IF th'estate of most of vs bee sur­uaide: it will be found not far vnlike a very crasie & sickely bodie, which longer then it is or­dered by a verie skil­full dyet, is alwayes [Page] out of frame, if not full of paine. Euen so men not knowing or not precisely vsing a­ny Christian directi­on, for the well or­dering of their whole life, are not long in a­ny good temper, but fall into many euils: which the longer they be lyne in, the more hardlie, and with the more griefe will bee cured. The truth hereof will ea­sily appeare.

First by looking backe euery one in­to his life betweene God and his Soule: considering how em­pty he hath beene of all good graces, and stuffed with manye noysome thoughtes and lustes, and how negligent, vnprofita­ble and vncomforta­ble he hath beene in all heauenlie exer­cises.

Also what neede there is of this direc­tion [Page] will appeare, by cōsidering euery one his open conuersati­on before men: how barren he hath beene in all good workes, so that few or none, are moued to blesse God for him. And on the other side, how appa­rantly his corruption hath broken out as foule spots in the face of his profession, to the great dishonour of God, offence of many, and griefe, or [Page 3] els more hurt to his owne soule. As for example.

• First, in open loath­ing of the heauenlye foode.
• Secondly, in ex­cessiue delighte in all earthly pleasures.
• Thirdly, in immo­derate care for earth­ly commodities.
• Fourthly, in open pride.
• Fiftly, in coue­tousnes.
• Sixtly, in impacien­cie: [Page] all apparant in word and deede.

All which is great­lie increased, for that through deep securi­tie hee hath not fea­red, but hath beene senceles of this dan­gerous estate.

These thinges be­ing thus, it cannot be denyed, but that it is high wisedom for all, betimes both to in­quire after such a skil­ful direction, as is ap­proued to be able, as [Page 5] such as is not groun­ded a right.

3 To prou [...]ke vs to reuengement.

4 To make vs grudge agaynst our good God, &c.

Now to repel these mighty enimies. God hath appo [...]nted vs ar­mour, and will al­wayes succour vs at our neede, so as wee fight still vnder his b [...]nner, calling conti­ [...]ually vpon his pow­er, & vsing the means [Page] that are offered vs by his worde.

We may see diuers that haue a good zeal as farre as can be iud­ged: and yet it shalbe but a blast, it will not continue, and why? Because they bee not fenced against Satan, where let vs put on this Armour of God, keeping it on fast, and let vs not hang it on a naile by the wall at any time, for it is cer­taine we cannot liue [Page 5] in Gods obedience, & keepe the way that hee sheweth vs but by fighting. And if we fight without Ar­mour, what shall be­come of vs?

This Armour wee find in the sixt Chap­ter to the Ephes [...]ans, 14 15. 16, and 17. ver [...]es. And it is as foloweth.

• 1 The girdle of ve­ritie.
• 2 The breast-plate of righteousnesse.
• 3 The shooes of the [Page] preparation of the Gospel of peace.
• 4 The shielde of faith.
• 5 The helmet of saluation.
• 6 The sworde of the spirit.

1 By the Girdle of ver [...]tie, is ment a soūd heart, whereby the Apostle condemneth all hypocrisie, enioy­ning vs to giue our [...]elues to the seruing of God, with a free heart, & a right mea­ning [Page 5] minde.

No maruell though the diuell ouercome vs easily & steale vpō vs all kind of wayes vnawares both Eue­ning and Morning, and euer e minute. For where is this soundnes which the apostle requireth first of all?

2 By the Breast­plate of righteousnes is meant an holie life: so as wee should bee resolued to deale vp [Page] rightly in all our acti­ons both before God and man.

3 By the Shooes of the preparation of the Gospell of peace is ment not onelie skil in the Gospel, but also haste and valian­cie. We should so take hold of the peace of our God offered in the Gospell, as that we be prepared to in­dure any hardnesse in the Christian course.

When we are trai­ned [Page 5] in the doctrine of the Gospel, as wee ought to be, then we maye walke safelye through the worlde, whilest we see the vn­beleeuers snarled in the world, and with pleasures and profits plunged ouer heade and eares in it, sinking themselues daily dee­per and deeper in it.

For vs there is but one onelie way to make vs wade tho­rough this worlde, [Page] and to attaine to the kingdom of heauen which is to hauesuch instruction as is in the Gospel, namely, that God hauing adopted vs freely to bee his children, will not haue vs to dwel here beneath for euer, but that we should come vnto him, yea, euen with all hast & speed. For wee are borne to an heauenly life.

And If wee refuse not the succour that [Page 5] our God giueth vs, but rather make it ef­fectuall, by enforcing our selues to with­stand all euill, we shall haue peace in the midst of wa [...]re. And why? For the Gospel is the gospel of peace

This peace indeed doth not discharge v [...], of all care: yet this Christian care which wee o [...]ght to haue shall bee no impedi­ment, but that wee enter into the b [...]tte [...]l [Page] freely with a steddie and well setled mind. For as much as God is on our side, and will vtter his mightie power in our de­fence, which conside­ration ought to make vs quiet, so as no such feare attach vs, as may make vs turne head, or so disfurnish vs of aduise, but that the more we be pinched, the more we flie vnto our good God. Thus our care driueth vs to [Page 5] prayer, that wee might crye strong­ly to our God to luc­cour vs, and to pro­uide for all our needs which hee knoweth much better then we our selues do.

This is to be shod with the Gospell of peace.

4 By the shield of Faith is ment: Grace to app [...]ie the promi­ses as a shield for our [Page] defence, that so wee may finde our hearts comfortably p [...]rswa­ded of the truth of Gods promises vnto vs, assuring our se [...]ues wee shall teach from the Lord all grace to help in time of need.

Faith and Gods word haue such rela­tion one to the other, as they cannot bee sundere [...]: for faith is nothing of [...]tself f [...]r­therforth, then it is [Page 5] grounded vpō Gods worde. And Gods worde also profiteth vs not, except we re­ceiue it by faith.

Faith thus groun­ded, hath for the ob­iect thereof our Lord Iesus Christ, and it is the onely meane wee haue to fetch power from God to bee pre­serued from Sathan

This faith is our shield: whosoeuer shal make themselues [Page] shieldes of any other thing that can be de­uised, to repulse Sa­than withal, they shal haue but a Spiders web, and Sathan will but sport himselfe at such presumption: wherfore let vs learne to make faith our buckler, that is to say, when wee minde to enter into the battell, and to hold out in it: Let vs consider, that God is our father, be­cause [Page 5] he hath elected and chosen vs for his children, of his owne infinit goodnes. See­ing he hath assured vs that he will alwayes bee on our side, and that he is greater then al the world, and that hee hath put vs in good and safe kee­ping, by ordaining our Lord Iesus Christ to be our sheepherd: Let vs gather all those promises togither, & [Page] make a shield of them to set before vs when soeuer we be assailed, and let vs defie the di­uell, because we be in the protection of our God, who is of inuin cible power, and be­cause our Lorde Iesus Christ hath taken vp­on him the charge of our saluation, and promised to bee a faithful keeper of our soules, to the ende.

• 1 If we bee temp­ted [Page 5] with couetous­nesse, because wee bee afrayde least the earth should faile vs: let vs remember God hath taken vpon him the charge to nourish and sustaine vs. And therefore let vs rest vpon him, and aske our daily bread at his hands.
• 2 If the diuell la­bour to winne vs to whordome, let vs call [Page] to minde howe Iesus Christ hath incorpo­rated vs into him­selfe, and made vs his owne members to be all one with him. And shall we go rent our selues frō Christ, to make our selues the members of a fil­thie Harlot? God forbid.
• 3 Are we prouo­ked to gluttonie? And why not? Hath not [Page 5] God created victuals to our vse? Yes: But should we defile and ouerthrow the order that God hath set, which is, that wee should bee sustained by them, thereby to bee directed to the heauenly life? And shall wee turne the thing to our hinde­rance that ought to be our helpe.
• 4 Againe, we are [Page] tempted with ambi­tition to glorifie our our selues? yea, but what example hath our lord Iesus Christ set before vs? Howe lowly? how meeke­ly did he beare him­selfe? Moreouer, if we couer to be great in this worlde, wee shall bec enemies to God, for hee resisteth the proud so, as their pride and presump­tion must needes be [Page 5] pulled downe. Thus may wee euerie way beate backe the darts of Sathan by faith.

5 By the Helmet of saluation is ment our constant hope, to enioy in due time whatsoeuer GOD hath promised, and therefore with bold­nesse wee lift vp our heades agaynst all our enemies, looking for the full victorie vnto saluation.

[Page] 6 By the sword of the spirit, is ment, the worde of God: and let vs assure our selues that we haue a good sword, when wee can skill to applie Gods woorde to our vse. And (as aboue is shewed) let vs assure our selues that wee haue a good shielde, when we haue fayth which proceedeth out of the worde of God.

Nowe Christian Reader, that thou maist keepe this Ar­mour fast vpon thee, haue care to prac­tize these rules fol­lowing.

1 His first care in the morning must be that presently after rest, before the mynd be intangled with o­ther thoughtes, affec­tions and cares, he a­wake with God, and therefore that he suf­fer not his mynd be­fore [Page] meditation and prayer, to be wande­ring after the worlde which is founde a greate quencher of grace the whole day after.

But rather that he stirre vp the grace of God in him, by thinking on such he­uenly matters, as bee most fit for the same.

As First, that shortly he must lie downe in the dust, and part with whatsoeuer de [Page 6] light he doth heere enioy; that this may breede in him a con­tempt of the worlde, and a longing after the life to come.

Secondly, that he consider, to what great preferment hee is come by beeing Gods childe, that by the comfortable sight of this high preroga­tiue, hee may cheere vp his hart to all holy dueties to God and man: resoluinge to [Page] deal (without fraud) religiously and sim­ply.

Thirdly, also that hee consider his late preseruation and o­ther mercies recey­ued from God with thankefull remem­braunce of all, both earthlie and (most e­specially) heauenlye blessinges.

These meditations ended, hee is in the feare of God to ad­dresse himselfe to of­fer [Page 7] vp vnto God his morning sacrifice of prayer, in such sorte as may be accepted, taking heed that in a­ny case his prayer be hearty: and therein these three principall partes are to bee re­membred.

First, Gods mer­cies bodilie, and spi­rituall, with heartie thankes for the same.

Secondly, his sins, with harty desire of pardon for them.

Thirdlie, his neces­sities both of bodie and soule, with fer­uent request to be re­lieued in all, both for himself, and others, so particularly as con­ueniently may be.

Secondlie, hee is to watche ouer his thoughts, words and deeds al the day, that euill may be kept out of them, preuenting the occasion and ten­tation to euill. And for such sins wherun­to [Page 8] hee is more prone then to others, hee must haue more care to auoide them, and the prouocations, that were wont most to preuaile against him: oftner thinking on the foulenesse of those sinnes, & way­ing the reasons that should kindle in him a detestation of them, vsing all lawful reme­dies against them: And not to enter­prise [Page] any kind of bu­sinesse whatsoeuer, without hearty pray­er to GOD in the name of Iesus Christ for the obtayning of his holy Spirite and mercifull protection.

Also hee is to ob­serue howe sinne dy­eth and is weakened in him, and must bee carefull to shun one sinne as well as ano­ther, and must de­light in the worde and worship of God, [Page 9] and in the fellowship of his Saintes, and mourne and striue a­gainst his sinnes, re­newing his couenant with GOD for that end.

This watchfulnes and care will bee found no more then needefull, if we con­sider,

First, among how many occasions and prouocations wee walke.

Secondlie, howe [Page] shiftles wee are to a­uoide them.

Thirdly, how our lustes and ill affecti­ons carry vs head long vnto euill: so as we go about nothing but some one or o­ther of them is in our way to molest vs.

Fourthly, the great hurt that many godly minded haue taken for wante of this watchfulnes, as Eue, Noah, Dauid, &c.

A little diligent [Page 10] practise will so fill his heart with peace of conscience (which is more of all true chri­stians desired then any gaine) that the la­bour will bee most pleasaunt, sweete, de­lightfull and easie.

3 Thirdly hee is faithfully and dili­gently to follow his lawfull calling, yet so that his diligence bee no let from the ser­uice of God, and pra­ctising the helpes in [Page] this direction sette downe. For we must so play the good hus­bandes, that wee be­come not worlde­lings: and so we must looke to our busines, as we bee not careles of our brothers good Wee must vse the world as though wee vsed it not, not lifting vp our heartes when wee prosper; nor cast­ing them downe when we are crossed. And thus will the di­ligent [...] [Page 13] as are able to enform him, and as often as hee may, to seeke o­portunitie to confer with such as feare God, that hee may both doe and receiue good. As the coales of fire lying together do yeeld more heate and endure longer: so the seruantes of God receiue mutual comfort one of ano­ther: and doe by their mutuall loue declare indeed, that [Page] they are Gods chil­dren, 1. Iohn, 3. 13. 14. Maruell not my Bre­thren though the world hate you; wee know that wee are translated from death vnto life, because wee loue the Brethren, and hee that loueth not his Brother abideth in death. In which bles­sed sentence, note both an euidēt marke of the childe of God, and the reprobate. The Childe of God loueth Gods Chil­dren: [Page 14] the reprobate worldlinge hateth Gods children.

7 When at anie time he findeth him­selfe to haue failed in his dutie to God: he must take heede that hee neyther make sleight reckoning of it, which hardeneth the hart: nor yet that he too deeply be cast downe by it, which much discourageth a poor distressed soule from comfortable [Page] proceeding, but ra­ther speedilie to re­concile himselfe to God, and so recoue­ring himselfe to bee made more circum­spect by his fall.

8 He is to take heed that al these duties be not made matters of course and custome, without care to grow better thereby: for this is the subtiltie of Sathan, to make men thinke, when they haue performed out­ward [Page 15] obedience, it sufficeth. God is a spirite, and therefore must be worshipped hart [...]lie and in truth.

9 Hee is also to ob­serue Gods blessings and chastisementes, that by both, his hart may bee drawne to thanks and requests, that so all the daye as it were hee maye walke with his gra­cious God.

10 He is to looke well to his carriage in [Page] company, that he do no hurt by worde or example, nor take a­nie from others: but cōtrariwise endeuor rather to do good. If all the company bee not of one mind, &c. then hee is to wait for fitte occasion from their talke, to vtter somewhat wisely to th'holding out of vn­sauorie talke, that at­tendance may be gi­uen to better, being wisely and kindly of­fered. [Page 16] And to this purpose before hee go into company, he is to thinke of some matter that may bee profitable for the company to which hee goeth. Without this care it is better to attend vppon familie and charge at home, then to frequente company. If the cō ­pany be scornefull or brutish, so as hee can haue none oportuni­ty to do good.

First, hee is not to ioyne with them in their idle talke, but to shew apparant dislike of it, by silence, coun­tenance, &c.

Secondly, he is to break off company as soone as may be.

If hee light vpon such as thinke it an o­uercharging of them alwayes to be held to this cōmunication, he must haue regard of their weaknes, and must bring them on [Page 17] so as he may best pre­uaile with them. But not to make them think that there is no talke allowed but of Scripture, when as it cannot bee denide, but men may talke of their trades, howe to grow to more skill in them, &c. When hee commeth in compa­ny, to deale about his affairs, or other mens matters, when just occasion shall drawe him thereto, he must [Page] so carrie himselfe as may be sutable to the other parts of his life, that there be no brek­ing of his peace with GOD, taking heede that he do not in any euill follow the fashi­on of other men.

He is also in compa­ny to auoid as rocks, those common sins against the third and ninth commaunde­ments. Let not God or any word or work of his bee once men­tioned [Page 18] but with re­uerent feare. Let not any man bee named but with loue, re­membring that roiall Law, Whatsoeuer men should doe vnto you doe you the same vnto thē. Waying well these holy sentences of the 119. Psal. 53. Feare is come vppon mee for the wicked that forsake thy law. 63. I am compani­on of all them that feare thee, and keepe thy pre­cepts. 97. Oh how loue [Page] I thy law: it is my medi­tation continually. 139. Mine eies gush out with riuers of water, because they keepe not thy Law. 155. Saluation is farre from the wicked, be­cause they seeke not thy statutes 158. I saw the transgressors, and was grieued because they kept not thy word. The sweet and blessed spi­rite of GOD write these sentences in our hearts, that wee may Christianly behaue [...] [Page 7] as well in regarde of health, as also behaui­our, which makes mee the more willing to de­scribe it, for all mens ea­sier apprehension.

When the stomacke or ventricle hath recei­ued the foode, it locks it vp afterward, to heate & conuert it into a kind of white matter, which beeing so changed (ac­cording to his qualities) discends by degrees in­to the guts and bowels, certaine veines wherof doe sucke and draw the very purest & best sub­staunce, and so do cary it to the Liuer.

When it is grosse & super­ [...] [...]