Avoid also all evil times some times and seasons as well as some places are evil dangerous to walk in especially at some places as the night late or very early in some places Every man by nature is like to dry wood yea to dried tinder which is apt to take fire so soon as any spark of temptation to sin is cast into us by Satan and if the Devil do not tempt us yet our corrupt hearts are apt to take fire as soon as the least occasion is offered to us or we meet with it as too frequent experience proves Yea Fourthly Labour to mortifie sin every inordinate lust Col. 3.5 Mortifie your members which are upon the earth i. e. your sinful lusts desires and motions that are born and bred up with us and are as dear to us as our natural members are as a right hand or right eye Rom. 8.13 If ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye by the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Secondly Mind well and look to these things 1. Make choice of and improve good company yea the best company you can I count that the best company that is truly religious and godly which will further us in the best things especially be furthered by us to whom we may do good and by whom we may receive good And I count him my best friend that will help me most in the way to Heaven Worldly company I count also good company in this respect and so far as being otherwise civil and unblameable they may be helpful to me for the managing of my worldly affairs wisely and discreetly so as they may be most subservient to the highest ends You know Davids profession and practice Psal 16.23 My goodness extends not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Psal 119 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee and of all them that keep thy Commandments Psal 119.115 Depart from me ye evil-doers for I will keep the Commandments of my God Let your most familiar intimate bosome-friend be as much as in you lieth one that is a most godly wise and grave experienced Christian 2. Look well to your actions give a good Example and the greater and more esteemed any of you are the more cause to look well to your actions every where to give a good Example of godliness humility gravity faithfulness justice righteousness and the like Do nothing but what is commendable virtuous and praise-worthy Beware of doing any thing that may leave an ill savour behind you which may open the mouths of evil men to speak or think evil of you or of Religion harden them in their evil ways or sadden the hearts of good men or be a stumbling-block to weak Christians that are coming on not light vain foolish idle vile and prophane carefully shun and avoid all such 3. Look to your words that they be true sober grave and seasonable not false idle filthy vain foolish ridiculous bitter or railing Ephes 4 25. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man the truth unto his Neighbour ver 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers Jam. 5.12 Above all things my Brethren swear not Ephes 5.3 4. But fornication and all uncleaness and covetousness let it not be once named among you as it becometh Saints Nor filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting that is scurrility or jeering scurrilous jesting and unseemly mirth are much unbeseeming the gravity and sanctity of a Christian For we must give an account of every idle word at the day of Judgment Matt. 12.36 37. much more of scurrilous and unclean words And if any man seem to be religious and yet bridleth not his tongue that mans Religion is vain Jam. 1.26 Not but that Christians may be cheerful and merry in company but their mirth must be harmless and innocent not light vain idle foolish much less vile and prophane In all things labour to shew your selves Patterns especially elder persons of goodness truth faithfulness righteousness uprightness c. and in all your dealings that you may adorn the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and gain credit to Religion by your good conversation Let the Name of God Christ and his word be seldome in your mouths unless in an humble reverent manner to do or receive some good not in ordinary worldly discourse but let them be often in your minds hearts let them be to you as hony in your months and musick to your ears that you may say as David Psal 139.17 18. How precious are thy thoughts unto me O God How great is the sum of them If I should count them they are more than the sand when I awake I am still with thee Titus 3.2 Speak ill of no man be gentle shewing all meekness to all men Make the best construction of other mens words and actions as far as may be with a good conscience Love thinketh no evil is not easily provoked beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.5 7. Be not jealous be not suspitious yet labour wisely to foresee and prevent evils that may be Use not many words in speaking be not full of speech for as Solomon observes Eccles 5.7 In many words there are also divers vanities but fear thou God ver 3. A fools voice is known by a multitude of words It is often observed that even some very good persons and worthy to be honoured for the truth that is in them who are of a free speech when they speak of a person or thing which they like or dislike suppose it be of some distemper are sometimes so superlative and excessive in their expressions that they do speak often very much beyond what the thing in truth is to the grief of some tender consciences to hear such persons lash out beyond measure and which 't is believed if themselves did before God in their own consciences seriously consider surely they would not speak so largely It is good to speak always within the bounds of apparent truth also to perform what they promise lest some others censure us as lyers and say as too many are apt to do without cause Professors will not swear but they will lye or stretch foully This is sad and to be bewailed 4. Look to your affâ—ctions love desire delight hope fear joy sorrow anger hatred and the like that they be set on right objects so as to desire hope love delight and rejoyce in good things especially spiritual so to sorrow and grieve for sin to shan and hate it Col. 3.2 Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth Let David be your pattern Psal 16.3 In the Saints and the excellent in whom it all my delight Psal 119.104 I hate every
of which for the most part being the fruit of some hours thoughts in my bed and in a very plain phrase and method being intended for the meanest and weakest capacities as well as others And though it be but as Goats-hair towards the building of the Tabernacle yet notwithstanding may and I hope in the Lord will through his blessing help also others memories stir up their affections and hearts to a more serious walking in the good way of holiness and righteousness which will bring to heaven and eternal happiness Into which way I am fully persuaded many of you are already entred and walking but I cannot say so of all to whom this is intended and offer'd and therefore hope you will not be offended though I do adde divers directions for the better information instruction and direction of others towards the more easie getting preserving and increasing sound knowledge true and living grace to enable for the right use of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper too much neglected by many and all other Ordinances of Christ and especially to be prepared to live and dye holily comfortably and happily which next to the glorifying of God is the great business which we have all to do while we are here in this world and for which end we came into the world and God hath given us life the use of reason and understanding and the Word and Sacraments the means of grace and salvation which if any do neglect they are utterly and everlastingly undone and must perish eternally But rather I judge it will be a rejoycing of hearts to you who are already made wise unto salvation to see or hear that others also that are made wise or any ways helped in the way to get true wisdom I intended this only as an Epistle to another Treatise on a necessary subject but seeing it swell in the penning very much beyond my expectation I publish it by it self and it may be the other hereafter if life health liberty and the croud of other mens workes that press to be abroad do not hinder There are divers qualifications and things required as absolutely necessary to them of years of discretion to be had and exercised as to be enabled rightly to partake of the Sacrament of the Lords supper as a priviledge and benefit so to live and dye comfortably and happily which is the earnest desire of my soul and daily prayer unto God for you all namely sound knowledge of the things of God saving faith true repentance sincere love and charity and new obedience or holiness of heart and life and therefore I intend to speak something of each of them severally by the assistance of God 1. Knowledge a particular distinct grounded knowledge is necessary to salvation in all that are of years of discretion Let me mind some of you of some of the most necessary points of the Christian Religion the doctrine which is according to godliness Namely that there is only one true and living God and three distinct persons or manner of subsisting in that one undivided divine nature and Godhead the Father Son and Holy-Ghost or Spirit 1. That there is a God Because we live in an Age in which that damning sin of unbelief and Atheism is much more frequent then I think in any Age heretofore amongst Christians a sad sign that some grievous judgment from God if not destruction is drawing near I shall here set down a few Arguments to prove That there is a God which a man would think most clear and needs no proving which I hope may be of some use to confirm many though not to convince professed Atheists or wilful Cavillers Besides the Testimony of the holy Scriptures which have many demonstrative arguments in them to prove cleerly the divinity and infallible verity and certainty of the holy Scripture and so most fully and plainly that there is a God consider seriously these few of many that might be produced 1. The Heavens and Earth and all the Creatures in them as the Sun Moon Starrs c. do clearly prove it to all that are not wilfully blind and judicially given up to blindness to their eternal destruction for nothing can be the cause of it self the world could not make it self for then it should be both the cause and the effect both before and after it self Therefore the world and all things in it must have their being and beginning from some one first and supream cause which is of infinite wisdom power and goodness and of it self which gives being and continuance to all other things and this is God Also the first creature was made of nothing of no foregoing existant matter otherwise if not made it could not be subject to change and alteration And all Creatures are finite compounded and imperfect unable to make themselves or the least fly or worm or to sustain themselves and therefore of necessity there must be a first supream cause which is of it self of infinite power wisdome and goodness and most perfect which gives a being and continuance to that first Creature and to all things which are very good in their kind Gen. 1.31 2. The great wonders and miracles that have been done as the dividing the red Sea and Jordan causing the Sun and Moon to stand still and at another time to go back ten degrees and the Miracles wrought by the Prophets by Christ himself and the Apostles as raising the dead making them that were born blind to see the lame to go the dumb to speak the dead to live again and very many more which many thousands of eye and ear-witnesses saw heard all which were not only above the ordinary course of nature but simply above the power of nature do plainly and evidently prove that there is one supream absolute cause of infinite knowledge power and goodness which is God 3. The acts of conscience do prove that there is a God which are to excuse and comfort in well doing against disgraces slanders and sufferings and to accuse condemne and terrify for evil doing though committed never so secret and so that somtimes the sinners to free themselves of the terrous troubles of conscience make away themselves thousands have done so in all Ages which proves that there is a supream Judge that sees all though never so secret will call the sinners to account and condemne for their evil deeds and punish the evil doers 4. The powers of the Soul prove that there is a God The Soul is a substance spiritual invisible immortal ever-living exceeding active that can move its thoughts and eyes from one place to another from one kingdome and part of the world to another from earth to heaven in a moment is indued with understanding will reason and affection and is capable of eternal happiness and of eternal misery and therefore must of necessity be from a cause that is spiritual invisible immortal infinite in understanding wisdom power and goodness which only can
2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction And so on to v. 11. And this knowledge must not be an idle meer notional knowledg swimming in the brain but an operative practical powerful transforming knowledge such as workes on the heart and puts on to believe and practice what a man knoweth and doth transforme change and make a man to endeavour to be like unto God himself loving merciful good gratious holy just true and spiritual Many wicked men yea enemies and persecutors of the true Religion and godly men have do know much as to a speculative and notional knowledge and can speak well when they please but make no conscience to practice what they know Secondly Faith is necessary to the right participation of the Lords Supper also to live and die comfortably and happily A particular distinct Faith which is a recieving and resting on Christ alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the Gospel More largely and generally Faith is a resting and relying on God the Father for all good things both for soul and body this life and that to come only for the alone mercy of God and merit of Christ the Mediatour John 1.12 and 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whose believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Mark 16.16 He that believeth shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God Thirdly Repentance is also necessary to live and die well and happily Luke 13.3.5 Said our Saviour Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Therefore it is called Repentance unto life Acts 11.18 Now repentance is a conversion or turning of the heart and whole man from sin all sin in affection and endeavour unto God Therefore it is so often expressed in the Scripture by turning as Deut. 4.30 and 30.10 1 Kings 8.35 Nehem. 1.9 Psal 7.12 and very often elsewhere There are two parts of Repentance Humiliation and Reformation 1. Humiliation and sorrow for sin past and present because sin a transgression of the holy just and good law of God Rom. 7.12 and because offensive and hateful to God a filthy thing defiling and dangerous to our selves yea damnable if continued in 2. Reformation or amendment of life an unfained leaving of all sin in affection and also in practice in respect of sincere desires purpose and endeavour daily to amend whatsoever is amiss and to lead a life according to the command of God without which sorrow for sin and humiliation availes little Fourthly sincere love true hearty Christian love is another necessary grace both love to God the Father Jesus Christ and to our Neighbour 1 Love to God even the whole blessed Trinity in unity who is the only chief and all-sufficient good most lovely in respect of his most excellent wisdome love goodness holiness mercy truth faithfulness justice and all other his transcendent perfections Also for what he hath done for us and is still most ready to do for his people Deut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy might So Deut. 10.12 Mat. 23.37 2. We must love our Neighbour also Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self that is truly heartily and really making it appear by the fruits and effects of it as occasion requireth and opportunity serveth and as we are able and that both to good and bad men 1. Good men with a love of complacency and delight because of the Image of God in them Psal 16.2 3. 2. Bad men evil yea wicked men yea enemies with a love of benevolence that is so as to pity them wish them good pray for them counsel instruct admonish and reprove also when there is just cause occasion opportunity and we may do it with any hopes of doing good Levit. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart but thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour not suffer sin upon him or not bear sin for him as the margin hath it Mat. 5 44. I say unto you said the Lord Jesus Love your enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven Not rendring evil for evil 1 Pet. 3.9 Yet hate and shun their sins and have no fellowship in the unfruitful workes of darkness Eph. 5.11 Sixthly sincere obedience an hearty desire purpose and endeavour to observe the whole will of God and obey him in all his commands both of piety and holiness towards God and of justice equity and mercy towards men sobriety towards ones self Tit. 2.11 12. This I mention particularly though it might have been included in the former because Christ will be a Saviour to none but to them that do sincerely obey him Heb. 5.9 Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. And because I would have it particularly minded and observed Now consider I beseech you for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake and that seriously 1. Whether you have these such a knowledge of God and of your selves whether you do in some measure see your misery by sin the remedy thereof by Christ know the doctrine of the Sacraments and that not with a bare notional knowledg but a working and practical knowledg And have you a true living faith in God through Jesus Christ whom he hath sent such a faith as applies the righteousness of Christ for justification and draws virtue from him for sanctification and holy conversation Do you truly repent of your sins and heartily endeavour to amend what is amiss are you new creatures and endeavour to live in newness of life Do you mak conscience of obeying Gods commands of living holily and dealing truly faithfully and justly with all men Do you truly love God for himself and above all things and your neighbour truly and heartily for Gods and Christs sake wishing his good and be ready to do any Christian neighbourly office of love for him or any of them forgiving private wrongs and injuries as you would that God for Christs sake should forgive you or do you heartily desire and truly endeavour after these things if so in truth then happy are you blessed be God for this great mercy and goodness to you he has done more for you then if he had given you very many thousands and made you great the greatest persons in the world yea then if he had given
and brotherly compassion to the poor with an humble heart looking to God only for a reward of his bounty according to his gratious and free promise Luk 6.38 2 Cor 9. v. 6. to the end also 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Remember the poor widow that gave two mites all that she had by her and was highly commended for it by the Lord himself Mar. 12.42 43 44. Mat. 10.42.43 12. In prosperity as in health strength ease peace liberty plenty courteous respects from others good success in lawful undertakings and the like 1. Labour to see the good hand of God in all outward good things for God is the God of all mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Every good gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights Jam. 1.17 1 Chron. 29.11 12. It is God that giveth power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 even when men are most industrious and instrumental Promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West but God putteth down one and setteth up another Psal 75.6 2. Thankfully acknowledge Gods goodness in every thing and give him the praise Psal 103.1 2. 3. Use all his benefits in those ways and to those ends and uses to which God hath appointed and serve him more cheerfully with them and for them It is a great abuse of Gods benefits and dishonour to God to hoard them up covetously to look on or delight in excess of eating drinking apparel lavish idle expences gaming to bribe some to oppress others or to be proud of them and Lord it over others or to slight and neglect them 4. In abundance labour to keep thy heart humble and be courteous towards all even to the meanest Take heed of being proud or domineering over the poor or slighting them as rich men are apt to do for who made thee to differ from the meanest and poorest 5. Even in abundance take heed of trusting in any worldly things but labour to live in the world above the world trusting and relying on God alone Psal 62.10 If riches increase set not your hearts upon them 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Take heed of being ensnared by them Deut. 8.10 11 12 13 14. 6. Use the world with weaned affections Sit loose to all worldly things as friends children worldly goods that you may be ready to part with them whensoever or howsoever God shall please to take them from you or you from them 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. If outward things stick to us or we to them as our skin on our back as a right hand or right eye they will very hardly be parted with but if they fit loose in our affections as a loose garment on us or as a wooden legg or arm or glass-eye then it will be easie to part with them To this end consider how vain empty uncertain and unsatisfying all worldly things are especially to give us any true comfort peace ease of Conscience or of outward pain many times to procure Gods favour pardon of sin freedom from wrath and the like also how many cares and troubles do usually accompany worldly estates consider Judas his case his money then would not comfort him and Hamans Esth. 5.9 11 12 13 and 7.7 8 9 10. 13 In adversity viz. in sickness weakness pain reproaches poverty in juries losses crosses and the like 1. Labour to see Gods hand in all these things for God hath a righteous wise and gratious providence in all these things and for good to all his Amos 3.6 Is there any evil in the City namely of punishment or suffering and the Lord hath not done it Isa 45.7 I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Afflictions come not out of the dust Job 5.6 Therefore own acknowledge and justifie God in all his dealings though never so sharp and grievous to flesh and blood 2. Labour if it may be to find out the particular cause the sin that is the cause of your suffering ingeniously confess your sins bewail them and resolve to amend what is amiss 1 Cor. 11.30 31. If we would judge our selves we should not be condemned with the world c. 3. Be patient humble and quietly submit to the good pleasure of God Be willing to be what God would have you to be he knows best what is fittest for us take heed of murmuring repining fretting at his hand distrusting God much more of using any unlawful or unwarrantable means to be freed Above all take heed of seeking unto cunning men or women for help or ease that is in plain terms to go to the devil for help when God afflicts a hainous crime for what or whosoever is the instrument yet God is the Author of afflictions and troubles therefore Job though his sufrings were exceeding great from the Chaldeans the Sabeans and the Devil that set them all on did not say the Chaldeans or Sabeans or the Devil but the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken and blessed be the Name of the Lord he looked at Gods hand in all and justified God God lays afflictions on his people either to correct them for sin humble and bring them home to himself or to exercise and discover the truth and strength of their faith and other graces as patience c. and to brighten them and make them more illustrious Also consider that out greatest and sharpest sufferings are much less than we deserve and we suffer most justly but Jesus Christ most unjustly and yet bore it most patiently 4. Look on the Examples of the Godly and how patiently they suffered Heb. 10.34 and Heb. Chap. 11. especially ver 37. to the end Jam. 5.7 8 9 10. yea the Lord Christ himself though most innocent and made it his whole work to go about to do good 1 Pet. 3.18 and 4.12 13 14. Heb. 12.1 2 3 4. 5. Consider how many good things you have which many others want be thankful and contented consider also that many others suffer as well as you yea in the same kind and others in some kind or other as much as large and some much more grievously even such as are dear unto God as Job David Paul and many others even unto the death 6. Consider also the many promises God hath made As 1. That he will lay no more on his Servants than they shall be able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 And if he lay on more burden he will give them more strength 2 Cor. 1.4 5. And so a very great burden or suffering will be no more troublesome than a small matter with little strength 2. That he will be present with you in afflictions and troubles Read Isa 41 12 13. and 43.2 3. 3. That all afflictions and seeming cross-Providences are out of his love in mercy and faithfulness for their good Psal 25.10 4. That he will deliver his out of all troubles and sufferings make a way for them to escape in the best time 1 Cor. 10.13 5. That he will
Christ or blessed Trinity 7. and have one God and Father Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions among you and avoid them He that separateth from a true Christian a child of God or any one whom Christ ewneth and receiveth though never so weak and mean doth so far separate and disown Christ himself who is the Head of that Member Consider Titus 3.2 Speak evil of no man also Jude ver 19. 2. Endeavour what in you lieth the peace of the Church and Common-wealth Mark 9.50 Have peace one with another Rom. 14.19 Follow after the things which make for peace and wherein one may edifie another Heb. 12.14 Follow after peace and holiness without which no man shall see God 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Gospel is the Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 Peace is the frequent wish and prayer of the Apostle in every Epistle one end of our calling 1 Cor. 7.15 God is the God of peace Rom. 15.33 Christ is the Prince of Peace Ephes 2.14 Our peace and peace-maker Col. 1.10 It is one of the last Legacies Christ gave to his Church John 14.27 A fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Therefore let the peace of God rule in your hearts Col. 3.15 For blessed are the peace-makers Mat. 5.9 Labour therefore for a peaceable disposition avoid contentions study to be quiet and mind your own business 1 Thes 4.11 Many and great are the benefits of peace but woful are the fruits of contentions and divisions especially of War 3. Also love one another yea all men godly persons for Godliness sake civil and moral men for their civility and morality temperance justice truth civilities and the like Yea also evil men and enemies love their persons pity them pray for them exercise civility and Christian carriage towards them but shun their evil courses and wicked opinions and ways 1 Pet. 3.8 Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous 1 Pet. 1.22 See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently It is Christs command Mat. 5.44 Love your enemies bless them that curse you pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you and do good to them that hate you that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to shine on the good and on the bad c. 1 John 4.7 8. Beloved let us love one another every one that loveth i. e. truly heartily for God's and Christs sake is born of God He that loveth not knoweth not God 1 Joh. 3.14 15. We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren He that hateth his brother abideth in death whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and you know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him See before 16. Endeavour to be and alwayes walk in the fear of the Lord I mean an holy fear of offending God any way out of love to God Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long for happy is he that feareth always Prov. 28 14. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Prov. 1.7 and 9.10 A good understanding have all they that do thereafter Psalm 111.10 The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil Prov. 3.7 and 8.13 and 16.6 It prolongeth life Pro. 19.27 Tendeth to life Prov. 19.23 And a little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure without it Consider I pray that you are always in his presence and that he takes notice of all your deeds words and thoughts and that we must give an account of our selves and all our ways unto God Eccles 12.13 14. Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man For God will bring every work into judgment c. So 2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 14.10 And therefore as much as in you lieth endeavour to live every day as if it were the last To this end mind two things First be careful to avoid and shun all evil and occasions of sin 1. All sin as much as may be in deed word or thought Sin is the transgression of the Law of God 1 Joh. 3.4 any swerving from the Law of God in the matter manner order time measure or end And sin and nothing but sin is evil in it self or own nature forbidden of God hated of him and severely punished by him is filthy defiles the Soul dangerous and damnable the only meritorious cause of all evil of suffering and sorrow whatsoever in body estate name liberty Soul mind here and both in Soul and body hereafter for ever in Hell Therefore be always afraid of sinning against God out of love of God and holiness which are so transcendently good and out of hatred of sin that is so exceedingly evil and will bring nothing but shame and sorrow most intolerable misery for ever How pleasing soever sin seems to sinners now it will be extreme bitter in the end And especially 2. Shun all occasions of sin As first Evil company there is a great danger of being ensnared and brought into sin by evil company at least of being grieved by them consider Dinahs case Gen. 34.1 2. Also Gen. 39.9 10 c. Prov. 13.2 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed Observe not the fool only but he also that accompanies with him therefore saith Solomon Prov. 4.14 15. Enter not into the path of the wicked avoid it pass by it turn away from it Very many hopeful persons have been utterly undone every way in their name estates bodies and souls by evil companions In any company where you have not a necessary obligation to be with them where you have no hope of doing good nor receiving good so soon as with civility you may leave them Pro. 5.8 7.22 23 27. 1 Cor. 16.13 and 15 33 1 Cor. 5.9 10 11. And especially take heed of being tainted with the foul errors corrupt opinions and the sins and abominations of the times wherein you live The fuller the world is of defilements the greater must your care be to keep your selves unspotted of the world Jam. 1.27 As Noah kept himself clear from the corruptions of the old World Lot preserved himself pure from the pollutions of Sodom Daniel was not defiled with the idolatries of Babylon Thus the fish retains his freshness in the salt Sea the rose its sweetness amongst the noysome weeds and the Diamond its brightness though it lie in the dust Keep your selves pure from foul errors and sins as you would have God preserve you safe in dangerous times as he did Noah in the Ark Daniel and the three Nobles in Babylon Ezekiels mourners Jeremiah and many others Secondly avoid evil places places of evil resort and of evil report for uncleanness drinking gaming or any other vice or ungodliness Thirdly
one the other that is yet uncalled and in the state of nature to grace and holiness faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to his commandments to prevent sin in one another and to preserve and help forward the work of Grace begun by your mutual hearty prayers loving advice counsel encouragement commendation good example and all other ways and so much the more because that is the chief end of marriage and their most neer relation binds them the Soul being the most pretious thing more worth than the whole world and the salvation of the soul of far greater concernment than any other thing in the world than any outward estate than bodies lives And he that truly loves his yoke-fellow cannot but much desire and rejoyce each in others Souls welfare A duty generally neglected by most husbands wives sometimes much hindred by the other yoke-fellow but very sad will be the account such hinderers and neglecters must make ere long to God for neglecting much more for hindring their yoke-fellows salvation neglecting their own duty and doing the Devil work for so it is See Act. 13.9 10 11. in discouraging or hindring any that do mind and seek the good of their own or others Souls The faithful discharge of these common duties is the way to have marriage a merry age a blessing indeed and a great comfort and help one to another The neglect brings many a cross trouble and often a curse and proves the most grievous yoke each to other which they cannot be freed from as long as they live The Husbands particular duties are these and such like 1. To dwell with his wife according to knowledge as is commanded 1 Pet. 3.7 that is to be able and ready to govern her wisely go before her instruct inform and counsel her as he is her head and Governour It is to be lamented that many marry before they know or can govern themselves and many husbands are much more fit to be taught and governed themselves than to govern others Such must bewail their ignorance and give all diligence to be inabled to discharge their duty and then to do it in love not rigorously and imperiously Sic volo ste jubeo I will and command you Such Language rather becomes absolute Lords over slaves not husbands to their wives Col. 3 19. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter unto them Love and meekness sweetens every condition and relation every command counsel is pleasant to the heart as sugar to the taste it makes even hard things to be easily taken and undergone as bitter pills in sweet syrrop or pap of Apples 2. To love and delight in his wife in a special manner as his own body his other self Ephes 5.28 He that loveth his wife loveth himself no man ever hated his own flesh And this he must manifest by his loving speeches to her and of her courteous carriage towards her bearing with her and kindly accepting of her courtesie and readiness to yeeld to her in things reasonable 3. Not to exact or require of her any thing that is unhonest unjust evil or cannot stand with the peace of a good Conscience or that is above her ability or unfit and unseemly for her to do unless in case of necessity Nor forbid her any thing but what is evil and unlawful unseemly or that will be of ill consequence or have some evil effect If her conscience be erronious he must meekly inform her of her error out of the word of God 1 Pet. 3.7 4. To bear with her infirmities as the weaker vessel 1. Pet. 3.7 5. To provide for her all things needful and convenient to be liberal to her to maintain her according to his degree and ability readily and cheerfully not niggardly penuriously and grutchingly but liberally that she may if need require shew particular favours to win and incourage others under and about her She is his second self and her credit and comfort is his 6. To honour her by giving all due respects to her especially before others children and servants 1 Pet. 3.7 7. To allow her liberty being discreet and careful to dispose of goods and order matters of the house as she thinks meet as Elkanah did to Hannah 1 Sam. 1.23 for wives are commanded to guide the house 1 Tim. 5.14 whereby it appeareth that the businesses of the house doth belong and are most proper to the wife as to order the keeping trimming of the house disposing the provision of the family governing the young children and maid-servants in which respect she is called The house-wife Mater-familias 8. In case there be just cause of blame and reproof in a wife which may not without neglect of love care and good conscience be wholly winked at and past by in silence then to reprove her privately alone in love and meekness convincing her by Scripture and good reason that so she may see her error and his love and tender respect to her Gal. 6.1 9. To countenance and encourage her in all well-doing commending and praising her as the husband of the good wife in the Proverbs trusting in her Prov. 31.11 28. But above all to encourage her and be a helper to her for her Souls good praying daily with her and for her minding her of the concerns of her Soul instructing counselling comforting and allowing her sufficient and fit time for private and publike duties of Religion It is a wicked thing to discourage and hinder honest hearts that desire to serve God truly and faithfully when Reason and Religion call on them The wives particular duties are these 1. To be subject to her husband in all things lawful and honest so far as may stand with her obedience to God and the peace of a good Conscience Ephes 5.22 23 24. Wives submit your selves to your own husbands as to the Lord for the husband is head of the wife as Christ is head of the Church and saviour of the body There is a double reason to move the wife so to do the Authority her husband hath over her as her head the con for t she hath by him as a saviour of the body to protect and defend her and provide all things needful for her And the manner of her subjection and obedience to him is laid down in the words as to the Lord that is willingly readily cheerfully to obey him by doing what he requires and forbearing what he forbids coming at his call c. so far as he requires nothing contrary to the will of God See 1 Sam. 20.31 c. 2. To reverence her husband as her head and saviour in some respects as Christ is to the Church Eph. 5.32 33. And the wife see that she reverence her husband by her inward esteem of him as worthy of honour on her part as her head under Christ yea though before and otherwise in himself her inferior much and unworthy having before God and men given him by her Matrimonial Covenant
are those that having by their labour gotten a little money either lavish it out in some finery or dainty fare and strong drink above their ability in a moderate way at some special time is not to be blamed And so feasting as it were one day and then are forced to fait or go with an empty belly two or three days after whereas a wise husbanding that little they get might supply their wants at all times something comfortably Thus living and walking according to these and the former rules and directions none need to fear either want or death but may comfortably say with David The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want Psal 23.1 and apply that of Isaiah Isa 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds None need to fear want that hath an All-sufficient God and a most tender Father to provide for them nor need to fear death seeing to die to a Godly man is to enter into peace and rest in his bed none fear to go to bed when they know they shall rest Object Thus to live perhaps some will say or at least think were to banish all joy and comfort and to live an heavy mopish melancholy life Ans 1. The world is much mistaken and deceived The Godly man is forbidden or debarred no joy natural or worldly that is lawful and convenient for matter and other circumstances but only meer carnal sensual delights and others when and so far as they are evil in respect of circumstances which worldly delights so far worldly and voluptuous men must and will repent of when they shall give an account of themselves and their sinful pleasures and delights unto God 2. None under Heaven have so much true joy delight and content as the truly Godly man hath or may have even the most strict and most religious of them But indeed their joy and delights are not carnal but spiritual not outward in the face voice and lungs but inward in the heart a true sound solid joy but the joy of worldlings is a slight superficial underling joy of the bo y not of the soul like the flash of a bavin in the fire or straw it will make a great flame and noise but yeeld little hear it doth scorch rather than heat kindly and is quickly gone and out but the Godly mans joy is in his soul Luk. 1.46 47. Psal 13.5 and 33.21 a substantial hearty and lasting joy What greater joy can there be What greater comfort and cause of rejoycing than to know and be assured or have some comfortable grounds of hope that they are freed from the reigning and condemning power of sin from the destroying power of the devil death and hell have their sins pardoned God reconciled Christ to be their Saviour God to be their Father the Holy Ghost to be their sanctifier instructer guide and comforter and Heaven to be their everlasting inheritance and that in the mean time all things even the worst shall work together for their spiritual and everlasting good comfort and happiness the all wise and over-ruling gratious Providence of God Rom. 8.28 Psal 25.10 Therefore says the Apostle Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say Rejoyce Such a joy as the world can neither give nor take away nor understand Isa 9.3 Prov. 14.10 John 16.22 Object 2. Yet again p ssibly some may think this seems to be too much preciseness and niceness more than needs What shall none go to Heaven but such as live very precisely and strictly Answ I cannot deny but many shall go to Heaven yea all that are truly Godly and live holily though they are not of so strict a life as some are But 2. I never heard or read of so much as one in all my life that was truly Godly that thought himself too holy and strict but of many no doubt truly Godly strict who have complained and were troubled that they were no more holy and conformable to the will and Law of God and to Jesus Christ Read and consider David Psal 119.5.14 15 16 33 34. and many other places Paul also Rom. 7.18 19 c. and Phil. 3.9 10 12 13 14. 3. I say also that even wicked loose prophane persons when themselves come to die if the eyes of their understandings be truly open and conscience awaked they will justifie the most holy strict Christians and heartily wish that themselves had lived so I have heard and seen some do so on their sick beds when they had dying thoughts 4. Consider what Christ saith and commandeth us and all men Mat. 5.48 Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect and what the Apostle saith and enjoyns in the name of God 1 Pet. 1.15 16. As he which has called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I that is God or Christ am holy Now who can be perfect in this life for degree as God our Father in Heaven is Holy And who can be so holy in all manner of conversation while in the state of mortality as Jesus Christ is holy yet this we are all commanded to endeavour after here And now dear Friends and Christians give me leave to add only a few choice places of Scripture to be always ready at hand and before your eyes Ephes 4.22 23 c. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be you renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour for we are members one of another Be angry namely when there is a just cause but sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devil Let him that stole steal no more but labour with his own hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths but that which is good for edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are souled up unto the day of redemption Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be ye kind to one another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake hath or as you desire God should forgive you Phil. 2.1 2 to 7. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship in the Spirit if any bowels of mercy fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife and vain-glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of another Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Rom. 12.1 2 I beseech you by the mercies of God Brethren that ye present your selves a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed in the renewing of your minds Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things 1 Pet. 3.8 9 10 11. Be all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing For he that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Colos 3.12 13. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel one against another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye are called in one body and be ye thankful Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks unto God and the Father by him Act. 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of peace and love shall be with you Heb. 13.18 20 21. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 11. And the God of all Grace who hath called us to his eternal Glory by or in Jesus Christ after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Now dear Christians Brethren and friends consider what I have written and the Lord give you understanding in all things and forget not to pray for him and his who is April 1670. Your very affectionate kinsman and friend to love and serve your Souls good while he is T. M.