occasions of mercy and wel-doing else affections will die in him The fruits of righteousnesse must bee sowed by practice 1. Ioh. 3. 18. If affection be onely in shew or in words or in the corruptions of the hart be not expressed and made fast by the engagements of practice it will much decay if not wholly bee lost 3. He must by all means take heed of discord with any of them striuing for a resolution to take things in the best part to beleeue all things and endure all things suffering long without enuy or reioycing in iniquity doing all things without reasonings or murmurings or censuring or complaining auoiding vaine ianglings and selfe-conceitednesse begging of God an abilitie to beare with the infirmities of others See further directions about this point in the Rules of life CHAP. IX Hitherto of the directions that concerne the attainement of the sacred gifts of the minde now it followeth to shew what thou must doe that in all thy waies thou mightst walke vprightly and attain vnto sound sinceritie of heart and life HEE that would walke vprightly or take a sound course to continue How souÌ„d sincerity of conuersation may bee formed in thee in his vprightnesse must earnestly looke to these Rules 1. If thou haue bin guilty of any grosse sin know it is vnpossible thy heart should be vpright till thou haue with speciall repentance humbled thy selfe before God for that sinne and that also by conscionable practice thou keepe thy selfe from the great transgression Psal 19. 13. 2. Thou must in a speciall manner â—aâ—ch and striue against Hypocrisie and that in two things chiefely First that in thy setting out into Religion thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace 2. Secondly that in Gods seruice thou by all meanes auoide distractions and so resist and check thy pronenesse of heart thereunto iudging thy selfe seuerely when thou so offendest till thou be able in some happy degree to serue God with thy spirit as wel as with thy body The habite of dissembling with GOD is extremely dangerous 3. In thy conuersation take heede of that fearefull carelesnesse of the most men shewed in the known and wilfull practice of sin vpon pretence that it is but a small offence or secret Take heed of the sinnes of deceit how gainefull soeuer they might be to thee thou maist together with vprightnesse lose the Kingdome of heauen for daring so wilfully to breake one of those little coÌ„mandements Math. 5. 19. Take heed in generall of a stiffe and wilfull heart They are seldome vpright that are heady and peremptorie and hard to be perswaded Iam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29. Hab. 2. 4. 4. As much as may be accustome thy heart to the obseruing of Gods presence walk as before him Gen. 17. 2. 5 Yeeld thy selfe ouer to bee wholly guided by Gods Word Without knowledge the minde cannot bee good Prou. 19. 2. and he that walketh according to this rule shall haue peace in his heart and conscience Gal. 6. 16. Let Gods Law bee the light for thy feete and the lanthorne for thy pathes Psal 119. Labour therefore to get a particular warrant for the lawfulnesse of thy practice in the occasions of thy Calling either generall or particular where thou doubtest enquire so shalt thou walke in a sure way and delight thy selfe in much peace 6. Take heed of idlenesse and prouide to walke faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life 7. Bee sure thou hold a constant course of confession of thy sins to God doe it without hiding or extenuating iudging thy selfe for euery knowne sin and especially praying against and resisting the sin thou art most prone vnto 8. Be not well pleased with thy selfe till thou canst approue thy care to bee good at home as well as abroad looke to this Rule and take heed of frowardnesse and peruerse behauiour in thy Family Thou wilt hardly get any coÌ„fortable euidence that thou art sound at heart if the vsuall Family sinnes raigne in thee 9. Thou mightst wonderfully aduance and establish vprightnesse of heart in thee if thou wouldst carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his VVord that whensoeuer thou didst feele thy conscience wounded or smitten for any particular offence by the VVord of God that then without delay thou wouldst in secret go to God and humble thy selfe by confession and from that time forward remember to striue against that sinne And so likewise when God with some speciall glory of his truth doth affect thee in the hearing of some needfull duty to bee done not to dare to delay but haste to the obedience of that good Word of God FINIS
and without Christ and such are all Hypoctites Wicked men of the first sort are discerned by such markes as these and so he is a wicked man 1. That can spend whole 1. Hee is a wicked man 1. That liues without God dayes or weekes without seeking after God or Christ that accounts it no part of his care to looke after God or any secret acquaintance or communion wirh God in Iesus Christ that liues as the Apostle sayth without God and without Christ and therefore without hope in the world that seldome or neuer thinkes seriously of God Ephes 2. 12. 2. That continually 2. That auoids the society of the godly shuns and striues to auoyd the company and society of such as feare God and in his heart loues not such as be religious and make conscience of their wayes This man is certainely in darkenesse that hates Gods children as the Apostle Iohn often shewes in his first Epistle especially when he hates them because they follow goodnesse 3. That sauours only the 3. That sauours only earthly things things of the flesh that finds a taste and rellish only in earthly things that placeth al his contentment in the things of this life Rom. 8. 1. Ioh. 2. 15. 4. That is vncapeable and vnteachable in the things of God and godlinesse 4. That is discerns not the things of God hauing the Gospell and the glory of Religion hid from his heart so as he sees nothing in the Kingdome of Iesus Christ to be admired and desired of him and when he enioyes the meanes cannot discerne the things of God 1. Cor. 2. 5 That willingly haunts 5. That sorts with wicked men with wicked and prophane persons and delights in them and chooseth them for the companions of his life Psal 50. 2. Cor. 6. 6. That of malice persecuteth 6. That of malice persecuteth the Truth and reprocheth despighteth the knowne Truth speaking euill of the good way of God which hee himselfe hath knowne and acknowledged before Heb. 10. 7. That hath in him 7. That allows himselfe in Atheisticall thoughts thoughts of Atheisme raigning conceiuing vile things of God without sorrow or trouble of heart for them or rather desiring he could proue them to be true wishing there were no God at all Psalme 14. 1. 8. That calls not vpon 8. That calls not vpon God the name of the Lord who is such a one as wholy neglects this seruice of God in himselfe and his Family vnlesse it bee for fashions sake without care or vnderstanding Psalme 14. 4. 9. That was neuer chastned 9. That is not chastened of God of the Lord For they are bastards and not sons Heb. 12. 10. That can spend his 10. That neuer examines himselfe in known sinne dayes without examining himselfe whether Iesus Christ bee in him or not That mindes it not to bee sure that he is in the faith 2. Cor. 13. 5. Ioh. 17. 3. 11. That flattereth himselfe 11. That applauds himselfe in known sinne in his owne eyes when hee is threatned for sin and blesseth himselfe in his heart when his iniquity is found worthy to bee hated Psal 36. 1 2. Deut. 29. 19. 12. That secretly lothes 12. That lothes the Word of God constantly and contemnes and in his heart constantly frets at the Word when it is conscionably and powerfully preached that findes in the good word of God a deadly sauour 2. Cor. 2. 15. 13. That liues in hypocrisie 13. That allowes himself in Hypocrisie and knowes he dissembles constantly in the seruice of God and doth not desire to leaue it nor take any course to resist it or humble his soule in secret for it 14. That desires not the 14. That refuseth knowlege knowledge of Gods wayes and seriously accounts good courses to be vnprofitable courses Iob 21. 14 15 16. 15. That hauing the 15. That in great distresses humbles not himselfe hand of God vpon him liues in sorrow and misery yet neuer seekes to God nor humbles his soule before God nor acknowledgeth Gods hand or if he doe doth not labour to make his peace with God 2. Cor. 7. 10. Ier. 5. 2 3. 16. That cannot be touched 16. That cares not for the afflictions of the godly with compassion or care for the afflictions of the Church and people of God Amos 6. 5. and is mercilesse Mat. 25. Iam. 2. 1. Ioh. 3. 17. That hath no desire 17. That will not vnderstand to do good to be taught to doe good but either cares not for Heauen and godlinesse or thinkes himselfe wise enough to finde the way without asking Psalme 36. 1 3. 18. That is not affected 18. That is insensible of spirituall Iudgements with feare or sorrow vnder spirituall iudgements such as the famin of the Word absence of God hardnesse of heart or the like 19. That is a customary 19. That is an ordinary swearer swearer and repents not of it God threatens he will not iustifie such offenders but pursue them as his enemies Com. 3. 20. That makes not conscience 20. That is carelesse of Gods Sabbaths to keepe Gods Sabbath for God hath giuen the Sabbath as a signe between him and the people in the point of their Sanctification so hee that cares not to prophane the Sabbath by that signe is known to be none of Gods people Exod. 31. 21. That not only commits 21. That is a worker of iniquity sinnes against his knowledge but serues sin and is a worker of iniquity loues it defends it and resolues to continue in it placeth his felicity in it 22. That beleeues not in 22. That beleeues not in Christ the Sonne of God as they do not that either deny his comming in the flesh or his person or his offices or else rest not vpon him for life and happinesse Marke 16. Iohn 3. 17. 1. Iohn 4. 23. That in any one 23. That hates to be reformed particular sinne knowing it to be a sinne hates to be reformed Psal 50. 24. That hath not the 24. That hath not the Spirit of Christ Spirit of Christ For if any man haue not the Spirit of Christ the same is not his Rom. 8. 25. That cannot forgiue 25. That cannot forgiue his enemies his enemies nor pray for them that hate him and wrong him Mat. 6. For if men forgiue not vnto men their trespasses neither will God forgiue them their sins as is likewise shewed by the parable Mat. 18. 32. 26. That loues not God 26. That loues not God and shewes it 1. By an habituall forgetfulnes of God of which before 2. By his vnwillingnes to doe Gods worke his commandemēts being alwaies grieuous vnto him and it seeming euill to him to serue the Lord 1. Ioh. 5. 3. 3. By insensiblenesse of the dishonor of God 4. By louing his pleasures or profits more then God 27. That feare not God 27. That
feares not God and shewes it 1. By not caring for Gods displeasure so hee might escape Gods punishment 2. By comming into Gods presence constantly without any awfull regard of Gods Maiesty 3. By sinning in secret withall security being onely carefull to auoide the eyes of men 4. By contempt of the threatnings of God in his Word 28. That is dead in trespasses 28. That is dead in sinne and sinnes Ephes 2. 1 2. that can be guilty of many and monstrous crimes and that as if hee were a dead man continues vnder the burthen of them without sorrow or feare or remorce or care of amendment Ephes 2. 1. 29. The Apostle Paul 29. That is guilty of any of his sinnes in the Apostles Catalogue puts a number of offenders in diuers grose sinnes into a Catalogue and pronounceth of them all that without repentance they cannot inherite the Kingdom of Heauen 1. Cor. 6. 9 Fornicatours Idolaters Adulterers the Effeminate Sodomites Theeues Couetous persons Drunkards Reuilers and Extortioners and so in the Gal. 30. All those that cānot repent 30. That cannot repent that is such as cannot pray nor cōfesse their sins to God nor bewaile them nor any way set themselues soundly to reforme them CHAP. II. Containing the signes of Hypocrites THus of the markes of notorious and wicked men The signes by which hypocrites may be known follow and these are of two sorts First such as describe 2. sorts of these signes them so that themselues may thereby know themselues Secondly such as giue occasion to men to feare their soundnes and shew that they are likely to fall away though for the present they make shew and profession of Religion and doe escape much of that filthinesse which is in the outward liues of others For the first these are the signes of an hypocrite 1. To professe Gods 13 Signes of hypocrites Couenant with his mouth and deny it in his workes Psal 50. 16. 2. To do his workes of purpose to be seen of men when hee might conceale the knowledge of them doth this of purpose chiefly because he would haue the praise and applause of men not seeking the approbation or praise of God Mat. 6. Rom. 2. 26. 3. To make cleane the out-side of the platter and let the inside be foule To bee like a painted sepulchre To auoide apparant outward faults and yet to harbour a world of wickednesse in his heart without any true repentance for it Math. 23. 4. To censure small matters in others and be guilty of great crimes himselfe To see a moate in another mans eye and not care to cast out the beame in his owne eyes Math. 7. 5. To pretend care of piety towards God and yet be vnmercifull to men or neglect works of mercy to the poore that hee is able to do and yet vnconscionably omits it Iam. 1. 26. 6. To require many things of others in their practice and yet make no conscience of obseruing them in his owne practice To binde heauy burthens vpon other mens shoulders and not to touch them with his owne finger Math. 23. 7. To arrogate to himselfe the titles of godlinesse and yet enuy and hate goodnesse in others and to endeuour to hinder them or oppose them that would enter into the Kingdome of heauen Math. 23. 8. To praise the dead or the absent seruants of God and yet despise and persecute such of Gods faithfull seruants as are set ouer them and to disobey them Math. 23. 9. To speake faire to mens faces and behinde their backes to reuile and slander them 10. To draw neere to God with his lips when his heart is far from him In the daily seruice of God to allow himselfe in the habite of distractions making no conscience to worship God in his spirit Esay 28. 11. Neuer in secret to make conscience of prayer to God and not to cry to God except it be in sickenesse or great aduersity dis-regarding prayer in health and prosperity Iob. 17. 9 10. 12. With prophanenesse to neglect Gods commandements and to be onely diligent to vrge obserue mens precepts or the traditions of men Math. 15. 13. To punish or reproue sinne in some because he hates them or to forbeare reproofes or punishments of others because he feares or fauours them CHAP. III. Containing the signes of such as are likely to bee vnsound and will not hold out THus of the first sort of signes of Hypocrites Now follow such probable signes of hypocrites as men may take notice of and doe vsually foreshew their falling away at length though for the present they make great shewes Amongst them 16. Signes of an vnsound Professor then that make profession of Religion aboue the common sort of people these are likely to bee vnsound and not hold out 1. That ioyne not themselues to Gods people but forbeare constantly or forsake apparantly their fellowship Heb. 10. 24. 2. That are not carefull and desirous to reforme their housholds to set vp Gods worship in their Families that are good abroad but practise not godlinesse at home 3. That customarily liue in any sinne knowne to bee so to themselues without sorrow or amendment whether it be in their particular Calling or generall Conuersation 4. That constantly and with delight choose out vngodly men to bee their chiefe companions and friends 5. That are wilfull in the vse of the vanities of the world and will not be reclaimed from their excesses or offences that way 6. That are stiffe-necked and will not abide reproofe and admonition but shew themselues conceited and selfe-willed 7. That are full of rash zeale and shew it by passions and violent furies about lesser matters and yet haue some notable faults in themselues wich they make no conscience of 8. That are swift to speake and full of words and forward to expresse their masterlike conceits when they neither haue calling nor fitnesse or power of the holy Ghost The language of an humble Christian that hath true grace differs wonderfully from the empty and impertinent language of the hypocrite who is seldome assisted with efficacie of matter 9. That liues inordinately being idle and attends not the labours of a lawfull Calling that is found ordinarily in his neighbours house and is apparantly negligent and slothfull in the duties of his Calling 10. That is more vexed for want of respect from others then for his owne disabilities in his conuersation 11. That seemes glad of the company of some that feare God but cannot abide others either for the meannesse of their place or because the world contemnes them though without cause though there be no iust exception against their sincerity They that haue Religion in respect of persons loue not any for Religions sake 12. That liue customarily in the sinne of swearing or lying 13. That is carelesse of the sanctification of Gods Sabbath 14. That hath had no maner of affliction of spirit for particular sinnes 15. That is