which will not stand with this let it as deadly poyson be carefully auoided and reiected of thee Here followeth a prayer containing the summe of the life which is to be daily led of a true Christian A forme or paterne to teach and direct a Christian how to begin the day with meditation and prayer and confession of sinne and thankes after he hath first awaked with the Lord containing in it the matter of this Treatise necessarie for him to practise throughout the day following and for euery day The summe may be drawne out of it more briefly O Lord God most mighty and mercifull through Iesus Christ let that mind be in me which is in thy faithfull people and with the which thou delightest to be sought vnto sound and without hypocrisie humble meeke teachable to euery good thing fitly and readily disposed vnto euery good worke let me be framed this morning to the liking of the Christian course as I haue learned it out of thy word and haue tried that it is the only happie estate which here can be inioyed And with this mind let me enter into my meditation thansgiuing confession of sinnes and prayer For whom haue I in heauen ô Lord but thee or whom do I desire on earth in comparison of thee who doest whatsoeuer it pleaseth thee and hast all creatures euen the Diuels subiect to thee who as thou hast filled the whole earth with thy goodnesse so particularly thy mercies are wonderfull to me and that my soule knoweth right well And as in thy fauour is life and happinesse so thou as one abounding in loue and compassion hast counselled yea and commanded vs for our owne good to seeke it that we might be happie by it And yet lest we should be deceiued with the delusions and baites of this world and set our delight on them thou soundest this alarme in our eares daily that all things in this world are transitorie vaine and soone flitting away and we our selues with them daily drawing vnto our end Thou hast caused this to be published in our hearing that all flesh is grasse and the glory and beautie of it as the flower of the field that fadeth and that all things below the more they haue bene delighted in the more deeply they shall sting and vexe vs when they forsake vs. And lest we should iudge and hope of our estate after the deceiptfull dreames of our owne braine as we are most easily inclined to do thou hast liuely set out our whole shape as in a glasse to be full of miserie and cursednesse if we haue not yet attained to know that we are thy sonnes and daughters that our names are written in the booke of life These all and such like while I meditate vpon as also that thou wouldest haue vs euery day make our saluation more sure to be perswaded of thine vnchangeable loue I wonder at them and most of all to consider thine inestimable and vnutterable kindnesse in them all This draweth from me as there is exceeding great cause vnfeined thankes with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious especially for that I see thou hast done all this for me euen the vnworthiest of other that for my sake thou gauest thy deare sonne to death that he might bring me to euerlasting life that to me among other thou wouldest haue the glad tidings of it to be brought and preached to the end that I may know my selfe as surely to be one of thine as if I were gathered vp to my fathers to inioy thy presence most glorious already that of me among the rest of thy chosen ones thou hast an especiall regard and care against all things that might hurt me and wilt continue the same euen to my liues end when I shall feare neither trouble nor danger neither Diuell nor hell any more that thou hast granted me to know it by faith and in token thereof hast sanctified me and made me able to loue goodnesse and loath euill in some measure that thou hast wrought repentance in my heart whereby I indeuour to forsake all knowne sinnes and to please thee in all things that thou hast giuen me a delight in thy word whereas many find litle sauour in it that thou turnest mine afflictions to my good and teachest me the right and sober vse of my prosperitie that thou giuest me accesse vnto thy maiesty by prayer when I will and for whatsoeuer is needfull that I haue liberty to vse all other helpes for the maintaining of a godly life that I may rise vp when I haue fallen and offended thee and returne to thee againe that thou hast giuen me to striue against sinne and Sathan as a souldier of Christ and makest me to find ioy in the Christian life and thy seruice to be perfect freedome And yet for all this that thou giuest me hope of nearer communion with thee that thou assurest me that through thy power I shall be inabled to perseuere in this christian course to my liues end and that after it I shall be receiued into glory And further that thou hast not onely bestowed these great priuiledges vpon me which are proper and peculiar to thine owne children but also hast in most gratious maner prouided for the continuance of these vnto me and ministred abundantly vnto me the good things of this life as to liue vnder a most Christian and religious Prince and King defending and maintaining the Gospell against all Antichristian malice and tyranny and other aduersary power and the same truly and sincerely preached and by whom our liues liberties and liuings are peaceably continued I thankfully also acknowledge thy great mercy for the fellowship which I haue with thy good seruants in liuing with them and for that credite and fauour which thou grantest me among them also for conuenient habitation competencie of thy outward blessing good liking contentation and agreement in mariage or if ones state require it out of it for health and strength to walke in my particular calling and the benefit of a lawfull calling it selfe for freedome from grieuous paines and diseases from suite and seruice burden and bondage to Pope and tyrant and all other vnreasonable ones for blessing and successe in my lawfull affaires other benefits mention as thou shalt haue cause These thy mercies with many other daily renewed vpon me both to the comfort of soule and body do cause me I say to thinke my selfe infinitly beholding and bound to thy Maiestie and to say ô Lord what is man that thou so delightest in him and againe What shall I render vnto thee for all thy kindnesse which hath no end nor measure This loue therefore constraineth me contrary to my corrupt nature to be most willingly subiect to thy will and holy gouernement this maketh thy commandements not to be to me as sometime they were burdensome and vnwelcome but sweet and pleasant this causeth the strength of mine vnruly lusts and vnlawfull desires to wanze and be
SEVEN TREATISES CONTAINING SVCH DIRECTION AS IS GATHERED OVT OF THE HOLIE SCRIPTVRES leading and guiding to true happines both in this life and in the life to come and may be called the practise of Christianitie PROFITABLE FOR ALL SVCH AS HEARTILY DESIRE THE SAME IN THE WHICH more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day PENNED BY RICHARD ROGERS PREACHER OF the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex DEVT. 33. vers 12. The beloued of the Lord shall dwell in safetie with him who protecteth him all the day long PSAL. 84. vers 10. One day in thy Courts is better then a thousand other where DEVS IMPERAT ASTRIS RD AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON for THOMAS MAN and ROBERT DEXTER and are to be sold at the brasen Serpent in Pauls Churchyard 1603. TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE King IAMES our dread Soueraigne by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. long life happie daies and most prosperous raigne MOst gracious and dread Soueraigne Lord I haue not presumed vpon this dedication as being ouertaken with the forgetfulnes either of your Maiesties greatnes or mine owne pouertie For I confesse that if comparison were made that way I might worthily be blamed of presumption But the truth is that I laid in balance your mind rather then your Maiestie and the argument rather then my penning of it In this I confesse I presumed and I trust without desert of blame that as you haue preferred godlines before glorie in the middest of this glorie which God hath brought you vnto so you will preferre a treatise of godlines thus simply furnished before a glorious stile Which is not seldome repugnant to the simplicitie of holie things And yet my meaning is to confesse to your Maiestie that this argument deserued both a more learned and more gracious penne then mine To which I would with al my heart haue giuen place if I had either seene before me or heard behinde me the footsteps of any tending that way that I goe though I confesse there are some to bee seene trauailing in waies neere adioyning to this Concerning your Maiestie I am perswaded that you repose your greatest greatnes in the communion of Saints and not in your seuered calling which is transitorie and therefore will account your selfe honoured by the augmentation of grace and the furtherance of true holines Your Maiesties owne affaires must be permitted to inioy their opportunities and your godly wisedome to inioy your choice in this varietie of reading But I doubt not but your godly heart will perswade you to receiue a booke of this kinde with a gracious hand though it were to no other end but to begin to Gods people in the entertaining of any true hearted motiue vnto holines And this to say the truth is that wherein I haue made bold to vse your gracious and renowmed name to aduantage my intent of furthering the people committed to your charge in their passage to saluation Let it therefore I most humblie supplicate please your Maiestie to giue allowance to my endeuour and drift and to pardon my slips for my meaning hath been to seeke the honour of God in this work and to borrow helpe in this Dedication of the grace he hath giuen you for such purposes Thus reioycing with the rest of Gods people for the comfort wherewith the Churches heart is comforted by you and desiring the lineall descent of these kingdomes to your Maiesties royall posteritie till Iesus Christ with his glorious comming obscure all the glorie of the world I beseech the holie Ghost to be with your spirit and keepe your Maiestie in Christ vnto the end Your Maiesties most humble subiect RICHARD ROGERS Minister of the Gospell TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THe children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light The truth hereof may appeare in the Papists who discerning that their bookes of Controuersies stuffed with manifold vntruths fallacians and corruptions were not able to gaine sufficiently though small gaine be too great for such merchants to their Babylonish kingdome haue set themselues and others on worke being all set on worke of Hell to penne certaine treatises tending to insnare and intangle the minds of ignorant and simple Christians in the corrupt and filthie puddle of Popish deuotion In this respect I perswade my selfe it is come to passe not without the gracious prouidence of God that the author hereof hath been incouraged in himselfe and by others to write these Christian directions as a counterpoyson to all such inchauntments of Papists who would by these meanes beare men in hand that al true deuotion dwelt amongst them and were inclosed and tyed to their Cels and Cloysters In which vncleane cages it is vnpossible for any true spirituall and holy meditations to haue their abiding for as much as euen the very mindes and consciences of such vncleane birds are defiled with damnable errors and Idolatries Wherefore I would earnestly aduise and heartely intreate thee Christian Reader to imbrace this booke wherein thou shalt finde good precepts and holy directions not deliuered by rote as from a Parrat out of the bookes and writings of other men but confirmed by the singular experience of one who hath long laboured the conuersion and confirmation of many other but especially the mortification and quickning of his owne soule and conscience one whom indeed I haue euer esteemed another Greenham and herein more happie then he because he hath liued to penne and peruse his owne labours and may yet liue by the mercie of God to correct and amend whatsoeuer slip of his penne for in a long worke one may happily take a nap two or three shall be shewed vnto him Reade it therefore beloued Christian and that with diligence and thou shalt finde I doubt not more true light and direction to a true deuout and holy life then in all the Resolutions of the Iesuiticall Father Parsons though neuer so refined as a brick newly washed or meditations of Frier Granatensis or any Popish Directories whatsoeuer And so I commend thee and all thy holy labours in this and all other good bookes especially in the booke of bookes I meane the holy Bible to the rich and mercifull blessing of God our Father in Iesus Christ Blackfriers London this 26. of May 1603. Thine in the Lord STEPH EGERTON TO THE CHRISTIAN READER WHat be the priuiledges and high fauours of God Almightie wherwith he hath preferred this age and in speciall our nation aboue all before vs since the daies of the holie Apostles needeth more meditation to moue our selues to thankfulnes thē proof to cōuince our aduersaries who though they should gainsay it shall gnash their teeth and pine away in griefe to behold it Among all I may say with the Prophet and the Apostle this is chiefe that God hath so
and full of the holie Ghost and faith and much people ioyned themselues to the Lord. Receiue therefore good Reader this prouision which he hath made for thee of holesome meate not caring for conceited cookerie but remember that godly hunger is the best sauce for heauenly foode Thine in Christ FRANCIS MERBVRY THE ENTRANCE INTO THE BOOKE OR PREFACE TO THE READER which containes these foure things First the generall summe of the whole Secondly the reasons why it was set foorth Thirdly the matter and argument of euery particular treatise Fourthly a directing of the Christian reader how to reade it with most profit IN so great varietie of all learning as God hath furnished this age withall it were not onely needlesse but arrogancie and follie for me to put any in hope that I goe about to teach that which hath not been taught and set foorth alreadie by godly and learned brethren But yet least any should thinke my labour vaine in that which I enterprise I would all such might vnderstand that howsoeuer I shall bring no other thing then some haue in generall or in some part heretofore published yet they shall not be glutted with the same thing in particular whether they respect the treatise and argument it selfe or the manner of following and prosecuting the same At leastwise I may say that there hath not come to my hand any booke directly tending to this end which I propound here in the seauen Treatises following to helpe the frailtie of Gods children and namely by setting before their eies as in a glasse the infinite secret and deceitfull corruptions of the heart from whence without a gracious regarding of the same sore and dangerous euils doe arise and breake out in their life Neither haue I seene any treatise and direction particularly drawne and gathered for mens liues to gouerne and order them which tieth them to daily vse of the same throughout their whole course of both which my purpose is most chiefly as well faithfully as louingly to intreate and to aide my poore neighbours and brethren with that which I haue gathered by reading and noted by experience if by any meanes I may be able hereby to make the Christian way any thing more easie and pleasant vnto them then many finde it and to bring it into more price then the most doe value it at In few words this is that which I aime at that such as haue tasted how good the Lord is and haue felt the power of the life to come by any worke of faith and Christian life which they haue obtained by the preaching of the Gospell may after that see their wants their infirmities their corruptions rebellions hindrances other discouragements from that blessed estate wherinto they are entred and how they may euery day in the best manner remedie or at least wise weaken and diminish them and that they may also behold their liberties and prerogatiues which they haue by Christ as the certaintie of Gods loue deliuerance from the feare of the great and euill day peace and comfort through faith and the blessednes of such an estate and daily inioy the same And therefore not to be as men that haue no such priuiledges either cast downe with needeles feare or possessed with an earthly or vaine reioycing or destitute of incouragement to walke forward in an heauenly course But that they may be mery in the Lord and yet without lightnes sad and heauie in heart for their owne sins and the abominations of the land and yet without discouragment or dumpishnes resting and beleeuing in God without bold presumption and fearing their owne weaknes but yet without dreadfull and deadly despayring And that thus the Christian man and he who is faithful indeede may so carrie himselfe in his course as he may haue no thought or purpose to reuolt and turne from this hope which is set before him but be perswaded that he is infinitly incouraged to hold out constantly therein against all that might come in his way to the contrarie And that the vngodly may see how such are blessed in comparison of other and what they themselues goe voyde of which they might inioy and therefore may seeke how to become not almost but altogether Christians with them To these I say who haue set themselues in a full and resolute purpose to passe their daies godly in the midst of many encombrances and to walke with the Lord so far as of fraile flesh may be obtained how weake so euer in their owne perswasions to these I say I desire in this treatise of mine to be some helpe and assistance and to speake plainely that such as would faine doe well and yet cannot tell how may hereby be eased and relieued And if any who yet are in superstition hypocrisie prophanenes or as yet in darknes desire to be partakers thereof also and so to like of that aduice and instruction which is written for the beleeuers that they be willing to depart from the wicked crooked and cursed way which they haue walked in I should be so farre from enuying them this blessing that although this was not set out directly for them yet they may vnderstand that with such a willing mind as I haue vndertaken this worke for their good who are in Christ alreadie with the like I am readie to further and helpe forward them who thinke and know themselues as yet to be strangers from Christ altogether and to reioyce if I might vnderstand that they haue been moued hereby with their brethren to become the true disciples of Christ Indeede I haue not laboured so much to perswade these to returne from their miserie and to become penitent because many both examples of the like and reasons to moue them are plentifully plainely and in good order extant among them alreadie and for that I know that for the most part they profit not by our writing who doe not before regarde and take good by our preaching and yet they shall haue my best aduice in the end But as for such as haue alreadie been in the truth of their hearts conuerted vnto the Lord and vnfainedly been called backe from the former lusts of their ignorance and the fashion of the world after the which sometime they framed themselues for such I say I know it is the earnest desire of their hearts that they may as well haue a path-way to godlines and a direction to the same lie by them to the which they may alwayes at neede resorte when publike helpes by sermons cannot euermore be enioyed as also to be made more fit thereby to profit by them when they doe repaire vnto the same And although I looke not for it that such account should be made of this booke among the greatest number who haue resolued with themselues either not to learne or imbrace any thing more thē alreadie they haue especially proceeding from a meaner person then themselues or to scorne whatsoeuer
life and without the Gospell the truth and glad ridings whereof is onely able to set at libertie the consciences of such as are strangled by the threats and terrible curse of the law for if that truth make free as our Sauiour saith then are men free in deede And whereas it may be obiected to me that I doe the author of the booke open wrong in saying that he ioyneth not the Gospell with the law for he that readeth it may finde that he speaketh of Iesus Christ that he was giuen by his father to the world that many might be saued and of the promise and how say I then that he teacheth the law without the Gospell I answere that he doth indeede mention both the promises of the Gospel and also Christ and this he doth in that chapter which is intituled diffidence in Gods mercie but yet is that true that I say For the Gospell is the power of saluation to him that beleeueth and it is not the Gospell if it be not beleeued for that is a part of the description of it Now beleeuing or faith hath assurance going with it as I shewed out of the epistle to the Hebrues Which the author of that booke with the rest of his religion doth flatly deny and therefore it is cleere that he doth not teach the Gospell neither in that booke doth plainely and soundly guide the wandring soule which seeth it selfe lost to finde remission of his sinne and euerlasting life and consequently that he doth not direct his reader to liue godly as I said but holdeth him in darknes and in the state of damnation and deceiueth him And what reckoning he maketh of faith which the word of God preferreth before all other things and saith that it ouercommeth all difficulties in the world we may see by his owne words in his preface fol. 6. I exhort the discreet reader saith he of whatsoeuer religion and faith he be to enter into the carefull studie and exercise of good deedes assuring him that this is the right way to obtaine at Gods hands the light of true beliefe And a little after he saith It is more easie to beleeue as we ought then to liue as we should Here we see he preferres good deedes before faith as if the fruite should be said to be more precious then the tree that beares it And yet as not marking what he said he vttereth these words a little before which cannot stand with the other Our father 's receiued one vniforme faith from their mother the holy Catholike Church and did attend only to builde vpon that foundation good workes and vertuous life as holy Scripture commaundeth vs to doe Here he affirmeth that good life commeth from faith Thus while he speaketh such contraries sometime that good workes must be built on the foundation of faith and with an other breath that good life is the right way to bring faith and yet all may see he speaketh of one and the selfe same faith in both places must he not needes by so teaching deceiue the simple reader while he not being able to vnderstand what is taught cannot possibly practise that which he ought And it was not to be doubted to speake euen in charitie as in conscience we ought that the said author promising in that his booke of Resolution that he would adde two other parts to it as thereby confessing that it alone was an insufficient worke of it selfe to be set forth and therefore dangerous to intangle and snare the ignorant and yet cannot in eighteene yeares finde a time to fulfill his promise it was not to be doubted I say but that he was well content to deceiue and trouble many that should reade it As if one should but preach the wrath of God for sinne to a hundreth persons whereas his booke hath been in the hands of thousands and should come no more in eighteene yeares to helpe them out of feare and doubt and how to liue afterwards it would be condemned and that iustly and cryed out of by all aduised people And yet we may conclude without any doubt knowing his religion what it is if euer he had any such meaning to set out two other parts that they should haue been as sound as this one is that is to say vnwholesome full of damnable errors and vncomfortable For can men gather grapes of thornes or figges of thistles No more can any sound fruite be reaped or comfort gotten by false and vnsauorie doctrine But for Parsons deuotion whereof his booke beares so great a shew or how little of the labour was his or how little honestie is in the man yea rather how great iniquitie let them of his owne religion testifie I meane the secular priests in their bookes against the Iesuites But to say no more of Parsons The other hath little in him worthie any account or reckoning and to this purpose very nothing To goe forward therefore seeing this was one cause why I tooke this worke in hand because the Iesuites cast in our teeth the want of such bookes as may direct a Christian aright through his whole course towards the kingdome of heauen and yet that which they teach tending thereto is but as poyson in a golden cuppe although as I haue said there are many of my brethren who had been fitter for this seruice then my selfe if they had not been imployed some other way yet I nothing doubt by the helpe of God to frame out of the word of God by that little helpe of my knowledge and experience such a direction for Christians all ostentation and comparison of learning set aside as shall giue them small aduantage of boasting and shall be both more pleasing to God and more for the comforting the heart of him who listeth to be directed by it then poperie can affoord and withall a direction that hath not only been shaped out after the rules of the Scripture but also such as hath been and is practized and followed so farre forth as of sinfull flesh may be looked for both of minister and people and approoued of those who haue excelled gone before many in both And although I denie not but that many things might haue been farre better set downe and expressed then I am able to doe yet that none thinke me to haue taken in hand a matter aboue my reach and wherein I haue no skill thus much I say that for these twentie yeares and more I haue aymed at this in my reading preaching and liuing and in the obseruing of my selfe and the example of others what communion and neere acquaintance there may be betwixt God and a Christian what hold may be laid on the promises of God what strength may be gotten against sinne what freedome and libertie we may haue by faith what setlednes and constancie in a godlie life what comfort and reioycing the children of God by his free graunt may haue euen in this life and that both sound and constant
which shall not be taken from them also how farre the spirit may ouercome the flesh and how the diuell may be resisted And more especially for these seauen yeares and more I haue more particularly set my selfe about the matter which in this booke is contained which how weakely soeuer it be performed I haue therein a good conscience First to shew both how a man may become a true beleeuer be brought into the fauour of God and afterwards how he may be directed to leade his life daily And therefore I haue not suddenly nor vnaduisedly set vpō this And what helpe I haue been able to get from others as my conuenient opportunitie hath giuen leaue I haue not neglected The which I set downe as I said that none may thinke me fantastically to haue gone about to broch some noueltie but rather to offer that to the people of God which hath with good aduise been gathered for their edifying But now to returne the last reason mouing me to take this worke in hand is that they who haue inioyed my ministerie aboue these twentie yeares might haue me as many of them haue oft desired after a sort putting them in remembrance of that which I haue taught them in my life time many yeares after I shall be taken from among them This shall suffice to be spoken of my intent and purpose in this treatise with the reasons thereof Now it remaineth further to acquaint the reader with the order which I vse in the same and to giue some instructions that hee may reade it with the more profit and that it may be more plaine and easie to vnderstand which I doe especially intend then otherwise it should be First therefore because I haue written it for their sakes chiefly which are truely called to be Gods Children and haue an interest in his promises as being conuerted to him from the subiection of the diuell first I say my purpose is in the formost treatise to shew who are his and who they are which in an holy and humble manner may rest satisfied in his promises against all dreadfull feare and doubt which might disquiet them that so neither the loose liuers may deceiue themselues with an opinion of that which belongeth not to them nor Gods children be depriued of that which is their owne and the ignorant of both sorts that list may learne to know better and amend their estate In the second I meane to shew what course of life such persons must walke in throughout their dayes and how they are to carie themselues both towards God and men which I thinke expedient to lay forth as cleerely as I can and in some ample manner for the more full satisfying of the ignorant sort From these two all the other points handled in this booke doe arise Therefore in the third I will shew what are the meanes whereby this life may be maintained and how the beleeuer shall vse the same to the end that this whole and great worke of worshipping seruing God may not be taken for a bare matter of knowledge as the most doe make it or which is little better for a seruing of God by halues as too many professors of the Gospell doe vse it but for a faithfull regarding of our wayes that they may be shaped out after Gods will Now this practising of the godly life is performed by following a daily direction to guide vs and whiles we doe euery day with conscience set our selues to honour and obey God as in our callings and by other occasions offered we shall be able and not wanderingly and vncertainly as we haue been wont to doe And so this shall bee set downe in the fourth treatise And this is one of the points in this booke which requireth to be read againe and againe as being neither commonly intreated of and of singular vse to such as desire to take good by it especially not being able otherwise to guide themselues In the fift I make the reader acquainted with the lets which will hinder him though he be willing to be directed daily from this course except he will be perswaded to arme himselfe with such helps as wherby he may withstand them and remedies against these lets shall in this fift treatise be set downe as farre as shall be thought expedient The sixt shall set before thee sundrie priuiledges and blessings which God doth peculiarly bequeath vnto and bestow vpon his beloued ones besides such benefits as they haue in common with the men of the world By the which as by other reasons the faithfull may see themselues perswaded with much more chearefulnes and greater willingnes to leade a christian life daily and to shine as lights in example to others In the seuenth and last such obiections as may be brought and alledged by any either weake christians or carnall cauillers against the practising of the daily direction shall be sufficiently answered that thereby the truth appearing more clearely many such as desire vnfainedly to doe well and yet haue not learned to guide themselues by any plaine direction out of the Scriptures may haue this as an helpe vnto them to see that which the Scripture hath reuealed hereof All which though I direct not this worke to the vnreformed may be in stead of an exhortation vnto all loose and careles persons though more briefly seeing there is enough written of that argument to moue them to rouse vp themselues and to awake out of their deadly sleepe and not to cast away their soules for the loue of their sinnes which they may be sure that God will finde out howsoeuer they hide them but to seeke betimes that they be vnburthened of them cast them vp as a most filthie gorge and auoide the vengeance of Gods wrath which wil otherwise most surely come vpon them for it For though sinne be sweete in the committing of it yet it will be bitter when it comes to be repented of and most bitter when without repentance it must be accounted for Now it remaineth to direct the reader how to bestow his time profitably herein and how he may reade it to his benefit For I doubt nothing but he that shall be conuersant in it desiring to be directed in his course shall thinke his time well spent so as he be helped to vnderstand the same First therfore let him reade the contents of it briefly set downe in the table before the booke to helpe his memorie then the marginall notes of the chapters And if he conceiue and vnderstand the short summe of it so set downe then let him reade the booke it selfe till he be acquainted with and vnderstand it wherein if his capacitie be the weaker and shallower he must desire the helpe of some which are more skilfull and better able to see the drift scope and meaning of it then himselfe especially in such points of it as are more hard and difficult either to
delight not in the matters which were wont to be of greatest account and reckoning with them With what ioy may it be thought did Dauid performe the duties of religion after his hainous sinne in the matter of Bethshabe and Vriah when it is cleere that he slept in it as it were all the time before Nathan the Prophet was sent to awake him and bring him to repentance Or what comfort is it to be thought had Ionas in thinking of his happines or vpon any part of the true worship of God which yet had vsually been his whole delight after he fled away from the presence of the Lord who labouring to forget his sinne as may be gathered by his hastie paying the hire of the Ship-master before hand that he might be sure to be caried away frō the fulfilling of the Lords commaundement such a palpable blockishnes was cast vpon him that hee laid himselfe downe to sleepe in most great daunger in which the Heathen marriners fell to prayer and came to him to awake him and after being vrged to examine himselfe by them did not very hastily come to the confessing of it To omit others the daily experience that Gods children haue of their many complainings vnquietnesses discomforts such like tediousnes which neede not to presse them but for the conscience and remembrance of some treacherie against God and too vnkind and vndutifull dealing with him do sufficiently prooue that God taketh away euen the heart and life as I may say of prayer knowledge and other meanes of religion and leaueth his children without comfort in the vse of them when they waxe wanton against his maiestie and keep not holie compasse as they haue experience that both they may and haue done and as he in his word hath taught them to doe By all which it may appeare that much more they who worship him with vncleane hearts neuer washed nor purged cannot receiue into them the sweet and holesome liquour of his grace by what outward exercise soeuer they present themselues before him Thus much of the reasons why the beleeuer should labour with all diligence to practise this godly life CHAP. 19. Of answers to certaine obiections brought against the necessitie of practising this godly life ANd now that I haue added these reasons to the description of the Christian which beleeueth in God I would cease to say any more of this matter if I did think that men who haue receiued the Gospell among them were perswaded and resolued to yeeld to this doctrine and to cast away all clogges and cloakes of shame feare and other lets and heartily goe about to practise the same willingly when they haue heard it But I know there are few such For they who doe thus doe not onely themselues walke after the rule which I haue set downe aiming thereat as at a marke but also desire that many other were as they be But the multitude of such as haue either no faith nor grace but onely heare our doctrine who yet professe that they looke for saluation by Christ doe thinke that this which I haue drawne out of Gods word and set down for their edifying is more then they neede to looke after or trouble themselues with which kinde of persons seeing they swarme euery where I doe oft say and professe that I oppose my selfe throughout this my booke against that their damnable opinion and practise and doe bend the force of Scripture and sound reason against them For while these thoughts preuaile with them and possesse them they do but reason against their owne benefit comfort and happines yea and euen many of those who haue further tasted of the Gospell of whom it becommeth vs to hope well yet are for the most part ignorant of the course which I haue described and content themselues with this that they haue some good affections at some times and flitting desires to liue honestly And therefore I would meete with some of the obiections which they alleage why they should be no further dealt withall but suffered to goe on as they doe in a fruitles dead and dull manner Some of these say they hope their desire is to please God although they cannot doe it as some doe and namely such as endeuour to follow this doctrine which in this booke I propound For my part I doe not marueile that they should as it were shrinke and hold backe from such a course though they would seeme religious as hauing not yet seene how great incouragement God hath giuen them to walk in it neither what great cause they haue to lay hold of such incouragements hauing many things to hinder them These persons therefore so many of them as will be teachable and not resist the truth wilfully I will answere and giue them some worthie examples of such as haue gone before them herein that they may not thinke they are pressed too farre and to do more then they need if possibly they may see their error and so finde greater libertie and delight in well doing The which being done they shall see what difference is betwixt the estate they are in and that which they are stirred vp and called vnto And that which hath perswaded and moued me to this is as I partly said in the first entrance for that I see many of good hope and some not without a right and true beginning in this holie course to bee kept at a stay or driuen backe and seeme not to know what the Christian life is nor in many yeeres to come thus farre as to be perswaded how pleasant and profitable it is and by how many degrees to bee preferred without all comparison before any other course For many of the forwarder sort though they would not willingly forsake it yet complaine that they find much tedious heauines strong discouragements and many relapses which breed doubtfulnes and feare Some which are weaker are vnder deadly dumpes strange questionings whether they shall goe forward or no and such small comfort they finde in their profession that they declare plainly that they are farre from the staiednes which I speake of and this not at the first onely but many yeeres after they haue liked well of the Gospell Diuers others account the Christian life mopish solitarie and such an estate the which they hold great wisedome to auoyde that I say nothing of the Atheists whom I vouchsafe no answere Now therefore except these can be otherwise perswaded that the godly life is neither irkesome in it selfe nor full of deadly discouragements except to the flesh whereto they are not debters neither without great comfort yea euen in tribulation through hope which deceiueth not but such an estate as hath caused many for the delight they haue found in it to refuse all other which could not stand with it except I say they can be thus perswaded what likelyhoode is there that they shall euer be brought to be
the same 19. That we exercise our faith by taking comfort and delight in the great benefit of our redemption by Christ and the fruition of Gods presence in his glorious and blessed kingdome 20. Lastly that we make not these holy practises of repentance common in time nor vse them for course And these I haue set downe to helpe thee to meditate And who sees not now by that which hath been said that a good heart may be able to meditate That as the exercise itselfe is both very needefull for all Christians and many wayes gainefull so none may haue iust cause to complaine that they cannot tell how to make vse of it But let vs remember that besides the benefit and gaine of it it is one of the priuate helps that God in his wise and mercifull prouidence ordained for his deere children to make their life sweete and comfortable here which otherwise would bee yrksome and painefull euen to them who are best able to passe it well And therefore to neglect it shall not onely bee grosse vnthankfulnes but a charging of the Lord with a worke meerely needeles Let vs also for the better heartning of ourselues hereunto consider the vncertaintie and shortnes of our life and the warnings which God hath giuen vs of our mortalitie not onely by the doctrine of his word and common experience but more especially within these few yeares by taking from vs so many worthie instruments of his glorie as I must needes say if it be well weighed will worke in vs a lesse desire to liue seeing they liue not with vs. And this among all the rest of the vexations and molestations of this life should whet and sharpen vs to meditation that we might the more shake off the burthen and weight of the inordinat desire of liuing here as boults from our heeles But as it is too true that the righteous perisheth and no man almost considereth it that they are taken away from the euils which shall meete with such as remaine behinde so who is meete to heare our Sauiours words weepe for your selues and for your children and therefore to muse and thinke deepely of it that he may doe it So that meditation should be one with vs whatsoeuer should be the other That it might not be verified in vs which was complained of by the Prophet Ieremie I stoode and hearkned when God reproued the peoples securitie to see if any would returne but there was none that said what haue I done As if he should say there was none that pondred in his heart how God was offended Paul willed Timothy to meditate and throughly exercise and season his minde with the doctrine which he deliuered to the people euen to be taken vp of it that both he himself might be throughly seasoned with the doctrine for euery part of his life that he might feede his hearers the more plentifully But alas how sleightly is the Apostles admonition regarded of a number euen in the ministerie who though some of them reade much and teach good things in their sermons when they doe preach yet haue they small vse of their knowledge neither deliuer any thing by their owne meditation more then they finde in their commentaries whereas if they did they should draw aboundant matter out of their priuate readings Besides that many receiue whatsoeuer they finde in their bookes seeing they meditate not vpon it and so as they can the lesse speake priuately of the same things which they deliuer publikely to the edifying and consolation of him who demaundeth a question of them seeing they speake onely out of the booke euen so they are the meanlier and more weakely furnished with the doctrine which they teach to make their liues fruitefull because they doe not weigh the vse benefit and necessitie of the doctrine in their hearts and this beside other great inconueniences causeth some to fill their sermons with authorities of men to proue the truth of God which is all one as to set vp a candle to giue light at noone tide and to prop and hold vp a great and weightie building with a weake and slender pillar So that this is iustly to bee complained of in the minister or people if they bee not acquainted with this meditation As for the obiection of the one or the other that they haue the world to looke after and to care for for this is the probablest defence that they haue for the omitting and neglecting of it they should know it to be their sinne that they will thus set God against himselfe as though he should commaund them to doe that which hindreth them from an other dutie commaunded Nay rather they should thinke that following of the world to be too much which is not moderated and ordred by the due considering how far and in what manner they should deale in the world that is not to be hindred from holines by it If they be rich they haue the lesse cause to be holden from it by worldly care If they be poore they haue the more neede of it to moderate their care that it exceede not nor carry them to vnbeliefe For it must be remembred that I speake of such as say they esteeme most preciously of the greatest riches which is godlines And what example so euer they haue of the contrarie in the multitude of worldlings among whom they liue yet they must know though others will not that they are not set here in their places and callings to doe as loose and retchles seruants when they goe to market who when they should buy prouision for their maisters familie neglect that which they should chiefly intend and fall to drinking play and other ill rule with their companions Neither should they be like bad husbands who reckon what they haue comming in but not what must goe out of their hands who are not like to vphold their occupying long But they must be like the wise builder who looketh whether he be able to make an end when he hath begun So should they euery while be looking and wisely considering whether they take the course to finish the building of their christian life euen to the full perfecting of it which is another manner building then any made with hands And he that will meditate on this seriously and such other good things as further this he shall not neede to feare the fall of his building but that it shal stand in al weathers till he inherit a building made without hands which is immortall And he that loueth to smell on the sweete sauours more fragrant then Aarons oyntment which in his Soliloquies with God and in his meditations he receiueth of him euen the sweete odors and graces of the spirit he shall smell of Gods presence in his talke companie and dealings which wil testifie that he came from God And especially on the Sabboth when the whole day is appointed of God to it
before in our course of liuing Also it is duly to bee regarded that wee applie that which we reade wisely to our selues seeing all that is contained in the Scriptures is written for our instruction and comfort as perswading our selues that all precepts of dutie and good life are set downe to direct vs not others onely to the practise of the same that all sinne is forbidden vs and that all the generall promises which we reade to be made to the Church are to bee beleeued of vs whether they appertaine to this present life or to the life to come and the comforts that accompanie them Likewise that all exhortations and admonitions quicken and stirre vs vp from coldnes deadnes and drousines and all reprehensions to checke vs for faults escaped and all threats to feare our boldnes and appale our securitie which is too easily and readily kindled in vs that so wee may make that vse of them which the Apostle requireth when he saith that all Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach conuince to correct and instruct in righteousnes and thereof in matters as well concerning God as men and amongst men all particular kinds and therefore Prince and subiect noble and base men and women and more particularly in families husbands and wiues parents and children masters and seruants Thus to reade that thereby wee may be made fit vnto euery good worke and to glorifie God thereby is vndoubtedly to make our reading as it is appointed of God an especial helpe and meanes to grow forward in a godly life and therefore wee are commaunded to search the Scriptures and with the godly people of Berea to compare our hearings and our readings of them together For reading is much commended to be one of the three duties that make vs happie the Apostle saying thus Blessed is he that heareth and readeth and keepeth the contents of this booke But this one thing I cannot omit that the benefit and comfort of this exercise of reading being so great and the substance of the Scriptures being so brought to light as it is and such varietie of good bookes being granted vs of God that yet euen such as looke after eternall life delight so little in them I speake not of the prophane and vnruly whom nothing will moue to reade no nor so much as to heare Sermons till God make them see how they haue deceiued themselues But I am sure it is one speciall cause why heart is taken from many learned and godly men to set out any new workes in print seeing the professors of the Gospell doe bestow so little labour and time in reading of those which are extant alreadie And herein these two things I thinke meete to adde in regard of some Christians that such as haue not the gift of reading may endeuour to follow the foresaid rules by vsing the helpe of others exhorting all by their losse and discommoditie to haue reading in greater reckoning then it is with most at this day The second is that besides the former rules such as haue better helpes of vnderstanding memorie and leasure doe besides their publike hearing note their doubts and as they shall haue opportunitie seeke resolution of them at their learned pastors hands or of some others and mark the coherence of the Scripture how it hangeth together and the agreement that one place hath with another that thereby that which seemeth darke in one is made easie in another This shall suffice to haue said for making some better vse of reading then commonly men doe And though there are other things besides these which the learneder may take profit by yet they being more out of the reach of the greatest number of Christians they doe not so neerely nor necessarily concerne them And it must bee remembred that I propround not to say as much as may bee gathered together about reading but how it may bee profitably vsed to helpe the Christian to be fruitfull in a godly life And that which I haue said is auaileable thereunto For hee that shall consider how many waies the conscience is appeased the iudgement inlightened and inlarged the heart perswaded the memorie relieued the affections moued and in a word the whole man drawne by that which he may reade shall not neede to doubt how great the benefit of reading together with the other helpes is And that it being vsed as oft as possibly it may in such manner as hath bin prescribed and so many good things drunke in and receiued of vs as wee shall meete with in our reading who doubteth but it shall be a singular helpe and furtherance with the rest to a godly and Christian life For a mind well seasoned before shall be vndoubtedly better seasoned and refreshed when it shall vsually and oft drinke of the water of life out of the sweete fountaine of Gods word by reading And of the helpe of reading and so of al the ordinarie meanes both publike and priuate whereby a true Christian continueth a godly life and groweth to further ripenes and perfection therein thus much be said CHAP. 12. Of the extraordinarie helpes NOw follow the extraordinarie helpes which are not commonly nor daily in vse but sometime and that according to the extraordinarie occasions which the Lord offereth And these are especially two first solemne thanksgiuing and secondly fasting with prayer more then vsuall adioyned The first is when in some rare and vnlooked for deliuerance out of desperate danger wee doe by the commaundement of God and examples of the godly before vs in a most feruent manner yeeld praise to God for the same and reioyce heartily in the remembrance and consideration of it tying our selues as it were in a renuing of our holy couenant more firmely to the Lord and testifie both these by signes of vnfained good will to our brethren All which are to be seene most cleerely and liuely in that famous example of Hester and Mardocheus that I mention no other for breuitie sake who being with the rest of Gods people in those countries marked out and as sheepe appointed by Hamans subtiltie and cruell malice to be slaine did yet by prayer and fasting obtaine deliuerance when to mans iudgement all hope was past and not that onely but also their hearts desire against their aduersaries with great fauour of the King whom God had made of an heauie enemie a mightie friend and much wealth and prosperitie whereupon they caused a day and time to be appointed in the which the Lord might be praised and they might expresse their reioycing and send portions one to another to testifie their loue vnto them And this is that solemne thanksgiuing which I call one of the extraordinarie helpes to set vs forward in godlines which of all Gods people by the like occasion is to be offered vp to God differing as ye see apparantly from this dutie daily performed as in
of faith we asked it of him will doe the like for vs and minister the same grace to vs for the time to come Thirdly we shall not be hindred from dutie by our labours but furthered thereby in the waies of godlinesse when we consider that the Lord hath made them the chiefe meanes of our maintenance assuring vs that we shall be fed that so we may put away distrust and depend vpon God ioyfully and not be driuen to depend vpon vnconscionable men for necessaries Lastly Gods people by a faithfull and diligent walking in their calling haue proofe how God keepeth them in the way to eternall life and in the way of peace and freeth them from many dangers and sinnes which fret as a canker for whiles they be diligent in their callings they commit themselues and the course of their dealings to God who hath promised to keepe them in all their wayes and therefore to free them from the euils which meete with others and so to hold them on in their way Their good successe they ascribe to God therefore it is a double comfort to them their crosses which arise they know are sent vpon them by his prouidence for their good therefore though they be bitter to the flesh yet they who are well aduised vnder them resolue that they are necessarie for them And the hardest which can befall them while they offer themselues to be guided by God therein is euer to be borne and gone vnder rather then the ordinarie euents which follow the idle and ill husbands as we call them And a man would thinke that it were an estate to be wished and chosen to liue in if it be well considered what plagues meete with the rangers and disordered persons who are not subiect to God to be in account and fauour with God as godly Christians walking in their calling religiously are seeing it is sayd of them Deut. 28. Blessed are they in the field and in the house their stocke and store c. Now I haue sayd that which I purposed of this point for the directing of them who stand in need of this instruction how to vse their callings aright a litle I will adde to answer such doubts as may arise in some minds from that which hath bene spoken And first it may be demanded whether gentlemen and other who are blessed with abundance of things necessarie for this present life shall be bound to some certaine calling wherein they should serue God by their trauell therein benefit others thereby and keepe themselues from the dangers before mentioned accompanying those who liue without a calling Or whether it be not their calling to liue as gentlemen vse to do in riding and going vp and downe to spend their liues in pastimes pleasure and doing what they list I answer as in all the rest I speake to such as are willing to be reformed and to such I say If they be called to beare any office let them attend vpon it and seeke to be fit for it and worthily discharge it and therefore let such be acquainted with the lawes of the Realme as well as with the lawes of God and be counsellors and helpers to their neighbours about them that they may be beloued of them when they shall see that with christian conuersation they shall inioy other parts of good neighbourhood by them also And let them labour to see their families well gouerned and be carefull as Christians may with good consciences to vphold their outward estate and to continue it to their posteritie And such as beare no office let them being exempted from the labour about the executing of it which is inioyned to the others be occupied as they And seeing they are to serue their Prince and countrey with body and goods aduice and counsell both in peace and warre they ought by all meanes to studie how to prepare themselues to turne the many houres and dayes which the most of that estate spend in games and pastimes to other more profitable and necessarie vses Let them also be the first who shall prouide and take order for the maintenance of the poore to see good order in in their towne helpe to beate downe sinne and punish euill doers and set at one such as are at variance and haue their hand reached out oftner and more liberally then all shall behold and yet for example sake go before others in doing good according to their abilitie not refusing to exhort and stirre vp as occasion shall be offered to loue and to good things These one or other of them are the workes of their calling wherein they shall be lights to other render a good fruite of their wealth to God and cause many to blesse God for their loue and labour And what can they lesse do then this if they do but consider that of them most shall be required who haue receiued most And for the better and more happie effecting of that which I haue sayd let them labour by all meanes to prouide that good teaching may be inioyed and well vsed while they may and put in practise that which is in the Prouerbe 23.23 Buy wisedome whatsoeuer it cost but sell it not whatsoeuer yee may haue for it And if they be wise let them inioy the more libertie in the reading daily of the Scriptures and other good bookes which is with other such like exercises of studie the chiefest and principallest commoditie which they reape by their riches I speake wisedome to them which are sound hearted to receiue it But if they thinke that God hath made their portion greater then other mens to the end they may runne the further out of order and that they may spend their pretious time idlely vainely and at their pleasure without rendring account thereof I am sure they prouide worst for themselues and shall wish they had bene poore men who would haue made no such questions about the bestowing of their time but would willingly in that meane estate haue serued God without reasoning As for their lawfull and honest recreations which are onely in good sort and maner to be vsed as I shall say in the next Chapter they not making the same an occupation nor themselues slaues to ther lusts and pleasures this which I say withholdeth them not from the right vse thereof But of this inough seeing my purpose is not to make treatises of euery matter I touch I will proceed to another obiection The poore Christians would they say take pains willingly in their callings but can by no means maintaine their charge what therefore shall they do To whom as I can say no lesse but that they must not for all this cast away their confidence but beleeue that God hath many wayes to deliuer and prouide for his and that it hath not bene lightly seene that God hath bene wanting to his no not in their outward need and therefore though their triall should be
fell asleepe notwithstanding his sinne after he was told of the great danger which did then hang ouer him These and such like whiles they are secretly brought vpon the people of God do they not thinke we manifestly proue that Sathan hath beguiled them And whiles he bringeth them to this point doth he not greatly deface the beautie of a godly life in them Do not some of them feare that they are departed from God vtterly no more to returne though this I say should not be And they who go not so farre from sound iudgemēt are they not yet much appalled where is their former peace and spirituall reioycing in God their portion what is become of their constancie in watchfulnesse and holy care where is their strong confidence which they should not cast away their feruent prayers their fruitfulnesse in sundry duties when they feele themselues neither fit to be in company nor to be occupied in their calling nor without danger to be alone by themselues I thinke these are the fruits of lamentable wants in such good things as sometime they inioyed and not bare wants for such shall the best of vs haue whiles we liue and yet not be without peace nor vnsetled but these which I haue spoken of both vnsetle and distemper them whom the Diuell oppresseth with them So that it may truly be sayd that this is one speciall kind of lets whereby he hindreth the going forward of Gods people euen in holding them from constancie and stedfastnesse in liuing godly from day to day and from renuing their couenant with God from time to time without which grace it is not possible for them to be free from sore blemishes and inward vexation and outward reproach thereby which the beloued of the Lord should be farre from And although through Gods tender kindnesse whereby he keepeth them that they be not vtterly forsaken and will keepe them to the end although I say through this goodnesse of God all these turne to their good yet that is not long of them or of their securitie and sleight seruing of God the Diuell intending no other thing thereby but the dishonor of God and their ouerthrow If any shall say There are none but go aside these waies I answer It is therefore the more necessarie that we should be warned thereof and fenced against them And by this it may appeare what a maine let and hindrance this is to Gods people from a Christian life to be destitute of direction how to please God and thereby to be vnsetled and wander in their course of liuing as though there were no certaine way appointed them of God The remedie to all these is appointed by God and brought to light by his word and inioyed and practised of sundrie of his faithfull seruants who were sometime kept voide of it by the enuious man as euen many thousands of them are still by his malice depriued thereof vnto this day And this remedy is first that we suffer our selues easily to be perswaded that all our speeches in the commendation of a godly life in generall are but wind except we faithfully indeuour to bring it into practise euerie day and therefore prouide as we may be taught and that aboue all other things to giue to euerie part of the day some duty or when we be weakest that we mind no euill as in the former Treatise of my booke I haue proued seeing the Lord in appointing the day to the seuerall actions which are to be done in it doth not passe by and omit these wherein men thinke they haue greatest libertie to forget God namely eating and drinking but yet with them extendeth his charge to all other things also saying Whether we eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we do else let all be done to the praise of God Is it not for this cause that we are rebuked of our Sauiour saying The children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light c. namely for our improuident and shiftlesse regard of our growing on in a christian course to heauen-ward when yet the men of the world if they be disappointed of their earthly commodities one way will shift for them another If we find this impossible in all points shall we therefore yeeld and giue place and seeke shelter for our vntoward hearts which would do no more in the seruice of God then we haue done in times past or shall we ayme vnto no further perfection then we list And if there be hardnesse in practising some part of christian duties at the beginning yet let there be no resistance against it but our wants acknowledged that we may see the greater cause to grow forward yea and know we that the worke that we haue euery day to do euen our chiefest and onely worke is to see God truly serued and honoured of vs in one thing or other For such as cannot better direct themselues I haue indeuoured to be some helpe vnto them in the former treatise vntill a perfecter may be come by This or any other which thou approuest in thy conscience vse reuerently and acquaint thy selfe with it and thou shalt find it sweet and gainefull leaue not off the practising of the rules of it or the like by litle and litle for then shalt thou neuer gather any sound experience of the good that is gotten therby but as thou mayest obserue it better and better and so become more expert in it so doing although thou shouldest sometime be turned out of the way yet thou shalt by one part or other of it learne how to returne againe For doth a man go out of the way and not returne againe Yea tye thy selfe resolutely to a daily walking with God in faithfulnesse for it is as a watch tower to keepe from daunger and as an hand continually to hold vp from falling and constantly giue credit vnto him that as he hath promised to his rest with himselfe for euer so he will also keepe them by his power to the day of resurrection This confidence being preserued and heartie prayer oft vsed and watchfulnesse against thine especiall infirmities with oft and due considering what a precious treasure this course of life is shall preserue thee against this wandring course which Sathan intendeth to bring thee into by which thou shalt be vnsetled in the seruing of God the least euill whereof is vnquietnes of mind or idlenesse and vnsetlednesse if not hardnesse of heart These remedies the better and longer time that thou hast had experience of the more thou shalt perceiue the diuels force to be weakened towards thee and thou canst not be greatly indaungered except thou beest slouthfull in exercising of them And that do they proue vnto vs who although they are not altogether voide of them yet they thinke it too much to make them daily armour vnto them alleadging for themselues that this is euen to deny to Christians the libertie
enough to hold vs on still in our Christian course therefore all men see that this doubt is soone answered will grant that it is necessary to haue daily direction for our liues drawen out of the scriptures though we haue them extant among vs. This being so I will proceed to shew the cause why I haue taken in hand any such thing in this booke and will answere particular questions and obiections afterwards I haue considered being conuersant among the people of whom many haue receiued the gospell gladly what great wants and infirmities are among them and as diuerse of them conceiue and vnderstand that which is taught them with much adoe so they as hardly keepe it in memory and therefore make the lesse vse of it So that although all things necessary to saluation and godlinesse be taught one time or other where an ordinary ministery is yet as I haue good proofe it must be a very long time to bring the most part euen of the forwarder sort to be able to guide themselues and to lay together in one summe those things which haue beene taught them at many times I did therefore indeauour my selfe to lay before them a summe of that in one view which they haue bene learning many yeeres that they hauing the same brought into some easie and familiar kinde of order may through the blessing of God finde helpe and ease by it And besides I haue knowen many of great forwardnesse and ready to receiue any profitable lessons euen as the Thessolonians were who hauing long wandered in sorrowfulnesse of heart and found much vntowardnesse in their life haue complained bitterly wishing most willingly that they might haue found some direction to lead them into their way and to hold them constantly in the same And this they haue done for that they were so soone vnsetled and waxed loose hearted in a small time and short space although a little before they felt themselues in some good case euen ready and willing to serue God which men being directed how to keepe constant shall not a little be eased And if you will say They may heare their preachers and so learne to stay themselues who doth not know that they must proceed in their teaching as occasion is offered by their text which doth not fall out commonly such or in such maner to be handled that it satisfieth those which be in this case being parhaps but touched briefely and though it doe somewhat comfort them which they heare yet it abideth not by them through forgetfulnesse and other occasions and yet there are very many that neuer heare any such thing taught them at all or to very small purpose and therefore if such may haue somewhat lying by them to guide them in that their so great necessity shall it not be thinke we great helpe and contentment to them Now if you aske why they doe not open their case and make their griefe knowen to their teachers I say some of them are ashamed some are affraid to shew their estate to others the diuell holding them in ignorance and distrust Againe many of their ministers to whom they may haue accesse either for want of knowledge or of experience or both are not able and others of ill conscience are not willing to resolue them nor stay their mindes but wound and vex them with mocks discouragements rather as the watchmen which Salomon speaketh of calling them fooles for medling with the scriptures and this is the comfort which they finde at their hands These things when I haue weighed and thought vpon what light ease of heart and consolation many of Gods deare seruants haue beene depriued off for want of direction and how many of them haue walked heauily and with hanging downe of the head and all because they haue seene their frailty great felt their wants many and grieuous and vtterly vnable by that which they had learned to carry forward themselues in their Christian course by reason of their so many discouragements and the same not prouided against I wished most earnestly that some such thing might come forth as might settle men more firmely in a Christian estate that such as are willing may be able also to direct themselues in their daily cariage which how greatly it may benefit them that haue a minde to please God and how much more fit it may make them to profit by the daily teaching which is among them that I say nothing what good it may doe others it is no hard thing to iudge and determine Besides this such as finde no want of it because they know not whether there be any easier way to guide them then they already vnderstand there is no doubt but many of them if there were any extant would keepe a more sound course in their liues then now they doe hauing I speake of many of them none other helpe then their publique teaching which in many places is both seldome and slight And to speake plainly if it be expedient to speake thus for the loue of Gods people constraineth me I haue my selfe languished long though not without Christ in the world and therefore not altogether without flitting comfort sometimes to see such vnsetlednesse in my life such vncertainty in my waies so oft proposing greater proceeding and more constancy in that which is good more exercise of my faith in praier ofter reioycing in the Lord for the priuiledges which he hath granted to vs. Many yeeres these and such like haue beene my desire and longed after but many alterations disapointments vnsetlings of minde haue come with no small heauinesse accompanying the same vntill wofull experience draue me to tie vp mine affections shorter and for better stay of my selfe to draw somewhat according to my small knowledge and experience out of my reading to be a more certaine maner of direction for me through the daie and weeke which I may aime at and if not so full and perfit as it might be and by some other might haue bene penned at the least such it is as Gods word doth lay out vnto vs and such as if men were as fit to profit by it as it is fit to doe them good it should not be as it is with many well disposed christians By the which whatsoeuer I haue attained vnto I will not say but I dare warrant the carefull and faithfull obseruer of it the Lord being true of his word who blesseth the meanes which are vsed in simplicity that his labour in the practise of it shall be plentifully recompenced yea his gaine by many degrees shall be greater then his trauel This I say now seeing by the importunity of many I haue made it cōmon to others which I collected and gathered for mine owne vse and therefore I may be bold also to say that whiles men doe serue God with some care being called home to repentance doe desire to set forth his glory yet when they