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duty_n	affection_n	love_n	love_v	1,882	5	6.6827	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17410	The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.	1619 (1619)	STC 4233.5; ESTC S122202	69,705	372

It is true Religion and vndefiled to visite the fatherlesse and widowes and to be vnspotted of the world A conuersation that is vnrebukeable and full of mercy also cannot but be very honorable whereas Religion it selfe when it is seated in the brests of such Christians as haue forgotten to shew mercy and do not study how to be doing good to others is exceedingly darkened in the glory of it and many times extremely ill spoken of A true Christian should hold it a great disparagement that any Papist or carnall man in the world in equall comparison should put them downe for either the tendernesse or the aboundance of workes of mercy 1. Pet. 2. 12. Math. 15. Iam. 3. 25. 6. When wee haue cause a calling to speak for the truth or to reproue sinne it is an excellent grace to bee vndaunted free from seruile feares flatterie To giue place to wicked men in Gods cause or to feare their faces in the quarrell of Religion or to shew a minde that would repent of wel-doing or that basely would stoupe some way to honour vngodly persons for our owne ends is so farre from gaining true fauour with euill minded men that it makes them to scorne and hate vs and Religion so much the more whereas a godly man that is vnmoueable refuseth to praise the wicked or iustifie the vngodly and when hee hath cause will contend with them as Salomons phrase is and not be like a troubled fountain or a corrupt spring hee may for the time receiue ill words from the wicked but his heart is afraid of him and his conscience doth admire him Pro. 24. 25. 28. 4. 25. 26. 1. Cor. 16. 22. 7. The like aduantage is brought to the conuersatiō of a godly man when hee can shew like patience and firmenesse of minde in bearing all sorts of afflictions and crosses Patience in affliction makes a great shew before a wicked man that well knowes how vnable he is so to carrie himselfe 1. Pet. 3. 14. 8. Lastly to loue our enemies and shew it by our fruits in forgiuing them or being ready heartily to pleasure them and ouercome their euill with goodnesse To pray for them when they reuile and persecute vs is a transcendent vertue euill men themselues being Iudges Luke 6. 27. to 31. Prou. 20. 22. CHAP. XXV Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues towards godly men THus of our carriage toward the wicked how we should carry our selues toward the godly followeth to bee considered of The summe of all is that wee must walke in loue If wee can soundly discharge our duety to the godly in respect of louing them vnfaignedly heartily and constantly wee performe all that is required of vs toward them And this loue to the godly is so necessarie as that it is imposed vpon vs as the onely Commandement giuen by Christ who in one word tels vs the substance of our duties Ioh. 13. 34. Ephe. 5. 2. 1. Pet. 2. 17. 1. Cor. 16. 14. Now the Rules which in particular binde vs to the good behauiour in respect of our loue to the godly concerne either the manifestation of our loue to them or the preseruation of our loue to them Wee must shew our loue to the godly diuers waies First by courtesie and kindnesse towards them and that in a speciall manner being affectioned toward them with a brotherly loue and kindenesse No brethren in nature should shew more kindnesse one to another then Christians should Eph. 4. 33. Rom. 12. 10. Secondly by receiuing and entertaining them we must receiue one another and be harberous one to another and this with intirenesse of affection Negatiuely it must bee without grudging 1. Pet. 4. 9. Affirmatiuely we must receiue one another as Christ receiued vs into glory that is First without respect of desert Wee haue done nothing to deserue heauen yet Christ hath receiued vs to glory so though the godly haue not pleasured vs any way greatly yet because they are the children of God we should make much of them and entertaine them gladly Secondly not thinking any thing too deare for them Christ hath not enuied vs the very glory of heauen and therefore what can we doe to the brethren that should answer the example of Christ Rom. 15. 7. Thirdly by bearing their burthens for so we should fulfill the Law of Christ Gal. 6. 2. There are two sorts of burthens presse the godly One inward such as are temptations and their owne corruptions the other outward such as are afflictions of all sorts Now in both these this rule holds for when wee see a godly Christian mourne and lament his distresse in respect of his infirmities or temptations wee must beare his burthen not by soothing him in his sinne as if it were no sinne but by laying his griefe to our owne hearts and striuing to comfort him with the promises of God This is not to make our selues guilty of their sinnes or to beare with their sinnes but to helpe them out of their griefe by consolation out of their sinne by direction Note that this is charged vpon vs when sinne is a burthen to them not before for till then wee are rather to reprooue them or admonish them But then we are to take notice of this Rule when they confesse their sinnes and are weary of them and sorry for them And thus also in their outward burthens we must beare them by comforting them and aduising them and helping them and shewing our affection to them as if it were our owne case so farre as we haue a calling and power to help them Fourthly by considering one another to prouoke unto loue and good workes Heb 10. 24. Note the dutie and the manner how it is to be done The duty is to stirre vp others all wee can to the increase of loue and aboundance of all good workes the manner is shewed two waies First wee must prouoke them to it both by example and by exhortation and all good waies that might fire in them the desire of well-doing Secondly we must consider one another wee must study the estates of others their wants impediments meanes gifts callings c. and accordingly apply our selues for the best aduantage to helpe them forward It is not enough to doe it occasionally but wee must meditate of it and cast about how where and when we must yeeld this helpe and incouragement and furtherance Fifthly by doing whatsoeuer wee do for the godly heartily and with all faithfulnesse as if it were for our selues or our owne brethren or kinred in nature not being slothfull in seruice or such as disappoint the trust reposed in vs wee should doe all things wee vndertake for them with all fidelity and care 3. Ioh. 5. Rom. 12. 6 7 8 11. Yea we should care for their good and profit as wee would care for the good of the members of our owne body for such are they to

THE RVLES OF A HOLY LIFE OR A Treatise containing the holy order of our liues prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage Towards God Towards men Towards our selues With generall Rules of Preparation that concerne either the helps or the maner of a holy Conuersation By N. BIFIELD Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex PSAL. 50. vlt. To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God LONDON Printed by G. P. for Ralph Rounthwaite and are to bee sold at the Flower de-luce and Crown in Pauls Church-yard 1619. ❧ TO THE NOBLE AND Religious Lady the Lady MARIE VERE increase of ioy and peace in Beleeuing MADAM IT was most truely said by the Apostle of the Gentiles godlines is great gaine Importing thereby that if man would be incited to the care to get any thing for the profit might come thereby it should be godlinesse No skill in the world being c̄oparable to that skill of being able to leade a godly life for the sure and speedy matchlesse gain it will bring vnto a man for besides that it onely hath the promise of a better life godlinesse were to bee desired and with all possible diligence to bee sought after for the very gaine of it in this life For to omit the consideration of the fauor it breeds with God the vnspeakable treasures of the grace of Christ which alwayes go with it it were to bee desired for the immediate effects it workes vpon men in it selfe For if men loue themselues what should they desire more then that which tends to make themselues perfect What should it aduantage a man to haue all things good about him if himselfe bee ill and vile If men that were onely guided by the light of Nature could some of them see cleerely that nothing was so good for a man as to liue well when yet they knew no other liuing well then what was prescribed in their naked and naturall Ethickes then how much more happy must it be for a man to liue a religious life by which he is brought more neerer to God himselfe and farre aboue the condition of any naturall man Yea if there were no more to bee had by it but the peace and rest it brings vnto a mans heart it were aboue all outward things to bee desired for no man walkes safely that walkes not religiously nor can any actions of men produce any sound tranquillity and rest of heart but such actions as are prescribed by true Religion What shall I say If for none of these yet for it self were a godly life to be had in singular request for if men with much expence of outward things seeke but the skill of diuers naturall and artificiall knowledges and thinke it worth their cost but to bee able to attaine these Skils how much more ought man to be at the paines yea and cost too if it were required to get this admirable skill to liue a religious life This most gainefull Subiect is intreated of in this little Volume I may truely say that almost euery sentence in this little Treatise leads vs to much and rich treasure if the promises belonging to each duty were annexed thereunto and therefore no Christian that loues his owne soule should thinke much of the paines of learning or practising these Rules I shall not need to exhort your Ladiship to the hearty care of those things you haue beene taught of God long since to profit and haue learned Iesus Christ as the truth is in him your sincere profession and practice hath many Witnesses and since you beleeued the Gospell of saluation and were sealed by the Spirit of promise you haue a Witnesse within your selfe which will not faile in life or death to pleade your aboundant consolation When I entreat of piety righteousnesse mercy and temperance I entreate of things you haue aboue many profited in I haue presumed to dedicate these Directions to your Ladiship and not without reason you haue heard the preaching of them with speciall attention and haue beene a principall perswader to haue them published for the common good being many wayes bound to acknowledge your Ladiship amongst my best Hearers and Friends I cannot but beseech your Ladiship to accept of this small testimony of my vnfeigned obseruance of your many prayses in the Gospel and as a pledge of my thankefulnesse for all your workes of loue to me and mine The God of glory and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ make you abound yet more and more in all the riches of his grace in this life and fill you with the comforts of the blessed hope of the appearing of Iesus Christ. Your Ladiships in the seruice of Iesus Christ to be euer commanded N. BIFIELD The Contents of the whole Booke Chapter 1. page 1. to the 12. THE Scope of the whole Booke is to shew briefly the choysest Rules of life of all sorts Some obiections against this course answered and the warrant and profit of it shewed The easinesse of the course with some generall Direction Cha. 2. p. 12. to 48. THe Rules are either generall or particular The generall Rules concerne either the helpes to a holy life or the manner of wel-doing He that would prepare himselfe to an holy course of life must do diuers things and auoide diuers things The things hee must doe are these 1. Hee must be sure he hath repented doth beleeue 2. Hee must get knowledge how to do well and that he may attaine knowledge 1. Hee must esteeme it 2. Hee must not consult with flesh and bloud 3. He must redeem the time 4. Hee must be wise for himselfe 5. He must be swift to heare 6. He must study onely profitable things 7. Hee must striue to increase in knowledge 8. Hee must propound his doubts 9. Hee must be rightly ordered toward his Pastor to pray for him and obey him and not discourage him 3. He must auoid ill company 4. He must resolue to practise these Rules 5. He must order his outward calling so as hee bee freed from all needlesse incumbrances 6. Hee must keepe company with such as doe liue well 7. Hee must not be a seruant of man 8. Hee must accustome himselfe to the thoughts of the comming of Christ. 9. He must not regard what the multitude doth 10. Hee must carefully remember to be in all things thankfull to God 11. He must study to be quiet 12. Hee must bee carefull to go on in a direct course 13. He must reade the Scriptures daily 14. Hee must bee carefull to preserue his first loue 15. He must especially striue for such good things as would make him most excell in his Place and Calling 16. Hee must be often in the duties of mortification 17. Hee must obserue the opportunities of well doing 18. Hee must bee carefull of keeping the Sabbath 19. He must often meditate of the examples of the godly that excell in holinesse 20. He must daily pray God to

the heart and with-drawes it from care of delight in God Ioh. 2. 8. Phil. 4. 4 5 6. 3. VVee must exercise our selues with all the ioy we can in the Word of God Psal. 119. 14 16. 4. VVee must take heed of listning to Obiections against the loue of God to vs whether they arise from Sathan or our owne flesh 5. VVe must often obserue the miseries of the wicked in comparison of our happy estate in Christ Hab. 3. 17 18. 6 VVee must seek a delightfull conuersation with the godly 7 VVee must take heed of domesticall euils our home sinnes the corruptions that would daily preuaile in vs Iob 22. 23 26. 8 VVee must restraine our owne vnbeleefe about the acceptation of the good duties we performe and to this end wee must take heed that we be neither iust ouermuch by attributing too much to our selues nor yet wicked ouermuch in condemning all we do as hatefull to God For this last doth maruellously hinder vs from ioying in God CHAP. VIII Containing generall rules about Gods seruice HItherto of the first sort of Rules that concerne our carriage toward God namely those that concerne our loue to God Now the second sort of Rules follow and that is those that concerne the seruice of God and these may be cast into two rankes 1. for they either concerne the parts of Gods worship 2. or the time of Gods worship The Rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship 1. are either generall which binde vs to the good behauiour in all parts of Gods worship 2. or else certaine specialties of Direction that concerne some part of Gods worship onely Now for the generall rules we should know and remember that there are nine things to bee looked to and brought to the practice of euery part of Gods worship 1. The first is preparction wee must in some sort conferre with our owne hearts and prepare them before wee go before God to doe any seruice Iob 11. 13. Psal. 4. 4. Ezech. 7. 10. 2. Secondly wee must come with all reuerence godly feare Hebr. 12. 28. Psal. 2. 11. 3. Thirdly we must performe the seruice in repentance for our sinnes wee must not come before God in the loue of any sin if wee doe we lose our labour and God will loath our workes Isai. 1. Iob. 11. 14. VVee must haue cleane hands and a pure heart or else no seruice of God will be accepted Psalm 119. 11. 24. 4. 4. Fourthly it must grieue vs that others will not serue God Psalm 119. 139. 5. Fifthly we must performe euery seruice in the name of Christ or else it cannot bee accepted by reason of that euill that cleaues to our best workes whether wee pray or giue thankes or Whatsoeuer we doe wee must doe it in the name of Christ Col. 3. 17. 6. Sixtly in euery seruice of God wee must so neer as it may be giue God the first place preferring the respects of God and his worship before our selues or the regard of others we must serue him betimes seeking God in the first place Iob 8. 5. Math. 6. 34. Psalm 5. 3. 7. Seuenthly when we doe any seruice to God we must do it with all our harts with as much willingnesse as may be so as it may appeare that we loue to be his seruants as the Prophets phrase is 1. Sam. 12. 10. 1. Chron. 28. 9. Esay 56. 6. 8. Eightly in all seruice wee must striue so to serue God that wee may please him not onely carefull to doe the duety but carefull of Gods acceptation In good duties being cheefely carefull to see Gods approbation not caring so much for the praise of men as the praise of God In euery part of Gods worship our praise must be of God and not of men Heb. 12. 28. Rom. 2. 26. 9. Ninthly wee must cleaue to God with detestation of all things or persons that might any way draw vs away from his seruice Deut. 13. 4 5. CHAP. IX Shewing how we should carry our selues in Gods House HItherto of the rules to bee obserued in all parts of Gods worship generally The speciall rules concerne 1. eyther Gods publike worship in his House 2. or else the particular parts of Gods worship each by themselues The godly Christian ought with all care to lay before him the rules that binde him to the good behauiour in Gods House to striue to fashion his nature and practice as may become the glory of Gods publike seruice and presence and so there bee diuers things which in a speciall manner he must looke to in performing Gods publike seruice For concerning these publike duties these rules must be obserued First that all sorts degrees of men must appeare before God publikely to doe him homage and seruice None must bee spared or freed men women and children must all take notice of it that they are bound hereunto Deut. 31. 11 12. Secondly we must come our selues with all possible reuerence and looke to our feete when we enter into the house of God and striue to shew before all men our most carefull respect of God and his holy ordinances For God will be sanctified in them that come nigh him and he lookes for it at our hands by our reuerend behauiour to bee glorified before all the people Leuit. 10. 3. Eccl. 5. 4. Wee should then shew a most holy feare of Gods name and presence Psalm 5. 7. Thirdly in publike duties that of the Prophet Dauid should be true of vs The zeale of Gods house should eate vs vp Psal. 69. 9. and this speciall zeale wee should shew 1. By louing Gods house aboue all the places in the world our hearts should be fired in vs in that wee respect that wee may truely say with Dauid O how I loue thy house Psalm 26. 8. 2. By confirming our own hearts in a resolution to resort to Gods house with all ioy and gladnesse notwithstāding the scornes and oppositions of worldly men and persons 3. By stirring vp others with all importunity to go vp with them to worship God in Sion Esay 2. 2. 4. By making haste to Gods worship going to the house of God with the first with willing hearts with a holy thirst after the meanes flocking and flying thither as the clouds or as so many doues to their windowes Zach. 8. 21. Psal. 110. 3. Esay 35. 1. 60. 8. 5. By forwardnes and cheerefulnesse in contributing towards the maintenance of Gods House and seruice in the means thereof Isaiah 60. 8 9. 6. By grieuing heartily because other men neglect or contemn the House of God and haue no more mind to keepe Gods Law Psalm 119. 136. Thus of that speciall zeale wee should shew about Gods publike worship 4. Fourthly we should in all publike dueties serue God with one consent and one heart There should appeare in Gods seruants a wonderful desire of Vnanimity and concord They should serue the Lord vvith one