generall men must take notice of, as preparations and furtherances to a godly life.

CHAP. III. Shewing the things that are to be auoyded by such as would order their conuersation aright.

CHAP. IIII. Containing the generall Rules to be remembred in the manner of doing all good duties.

CHAP. V. Intreating of the rules that concerne our carriage towards God, and in particular about the knowledge of God.

CHAP. VI. Rules, that order is about the manifestation of our loue to God.

CHAP. VII. Rules, that concerne the preseruation of our loue to God.

CHAP. VIII. Containing generall rules about Gods seruice.

CHAP. IX. Shewing how we should carry our selues in Gods House.

CHAP. X. Rules that order vs about hearing of the Word.

CHAP. XI. Rules about the Sacrament of Baptisme.

CHAP. XII. Rules about the Lords Supper.

CHAP. XIII. Rules about prayer.

CHAP. XIIII. Rules about reading the Scriptures.

CHAP. XV. Rules about singing of Psalmes.

CHAP. XVI. Rules about Vowing and Swearing.

CHAP. XVII. Rules about Fasting.

CHAP. XVIII. Rules about the Sabbath.

CHAP. XIX. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues, when wee come into company, in respect of Religion.

CHAP. XX. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company, in respect of the faults of others.

CHAP. XXI. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company, and not giue offence.

CHAP. XXII. How wee must carrie our selues out of company.

CHAP. XXIII. Rules about workes of Mercy.

CHAP. XXIIII. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues towards wicked men.

CHAP. XXV. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues towards godly men.

CHAP. XXVI. How wee should preserue our loue to the godly.

CHAP. XXVII. What wee must auoide, that our loue may bee preserued.

CHAP. XXVIII. How wee must carrie our selues towards such as are fallen.

CHAP. XXIX. How we must carry our selues: towards the weake Christian, &c.

CHAP. XXX. Rules that concern our selues: and so first in our generall calling.

CHAP. XXXI. Rules that order vs in our particular Calling.

CHAP. XXXII. How wee should carry our selues in the time of affliction.

§

§

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THE RVLES OF A HOLY LIFE. OR A Treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture, concerning our carriage:

Towards God,

Towards men,

Towards our selues.

With generall Rules of Preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy Conuersation. By N. BIFIELD Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

PSAL. 50. vlt. To him that ordereth his conuersation aright, will I shew the saluation of God.

LONDON, Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite, and are to bee sold at the Flower de-luce and Crown in Pauls Church-yard. 1619.

❧ TO THE NOBLE AND Religious Lady, the Lady MARIE VERE, increase of ioy and peace in Beleeuing.

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MADAM,

IT was most truely said by the Apostle of the Gentiles: godlines is great gaine; Importing thereby, [Page] that if man would be incited to the care to get any thing, for the profit might come thereby, it should be godlinesse: No skill in the world being c̄oparable to that skill of being able to leade a godly life, for the sure, and speedy, & matchlesse gain it will bring vnto a man: for besides that it onely hath the promise of a better life, godlinesse were to bee desired, and with all possible diligence to bee sought after, for the very gaine of it in this life: For to omit the consideration of the fauor it breeds with God, & the vnspeakable [Page] treasures of the grace of Christ, which alwayes go with it, it were to bee desired for the immediate effects it workes vpon men in it selfe. For if men loue themselues, what should they desire more then that which tends to make themselues perfect? What should it aduantage a man to haue all things good about him, if himselfe bee ill and vile? If men, that were onely guided by the light of Nature, could (some of them) see cleerely, that nothing was so good for a man as to liue well (when yet they knew [Page] no other liuing well, then what was prescribed in their naked and naturall Ethickes) then how much more happy must it be for a man to liue a religious life, by which he is brought more neerer to God, himselfe, and farre aboue the condition of any naturall man? Yea, if there were no more to bee had by it, but the peace and rest it brings vnto a mans heart, it were aboue all outward things to bee desired: for no man walkes safely, that walkes not religiously, nor can any actions of men produce any sound tranquillity [Page] and rest of heart, but such actions as are prescribed by true Religion. What shall I say? If for none of these, yet for it self were a godly life to be had in singular request: for if men, with much expence of outward things, seeke but the skill of diuers, naturall, and artificiall knowledges, and thinke it worth their cost but to bee able to attaine these Skils? how much more ought man to be at the paines, yea and cost too (if it were required) to get this admirable skill to liue a religious life? This most gainefull Subiect [Page] is intreated of in this little Volume; I may truely say, that almost euery sentence in this little Treatise, leads vs to much and rich treasure, if the promises belonging to each duty were annexed thereunto: and therefore no Christian that loues his owne soule, should thinke much of the paines of learning, or practising these Rules.

I shall not need to exhort your Ladiship to the hearty care of those things you haue beene taught of God (long since) to profit, and haue learned Iesus [Page] Christ as the truth is in him: your sincere profession and practice hath many Witnesses: and since you beleeued the Gospell of saluation, and were sealed by the Spirit of promise, you haue a Witnesse within your selfe, which will not faile in life or death to pleade your aboundant consolation. When I entreat of piety, righteousnesse, mercy and temperance, I entreate of things you haue aboue many profited in.

I haue presumed to dedicate these Directions to your Ladiship, and not [Page] without reason: you haue heard the preaching of them with speciall attention, and haue beene a principall perswader to haue them published for the common good, being many wayes bound to acknowledge your Ladiship amongst my best Hearers and Friends. I cannot but beseech your Ladiship to accept of this small testimony of my vnfeigned obseruance of your many prayses in the Gospel, and as a pledge of my thankefulnesse for all your workes of loue to me and mine. The God of glory, and [Page] Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, make you abound yet more and more, in all the riches of his grace in this life, and fill you with the comforts of the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ.

Your Ladiships in the seruice of Iesus Christ, to be euer commanded, N. BIFIELD.

The Contents of the whole Booke.

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Chapter 1. page 1. to the 12.

THE Scope of the whole Booke is, to shew briefly the choysest Rules of life of all sorts.

Some obiections against this course answered, and the warrant and profit of it shewed.

[Page]The easinesse of the course, with some generall Direction.

Cha. 2. p. 12. to 48.

THe Rules are either generall or particular.

The generall Rules concerne, either the helpes to a holy life, or the manner of weldoing.

He that would prepare himselfe to an holy course of life, must do diuers things, and auoide diuers things.

The things hee must doe are these:

1. Hee must be sure he hath repented, & doth beleeue.

2. Hee must get knowledge [Page] how to do well, and that he may attaine knowledge:

1. Hee must esteeme it.

2. Hee must not consult with flesh and bloud.

3. He must redeem the time.

4. Hee must be wise for himselfe.

5. He must be swift to heare.

6. He must study onely profitable things.

7. Hee must striue to increase in knowledge.

8. Hee must propound his doubts.

9. Hee must be rightly ordered toward his Pastor, to pray for him, and obey him, and not discourage him.

[Page]3. He must auoid ill company.

4. He must resolue to practise these Rules.

5. He must order his outward calling so, as hee bee freed from all needlesse incumbrances.

6. Hee must keepe company with such as doe liue well.

7. Hee must not be a seruant of man.

8. Hee must accustome himselfe to the thoughts of the comming of Christ.

9. He must not regard what the multitude doth.

10. Hee must carefully remember to be in all things thankfull to God.

11. He must study to be quiet.

[Page]12. Hee must bee carefull to go on in a direct course.

13. He must reade the Scriptures daily.

14. Hee must bee carefull to preserue his first loue.

15. He must especially striue for such good things as would make him most excell in his Place and Calling.

16. Hee must be often in the duties of mortification.

17. Hee must obserue the opportunities of well doing.

18. Hee must bee carefull of keeping the Sabbath.

19. He must often meditate of the examples of the godly that excell in holinesse.

[Page]20. He must daily pray God to direct him.

Chap. 3. P. 48. to 56.

THus of what he must do, what hee must auoide followes; and so hee must take heed,

1. Of carelesenesse.

2. Of rashnesse.

3. Of carnall confidence.

4. Of hasting to be rich.

5. Of distrustfull feares.

6. Of adding to, or taking from the Word of God.

7. Of contempt of reproofe.

8. Of beholding of vanity.

9. Of the beginnings of sin.

Chap. 4. p. 56. to 81.

[Page]NIne things to be euer in our minds, that in general concerne the manner of all well-doing, for in all good workes wee must shew:

1—1. Zeale.

2—2. Sincerity, which hath in it:

Truth,

Respect to all Gods commandements,

A right end,

Obedience, without obiecting,

Obedience in all companies.

3. Constancy, whē we do good,

[Page]Without wearinesse.

Without discouragement.

Without resistance.

Without wauering.

Without declining.

4. Feare.

5. Simplicity, which is,

To rest vpon the Word for the forme of holinesse and happinesse.

To be harmelesse.

To be simple concerning euill.

To loue goodnesse for it selfe.

To bee meeke and lowlyminded.

So to feare God, as not to enuy the wicked.

6. Circumspection, which [Page] hath in it,

A respect of lesser Commandements,

Abstaining from appearance of euill,

Obseruation of the circumstances of things,

Vnrebukeablenesse,

Auoiding euill when good might come of it.

7. Growth, which hath in it,

Abounding in goodnesse,

Finishing of holinesse.

Progresse.

8. Moderation, to bee neither iust nor wicked ouermuch, which is expounded at large.

Chap. 5. p. 81. to 95.

[Page]THVS of the generall Rules; the particular Rules concerne either God, or other men, or our selues.

Our whole duty to God concernes either his loue, or his seruice.

The loue of God must be considered, either in the foundation of it, or in the exercise of it.

The foundation of the loue of God, is the knowledge of God.

The Rules about the knowledge of God, concerne either the right conceiuing of his Nature, or our [Page] acquaintance with God. That we may conceiue aright of the Nature of God:

1. Wee must cast out all likenesses.

2. Wee must striue to conceiue of him according to his speciall prayses in his Word.

3. We must bring with vs the faith of the Trinity.

4. We may helpe our selues by thinking of the Godhead in the Humane Nature of Christ.

5. Wee must get cure for Atheisticall thoughts,

That we may be acquainted with God.

1. We must prepare our harts.

[Page]2. Wee must begge acquaintance by prayer, praying with all our hearts, and earely and constantly.

3. We must giue our selues to God.

Chap. 6. p. 95. to 121.

THVS of the foundation of the loue of God: the Rules that concerne the exercise of our loue to God, either shew vs how to manifest our loue to God, or how to preserue it.

Wee manifest our loue to God:

1. By auouching him to be our God.

2. By prouiding him a [Page] place to dwell with vs.

3. By louing Iesus Christ.

4. By walking with him, which hath fiue things in it.

5. By honouring God: and wee honour him;

By seeking his Kingdome first.

By open profession of his Truth.

By grieuing for his dishonour.

By directing all our actions to his glory.

By suffering for his sake.

By honoring such as feare him.

By hating his enemies.

By speaking of his Truth [Page] with all reuerence.

By free-will-offerings.

By praysing him: where diuers Rules.

6. By trusting in him: and this trust in God we shew:

By relying vpon his mercy for our saluation.

By committing all our workes to his blessing.

By beleeuing what he saith

By staying vpon him in all distresses, praying to him, and casting our care vpon him, and relying vpon his helpe,

Without leaning to our vnderstanding:

Without murmuring,

Without feare,

[Page]Without care,

Without vsing ill meanes.

7. By obeying him.

In the manner also of our manifesting our loue to God, we must doe it,

1. With feruency.

2. With feare: and our feare of God we shew,

By awful thoughts of God.

By departing from euill.

By all reuerence of minde.

By not fearing men.

By remembring his presence.

By trembling at his iudgments.

By humility in the vse of his Ordinances.

By the reuerend vse of [Page] his very Titles.

Chap. 7. p. 121.

THus of the manifestation of our loue to God, for the preseruation of our loue to God.

1. Wee must separate our selues from all others to be his.

2. Wee must beware that we forget not God.

3. Wee must edifie our selues in our holy faith.

4. Wee must pray in the holy Ghost.

5. We must waite for the comming of Christ.

6. We must seek his speciall presence in his Ordinances.

[Page]7. We must preserue the Truth hee hath deliuered to vs.

8. Wee must study his prayses.

9. Wee must study to reioyce in God, which containes in it 4. things: where eight rules to obtaine this ioying in God.

Cha. 8. p. 121. to 138.

THus of our loue to God: his seruice followes, and the rules about the seruice of God, concerne either the parts of his seruice, or the time of it.

The Rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship, are [Page] either general to all parts, or speciall.

Nine things to bee remembred in all parts of Gods worship:

1. Preparation.

2. Godly feare.

3. Penitency.

4. Griefe that others serue not God.

5. That all be done in the name of Christ.

6. Precedency before other businesses.

7. That we serue with all our hearts.

8. Desire to please him.

9. Detestation of what might draw vs from his seruice.

Chap. 9. p. 138. to 147.

[Page]THe speciall Rules concerne either his publique seruice, or the particular parts of his seruice: Vnto the publique seruice,

All must come,

With speciall reuerence

And zeale: and this zeale to be shewed six waies.

And with our consent,

With speciall gladnesse before God,

And trust in his mercy,

And thankefulnes for all successes.

Chap. 10. p. 147. to 156.

THE speciall parts of Gods worship, are,

[Page]1. Hearing: where the rules concerne vs.

1. Before hearing.

A resolution to deny our owne wits and affections.

A meek and humble spirit.

2. In the time of hearing.

Speciall attention.

Prouing of the doctrine.

3. After Hearing:

1. Meditation.

2. Practice.

Chap. 11. p. 156. to 166.

2. THE Sacraments which are either Baptisme or the Lords Supper.

Concerning Baptisme wee haue diuers things to doe:

1. About our children to present them to Baptisme,

In due time.

In faith.

[Page]With Thankefulnesse.

2. About our selues, to make vse of our owne Baptisme,

In case of doubting,

In the case of temptatiō to sin, where our Baptisme serues for vse three waies:

In the case of doubting of our perseuerance.

3. About others, to acknowledge the Baptized.

Chap. 12. p. 166. to 171.

COncerning the Lords Supper wee are charged with,

1. Examination.

2. The discerning of the Lords Bodie.

3. The shewing forth of the death of Christ.

4. The vowes of louing the godly.

5. Reconciliation.

6. Vowes of holy life.

Chap. 13. p. 171. to 178.

[Page]3. PRayer, about which the Rules are,

1. Thy words must bee few.

2. Thy heart must bee lifted vp, which hath three things in it; vnderstanding, freedom from distractions, and feruency.

3. Thou must vse all manner of prayer.

4. Thou must perseuer in prayer.

5. Thou must be instant without fainting or discouragement.

6. With supplications for all sorts.

7. In all things thou must giue thankes.

Cha. 14. p. 178. to 184.

4. REading the Scripture, the Rules are:

1. Reade daily.

2. Meditate of what thou readest

[Page]3. Conferre vpon it.

4. Resolue to obey.

Chap. 15. pa. 184. to 186.

5. SInging of P [...]lmes, the rules are:

1. Teach one another by Psalmes.

2. Sing with the heart.

3. Sing with grace.

4. Make melody to the Lord.

Chap. 16. p. 186. to 190.

6. VOwes: the rules are:

1. Before thou vow, consider.

2. When thou hast vowed, defer not to pay.

7. Swearing: the rules are,

1. Sweare not by any thing which is not God.

2. Sweare in Truth.

3. Sweare in Iudgement.

4. Sweare in righteousnesse.

Chap. 17. p. 190. to 193.

[Page]8. FAsting, rules concerne

1. The strictnesse of the abstinen [...]

2. The humbling of the soule.

Chap. 18. p. 193. to 204.

HItherto of the parts of Gods worship: the time followes, which chiefly is the Sabbath, and the rules about the Sabbath concern [...]

1. The preparation to it:

End thy worke.

Auoid domestical vnquietnes.

Cleanse thy selfe.

2. The celebration of it, where is prescribed:

1. Rest from all worke.

2. Readinesse and delight.

3. Care and watchfulnesse.

4. Sincerity to bee shewed:

[Page]By doing Gods works with as much care as our owne.

By obseruing the whole day.

By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath.

5. Faith, by trusting vpon his blessing.

6. Discretion.

Chap. 19. p. 204. to 209.

HItherto of the rules that concerne our carriage towards God: Towards man followes; and so either towards all men, or towards some men.

The rules that order vs in our carriage towards all men, concerne either righteousnesse, or mercy.

The rules that concerne righteousnesie, either order in company, or out of company.

[Page]In company we must be ordered, either in respect of Religion, or the sin of others, or the way how to carry our selues inoffensiuely:

For matter of Religion look to it:

1. That thou take not vp the name of God in vaine.

2. That thou auoide vaine ianglings, about doubtfull disputations, or curious questions, or vnprofitable reasonings.

3. If thou be asked a reason of thy hope, answer with all reuerence and meekenesse.

4. Let thy communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay.

Chap. 20. p. 209. to 216.

AS for the faults of others,

1. Iustifie not the wicked, [Page] nor condemne the righteous.

2. Conuerse, without iudging.

3. Walke not about with tales.

4. Reprooue, but hate not.

5. Passe by meere frailties.

6. Giue soft answeres.

Chap. 21. p. 216. to 229.

THat thou maist conuerse inoffensiuely, thou must look to three things, humility, discretion, and purity.

Vnto the humility of thy conuersation belong these rules.

1. Be soft, shew all meekenesse to all men.

2. Hearken to the words of those that are wise.

3. Stand not in the place of great men.

Vnto the discretion of thy conuersation belong these rules.

[Page]1. Speake what is acceptable.

2. Auoide those that cause diuisions.

3. Make no friendship with the angry man.

4. In the euill time bee silent.

5. And communicate not thy secrets.

6. Withdraw thy foote from thy neighbours house.

7. Restraine thy passions.

8. Blesse not thy friend with a loud voyce.

Vnto the purity of thy conuersation belong these rules:

1. Refraine thy tongue from euill.

2. Especially auoide filthy speaking, foolish talking and iesting,

3. Auoide reuelling and drinking.

Chap. 22. pa. 229. to 233.

[Page]OVT of company:

1. Conceiue loue to all men.

2. Pray for all sorts of men;

3. Prouide to liue,

Honestly, without Scandall.

Iustly, without Deceit.

Peaceably, without Strife.

Chap. 23. pa. 233. to 245.

THus of righteousnesse: mercy followeth; and vnto mercy is requisite,

1. Willingnesse,

2. Labour.

3. Liberality.

4. Humility to be shewed fiue waies.

5. Faith, in two respects

6. Discretion in foure respects.

7. Sympathy.

8. Sincerity in fiue things.

Chap. 24. pa. 245. to 260.

THus of the Rules that order our carriage towards all men: towards some men followes, as they are either wicked, [Page] or godly:

As for the wicked,

1. Hold no needlesse society with them.

2. When thou must needes come into their company, carry thy selfe wisely, that thou maist, if it be possible, win them: and to this end shew

1. Thy mortification.

2. Reuerend speech in matter of God and Religion.

3. Meekenesse of wisedome.

4. Reseruednesse in 8. things.

5. Mercy.

6. Vndauntednesse in a good cause.

7. Patience.

8. Loue to thy enemies.

Chap. 25. p. 260. to 271.

THus of our carriage towards wicked men: In our carriage towards the godly, the sum of all is, Walke in loue: and the particular rules concerne, either the manifestation of our loue vnto them, or the preseruation of loue to thē.

Six wayes to manifest our loue to the godly

1. By courtesie.

2. By receiuing them.

3. By bearing their burthens.

[Page]4. By prouoking them to good duties.

5. By faithfulnesse in their businesse.

6. By imploying our gifts for their good.

Chap. 26. pa. 271. to 279.

FOR the preseruation of our loue to the godly, some things are to be done, and other things to be auoided.

The things to be done, are:

1. Labour to be like-minded.

2. Follow peace.

3. Couer their nakednesses.

4. Confesse your faults one to another.

Chap. 27. pag. 279. to 288.

TEN things to be auoyded.

1. Suits in Law.

2. Dissimulation.

3. Conceitednesse.

4. Reioycing in iniquity.

5. The minding of our owne things.

6. Ficklenesse.

7. Vaine-glory.

8. Iudging.

9. Euill words, and complaining.

10. The forsaking of their fellowship.

Chap. 28. p. 288. to 294.

[Page]OTher Rules which concerne onely some of the godly.

1. Such as are falne.

2. Such as are weake.

3. Such as are strong.

4. Such as are especially kuit vnto vs in friendship.

1. Those that are falne, are either falne from God, or from thee: from God, either grosly or by infirmity; and so are guilty of foule vices, or extreme omissions.

1. Warne them, and reproue them.

2. If they mend not, auoide them.

3. If they repent, forgiue them.

Toward such as are falne frō thee, by trespassing against thee, obserue these rules:

1. Either speake not of it, or so, as thou vex not at it.

2. In great wrongs two things are to bee done:

First, when the trespasse is secret, reprooue him priuatly: if he mend not, reprooue him before witnesse: if hee yet mend not, make the Church acquainted with it: if he will not then amend, hold him as a Heathen, or a Publican.

[Page]Secondly, if he repent, forgiue him, as often as he saith, It repenteth him.

Chap. 29. pa. 294. to 298.

2. TOwards such as are weake,

1. We must not intangle them with doubtfull disputations concerning Ceremonies, or things indifferent.

2. Wee must beare with their weakenesses.

3. Wee must not offend them.

4. Wee must incourage and comfort them.

5. In things indifferent, we must suffer a little restraint of our owne liberty to please them.

3. Towards strong Christians:

First, we must acknowledge them.

Secondly, wee must set their practice before vs, as examples of imitation.

Thirdly, we must submitour selues to them, to haue their iudgements in all doubtfull things.

Fourthly, how we must carry our selues towards our speciall friend.

1. Neuer forsake him.

2. Giue him hearty counsell.

3. Be friendly to him.

4. Communicate thy secrets to him.

5. Loue him with a speciall loue:

[Page]First, as thine owne soule.

Secondly, at all times.

Thirdly, it must be a sincere loue, that looketh not for bribes.

Fourthly, it must bee such a loue as will reach to his posterity, if need be.

Chap. 30. p. 298. to 308.

RVles that concerne our selues, are of two sorts.

1. Either our Generall, or Particular Calling.

Concerning our generall Calling,

1. Our Faith.

2. Our Repentance.

3. Our Hope.

1. Concerning our Faith, we must be expert in the Catalogue of promises, that concerne infirmities, mentioned in the third Treatise. Our iudgement must be established particularly in the doctrine of the Principles, expressed in the fifth Treatise.

2. Concerning our Repentance, one Rule is of singular vse, and that concernes the Catalogue of present sinnes, mentioned in the first Treatise.

3. Concerning our Hope, 4 things:

[Page]1. We must pray earnestly, for the knowledg of the great glory is prouided for vs.

2. We must vse all diligence to perfect our assurance of Heauen, when we die.

3. We must accustome our thoughts to the daily contemplation of heauen, that our conuersation may be in heauen.

4. We must striue to inable our selues for the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ, and to be able to waite for his comming.

Chap. 31. pa. 308. to 317.

SEuen things to be auoided in our particular Calling:

1. Slothfulnesse.

2. Vnfaithfulnesse.

3. Rashnesse.

4. Passion, or perturbation.

5. The Temptations of our Calling.

6. Worldlinesse.

7. Prophanenesse.

Chap. 32. pa. 317. to 323.

HOw we must cary our selues in afflictiō Eight things to be auoided:

1. Dissembling.

[Page]2. Shame:

3. Impatience.

4. Discouragement.

5. Trust in carnall friends.

6. Perplexed cares.

7. Sudden feares.

8. Carelessenesse of thy wayes.

Fiue things to be done in the time of affliction:

1. We must pray, and call vpon the Name of the Lord.

2. We must beare our crosse with patiience and contentation.

3. We must vse all good meanes for our deliuerance.

4. We must be sure to shew our trust in God, & cast our burthen on the Lord

5. We must shew our obedience to God. foure waies:

First, by submitting our selues to Gods will.

Secondly, if we iudge our selues, and acknowledge our sinnes to God.

Thirdly, if wee bee constant in the good wayes of godlinesse.

Fourthly, if we learne more righteousnes, and are made by our crosses to do holy duties with better affections.

CHAP. I.
Containing the Preface, which shewes the drift, warrant, profit, and vse of the ensuing Treatise.

[Page]

THE onely thing intended in this Treatise is,The scope to collect for thy vse (Christian Reader) those directions scattered here & there in the Scriptures, [Page] which may, through out the whole course of thy life, tell thee, what thou must do in the right order of thy conuersation: How thou shouldst behaue thy selfe toward God, and how thou shouldst carry thy selfe toward men, in all the occasions of thy life: In company, out of company: In all duties either of righteousnesse or mercy: and how thou shouldst dispose of thy selfe in affliction, and out of affliction, at all times.

And thou maist be the more encouraged to study and practise these rules,Thy warrant. because thou hast the most [Page] expresse & apparant word of God to warrant and require thy obedience herein.

Be not so prophane, as to thinke, that here is more to do then needs, or that I burthen the liues of Christians with a multitude of vnnecessary Precepts, and so make the way harder then it is: For I require thy obedience in nothing, thou hast not reason to be perswaded to bee enioyned thee by the pure word of God; And thou must know, to the confusion of thy security; that hee that will walke [Page] safely, must walke by rule, Gal. 6. 16. Hee is yet in darkenesse, and walkes on in darkenesse, and sees not what he doth, or whither hee goeth, that doth not make the Word of God the light vnto his feet, and the Lanterne vnto his pathes: Psal. 119. There is a holy order of life commended in the godly, Col. 2. 5. and Gods promises are made to such as will dispose of their waies aright. A loose conuersation is an ill conuersation; and if euer we would see the saluation of God, wee must bee at the paines to dispose of our [Page] waies, and to see to it, that we dispose of our waies aright, Psal, 50. vlt.

The benefite thou maist reape by this Treatise,The profit of the course. is much euery way, if the fault bee not in thy selfe: for here thou maist briefely behold the substance of a godly life; thou maist in a short time informe thy knowledge in that great doctrine of practicall Diuinity: But especially thou maist, by the help of this Treatise see a sound way, how to beautifie thy owne conuersation, with the addition of diuers rules, which, perhaps, hitherto [Page] thou hast not taken notice of: God hath promised much peace, and comfort vnto such as will walke according vnto rule, Gal. 6. 16. Yea, hee hath promised, that they shall see the saluation of God, that dispose their way aright, Psal. 50. vlt. It is true, it is a greater labour to trauaile in the way, then to shew it; but yet it is a great benefite to be shewed the way. Howsoeuer, it may not be denied, but it is a greater glory to obserue these rules, then to know them, or prescribe them.

It may be thou wilt obiect,The easines of the course. [Page] that the rules are so many, thou canst neuer remember them, and so not profite by them. I answer:

If I haue made the rules no more in number then God hath made them in his Word, thou maist not finde fault with me.

Secondly, no man that is to learne any Trade, or Science, but hee meeteth with more directions, then hee can on the suddaine reach to, or practise, and yet hee reiects not his Trade or Science, because in time he hopes to learne it all. Would we put on a resolution to serue a Prentiship [Page] to Religion, and to worke hard one whole seuen yeeres: oh, what work would we dispatch! How many Rules and Knowledges would wee grow skilfull in! But alas, after many yeeres profession of Christianity, the most of vs, if all were put together, haue not done the worke, that might haue bene done in few daies.

Thirdly,Marke this direction. I answer, that it is not necessary thou shouldst lay all these Rules before thee at once, but marke out certaine choise Rules, so many as thou canst well remember, and [Page] striue, by daily practice, to bring thy selfe to some kinde of dexterity in obseruing them. There bee some rules of each kinde, which, if thou bee a true Christian, thou knowest and obseruest already: These thou maist continue to obserue still, without loading thy memory about them. Now if those be omitted, then consider of the rest that remaine, which of them do most concerne thee, or would most adorne thy practice and profession, or are such as thou neuer hitherto didst make conscience of: [Page] Extract or marke out so many of those at a time, as thou wouldst in daily practice striue to attaine, and when thou hast learned them, then go on, and prescribe to thy selfe new Lessons. To a carnall minde, all the way of godlinesse is impossible, but to a godly and willing minde all things, through the power and assistance of God, are possible: God will accept thy desire and endeuour, and will adde strength and might, and encourage thee in all his waies. By prayer thou maist forme any grace in [Page] thee, by reason of the power the Lord Iesus hath to preuaile for any thing thou dost aske the Father in his name.

The last benefite may come to thee, if thou daily reade these directions, is, that they will quicken thee to a great care of weldoing, and giue thee cause to walke humbly with thy God, and abase thy selfe for thine owne insufficiency: The Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things, and vnite thy heart vnto his feare alwaies, that thou maist obserue to doe, as hee commandeth thee, and [Page]not turne from the good way all the daies of thy life.

CHAP. II.
Containing such Rules as in generall men must take notice of, as preparations and furtherances to a godly life.

THE Rules of holy life may bee cast into two rankes:The rules of life are either generall or particular. the first containing such rules as are Generall: and the other, such as are Particular. The generall rules concerne either, The helps to a godly life▪

The generall rules are likewise of two sorts: some of them concerne certain [Page] generall preparations, helpes, or furtherances to a holy life, without which men in vaine beginne the cares, or endeuours of a reformed life: And some of them comprehend those necessary rules which are to be obserued in the manner of doing all holy duties,Or secondly, the manner of wel-doing and so are of singular vse to bee alwaies remembred, when wee go about any seruice.

Of the first sort there are many rules;Whoso will address himselfe to a holy course of life. for they that will addresse themselues to order their conuersation aright, must be soundly carefull in the obseruation [Page] of these directions following.

1 He must examine himselfe about his faith and repentance; hee must bee sure hee is reconciled to God, and hath truely repented himselfe of his sinnes, 2. Cor. 13. 5. For vnlesse hee bee a new creature, hee is no creature, but a dead man, and so vtterly vnable for the practice of these rules following: And without God we can do nothing; and without God we are, till we liue by faith: Besides, the pollution of our hearts or liues drawne vpon vs by the custome of sinne past [Page] and present, will so infect all we do, that it will bee abominable to God, and so lost labour.

This is the first Rule.

2 His next care must be to learne the knowledge of the rules of life; wee can neuer practise what we know not, and therefore our next care and paines must be to get the knowledge of Gods waies distinctly, and effectually, into our heads and hearts; Our direction must not be in our bookes, but in our heads; and a Christian must haue his rules alwaies before him, that so hee [Page] may walke circumspectly by line and leuel, Ephes. 5. 15. vnderstanding the will of God in what hee is to doe. He is in the way of life, that hath and keepeth instruction, how to liue, Prou. 10. 17. whereas he that will not be at the paines of getting instruction, erreth, as Salomon saith: And therefore wee must take fast hold of instruction, and not let her goe, but keep her: for shee is our life, Prou. 4. 13. Knowledge then, of necessity must be had, or in vaine we go about to liue well. Now this is such a rule, as must not slightly bee passed ouer, [Page] and it is not enough thus in generall to require knowledge, but withall, I would shew certain choice rules to be obserued by vs,And hee that would prosper in seeking knowlege must obserue nine Rules. if wee would take a sound course to attaine knowledge. He then that would prosperously seeke sound knowledge, must remember these directions.

First,1. He must esteeme knowlege. hee must esteeme knowledge, and labour to frame his heart to a high estimation of it, accounting it as great treasure, accounting the getting of wisdome aboue all gettings, Pro. 4. 7. We must seek for knowledge, as for siluer, & search[Page]for her, as for treasure, and then with wonderfull successe shall wee vnderstand the right feare of the Lord, Prou. 2. 4. else our labour will bee blasted and fruitlesse, if wee bring meane thoughts to the exercise of directions for the attaining of knowledge.

Secondly,2. He must not consult with flesh and bloud. he must take heede that hee consult not with flesh and bloud, Gal. 1. 16 He must not regard other mens opinions, or his own carnall reason, but resolue to giue glory to God and his Word, as willing to beleeue or doe whatsoeuer the Lord saith vnto him.

[Page]3.3. He must redeeme the time. Thirdly, he must redeeme the time, Ephes. 5. 16. Inasmuch as he hath lost so much time past, hee must now prouide to allow himselfe conuenient and certaine time to be spent this way for the attaining of knowledge, else to study by snatches and vncertainly, will bee to little or no purpose. To complaine of ignorance, will not serue the turne, nor will the pretence of worldly businesse excuse vs: and therefore we must buy so much time of our occasions, as may bee competent for the supply of our wants in knowledge.

[Page]4.4. He must be wise for himselfe. Fourthly, in seeking knowledge, he must be wise for himselfe, Prou. 9. 12. He must striue to vnderstand his owne way, so to be carefull to know the generals about religion, as his speciall care bee in all things to referre what hee reades or heares, to the particular directions of his owne soule. This is a rule of singular Vse, if it could bee beaten into mens heads, and for want of this, many Christians, after long paines, & much time spent, haue bin found exceeding ignorant.

5.5. He must be swift to heare. Hee must be swift to [Page]heare, Iam. 1. 19. with all frequency and attention, making vse of the publike Ministry, striuing with his owne heart against deadnesse, and drowsinesse, and remouing al impediments might bee cast in his way from the world, or his worldly occasions, obseruing all opportunities for hearing, especially when hee seeth the heart of his Teacher enlarged, and the power of Doctrine more then at other times, or in other things.

6.6. He must study only profitable things. Sixtly, he must auoid vaine questions, and fruitles contemplations, Titus. 3. 9. [Page]1. Tim. 6. 20. 2. Tim. 2. 23. When the light of doctrin was so great in the Primitiue times, this was one practice of Sathan, to draw aside the studies of Christians from necessary and solid truths, to Genealogies or quarrels about words or vaine controuersies, falsly called oppositions of science: We must therfore be warned of this method of Sathan, & till we know cleerly the wayes of life, allow our selues no time for more remote studies, or fruitlesse Controuersies. What riches of knowlege might some Christians [Page] haue attained to, if they had spent the time (they haue imployed about con [...]rouersies, genealogies, & generall knowledge) in the [...]ound building of themselues vp in such things, as their soules apparantly stand in need of?

Seuenthly,7. He must striue to increase in knowlege. hee must not [...]est satisfied with a small measure of vnderstanding; hee must not giue ouer when he hath gotten a little knowledge more then he had: hee must desire to increase in knowledge, and neuer be well pleased with himselfe, while he is but a Child in vnderstāding, 1. Cor. 14. 20.

[Page]8.8. He must propound his doubts Eightly, Hee must inquire and take counsell, he must propound his doubts daily and carefully. Hee that would know much, must aske much, hee must breake off that wretched silence he is prone to, and prouide, if it bee possible, to enioy the fauor of some one or moe, that are able to resolue his doubts from time to time. This rule hath incredible profit in it, if it bee rightly practised, Prou. 15. 12. & 20. 17, 18. & 27. 9.

Ninthly,9. He must be rightly ordered towards his Pastor. and lastly: He must bee rightly ordered in respect of his Pastor. For the [Page] principal meanes of knowledge is assigned of God to be in the Ministry of his seruants: and therefore if wee would attaine knowledge, we must dispose our selues aright towards our Teachers, and to this end we must looke to it,

First,1. To pray for him. that wee pray for them, that their word may run and haue free passage, & that God wold make them able to open vnto vs the mysteries of his will, 2. Thes. 3. 1. 2. Colos. 4. 3. Ephes. 6. 19.

Secondly,2. To obey him. we must keep their directions, and make conscience of it to be carefull to obey them, in what [Page] they command vs in the Lord, 1. Cor. 11. 2.

Thirdly, wee must take heed of discouraging them. For this is not profitable for vs. For the more cheerefull and comfortable their hearts are, the more apt they are to finde out profitable things for vs, Heb. 13. 18. 1. Cor. 16. 10, 11.

And thus of the first and second rule.

Thirdly, hee that would redresse his waies aright,The third rule. must get out of the way of wicked men: Hee must get out of euill company. He must giue ouer euill company, and sequester himselfe from the counsell and society of carnal [Page] and prophane persons. The necessity of this rule is both proued and vrged in these & many other Scriptures, Prou. 4. 14. Psal. 1. 1. 2. Cor. 6. 17. Epb. 5. 7, 8.

Fourthly,4. He must resolue to practise. he must bring a minde full of care & desire, and resolution to practise the rules, when hee hath learned them: he must as the phrase is, obserue to doe Gods will, Deut. 5. 32. Hee must be watchfull and diligent, hee must ponder vpon the waies of God, bewaring lest hee eyther neglect or forget to doe them, Deut. 6. 17. & 31. 46. & 8. 11. 1. Corin. 16. 13. Prou. 4. 26. [Page] we must follow after righteousnesse, 1. Tim. 6. 11. and binde directions as signes vpon our hands, &c. Deut. 8. 28. If wee could be thus awakened, this rule would breed vs vnspeakable good in our conuersation.

Fiftly,5. He must settle his outward estate. he must endeuor to settle his head and his estate in respect of his worldly affaires. It is a singular helpe to godlinesse, to reduce our outward callings into order, and euery daies experience shewes, that confusions in worldly businesse breede miserable neglect in Gods seruice. And therefore hee that [Page] would profite in an orderly course of life, must prouide to vse the world so, as he may serue the Lord without distraction: Hee, that would runne a race, abstaineth from all things, that might encumber him. No man, that warreth, intangleth himselfe with the affaires of life, that hee may please him, who hath chosen him to be a souldier: And therefore we may not think it much, if in our spirituall course God lay some restraint vpō vs, in respect of the cares and encumbrances in our outward Callings, 1. Cor. 7. 29. 35. &c. [Page]2. Tim. 2. 4. 1. Cor. 9. 28.

Sixthly,6. He must keep company with the godly. He must walke in the way of good men, both setting before him their practice, as patternes of imitation, as also by conuersing with them, that thereby he may gather encouragement, and help in well-doing. Hee is deceiued, that thinkes to goe alone, and yet go prosperously in the course of a godly life: Hee may profit, and learne by many things he heareth, receiueth, and seeth among the godly. Prou. 2. 20. Phil. 4. 8, 9.

Seuenthly,7. He must not be the seruant of men. Hee must not bee the seruant of men, [Page]1. Cor. 7. 23. other mens humours must not be the direction of this practice: He must so depend vpon persons he hopes to get any thing by in this world, as hee be not thereby hindred in workes of Religion, knowing, that he is Christs Free-man.

Hee must haste to,8. He must looke for the comming of Christ.and looke for the comming of Iesus Christ, 2. Pet. 3. 12. Hee must often remember his latter end, and daily set before his eies the comming of Christ, striuing to stirre vp in his heart the desire after Chrst, praying for it, and dispatching those [Page] workes, that may prepare him thereunto: The remembrance of our accounts in the day of Christ will wonderfully quicken men to the care of well, doing, and the cause of the viciousnesse, and miserable neglect, and procrastinations of many is, their forgetting of their latter end: A great reason, why the directions about godlinesse are not entertained, is, because men put farre away from them the day of the Lord: whereas the remembrance of the reuelation of Iesus Christ, would put Spirit and Life [Page] into vs. Hee dares not say from his heart, Come, Lord Iesus, come quickly, that is not resolued diligently to worke the works of Christ.

9 He must not stay for company,9 He must notregard what the multitude doth. but rather choose to runne alone; or with a few, then hazzard the losse of the Crowne. Our life is a Race, and as in a race men stay not for company, but striue who may runne formost: so it is in the race of godlinesse: He must so runne, as he may obtaine: He must set out with the first, and runne as it were for his life: As [Page] he must make vse of the society of the godly, so hee must not stay, till his carnall friends, and acquaintance will set out with him: Hee must bee of Ioshua's minde, that if the whole world will liue in wickednesse and prophanenesse, yet he and his house will serue the Lord, 1. Cor. 9. 24. & 14. 12. Iosh. 24. 15.

Tenthly,10. Hee must in all things giue thanks. hee must in all things giue thankes; when God giues him successe in any thing, or prospers the meanes to him, and helps him with victory ouer any sinne, or strength to performe any duety, or bestowes [Page] vpon him any spirituall blessing, hee must remember to praise God in the name of Iesus Christ. This will quicken him: Daily thankfulnesse will breed daily alacrity in wel-doing: Hee that will not be thankfull for beginnings of successe in the practice of holy duties, will not hold out: This is the speciall will of Christ, that wee should in all things giue thankes, 1. Thess. 5. 18.

He must study to be quiet,11. Hee must study to bee quiet.and follow peace with all men, meddling with his own businesse, and auoiding all occasion of contention, [Page] that might distract him in his owne course: A busybody is as good as no body in respect of sound progresse in sanctification: It is an excellent skill to bee able to auoide the intanglements of discord; especially hee must prouide to haue perfect peace with the godly. Though GOD bee able to sanctifie the oppositions of vnreasonable men, yet wee must take heed of drawing needlesse troubles vpon our selues; for that makes vs neither to be, nor to be accounted the more holy, but contrariwise. [Page] The Apostle could not speake vnto the Corinthians, as vnto spirituall men, but as vnto carnall; at the best, but Babes in Christ; and the reason was, because there was strife and enuy, and diuision amongst them, Romanes 9. 19. Hebrewes 12. 14. Marke 9. vlt. I. Cor. 3. 3.

His eyes must looke straight,12. Hee must keep a strict course in following onely profitable things.and his eye-liddes right before him, Prou. 4. 25. Hee must take heed of going about, and fetching of compase in Religion, Ier. 31. 32. Hee must bee still aiming at the marke [Page]of the high prize of his calling: being sure that the things hee employeth himselfe in, tend directly to the furtherance of his saluation, and not lose his time in vnprofitable studies, or practices, proceeding from one degree to another, till hee come to a ripe age in Christ.

13.13. Hee must bee conuersant daily in the reading of the holy Scriptures He must bee conuersanrt in the Scriptures, & bee familiarly acquainted with them, that they may dwell plenteously in him: For those good words of God haue not onely light in them to direct vs, but power also to assist vs to do [Page] what they require, and by the daily reading and hearing of them, wee shall bee excited to more care of well-doing: we must exercise our selues in the Word day and night, and neuer let them depart out of our hearts, but keep our hearts still warme, with the heate that comes from them, neuer suffering the warmth to go out through our long forbearance of the vse of them, Col. 3. 16. Psal. 1. 2. Iosh. 8. Isaiah. 8. 16, 20.

14.14. Hee must keep his first loue. Hee must carefully perseuer in his first loue, Reu, 2. 4. The Lord is wont at some times or other, about [Page] the first conuersion of a sinner, to shew himselfe with such power in his ordinances, and to reueale vnto him such glories in the merits & gifts of Iesus Christ, and the happinesse of his estate in him, that his hart is thereby fired to a cheerfull liking of the meanes of saluation, and of godly persons, and to a wonderfull desire after God, and care to please God. Now hee that would prosper in a Christian course, must bee wonderfully careful to preserue affection, & this spirituall loue in his hart, and watch, against, and resist [Page] the first beginnings of decay, or coldnesse, or declining in his heart, and take heed of suffering his heart to be drawne away by the deceitfulnesse of sin, or the inticements of the world.

15.15. Hee must couet the best gifts. Hee must couet earnestly the best gifts, 1. Cor. 12 vlt. There are some duties in Piety or Mercy, or righteousnesse, which in respect of our places do most concerne vs, and would in a more speciall manner adorne our particular profession: so are there some gifts which doe aduance our communiō with God, and do make vs more profitable [Page] amongst men. Now these things we should study, and earnestly labour to frame our selues to, and to expresse them more effectually in our conuersation. This no doubt is the reason why the holy Ghost doth in Scripture make Catalogues of certain speciall duties, or graces singled out from the rest, and fitted to the conditions of the people who are written to: and this would be a singular aduantage to vs, if wee also would single out to our vse some few of the chiefest vertues or duties which wee would daily [Page] set before vs, and striue by prayer and all holy indeuor to fashion them to life in our hearts of liues.

16.16. He must often humble his soule before God. He must renew often his mortification; mans heart is like fallow ground, which is not to receiue seed, till it be broken vp, and at best it is like a garden which will often need weeding. If we doe not at some times in speciall manner humble our soules before God, worldly cares, or carnall delights will ouer-grow our desires and our practice, & choake the seed of the Word receiued by vs; we must keep [Page] vnder our bodies, & bring them in subiection, and be often dragging our lusts to the crosse of Christ, there to crucifie them. Our practice is like to sowing, which presupposeth plowing before, Ier. 4. 34. Hosh. 10. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 27.

17.17. Hee must watch for the opportunities of wel-doing Hee must watch for the opportunities of well-doing, and take heed of procrastination: he must seeke righteousness, and haste to it, hee must not put it off, till to morrow, Esay 16. 5. Pro. 3. 28. & 23. 26. Amos 5. 14.

18.18. Hee must bee carefull of sāctifying the Sabbath. He must remember the Sabbath day to sanctifie it: The commaundement [Page] concerning the keeping of the Sabbath, to sanctifie it, is placed in the midst betweene the two Tables, of purpose to shew that the keeping of the Sabbath is a singular helpe to all piety & righteousnesse, and God hath promised a speciall blessing to the obseruers of the Sabbath, and giues strength by the rest of that day, the better to perform holy duties all the week after, Commandement 4. Esay 58. 13.

19.19. Hee must often thinke of the example of the godly that haue excelled. Hee must meditate much on the example of the godly of all ages, and striue diligently to learne their [Page]waies, and to quicken himselfe by the thought of their care, zeale, and sincerity. And thus he may also profitably set before him the examples of some of his owne acquaintance, as excell in the gifts of Christ, and fruits of well-doing. The example of good men should bee as forcible to draw vs to good, as the example of euill men is to incline others to euill: we haue bin compassed about with a cloud of witnesses, who haue liued in all ages of the Church: we must therefore stand in the wayes and see, and aske [Page]for the olde way to walke in it, and with all gladnesse follow any that are fit to bee guides to vs therein, Hebr. 12. 1. Ierem. 12. 16. & 6. 16.

20.20. Hee must daily seek a way of God. Hee must goe daily to him that teacheth to profit, begging of God to shew him away, and to lead him by his Spirit vnto the right practice of euery holy duty, euen to guide him in the plaine path, Esay 48. 17. Psal. 27. 11.

Thus I haue set downe those rules which are generall helpes vnto godlinesse, and must bee attended by a godly Christian.

CHAP. III.
Shewing the things that are to be auoyded by such as would order their conuersation aright.

[Page]

NOw before I proceed vnto the rules that concerne the manner of well-doing. I will adde vnto the former directions, nine Cautions,Hee must auoid, or nine things which a Christian must take heede of in his practice of holy duties: As

1. First, hee must take heed of wretchlesnesse, 1. Carelesnesse. or a scornefull carelesnesse of [Page] his owne waies, he must not despise his waies: as if hee cared not how hee liued, or rested satisfied to be still, as hee was: This carelesnesse proues the bane of many a soule, whereas Hee that keepeth his soule, keepeth his way, Pro. 19. 16. & 21. 5.

2. Hee must take heed of precipitation, 2. Rashnes or rashnesse, or too much haste: this is the ground of much false zeale, and the cause of strange euils in the practice of some Christians: but the godly Christian must learne of Salomon, to prepare his work in the field, [Page] and then build his house: he must get sound knowledge of the warrant of his actions, and guide his affaires by aduice, and with serious preparation fit himselfe to the doing of what he is sure is good. He that hasteth with his feet, sinneth: what is done rashly, cannot he done well: Prou. 19. 2. As procrastination is a great vice; so praecipitation is no vertue, Prou. 24. 27▪ & 28. 2 [...].

3 Hee must haue no confidence in the flesh, 3. Carnall cōfidence. hee must not relye vpon his owne wit, memory, reason, desires, vertues, prayses, or [Page] power; but all his comfort and affiance must be in the merits, intercession, vertue, presence, and assistance of Iesus Christ his Sauiour, Phil. 3. 3.

4 He must not haste to be rich, 4. Haste to be rich. for the desire of money is the roote of all euill; and they cannot be at leasure for good duties, that are so eager to compasse great things in the world, Prou. 23. 4. & 28. 20.

5 He must take heed of the snares that arise from distrustfull feares: 5. Distrustfull feares. There is a snare in feare, Prou. 29. 25. There are many feares will assault a man, that resolues [Page] to liue well; As the feare that hee cannot doe good duties; The feare that God will not accept what hee doth; The feare left men should scorne him, or contemne him, or lest hee should lose the fauour of his friends, or such like. Now against all these must the godly minde bee armed, and take heed that those feares prooue not great hinderances to him; and especially take heed of that vnbeleefe, or counterfet humility, in disabling himselfe, or mistrusting God contrary to his nature and promises.

[Page]6 Hee must take heed of adding to, 6. Adding to, or taking from the word of God. or detracting from the Word of God: Hee must not imagine more sinnes, then God hath made; that is, not trouble himselfe with feare of offending in such things, as God hath not in his Word forbidden: and so likewise he must not impose vpon his owne conscience, or other mens, the necessity of obseruing such rules of practice, as God neuer prescribed. This caution would case the hearts of many Christians, if it were discreetely obserued and applied, Prou. 30. 6.

[Page]7 Hee must take heed of hardening his necke against reproofs: 7. Contempt of reproofe. Pro. 29. 1. He must needs▪ run into headlong euils, that is so proud as not to heare aduice, or to reiect reproofes; and it will bee a singular furtherance to a holy life, to bee easie to be entreated to leaue his offences, and to mend his errours.

8 Hee must take heed of beholding vanity: 8. Beholding vanitie. Dauid prayes, that God wold turne away his eyes from beholding vanity: He that would forsake vanity, must auoide the presence of vaine persons, and the too much [Page] contemplation of vanity, shunning the reading and discourse of the inticements of others vnto any sin, Psal. 119. 37.

9 And lastly,9. The beginning of sinne. hee must take heed of the beginning of euils in his owne heart: hee must keep his heart with all diligence, for thereout commeth life: His practice will be easie to him, if hee resist sinne in the beginning, and driue out Sathan from his holds within his soule, whereas hee cannot but be much intangled and encumbred, that allowes himselfe in the secret entertainment of contemplatiue [Page] wickednesse; he must watch his heart, and striue for inward purity, Prou. 4. 23.

CHAP. IIII.
Containing the generall Rules to be remembred in the manner of doing all good duties.

HItherto of the first sort of generall Rules: The second sort concerne the manner of well-doing:There are 9. things to be still remē bred, which cō cerne the manner of wel-doing There are diuers things in the generall, which are to be obserued of the godly Christian in all good duties, [Page] which hee ought to haue perfect in his memory, and such as hee might bring with him at all times to forme his heart in respect of them, to beget in him that holy manner of carrying himselfe, which is requisite vnto the acceptation of the good things he employeth himselfe in: and the rather should hee bee moued to the care of learning and expressing of these things, because the matter of good duties may be done by wicked men, as they were by the Pharises, and yet all abomination to the Lord: That [Page] therefore hee may not lose what he worketh, hee must striue in euery good action to expresse these nine things following in the manner of his behauiour.

The first thing required in the manner of euery holy duty,1. Zeale, with continual willingnesse and feruencie. is Zeale: It is not enough that hee doe the dutie, but hee must do it affectionately, bringing with him the stirring of the desires of his heart answerable, and agreeable to the duty he would performe: Zeale hath in it two distinct things, willingnesse and feruencie; It must not seeme euill to him to do Gods [Page] worke, and in doing it, he must lift vp his heart, so as he performe it with all his might, and with all his soule; and this hee doth, when either hee brings a heart delighting in good workes, or when hee iudgeth himselfe for what deadnesse, or distraction, or vnwillingnesse he findes in himselfe: He is accounted zealous, when he striues for it, and lifts vp his soule against the impediments which burthen him: This zeale is necessary; Christ died to redeeme a people vnto himselfe, not onely that would do good works, but [Page] that would be zealous of good workes, Tit. 2. 14.

2 The second thing required in the manner of good duties,2. Sincerity, which hath in it 5. things. is sincerity, all his actions must bee done in the sincerity of his heart. The life of a Christian is like a continuall Passe-ouer; Now this Feast hee must keepe alwaies with the vnleauened bread of sincerity, 1. Cor. 5. 8.

Now this sinceritie hee must shew diuers waies, as,

1 By the truth of his heart, 1. Truth. as it stands opposed to hypocrisie; he must not talke of well-doing, or seeme to do it, but he must [Page] doe it indeed.

2 By his respect to all Gods commandements, 2. Respect to al Gods commandements. when he can say with Dauid, I esteeme all thy precepts, concerning all things to be right, and I hate euery false way. He that is truly sincere, accounteth that euery word of God is good, and desires to yeeld obedience in all things. Hee hath not his reseruations, or exceptions: He doth not with Herod giue himselfe liberty to lie in the wilfull breach of one commandement, resting satisfied to haue reformed himselfe in other things. As he would [Page] haue God to forgiue him all his sinnes, so his heart desires to forsake all sinne, and so hee desires also to do euery part of Gods worke.

3. By propounding the glory of God, 3. Right end. as the chiefe end of all his actions: His praise must not be of men, nor must hee doe good duties for carnall ends, 1. Cor. 10. 31.

4. By obeying without expostulating, 4. Obedience without expostulation. though God giue no apparant reason of his commandement. Thus Abraham shewed his sincerity, when God bade him goe out of his owne country, though hee knew not [Page] whither hee should goe, Hebr. 11. 8. This is to obey simply, because God hath commanded it.

5 By obeying absent as well as present, 5. Obedience in all places. in all companies as well as one. This praised the sincerity of the Obedience of the Philippians, Phil. 2. 12.

Thus of sincerity, which is the second thing required in the manner of welldoing.

3. The third thing is Constancy: The third thing required in the māner of well-doing, is Constācy. He is blessed that doth righteousnesse alwaies. Doing righteousnesse will not serue the turne, but it must be at all times, Psalm. [Page] 106. 3. Our righteousnesse must not be like the morning dew. It is not sufficient to doe good by fits; wee are no day laborers, but Gods hired seruants: Hee that is righteous, must bee righteous still, Rom. 6 19. Reuel. 22. 11. There must be continuance in well-doing, Rom. 2. 7, 8.

Now to bee constant in well-doing,And he is constant, that doth good duties, is to doe good duties,

1. Without wearinesse: 1. Without wearines. It is required as a thing necessary to the manner of well-doing, that we be not weary of it, and that wee faint not, Gal. 6. 9. This we must striue for by prayer.

[Page]2. Without discouragement: 2. Without discouragement. wee must lift vp the hands that hang downe, and the feeble knees, and make straight steppes to our feete. How much hinderance to well-doing, discouragement is, may appeare by the similitude: feeble knees will dispatch but a little space of the iourney, and hands that hang down, are not fit for worke: great is the hinderance comes to many by their discouragements and aptnesse thereunto, which ariseth vsually from pride, & the dregs of worldly sorrow, and ought much to be resisted by true [Page] Christians, Hebr. 12. 12, 13. Iosh. 1. 6, 7.

3. Without impediment: 3. Notwithstanding impedimēts. That is, notwithstanding all the impediments may be cast in the way; Iudgement should runne downe as waters, and righteousnesse as a flowing streame: wee should ouercome all difficulties: you cannot stop the flowing streame, though you cast in great logs or stones, yea though you would goe about to damme it vp; and such should be the resolution of a godly Christian, Amos 3. 24.

4. Without wauering or [Page]vncertainty. 4. Without wauering. It is vncertaine running the Apostle implyedly forbids, 1. Cor. 9. 25. Our life is like a race: Now in a race it is not enough that a man runne now and then, though he runne fiercely for the time: He must not trifle & looke behinde, and stand still at his pleasure, and then run againe, but he must be alwaies running: so ought it to be with vs in the race of godlinesse. It will not serue the turne to bee good by fits, and to bee forward in good things onely at some times, and then be careles, and off the hookes, as wee [Page] say, at other times.

5. Without declining or going backe. 5. Without declining. Iob comforts himselfe against the aspersion of hypocrifie by this, that his foot had held on his steps, and Gods waies he had kept, and not declined, nor had hee gone backe from Gods Commandements, Iob 23. 11, 12. Though hee had not made such Progresse as he desired, yet this was his comfort, he had not backeslided by Apostasie.

And thus of the third thing also required in the manner of well-doing, which is Constancy.

4.4. Feare. The fourth thing [Page] required is feare: thus Pro. 28. 14. The man is blessed that feareth alwaies. And 1. Pet. 1. 17. & 3. 2. Our conuersation must be with feare: This feare excludes rudenesse, carelesnesse, conceitednesse, pride, & the like, & includes Reuerence, awfull regard of Gods holinesse, or holy presence (whom wee should set alwaies before vs) and the feare of the deceitfulnesse of sinne, and our own corrupt dispositions, and the care to auoyd all occasions of offending God or men.

The fift thing is simplicity. Simplicity [Page] This is so necessary, as the Apostle mistrusted most the subtilty of the Diuel, in beguiling Christians of this simplicity, which they had in Iesus Christ, 2. Cor. 11. 3.

Now this simplicity containes in it distinctly diuers things.

1.Which is, 1. To rest vpon the Word for the formes of holines & happinesse. A resting in those forms of holinesse and happinesse which God hath prescribed, when a man desires no more to make him happy, then what God hath offered and giuen in Iesus Christ, 2. Corin. 11. 3. and when he accounts nothing to defile him, but what [Page] God hath forbidden, and nothing needfull to bee done by him, but what God hath in his Word required.

2. A Doue-like innocency, 2. To bee harmlesse. and harmlesnesse, when the Christian shewes a desire to bee iniurious to no man, but rather to seek the good of others, as well as his owne, 1. Cor. 10. 24.

3. An ignorance of the depths of Sathan, 3. To bee simple cō cerning euill. and the methods of sinne, when hee is not cunning in sinning, out simple concerning euill, no way desirous to get subtill excuses, or arguments [...]o defend himselfe in euill, [Page] Romanes. 16. 19.

4.4. To loue goodnesse for it selfe A loue of goodnesse for it selfe, and hatred of sinne, as it is sinne.

5.5. To bee meeke & lowlyminded. Meekenesse of wisedome, I am. 3. 13. which is shewed three wayes. 1. By lowlinesse of minde, when a man is not conceited, or wise in himselfe, but retaines a sence of his owne vnfitnesse, and vnworthinesse, Iob 37. 24. 2. By silence from his owne praises, Prou. 27. 2. 3. By auoiding vain ianglings, which arise out of Enuy, or contempt of others.

6.6. Feare God, and not enuy the wicked The preseruing of himselfe in the feare of God, notwithstanding [Page] the prosperity of euill doers, not enuying the wicked, that hath successe in his way, Prou. 23. 27.

The sixt thing required in the manner of well-doing,The sixt is circumspection, which hath fiue things in it. is Circumspection, Eph. 5. 15.

Now he walketh circumspectly or exactly:

1. That makes conscience to obserue the lesser commandement as well as the greater, Mat. 5. 19.

2. That abstains from the very appearance of euill, 1. Thes. 5. 22.

3. That with discretiō [Page] lookes to the circumstances of things to bee done, as time, place, persons, order, and the like: that doth not onely doe good, but is wise to doe good, Romanes 16. 19.

4. That liues without rebuke, and is vnspotted of the world, Phil. 2. 15. I am. 1. vlt. that is not guilty of any scandall, and giues no iust cause to the wicked to blaspheme, but prouides for things honest in the sight of all men, 2. Cor. 8. 21.

5. That will not doe euil, though good might [Page] come of it, Rom. 3.

The seuenth thing required in the manner of well-doing,The 7. is, growth or increase. is growth & increase: Wee must not onely get grace and knowledge, and doe good, but wee must grow in the grace and knowledge of Iesus Christ, 2. Pet. 3. 18.Which hath three things in it. & this growth should haue in it distinctly three things:

1.1. Abounding in goodnes. Abounding in good workes, or a more frequent practice of all sorts of duties, that wee haue opportunity and power to practise, 1. Cor. 15. 58. Col. 1. 10.

2.2. Perfecting of holinesse. The perfecting of holinesse,[Page]2. Cor. 7. 1. or the ripening of our gifts, & finishing of the good things we begin, not leauing off till we haue accomplished them in some good measure and manner.

3.3. Progress Progresse, so as our workes bee more at last, then at first.

And all this we should striue for, both thth so our profiting might appeare, 1. Tim. 4. 15. and we may be fit to be an example to others, 2. Tim. 4. 12. 1. Th. 1. 7.

The eighth thing required in the manner of well-doing,8. Faith. is Faith: wee must [Page] walke by faith in all our actions, 2. Cor. 5. 7. Now faith is employed partly in taking notice of Gods will, as the warrant of our actions, and partly in ouercomming the difficulties of well-doing, making vs hold out, though wee bee scorned, or disgraced, or opposed in the world, and raising vp our hearts to beleeue Gods assistance, notwithstanding our owne weaknesses, & partly in trusting God for the successe, beleeuing Gods promises.

The ninth & last thing required in the manner of wel-doing,The last is moderatiō is Moderation. [Page] This rule is expressed in these words,The place in Eccl. 7. 16. expounded. Eccles. 7. 16. Be not iust ouer-much, neyther bee thou wicked ouermuch: Now for the sense of these words, wee must know in the negatiue, that this place is most prophanely alleadged by such as produce it as a reproofe of strictnesse of life, and the refusall of the excesses of the time.

There are many things said to giue a sence of those words.

1. Some referre these words to Iustice, eyther Distributiue, or Commutatiue, and that eyther in [Page] the case of a priuate person, or of a Magistrate. A priuate man must neyther stand too much vpon his right, nor yet suffer his innocency to be too much wronged. A Magistrate must not be too seuere in a selfe-conceited Iustice, nor yet too remisse in sparing or fauouring wickednes.

2. Some thinke it restraines curiosity and carelesnes, as if the sence were, Be not curious to pry or search into secret things, that are not reuealed: for hee that will bee searching into Gods maiesty, may be oppressed by his glory: nor [Page] yet be so carelesse, as not to take notice of the truth reuealed.

3. Some thus exceed not by too much precisenesse on the right hand, or by too much prophanenes on the left hand. On the right hand they goe out, that bring in workes of supererogation, and such as worship God after the precepts of men, and such as tye mens consciences to obserue or auoid things without warrant of Scripture, and such as say they haue no sin, and need not the grace of God.

4. Lastly, the fittest interpretation [Page] is theirs, that expound the words in this sense, Be not iust ouer-much, that is, think not too highly of thy selfe in any thing thou doest well, nor yet be wicked ouer-much, that is, account not too vilely of thy selfe, denying Gods gifts in thee, and refusing the iust comforts thou shouldest take to thy selfe; aggrauate not against thy owne soule thy weakenesse aboue reason and measure.

CHAP. V.
Intreating of the rules that concerne our carriage towards God, and in particular about the knowledge of God.

[Page]

HItherto of the generall rules:The diuision of the particular rules. The particular rules that concerne the right ordering of our conuersation, may be cast into three heads, as they direct vs in our carriage,

1. Towards God.

2. Towards men.

3. Towards our selues.

The subdiuision.

All the rules that concerne [Page] our duties to GOD, may bee cast into two heads: 1. For they concerne eyther the loue of God, or 2. the seruice of God. This is an exact diuision; for all wee owe to God, is fitly comprehended in these two, Loue and Seruice: and the Scripture so diuides in these and the like places, Commandement 2. Deut. 11. 23. & 30. 16. Iosh. 22. 5. Esay 56. 6.

Now that wee may bee rightly ordered in respect of our loue to God, wee must consider of his loue, eyther in the foundation of it, or in the exercise of it. [Page] The foundation of our loue to God, is the true knowlege of God, 2. Chron. 28. 6. So that in the first place wee must soundly informe our selues concerning this knowledge of God.The rules that concerne the right knowlege of God of 2. sorts. Now the rules that concerne the right knowledge of God, concerne eyther the right conceiuing of his nature, or our aoquaintance with God, when wee doe aright conceiue of him.That wee may conceiue aright of Gods nature. That wee may conceiue aright of Gods nature,

1.1. We must cast out all likenesses. Wee must exclude out of our thoughts all likenesses, so as men do not thinke of God, representing [Page] him by the similitude of any creature: Hee that forbids Images of him in Churches, forbids it also in our heads, Commandement 2. Esay 40. Deut. 4.

2. Wee must striue to conceiue of him according to his praises declared by his workes,2. We must conceiue of him according t [...] his prayses. or in his Word. This is an excellent, and easie way to thinke of God. Since our hearts cannot conceiue his Nature, we should fill them with the impression of his praises, and according to them direct our affection, and seruice to him: As I would bring this minde to [Page] prayer, or any other seruice of God, I cannot make any resemblance of the Diuine Substance, whom I am about to serue: yet this will I do, I will remember that hee that I pray vnto, is most wise, most omnipotēt, most iust, most gracious, &c. Thus God proclaimes himselfe by his praises, Exod. 34. 6. where God himselfe shewes vs a way how to conceiue of him.

33. We must beleeue the Trinity of Persons. Thou must then silence thy reason, and exalt thy faith in the point of the Trinity, which must be conceiued of necessity, because all seruice is due to [Page] the whole Trinity: Now thou needst not striue to resemble the Trinity in any likenesse in thy minde, but onely bring faith to beleeue that thy God is three in one.

4.4. Thou maist conceiue of God in the Humane Nature of Christ. It may yet helpe thy vnderstanding to conceiue, that God is in Christ, and the fulnesse of the God-head dwels in him bodily: and therefore when thou commest to worship, thou maist set before thy minde the Humane Nature of Christ, adoring the God-head in him, as conceiuing of God in that humane Nature thou thinkest of, [Page] Col. 2. 9. Ioh. 17. 3.

55. Thou must resist Atheistical thoughts. That this may be the more cleerely and comfortably done, thou must labour by sound aduice and direction, to expell out of thy head those secret and rebellious Atheisticall thoughts, which arise in thee about his Nature, Decree, Attributes, or Works: Men must take heed of smothering these Obiections, but seek helpe against them in time.

Thus of the knowledge of God, as it concernes the right conceiuing of his Nature.

There is required further [Page] such a knowledge,2. Of acquaintance with God. as brings vs acquainted with God: wee are commanded to acquaint our selues with God, Iob. 22. 21, 22.

Now, because it is an exceeding hard way for a mortall man to finde out God,That thou maist bee acquainted with God. so as to enioy familiarity with him: Therefore I will adde some directions about it: For if thou wouldst acquaint thy selfe with God,

1. Thou must prepare thy heart. Thou must prepare thy heart for this Vision of God, by driuing out filthy and vnholy thoughts, and affections, For without holinesse no man can see God.[Page]The pure in heart shall see God, Math. 5. 7. Hebr. 12. 14. 1. Chro. 19. 3. God delights to shew himselfe familiarly in a cleane heart.

2.2. Thou must beg it by prayer. Thou must beg this acquaintance by prayer: if thou seeke it of him earnestly, though God be in himselfe inuisible to mortall eyes, yet hee will shew himselfe to the eies of thy minde: pray for his acquaintance, and he will be acquainted with thee: This is to aske after the Lord, and to seeke God: if wee seeke him, hee will be found, Psal. 105.Three things in seeking aright. 3, 4. But then we must remember three things;

[Page]1 To seeke him with 1 our whole hearts, we must pray with great earnestnesse and desire.

2 To seek him earely,2 Psalme 119. verse 10. and while hee may bee found, God offers acquaintance in his Ordinances, and sometimes comes neere, and knocketh at mens hearts, and workes greater impressions vpon them: Now if thou wouldst call vpon God heartily, hee would shew thee his presence.

3 To seeke him constantly; 3 wee must seeke [Page] his face continnally: both till we finde it, and after wee haue had acquaintance with him, it must be continued: we must not thinke much, if we be put to pray often and long, before we attaine such an incomparable benefit.

33. Thou must giue thy selfe to God. Thou must giue thy selfe, soule and body, to God, seriously, and from thy heart, deuoting and promising to spend thy daies in his seruice, and then hee will reueale himselfe vnto thee, Rom. 12. 1, 2.

4 Thou must waite vpon his Ordinances, and [Page] watch, how the Lord speakes vnto thee, either by his Word, or by his Spirit. For in them hee shewes himselfe to men, and conuerseth with them.

5 It is a great furtherance to our acquaintance with God, to keepe company with his Houshold; for with them hee dwels, and by conuersing with them we may-occasionally often see God, 1. Ioh. 3. 6, 7, 8, 12.

Thus of acquaintance with God.

There are other things to bee further noted concerning our knowledge ofOther things about our knowlege [Page] God, such as these:

That when we attaine vnto any acquaintance with God, we must neuer rest, till wee know him to be our God, Col. 2. 2.

That it must bee our daily care to increase in the knowledge of God, labouring to plant in our hearts a more large and affectionate contemplation of the glories of Gods Nature & Loue.

That aboue all earthly things we should glory in it, if wee attaine some happy admission into Gods presence, and [Page] ability to conceiue of God, and to be acquainted with him, Ier. 9. 24.

CHAP. VI.
Rules, that order is about the manifestation of our loue to God.

HItherto of the Rules that concerne the knowledge of God, as the foundation of our loue to God: The rules that should order vs in the exercise of our loue to God,Rules about the exercise of our loue to God. follow; and those are of two sorts: 1. for either they concerne the manifestation of our [Page] loue: 2. or our preseruation in the loue of God; wee must shew our loue to God, and we must keepe our selues in the loue of God, Iude 21.

In our manifestation of loue to God, we must look to both the matter, (as the things whereby) and also the manner how we should expresse our loue to God.

For the first,Seuen waies to manifest our loue to God. there bee diuers excellent Rules to bee heeded of vs in our practice, in obseruing whereof we may soundly prooue the truth of our loue to God: if wee say wee loue God, wee must [Page] shew it by these things following.

1.1. By auouching him to bee our God. Wee must auouch God to be our God, Deut. 26. 17. and so we doe, if wee do not onely make choice of God aboue all things to set our harts vpon him, but also maintaine our choyce by a constant refusall of all idols in the world, euen all things which might intice vs to loue them in stead of God, by sound affection and practice declaring our resolution to cleaue to God, as our sufficient happinesse, though all the world follow their profits, or pleasures, &c.

2.[Page] 2. By prouiding him a place to dwell where wee dwell. Wee must prouide and prepare a place for God, that he may dwell with vs, wheresoeuer we dwell, Exo. 15. 2. It is a signe of our true loue to God, when we cannot liue without him: He that can be content to liue in any place, where he is not powerfully present in his ordinances, shewes no loue to God: It should be our chiefe care to seate our selues so in the world, as the Lord and his presence may bee prouided for, that hee may raigne amongst vs by the Scepter of his Word.

3.3. By shewing our loue to Iesus Christ. We shall shew our [Page] loue to God, by our loue to the Lord Iesus the Sonne of God: we must kisse the Sun, Psal. 2. vlt. And if any man loue not the Lord Iesus, hee hath not the Father, 1. Cor. 16. 22. We shew that wee loue God, when we highly esteeme Iesus Christ, and make much of him in our hearts, & striue to fire our affections toward him; and this must bee our care through the passages of our life, to forme in vs the loue of the Lord Iesus, that wee may long after him, and haue the desires of our soules after him, and his comming.

[Page]4.4. By walking with God. We must shew our loue to GOD by walking with him, Genes. 17. 1. Mica. 6. 8. The Lord doth not account it a signe of loue to offer to him a thousand Rammes, or riuers of oyle. But this is it that pleaseth him, To humble our selues to walke before him.

Now we walk with God diuers wayes.

1. When we set the Lord alwaies before vs, Men walk with God 5. waies. remembring his holy presence, & not daring to goe long without thinking of God, Psal. 16. 18.

2. When wee nourish the motions of the Spirit, and [Page] retire our selues of purpose to entertaine them.

3. When we daily haue recourse to those meanes by which the Lord is pleased to conuerse with men, and not rest in the bare vse of the meanes, but striue to finde out the Lord in his holy presence, in euery ordinance of his, Psal. 63. 1, 2.

4. Whē we vse our selues to Soliloquies with God, taking all occasions to speake to God by prayer and priuate meditation of things offered to vs, out of which wee could extract matter for frequent Ciaculations, lifting vp our hearts [Page] vpon the very first motions of good vnto God, Psalm. 63. 5, 6.

5. When our hearts are fired with longing desires after his presence of glory in heauen, 2. Cor. 5. 8.

Thus of our walking with God.

5.5. By honouring God. We should manifest our loue to God by honouring him: For this is one speciall way by which God requires to haue our loue shewed to him, Malac. 1. 6. Now there are many waies by which in our cōuersation we may declare our desire to honor our God:10. Waies of honouring God. As,

1. By performing the [Page]care of businesses that concerne his kingdom, aboue al other businesses, & shewing our respect of the duties of the first table, that concern God, before the duties that concerne men in the second table: we honouring him by seeking his kingdome first: First (I say) in the precedency of time, and first, in respect of the measure of our affections, Math. 6. shewing a desire to please him rather then all the world.

2. By making a bold & open profession of GODS truth vpon all occasions, without feare of oppositions or snares of the world.

[Page]3. By grieuing heartily for his dishonours done vnto him, by the blasphemies or prophanenesse of his enemies, Psal. 42. 3.

4. By directing all our actions to his glory, striuing in al the things to order them so, that some way God may be praised by vs, or others, 1. Cor. 10. 31.

5. By our willingnesse to suffer any thing for his sake, though it were extremities, euen the losse of all worldly things, yea and life it selfe, if wee were called to it.

6. By honoring them that feare his name, and are begotten[Page]of him, and beare his Image, receiuing them, & making much of them, and defending them for the loue we beare to God himselfe, Psalm. 15. 1. Ioh. 5. 1.

7. By hating them that are his enemies, as if they were our own, conceiuing more dislike of them for dishonouring God, then for any wrongs they could do vnto vs, Psal. 139. 21, 22.

8. Wee honour God, when we speak of the Oracles of God with alreuerence as may become the nature and glory of them, Commandement 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11.

9. We honour him by [Page]gifts bestowed vpon him, when we bring to him our free-will offerings, such as are the first fruites of all our increase, when out of all things wherein God hath prospered vs, we with gladnes consecrate a part for the furtherance of his worship, or the maintenance of his poore: Prou. 3. 6. Esay 60. 6.

10. Wee honour him, when we praise him. One vsuall way by which we honour great persons in the world, is by taking all occasions to magnifie them, by commending their vertues, or their worthy Acts: [Page] And this is likewise one great way of honouring God: & therefore with sorrow for our neglects herein, we should study his praises for the time to come, and striue for language to be able readily to doe so.

Now God is praised diuers wayes.Rules about the praise of God. Some of them belong not properly to this place, and therefore I will but touch them.

We praise God.

1. When we keepe and obserue carefully the solemnities set apart for his praise, as when wee celebrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, which is [Page] therfore called the Eucharist, because it is to be performed as a thanksgiuing, and praising of God.

2. When daily we take all occasions in priuate to blesse God for his daily mercies: but let these and such like passe, as not proper to this place. We must praise him in our discourse to others:When we commend God, diuers things are to be obscued. This is required of vs in many Scriptures, Psa. 33. 1. Iob 36. 24. Psal. 96. 4. But because this must not bee done cursorily, diuers rules are to bee obserued: As,

1. That we may praise him effectually, wee must [Page] wisely consider of his workes, and so of his nature to extract from thence sound arguments of praise, Psalm. 64. 9.

2. We should do well for this purpose to keep Records, and Register vp the speciall glorious workes of God, Iob. 36. 24. & 37. 14. Psalm. 78. 7.

3. When we do praise him, it must be done with our whole heart, speaking of his prayses with all possible affection, and not as if we spake of ordinary things, Psalm. 9. 1.

4. VVe must thus praise him, not once, or for one [Page] worke of his, but wee must praise him for all his workes, especially his wonderous works, Psal. 9. 1. & 105. 1, 2. & 106. 2.

5. VVe must praise him from day to day, and continue to doe it, while wee liue, Psal. 63. 4. & 96. 3.

6. This is a duety, that all the kindreds of the people are bound to: All the people must praise him, Psalm. 148. 12, 13. & 96. 6, 7, 8.

Thus of the fift way of shewing our loue to God, and that is by honouring him.

The sixth way by which wee must shew our loue to [Page] God,6. By trusting in him. is, by trusting in him; As men shew, whom they loue most, by relying most vpon them, and their fauour and helpe; Now there are diuers cases, in which we must shew our trust in God.

1 By relying vpon his mercy for our iustification and saluation: How wee must shew it that we trust God. and in this wee should most vse our trust, as being in a businesse that most highly concernes vs, Esay 45. 24, 25.

2 By committing all our workes to him, for assistance in them▪ or successe of them: This is to commit our way to God to be carefull [Page] to seeke his assistance to helpe vs, to doe our duty, and then to leaue the successe of all to his blessing, Psal. 37. 3, 5. Prou. 16. 3.

3 By beleeuing all that hee saith is true, whether hee promise, threaten, or comfort by his Word, vpon all occasions beleeuing his Prophets, 2. Chro. 20. 20.

4 By staying our hearts vpon him in all our distresses: How wee may proue that wee trust God in distresse Now in the time of distresse we may proue, that wee trust in God diuers waies:—As

1 By running to him, and powring out our hearts before him, making our [Page] moane vnto him, Psa. 18. 2. & 62. 10. Looke amongst men, to whom we first run to make our moane in our distresse, and that person is he whom we most loue, and trust: so is it toward God.

2 By casting our cares and burthens vpon him, Psal. 55. 22.

3 By not respecting the proud, and such as turne aside to lies, Psal. 40. 4.

4 By relying vpon his help, Ioel 3. 16. Esay 50. 11. but then we must obserue how wee must relye vpon Gods helpe: For there are many things we must cast [Page] out of our hearts in affliction:In relying vpon God in affliction, wee must auoid fiue things. When wee haue beene with the Lord and committed our selues to him, wee must relie vpon him,

1 Without leaning to our owne vnder standing, or wilfull inclination to follow our owne courses, and proiects, Prou. 3. 5.

2 Without murmuring or repining at our condition, or vexing our selues at the prouidence of God toward vs, Psal. 37. 7.

3 Without feare, that is, without mistrustfull feares, and seruile perturbations, [Page] imagining euils, which the Lord hath not brought vpon vs, Psal. 3. 6. & 27. 1.

4 Without vsing ill meanes to get out of distresse, Amos 5. 4, 6.

5 Yea, lastly, without care, that is, without distrustfull carking cares, Phil. 4. 6.

Thus of the sixth way of shewing our loue to God, and that is by trusting in him.

The seuenth & last way,7. By obeying him. by which we must shew our loue to God, is, To obey him: For this is the loue of God, that wee keepe his commandements: [Page] Neither is the signe in this, that wee do what God requires for the matter, but that his cōmandements are not grieuous vnto vs: Wee loue God, if wee loue to doe his worke, and if wee lift vp our hearts in his waies, setting vpon his work with a speciall readinesse, and strength of desire, and more then ordinary care, 1. Ioh. 5. 2. 2. Chron. 17. 6. & 19. 2.

Thus of the matter, that is, the things by which we must shew our loue to God; The manner also is to bee considered: For in all those [Page] things which we would do at any time to prooue our loue to God, we must look to the manner how wee do them, as was a little touched before:2. Things in the manner of shewing our loue to God. Now distinctly wee must bring to the declaration of our loue to God, two things;

1 Feruencie.

2 Feare.

For the first,1. Feruencie. wee must loue God, and shew it in all the fruits of our loue; How? Euen with all our hearts, and all our soules, and all our might, and all our vnderstanding. Our hearts must bee more inflamed then they are, in shewing [Page] loue to wife, children, friends, parents, &c. Wee must loue God aboue all, Deut. 6. 3. & 30. 6.

For the second,2. Feare. we must loue God and shew it too, but it must be with feare. Howsoeuer with men true loue casts our feare: yet God being so infinite in Glory and Maiestie, wee must loue him, but yet with feare. Now that this may not be mistaken, I will set downe the particulars of this feare.

Wee must shew our feare:Eight wayes by which we shew our feare of God.

1 By entertaining awful thoughts of his dreadfull [Page] Maiestie, casting out all vile, meane, and vaine thoughts of him, Dan. 6. 26.

2 By departing from euill, that might any way displease him, being tender in this point, not daring to presume, or plead impunity, or freedome from danger, but in all things desire to auoide what might anger him, Prou. 3. 7.

3 By vsing all tearmes of hearty abasement of our selues, when wee come before him: Thus Abraham cals himselfe dust and ashes; and thus [Page] wee should humble our selues vnder the mighty hand of God, 1. Pet. 5. 9.

4 By doing his will, without fearing man, or any other creature, Esay 8. 12, 13.

5 By a daily and reuerent remembrance of his continuall holy presence.

6 By trembling at his iudgements, Psa. 4. 4. Hab. 2. vlt.

7 By the humble vsing of all the meanes of communion with God, vsing his Ordinances with all conuenient reuerence, attention, and abasement of [Page] our selues. Mal. 2. 5.

8. Lastly, By the reuerend vse of his very Titles, fearing that great, and fearefull Name of the Lord our God, Deut. 28. 58.

CHAP. VII.
Rules, that concerne the preseruation of our loue to God.

HItherto of the Rules that concerne the manifestation of our loue to God: The rest of the Rules serue to teach vs, how to preserue in vs this [Page]loue to God. What wee must do to preserue the loue of God in vs. Now that wee may continue in our loue to God, wee must obserue these Rules.

1 Wee must separate our selues from all others to be his, Leu. 20. 26. auoiding fellowship with the seruants of a strange God, that might any way intice vs from the loue of God; yea, wee should so much alienate our hearts from all Idols, that we should not make mention of their names, and therefore daily confirme our hearts in that purpose to cleaue to God alone, Leu. 20. 26. Mal. 2. 11. Exod. 34. 11. 14, 15. Exod. 23. 13. [Page]Act. 11. 23. Iosh. 23. 8.

2 Wee must beware, that we forget not God, nor go too long without effectual remembrance of him. They that can liue whole daies and weekes without any care to thinke of God, may bee snre their hearts are voide of the loue of God: and as euer we would continue to loue God, wee must be carefull euery day to remember him, and thinke vpon him, Deut. 6. 12. & 32. 18.

3 Wee must labour to edify our selues in our most holy faith; we must build vp our hearts in the assurance [Page] of that wonderfull loue God hath shewed to vs: and this will preserue and keep vs in our loue to him againe, Iude. 20.

4. We must pray in the holy Ghost, as is shewed in the same place: prayer preserues acquaintance with God, and exceedingly quickens the heart; and besides, drawes from God new pledges of his loue to vs, which may serue to kindle our affections toward him.

5. In the same place another rule is imported; and that is the daily expectation of the Comming of[Page]Christ: for the terrour of that Day will mooue vs to shew all possible loue to God, and so will that singular Glory wee are assured to receiue in that Day.

6. In the vse of all Gods Ordinances, wee must bee carefull to seeke out the face of God, which is that speciall presence of his grace. For the loue of God will decay in vs, if once wee come to vse the meanes onely for forme, and an outward shew, Ps. 105. 4. And if wee misse of God in his Ordinances, we must neuer be quiet, till we finde him whom our soule loueth, [Page]Cant. 3. 1. Psalm. 63. 1.

7 VVee must preserue the truth hee hath deliuered to vs; yea, wee must contend for it: for sound doctrine laid vp in our hearts, will preserue in vs soundnesse of affection to God, Iude 3.

8. VVee must get Catalogues of Gods praises in particular, and fill our hearts with the knowledge & contemplation of them.

9 If we would be preserued in the loue of God, wee must labour to attaine to the ability to reioyce in God, and delight our selues in God. A wife that would [Page] increase her loue to her husband, must striue to solace her selfe often with her husband, and to forme in her heart a speciall delight in him: So must wee doe to God. This is miserably neglected, and yet exceeding necessary: Nor is it an ordinary ioy we should take in God, but we should ioy in him, first, with all our hearts: 2. not for a time, but alwaies, euery day; nor with cōmon, but with exceeding ioyes, Phi. 4. 4. Ps. 37. 4. & 68. [...], 4. & 105. 3.About reioycing in God. Now that this point may be the better vnderstood, I will consider of two things: first, [Page] what it is to delight and [...]oy in God: secondly, what we should doe that might delight, and take pleasure in God.

1. For the first,What it is to reioyce or delight our selues in God. this delight in God hath in it foure things distinctly.

1 First, a spirituall satisfaction, or contentment arising from the assurance of Gods loue to vs, as hauing enough that he regards vs; thus Dauid saith, his soule was satisfied as with marrow, Psal. 63. 5. & 149. 2.

2. Secondly, a ioyfull entertainement of all passages of loue betweene God and vs; especially in the [Page] vse of his Ordinances.

3. Thirdly, a delightfull contemplation of God and his mercies.

4. Fourthly, a glorying in God, and extolling of his praises, as by discourse, so by singing of Psalmes, 1. Cor. 1. 31. Psal. 33. 1. & 105. 3. & 68. 3, 4.

Now for the attainement of the ioying in God.

1. VVee must mourne often for our disabilities herein,What wee must doe that wee might bee able to ioy in God. & pray to God to forme this delight in vs.

2. VVee must restraine carnall ioyes, and cares: for the excesse of both doth exceedingly dull the heart, [Page] and with-drawes it from care of delight in God, Ioh. 2. 8. Phil. 4. 4, 5, 6.

3. VVee must exercise our selues with all the ioy we can in the Word of God, Psal. 119. 14, 16.

4. VVee must take heed of listning to Obiections against the loue of God to vs, whether they arise from Sathan, or our owne flesh.

5. VVe must often obserue the miseries of the wicked in comparison of our happy estate in Christ, Hab. 3. 17, 18.

6 VVee must seek a delightfull conuersation with the godly.

[Page]7 VVee must take heed of domesticall euils, our home sinnes, the corruptions that would daily preuaile in vs, Iob 22. 23, 26.

8 VVee must restraine our owne vnbeleefe about the acceptation of the good duties we performe, and to this end wee must take heed, that we be neither iust ouermuch, by attributing too much to our selues: nor yet wicked ouermuch, in condemning all we do, as hatefull to God. For this last doth maruellously hinder vs from ioying in God.

CHAP. VIII.
Containing generall rules about Gods seruice.

[Page]

HItherto of the first sort of Rules, that concerne our carriage toward God, namely, those that concerne our loue to God. Now the second sort of Rules follow, and that is,Rules about the s [...]ruice of God. those that concerne the seruice of God, and these may be cast into two rankes: 1. for they either concerne the parts of Gods worship: 2. or the time of Gods worship.

The Rules that concerne [Page] the parts of Gods worship, 1. are either generall, which binde vs to the good behauiour in all parts of Gods worship: 2. or else certaine specialties of Direction, that concerne some part of Gods worship onely.

Now for the generall rules, we should know and remember, that there are nine things to bee looked to, and brought to the practice of euery part of Gods worship.Nine things to be remembred in euery part of Gods worship.

1. The first is preparction; wee must in some sort conferre with our owne hearts, and prepare them, before wee go before God [Page] to doe any seruice, Iob 11. 13. Psal. 4. 4. Ezech. 7. 10.

2. Secondly, wee must come with all reuerence & godly feare, Hebr. 12. 28. Psal. 2. 11.

3. Thirdly, we must performe the seruice in repentance for our sinnes: wee must not come before God in the loue of any sin: if wee doe, we lose our labour, and God will loath our workes, Isai. 1. Iob. 11. 14. VVee must haue cleane hands, and a pure heart, or else no seruice of God will be accepted, Psalm. 119. 11. & 24. 4.

4. Fourthly, it must [Page] grieue vs, that others will not serue God, Psalm. 119. 139.

5. Fifthly, we must performe euery seruice in the name of Christ, or else it cannot bee accepted, by reason of that euill that cleaues to our best workes, whether wee pray or giue thankes, or Whatsoeuer we doe, wee must doe it in the name of Christ, Col. 3. 17.

6. Sixtly, in euery seruice of God wee must so neer as it may be, giue God the first place, preferring the respects of God and his worship, before our selues, or the regard of others: we [Page] must serue him betimes, seeking God in the first place, Iob 8. 5. Math. 6. 34. Psalm. 5. 3.

7. Seuenthly, when we doe any seruice to God, we must do it with all our harts, with as much willingnesse as may be, so as it may appeare, that we loue to be his seruants, as the Prophets phrase is, 1. Sam. 12. 10. 1. Chron. 28. 9. Esay 56. 6.

8. Eightly, in all seruice wee must striue so to serue God, that wee may please him, not onely carefull to doe the duety, but carefull of Gods acceptation. In good duties being [Page] cheefely carefull to see Gods approbation, not caring so much for the praise of men, as the praise of God. In euery part of Gods worship, our praise must be of God, and not of men, Heb. 12. 28. Rom. 2. 26.

9. Ninthly, wee must cleaue to God with detestation of all things, or persons, that might any way draw vs away from his seruice, Deut. 13. 4, 5.

CHAP. IX.
Shewing how we should carry our selues in Gods House.

[Page]

HItherto of the rules to bee obserued in all parts of Gods worship generally.

The speciall rules concerne 1. eyther,Rules about the publike worship of God. Gods publike worship in his House: 2. or else the particular parts of Gods worship each by themselues.

The godly Christian ought with all care to lay before him the rules that binde him to the good behauiour [Page] in Gods House, & to striue to fashion his nature and practice, as may become the glory of Gods publike seruice and presence, and so there bee diuers things which in a speciall manner he must looke to in performing Gods publike seruice.

For concerning these publike duties, these rules must be obserued.

First,1. All must come. that all sorts & degrees of men must appeare before God publikely to doe him homage and seruice. None must bee spared or freed, men, women, and children must all take [Page] notice of it, that they are bound hereunto, Deut. 31. 11, 12.

Secondly,2. With all possible reuerence we must come our selues with all possible reuerence, and looke to our feete when we enter into the house of God, and striue to shew before all men our most carefull respect of God and his holy ordinances: For God will be sanctified in them that come nigh him, and he lookes for it at our hands by our reuerend behauiour, to bee glorified before all the people, Leuit. 10. 3. Eccl. 5. 4. Wee should then shew a most holy feare of Gods name, and presence, [Page] Psalm. 5. 7.

Thirdly,3. And zeale. in publike duties, that of the Prophet Dauid should be true of vs: The zeale of Gods house should eate vs vp,And this zeale wee should shew six waies.Psal. 69. 9. and this speciall zeale wee should shew:

1. By louing Gods house aboue all the places in the world, our hearts should be fired in vs in that wee respect, that wee may truely say with Dauid, O how I loue thy house! Psalm. 26. 8.

2. By confirming our own hearts in a resolution to resort to Gods house with all ioy and gladnesse, notwithstāding the scornes [Page] and oppositions of worldly men and persons.

3. By stirring vp others with all importunity to go vp with them to worship God in Sion, Esay 2. 2.

4. By making haste to Gods worship, going to the house of God with the first, & with willing hearts, with a holy thirst after the meanes, flocking and flying thither as the clouds, or as so many doues to their windowes, Zach. 8. 21. Psal. 110. 3. Esay 35. 1. & 60. 8.

5. By forwardnes and cheerefulnesse in contributing towards the maintenance of Gods House, and [Page] seruice in the means thereof, Isaiah 60. 8, 9.

6. By grieuing heartily, because other men neglect or contemn the House of God, and haue no more mind to keepe Gods Law, Psalm. 119. 136.

Thus of that speciall zeale wee should shew about Gods publike worship.

4. Fourthly,4. With one consent. we should in all publike dueties serue God with one consent and one heart. There should appeare in Gods seruants a wonderful desire of Vnanimity and concord. They should serue the Lord vvith [Page]one shoulder, that when they speake to God, it may be as the voyce of one man, when the Lord speakes to them, they should heare with one heart. It is a maruellous glory in Religion, when people can come once to this, to serue the Lord with one shoulder, Zephan. 3. 9.

Lastly, in the 52. Psalm. v. 8, 9.Three other rules gathered out of Psal. 52. 8, 9. we may gather three other rules, which in a speciall manner fitte vs for a right behauiour in Gods house.

1. First, wee should alwaies be as green Oliue trees in the house of the Lord. [Page] Howsoeuer it go with men in the world, yet when wee come before the Lord, our hearts should reioyce and reuiue, and our spirits bee fresh and cheerefull, and our affections should bee healed of all the cares or distempers were before in them. Gods ordinances should haue such a power ouer vs, as to make a sudden fresh spring of desires, and holy thoughts in vs. There is this power in the ordinances of God to effect this, if the fault be not in vs, I meane, when these ordinances are exercised in the power & life of thē.

[Page]2. Secondly, wee must trust on the mercy of GOD, bringing a heart ready to beleeue euery good word of God, resoluing, that if the Lord will speake comfortably to his seruants, we will not dishonor his cōsolations through carelesnes, or vnbeleefe: but receiue them with all our hearts, and establish our selues in the safe keeping of his good word.

3. Thirdly, we must resolue to be thankefull, with all tendernesse for all experiences of Gods presence and goodnesse towards vs in the means, vowing with [Page] Dauid, to praise him for euer for them. And if the Lord doe with-hold his power and presence for a time, so as we feele not the effectualnesse of his ordinances: yet we should resolue without distemper, to wait vpon the Lord, and obserue him according to the seasons of his grace.

CHAP. X.
Rules that order vs about hearing of the Word.

THus of the rules that we must obserue in all publike seruice of God. [Page] Now there be certain speciall rules which must bee particularly headed in each part of Gods worship by it selfe.Rules that order vs in hearing the word of God. And first I will beginne with those rules, which wee must more specially obserue in hearing the Word of God, and these are of three sorts.

1. Some bind vs to the good behauior, before we come to heare.

2. Some at the time of hearing.

3. Some after we haue heard.

1. Before wee come to heare, we must bring with vs two things.

[Page]1.1. Before we come. A resolution to deny our own wits, reasons, opinions, and conceits, and empty our heads of al perswasion of our owne skill, to iudge in the things of the kingdome of God, being ready to beleeue and thinke in all things, as God shall teach vs out of his Word. We must be fooles, that we may be wise, 1. Cor. 3. 18. humbling our selues at his very feete to receiue his Law, Deut. 33. 3.

2. VVe must bring with vs a meeke and quiet spirit, a minde quieted from passions, lusts, and perturbations, and at rest from the [Page] turmoyling cares of this world. The world is able to doe great things in our hearts, if wee receiue it with meekenesse, Iam. 1. 19.

Secondly,2. In the time of hearing. at the time of hearing, we must looke to two rules.

First, wee must hearken without distraction: wee must heare, as it were for our liues, wee must incline our eares, and shake off all impediments arising from our owne drowsinesse, preiudice, or vaine thoughts, or distracting obiects, Esay 55. 3. Psal. 119. 113.

Secondly, we must proue all things, and keepe that [Page]which is good. Wee must heare with iudgement, and hearken for our selues, hauing speciall care to looke to that doctrine which in particular concernes vs to lay it vp in our hearts, and apply it effectually. This is a rule of singular thrift in godlinesse. If wee did marke what sinne in vs the Lord reprooues, or what comfort is specially fitted to our hearts: or what direction doeth specially concerne vs: He hath an honest memory that will bee sure to keepe these things,Note. though hee forget all the rest, and hee hath a [Page] wretched memory, and hart too, that forgets these things, though hee could r [...]peat all the Sermon verbatim.

Thirdly,3. After we haue heard. after wee haue heard, two things also must be further done.

First, wee must by meditation labor to make those things wee haue heard, which concerne vs, fast, that they runne not out of our mindes, and wee must take heed that neyther the Diuell steale away the good seed, nor our owne heart through negligence forget it. Neyther is this a worke for an houre after, [Page] to keepe these things till we may repeate them to others, but ought to be our daily worke, especially the weeke after to thinke so often of them, till there be a sure impression of the VVord in our hearts, Hebr. 2. 1, 2.

Secondly, wee must yet further see to it, that we be doers of the Word, yea wee must obserue to doe: as the phrase of the holy Ghost is. It is the wisedome of God so to dispose of his ordinances, that wee receiue our directions by parcels, and there is a time of interim between Sabbath and [Page] Sabbath, Sermon and Sermon, that we might in that space learne to frame our selues to the obedience of the truths receiued, that so we might bee ready to receiue new lessons from the Lord. The surest way for the husbandman to keepe his seed, is not to lay it vp in his barne, but to cast it into the ground. For what is sowed, he may receiue againe with aduantage; or if hee might faile of a haruest from his seede in nature, yet godly men shall neuer faile to receiue what they sowe by practice, with increase. So much of the [Page] Truth, as is put into practice, is sure for euer: The rest may be lost: and it is a singular helpe to a Christian, if he set vpon his obedience, while the doctrine is yet fresh in his minde; for delay will compasse him about with many difficulties, and hee will want those inward incitations, that might stirre vp his heart with power and strength to obey.

CHAP. XI.
Rules about the Sacrament of Baptisme.

[Page]

THus of the rules of our carriage about hearing: Next wee are to consider, how we are to order our selues in respect of the Sacraments: The Sacraments are two: Baptisme,Rules about Baptisme. and the Lords Supper.

The duties we are bound to in respect of Baptisme, concerne either

1. Our children.

2. Our selues.

[Page]3. Others.

For our children,1. About our children. it is our duty to present them vnto Baptisme, but withall we must looke to it, that it be done in due time, and with faith and thankefulnesse to God: In due time, so as thereby wee signifie our great estimation of Gods mercy to our seed, and our great desire to haue the Couenant sealed, euen vnto them. We must also bring them to Baptisme with faith in Gods Couenant. The Lord hath bound himselfe to bee our God, and the God of our seed: Now it is our parts to [Page] giue glory to God, and to declare before the Lord our perswasion of his goodnesse and claime to that part of his Couenant. By faith wee plead our right, wheras by vnbeleefe wee giue God occasion to neglect our seed. I adde also with thankfulnesse, because we ought with great ioy and acknowledgement of the free grace of God, to behold our seed admitted in the sure couenant of mercy and saluation with our selues, and ought to thinke that God hath done more for our children, to admit them into Couenant [Page] by Baptisme, then if the greatest person on earth had made vpon them the assurance of some great estate of maintenance or preferment.

Secondly,2. About our selues. for our selues, we must make conscience of it, to make vse of our owne Baptisme, and that throughout the whole course of our life: It is giuen vs as a seale of Gods promises, and as a vow of our obedience, and so we must make vse of it all the daies of our life, especially in three cases:In three cases.

First, in the case of doubting and feare of the [Page] forgiuenesse of our sinnes, or of the saluation of our soules: for Baptisme saueth vs, that is, effectually assures vs of our saluation; and wee doe not offend in trusting Gods promise made in his Word, and signed and sealed in Baptisme. As certainely doth it saue our soules, as the Arke saued the bodies of Noah and his houshold; so as wee cannot miscarry, if wee leape not out of the Arke into the Seas of waters. Let vs stick to our Baptisme, and then we are safe: The washing in Baptisme did assure the washing [Page] of our soules by the Bloud of Christ for our sinnes. If I be tempted to doubt of my saluation, I must say to my own soule, Hath not the Lord prouided me the Arke of Baptisme to preserue me from the seas of his wrath? And if I doubt the forgiuenesse of sinnes, I must say, Hath not the Lord washed mee from my sins by the bloud of his Sonne? Did hee not shew mee so much in Baptisme? VVee sinne shamefully, in that wee doe not make this vse, but neglect the confidence Baptisme should worke in vs, [Page] as if the Lord had but dallied with vs, or that Baptisme were but some idle Ceremony, 1. Pet. 3. 21. 1. Cor. 15. 29. Act. 22. 16.

2. Secondly,How Baptisme may helpe vs against sinne. in the case of temptation to commit sinne: we ought to fight against sinne by his mighty weapon of our Baptisme, and so wee may doe by diuers arguments: As

First, in my Baptisme I haue made a vow to God, that I would cleaue to him in Iesus Christ, and renounce the world, the deuill and sinne: and shall I break my vow to God, that would bee ashamed to [Page] break my promise to men?

Secondly, my Baptisme was the Baptisme of repentance: and shall I yet liue in sinne? My body was washed: and shall my soule bee still impure? Math. 3. 11. Mark. 1. 4. Acts 13. 24.

Thirdly, by Baptisme I was assured of the vertue of the death of Christ to kill sinne in me: And shall I not beleeue the operation of God, that hee can deliuer me from the power, or powerfull temptations, or inclinations to any sinne? Shall I not seek strength of Christ? or shall I betray my selfe to the deuill and [Page] the flesh? In Christ I am dead to sinne, and shall I yet liue therein? Rom. 6. 1, 3. Col. 2. 12.

Thirdly, our Baptisme must bee vsed against the doubts of perseuering, or whether we shall bee kept vnto saluation, and whether our bodies shall bee raised againe at the last Day: for God hath assured all this vnto vs in our Baptism, that we haue our part not onely in the death of Christ, but also in the resurrection of Christ: and if Christ bee raised in vs, Christ can die no more, either in himselfe, or in our hearts, [Page] and the same power, that raised him out of the graue, will also raise vp our bodies at the last Day, as is pleaded, Romanes 6. 10, &c. Galath. 3. 27, 28. 1. Cor. 15. 29. 1. Pet. 3. 21. If wee be baptized, and beleeue, wee shall certainely bee saued, Mark. 16. 16.

Thus as it concernes our selues.

3. In respect of others,3. In respect of others. we are bound to the good behauiour in Baptisme, as to acknowledge the communion of Saints: so are we tied to preserue our selues in all brotherly loue with the godly, who weare the [Page] same Liuery with vs, and are Souldiers prest to the same warre, and haue taken vpon them the same holy Vow with vs: we are bound in Baptisme to loue them, to stand for them aboue all other people, and to liue with them in all holy loue, to our liues end, Ephes. 4. 3, 4, 5. 1. Cor. 12. 13. & 1. 13. Gal. 3. 27, 28.

CHAP. XII.
Rules about the Lords Supper.

HItherto concerning Baptisme: The Rules [Page] that concerne the Lords Supper, follow.

Now concerning this Sacrament,Rules about the Lords Supper. we are charged with these things:

1. First,1. Wee must examine our selues. Examination, 1. Cor. 11. we must examine our selues, and so eate and drinke: Examine our selues, so as wee be sure there bee no sinne in our hearts and liues, which we haue committed, but wee are desirous to forsake, and do vnfaignedly iudge our selues for it, being as desirous to forsake it, as we desire God should in the Sacrament forgiue it.

2. Secondly, The discerning[Page]of the Lords Bodie and Bloud: 2. We must discerne the Lords Body. so comming to partake of these outward signes of Bread & Wine, as we withall know and beleeue the presence of Christ; and that God doth as effectually giue Christ to the soule of the beleeuer, as hee giues Bread and Wine to his body: yea, we must thus discerne and beleeue, that hee is there offered and giuen vnto vs also, and that God doth not delude vs, but as truely giues vs the Bodie and bloud of Christ, as he doth by the Minister giue vs the bread and wine, 1. Cor. 11.

[Page]Thirdly,3. We must shew forth Christs death. The shewing forth of the death of Christ: This is a solemnity, where wee must intend to make a solemne remembrance of the Passion and Death of our Sauiour, not onely in being present at the breaking of the Bread, and powring out of the Wine, but in raising vp in our hearts a thankefull remembrance of his grieuous sufferings and death for our sinnes, Math. 26. 1. Cor. 11.

Fourthly,4. We vow to cleaue to the godly. Fellowship and louing communion with the godly, which wee both signifie, and vow in the Sacraments, and testifie before [Page] God and men, that wee will cleaue vnto them aboue all the people in the world, as being the same bread with vs, euen members of the same Mysticall Bodie of Christ, 1. Cor. 10.

Fifthly,5. We must be reconciled. speciall reconciliation with such as we haue offended, bearing malice to no man, and desiring and seeking peace with all sorts of men, Math. 5. Rom. 12.

Sixtly,6. We vow a holy life. and lastly, The vowes of sinceritie, resoluing to keepe this feast all our life in the vnleauened bread of sincerity and truth, euen to spend. our daies in [Page] all vprightnesse of heart, and vnfaigned hatred of all sinne and hypocrisie, 1. Cor. 5. 8.

CHAP. XIII.
Rules about prayer.

THVS of the Sacraments.

The Rules concerning prayer follow;Rules about prayer. where besides the generall Rules, that belong to all worship, these things in speciall must bee heeded concerning prayer.

1. Thy words must bee few, Thy words must bee few. Eccles. 5. 1, 2. and the [Page] reason is, because God is in heauen, and thou art in earth: Hee is full of Maiestie and Wisedome, and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature: Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer; we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God, without vaine repetitions and babblings, pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God: As affectation is ill in any thing, so much more ill in prayer. This Rule may bee vnsauory in the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale: But let them take heed of [Page] will-worship: the words are so plaine in the Text, as they must informe themselues about them: The Lord knew what was fittest for vs, when hee gaue vs this charge.

2. Thy heart must be lifted vp in the performance of this duty;2. The heart must bee lifted vp. This is often imported in diuers Scriptures, and this lifting vp of the hart hath diuers things in it.

1. Vnderstanding: thou must be aduised what thou prayest for, and know thy warrant, that what thou askest is according to Gods will. 1. Cor. 14. 15. 1. Ioh. 5. 14

[Page]2. Freedome from distractions: Thy heart must be cleansed from passions and lusts: Thy prayer must be without wrath, 1. Tim. 3. 8. And as the distractions arising from passion must bee auoided, so must a [...]l other distractions.

3. Feruency, or the stretching out of the affections according to the matter of prayer; thou must expresse the affections of prayer: for God looks at the prayer of thy heart, not at the prayer of thy lippes onely.

3. Thou must pray with all manner of prayer, 3. Vse all manner of prayer. according to the occasions of [Page] prayer: Thou must pray at thy set times daily, and thou must pray also with eiaculations (as Diuines call them) that is, those suddain and short speeches to God, when thy heart is moued vpon speciall occasion: Thou must vse Supplications, Deprecations, Intercessions, Confessions, giuing of Thankes, or the like, according to thy necessities, or the other occasions of thy life: Thou must striue to get a fitnesse and language to speake vnto God for thy selfe in thine own words, as may best expresse the desires of thine hart, Eph. 6. 18

[Page]4. Thou must continue and perseuer in prayer without ceasing: 4. Thou must perseuer in prayer. prayer must bee the worke of thy whole life, not an exercise for a fit, for a day or two, or a week or two, or a month or two: thou must make conscience of prayer alwaies, Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Thess. 3. 17.

5. When thy prayer is grounded vpon Gods will,5. Thou must bee instant, without fainting or discouragement. thou must be instant, and not faint, or be discouraged: Thou must pray without doubting and wauering, as resolued neuer to cease praying, till God heare and shew mercy. 'Tis basenesse [Page] of minde, not humility, to be quickly discouraged: if God entertaine vs not according to our expectation, or liking, we must not bee weary of seeking to God, but set vpon prayer, with a resolution to take no nay, Luk. 18. 1. Iam. 1. 6.

6. Thou must remember supplication for all Saints, 6. With supplication for all Saints. especially to pray heartily for Magistrates & Ministers; especially those vnder whose charge thou art, Ephes. 6. 18, 19. 1. Tim. 2. 1.

7. Thou must looke to it,7. In all things giue thankes. that in all things thou giue thankes: Let the Lord see [Page] the truth of thy heart herein, that what thou obtainest from God, especially by prayer, thou wilt with all gladnesse remember and acknowledge: This Rule must by no meanes be forgotten, 1. Thess. 5. 18. Colos. 4. 2.

CHAP. XIIII.
Rules about reading the Scriptures.

THus of the Rules that concerne praier: There remaines the reading of Scripture, and singing of Psalmes, as the other parts [Page] of the ordinary worship of God.

Concerning the reading of the Scriptures,Rules about reading the Scripture. I will instance in one place of Scripture onely, which containes the charge giuen to Ioshua, chap. 1. 8, 9. which comprehends the substance of the necessary directions about priuate reading. I say necessary; for godly men may, and haue aduised diuers courses for reading of Scripture, which are not absolutely necessary, but arbitrary, as may stand with the leasure and capacity of the person that will reade: such are [Page] those directions, that shew how many chapters may bee read in a day, and what things may be obserued in reading, &c. which, as they may bee profitable to many Christians, & expedient too, yet they must not bee vnderstood so, as that those persons sinne, which reade not so often, or so many chapters, or the like. The things therefore that must necessarily be obserued by such as can reade the Bible, I take to be these:

First,1. R [...]ade daily. they must exercise themselues therin daily, they must constantly be imployed therin, & if their occasions [Page] interrupt thē at some time, they must redeeme it at other times: This is the praise of the blessed man, That he exerciseth himselfe in Gods Law day and night; that is, constantly, Psal. 1. 2.

Secondly,2. Meditate of what thou readest. in reading they must meditate therein, that is, they must obserue profitable things, as they reade, attending to reading, & marking what the Lord saith vnto them by that part of the Word which they reade: This is that meditation, which is chiefly required of a Christiā, to get into their harts good thoughts frō the matter they reade of, so as [Page] they may the better bee inabled to imploy their thoughts all the day after.

Thirdly,3. Confer vpon it. The Word of God must not depart out of their mouth; they must make the best vse of it they can, in conference to speak of it to others, for the edification of themselues and others.

Fourthly,4. Resolue to obey. They must obserue in their reading, what the Lord saith vnto them, that concernes their practice: They must obserue to do according to those holy directions they reade of: They must bring a minde desirous, and resolued to [Page] let the Word of God both informe them, & reforme them, making conscience of it, to let God direct them by his holy Word read, and not onely by the Word preached to them: Their liues must be bettered by their reading, and to that end they must obserue the chiefest things they can, out of their reading, to remember them in their practice.

CHAP. XV.
Rules about singing of Psalmes.

[Page]

THe rules,Rules about singing of Psalmes. that concern the singing of Psalms, are summarily comprehended in that place, Col. 3. 16. and they are these:

1. First, they must teach one another by their Psalms, and Hymnes, and spirituall songs. They must learne to profit, and make good vse of the holy matter contained in the Psalmes they sing.

2. Secondly, they must sing with their hearts, they [Page] must attend to the matter they sing of, & lift vp their hearts, as well as their voices.

3. Thirdly, they must sing with grace in their hearts, they must imploy the graces of the holy Spirit, or Gods Spirit in singing of Psalmes, as wel as in prayer, or any other ordinance of God.

4. Fourthly, they must make melody to the Lord: They must direct their songs to God, and to his glory, and not vse them as meere ciuill imploiments, but as parts of Gods seruice.

CHAP. XVI.
Rules about Vowing and Swearing.

[Page]

HItherto of the Rules, that concerne the most vsuall parts of Gods seruice: There are other parts of Gods seruice, which are to be vsed, but at certaine times, and vpon speciall occasions, & these are Vowes, and Oathes, and Fasting.

The rules about Vowing are briefely comprehended in that place,The Rules about vowing. Eccl [...]s. 5. 3, 4. and they are chiefly two.

[Page]1. First, Before thou vowest, consider: consider, I say, thine owne strength, whether thou be able to do it: and consider also the end, that it bee to Gods glory; and consider the matter, that thou vow not things vnlawfull: and consider what may be the euents of thy Vow, for all Vowes being made before the Angell, that takes notice of all Couenants, it will bee in vaine afterwards to plead, it was an errour, thou wast mistaken: God may bee angry at thy voice, and destroy the worke of thy hands: Be not rash therefore, to cause [Page]thy flesh to sinne therein.

2. Secondly, when thou hast vowed thy vow to God, deferre not to pay it, be sure thou performe it: it is a grieuous offence to breake a lawfull vow: Better it is thou shouldst not vow, then that thou shouldst vow, and not pay.

Thus of Vowing.

Concerning the Oath,Rules about Swearing. when thou art called to sweare, thou must obserue these Rules:

First, that thou sweare not by any thing which is not God, Ier. 5. 7.

Secondly, that thou sweare in truth, that is, that [Page] thy conscience know, what thou swearest is true.

Thirdly, that thou sweare in iudgement, that is, with due consideration of the nature of God, and with sound deliberation, not rashly, and diligently weighing of all things, that belong to the matter thou swearest about.

Fourthly, that thou sweare in righteousnesse, that is about lawfull things, & iust matters: Thou must not sweare to do vniust things, as Dauid sware to kil Nabal: nor must thou swear about impossible things, or about things that are doubtfull [Page] and vncertaine: Nor in the forme of thy oath must thou vse such words, as be contumelious to God, or expresse not sufficient reuerence to the Diuine Maiestie, as they that wickedly sweare by any part of Christ, or such like.

CHAP. XVII.
Rules about Fasting.

THus of Vowes and Swearing; Fasting followes: Now if we would keep a religious Fast vnto God, wee must obserue these two Rules.

[Page]First,The Rules about a religious Fast. wee must looke to the strictnesse of the abstinence in the day of our Fast; for we must abstaine from all sorts of meate as well as one, and from all labour also, and from our costliest apparell, and from recreations and vsuall delights: Wee must keepe the day, as wee keepe the Sabbath, in forbearing our own works, Ion. 3. 6, 7. 1. Cor. 7. 5. Ioel 1. & 2. Leuit. 16.

Secondly, the time must bee spent in religious duties, as a Sabbath, especially in the exercises that concerne the humiliation of the soule, in renewing of [Page] our repentance, for the obtaining of pardon of sin, or some speciall blessing of God, or the preuenting, or remouing of some great iudgement of God.

The former rule concernes onely the ceremonie, or outward exercise of the bodie: but this rule containes the substance of the dutie, without which a religious fast is not kept vnto God, who regardeth not the hanging down of the head like a bull-rush, if the soule bee not humbled before God for sinne: Leu. 16. 29. Ioel 1. 14. & 2. 16, 17.

CHAP. XVIII.
Rules about the Sabbath.

[Page]

HItherto of the Rules, that concerne the parts of Gods worship: The rules, that concerne the time of Gods worship, follow, and this time especially is the Sabbath day.

Now the rules,Rules about the Sabbath. that bind vs to the good behauiour concerning the Sabbath, cōcern either the preparation to the Sabbath, or the maner of performing holy duties on the Sabbath.

The preparation to the Sabbath,1. The preparation to it. containes in it [Page] these things.

First, the ending of all our workes on the sixe daies, as God did his: Gen. 2. 2.

This example of God is set downe, not onely to shew what hee did, but to prescribe vnto vs, what we should doe, as is manifest by vrging this example in the reason of the commandement: We must then take order to finish the workes of the weeke daies with such discretion, that neither our heads be troubled with the cares of them, nor our hands tempted to worke about them on the Sabbath day.

[Page]Secondly, the preuenting of domesticall grieuances, and perturbations, Leuit. 19. 3. Yee shall feare euery man his mother and his father, and keep my Sabbath. Discords and contentions, and heart-burnings in the members of the family, extend their infection, and hurt, euen to the prophaning of Gods Sabbath. The Lord looks not to bee serued aright in his House, if people liue not quietly, and louingly, and dutifully in their own houses.

Thirdly, we must cleanse our selues, that we may keep [Page]the Sabbath, Nehem. 13. 22. Which place, though it speake of Legall cleansing, yet it shadowes out that Moral and perpetuall care of cleansing our selues, that ought euen to be found in vs. And thus we doe cleanse our selues, when we humble our selues, that we may walk with God, confessing our sinnes, euen the sinnes of the weeke past, & making our peace with God, through the name of Iesus Christ.

Thus of the duties of preparation:2. Of the celebration of the Sabbath. Now for the manner of keeping the Sabbath, the rules prescribe [Page] vnto vs these things:

1. Rest from all our works, whether they be workes of labour, or workes of pleasure. Workes of labour the Scripture instanceth in such, as are selling of victuals: Nehem. 13. 15. Carrying of burthens: Ierem. 17. Iournying from our places, Exod. 16. 29. The businesse of our callings done by our selues, our children, seruants, or cattell, which the words of the Commandement forbid. And as workes of labour, so also workes of pleasure are forbidden, Esay 58. 13.

2. Readinesse and delight. [Page] We should loue to be Gods seruants on this day, Esay 56. and consecrate it with ioy, as a glorious priuiledge to vs, Esay 58. 13. abhorring wearinesse, or a desire to haue the Sabbath gone, and ended, Amos 8.

3. Care and Watchfulnesse. We must obserue to keepe it: Exod. 31. 16. we must take heede to our selues, that no duty bee omitted, and that wee no way prophane it, tending our hearts, and our words, Ier. 17. 21.

4. Sinceritie, and this sinceritie we should shew diuers waies.

[Page]First, by doing Gods worke with as much care, as we would doe our own, or rather shewing more care for the seruice of GOD. They had their double sacrifices on the Sabbath, in the time of the Law, and wee should studie, how wee might please GOD in especiall manner on that day, choosing out the things that might delight him: God hath taken but one day of seuen for his worke; and shall wee not doe it willingly? Further, if wee respect our selues, shall we not bee as carefull to prouide [Page] for our soules on the Sabbath, as for our bodies on the weeke daies?

2. By obseruing the whole day, as well as a part, and keeping the Sabbath in our dwellings, as well as in Gods house: God requires the whole day, and not a part. As wee would not be contented our seruants should worke for vs onely an houre, or two in the six daies: so neither should wee yeeld lesse vnto God, then wee require for our selues. Nor will it suffice to serue God by publike duties in his House, vnlesse wee serue him also by [Page] priuate duties in our own dwellings, Commandement 4. Leuit. 23. 3.

3. By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath, as well as the greater, especially not transgressing of contempt, or wilfulnesse in the least things we know to bee forbidden. The Prophet instanceth: Isaiah 58. 13. Wee must not speake our owne words. Thus of sinceritie.

5. The fift thing required of vs, is Faith: we must glorifie GOD by beleeuing, that hee will make it a day of blessing vnto vs, and performe that blessing [Page] hee hath promised, accepting our desire to walke before him in the vprightnesse of our hearts, and passing by our infirmities, and fraileties. We many times disturbe the rest and Sabbath of our soules by vnbeliefe, Commandement 4. Genes. 2. 2. Exod. 31. 13. Ezech. 20. 20. & 46. 2, 5.

6. The last thing is Deprecation: wee must beseech God, when we haue done our best, to shew vs mercie, and spare vs for our defects and weakenesses. Thus wee must end the day, and reconcile [Page] our selues to GOD, that the Rest of Iesus Christ may be established in our hearts, Nehem. 13. 22. And thus of the rules, that binde vs to the good behauiour, in respect of the time of Gods worship.

CHAP. XIX.
Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues, when wee come into company, in respect of Religion.

HItherto of the rules, that concerne our carriage toward God?Rules that direct our carriage towards men.

Now it followes, that I breake open those directions, [Page] that should bring our liues into order in respect of men: And these rules are of two sorts, for either they are such, as binde vs to the good behauiour towards all men, 1. Towards all men. or such, as order our conuersation toward some men onely, as they are considered to bee either wicked or godly.

The rules that concerne all men, may bee cast into two heads, as they belong either to righteousnesse, or to mercy.

The rules that belong to righteousnesse,And so 1. in cōpany. order vs either in company, or out of company.

[Page]The rules which we are to obserue in company, concerne either,

1. Religion, or

2. The sinnes, and faults of others: or

3. Our owne inoffensiue behauiour towards all men.

1. For the first,With due respect of Religion. when we come in company, wee must be carefull to be that which may become the glory of Gods truth, and the Religion we professe, that wee take not vp the name of God in vaine: And thus we shall rightly order our selues, if wee obserue these Rules:

First, to be soundly aduised, [Page] before wee fall into discourse of Religion, not doing it, till God may bee glorified by it; A wise man concealeth knowledge, but the heart of fooles will publish foolishnesse: It is as great a discretion to know how to conceale knowledge, as it is to know how to vse knowledge.

Secondly, auoide vaine ianglings,Auoiding vaine ianglings in 3. things.and contradiction of words, such as are

1. Doubtfull disputations about Ceremonies, and things indifferent, which may entangle the weake, and keep them from more necessarie cares and knowledge, [Page] Rom. 14. 1.

2. Curious Questions, about things that are not reuealed in the VVord, Rom. 12. 3. Bee wise to sobriety.

3. Vnprofitable reasonings, such as were those about Genealogies, in the Apostles time, 1. Tim. 1.

Thirdly, If thou be asked a reason of the hope that is in thee, by such as haue authority to require it, or need to seeke it, then answer: But be sure to remember two things; namely, that thou answer with all reuerence, as may shew how much thou art affected with the Maiestie of [Page] Gods truth, and withall with meeknesse, that is, without passion or frowardnesse: and without affectation, or conceitednesse, or wilfulnes in thine owne opinions, 1. Pet. 3. 15.

Fourthly, let thy communication be yea, yea, and nay, nay: otherwise, customary and vaine swearing, is a most damned sinne, and such as God will surely plague.

CHAP. XX.
Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company, in respect of the faults of others.

[Page]

THus of our carriage in company in respect of Religion.How wee must behaue our selues in company concerning the faults of others. Now concerning the faultes of others, wee must obserue these Rules:

First, wee must neuer in our discourse iustifie the wicked, or condemn the righteous; all excesse in words is euill, but this is an abomination to the Lord: We must euer honour those that [Page]feare the Lord, and as for vile persons, they are to bee contemned, Psal. 15. 4. Amos 5. 15. Prou▪ 17. 15.

Secondly, let thy conuersation and discourse be without iudging, Math. 7. 1. lam. 3. 17. It is time exceeding ill-spent, that is spent in censuring of others. And the rather should we take heed of iudging, if we consider how the holy Ghost hath matched that sin in that place of Iames, wee must bee without iudging, without hypocrisie: as if he wold signifie, that great Censurers are commonly great Hypocrites; and as [Page] any are more wise, they are more sparing of their Censures.

Thirdly, thou must not walke about with tales; take heed of Tale-bearing: He goeth about as a slanderer, that reuealeth a secret, though it be true hee speaketh. It is a maruellous euill custome, that many haue to fill vp their discourse with the report of the frailties of others, which they by some meanes or other, come vnder-hand to know: This is an euill frequently condemned in Scripture, and yet most vsually practised; [Page] as if it were lawfull to speake of any thing which they know to be true: Thou shalt not walke about with Tales, nor stand against the bloud of thy neighbour: A strange connexion, by which the Lord imports, that this Tale-bearing is a kind of murther; and it is true in the case of many a man; thou wert as good lay violent hands vpon him, as with that licentiousnesse of words to diuulge tales concerning him, Prou. 20. 19. & 11. 13. Leuit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthening of this rule, thou art yet charged [Page] to looke to thy eares too, as well as thy tongue; Thou must not receiue euill reports against thy neighbour, but make it appeare, thou art not pleased with such Tales, Psal. 15. 3. Yea, thou art forbidden the society of such persons, as carry Tales; Thou must not meddle with Talebearers, nor with such as flatter with their lippes; Certainely such creatures commonly flatter the present, and reproach the absent, Prou. 20. 19.

Fourthly, if thou do know an offence in any, with whom thou conuersest, [Page] thou shalt not hate him in thy heart, Reproue, but hate not. but rather reproue him plainely: For, he that rebuketh a man, shall afterward finde more fauour then hee that flattereth with his tongue, Leu. 19. 17. Prou. 28. 23.

Fifthly,Passe by meere frailties. as for the meere frailtie of others, hold thy tongue, passe by them: A foole despiseth his neighbour, but a man of vnderstanding will hold his peace, Prou. 11. 12. Commonly they that haue most defects themselues, are aprest to contemne others for their weakenesses: but a wise man must so distinguish of [Page] the faults of others, that hee couer meere frailties, and learne of God to passe by the infirmities of his seruants: The Antithesis shewes, that a wise man doth not' onely hold his tongue, but restraine his thoughts from thinking the worse of others for such infirmities.

Sixthly, against the passions & wrongs of others thou must arme thy selfe with a soft answer, and bee sure thou render not euill for euill, Prou. 15. 1. 1. Thess. 5. 15. or rebuke for rebuke, 1. Pet. 3. 9.

CHAP. XXI.
Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company, and not giue offence.

[Page]

THus of our carriage towards others in cō pany, as it respects their faults: Now followeth the third sort of rules,Rules that concerne the in-offensiuenes of our carriage in company. which orderour behauior toward others in company in respect of in-offensiuenesse. It ought to be our principall care to carry our selues so, as no body may take offence at vs.

Now these rules may be directed to their heads, [Page] as they concerne,

of our behauior toward others.

1. The humility,

2. The discretion,

3. The purity,

Wee must carry our selues humbly, discreetly, and honestly in our conuersation with others, so shall wee conuerse with much amiablenesse, and reputation:

First,A humble behauiou [...] hath three thing in it. vnto the humility of our conuersation belong these Rules:

1. First, bee soft, shew all meekenesse to all men, restraining the inordination of thy heart, endeuouring to shew thy selfe gentle, and peaceable, and harmelesse, [Page] and easie to be entreated, Tit. 3. 1, 2. Prou. 8. 13. Iam. 3. 13.

2. Secondly, thou must bow downe thine eare, and heare the words of the wise, and apply thine heart to get knowledge, and profit thy selfe by others, Pro. 23. 17. This is the same with that of Iames, Bee swift to heare, and slow to speak, I am. 3. 19.

3. Thirdly, put not forth thy selfe, nor stand in the place of great men, till thou bee called, Prou. 25. 6.

In generall, concerning humility, the Apostle Peters phrase is much to bee [Page] noted, hee saith, we should cloath our selues with humility: which notes both the great measure of it, it should couer all our actions, and also the continuance of it: When wee go amongst men, wee should stirre vp our hearts, and fashion our selues to expresse this grace, and not dare to bee seene without humility, no more then we would bee seene without our cloathes. Humility hides our nakednesse, and pride and passion lay it open to the view and contempt of others.

2. Secondly, neither is [Page] humility all that is required to make our conuersation without offence,Eight rules that concerne discretion in our behauiour. or prouocation; but we must also carry our selues discretely, and to this end there are these excellent Rules:

First, thou must consider to speake what is acceptable, and auoide what may irritate; there is singular vse of this rule, if it were followed, Prou. 10. 32, 13. & 13. 23.

Secondly, thou must marke those that cause diuision and offences, and auoide them, and shunne the societie of such, Rom. 16. 17, 18. [Page] This will breed thee much peace, and deliuer thee from much suspition in others.

Thirdly, thou must make no friendship with the angry man; for either by much conuersing with him, thou maist learne his waies, or else it will bee a snare to thee, that thou shalt neither know how to keep his fauour, nor yet how to breake off from him, without much vnrest and inconueniences, Prou. 22. 24, 25.

Fourthly, it is a great discretion in euill time to be silent. In things wherein [Page] thou maist indanger thy selfe, and not profite others, it is thy best way, and a wise course, to forbeare speech of such things, Amos 5. 13.

Fifthly, so likewise it is thy discretion in matters of danger to forbeare the communioating of thy secrets to any, though thou mightst bee tempted to a perswasion of trust in those, to whom thou wouldst reueale them: It may often repent thee to haue spoken, but seldome to haue held thy peace, Micah 7. 5.

Sixthly, with-draw thy [Page]feete from thy neighbours house, left hee bee weary of thee and hate thee: This is an excellent rule giuen by Salomon, Pro. 25. 17. If thou wouldest conuerse with reputation, take heed of idle gadding from house to house, when thou hast no occasion or employment: Thou maist draw hereby much secret contempt, and loathing of thee, when thy emptinesse and vanity shal be thereby discouered. An empty conuersation, that hath in it no exercise of piety or vertue, if it be frequent, occasioneth secret, and vnutterable scorne.

[Page]7. Restraine thine owne passions in conuersing. There are none so wise, but if they shew their passions of immoderate anger, feare, griefe; yea, or ioy, but they discouer much weakenesses in their disposition, which would bee couered if thou didst bridle the excesse of thy passions. A wise man couereth shame, when a foole is presently knowne: It is the best praise not to haue such weakenesses; but the next to this, is by discretiō to bridle our selues, so as wee may hide our weakenesses from breaking out.

[Page]Lastly, thou maist make good vse of that direction of Salomon about thy friend, Blesse not thy friend with a loud voyee, rising early in the morning; for it may bee accounted a curse to thee: Take heed of flattery, which in stead of effecting thine owne ends, may bring thee out of all respect. Hee doth not forbid the iust praise, and encouragement of friends, but the intending of praise of purpose to the vttermost notice of thy friend (this is to praise him with a loud voice) and the affectation of preuenting others [Page] in praising; and of doing it in such things as are not yet sufficiently knowne to bee praise-worthy, and to set ones selfe so to praise, as if hee studied to do nothing else, but humour his friends, especially if it bee but once perceiued, that thou dost it but for thy owne ends. It is a great part of wisedom, to know how to speak of the praise of others, so as neither sinister ends bee intended, nor the humoring of those we praise: to doe it sparingly and seasonably, is a great discretion.

And thus of the Rules, [Page] that make our conuersation amiable, in respect of discretion.

3. Thirdly,Three Rules that concerne the purity of our cō uersation. that our conuersation may not be hurtfull and offensiue, we must looke to the purity of it, and so these Rules following are of singular vse:

First, in generall, Refraine thy tongue from euill, and thy lippes that they speake not guile, Psal. 34. 13. For hee that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soule, Pro. 22. 23. Take heed of the vsuall vices of the tongue: for thereout may come much mischiefe, and discontent to thy selfe and others.

[Page]Secondly, in particular looke to thy selfe carefully, that thou auoide those three euils mentioned by the Apostle: Ephes. 3. 4. viz. Filthy speaking, Foolish talking and iesting. By iesting hee meanes those biting iests, that vnder pretence of shewing wittinesse, or conceit, doe secretly leaue disgrace vpon the persons whom they concerne.

Thirdly, auoide with detestation the excess [...] in drinking and reuelling, and suffer thy selfe vpon no pretence, to be drawne to giue way to thine owne practice [Page] in them, 1. Pet. 4. 3.

CHAP. XXII.
How wee must carrie our selues out of company.

THus of thy carryage in generall in company. Now out of company thou must looke to these things:

1. First, thou must fashion thy heart,The rules that order vs out of companie. by the vse of all good meanes, to the loue of all sorts of men. This [...], loue of me [...], is a vertue little thought on: yet greatly necessarie, as a foundation [Page] of all practices in conuersing with others, and wee should labour to abound in loue towards all men, 1. Thes. 3. 12.

Secondly, remember to pray for all sorts of men: This is a precept giuen vs in charge by the Apostle, 1. Tim. 2. 1. and belongs to this place, and wee ought to make conscience of it according to the occasions of our callings, or acquaintance with other men: we should euen in secret seeke to profit our neighbours by praying for them.

Thirdly, we should prouide, [Page] euen out of company to order our affaires so, as that we may liue,

1. Honestly without scandall, 1. Cor. 10. 32. Phil. 1. 10.

2. Iustly, without deceit or fraudulent dealing, Leu. 19. 35. 36. 1. Thes. 4. 16.

3. Peaceably without strise with any, if it be possible, Prou. 3. 29, 30. Zach. 7. 10. Hebr. 12. 14.

CHAP. XXIII.
Rules about workes of Mercy.

HItherto of the rules, that concerne righteousnesse.

[Page]Mercy followeth. Now in shewing mercie, diuers things are charged vpon vs.

First,8. Things required in shewing mercy. 1. Willingnesse. Willingnesse. We must giue cheerefully: For the Lord loueth a cheerefull giuer. We must loue mercy, as well as shew mercy. Our hearts should bee euer answerable to our power. We must be ready, and prepared to shew mercy, abhorring delaies, and putting off of time, or seeking excuses: Our eares should bee open to the cries of the poore, rather then bee behinde hand; we should sell, that wee might giue almes, [Page] Mich. 6. 8. 1. Tim. 6. 18. 2. Cor. 9. 4, 5, 6, 7. Pro. 22. 23, 13. Luke 12. 33. Pro. 3. 27, 28.

Secondly,2. Labour. Labour and Diligence. Wee should take paines, and work hard according to all the occasions of mercy. This is the Apostles phrase: God will not forget your worke, and labour of loue, Heb. 6. 10. We must bee forward to doe those workes of mercy, that require our paines and trauaile about them, as well as those we may doe and sit still, 2. Cor. 8. 16, 22.

Thirdly,3. Liberalitie. Liberalitie: We must open our hands wide, [Page] Deut. 15. 8. wee must bee rich in those good workes, 1. Tim. 6. 18. we must no [...] giue sparingly, 2. Cor. 9. 6. we must giue to our power, and sometimes beyond our power: 2. Cor. 8. 2. wee should desire to answere the expectation had of our bounty, especially the expectation of our teachers that know vs and our estates, 2. Cor. 8. 24. wee should striue to abound in this grace also, as well as in other graces of the Spirit, 2. Cor. 8. 9. we should giue to seuen, and also to eight, Eccles. 11. 2. we must make good measure, yea and pressed[Page]downe, Luke 6. 8.

Fourthly, 4. Humilitie. Humilitie shewed fiue waies in doing workes of mercy. Humility. There is great vse of humility, in shewing mercy. Now we should shew our humilitie diuers waies about mercie: As

First, in helping others, without exalting our selues, and dominiering ouer them. The rich must not thinke to rule the poore, and to command them, as if they were their vassals: we should so shew mercy, as not to stand vpon tearmes of their beholdingnesse, to whom wee shew mercie, Prou. 22. 7.

Secondly, in not despising[Page]the poore; we must no [...] thinke of them meanely, and contemptuously, because they stand in neede of our help, whether it be in bodie or minde, Prou. 14. 21.

Thirdly, in accepting exhortation, shewing our selues willing to be called vpon, and stirred vp to mercie, 2. Cor. 8. 17.

4. By our penitencie, whē we goe to God, after wee haue done our best, and confesse the corruption that cleaues vnto vs, euen when we haue shewed our best desires to communicate to others, and withall [Page] striuing to plow vp the fallow ground of our hard harts, that they may bee more fit to expresse the bowels of mercy, Hos. 10. 12.

Fiftly, the Macedonians shewed their humilitie in this, that they prayed the Apostle to accept their gifts, giuing themselues also to bee disposed of to the Lord, and vnto them by the vvill of God, 2. Cor. 8. 5.

Thus of the humility to bee shewed in doing workes of mercy.

A fift thing required in shewing mercie,5. Faith in two respects. is Faith; and faith is needfull in two respects.

[Page]First, to beleeue Gods acceptation of the mercy shewed. For a godly Christian, that is not vaine-glorious, hath so meane an opinion of his best workes, that he findes neede to flie to Gods promises, and dares not trust vpon his owne goodnes. Now God hath promised to accept of that we doe, if there be a willing minde: The will is accepted for the deed, 2. Cor. 8. 12.

Secondly, to beleeue the successe and reward from God, and that wee shall not lose, by what is so expē ded. Though the persons [Page] to whom we shew mercy, should bee so vngratefull, that it were as bread cast on the waters: yet wee ought to beleeue, that our seede cast on the waters, shall bring vs a plentifull haruest, Eccles. 11. 1. And it is certaine, whatsoeuer the persons be, yet what is giuen, is sowed. And if the Husbandman doe not thinke his come spoiled, that he casts vpon his land, no more ought a Christian to think that to be lost, that is giuen to the poore. Nature may disappoint the hope of the Husbandman, but in works of mercie, [Page] there is no venture, but a sure increase from the Lord, 2. Cor. 9. 9, 10. and therefore our faith should make vs get bags to put vp the certaine treasure wee shall gaine by mercy from the Lord, Luke 12. 33.

A sixt thing required in shewing mercie,6. Discretion in four [...] things. is discretion, and discretion should shew it selfe

First, by distributing our almes in the fittest course wee can, hauing a principall respect to godly poore. He that sheweth mercy, ought to haue a good eye, Prou. 22. 9.

Secondly, by obseruing [Page] our owne abilitie, so to ease others, that we burthen not our selues, 1. Cor. 9. 14, 15.

Thirdly, by taking heed that wee spend not vpon the rich by needlesse entertainments, what ought to bee bestowed vpon the poore, Prou. 22. 16. Luke 14. 13.

Fourthly, by auoiding scandal, or giuing offence, that none blame vs in our aboundance, but prouiding things honest in the sight of God and men, 2. Cor. 8. 20, 21. yet so as wee indeuour in an holy & discreet manner to prouoke others by our zeale, 2. Cor. 9. 2.

[Page]A seuenth thing required in shewing mercy, is Sympathy, 7. Sympathy. Pitie, a Fellow-feeling of the distresses of others, being like affectioned and laying their miseries to heart, Heb. 13. 3. Col. 3. 12. Rom. 12. 16. Iob 30. 25. There should be bowels in our mercy.

The last thing is Sinceritie. 8. Sinceritie in fiue things. Now this sinceritie should bee shewed diuers waies, As:

1. In the matter of our almes. It must be of goods well gotten. For God hateth robbery, though it were for burnt offerings, Esay 61. 8.

[Page]2. In the maner we must shew mercy, without wicked thoughts, or griefe of heart, Deut. 7. 7, 8. to 12. and without hiding our selues from the poore, Esay 58. 7. and without excuse to shift off the doing of it, Prou. 24. 11, 12.

3. In the ends. That we doe not our workes to bee seene of men, or to merit of God: but with an vnfained desire to glorifie God, and make our profession to be well spoken of, and shew the true loue and pitie wee beare to the creature in distresse, Math. 6. 2. Cor. 9. 19.

[Page]4. In continuing our mercy; not forgetting to distribute, but still remembring the poore, Heb. 13. 16. Galat. 2. soundly performing the mercy with constancie, which wee haue purposed, willed, or promised. It were an excellent order, if Christians would follow the Apostles rule, euery weeke, as God hath prospered them, to lay aside for the poore, 1. Cor. 1. 16. 2. 2. Cor. 8. 11.

5. In the kindes of mercie, that wee bee ready to shew spirituall mercy, as wel as corporall, and in corporall mercy to doe good all [Page] the waies we can, as well as one way: As by lending, protecting, releasing, visiting, and giuing; and thus to the poore, to such as are fallen into decay, and to the strangers also: as many Scriptures require.

CHAP. XXIIII.
Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues towards wicked men.

HItherto of the rules that concerne al men: Now the particular rules direct our carriage either toward wicked men, [Page] or toward godly men.

Our conuersation toward wicked men may be ordered by these rules:

First,Needlesse societie with them must be auoided. we must auoide all needlesse societie with them, and shunne their infectious fellowship, especially wee must take heed of any speciall familiaritie vvith them, or vnequall yoaking our selues with them, by marriage, friendship, or leagues of amitie, Psal. 1. 1. 1. Cor. 6. 17. Eph. 5. 7, 11. Prou. 23. 20. & 4. 14, &c.

Secondly,Great wisdome required in cōuersing with them. when wee haue occasion to conuerse with them, wee must study how to walke wisely towards [Page] them, so as we may bee so farre from giuing scandall, as if it bee possible, we may winne them to glorifie God and his truth in our profession. It requires much skill to order our selues aright in those things that are to be done in the presence of wicked men, or in such things, as must come by report vnto them, and their scanning. Now there are diuers things of admirable vse in our carriage to put them to silence,Diuers things that affect the hearts euen of the worst men, are and to make them in their consciences at least to thinke well of vs: Such as are:

[Page]1. Mortification. 1. A mortified life. A sound care to reforme our waies, and true hatred and griefe for our owne sinnes, will cause many times wicked wretches to say of vs, that wee are the people of the Lord, Esay 61. 3, 8. I say, a sound care of reformation for to professe a mortified life, and yet in any thing to shew, that we can liue in any fault vvithout repentance, this prouokes them exceedingly to speak euill of the good way of God. Therefore the first care of a Christian, that would be rightly ordered toward wicked men, must [Page] be to liue without offence, and to discouer a true mortified minde, and a heart broken for sinne.

Secondly,2. Reuerend speech of Religion. to speake with all reuerence, and feare, when wee intreat of matters of Religion, much amazeth the prophane conscience of a wicked man. Whereas cursorie discourses of such grand mysteries, and empty and vaine ianglings doe exceedingly occasion a confirmed wilfulnesse, and prophanenesse in such men, 1. Pet. 3. 16. & Prou. 24. 26.

Thirdly,3. Meekenesse of wisedome. it is a most winning quality in all our [Page] carriage, to shew meekenesse of wisedome to expresse a minde well gouerned, free from passions, and also from conceitednesse, frowardnesse, affectation, and the vaine shew of what we haue not in vs in substance. For each of these haue in them singular matter of irritation, and prouoke wicked men to scorne, and hatred, and reuiling.

Fourthly,4. Reseruednesse in foure things. there is a holy kinde of Reseruednesse, which may adorne the life of a Christian in his carriage among wicked men: And this Reseruednesse is to be shewed:

[Page]1. In not trusting our selues too farre with them, not beleeuing euery word, not bearing our selues vpon euery shew of fauour from them. For as too much suspition of them breeds extreame alienation, if they perceiue it: so credulitie is no way safe: Pro. 14. 15. Iohn 2. 24.

2. By abstaining from iudging of them that are without. It is a most intemperate zeale, that spends it selfe in the vaine and bootelesse censure of the estate of those that are without. Those censures haue in them matter [Page] of prouocation, and nothing of edification. It were happie for some Christians, if they could with the Apostle say often to their owne soules, What haue I to doe to iudge them, that are without? 1. Cor. 5. 12, 13.

3. By studying to be quiet, and meddle vvith our owne businesse, casting about, how to cut off all occasions, by wch we might be intangled with any discord, or contentions, or much businesse with them. It is a godly ambition to thirst after this quietnesse of life, 1. Thes. 4. 12.

[Page]4. By our silence in euill times, alwaies auoiding all such discourses, as might bring vs into danger, without any calling for our owne edification, or the edification of others. Many a man hath smarted sorely for want of this bridle for his tongue, when his words could doe no good to others, and much hurt to himselfe, Amos 5. 13. Dauid held his peace while the wicked were present, Psal. 39. 1.

5. In forbearing to reproue scorners, Prou. 9. 7, 8. & 23. 9.

6. In seasoning the [Page]words with salt, so as they discouer not vanity, lightnesse, vaine-glory, malice, or desire of reuenge, or the like faultes in their speeches.

7. In answering the foole, but not according to his folly, that is, not in such pride, passion, or reuiling fashion, as the foole obiects in, Prou. 26. 4, 5.

8. In getting out of their company, when we perceiue not in them the words of wisedome: If wee see they grow once to bee peruerse, outragious, or wilfull in any notorious offence of words or works, [Page] we must get from amongst them.

Thus of the eight waies wherein wee should shew reseruednesse: they are of excellent vse, if men would study them, and practise them.

5. Mercy5. Mercy. is amiable euen in the eies of wicked men: and mercifull Christians, that are full of good workes, doe bring a great deale of honour to Religion: It is true Religion, and vndefiled, to visite the fatherlesse, and widowes, and to be vnspotted of the world: A conuersation, that is vnrebukeable, and full of [Page] mercy also, cannot but be very honorable: whereas Religion it selfe, when it is seated in the brests of such Christians, as haue forgotten to shew mercy, and do not study how to be doing good to others, is exceedingly darkened in the glory of it, and many times extremely ill spoken of: A true Christian should hold it a great disparagement, that any Papist, or carnall man in the world (in equall comparison) should put them downe, for either the tendernesse, or the aboundance of workes of mercy, [Page] 1. Pet. 2. 12. Math. 15. Iam. 3. 25.

6. When wee haue cause,6. Vndauntednesse in a good cause. & a calling to speak for the truth, or to reproue sinne, it is an excellent grace to bee vndaunted, & free from seruile feares, flatterie: To giue place to wicked men in Gods cause, or to feare their faces in the quarrell of Religion, or to shew a minde that would repent of wel-doing, or that basely would stoupe some way to honour vngodly persons for our owne ends, is so farre from gaining true fauour with euill minded [Page] men, that it makes them to scorne and hate vs, and Religion so much the more: whereas a godly man, that is vnmoueable, & refuseth to praise the wicked, or iustifie the vngodly, and when hee hath cause, will contend with them, as Salomons phrase is, and not be like a troubled fountain, or a corrupt spring: hee may for the time receiue ill words from the wicked, but his heart is afraid of him, and his conscience doth admire him, Pro. 24. 25. & 28. 4. & 25. 26. 1. Cor. 16. 22.

7. The like aduantage [Page] is brought to the conuersatiō 7. Patience in affliction. of a godly man, when hee can shew like patience, and firmenesse of minde, in bearing all sorts of afflictions, and crosses. Patience in affliction makes a great shew before a wicked man, that well knowes how vnable he is so to carrie himselfe, 1. Pet. 3. 14.

8. Lastly, to loue our enemies, and shew it by our fruits in forgiuing them, or being ready heartily to pleasure them, and ouercome their euill with goodnesse: To pray for them, when they reuile and persecute vs, is a transcendent [Page] vertue; euill men themselues being Iudges, Luke 6. 27. to 31. Prou. 20. 22.

CHAP. XXV.
Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues towards godly men.

THus of our carriage toward the wicked: how we should carry our selues toward the godly, followeth to bee considered of:

The summe of all is, that wee must walke in loue: If wee can soundly discharge our duety to the [Page] godly, in respect of louing them vnfaignedly & heartily, and constantly, wee performe all that is required of vs toward them: And this loue to the godly is so necessarie, as that it is imposed vpon vs, as the onely Commandement giuen by Christ, who in one word tels vs the substance of our duties, Ioh. 13. 34. Ephe. 5. 2. 1. Pet. 2. 17. 1. Cor. 16. 14.

Now the Rules which in particular binde vs to the good behauiour in respect of our loue to the godly, concerne either the manifestation of our loue [Page]to them: or the preseruation of our loue to them.

Wee must shew our loue to the godly diuers waies:Six waies of manifesting our loue to the godly.

First,1. By courtesie. by courtesie and kindnesse towards them, and that in a speciall manner, being affectioned toward them with a brotherly loue and kindenesse. No brethren in nature should shew more kindnesse one to another, then Christians should, Eph. 4. 33. Rom. 12. 10.

Secondly,2. By receiuing them. by receiuing and entertaining them: we must receiue one another, and be harberous one to another; [Page] and this with intirenesse of affection: Negatiuely, it must bee without grudging, 1. Pet. 4. 9. Affirmatiuely, we must receiue one another, as Christ receiued vs into glory, that is: First, without respect of desert; Wee haue done nothing to deserue heauen; yet Christ hath receiued vs to glory: so, though the godly haue not pleasured vs any way greatly, yet because they are the children of God, we should make much of them, and entertaine them gladly. Secondly, not thinking any thing too deare for them: [Page] Christ hath not enuied vs the very glory of heauen, and therefore what can we doe to the brethren, that should answer the example of Christ? Rom. 15. 7.

Thirdly, by bearing their burthens; 3. By bearing their burthens. for so we should fulfill the Law of Christ, Gal. 6. 2. There are two sorts of burthens presse the godly: One inward, such as are temptations, and their owne corruptions; the other outward, such as are afflictions of all sorts: Now in both these, this rule holds; for when wee see a godly Christian mourne and lament his [Page] distresse in respect of his infirmities or temptations, wee must beare his burthen, not by soothing him in his sinne, as if it were no sinne, but by laying his griefe to our owne hearts, and striuing to comfort him with the promises of God. This is not to make our selues guilty of their sinnes, or to beare with their sinnes, but to helpe them out of their griefe by consolation, out of their sinne by direction. Note,Note. that this is charged vpon vs, when sinne is a burthen to them, not before; for till then wee are [Page] rather to reprooue them, or admonish them: But then we are to take notice of this Rule, when they confesse their sinnes, and are weary of them, and sorry for them: And thus also in their outward burthens we must beare them by comforting them, and aduising them, and helping them, and shewing our affection to them, as if it were our owne case, so farre as we haue a calling, and power to help them.

Fourthly,4. By prouoking them to good duties. by considering one another, to prouoke unto loue, and good workes, Heb 10. 24. Note the dutie [Page] and the manner how it is to be done: The duty is, to stirre vp others all wee can to the increase of loue and aboundance of all good workes: the manner is shewed two waies; First, wee must prouoke them to it, both by example, and by exhortation, and all good waies, that might fire in them the desire of well-doing. Secondly, we must consider one another, wee must study the estates of others, their wants, impediments, meanes, gifts, callings, &c. and accordingly apply our selues for the best aduantage [Page] to helpe them forward. It is not enough to doe it occasionally, but wee must meditate of it, and cast about, how, where, and when we must yeeld this helpe, and incouragement, and furtherance.

Fifthly,5. By faithfulnesse in all their businesse. by doing whatsoeuer wee do for the godly, heartily, and with all faithfulnesse, as if it were for our selues, or our owne brethren, or kinred in nature, not being slothfull in seruice; or such as disappoint the trust reposed in vs: wee should doe all things wee vndertake for. [Page] them, with all fidelity and care, 3. Ioh. 5. Rom. 12. 6, 7, 8, 11. Yea, we should care for their good and profit, as wee would care for the good of the members of our owne body: for such are they to vs in the Mysticall Body of Iesus Christ, as the former place to the Romanes sheweth.

Lastly,6. By imploying our gifts for their good. we should shew our loue to the godly, by employing the gifts of our minde, as may be best for their good: As euery man hath receiued the gift, hee must so minister the same, as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God. There [Page] are diuersity of gifts in the godly, as knowledge, vtterance, prayer, and the like▪ Now these are giuen to profite withall, 1. Pet. 4. 10. 1. Cor. 12. As for example, The lippes of the wise must disperse knowledge, Pro. 15. 7. So when Christians meete together, as any haue receiued a Doctrine, or a Psalme, or an Interpretation: so must hee minister it for the profite of others, 1. Cor. 14. 26. and so must we help one another by prayer, either absent, or present, 2. Cor. 1. 11.

CHAP. XXVI.
How wee should preserue our loue to the godly.

[Page]

THus of the Rules that concerne the manifestation of our loue to the godly: Now there are further diuers things to bee obserued for the preseruation of our loue to them: and these may bee cast into two heads: for, they are either such things as wee must doe; or, such things as wee must auoide.

The things that we must [Page] do to preserue loue are these.What wee must do to preseru [...] our loue to the godly. Wee must labour to be of one iudgment with them

First, wee must striue to be like minded in matters of opinion; many discords or abatements of affection grow among Christians for their differences of opinion in diuers things. It is true, that difference of Iudgement should not cause difference in affection: If wee cannot bee of one minde, yet wee should bee of one heart; yet wee see the contrary, and therefore euery Christian should make conscience of it, to bee so wary and so humble in his opinions, [Page] especially in things doubtfull, or not so necessarie, as to take heed of admitting, who might shew dissent from the godly; or if hee must needs dissent, yet to bee very wary how hee discouer it to the vexation, or entanglement of others. Now because this is very hard to perswade Christians vnto, marke how vehemently the Apostle speakes of it, Rom. 15. 5, 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded, that yee may with one mouth and one minde glorifie God. We must learne of the Apostle [Page] to pray feruently for this, that our natures, and the natures of others, with whom wee conuerse, may bee fitted hereunto: and 1. Cor. 1. 10. the Apostle adiures them by the name of Iesus: I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that yee all speake the same thing, and that there be no diuisions amongst you, but that yee bee perfectly ioyned together in the same minde, and in the same iudgement. And in the Epistle to the Philippians cha. 2. ver. 1, 2, 3. Hee vrgeth them with strange vehemency to import [Page] the necessitie of this duty: If, saith he, there bee any consolation in Christ, or any fellowship of the Spirit, or any bowels of mercy, bee like minded, hauing the same loue, being of one minde. And certainely, this earnestnesse in requiring this duety, imports, that some peruerse Christians will smoke one day, for their presumption and waywardnesse, and pride of opinions.

2. Wee must follow the things,2. We must follow peace.which may make for outward peace; and to this end wee must labour to shew all meeknesse in our [Page] carriage, and long-suffering in for-bearing one another, and forgiuing one another, Ephes. 4. 2, 3, 4.

3. Wee must striue to heate our affections to such a degree,3. We must couer their weaknesse as that it may be able to couer the infirmaties of others: Hee must get a couering loue, that will liue constantly in the loue of the godly: A loue, that will couer a multitude of faults, 1. Pet. 4. 8. Prou. 10. 12.

4. We must confesse our faults one to another,We must confesse our faults one to another.I am. 5. 16. It doth exceedingly preserue loue, if men, when they haue offended, [Page] or wronged others, would quickly, and easily, and heartily acknowledge their offences: Nor doth this rule hold in case of trespasse onely, but when we haue not wronged others, yet discreetly to complaine of the corruption of nature that cleaues to vs, and the infirmities which daily trouble vs: This doth work not onely compassion, but great increase of affection in others towards vs: For acknowledgement preuents their secret loathing of vs for such frailties, if they should discouer them. [Page] And besides, it makes them the willinger to giue vs leaue to reproue their faults, when they see wee are as willing to reproue our owne; Besides the ease it brings to our owne hearts many times to make our moane to others, when our consciences are troubled.

CHAP. XXVII.
What wee must auoide, that our loue may bee preserued.

[Page]

THus of what we must doe to preserue loue;10. Things to bee auoided. Now further, that loue may be preserued amongst the godly, these things following are to be auoided.

First,1. Suits in Law. Suites in Law; A Christian must haue many considerations of his cause, before it can be lawfull for him to goe to law with his brother; These kinds of contentions are [Page] most vnnaturall amongst Christians, and proue not only scandalous in respect of others, but extreamely grieuous and poisonous to themselues, 1. Cor. 6. 1, 4.

Secondly,2. Dissimulation. Dissimulatition: our loue must be without faining, in deede, and in truth, not in shew, or in words, Rom. 12. 9. 1. Iohn 3. 18.

Thirdly, Conceitednesse. 3. Conceitednesse. This is a vice, that extreamely vexeth others, and alienateth affection: wee must not be vvise in our selues, but rather in lowlinesse of minde esteeme another better then our [Page]selues, and shew it both by making our selues equall to them of the lower sort, and by going before others in giuing Honour and Praise, Rom. 12. 10, 16. Phil 2. 4. Pro. 12. 15.

Fourthly, reioicing in iniquitie. Our loue must be holy and pure, if wee would haue it preserued. It must haue nothing in it, that is vnseemely, nor must it bee an affection, that will take pleasure in the vices, or faults of those, with whom wee conuerse, 1. Cor. 13. 5, 6.

Fiftly,5. Worldlinesse and selfe-loue. The minding of our owne things: wee must [Page] not study for our selues, and our owne ends onely in conuersing, 1. Cor 13. 5. The meaning is not, that wee should leaue our callings, and our houses, to spend the greatest part of our time in our neighbours houses, but he prohibits, First, Worldlinesse, and excessiue cares about our businesse, and the things of this life, which hinders needfull societie with the godly: and secondly, hee forbids selfe-loue in conuersing, when men in all things aime at their owne profit, or pleasure, or credit, and doe [Page] not as well seeke the good of others: we may minde our owne things, but not onely.

6. Sixtly,6. Ficklenesse. Ficklenesse and Vnconstancie: we must looke to it, that brotherly loue continue, Heb. 13. 1. and to this end wee must looke to the leuitie of our owne natures, and striue to make good, by continuance, the affection wee haue conceiued and professed to others. Some are of such vnconstant dispositions, that they will loue vehemently for a fit, and suddenly fall off without reason, but not without [Page] singular shame, and blemishing of their reputations. For such tempers are hardly fit for any societie. Now this must bee repented of, and refonned.

Seuenthly,7. Vaineglory. wee must take heede of vaine-glory, and an ouer-eager desire of credit and estimation aboue others. For this is the cause of much vnrest in our owne hearts, and of much interruption in brotherly loue. And vvhy wouldest thou be so highly esteemed of? Thou considerest not the hard taske thou layest vpon thy [Page] selfe, to bee euer carefull to answere that great praise, or estimation thou desirest: Nor markest thou, how thereby thou art made to offend against thy brother: by enuying him, by backbiting; or other waies of prouocation, nor yet how little this commends thee to God, Gal. 5. 26.

Eightly,8. Iudging. take heede of iudging thy brethren, not but that thou maist say, that sinne is sinne, but looke to thy selfe in two things:

First, that thou censure not thy brother about [Page]things indifferent, or doubtfull: such as ceremonies were and are. This is flatly forbidden, Rom. 14. 3, 13.

Secondly, that thy suspitions transport thee not to condemne thy brother for hidden things, the things of darknesse and counsels of the heart: till thou be sure of the fault, or offence, thou maist not iudge, or censure, 2. Cor. 4. 5.

Ninthly, if there be any occasion of grieuance that loue may be renewed, or preserued, looke to two things:

[Page]First,9. Euil words and complaining. that thou render not reuiling for reuiling, 1. Pet. 3. 9.

Secondly, that thou grudge not against thy brother, or by whispering depraue his actions, or backbiting, or complaine against him to his disgrace in things, where the right is not apparantly discouered, Iam. 5. 9.

Lastly,10. Forsake not their assembly. if thou wouldest preserue thy selfe in the loue of the godly, then thou must take heede of forsaking the assembling together of the Saints: Thou must preserue all vvayes [Page] of exercising the Communion of Saints, and hold fellowship with them in Gods House, and in your owne dwelling. Prophanenesse must not draw thee from the Temple, nor worldlinesse from societie, and louing, and profitable conuersation with thy godly friends and acquaintance, Heb. 10. 25.

CHAP. XXVIII.
How wee must carrie our selues towards such as are fallen.

HItherto of such rules of conuersation, as [Page] direct vs in our carriage toward the godly considered in generall. Now there are other rules, which concerne onely some of the godly: Namely:

1. Such as are fallen.

2. Such as are weake.

3. Such as are strong.

4. Such as are especially knit vnto vs in friendship.

For the first, those that are fallen, are either fallen from God, or fallen from thee. Such as are fallen from God, are either fallen grosely, and of habite, or by infirmitie, and suddenly.

[Page]Those, that are fallen grosely, are either guiltie of foule vices, or else of extreme omissions, such as that, which the Apostle instanceth in of Idlenesse, and the generall neglect of their callings.

Now towards both these thou must bee thus ordered:How we must carry our selues towards such as are fallen fro God.

First, warne them in the beginning, and reproue them sharpely, 1. Thes. 5. 14.

Secondly, if they mend not, auoide them, withdraw thy selfe frō them, conuerse not familiarly with them, let them [Page] not be the companions of thy life, 1. Cor. 5. 11. 2. Thes. 3. 6, 14.

Thirdly, if they repent, forgiue them, and comfort-them, lest they be swallowed vp of griefe, 2. Cor. 7. 2, 8.

Now if they bee fallen by infirmitie, either they are likely to offend again, or not. If they bee likely to fall further, saue them with feare, pulling them out of the fire, Iude 23. but if not, then restore such a one with the spirit of meekenesse, comfort him, deale gently with him, Gal. 6. 1.

This of thy carriage to [Page] such as are fallen from God.

As for those,How we must carry our selues towards such as trespasse against vs. that are fallen from thee, by trespassing against thee, thou must obserue these rules of carriage towards them.

First, in slighter wrongs doe all things vvithout reasonings, or murmurings: either speake not of it, or so, as thou shew no repining, or vexation about it, Phil. 2. 14. Secondly, in great wrongs, thou must doe two things:

First, obserue the methode of our Sauiour Christ: when the trespasse [Page] is secret, goe and tell him of it betweene thee and him: If he mend not, then take two or three other discreet godly persons with thee, and tell him of it againe: if hee yet mend not, then diuulge it, and acquaint the Church with it: Either seeke a publike sentence vpon him from authoritie, or acquaint the godly generally with it: and if these courses will not amend him, then abandon his societie, as if hee vvere a Heathen, or a Publican, Mathew 18. 15.

Secondly, if by any of [Page] these courses hee repent, forgiue him, yea, and that as often as hee saith, it repenteth him, if he should doe thee many iniuries, Luke 17. 3, 4.

CHAP. XXIX.
How we must carry our selues: towards the weake Christian, &c.

THus of thy carriage toward them that are fallen.

Towards weake Christians we must bee thus ordered:How we must carry our selues towards weake Christians

First, we must take heed, [Page] that wee intangle them not with, doubtfull disputations in matters of ceremonies, or things indifferent, Rom. 14. 1.

Secondly, we must get the skill to beare with their weakenesses, & meere fraileties, Rom. 15. 1.

Thirdly, wee must be wonderfull carefull, that wee doe not offend them, or cast any stumbling blockes in their way, Math. 18. 1. Cor. 10. 32.

Fourthly, wee must incourage them, and comfort them, and support them all we can, 1. Thes. 5. 14.

Fiftly, in things indifferent, [Page] wee must not thinke it much to crosse our selues to please them, and to suffer a little bondage in the restraint of our liberty, rather then vexe them; especially for the furtherance of their soules in the meanes of their saluation, wee should become all things to all men, Gal. 5. 13. 1. Cor. 9. 20, 21, 22.

3. Towards strong Christians wee must be thus ordered:How we must carry our selues towards the strong.

1. First, we must acknowledge such, 1. Cor. 16. 18.

2. We should set them and their practice before vs, as paterns, & examples of imitation, 1. Cor. 5. 17. Phil. 3. 17.

[Page]3. Wee should submit our selues to such, to let them aduise vs, & admonish vs, and with all should submit our iudgements in things doubtfull to theirs, 1. Cor. 16. 16. 1. Pet. 5. 5.

4. Towards thy friend thou must be thus ordered.How we must carry our selues towards our special friend.

1. Neuer forsake him, Prou. 27. 10.

2. Giue him hearty counsell, Prou. 27. 9.

3. Bee friendly to him, Prou. 28. vlt.

4. Communicate thy secrets to him, Iohn 15. 15.

5. Loue him with a speciall loue.

1. As thine owne soule, [Page] Deut. 13. 6.

2. Let thy loue be at all times, euen in aduersitie, Prou. 17. 17.

3. It must bee a sincere loue, that looketh not for gifts, or rewards, Pro. 19. 6.

4. It must be such a loue, as will reach to his posteritie also, if need be, 2. Chro. 20. 7

CHAP. XXX.
Rules that concern our selues: and so first in our generall calling.

HItherto of the rules of order in respect of God, or our neighbours. [Page] Now follow the rules that concerne our selues:

And these are of two sorts. For they are either such, as order vs at al times, or such as order vs in the times of affliction.

The first sort concerne either our generall, or particular calling.

The rules that concerne our generall calling,How we must carry our selues in our generall calling. as in this place they are to bee considered of, concern either: 1. our Faith: 2. or our repentance: 3. or our hope.

1. The rules,1. In matters of faith. that concerne our Faith (supposing the Christian to be informed [Page] in the things contained in the former Treatises) are onely these two:

First, thou must be expert in the Catalogue of promises, that concerne infirmities, mentioned in the third Treatise. For those wil preserue thy faith in Gods fauour, against the daily experience of frailetie, and infirmitie in thy selfe. For thou maist by them see, that thou hast no reason to doubt of the continuance of Gods loue to thee only, because of thy many weaknesses. For in those promises, hee hath and doth declare, how graciously he [Page] is inclined to his seruants, and passeth by their frailty, and accepteth their desires and endeuours, &c. This rule will prooue a maine support of the contentment of thy life: and therefore let not Sathan make thee either despise, or neglect it.

Secondly, thou shalt doe well to establish thy iudgement particularly in the doctrine of the principles expressed in the fifth Treatise; and by sound learning of them settle thy selfe, so as thou bee no more carried about with the winde of any contrary [Page]doctrine: It should be the labour & care of all good Christians to keep the pattern of wholesome words, 2. Tim. 3. 13.

Concerning thy repentance,2. About thy repentance. as now it is to bee vrged vpon thee; after thy assurance one rule is of singular vse, and that concernes the Catalogue of present sinnes: By the directions in the first Treatise, I suppose thou hast deliuered thy selfe from the body of sinnes, so as the most of those euils mentioned in thy first and great Catalogue, are shaken off, neuer to bee committed againe, [Page] and so thou hast no more to doe about them, but giue God thankes for thy deliuerance from them through Iesus Christ: Now because after thy first repentance, there will remaine some corruptions, which as yet are not rooted out; thy course for thy whole life, for these remainders of sinne, would be this: Make thee a Catalogue of thy present sinnes, euen of such euils as thou findest thy selfe yet daily prone vnto. Examine thy selfe seriously to this end: it may bee thou wilt finde 6. or 8. or 10. or [Page] more, or fewer euils, which yet hang vpon thy nature and life: Thy course for the vse of this Catalogue may be this: I suppose thou art instructed so far, as to know the profite of daily calling vpon God: Now whereas inprayer thou dost; or oughtst to make confession of thy sinnes, in stead of a more generall confession, vse still thy Catalogue, that is, labour euery day to iudge thy selfe distinctly for those sins that doe presently annoy thee: Hold on this course constantly; till thou haue gotten power against all, or [Page] any of them, and as thou findest vertue against any of them, so alter thy Catalogue, giuing thankes for the sinnes thou gettest head against, and putting them out of thy Catalogue. The paines is little, it is once done for a long time, and thy memory will easily carry thy speciall present faults: Besides, this distinct daily remembrance of thy present sins, will make thee more watchful against those sins; & thou maist once a year, or once a quarter, or before euery Communion, examine thy selfe anew, [Page] and mend thy Catalogue, by putting in any corruption, which thou discouerest then, or at any time, to arise anew in thee, and putting out such euils, as by prayer thou hast gotten victory against: Thus maist thou see the state of thy soule distinctly al the daies of thy life, discerning when thou goest forward or backward: Besides, this course of daily iudging thy selfe, keeps thee out of the danger of any wrath from God.

Concerning thy hope,3. About thy hope. there are foure things for thee to doe.

[Page]First, pray constantly and earnestly, for the knowledge of the great glory is prouided for thee: Thou must forme the admiration of heauen in thee, by prayer: for naturally it is not in vs, Ephes. 1. 18, &c.

Secondly, thou must vse all diligence to perfect thy assurance of heauen, when thou diest, Heb. 6. 12. 1. Pet. 1. 13.

Thirdly, thou must striue to accustome thy thoughts to the daily contemplation of heauen, that thy conuersation may be in heauen, Phil. 3. 20,

Fourthly, thou must [Page] striue to direct thy heart, and inable thy selfe to the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ; thou must labor for that skill distinctly, to be able to waite for the comming of Iesus Christ, and to shew that thou louest his appearing, 1. Thes. 1. 10. & 2. Thess. 3. 5. Gal. 5. 5 2. Tim. 4. 8.

CHAP. XXXI.
Rules that order vs in our particular Calling.

THus of the Rules that concerne thy General Calling:7. Things to be auoided in our particular Calling. in thy Particular Calling there are seuen [Page] things to be auoided.

The first is slothfulnesse, and thou art guiltie of this sinne, both when thou dost not the labours of thy calling, and when thou obseruest not the seasons, and opportunities of thy Calling, Prou. 10. 4, 5. And that thou maist bee free from this sin, thou must auoide together with it the occasions of it: And so thou must auoide 1. The loue of sleep, Pro. 20. 13. 2. Good fellowship, & haunting of Ale-houses, and Tauernes, and keeping company with dissolute persons, Prou. 21. 17. 3. Wandring from thine[Page]owne house, euen that vnnecessary going from house to house, though it bee not to places of ill fame. Fourthly, thou must take heed of pertinacious entertainement of doubts and obiections about thy Calling, thou shouldst bee afraid of excuses for idlenesse, especially to bee so selfe willed, as to be glad of any thing may seeme to patronize thy slouthfulnes, Prou. 20. 4. & 15. 19. & 26. 16. And therefore to conclude this Rule, when thou art about thy calling, what thou dost, do with all thy power, Eccles. 9. 10. and rest [Page] not in words or pratling: Hee is not diligent, that brags much of what work hee can or will do, but hee that doth it indeed, Prou. 14. 23.

The second sin to bee auoided in thy particular calling,2. Vnfaithfulnesse. is Vnfaithfulnesse, Prou. 20. 6. and so thou must take heed of breach of thy promise in thy dealings with men, Psal. 15. 6. and also thou must take heed of all deceitfull courses, all waies of fraud and couzenage. It is a hatefull thing in men, when they are such as cannot be trusted, either because they make not [Page] conscience of keeping their words, or because they will vse so much cunning and deceit, and dissimulation, & lying in their dealings.

The third sinne to bee auoided,3. Rashnesse. is Praecipitation, hastinesse, and vnaduised rashnesse arising out of the leuity of mens mindes, or their wilfulnesse. Prouidence and wise Diligence is wonderfull requisite vnto a right ordering of our selues in our Callings, Pro. 21. 5.

The fourth sinne to bee auoided,4. Passion. is Passion or perturbation; and that hath [Page] in it both vncheerefulnesse and vnquietnesse: vncheere. fulnesse, when men are not content with their Callings, or Gifts, or Estates, 1. Cor. 7. 17. vnquietnesse, when men are froward, & carry themselues peeuishly, or cholerickly with those that are about them. This sinne of frowardnesse is vehemently censured & condemned in Scripture, Prou. 11. 29. Psal. 37. 8. Pro. 16. 32. & 19. 11. & 25. 28. whereas God requires a quiet, contented, and merry heart, Pro. 17. 22. Eccles. 9. 7, 8.

The fift thing to bee auoided [Page] and shunned,5. The temptations of thy calling. is the Temptations of thy Calling; euery Calling in the world is assaulted with certaine temptations, and they are vsually of two sorts; For first in all Callings there are certain vnlawfull courses held for gaine by wicked men, which wee call the sinnes of such a Calling. These vniust courses thou must learne to auoide, and abhorre, and so exercise thy Calling, as thou shun those sinfull courses vsed by wicked men in that Calling: secondly, euery Calling is assaulted with crosses, & afflictions: Now [Page] in these afflictions the deuill is wont to tender ill counsell, to perswade to sinne, or the vse of vnlawfull meanes, or other sins of distrust in God: All these thou must auoide.

Sixtly,6. Worldlinesse. thou must take heed of Worldlinesse, or setting thy heart vpon these earthly things thou art to deale with in thy Calling: Thou must euer be ready to confesse, and shew it by thy practice, that thou accountest thy selfe to be but a stranger and Pilgrime in this world, Heb. 11. 13. and if riches increase, thou must look to it, that thou set [Page]not thy heart vpon them, Psal. 62. 10. Thou must vse the world, but not loue the world, 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Thou maist and oughtest to bee carefull to do the duties of thy Calling; but thou must in nothing be carefull about the successe, but submit thy selfe in all things to God, Math. 6. 1. Cor. 7. 32. Thou must behaue thy selfe like a weaned child, Psal. 131. 1, 2. Take heed of eating too much hony, Prou. 25. 16, 17. & 27. 1, 2.

The seuenth, and last thing thou must auoid, is prophanenesse, 7. Prophanenes. which is to vse the workes of thy Calling [Page] without exercising thy selfe in the Word of God, and daily prayer for Gods blessing vpon thy labours, and the creatures thou art to vse, Psal. 90. 1. Tim. 4. 3, 4. Gen. 24. 11, 12, 26, 27.

CHAP. XXXII.
How wee should carry our selues in the time of affliction.

THus of the Rules of carriage which concerne thy selfe at all times: How wee must carry our selues in affliction. Now follow the Rules that shew thee how to behaue thy selfe in the time of affliction [Page] and aduersity. When thou art in affliction, thou must consider what thou must auoide, and what thou must doe.

Thou must auoide eight things.8 Things to bee auoided. 1. Dissembling.

First, Dissembling: Make not thy selfe poore when thou art rich; nor sick when thou art well, Prou. 13. 7.

Secondly,2. Shame. Shame; Be not ashamed of that condition God brings thee into: beare thy crosses with spirituall magnanimity, account not thy selfe dishonoured by Gods hand, who doth all for the best, 1. Pet. 4. 16.

[Page]Thirdly,3. Impatience. Impatience: grieue not at Gods works: sorrow not after the world: Fret not at God or man; Refuse not Gods chastening, but with patience beare what is laid vpon thee: It is the Lord, let him do whatsoeuer hee will with thee, Prou. 3. 11.

Fourthly,4. Discouragement. Fainting, or discouragement of heart: Liue by faith; call not Gods loue into question: keep thee in the good way, Prou. 24. 10.

Fifthly,5. Trust in carnall friends. Trust vpon carnall friends; Relye not vpon-man, but vpon God: Trust not in the arme of flesh, Prou. 27. 10.

[Page]Sixtly,6. Perplexed eares. Too much Carefulnesse for the meanes how to get out of affliction: Commit thy way to God, and put thy trust in him; vse all lawfull meanes, but distresse not thy heart with bootlesse cares: Cast thy care vpon God, for hee careth for thee, phil. 4. 6. Iam. 4. 10.

Seuenthly, Suddaine feares; 7. Suddain feares. Bee not so amazed with the first tydings, or beginnings of any affliction, discouer not such want of faith, as to be guilty of those violent passions of feare; Gods loue is vnchangeable: and though heauen and earth should [Page] go together, yet God will be with thee; Hee will not leaue thee, nor forsake thee, Prou. 3. 25.

Eightly & lastly,8. Carelesnesse of thy waies. Carelesnesse of thy waies; be not secure in sinning, but let thy crosses melt off some of thy drosse, & draw thee neere to God: Go not on boldly to sinne without regard; if the Lord haue any quarrell against thee, humble thy selfe and depart from iniquity, Prou. 14. 16.

The things then thou must doe on the contrary side,5. Things to be done in the time of affliction. are these: When thou art in affliction, thou must do these things:

[Page]First, thou must pray, and call vpon the name of the Lord; as these expresse Scriptures require, Iam. 5. 13. Psal. 50. 15. 1. Cor. 4. 12, 13.

Secondly, thou must beare thy crosse with patience, and contentation, Iam. 1. 4. 1. Pet. 3. 15. Esay 5. Phil. 4. 6. 2. Cor. 6. 8. Prou. 12. 9.

Thirdly, thou must labour for wisedome to know how to carry thy selfe discreetly, and to vse all good meanes for thy deliuerance, Iam. 1. 5.

Fourthly, thou must bee sure to shew thy trust in God, and cast thy burthen [Page]on the Lord, Iam. 5. 7, 8. Nahum. 1. 7. Psal. 27. vlt. & 37. 7. & 55. 22.

Fifthly, thou must shew thy obedience to God; and that thou dost,

1. If thou submit thy selfe to Gods will, Heb. 5. 8.

2. If thou iudge thy self, & acknowledge thy sinnes to God, Hosh. 5. vlt. Iob 36. 8.

3. If thou be constant in the good waies of godlinesse, Psal. 37. 34.

4. If thou learne more righteousnesse, & art made by thy crosses to do holy duties with better affections, Esay 26. 11.

FINIS.

Information about this book

Title statement

The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.

Edition statement

1619

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A17410

ID [STC]

STC 4233.5

ID [STC]

ESTC S122202

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99857354

ID [PROQUEST]

99857354

ID [VID]

23076

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A17410)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 23076)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 737:19)

Source

— The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex., Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622..

Extent

[48], 323, [1] p.

Printed by G[eorge] P[urslowe] for Ralph Rounthwaite, and are to bee sold at the Flower de-luce and Crown in Pauls Church-yard,. London :: 1619.. (Printer's name from STC.) (Issued as part 4 of "The marrow of the oracles of God", 1619.) (Identified as STC 4233b on UMI microfilm.) (Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library.)

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