2. Carefull prouision for their soules bodies praying with their families dayly Ps. 127. 1. 2. 1 Tim. 4. 4. 5. Ier. 10. 25. 3. Paying their wages duely with the better Iob. 31 38. 39. 11. Seruants dueties 1. Faithfulnes for their maisters profit with al wisdom as Iacob Eliezer Ioseph 2. Subiection in seruice abiding correction as the Angell bids Hagar Gen. 16. 8. 9. 12. Schoolemasters duties 1. Practising painfully constantly most profitable courses Rom. 12. 7. for the speedier furnishing their schollars 1. Cor. 12. 31 14. 12. with the best learning manners to the greatest good of the 1. Schollers 2. Church 3. Countrie 2. Drawing them on to loue and honest emulation Eph. 6. 4. with rewards Col. 3. 21. vsing moderate correction abhorring crueltie Pro. 12. 10. 3. Indeuouring especially to bee a patterne to them of all vertue Psal. 101. 2 ◠Tim. 4. 12. as being alwaies in their eyes so to procure more true reuerence to themselues blessing to their schollers 13. Schollers duties 1. Strife to excell their fellowes in 1. Learning 1. Cor. 12. 31. 14. 12. 2. Manners 3. Obedience Phil. 4. 8. 9. 4. Loue to their master 6 Commandement Thou shalt not kill commanding by all meanes to preserue life of body Soule Here we are to examine how we indeauour to performe all these duties with more conscience 1. Which may preserue or make this present life more comfortable 1. Procuring and vsing al helpes therunto as holesome diet and clothing 1. Tim. 5. 23. 2. Holy mirth reioycing in al our labours and at all times in the Lord. Pro. 14. 30. 15. 15. 17. 22. And this by keeping alway a good conscience which is a continuall feast Phil. 4. 4. for the ioy of the Lord is our strength causing good health 2. Co. 1. 12. Neh. 8. 10. Eccl. 3. 12. 13. and a principal part of our portion in this life Rom. 14. 17. and of the begining of the kingdome of heauen Rom. 13. 4. Pro. 22. 3. 3. Seeking all holy meanes of refuge against all violence and danger as our Sauiour especially flying to the Christian Magistrate as to Gods lieutenant 4. Helpe of the Phisitian and surgeon Mat. 9. 12. 5. Exercise 1. Tim. 5. 23. 2. Auoyding as warily all things hurtfull and perillous as 1. All contagious diseases Pro. 22. 3 2. All euill purposes of offering violence to our selues or naughtie wishes vpon discontentment 1. Pet. 5. 8. 9 and therein flying all prouocations Iam. 4. 7. furtherances and occasions thereof Gen. 3. especiall solitarinesse or reasoning with the temptation or any way harkening thereunto 3. Rash aduentures without a warrantable calling Mat. 4. 6 7. 4. Worldly grief Pr. 17. 22. which dryeth vp the bones and causeth death 2. Cor. 7. 10 5. Anger and enuy which are the rotting of the bones Pr. 14. 30. 6. Surfetting intemperance and excesse which kill more then the sword Pro. 23. 29. 30. being causes of innumerable diseases and griefes 7. Prouoking others to the hurt of our selues as Iosiah did to the king of Egypt 2. Chr. 35. ◠20. 21 22 23 24. 2. Concerning the life and comfort of our neighbour 1. Earnestly seeking peace with all men so farre as is possible as Abraham and Dauid And to this end labouring to attaine to these vertues which are most auaileable to gaine loue euen from our very enemies do much adorne Christianitie 1. Curtesie without dissimulation as Abraham to the Hithits 2. Meekenesse in suffering forgiuing and forgeting wrongs leauing vengance to God Rom. 12. 19. Eph. 4. 32. 3. Labouring to ouercome enemies by kindnesse Rom. 12. 20 21. seeking occasions to gratifie thē at least praying for thē that they may obtaine mercye and haue their hearts changed 4. Dealing iustly with all that we may weare their reproach as a crown as Iob. Samuel Iob. 29 31. 5. Abounding in compassion and good workes as our Sauiour 6. Aduenturing boldly for their defence and deliuerance and much more for the Church of GOD and our country as Abraham for Lot Dauid for Israel 7. Offering seeking reconciliatiō where it may stand with the credit of the Gospell the saluation of the party and others Mat. 5. 23. 24. 2. Auoyding as carefully all occasions of the contrary as 1. In heart Vnaduised anger Eph. 4. 27. whereby wee first giue place to the Deuill to enter into our hearts 2 Malice or hatred 1. Ioh. 3. 12 which is murther before God especially Cains hatred for the good things we see in men although we pretend other causes of our hatred This is the ordinary sin of the world Mat. 10. 22. Ioh. 15. 19. 1. In wordes 1. Bralling and rayling as Shemey and Rabsakey 2. Crying out against others or reuiling vncharitably Eph. 4. 31. 3. Threatning or skoffing at thē Esay 58. 9. 2. In deeds 1. Fighting blowes maymes danger Leuit. 24. 19. 2◠2. Crueltie 1. Punishing vnmercifully Deut. 25. 3. 2. Oppressing the poore to make them wearie of their liues Iere. 22. 17. Tit. 14. 2. Titus 3.2 3. Denying helpe or reliefe as the priest and Leuite Luke 10. 31. 32. 4. Betraying other as Iudas 3. Sheading innocent bloud Gen. 4. 8. which defileth the land and cryeth for vengeance Num. 35 33. By 1. A weapon as Ioab slew Abner 2. Sam. 2. Poyson inchantment destroying the conception or any secret practise Num. 35. 31. 3. Consent as Saul to Stephens death 1. King 2. 31. 4. Sauing the wilfull murtherer 2. Concerning our soules or spirituall life wee are to examine how we increase in care 1. For the sauing our owne soules by 1. Walking more warily in this narrow way of life Pro. 16. 17. 2. Auoyding all those things which tend to the destroying of our soules that so much more carefully as the soule is more excellent then the bodie eternal life then this and eternal death more fearefull as 1. To liue in any one knowne sin Rom. 6. 23. for the wages of the least is death eternall Gal. 3. 12. will certainly destroy the soule Psa. 34. 12. 13 14. if it be liued in with delight Pro. 11. 19. Ezek. 18. 11. Iam. 2. 10. Mat. 5. 19. 1. Iohn 3. 8. 2. To neglect any meanes ordayned to saluation Heb. 2. 3. as hearing the word preached ordinarily c. whereby men become dead Apoc. 3. 1. hauing a name to liue or at least loose their ioy or feeling Psa. 51. 10. 11. 12. 2. Concerning the saluation of others 1. Taking euery occasion which the Lord offereth for procuring or furthering the saluation of others 1. Cor. 10. 33. and so pleasing all in that which is good to edifie Pro. 11. 30. because he that winneth soules is wise Dan. 12. 3. and shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament for euermore Iam. 4. 17. but hee that
mens bare wordes or actions without their intent and meaning wresting or any way peruerting them as the false witnesses against our Sauiour Iewes against Stephen 9. Bearing false witnesse or accusing falsely as Haman against the Iewes Amazia against Amos as also the accusations Amo 7. 10 against our Sauiour Ieremie Paul 10. Lying which is very falshood in word or deede with purpose to deceiue This is a principall sinne of Sathan Ioh. 8. 44. who was a lier from the beginning and the father thereof 11. Vniust or rash arbitrement or giuing iudgement as the Elders against Naboth 12. Malicious accusations not of any conscience to God or for amendment of the partie or good of others but of spite as Doeg 13. Betraying others or their cause craftily vnder pretence of friendshippe or otherwise as the Herodians intended and Iudas delt with our Sauiour 14. Bewraying the secret or infirmitie of our neighbour to his discredit which wee might well haue concealed Mat. 18. 15. 15. Lightly beleeuing flying tales or suspitions Psa. 15. 3. against our brother as Saul against Dauid and the Priestes much more spreading them or adding to them 16. Flattering as Corah and his company did the people and as Absolon or the false Prophets crying peace which is to lay nets for men and to be huntsmen for Sathan 10. Com. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house wherein the Lord requires our very hearts to be vpright towards our neighbour Here we must examine our hearts how we grow 1. In intertaining only holy thoughts purposes and affections for the good of all men 1. Th. 5. 23 2. In suppressing euill thoughts and motions Zach. 7. 10. that we may neuer giue any consent Rō 7. 7. 20 23. 24. nor take the least delight in thē but labour to the vtter burying of all concupiscence vntill we be perfect in the heauens The glasse of the Gospell or the examination of our faith according to the Articles of faith which containe the summe of the Gospell Rules 1. THe measure of our faith is according to the measure of the power therof in comfort and sanctification 1. Cor. 4. 20 issuing from euery article 2. Tim. 3. 5. except in the time of temptation 2. Cor. 1. 22 2. All the benefits contayned in the articles of faith 2. Cor. 1. 20 are ours in through Christ onely when he is ours 3. Let vs proue our selues therefore whether we are in the faith let vs examine our selues 2. Cor. 1 3. 5 knowe wee not our owne selues how that Iesus Christ is in vs except we be reprobates 4. And if Christ be in vs Rom. ◠10. the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake 5. For the Kingdome of God is not in word but in power 1. Cor. 4. 20 6. We must therefore shew our faith out of our workes for as the bodye without the spirit is dead euen so faith without works is dead I am 2. 18. 20. 26. 1. Article I beleeue in God 1. This is my faith that though by nature thorough Adam I the whole Church are Apostates from God Eph. 2. 13. and enemies to him his law yet by grace thorough the secōd Adam Iesus Christ God is our God and we his people reconciled vnto him Heb. 8. 3. to serue him in newnesse of life all our dayes Luk. 1. 74 75. 2. This is my comfort hereof that God is my God and hath sealed mee for himselfe Ioh. 20. 28. 29. and therefore I am most blessed being in such a case Psal. 144. 15. 3. This giues mee further assurance that this my faith is sound because together with this comfort he hath giuē me since I beleeued in his name a heart desirous to depart from all iniquity 2. Tim. 2. 29. Father 1. This is my faith Gal. 3. 22. 26. that though I was a child of wrath yet by grace in Christ I am the child of God Ier. 4. 19. and God my louing father 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that I being thus his child shall lacke nothing because my heauenly father doth tender me much more Mal. 3. 17. then any earthly father his child Esay 46. 15. 16. 3. This is my assurance that my faith herein is sincere Mal. 1. 6. because together with this comfort Mat. 12. 50. I feele my selfe affectioned to reuerence Gal. 4. 5. 6. loue and obey him as my most deare father and am inabled by his spirit to runne to him with boldnesse in al my wants crying Abba oh my father Rom. 8. 15. Almighty This is my faith that though I be weake and vnable to resist my enimies bodilie or spirituall no way able to helpe or prouide for my selfe yet my heauenly father is of all maiesty and power Mat. 8. 2. guiding continually men Angells Psa. 23. 4. deuils and all creatures to serue for his owne glory and the good of his children 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that he doth will continually make all things worke togither for the best vnto mee Rom. 8. 28. not only the holy meanes appointed thereunto 1. Cor. 3. 20 21. 22. but also myne afflictions Acts. 4. 28. yea my greatest enimies Sinnes and Sathan himselfe vntill I be perfected in the Heauens Gen. 50. 20. 3. This also doth further assure mee that he thus works for mee because he hath first shewed the same mighty power quickning and raysing mee vp from the death of sin Eph. 1. 19. 20. which he shewed in raysing my Sauiour from the graue and secondlie for that I haue sensibly felte all things thus working togither for my saluation Maker of heauen and earth 1. This is my faith that though thorow Adam I had lost the right both of heauen and earth and of euery creature so as I could haue no comfort in the vse of thē but terror as an vsurper being cast forth off the earthly paradice Gen. 3. 24. lest as an heire of the curse yet thorough my Sauiour the second Adam Rom. 5. 17. 18. since I truely beleued in him I am restored to a farre better estate Heb. 1. 2. being made in him a right heyre of all Rom. 8. 17. neuer to be cast forth off my inheritance any more 2. This comfort I receiue hereof that heauen is mine and all the ioyes thereof Eph. 2. 6. and that I am set already in the heauēly places in Christ my head who reserues the full fruition for mee And secondly that all the creatures in heauen and in earth bee they good or bad Iob. 5. 23. are at a league with mee 1. Cor 3. 21. 22. 23. to helpe for my good so far as may stand with his glory my saluation and the good of his Church Hos. 2. 18. 3. This is also my assurance that my faith is sincere herein because that
marking the text and how they were gathered out of it 4. Proofes of the seuerall doctrines 5. Vses 6. Applying it better to our selues trying what worke euery part had in vs. 2. Conferring of the same in the same order with our families or others The benefit whereof is most euident by experience both herein and in euery trade and science for those who conferre most Mal. 3. 16. are euer most expert besides that hereby the godly do kindle zeale in one another Luk. 24. 14 and contrarily without it are made drowsie and vnprofitable hearers Mar. 4. 25. letting Sathan steale away the seede out of their hearts Mat. 13. 19. 3. Meditation vpon the creatures 1. Generally to behold the Lord in euery one of them Rom. 1. 10. that is his 1. wisdome 2. Power 3. goodnes 4. prouideÌ„ce 2. Specially by considering these things more fully in their seueral ends and vses or as the Scriptures apply them 4. Priuate reading scriprures holy bookes 5. Singing Psalmes Acts 8. 28. 17. 11. Iam. 5. 13. 6. Excercising then principally the workes of mercy visiting others by 1. Instructing 2. Exhorting 3. Admonishing 4 Reprouing 5. Comforting 6. Collecting 7. Relieuing Auoyding as warily all the breaches of the Sabath as 1. Doing any worke more then holy and necessarie whether taking iourneyes as to sayres wakes or whatsoeuer for pleasure profit Esa. 58. 13. 14. 2. All vaine delights and sports hindring godlinesse immoderate feeding or whatsoeuer may make vs heauie or vnfit for the seruice of God Rom. 12. 11. Deut. 28. 47. 3. That ordinarie good fellowship in tipling vaine talke void of edification Eph. 4 29. much more all open profanesse Col. 4. 6. The 2. Table commaunding dewties of loue to our neighbour 5. Commaundement Honor thy father and thy mother c. wherein the Lord takes order for preseruing the honour and dignitie which he hath bestowed vpon euery one Here we are to examine how wee performe these duties 1. Towards Superiors 1. Honour belonging to theÌ„ 2. Obedience belonging to theÌ„ Ro. 13. 1. 7. 1. Pe. 2. 13. 14. 3. Thankfull requiring at least in 1. Acknowledgment 1. Sam. 10. 26. 2. Hearty affection 2. SaÌ„ 21. 17 3. Prayer 1. Tim. 2. 1. 2 2. Towards Equalls 1. Reuerent estimation as of brethren or sisters RoÌ„ 12. 10. preferring them before our selues 3. Towards our selues 1. Mainteinance of our reputation according to our places Phil. 4. 8. walking vprightly in euery duty to grace our professioÌ„ For our honor is in this walking religiously towards God righteously towards men soberly in regard of our selues and so without reproofes Tit. 2. 12. 4. Towards Inferiours 1. Shining before them in a holy conuersation with all grauity according to our place Mat. 11. 29 as our Sauiour and Paul Phil. 3. 17. 2. Yeelding to them in good things as Naaman 2 Kings 5. 13 14 3. Afraid to wrong or despise the basest of them as Iob. Iob. 31. 13. 1 Magistrates speciall dueties 1. Promoting the religion of God with all their power Ezr. 7. 23. ad 27. defacing the contrary and discountenancing all vngodlinesse 2. Chr. 15. 12. 13. as Dauid Iehosaphat Hezekiah Iosia Nehemiah Nehem. 13. 17. and 22. 2. Procuring each way the good of the people committed to them as tender nursing fathers repressing the wicked Esay 49. 23. Rom. 13. 4. Being 1. Men of courage 2. Fearing God 3. Dealing truely 4. Hating couetousnesse Exo. 18. 21 5. No accepters of persons Deut. 1. 17. 2 Dueties of them that are vnder authority 1. Acknowledgement of the authority from God though the persoÌ„ should be wicked as Dauid of Saule yea an infidell as our Sauiour of Caesar. 2. Paying performing chearefully vnto them all subsidies seruices and dewe impositions Mat. 22. 21. Ro. 13. 6. 7. 3. Excelling in any guifts outward inward 1. That our hearts be not puffed vp by them Deut. 17. 20. but that wee acknowledge them to be from God and so bee more humbled by them as hauing more to be accountable for Luke 12. 48. giuing God all the glory as Iacob Gen. 32. 9. 2. That we imploy them carefully Mat. 25. 26. 27. as may be most to Gods glorie Iob. 29. 12. 13. 31. and the benefit of his people as Iob. The primitiue Church Acts 2. 44. 45. 4. 32. 4. Ministers duties 1. Waiting for a lawfull calling Heb. 5. 4. 2. Applying their guifts as may bee most to Gods honour the good of their people 2. Tim. 4. 1. 2. watching ouer euery one faithfully by teaching admonishing exhorting comforting publickly priuatly Acts 20. 20. 31. 3. Labouring to go before them in all holy ensample 1. Pet. 5. 3. in conuersation and sufferings 1. Tim. 3 4. both in themselues and familie 2. Tim. 3. 10. afraid of giuing the least offence but framing themselues to all 1. Cor. 9. 19. 20. 22. to become all to all viz. in all things in their power the more easily to win all 5. Peoples duties towards their pastor 1. Submission Heb. 13. 17 to be taught and guided by him Iohn 10. 4. 27. knowing his voyce imitating as Christs sheepe his holy doctrine and conuersation 2 Giuing him double honour Gal. 4. 14. 15. as the Galathians to Paul with all necessaries Gal. 6. 6 1 Cor. 9. 6. 7. 8. 3. Not following strangers Ioh. 10. 5. 6. Husbands duties 1. Wise gouernment as the head and Christ ouer the Church honoring the wife as the weaker vessell Gen. 3. 16. especially in couering and bearing with her infirmities as Abraham 1. Pet. 3. 7. 2. Tender loue as in Christ towards his church Eph. 5. 25. Pro. 5. 18. 19. 3. Good husbandry in prouiding wisely al necessaries for the hole house and dispensing them aright 1. Tim. 5. 8 7. Wiues speciall dueties 1. Subiection to her husband as to her head and as the church to Christ Eph. 5. 22. 24. Gen. 3. 16. 2. Loyalty or faithfull loue Pro. 5. 19. desirous to giue al holy contentment to her husband 3. Helpe for this better life Genesis 2. 18. 8. Parents duties 1. Education of their children in the feare of God Eph. 6. 4. some honest trade painfully 2. prouision for children for time present to come and so taking care by wil to leaue their houses in order 2. kin 20. 1. else they are worse then infidells 1. Tim. 5. 8. 3. Moderate correction by word Pro. â—3 14. 22. rod. 15. 23. 13. 29. 15. 9. Childrens duties 1. Reuerent and louing obedience Eph. 6. 1. Psa. 127. 4. 5. 2. Thankfull requiting By 1. Being a crowne to their pareÌ„ts by their good behauiour Prou. 17. 6. so coÌ„forting them 2. Ayding them as Ioseph 3. Carefull for their honour in life death 10. Maisters dueties 1. Dealing equally with their seruaÌ„ts as hauing themselues a maister in heauen as Iob. Eph. 6. 9. Iob. 31. 13.