and carnall and that we doe but fauour our selues in worldlines or profanenes idlenes and ease when we reason against it as being too precise The publike duties are the reuerent assemblies of Christians in the preaching of the word in prayer and administring of the sacraments on that day especially to be vsed howsoeuer on other dayes by occasions oft intermitted All of them are most blessed helps for the establishing of vs in an holy life Of the priuate some doe particularly concerne our selues alone some are as well for the benefit of others as for our owne comfort for our selues we are to meditate on the works of God vpon his wonderfull workes which he hath done for the sonnes of men that so we may feele his goodnes many waies and from the sweetnes which we perceiue in the creatures we may be lifted vp to behold the beautie and fauour of the creatour We are also to thinke of the doctrine which we haue heard that it may the easilier be imprinted in vs. And on this day we are more freely to consider of our estate how we proceede in the religious keeping of our couenant with God and how we grow in the assurance of Gods mercie and our redemption or whether we goe not backe or stand not at a stay And euery way as our neede shall most require we are to vse our examinings of our selues meditations and thanksgiuings on this day not only for our present comfort but for our more fruitfull walking all the weeke following Conference of good things tendeth as well to the edifying of others as our selues Beside the which there are other duties to be don to them as to do the workes of mercie to them as well in visiting them in their sickenes releeuing their necessities breaking off their disagreements and reconciling them who were at variance as in spirituall comfortings of them as God doth inable vs. And these al laid together are as a continuall direction for the holy vse of the Sabboth to vs euen as the daily direction which I shall adde afterwards is to serue a Christian daily as long as he shall liue for the profitable and heauenly spending of the Sabboth is the market of the soule in the which he who is wise will prouide and store himselfe for all the other dayes of the weeke wherein it is like he shall haue little helpe but much discouragment as in the world may be seene And this holy passing of the Sabboth must be religiously regarded of al the Christian family as the charge giuen to the gouernor thereof doth shew and of the stranger also who shall come vnder his roofe This is the sum of the holines which we are to shew towards God he that desireth to heare more fully of this matter which I may not handle at large let him reade such treatises as are written of that argument CHAP. 16. Of certaine duties to men in the fift sixt and seuenth commaundement the obeying whereof is a part of the godly life NOw followeth another branch of the second part of this godly or Christian life requiring of vs righteous dealing towards all men Where by the way this is to be carefully regarded that seeing there is an apparant distinction and difference betwixt those forenamed duties of holines to God and these of righteousnes to men which shal follow and yet both alike commaunded therefore that no man disioyne in his practise or separate the one from the other seeing the Lord hath set them downe ioyntly together I speake this because there are many who delighting in hearing the word preached and prayer and reading which are duties directly appertaining to God yet are very negligent in performing that which is due to men as in doing workes of charitie to the poore liuing peaceably and comfortably in mariage or in shunning hastie iudging of their brethren and in being dutifull to superiours as magistrates parents maisters when yet they commaund in the Lord and so contrarily some shall be found doing many things commendable to men and no religion in them towards God Which thing if it be of ignorance is a shamefull blemish in them who are guiltie of it seeing they haue had so long a time graunted them of God in which they might haue learned better but if after it bee knowne it remaine still it plainely testifieth that there is in them a wilfull disobedience against God and that the best of their workes are in vaine And before I enter into the particular duties of righteousnes to all sortes of men it is here as in the fittest place to be taught which cannot be afterward so conueniently added That we haue this minde in vs that we beare loue towards all men euen our greatest enemies from which ground and roote of loue we may be readie to performe all the duties which we shall know to belong to them from vs required particularly in the commaundements following And secondly that we ioyne with it an other generall vertue which is brotherly kindnes to Christians which are brethren with vs which is an holy and especiall loue of one faithfull brother towards another And these two are those which Saint Peter speaketh of when he saith ioyne with brotherly kindnes loue where this vertue is they haue learned to giue euery one of the faithfull their brethren according to the knowledge wherewith God hath inlightened them the seuerall duties required in the second table A rare and singular gift of God which if we could see the practise of it what light of good example it giueth and what profit it would inflame vs wonderfully to the practising of it Now follow the seuerall parts of righteousnes to men as they are distinctly set downe in the sixe commaundements following to be performed of Christians and which helpe to make vp the second part of a godly life In all which although there are many more particular duties to be mentioned then were in the former part because we haue so many dealings and that with infinit persons yet I will set them downe with the like breuitie as neere as I can that I haue done the duties of holines to God leauing the reader to learne the other as I haue said before by other ordinarie meanes And first the dutie which men owe as they are inferiors to others and the superiors to them againe come here to be considered both generally and one particularly towards another Where this is required of all inferiours that they so carry themselues in their whole course to them which by Gods appointment are aboue them or excell them that they may shew in their whole course that they honour them for so the will of God is not to require any one especiall action or dutie of them but that their whole conuersation be such towards them that the person which they take vpon them and the place wherein they are may haue more credit and estimation
all see and easily know that God hath commanded that parents and fathers of families should rehearse his lawes continually vnto their children and as it were whet their memories with them by talking of them in their house and when they lye downe and when they rise vp and to bring the word of God into familiar acquaintance with them which is no more then he saw necessarie for them By the which commandement we may see how this latter age of ours is degenerated from the holy custome of religious exercises in our families which were in vse so many thousand yeares agone For there can be no time found throughout the day nay the whole weeke in many Christians houses to be occupied about such matters and yet which maketh their sinne the greater how are they letted from them by more weightie occasions No but partly through ignorance so that they could not through the trifling out of the time in idle and vnnecessarie talke or folly and partly through continuall taking vp of it in one worldly thing or other or nourishing teachinesse and such like by which their prayers as well as all other good things are broken off whereas they should do it by themselues alone also rather then neglect it with their houshold the Lord so requiring of vs the one that we should do the other also and not so tyed vs to one time that we should looke after it at no other for it should be oft times as we heard in Deuteronomie but thereby teacheth vs in wisdome to appoint to our selues some certaine time or other for that his seruice lest we should obserue no time but omit it altogether And as for the fruite of this dutie if it be perfourmed with reuerence of vs as the Lord himselfe hath taught vs it is an opening of the doore of his treasurie vnto vs as we who haue any experience can truly say That by it we haue not bene meanely enriched So that such prayer and holy exercise is sutable and answerable to the other parts of christian dutie which are to be perfourmed throughout the day as by the other duties before mentioned may appeare And so our prayer as I said before of the vse of it in the morning shall be an helpe to godly life to make vs liue better and our good life an helpe to our prayer that we may pray more feruently Therefore to say no more of this point because I haue before set downe after what manner we ought to pray and present our selues before God in euery Christian exercise if we purpose and indeuour constantly to continue the same about euening and morning there remaineth no more but this that we take heede to our couenant indeed and that we breake it not off by euery light occasion neither giue place to such lets as Sathan will raise vp in our way as by the vntowardnesse of our heart by sleepe and slouthfulnesse the comming in of straungers and occasion of ordinarie businesse neither vse it for fashion yea and this let vs know that if the ruler of the family performe not this dutie yet is the Christian familist to perfourme it by himselfe And of the eighth rule thus much CHAP. 20. Of the declaration of the ninth and last duty Of viewing the day NOW the last dutie remaineth that thou must with the same wel-ordered heart whereby thou hast bene taught to go through all the actions of the day looke backe before thy lying downe how thou hast passed it how farfoorth thou hast walked with God in it as thou art directed and taught and wherein as thou art able to remember thou hast offended whether thou hast remitted thy care and watch and how thou hast wandred thereby after the desire of thine owne heart That thy soule may reioyce in the blessing which thou hast found so farre as thou hast bene guided aright and thou mayest by this experience hope more confidently that thou shalt with more ease keepe the same course hereafter and for thy strayings and infirmities be sorrowfull and displeased with thy selfe that so thou mayest both humble thy selfe and craue pardon for thy sin be the more carefull to sin no more in that manner This I am sure euery sound-hearted Christian must needes approue of and thinke him in good case who thus lyeth downe to his rest For this is indeed to lye downe in peace and safetie that it may be sutable to his awaking and entring into the day on the morning And the benefite and fruite of this trauell who would not be glad to reape and enioy which is continuall safetie and a prosperous estate whiles a Christian thus setteth himselfe to passe the dayes of his pilgrimage and one of them as another when his heart is looking after his actions in and through the day that God may be pleased This were to lead a stranger-like life indeed and a walking with God which is no more then should be aymed at by him and the necessariest worke which he hath to do Such an one shall well proue that he seeketh a kingdome elsewhere and looketh not for his heauen here And if it be asked whether we looke hereby to be voide of sinne I say no. But yet if in this course there haue notwithstanding the care of pleasing God in the day some thing escaped which ought worthily to trouble vs as by Sathans malice and vigilancie and our owne corruption may easily come to passe yet by this order taking with our selues that hath bene mentioned it shall not sleepe with vs but we hauing so farre preuailed with our selues as thus to hunt and pursue it and to expell and banish it and so reconcile our selues to our God as it is said If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate before our lying downe what a quiet and sweet estate is this like to be But it is will some say an offering of great violence to our selues to doe thus daily and more then Gods word imposeth vpon vs therefore except it be proued to vs by authoritie of Scripture we will leaue it to such as list to be subiect to it To whom I answer That the violence which is offered is but to the flesh to the which we are not debters and therefore are not to take thought to fulfill the lusts of it but to hinder them rather which shall be graunted of necessitie if it be prooued that God commaundeth vs to offer such violence to our selues and that he straightly chargeth vs that we lye not downe in our sinnes neither be bold to sleepe in them the which what other thing is it then that we so consider and looke backe vnto our actions in the day that we may haue peace when we lye downe at euen The words of the Lord which I alleadge to this purpose are these Be angrie but sinne not let not the Sunne go downe vpon your wrath neither giue place to the diuell In the which
the Thessalonians that they abounded in these and were ready to doe whatsoeuer he commanded them and Dauid praied that he might not wander from Gods commandements What is heere commended in them but that which these mislike and speake against at this day in vs who labor for some measure of it Is that il in vs which was good in them There want no proofes nor examples to teach what we should doe in this behalfe but the flesh rocketh asleepe euen many good Christians But whatsoeuer these Obiecters alledge who haue not tasted of these dainties let vs be most glad to heare and more glad to learne that the beloued of the Lord may dwell in safety vnder his protection all the day long And if we haue not knowen so much as that God hath left vs such direction to inioy his presence in some continuall maner amongst vs then let vs now learne and beleeue it that we may reape fruite of it accordingly and not be so haled this way and that way in the world with cares and vexations and snared and allured with earthly pleasures and delights neither vnsetled so with vnreasonable and vngodly persons that we can hardly once in the day yea sometime through the weeke haue liberty and abilitie so much as one quarter of an houre to solace our selues with holy meditation and remembrance of heauenly things for thus it hath beene with many of the deare seruants of God of such slauery they haue beene holden vnder who yet I doubt not but they shall without neglecting any necessarie businesse shake off much needlesse tediousnes in their liues and see their estate much altered to the contrary liberty and holy reioicing if they will duely regard what God hath said of this daily keeping of a good course and not what carnall Obiectors say to discourage them And thus much of the first obiection CHAP. 3. Of answering this obiection That no such direction can be obserued daily BVt I hauing thus shewed the cause why I tooke this in hand and answered them who may thinke that no direction for a Christian through the day is of necessitie to be imposed vpon him now I will proceed to satisfie the reasonable about this particular direction or the like in effect by answering such obiections as may be brought against the same Some perhaps will obiect and say It cannot be daily obserued of any man neither haue they heard that good men in other ages haue beene giuen to any such speculatiue life except the monks and friers and other of that rable they will not deny but it is good sometime to giue our selues to praier and other good exercises but euery day to doe it and to be tied vnto them and to other duties before mentioned were a toile intolerable which no man can like of a taking away of all delight from our liues Againe they say What should become of mens labour and businesse in the world how should it go forward Also they say It were a strange world to see men liue now after such a sort and a bringing in of Monkery againe These and such like obiections although they proceed from very euill men and are vttered of them with a scoffing spirit yet for want of knowledge and due consideration they may be at the first the thoughts of many simple well meaning men for whose cause I will answere them because I would be loath to leaue such in any doubts which might trouble and hinder them But they who obiect thus might more iustly haue alledged other reasons why they thinke it so hard to keepe any such daily direction that is to say partly their owne ignorance vnacquaintednesse with this course vnablenesse and partly the taunts mocks and other discouragements which prophane and vngodly men would persue them with who should walke so vnlike other men of the world by the practising heereof First therefore I will answere their doubt in that they thinke it impossible and then their reasons why they thinke it cannot be without great inconuenience If it were impossible to bring our selues to such a course for heere is no perfection to be dreamed of by me but an holy directing of our selues daily towards the kingdome of heauen why would the prophet Dauid haue said Blessed is the man that exerciseth himselfe and meditateth in Gods law day and night Also why would he haue said it of himselfe That all the day long he was considering it in his minde that is to say meditating on it It is manifest whatsoeuer particular maner or order he vsed heerein that he did tie himselfe daily to this course that is to say to see that he walked homeward that he might not be carried aside or out of the way either with the deceitfull inticements of this world or any discouragements but much hath beene said in the former treatises to this purpose And such examples this present age of ours God be praised doth affoord he vouchsafe to multiply the number of them for one an hundred who do so passe through the affaires of this world that the Christian life is vnto thē not in word as it is with many which deceiue themselues but indeed and sensible account daily their chiefe treasure And all that I require is no more but that faith and godlinesse may be continued increased in the beleeuers and that they prouide for the same purpose that though the malice of the diuill doth lay many lets in their way yet that they bridle bring vnder their corruptiōs to the maintaining of a pure hart a good conscience vnfaigned faith which worketh by loue to the praise of God their owne comfort The which will not be brought to passe through security negligence but whiles they giue al possible diligence hereunto set themselues in some good order and daily direction for the preseruing of the same So that if there be any before others in this practise who by experience haue found how mightily God hath blessed them in this estate who is as ready to do the same to the rest that desire it haue prooued that it is possible yea and easie through God who maketh it so to passe the day in well doing with peace or when it is worst with them to be free from euill for the most part rather then wearisomely and vnwillingly as the most doe let such be patterns and examples to those which are not so forward Let one learne of another in meekenesse of spirit that which he hath not as yet attained vnto and not hold this opinion That none can doe more then they themselues doe nor goe beyond them who yet haue scarcely at all or very slightly gone about this practise themselues There is no reason in it that such as serue God in the day as it falleth out at a venture without any certaine purpose of care or vsing the meanes for the quickening of their
Cor. 13.1 Psal 119.99 Prou. 19.2 The second rule Col. 1.10 Practise is first in an heartie desire Deut. 6.5 Ierem. 48.10 Our affections must be stronger as the good is greater How we come by this grace Ephes 4.22 2. Pet. 1.4 Rom. 6.4.5 As we desire so must we indeuour to do good Psal 122.8 9. Rom. 6.12.13 All parts of our bodies giuen to serue God Make a trade of godlines 1. Tim. 5. 2. Cor. 6.3 The first vertue is vprightnes Deutr. 18.13 Ephes 6.14 Iohn 1.17 Pretences in good actions Psal 130.3 1. Cor. 1.12 Necessitie of those rules and vertues Vnarmed venturing abroade is cause of sore wounds Obiect We cannot doe as we desire Answer 1. 2. The best desire without assurance of Gods helpe is vaine 1. Iohn 5.4 Phil. 4. Rom. 5.10 Rom. 8.30 VVhy Paul ouercame not all rebellion 2. Cor. 12.9 Paul was not caried into grosse iniquity VVe may looke for the like grace that Paul had in our measure 2. Chron. 16.9 1. Chron. 28. â— 2. Cor. 12.9 Rom. 7.25 1. Iohn 2.1 Many weakâ— discouraged for want of this victorie Many know not their libertie Ephes 5.8 The two next vertues diligence and constancie Diligence and constancie bring great matters to passe 2. Pet. 1.5 Ierem. 48.10 Iam. 1.25 VVhat diligence 2. Pet. 1. Ephes 5.15.16 Rom. 16.19 12.9 Constancie Iohn 8.31 15.5 Gaine of these Reuel 2.19 2. Tim. 4 8. Many pay deare for their liberties Note Want of these daungerous Prou. 23.17 Ephes 5.6 1. Thess 5.3.6 Gal. 5.7 1. Cor. 15.58 1. Cor. 16.13 Matth. 24.12 Ioh. 8.31 15.7 Phil. 1.6 1. Thess 5.24 Col. 1.10.11 1. Iohn 4.4 Psal 37.37 2. Tim. 4.8 Other two vertues humilitie and meeknes Matth. 11.29 Ephes 4.2 Col. 3.12 These alwaies necessarie Luk. 17. â— Deut. 18. Matth. 11.30 Deut. 12.18 Iohn 15.5 Ephes 4.3 The second point in this second part of godlinesse wherein this performing of good duties doth consist Duties towards gods person Knowledge of God Psalm 73.18 Trust Hope Dan. 3. Patience Psalm 3.7 Phil. 4 10. Rom. 52. Col. 1.11 Ioy. Phil. 4.4 Psalm 4.4 Thankfulnes 1. Thes 5.18 Request Loue. Phil. 3.8 Cant. 2.4.5 Psalm 16. Desire Gods presence Reuerence Feare 1. Pet. 1.17 Act. 9.31 The second commaundement Gods worship Isay 1.12 Iohn 4.23 Ministerie Rom. 1.16 Publike prayers Censures Publike fasts Ioel. 2.12 Extraordinary thankes Hester 9. Luk. 18.13 Iohn 11.41 Priuate worship Manner spirituall Hovv Gods worship is to be vsed The word Act. 26.18 Preparation 1. Pet. 2.1 Iam. 1.21 Act. 10.33 In hearing Isai 61. Act. 2.37 2. Thess 3.4 Hauing heard Act. 17.11 How conference and reading should be vsed How the Lords Supper should be receiued Matth. 22.13 Hovv prayer should be made Matth. 6.9 1. Tim. 2.8 Psal 116.13 The third commandement Luk. 1.75 Ioshu 7.19 1. Cor. 10.31 In all things to glorifie God Col. 4.4 Psal 118.5.12 In an oth In truth In righteousnesse In iudgement In beholding Gods workes The 4. commandement Holy keeping of the seuenth day Exod. 20.10 Varietie of holy exercises Publike assemblies Priuate exercises Psalm 92. Duties to God and man not to be separated Iam. 1.27 Beare loue to al. Brotherly kindnes to Christians 1. Pet. 1.7 The fift commaundement Many duties to our neighbour Duties of inseriours Common to all inferiours Subiection Rom. 13.1 Reuerence Iob. 32.4 Superiours duty Diuers kinds of superiours Subiects and seruants Tit. 2.6 1. Pet. 2.19 Rom. 13.6 Obedient Tit. 2.9 Col. 3.23 All in authoritie as Princes Psal 78. two last verses 2. King 11.17 Masters Childrens duty Iob. 1. Luk. 2. Genes 24.55 1. Cor. 7.36 Numb 30.4 Gen. 47.12 Ruth 1.16 3.6 Parents Prou. 22.6 2. Cor. 12.14 Ministers Matth. 13.52 Act 26.18 Ezech. 34.4 6. 1. Thess 5.14 1. Cor. 9.22 1. Cor. 4.15 Hearers 1. Cor. 9.11 1. Thess 5.13 Strong Christians Weaker Rom. 14.3.4 Excelling in gifts Ancient in yeeres Iob. 32.4 Our equals Fom 12.10 By examining see our wants and neede of Christ Iohn 13.14 Maintaine our own reuerence The 6. commandement Bodily life and health Hurt not Exod. 21.22 Prou. 17.19 Prou. 19.11 Gen. 13.7 1. Cor. 13.7 1. Tim. 6.17 Doe good to their liues 1. Iohn 4.11 Matth. 9.26 Pro. 3.27 Shew mercie Iob. 31.13 14. Visit the sicke Matth. 25.35 Iam. 2.16 Iudg. 1.3 Iudg. 6.35 Pitie to the soule Good example 1. Pet. 3.1 1. Cor. 10.33 VVin and confirme others Heb. 10.24 1. Thes 5. Helpe the poore Rom. 12. Phil. 7. Ruth 2.13 The seuenth commaundement Not to attempt our neighbours honestie Our minds and bodies must be chaste Vnmaried 1. Cor. 7.32 Maried 1. Pet. 3.7 The 8. commandement Not to iniurie in his goods Rom. 13.8 Not lay claime to that which is another mans In controuersie Gen. 13.8 To forgoe part of our right 1. Cor. 6.5 Matth. 5.40 Diuers states Luk. 3.10 The dutie of them who liue by almes 1. Sam. 2.7 Contentation 1. Tim. 6.8 Not to grudge Matth. 20.15 Rom. 16.3.4 Rom. 15.26 2. Cor 9.2 Act. 4.34.35 Liue godly Iust complaint of our poore Ierem. 5.4 Act. 26.18 Auoid idlenes The dutie of the borrower Repay truly Kind of these Psal 15.14 Borrow not without need If they cannot keepe day The dutie of the giuer How to giue freely Matth. 5.42 Rom. 12.8 Philem. 7. Iam. 2.16 2. Cor. 8.3 Act. 4.35 Numb 36.12 The dutie of the lender Exod. 21.26 Matth. 18.25 Men ought to be moderate in spending that they may lend Deut. 15.11 Two sortes haue goods to their destruction The couetous doth no good while he liueth The lauishing spenders hurt such as they should doe good to Lending needefull Exod. 22.25 Luk. 6.33 Rich borrowing should recompence the lender Matth. 7.12 Of suretiship Luk. 10.35 Pro. 22.26 6.1 How farre we may be surety Genes 42.37 Pro. 22.27 Lawfull vocation 1. Pet. 4.10 Deale lawfully Deut. 15.15 Leuit. 25.14 Amos. 8.5 Psalm 15.4 Partnership Vsury vnlawfull Regard had of both parties is no vsurie Matth. 7.12 Vsury and oppression haue no place among Christians Of annuities VVhat they be Two kinds of them The first kind full of danger Men must not sell that which they haue not Forehand bargaines seldome end well The second kind not vnlawfull Yet abused on the sellers behalfe On the behalfe of the buyer Such buyers are grinders Some annuities worse then ten in the hundred How to redresse such abuse Restitution Iob. 31.16 Prou. 3.29 Prou. 21.15 The 9. commandement To reioyce in our neighboure credit 3. Iohn 2. Gal. 5.26 1. Thess 5.14 Sorrow for their infirmities Hope the best Ephes 2.5 1. Cor. 6.11 Matth. 7.1 Tit. 3.2 To couer faults Leuit. 19.17 Iam. 5.20 Rebuke Not to disclose vnmeete secrets Note Not to speake of faults Matth. 18.15 1. Cor. 1.11 Pro. 14.25 To defend his credit Act. 26.15 To giue testimonie Take all in best part Matth. 1.19 Iohn 13.28 Luk. 7.39 We should censure our selues Not too credulous Matth. 10.17 To note out euill men Act. 2.40 Tit. 3.2 Pro. 15.1 The tenth commaundement
of the greatest commandements I giue herein a taste of the rest of their qualities of like sort Is this behauiour seeming Christians To whom may bee referred these who goe for zealous persons who liue inordinately without attending vpon any honest trade idle vnprofitable busie bodies and counting it godlines to talke of the faults of others yea and oftentimes speake to please such as are in the companie and this not by vnawares or suddenly at some one time but oft and without any heartie repentance for then they would amend which when they haue done how can they deserue any such name of reuerent Christians or to bee so accounted when they who will be thought forwarder then other shall not looke also that they liue more without offence then other but in their dealings one with another shall be worse then ciuill men who haue no religion what a reproch is it to thē when there shal be contending in words bitternes open braules vnseemely crowings one ouer another casting one another in the teeth with their infirmities reporting in all companies what wrongs they haue sustained one by another laughing for ioy when they are fallen whom they mislike when there shall be froward and currish answers taking all things in the worst part and for no perswasion remitting any thing of their vttermost due toward such as be in their dāger What reckoning is to be made of their religion when men will be taken for earnest professors and yet they shall be found hollow and double in their dealings one speech to some and at some time but contrarie at other times to other persons and so be void of plaine dealing so that for commoditie they depart from manifest dutie What are they in respect of that which they do pretend when they dare yet feede their eyes with vnchast lookes thereby making way to the defiling of their bodies when they will nourish the occasions thereof although not so openly as others doe by companie talke amorous lookes lasciuious and wanton stage-playes and to conclude when they carrie about them such other bad qualities though more subtilly couered and secretly hidden in them let no such please themselues in their seruing of God by praying hearing the word or in the best things that are in their liues for all their hope is but deceiueable they are grossely guiltie of great vngodlines the which the true Christian hath banished from his life and renounced Now if this sort partly mentioned alreadie and partly to be mentioned who I must needes say for some religious duties which they do come most neere of all other to the godlie life as no doubt they doe doe yet faile of it and haue little part in it I shall not neede to shew how farre others of what profession soeuer they bee are off from it I meane Papists the Familie of loue which sect are no better then coloured Atheists or any other such of whom as a matter needlesse I will now be silent For the benefit and good of the offenders whom I haue bewraied and to gather into a summe that which I haue said of the renouncing of inward and outward euils this I say if by any meanes I may set before their eyes and perswade them how odious their estate is and I say it in compassion of them that neither the inward rebellious lusts which I haue spoken of nor the outward behauiour which I haue mentioned is any way or in any manner beseeming the Christian man But whiles the Lord vrgeth this at his peoples hands that they haue no fellowship with such vnfruitfull workes of darknes but clense themselues from all that is euill both of soule and bodie so long shall it be reprochfull for all which reioyce in the name of Christians to bee either in their hearts stained with such corruptions or in their liues defiled with such treacheries Which being so is it not to be wondred at especially seeing the will of God is so cleerely reuealed that this should be so harsh vnsauourie a thing yea foolish euen among such as will be thought zealous that wee should so particularly sift our selues from these when yet the Lord by the Prophet requireth that this be done againe and againe saying Soph. 1. Fanne your selues fanne your selues O nation not worthie to be loued It is manifest in the better sort of those forenamed that in their particular actions daily course of their liues there is small moderation of their affections and vnbridled desires or watchfulnes ouer them so that well ordered gouernment is as farre off and therefore rash and vndiscreete going about their matters is almost euery where to bee seene which beside offence to God and men bringeth bitter repentance if any to themselues Beare with me gentle Reader though I go farre and abide long in them it may be some shall take more good at the hearing of them and their hearts more relent then euer they could be brought to doe at the committing of them Such frowardnes heartburning and most sore broiles there are one against another and that for trifles such earnestnes is also in their worldly dealings and yet deadnes of heart and little courage in matters of the soule such nimblenes and vnweariednes in the one and such tediousnes and irkesomnes in the other that all which see their conuersation in the one and the other would gesse that the things which they contend about were matters of life and death the other very light and of small reckoning such griping of the poore and needie in their sales couenants and other dealings especially not forgoing or yeelding the least piece of their right be their necessitie neuer so great nor any regard had of their distressed estate who can thinke of it without lamentation Such giuing mens selues the bridle in their merie makings I speake still of such as fauour the Gospell to talke what they will so as it be not meerely impious how vnprofitable soeuer it be to edifying or hurtfull to example when yet for euery idle word men shall giue an account when as also such times of friendly meetings should be vsed for the gaining of one another to God or confirming one another in their most holie faith as also for the prouoking to loue Such vnquietnes in the gouernours of families for euery thing that is not to their liking as pettie losses and discommodities in house or without by neighbours or seruants when yet their owne vnrulie hearts and impatience doe make their losses farre greater then they are and they should haue learned to be prepared in the day for the troubles thereof I vnderstand this of professed Christians let such as exceede these in euill little reioyce in themselues Such broiles and breach of dutie betwixt husband and wife such strife and oft contentions that euery small occasion of dissenting one from another about any thing must bring peeuishnes heart-burning strangenes sowernes
care ouer their hearts to keepe them well ordered they should shew it in their talke and dealings at the market in their buyings and sellings in their families and among their neighbours as well as among strangers and in all things about which they may lawfully be occupied In all these I say men should behaue themselues plainely and simply iustly peaceably patiently meekely kindly gently faithfully temperatly and humbly of what state and degree so euer they be and yet without any disgrace to them nay the greatest honour and credit yea and mercifully also as occasion should be offered which I thinke if they were found in christians as where else are they to be looked for they would no lesse ioy the hearts of them who should behold them then adorne and beautifie them who should be paterns of them And who can say otherwise but that it were a little heauen to deale with and liue among such Euen as we see it is a peece of hell to dwell with them that are of the contrarie disposition As Iacob must haue been constrained to abide with Esau and as Gods people in their captiuitie did with the Edomits God of his singular loue I confesse restraineth many from the excesse of euill that they would otherwise doe seeing otherwise none could be able to liue by them But whereas some are thus bridled by good lawes and some for shame and vaine glory doe depart from much iniquitie and thus patch vp a kinde of life among men yet know they that without religion that is a feare of breaking out of christian bounds which onely is to be found in an heart well gouerned they shall neuer please God nor haue fauour nor approbation no not euen of common men But of this we may complaine and cry out till we haue worne our tongues to the stump without redresse For the fowle staines and shamefull blots which are contrary to the forementioned vertues are still vsuall as they haue been almost euery where both in many of the ministery and people and so will bee as though godlinesse were tied to the Church walles and to the pulpit And for a further illustration and proofe of the benefit of the well guiding of the heart this I haue said Thus we may see that the heart being well ordered will neither suffer the affections to stray farre nor willingly harbour euill lusts and though they may creepe in by stealth yet by examination we shall finde out many of them and shall be readie when they are found to purge them out and expell them also before they shall being so nestled in vs be able to poison our liues Oh gaine vnualuable for who can say lesse of it that by the benefit of a well ordered heart we may conquer many daungerous sinnes which others for want of it doe vsually commit with shame and much sorrow accompanying them Now when we see the fruite of this well seasoning and keeping of our hearts in frame what should be in more account with vs yea what should hinder it from being so or what should we thinke more needefull to be done then the labouring for it when we see it so great a treasure and such fearefull bondage for want of it to come vpon vs But alas this looking to our hearts by fittes now and then when the good moode taketh vs as it is too common so it is most daungerous and suffereth not christians to see much lesse to inioy one halfe of the sweetenes which God bequeatheth to them I meane if we gouerne and looke to them but as men in the world commonly looke to their outward seruing of God that is to pray when night commeth goe to the Church when the Sabboth commeth to fast when Lent commeth and repent when death commeth And so the wisedome of the flesh counselleth vs to looke to our hearts sometime but that we resolue and arme our selues that the heart bee thus looked to in all that we doe as frailty will permit and care had ouer it that it follow the light of knowledge going before it oh that is thought too heauie a burthen and an estate too vncomfortable To reioyce alwayes to pray continually in all things to be thankefull as the Apostle commaundeth 1. Ephes 5.16 Day and night to be meditating on the word of God and the varietie of the infinit good things contained in it and aiming at it as at a marke how we may walke after it oh that is counted tediousnes and bondage intolerable And yet none of all these precepts can be vnderstoode of the outward actions of our life the eare and tongue cannot doe these things alwayes but the heart may meditate reioyce praise and pray at all seasons and vpon all occasions if once it hath gotten a pleasure in them for it shall neuer want occasion And if we can obtaine to haue God in our remembrance more vsually then we were wont or then others desire to doe and spend our thoughts and set our delight on him shall we thinke any thing too good for him should we not constantly take vp our hearts in heauenly cogitations as we are willed Col. 3.2 when we see that all other are but vanitie and vexation of spirit If it pleaseth him to aske our hearts as he doth when he saith My sonne giue me thine heart should we not thinke our selues happie that he will take any thing at our hands when Dauid being a King wished that he had any thing that would please him This taking vp of our delight in the looking to our hearts as we are able should the more be sought after of vs if it were but for this cause that if wee haue not rule ouer them in our common actions thorough our life we cannot haue them at commaundement in the chiefe seruices of God And from hence it is that christians of good hope doe complaine and that oftentimes with bitternes that their hearts are so swarming vsually with vaine thoughts euen whiles they are in hearing and praying the reason is because at other times they are vsually so occupied throughout the day feeding vpon their delights that God is almost wholy out of their remembrance especially to direct and leade their hearts and therefore also their actions and speeches are much offensiue in lightnes rashnes and vnreuerence The which being common with them in the daily course of their life they cannot possibly haue them otherwise at hearing or praying All which yet are contrarily done when the strength of concupisence I meane the corruption of the heart which is without measure euill is mortified and asswaged first and then still subdued after and restrained and daily seasoned with good meditations and watched ouer that it may be kept cleane and fit to dutie And thus I conclude that the onely way to curbe vp and hold in our intemperate lusts and euill desires that they breake not out into further vngodlines is
and apparell and nourishing our hearts as in a day of slaughter disdaining our inferiours repining at our betters with a greedie and hastie seeking to go beyond our equals and infinite others like for euen in these may Gods seruants be drowned And so on the contrarie if we thriue not nor attaine to that which we looke for what commeth from vs but fretting and vexation of heart for that we obtaine not our desire that is the good successe which we hoped for So that before the issue commeth we do not with contentation rest vpon God and meekely commit the successe to him no but rather vnquietly and distrustfully carie ourselues vntill the triall come Besides these there are other kinds of offending which a Christian man may fall into as when he shall ouer-lay himselfe with such multitudes of worldly dealings that there can be no place nor time giuen to holy exercises of prayer or regard had of christian walking in his ciuill or common actions but all the wisedome which God hath giuen him to farre more excellent purposes is bestowed this way euen to be rich then the which folly what greater may fall into one who thinketh himselfe wise For what hath he prouided for himselfe but care toile and miserie couered with iolitie while he liueth and the fruite of his follie at his death that he being turned out of all here he is much vexed and disquieted hardly brought to cast off this burthen and heartily to repent this his disguised estate is hardly receiued into euerlasting habitation after but hath worse prouided for himselfe then the meanest godly person which liued vnder him I graunt it is to be allowed that Salomon saith A diligent hand maketh rich and The slouthful commeth to pouertie But that none may be deceiued with mis-vnderstanding his wordes let him be the interpreter himself what diligence it is which he alloweth to grow rich by euen such and no other as will giue him leaue to seeke wisedome as gold and to lay it vp as treasure and to labour for vnderstanding aboue all things such also as in the middest of his diligence to become rich he be affraid to offend and such as it may not be his trauell that he doth most looke after Such an euill is to be seene in the world I meane euen amongst men otherwise well to be hoped of that they do not marke when the sweetnesse of gaine comming in is felt how godly duties grow as bitter and vnsauourie to them which was wont to be otherwise with them Last of all besides these before named in christian mens dealings worse things for the getting of this worlds good may come to passe that is that vnlawfull meanes may be practised as iniuring one of another whiles either by deceipt in bargaining or otherwise it be offered or whiles violence be shewed oppression and rigour and there be none against them able to resist it more particularly whiles men contrarie to Gods commaundement do put their money to vsurie If in this sort or the like we should be prouoked in our affaires and dealings to go to worke as it is the manner of the most to do we should so blemish yea deface the christian life whatsoeuer graces of God should be in vs that we lying open to our aduersarie but in some of these for want of a particular regard had against them we should need no other occasions to make our liues irkesome reprochfull and vncomfortable But I haue hitherto laid foorth onely some of the diseases that grow out of a worldly mind in mens dealings but there is no lesse euill incurred of an earthly minded man though otherwise religious euen whiles he is free from all affaires wherby his profites and substance are increased For he who doth not yet see the deceiptfulnesse of richs how they blindfold the heart that it cannot see clearely the beautie of christianity alas how is he led about of his fantasies like a foole to dreame of the happinesse of his outward estate Oh what pleasure is it to him to thinke of that which he hath How is his heart made drunken with the fleshly reioycing in his wealth and welfare How doth it delight him to think what libertie he hath in the world by reason of his abilitie to please himselfe in that which his heart carieth him to or his eye lusteth after when yet he is so much the more miserable because he hath nothing to restraine him from such libertie How doth he cast in his head what he will do hereafter and within some few yeares how conueniently he will haue all things about him I speake still of a Christian for euen so may such an one be beguiled for a season and before the time be expired he is taken away from all like the foole in the Gospell and laid in the earth And thus his spiders webbe which with much care and long time was in working is now suddenly swept away in one moment It were infinite to say that which might here be vttered and to very good purpose how many waies and how farre the poore soule may be led to deceiue it selfe and finally to be vtterly vndone being altogether bereft of all heauenly furniture through the foolish and sottish dreames of earthly felicitie which do oftentimes fasten euen vpon good men sometime vnawares through the corruption of the heart and the commonnesse of this euill which they see in the world All which how clearely do they proue that riches are commaunders and maisters and men slaues and seruants to whatsoeuer they will force them and get such secret loue and liking in their hearts that it will be a matter of great difficultie to breake their fellowship and yet a greater vexation of the hart when it must be broken There is such a neare agreement and liking betwixt our nature and them that we can talke with them as with a friend and are led by them to many euill purposes and ends So that we may possibly be brought to abuse them to the satisfying of our lusts both in excesse licentiousnesse pride and the ioynting of our aduersaries and what not that I say not much of the deceiptfulnesse which there is small hope to make men see that is to become very slaues and droiles for the aduancing of their childrē neglecting for that cause whatsoeuer oportunities God offereth them of doing much good For it may be seene that many rich men haue seemed to liue to no other end then to leaue great wealth to them whom yet they laboured not to make fit to vse it aright and therefore prouided to the vndoing of them And yet to comfort the hearts of their poore brethren with thē or to apply them to any such ends they are backward and slow yea too pinching spary and nigardly as if all were too litle for a few bellies And as they hardly come from vs to good vses so are we as much