of his profession calling c. Ge. 34. Act. 26. 3 That we auoide such blessing and charitable speeches as we account them when the cause is not necessary as in neesing c. 4 Whereas it is common with the Popish and ignorant to inuocate the name of God ouer their cattle so often as they speak therof this is to bee moderated and refrained And that 1 Because the ground thereof was sorcery 2 They vse it more often for their cattle then themselues 3 It maintaines that Popish customary abusing of such holy names 4 It shewes our infidelity for if we were perswaded that God hath receiued vs into grace then surely also all ours and therfore what neede such often inuocations This meeknes of speech is seen in soft answering Prouerbes 15.25 And that Secondly not a foole according to his foolishnesse Prouerbes 26.3 Thirdly in a iust defence of our selues 1. Sam. 1.15 Anna. Fourthly commending our cause to God Psal. 26. Secondly this grace of speech is especially seene in reprouing of sin Here obserue these Rules 1 We must try all other gentle meanes before we reproue 1 We must performe it generally that so the party may willingly acknowledge the particular 2. Sam. 12. 3 Wee must doe it in a parable 4 By way of exhortation insinuating an oblique reproofe 1. Tim. 5.1 5 Wrapping vp the reproofe in some sweet protestations of loue and griefe Gal. 5.9 Rom. 9. 6 Yeelding vnto them their due that so they may acknowledge their wants Act. 25. reprouing in the person of another 6 Ioyning our selues with them and in our own person reprouing their sinne 1. Corinth 4.6 Genes 43. 7 By preuention as Though Israel play the Harlot yet let not Iudah sinne Hos. 4.15 8 Wishing that such things bee not found among them 2. Cor. 12.20 9 Speaking to them as considering our selues Gal. 6.1 That we are in danger of the same tentations 10 Framing the reproofe out of the word that the party may see himselfe rather reproued of God then of vs. 11 Adioyning to our reproofe holy example of our conscience in the thing which we reproue in another And 12 Commending the reproofe to the blessing of God And thus farre of the fourth grace of speech which is meeknes modesty A fifth grace of speech is cheerfulnes and ioy when we vse delightfull speech for recreation Eccles. 3.4 Here is to be obserued 1 That it must be seasoned with Gods feare Eccles. 2.2 2 It must bee with compassion for those that are in affliction Amos 6.6 3 It must be sparing and moderate 2. Tim. 3. 4 It most not be mixt with sin Heb. 11.25 5 It must tend to edification 1. Cor. 10. 6 It must bee sutable to the time 7 It must also bee fitted to the place which is either the boord or bed For the boord obserue 1 The intent the which is to hinder other idle and prophane talke 2 To season the company with better 3 To preuent gluttony 4 A desire to catch spiritually 5 To sanctifie the creatures 2 Consider the matter of Table-talke Which 1 Especially must bee of religion Luk. 11.35 2 That which is incident herevnto As 1 Of our vnion with God As the meate is made one substance with vs so we after an vnspeakeable manner are made one with God 2 Of our liberty in Christ that all is ours and that we may safely and freely partake thereof 3 Of our miserable condition for were wee not sinfull we need not eate nor finde such loathsomnesse or want of content thereby 4 Of our estate in glory where this Manna shall cease 3 Of sobriety and such examples 4 Gods speciall prouidence and bounty in making a dead creature meanes to preserue life Ioel. 2.26 Haggai 1.6 5 Contentation in our estate with praier for other that haue fulnesse or want 1 Tim. 6. 6 Death how that we shall be wormes meate 7 Of the heauenly food Ioh. 4. 8 Misery of the poore which want in our fulnesse 9 Of our life by faith because both these vnlikely doe nourish and we weake vnthankfull riotous are nourished 10 Change of things and states but within our bounds Iob. 1. 11 The punishment of sin the case of Diues c. Luk. 16. For the bed let these bee the rules of holy mirth 1 Wee must conferre of the graue Act. 7. 2 Of the occasions passed in the day Cant. 3.1 3 Of the security of the Church 2. Cant. 4 And watchfulnesse in the night 3. Cant. 5 Of the ignorance of the land And 6 The continuall night in hell 7 Of the Resurrection 8 Of worldly occasions so farre as to humble vs. 9 In our comforts of our sweete fellowship with Christ. 10 Generally not to prouoke but to mortifie the flesh Gal. 5.13 Here is to be auoided generally 1 All offence to the weake 2 All occasion to the wicked As in First Iesting which is a quipping of some to delight others wherein a man had rather loose his friend then his iest offend God rather then not please man This is vtterly vnlawfull vnlesse 1 The matter be indifferent 2 The measure modest 3 The season conuenient 4 Offence remoued 5 Our selues and others benefited 6 We thereby when other reproofes will not preuaile in an holy maner do deride and scorne sinners 1. Reg. 19. Eccles. 11. giuing them vp to their own councels Secondly laughter which though in it selfe it be not simply vnlawfull yet it is moderately to be be vsed and seldome but sorrow more often and more plentifully Eccles. 7.4.5 The sixth grace of speech is Care of our neighbours good name Pro. 22. This is performed as before and farther 1 By being not suspicious in vnlikely or vncertaine occasions Ier. 40. 2 By priuate reprouing him 4 Publiquely answering for him if he be slandered Here is to be auoided 1 Secret whispering abrode of what we suspect or know behind his backe Psal. 50.20 2 Adding to or changing the thing said or done Mat. 26.60.61 3 Open traducing and reuiling to his face 2. Sam. 16. 4 Telling that was neuer done Ier. 37.13 5 Colouring their reports with pretences of griefe or necessity or publicke profit inioyning secresie by the party to whom hee telles it c. 6 Rash censuring before euident knowledge Therefore here we are 1 To interrupt such talke 2 To giue no heed to it 3 Not to beleeue it 4 To reproue it The seuenth and last grace of speech is Slownesse and Briefenesse Slownesse is seene either in First prouoking or Secondly answering Herein obserue 1 That it is better to bee prouoked to speech then prouoke especially if wee bee inferiour 2 Not to take a Tale out of ones mouth but to heare it throughly 3 To consider whether it be to be answered or no. 4 To ponder on it before wee answere what answere is to bee made thereto 5 To answere to the poynts omitting partiall respects 6 To
righteousnesse and so holding meerely of mercy Let him measure Gods mercy not by time present but eternity And so let him forget all present measure in comparison of what is to come that so hee may bee partaker of Gods euerlasting mercies Yea let him freely loue God as God freely loues him not as an hireling for his wages but as a sonne in obedience not for what God will giue but what he hath commanded that so he may rightly intitle himselfe into the mercies of his God when hee preferres his glory euen aboue his own good 3 Comforting himselfe that he can bee no looser where the Lord gaines glory Sixeteenthly our God is bountifull 1 Because he createth and gouerneth all things Psal. 95. 2 He is the onely fountaine of all good things Zach. 13.1 3 Euen which befall to all Creatures 4 Yea to his enemies Math. 5. 5 And that of his owne meere loue goodnes and free mercy to the creature 6 But especially to mankind 7 And among them especially to his Church 8 And herein to Angels and the Elect principally 9 Yea euen in his anger he is exceeding good as ayming onely thereby at the defect and corruption of the creature to amend purge it still louing the substance and nature it selfe 10 And though he inflict many euils vpon the creature yet doth he withall sustain it in those euils and bestoweth many excellent blessings vpon it to inuite to repentance and if it do repent remoueth the euils and perfiteth the good And therefore 1 This reproueth the prophane person that despiseth the bounty of God by continuing in sinne and also 2 The proud person that challengeth this bounty as due vnto him 3 And is not the weake Christian here taxed that doubts of and distrusteth this bounty of the Lord especially in afflictions 4 And this condemneth the wicked that measure Gods fauor by prosperitie And therefore coÌ„demne the generation of the iust because of their afflictions as if God had forsaken them Psal. 71.11 Psal. 7.3 5 And also they are here iustly reproued that complain of Gods bounty and condemne him of cruelty as if he delighted in their destruction and made a sport at their torments laying the falt on God that they are iustly condemned seeing themselues are the choosers and executioners thereof 2 This instructeth to obserue the bountie of God wisely in all his workes as not to neglect it in the least seeing the least may be an hand to lead vs to greater therefore we must often meditate on our creation preseruation and so especially to take notice of the works of his speciall prouidence in the Church and so to confirme our faith thereby as that wee rest not so much vpon what is performed neither measure the fauour of God by any present or particular action but rather looke forward yea a farre of into that which is promised laboring if by any means we may attaine the resurrection of the dead Pil. 3.13 2. Pet. 1.8 Psal. 119. 3 Hereby we are comforted 4 That as all this bountie properly belongs to vs so wee must liue by faith in the discerning and enioying of the same preparing our selues thereto by emptying our hearts of al sâ—â—â—fe-loue and coÌ„ceite of our owne righteousnes and assuring our selues then to haue the greatest measure when we haue haue most need when the world seekes most to strippe vs thereof Seuenthly our God is most Free 1 Because his nature is free from all 1. misery 2. bond 3. subiection 4. constraint 2 He doth will and execute all things most freely and iustly when as much and in what manner he will 3 Neither can hee bee constrained by any law of others nay his Will is the Rule euen of his owne Law And therefore 1 Though second causes worke necessarily yet 1 Because this necessity is not absolute but conditionall according to the good pleasure of God therefore are they freely ordered from him though necessarily they worke in themselues 2 And though our God himselfe be necessarily good yet is this necessity not of constraint our mindes we delight in the law of God yet in the law of our members we are still led captiue vnto sinne yet so as that wee daily discerne the weakning of this body of sinne and hunger daily the putting off therof comforting our selues that our head Christ Iesus is ascended vp on high and shall in due time drawe vs vp after him that we may enioy perfect liberty in his glorious kingdome Lastly our God is a Iealous God hating sinne being angry against it and in his Iustice will certainly punish the same both with temporall and eternall plagues And therefore 1 Though the wicked cannot discerne hereof 1 Because they neither can nor indeed desire to know sin 2 Neither are acquainted with that price of the bloud of the son of God yet both doe they for the present partake thereof in that they are Iustly giuen vp to a reprobate sence and to their owne lasts to commit sinne with greedinesse that so they may be prepared thereto and are not without some present pangues of conscience and outward plagues concerning their estate and shall when sin is ripe drinke the full vials of Gods indignation by the worme of conscience and those endlesse torments that are prepared for them in hell 2 Labour we therefore to discerne the power of this wrath Psalm 9.10 euen in the death of Christ that so wee may hide our selues therein to auoyd the same 3 And neglect we not the least checks of conscience within or outward stroakes vpon our selues or others that so we may auoyde the entrance thereof 4 Assuring our selues that seeing the anger of th' Almighty is spent vpon his Sonne therefore the waight thereof shall not lie vpon vs. 5 And therefore comforting our selues that though our God may seeme to be angry with vs if we measure him by such outward meanes as are common to the wicked yet doth he in anger remember mercy because mercy pleaseth him yea his tokens of anger are meanes to preuent the same and so proue occasions to prepare vs to his mercy to make vs capable thereof 6 Yea he doth not in any thing more reueale his loue vnto vs then by these corrections which vnto the wicked are messengers of hell because when we are iudged we are chastened of the Lord that we may not bee condemned with this wolrd 1. Cor. 11.31.32 CHAP. IIII. Of the knowledge of God in Vnitie THus is Iehoua knowne by his Attributes and hence ariseth this necessary conclusion That there is but one God As appeareth not onely by Testimonies of the word Deut. 6.4 32.39 Isai. 44.6 1 Cor. 8.4 Ephes. 4.5 1 Tim. 2.5 Deut 4.31 Psal. 8.31 Isay 37.16 45.21 Hos. 13.4 Malach 2.10 Mark 12.32 Rom 3.30 Gal. 3.20 But also by such euidences as none else can performe 1 As beeing reuealed in the word to worke miracles to foretell things to come which
the most vnlikely contemptible meanes for our good seeing the Lord made vs of such 3 Neither to seeke after great matters in the world seeing our originall was so meane 4 Neither to set vp our hearts in this life but rather to prepare to death seeing to the earth we must 5 Comforting our selues that our misery in this life is not eternall seeing we are of the earth 6 And seeing this corruption must put on incorruption therefore learne we to follow hard after the marke if by any meanes we may attaine to the resurrection of the dead looking by faith a farre off for the changing of these vile bodies And comforting our selues in our better part that the soule is immortall and therefore labouring to haue our conuersation in heauen and to be made meete for that glorious inheritance Thirdly that man was made a liuing soule immediatly breathed from the Lord eternally to liue with him This teacheth 1 That the soule is immediatly subiect vnto God ought onely to bee bound by him principally must depend on his blessed will 2 That it must be exercised in heauenly things agreeable to the nature and end thereof 3 That it is subiect to eternall punishment for sinne and therefore ought to saue it selfe from that fearefull vengeance Matth. 3. 4 That eternall hapinesse is due thereto for wel-doing and therefore should not faint nor be weary thereof 5 That as the creation is immediate from God though the body be from man so also is the Recreation and Renuing of the soule immediatly from his meere mercy in Christ without any help or concurrence from man 6 And therefore we are not to rest in any naturall faculties of the soule as if they were sufficient to saluation or could further thereto but rather discerne wee wisely That the wisedome of the flesh is enmity against God 7 And so let vs deny our selues that we may be found in Christ not hauing our owne righteousnesse Phil. 3.8.9 Yet so 8 As that seeing we haue free-will in naturall and morall actions concerning the outward act though not for the truth or manner or end of well-doing therefore do we what is ours in entertaining the meanes of saluation As come wee to the word and though we cannot discerne it naturally neither propose the right end therein least if wee forsake God in not doing so farre as wee may he may iustly forsake vs in denying a blessing to the means that so our condemnation may be iust and inexcusable 9 That the soule was breathed into the nostrels not into the eares or mouth or eyes this argueth the imbecillity and frailty of our life as if it depended on our nostrels Esay 2 22. Thus of the matter Fourthly consider we the manner of our creation and therein the Excellencie and ends thereof For the manner we were created in Gods Image not that either wee were made of the Essence of God or that God must bee like to vs hauing humane shape although if we respect the second person in Trinity it might wel be that as he was to take flesh in the fulnesse of time so euen at the present when man was made hee assumed extraordinarily an human forme and so also after that forme and Archetype made man But we were created after the Image of God in holinesse and righteousnesse that is The soule being breathed into the body from the Lord was indued with diuine and heauenly qualities As 1 Immortality 2 Excellent light of reason and vnderstanding acknowledging God and his will discerning the nature and essence of things 3 True righteousnesse of the minde and heart and all the faculties thereof in which was inflamed true loue and feare and confidence in God 4 Most absolute consent of the will obeying the iudgement of right and reason from compulsion bondage and misery 5 Excellent strength and vigor of body free from all infirmitie diseases troubles death And 6 Admirable glory and maiesty 7 Destinated to eternall life in heauen 8 Which should haue propagated an immortall kinde according to the Image of God 9 Yet all this mutably 1 That so if Man had ouercome the Tempter his glory had beene the greater 2 That way might bee made hereby to the reuelation of the eternall mercy of God to his elect in Iesus Christ as also of his Iustice in the condemnation of the wicked for the refusall of the Messiah and in him of their saluation And hence ariseth the excellency of Man 1 By the consideration of his creation especially that in respect of the mutability thereof hee was to be interessed in the Messiah so to be restored preserued by him vnto saluation Hence also arise the ends of mans creation 1 To aduance the goodnesse and bounty of the Lord in ordaining saluation for him by his sonne 2 That the Lord hereby might haue the onely glory of all his mercies 3 That Man might haue the dominion ouer all the Creatures 4 That also he might bee as it were a sweet Companion with the Lord in eternall glory and happinesse And 5 That hee might bee made meete hereunto by the knowledge of his Creator and Redeemer Ioh. 17. And by spirituall and bodily worship according to his knowledge 1. Cor. 6. Whence we may learne 1 To admire and conceiue worthily of this loue of God in making vs thus like vnto himselfe and so to expresse our loue vnto him in striuing to bee like vnto him 1. Ioh. 4. 2 To magnifie his admirable wisedome in making our estate such as in regard of our free-will to be subiect to change and so to rest content with the will of God in things more contrary to nature and vnlikely for our God seeing the Lord out of this mutable estate raised so much good euen to aduance his holy sonne Iesus and in him to renue and establish our formerly mutable condition 3 And seeing the Lord did ordaine this condition to be therefore mutable that so man being left to himselfe might bee the chooser and author of his owne fall therefore learne we to iustifie God and to condemne our selues that so we may not be iudged of the Lord. Lastly seeing the Lord as hee ordained the fall of man mutable so hee ordained a Redeemer before the fall to recouer the same Therefore let this comfort vs in all our troubles whether vpon vs or expected that vndoubtedly we may expect a good issue therein seeing we were first apointed to glory so to deliuerance from thē and so appoynted to afflictions to make vs sit for glory And we are here taught to loue the person of man as bearing Gods Image though we may hate the sinne Thus of the Creation CHAP. IX Of the fall of Man WHerein man continued not as being left to himselfe and so fell away from God in obeying the suggestion of the Serpent and so fell away from his former estate of Innocencie and happinesse through disobedience of the Commandement plunged himselfe and
committed 3 How wee haue sinned of Ignorance Psa. 73.22 4 How of Knowledge wee haue transgressed 2. Sam. 24. Luk. 12.48 Especially and more particularly we must confesse 1 The sinnes we haue beene subiect vnto Psa. 51.14 2 Those which for the present we grone vnder 3 Those which wee feare most Psalm 19.13 4 The sinnes of our Fathers Nehem 9. 5 The sinnes of the Land and state where wee liue Dan. 9. 6 Those which accompany wel-doing Math. 8. 7 Yea such as in particular we know not wee are notwithstanding to yeeld vp to bee searched by the Lord and by his mercie either to be brought to our remembrance or to be graciously passed ouer Psa. 19.12 Fourthly wee must proceede to iudgement against sinne And that 1 Remembring and producing the law that conuinceth our sin Esr. 9.11.12 2 Pleading guilty therto Esr. 9.10 3 By abhorring of our selues Iob. 42 4 Stripping our selues of all comforts 5 Imposing volunatry afflictions vpon our selues Ioel. 2. 6 Acknowledging our selues worthy to be cut off Eze. 20. 7 Yeelding to temporal chasticements 2. Sam. 16. 8 Iustifying Gods iustice in his former chasticements vpon our fathers for sin Esr. 9.7 9 Feeling our sinne a burthen which we are not able to beare Act. 12.37 Psa. 38.4 Hereupon Fiftly By faith we flye unto Christ. 1 Hungring after the least drop of mercy 2 Preferring it before all earthly comforts 3 Begging it boldly and constantly 4 Waiting patiently till the Lord answere 5 Meditating on Gods former mercies Esr. 9.8 6 In Christ we gaine strength to forsake sin And that 1 In heart wee throughly purpose neuer to commit the like againe Esr. 10.3 2 To this end we are Fearfull of the occasions and wisely decline from them 3 We bend our strength especially against our beloued sin 4 We complaine of our Inability and labour to be strengthned by the Word Conference c. 5 Hereupon we finde our loue encreased to all Gods Commaâ—â—â—â—â—â—dements and so more conscionably intend the performance of â—â—â—hem 6 Especially wee endeauour to bee found in CHRIST and to feele the power of his death and resurrection in the subduing of sinne and so exercise our meditations more often and seriously thereon 7 And so wee endeuour that the life of Christ may appeare in our mortall bodies and that not wee but Christ may liue wholly in vs Galat. 2.19 c. 8 To this end labour wee the practise of some one speciall vertue to which we find our selues most auerse and which we see that we haue especiall need of 9 And so by Gods mercy we attaine such conquest ouer our most grieuous tentations and former euils as hatred of the word and the Saints c. as that wee neuer fall into them againe 10 And though wee finde aptnesse to fall into some former sinnes yet wee earnestly striue against them and grone vnder the burthen of our corruptions 11 And so do hunger and sigh for our dissolution Rom. 7. 12 Submitting our selues to the power of the word to haue corruption discouered and purged out 13 Auoiding all occasions that entice to sin Now that wee may the bettter performe this duty of Repentance consider wee in the third place these preparatiues and helpes thereto 1 That Repentance is the gift of God and therefore if we want it let vs aske it of him in faith Iam. 1.6 2 That by nature wee cannot repent and therefore wee had more need to renounce our selues and flye vnto God 3 That the time of repentance is this life and therfore while we may let vs set vpon it 4 The longer we deferre it the harder and more doubtfull it will proue 5 That the fittest time is immediatly after sinne committed Psal. 95.8 6 To this end meditate we on the shortnesse of life Psalm 91.12 And withall 7 Weigh wee the greatnesse of our sinne how infinite in number how dangerous and deadly to our own soules how offensiue to Gods children c. 8 And submit wee our selues willingly to such rebukes and chasticements as are laid vpon vs to the humbling of the flesh Iam. 4.9.10 Iob. 33.17.18 Leuit. 26.41 9 Yea intreat we the Lord to correct vs Psa. 61. and that the righteous may smite vs Psalm 141.5 Psa. 6.1 Hitherto serueth further 1 The due contemplation of the Maiesty of God whom we haue so highly offended Psalm 51.4 Gen. 39.9 2 The vilenesse and abiectnesse of Man that durst commit such wickednesse against God 3 How fearefull by reason of sinne our condition is vnder Sathan 4 The dangers we haue incurred hereby euen all the plagues that are written in Gods Booke Deut. 29.27 5 The riches of Gods mercy in prouiding so excellent a remedy against sin as the pretious blood of his onely and deerely beloued sonne when nothing else in the world was available thereunto 1. Pet. 1.12 6 The effectualnesse of this Sacrifice daily preuenting sinne and furthering yea sanctifying our repentance and leading to perfection 1. Ioh. 1.7 Eph. 5.22.23 7 The excellency of our estate in Iesus Christ with the manifold benefites and priuiledges thereof and so meditate we on his Death Resurrection Ascention c. 8 Consider wee the end of our Creation Redemption Iustification c. All which doe call for repentance 9 And on the other side impartially discerne wee our Vnthankfulnesse against the blood of the Couenant in not walking worthy of the same Ephes. 4.1 yea in as much as lieth in vs. 10 Making the same of none effect vnto vs. Heb. 10. 11 Adde we hereunto How we haue grieued the spirit of God Ephes 4.30 1 And dulled if not quenched the graces of God in vs 1. Thess. 5.19 13 Consider what dishonour we haue done vnto our God all this while that we haue liued in sinne 14 And wonder at the patience of the Almighty that hath spared so long such notorious rebels Lament 3.23 Rom. 2.4 15 Consider wee the small number of those that shall bee saued And 16 That many shall striue to enter in and shall not be able Luk. 13.23 17 Treasure we vp the Word in our hearts which daily prouokes to repentance Matth. 3. 18 And meditate wee on Gods Iudgements inflicted on the world for sinne Psal. 119. 19 Consider we how hardly euen the righteous shall bee saued 1. Pet. 4.13.14 20 Sort wee with the Godly that so wee may learne their waies 21 Enter wee into the house of Mourning and this will bring sin to remembrance 22 And thinke wee often of our ends and of the day of iudgement so shall sinne haue little rest with vs. And that wee bee not deceiued in the iudgement of Repentance obserue wee wisely these Markes and true Tokens thereof 1 Care not to sinne againe 2. Cor. 7.11 Luk. 9. 2 Clearing and approuing of our selues to the Church of God 3 In the euidence of the pardon of our sinne being able to make our defence against sin and Satan 2. Cor. 7. And so 4
c. And that because 1 Vnto whō much is giuen much shall be required Luke 12.48 2 Herebe hee is the better enabled thereto And this 1 Condemneth such as thinke their state and play doth exempt them from a ciuil calling or from the burthen thereof As Gentl. c. 2 Hereby we may trie whether our callings are sanctified 3 As also we are comforted that god requires no more thē he giues Eightly Learne we That though we faile in the best rule 8 yet we must not fail to do our best in our callings And that 1 By this faithfulnesse we may witnesse that our callings are sanctified vnto vs in our obedience to God in them 2 That they may be meanes of our enioying of heauen 1. Ti. 6.19 3 To try and so condemne the vncharitablenes of the world 4 That we may be also possessors of greater glory in the heauens Mat. 25.26 c. And this serueth 1 To condem al time-seruing customarines in our callings Eph. 6.5 6. 2 To instruct the poore not to neglect their callings altogether because they will not maintaine them fully As also 3 To trie them whether they wil depend vpō Gods prouidence by vsing lawfull meanes 4 Wee are prouoked to striue with the best for the best gaine in these things to seeke after heauen And this is done By walking in our callings by faith not by sence that so both our persons and actions may bee approued And this is knowne 1 Beeing warranted from the word in what wee do or intend 2. Pet. 1. 2 Our consciences conuinced from the word to the same and also 3 Witnessing with vs in what we do And that 1 With chearefulnesse not making hast to be rich but casting our care vpon God and committing the successe to him 1. Pet. 5. Eccl. 9.9 2 With diligence redeeming the time and entertaining the means of Gods prouidence and not being wilfully guilty of the neglect thereof Eph. 3.16.17 3 In wisedome 1. keeping our selues in our callings within the compasse of our abilitie 2. Doing the most necessary dutie 3. submitting alwaies these earthly callings to the furtherance of the heauenly 4. and expressing our spiritual calling euen in the vse of this and 5. so auoyding negligence that wee bee not intangled with couetousnesse 4 In loue and meeknes making others partakers of the benefit of our labours 5 In patience not tying God so much to the outward blessing of our labours as contenting our selues with the testimony of our good conscience therein Hebrews 13 18. 6 With conscience doing that 2 If we be not supplyed we are to yeeld to necessitie and either 3 To submit our selues to handy labour or if we cannot therto depend vppon the prouidence of God and so to submit our selues to the reliefe of the Church Thirdly we must resigne vp our callings And that 1 When God cals by death 2 When other meanes warranted by the conscience guided by the word do require that 3 With testimonie of a good conscience 1. Sam. 12.3 4 By giuing vp our account for them vnto the great iudge Heb. 13. Thus are wee to performe our calllings The benefit whereof is exceeding great for 1 Hereby we shall be sure to be fed Psal. 37. Psal. 33.19 2 We shall eate our bread with power and much contentment 3 We shall haue to comfort and releiue others 4 We please our glorious God and performe a speciall seruice to him 4 We shall bee better fitted to our generall callings 5 We shall lay vp a good foundation for heauen 1. Tim. 6.19 6 We shall exercise herin many spirituall graces 1. Cor. 7. as patience faithfulnesse c. 7 Hereby we shal perceiue Gods power and holines euen in these base and meane things and bee prouoked to seeke him in greater blessings Mat. 6. 8 We shall bee humbled and so prouoked to hunger after our dissolution And thus farre concerning our behauiour in our callings The triall of conscionable performance of our callings Is 1 If our conscience witnesse with vs that not so much for this life as to please our blessed God and further vs to heauen we haue trauelled therein 2 That of all ploughs the spirituall thriues best 3 Our negligence in the ciuill calling bewrayes some flaw in the generall 4 That our walking in the ciuil calling shall end in a fitting and furthering vs in our Christian calling yeelding some particular matter and occasion to more profitable exercise therein CHAP. V. Of the right vse of the Creatures THe next main incident to the day is the vse of the creatures And these are of two sorts 1 Such as serue for the necessary preseruation of life as foode apparell 2 Such as serue especially for the better being of the soule as company Concernig food and sustenance obserue these rules 1 That euery creature is good and that there is no more holines in the one then in the other 1. Tim. 4.5 2 Though each Christian hath a right to all the creatures yet is he to bee restrained in the vse of them And that by these limits 1 The bond of Religion which enioynes sometimes an intire abstinence from the creature that so wee might bee better fitted to spiritual duties 1. Tim. 5.23 1. Pet. 5.8 Ion. 3. and teacheth at all times so to vse the food of the body as that it may quicken the spirituall appetite after heauenly graces Iohn 6.27 2 The bond of Christian Pollicie may restraine vs the vse of some creatures on some dayes for the benefite of the Common-wealth to which wee ought to obey for Conscience sake Rom 13.5 3 The bond of Nature restraines vs that wee may not eate but for necessity Eccles. 10.16 Math. 12.1 4 The bond of Conscience Equity also enioynes vs that wee may not lawfully eate vnlesse we haue laboured for it 2. Thess. 3.12 5 The bond of our callings binds vs so to eate as our Christian callings may be furthered our ciuil callings will maintaine 1. Tim. 5.8 6 The bond of Charity wils vs not to eat our morsels alone but to prouide and reserue somewhat for the poore Iob. 29.31 Psalme 16 Neh. 5. auoyding herein all maner of offence 1. Cor. 8. 7 The bond of Sobriety restrains vs from faring deliciously euerie day and from far-fetcht dainties but to vse our libertie as if wee vsed it not auoyding vnnecessary prouocations of gluttony Esay 5.9.10 Luk. 16. 1. Cor. 7.23 And putting our knife to our throates in our greatest libertie feasting alwaies in feare yet with thanksgiuing Prou. 23.3 8 The bond of contentment which wisheth the seruant not to enuy at the more liberal fare of his master but each to bee content with the portion that is fit for him 1. Tim 6 6.8 Thirdly wee are to renue our right in the creature by daily sanctifying them vnto vs by the word and prayer 1. Tim. 5.1 Sam. 9.13 And that 1 By acknowledging our selues
to the vtmost Luke 17.10 And for our better direction herein learne we 1 First that the fittest time for performance hereof is after the euening prayer Secondly For the manner hereof begin we 1 From the cogitations of the first awaking from sleepe 2 So proceede we to consider of our morning actions how wee haue conferred with our God in priuat how sanctified our families 3 Meditate wee on Gods patience in sparing vs hitherto 4 How wee haue bene humbled in the sence of our own others sinnes 5 Especially how we haue bene employed in the sence of Gods graces 27 If thou shalt find the testimony of a good conscience peace so reioyce and praise thy God If thou findest thy failings so bee humbled and cast thy selfe vppon Iesus Christ in prayer 28 Recounting vnto God as neare as thou mayest thy particular slips and so acknowledging thy self an vnprofitable seruant seeke thy peace in the merits of thy Sauiour and so lie downe in his bosome and so thou shalt find rest for thy soule The benefite hereof is 1 We obey Gods commandment and so are kept within his protection for the night comming 2 We attaine to the certainty true mesure of our estate in grace and so thereby preuent securitie which carnall rest might cause prouoke an hungring after perfection 3 Wee are better prepared to death and so to iudgement 4 Wee gaine much encrease to the assurance of saluation and so 5 Obtain in this life a more sweet and heauenly conuersation Ph. 3.20 And by these rules wee may try whether wee haue performed this dutie conscionably or no. 1 If this casting vp of our account hath cast vs out of our selues and cast vs wholly vpon Christ. 2 And herein Christ hath sent vs home againe to our selues not to riot in sinne because the score is cleared but to weaken and diminish sinne that the new score may be lessened 3 And therefore if now we shal bee more fearefull to offend our blessed God and 4 More fearefull of our selues euen when wee stand most firmelie 5 And yet can take faster hold on Christ when wee fall that so we may rise againe and yet 6 If our rising shall bee more constant and our falles more seldome And 7 If wee shall bee more carefull to cleere the score with others by seeking peace and maintaining the fellowship And also 8 Shall further helpe others to wipe off the score both by example and councell prouoking to repentance 9 And still from looking abroade shall returne home againe beeing humbled not so much because we can do no man good as when we haue done our best 10 And yet being comforted that our labour shall not be in vaine in the Lord and therefore 11 Shall not measure our payment by what is present but rather by that which is promised 12 And so shall liue by faith in the expectation thereof 13 And so shall follow hard after the marke for the high price of our Calling in IESVS CHRIST 14 Waiting with patience the accomplishment of the promise And 15 Suffering afflictions as the good Souldiers of Iesus Christ that our patience may be perfited and our faith tried 16 And so patience shall bring forth the perfect worke still to humble vs that we may bee fitted for glory 17 And our humility shall bee throughly tryed by our perseuerance in well-doing in our obedience to our blessed GOD and thankfulnesse to his Maiesty 18 As considering that doe wee what wee can it can neuer bee sufficient to returne thankefulnesse vnto our God for what he hath done 19 And therfore not chalenging what hee will doe for any thing what we haue or can do 20 But rather accounting our selues when wee haue done our best to bee but vnprofitable seruants Luk. 17.10 21 And so esteeming our selues rather much more bounden vnto our God for accepting that poore and poluted seruice we haue done vnto him then that our GOD should bee bound vnto vs to recompence our finite seruice with so infinite a reward Rom. 8. And yet 22 Still liuing by Faith in the apprehension of the promise And so 23 Giuing glory vnto our God in beleeuing his Word And so 24 Preparing our selues to the enioying of those pretious promises by hauing our conuersation in heauen 25 And so looking for our Redeemer to change these our vile bodies Phil. 3.20 26 And so cleering the eye of our Faith by casting away euery thing that may obscure or presse downe that wee may more sensibly discerne the brightnesse of that Glory and may runne with more ioy and patience the Race that is set before vs. Hebr. 12.1 27 Looking still vnto IESVS the Author and finisher of our faith Hebrewes 12. still returning thankefulnesse vnto him as the Author and hoping in him as the finisher of his owne worke And so 28 Still resting vpon his Word for our daily direction and encouragement therein And 29 Maintaining the fellowship by encouraging each other in publique duties 30 And yet still labouring especially to preuaile with our gracious GOD in priuate dueties of Prayer Meditation c. Sanctifying and trying the publique by these priuate 31 And yet sanctifying both by labouring to bee found in Christ. And 32 Still seeking Christ in the things which are aboue Coloss. 3. 33 And yet still labouring to haue our life hid with CHRIST in GOD more resting on the acceptance of our persons and endeuours of the hidden man in the heart And yet 34 Still liuing by Faith in the Sonne of GOD aboue all present feeling that neither present sence of ioy may puffe vp and so coole and interrupt the current of our faith nor absence of present comfort may quench in vs zeale of obedience And yet 35 Still quenching all strange fire and carnall mattter which may neither accompany our obedience or kindle the same by bounding our selues within our Callings and CHRISTIAN liberty and aiming at the right end the glory of our GOD and our owne saluation subordinate thereto that so possessing our soules in sobriety and meekenesse wee may both auoyd vnnecessary troubles and better wade through such as necessarily will oppose vs. 36 And being hereby enabled to be more fruitfull in doing and receiuing good 37 Hereby wee shall make sure our Election with more comfort 38 And so bee more ready to giue vp our general account CHAP. XIIII Containing a Conclusion of the present and promise of future light AND thus shall wee make Triall of our daily Reckonâ—â—â—ngs and so performing conscionably this Daily Sacrifice wee shall approue our selues right NATHANAELS and true Israelites And so by the mercie of God walking after this Rule growe in grace and abound in euery good worke perseuering with all patience through the mightie power of GOD that so hee may perfect the worke which hee hath begun in vs. To this end seeing according to our necessitie the Lord hath supplyed vs with many gracious helpes and furtherances to informe