Christ Jesus without making use of any Sub-mediators either of Redemption or Intercession not mentioned in the Gospel and herein he considers God not only as a Creator or in the absolute perfections of his Being but as reconciled in the Blood of his Son related as a Father and ingaged by a special Covenant He is one who waits and prays for the help of Gods holy Spirit to lead him into the presence of God and to help his Infirmities therein and approacheth not to him meerly by the impulse of natural Conscience much less by the help of Pictures or Images forbidden by the Law of God but by the Spirit of Adoption inclining his Will moving his Affections and crying Abba Father in his Heart Again He reckons upon Suffering with Christ as well as Reigning with him of bearing his Cross as well as wearing his Crown and of Denying himself as becomes a Disciple of Christ and therefore Arms himself for it that he may not be surprized by it or faint under it and as he will not rashly thrust himself upon sufferings so neither decline them when necessarily called thereunto wherein he will have respect to the goodness of his Call of his Cause and of his Conscience Further He is one who when he is Reviled reviles not again patiently bears affronts and injuries for Righteousness sake seeks not privately to revenge himself but commits his Cause to him that judgeth righteously Again He embraceth Religion for its own sake and not for any politick end and abhors to make use of it as an Art to serve any Covetous Ambitious or Treacherous designs He is one who believes a Judgment to come and therefore lives in continual awe of it and endeavours so to manage the whole course of his actions that he may be accepted of the Lord in that day and not fall under the wrath to come and thereupon is less concerned about being Judged of men or of mans day Again He believing the Immortality of his own Soul the Resurrection of his Body and hoping for the Eternal Life of the World to come Life and Immortality being brought to light by the Christian Religion he is seeking to make it sure to himself and thereupon is less concerned as to his temporal Life and his short stay in this present World looking upon himself as a stranger here on Earth He is careful to examin himself about his State towards God and to know the inward frame and temperament of his own Soul and the Actions of his Life in the Principle Rule and End of them that he may not be found among Hypocrites and that counterfeit Grace may not be mistaken for that which is true His Zeal in Religion is not rash and precipitate hypocritical and treacherous violent and cruel so as to transgress the Rules of Humanity Charity and Sobriety but is grounded upon Knowledge and regulated by sound Judgment Wisdom and Discretion and his greatet Zeal is about the great things of Religion and of the greatest certainty He is one who hath a regular Conscience extending to one Duty as well as to another and therefore will not strain at Gnats and swallow Camels nor be scrupulous about Ceremonies and of conforming to some outward Forms of Worship and yet can practise injustice oppression lying fraud intemperance backbiting malice and such moral impieties not becoming Christians And if he hath a Conscience of Conformity to the Church he makes Conscience of the moral Duties of Religion and will not be found guilty of swearing cursing drunkenness fornication scoffing at piety blasphemy false accusation or persecution for Conscience sake of the truly conscientious c. And though his practice in Religion is according to his best Light and judgment yet he confines not the Church of God or monopolizeth Salvation to the narrow limits of his own private Opinion but judgeth charitably of men who Conscientiously differ from him as knowing that as in several Nations so under several Opinions He that feareth God and worketh Righteousness is accepted of him and therefore he can love and honour true Piety Sincerity and Goodness and real Worth wherever he finds them as the Phylosophers called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 studied to extract the good out of every Sect of Phylosophers and rejected the rest Again He beholdeth the Creator in the works of his Creation and adores his wisdom power bounty and goodness shining forth therein and as a Christian he can look upon the Creator of the World as the Redeemer of it and as his God and Father in Jesus Christ and in special relation to him and hereupon to have his Heart engaged to love him honour him fear him and trust in him which is more than the most learned Heathen by the light of Nature could attain unto Further He considering the Dominion God hath given Man over the brute Creatures he useth them with Thanksgiving but will not abuse them as a Tyrannical Lord and is stirred up to the more chearful service of God by those brute Creatures which are daily serving him He knows that not only Faith is required of a Christian but outward Profession and therefore he conforms to all the Ordinances and Institutions of Christ in his Church and attends there diligently for his Edification and that God may be hononred by the Divine Worship of the Publick Assemblies of his People according to the dictates of the universal Law of Nature and therefore as he will not have Communion with any Church in that that is evil and sinful so he is ready to hold Communion with all Churches in that which is lawful and good that he may not fall under the just charge of Schism or unwarrantable Separation and seeks the maintaining of his whole profession unspotted and without rebuke and therefore He keeps his Foot when he goes to the House of God demeans himself with all seriousness and Reverence in Gods publick Worship will not be found talking gazing whispering laughing or sleeping when his mind and thoughts should be directed towards God that he may carry himself suitable to that great Presence wherein he is and the solemnity of that Service he i◠engaged in He carefully avoids all Tempting of God by presuming upon his Power and Mercy for the good either of his Soul or Body without using suitable and rational means or such as may be appointed of God for that end neither will he pray or hope to receive what God hath never promised to give and thereby be also a tempter of God. Again He being a Christian is careful to observe the Christian Sabbath not the Seventh day of the Week as the Jews but the First according to the example of the Apostles and the first Christian Churches whereby he owns Christs Lordship over the Sabbath to change the day as well as the Ordinances of Gods worship therein and therefore he remembers to keep it Holy by abstaining from bodily Labours and by the exercise of his mind and thoughts
in those Duties of Religion both publick and private which are suitable to the Day and required in the moral part of the Fourth Commandment and we read that the keeping of the Lords-day was made the Character of a Christian in the primitive times Further He is an Encourager of good Ministers who labour in the Word and Doctrine receiveth them as the Embassadors of Christ submitteth to their instructions in the Lord and hath them in high esteem for their Works sake and thinks it his Duty to give his Carnal things to them from whom he receives his Spiritual things and grudgeth not an honourable Maintenance to such whose Work and Office are both honourable He shapes not his Religion to the times and alters it not as his Interest alters but denies himself therein that he may be a true follower of Christ and the Truth and for the maintenance of a good Conscience Again He is one who lives not in any scandalous Sin nor allows himself in any known Sin but because he cannot live without Sin he daily renews his Repentance towards God and Faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ to preserve his peace with God and his own Conscience as the Christian Religion doth direct whereby he doth carefully avoid the two fatal racks of presumption and despair Neither is he the more easily drawn to any Sin because he esteems it Venial or by hope of obtaining Pardon by the Absolution of a Priest or the Intercession of any Saint or the Expiation of it in Purgatory He fetcheth down his Mercies from God by constant Prayer and returns them back to God by hearty Thanksgiving as becomes a Christian The Incense he offers up is fervent Prayer and his Peace-offering is a thankful Heart and this he doth not only in company with others but in his private Devotion betwixt God and his own Soul. He loves honours and practiseth true Godliness never a whit the lesser because of thâ— weakness folly or sinful miscarriages of somâ— that make profession thereof much less wilâ— he take advantage thereby to reproach anâ— scoff at it But the excellency equity peace and comfort which are in the ways of Religion make him to cleave to it though he sees many false pretenders to it under several Professions as knowing there will be some Hypocrites under all Forms and he will not justifie such aâ— make no profession because many cast a reproach upon it by an irregular conversation Again What evil he sees or censures in another he will examine his own Heart and practice whether the same is not found in himself and will therefore endeavour first to cast the Beam out of his own Eye and not practise himself what he hath condemned in another lest he thereby be self-condemned He is one who placeth not his Religion in Forms and Ceremonies or bodily Worship though he is for comely Gravity and all outward Decency in Gods worship yet his main â—â—re is to serve God with a frame of Heart â—oper to Christianity viz. not from servile â—ar as the Jews under the Law or the conâ—aint of humane Laws as time-serving forâ—al Christians much less out of vain ostenâ—â—tion as the Scribes and Pharisees but with â—ve and delight filial reverence humility â—â—vency and sincerity as becomes a true Chriâ—an and will not cry up holiness in Places Alâ—rs and Vestures c. and yet despise it in â—ens Persons Neither doth he place his Religion in high â—raphical Notions affected Gestures canting â—ords doubtful opinions or in not conformâ—g with others out of meer singularity but â— sound Knowledge Faith Love Mercy Huâ—ility and all Holiness of Life He also is one who can take kindly a just Reâ—oof and prefer a faithful reprover before â— vain self-seeking flatterer being more deâ—ous to be humbling himself than to be selfâ—alted If he meets with Affliction he justifies God â—bmits himself patiently to his Soveraign â—ill and seeks to turn it to some advantage â— his Soul or if it be Persecution for Righâ—ousness sake he patiently commits his cause â— God will rather judge himself than revile â—e Adversary will use no unwarrantable â—eans to deliver himself will acknowledge â—e righteousness of God in all the unrighteâ—usness of Men Yea he doth love his Enemies blesseth those that curse him prayes them who despitefully use him is not ovâ—come of evil but overcomes evil with goâ— as becomes a Christian He is not offended at the Prosperity of wiâ—ed Men he knowing it hath been so in â— Ages and that they receive all their goâ— things in this Life and the time of Recompeâ— is not yet neither doth he stagger at the Aâ—versity of the Righteous as knowing it coâ— either for a tryal of Vertue or a chastisemâ— for their good that they may not be condeâ—ed with the World. He is one who is not Anxiously careful abâ— the things of this Life seeks not great thiâ— to himself yet is diligent in his place aâ— calling and commits his Affairs to the condâ— and blessing of God seeks to eat his oâ— Bread and is content with the portion Gâ— allotts him of the things of this World. Further He will not extenuate Sin aâ— Wickedness in some and aggravate it in otheâ— meerly to serve a design to gratifie a parâ— and promote some particular Interest â—â— disallows of evil impartially in all Again He considers not only what is Laâ—ful but what is Expedient and of good Râ—port before Men and is careful to give â— just occasion of offence to any and in â— things wherein he can without sin will stuâ—ously avoid it providing for things honest in tâ— sight of God and Men. Further He judgeth not of Right or Wrong â—od or evil by events or successes but by â—e light of true Reason and the Law of Equiâ— and the rule of Righteousness and yet he â— observant of the course of Providence aâ—ut all humane Affairs and gathers instructiâ— to himself thereby but he well considers â—hat the wise man said and observed in this â—se There is one event to the righteous and the â—icked He is one who is not forward to censure â—hers but still hopeth the best will not unâ—ertake to judge Mens hearts which are only â—nown to God and is more ready to Judge â—mself than he is his Brother and will take â—otice of the Good as well as of the Evil he â—nds in any Man according to the example of â—od himself He doth not Rejoice when his Brother is â—vertaken with a fault will not Glory over â—im but rather with a spirit of Meekness will â—ek to restore him considering himself lest â—e also be Tempted much less will he lay a â—tumbling-block before him to cause him â— fall Again He is not of a base selfish Temper â—eeking only his own things but is content to â—uffer in his private interest if the publick â—ood may be Advanced thereby and is glad â— God is Honoured and Chirists Kingdom â—dvanced though he be any way
Eclipsed by â—â— He envies not anothers Prosperity but â— joyceth in anothers Welfare as his own â— becomes a Christian to a fellow Member Wâ— one member rejoiceth all the rest rejoice with it saâ— the Apostle Again He carries it Humbly towards aâ— and in Honour will prefer another before hiâ— self and if he be High yet condescends â— men of Low degree as becomes a Christianâ— He is one who affecteth not Pride Vanitâ— or any singularity in Apparel but considâ—â— the place and condition wherein God haâ— set him and what is comely and of good â— port herein and what sobriety humilitâ— and modesty the Christian Religion doth oâ—lige all unto and requires both of Men aâ— Women professing Godliness He gives not heed to every Report wise considers what he Hears and much more â—fore he reports again that he may not â— charged with folly lying or defamation Again He is one who Glories not in hiâ—self neither in what he is or in what he hatâ— or in what he doth but acknowledging Gâ— in all gives all Glory to God as becomes Christian he knowing well that he hath nâ—thing but what he hath received and that iâ— God alone who makes him to differ He lays to heart publick Calamities aâ— the Sins which bring them upon the Peoplâ— and stands in awe of God and his Judgments when they are on the Earth and is from thence learning Righteousness but especially he being a member of the Church of God doth simpathize with her afflicted condition and is not satisfied in his own private welfare and will not omit the extraordinary Duty of soâ—emn Fasting and Humiliation in such extraordinary cases If he be cast upon Perilous times he will â—ot rashly expose himself but will use all â—rudent means for his own safety but always â—ill joyn the Innocency of the Dove with the Wisdom of the Serpent and his dangers do â—ake him flie to God for refuge and to hide â—imself under the shadow of his Wings The â—â—udent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himâ—elf saith the wise man. He is one who walketh in Love is a folâ—ower of Peace with all men as knowing â—here there is strife and envy there is confusion â—d every evil work and that Men are known â— be Christs Disciples by loving one another Further He is no Busie-body in other Mens â—atters which concern him not but minds â—e Duty of his own place to discharge it â—rightly towards God and faithfully toâ—ards Men. If he be a Master of a Family he will upâ—ld good Government and the Worship of â—od therein allows not Sin in his Servants yet Rules not over them with cruelty aâ— rigour but gives them that which is just aâ— necessary If a Servant he is Submissive aâ— Gentle Diligent and Faithful performs nâ— Eye-service from fear of Man but in singlâ—ness of Heart as to the Lord. If an Husbanâ— he dwells with his Wife according to knoâ—ledge Loveth and Cherisheth her as his oâ— Flesh giving honour to her as the weakâ— Vessel and is satisfied in her Breasts aâ— embraceth not the Bosom of a Stranger so tâ— true Christian Wife is modest meek prudeâ— peaceable a keeper at home guiding tâ— House submitting her self to her own Hâ—band as to the Lord and is faithful to tâ— Marriage Bed and so true Christian Pareâ— will provide for their Children dispose â— their Education to the best advantage wâ— early teach them the good Knowledge and Feâ— of God and by reproof counsel and câ—rection restrain the exorbitances of thâ— Youthful Age And so their Children if coâ— to Age will Reverence and Obey their â—rents endeavour to requite them hearken â— their instructions and perform the ingagâ—ments they have laid upon them in their Bâ—tism and those that are Young will revereâ— Age and be tractable to receive instructiâ— from their Elders and the Aged will by â— gravity of their carriage put an awe upon â— Hearts of the Younger Again A right Christian will not allow vain or wicked thoughts in his Mind the actual sins of the life being first committed in Mens thoughts and knowing though they are hid from Men yet they are all open to the Eye of the omniscient God and under the Authority and Cognizance of his Law as well as Words or Actions so that he being a lover of Gods Law is an hater of vain thoughts as the Psalmist speaks He is one also who watcheth over his Lips that his speech may be seasoned with Salt and that nothing that is vain false foolish or unsavoury may proceed from them he remembring what the Apostle speaks in this case If any man seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue this mans Religion is vain He is one who is Just and Righteous in his dealings with Men will not defraud and over-reach in Bargains or fraudulently break in others Debts will not lie equivocate or break his Promises betray his trust much less take a false Oath to wrong another or advantage himself and seeks to walk by the Apostles rule Owe nothing to any man but love one another and if he hath wronged another is ready according to his ability to make restitution He hath a sacred Reverence for the holy Name of God will not Prophane it by common Swearing or take it up rudely in common discourse or talk Again He is pitiful and compassionate to those that are in distress will not add Affliction to the Afflicted but is ready to shew mercy and to forgive others as he himself hopes to obtain forgiveness from God. He will not abuse the good Creatures of God to any excess his eating and drinking is to refresh and not to oppress Nature and will studiously avoid all Temptations thereunto that his Body may be kept in a due serviceableness and subjection unto his Soul. But confines not himself to any Jewish or superstitious distinction of meat and drink he knowing as a Christian that to the pure all things are pure c. And as he will not prodigally consume his earthly Substance so he hath an Heart to make use of it for comfort to himself and the benefit of others and will not disquiet his mind or perplex his thoughts with carking cares groundless fears or endless desires about the things of this World whereby he cannot enjoy the good that is in his hand He is one also who is careful to redeem and improve his Time and will not consume it in hearing or reporting News in unnecessary Visits idle Discourse much less in Gaming Clubbing Tipling Feasting or any immoderate Recreation His love to Men is without dissimulation He will not say to another Your Servant your humble Servant Sir when he hates him in his Heart And further whenever he finds in himself an opposition betwixt Conscience and Interest he gives Conscience the praeminence preferring his inward peace before outward advantages and the pleasing God before gratifying himself Again He will not use his utmost liberty â—n lawful things where it
rather than to a Party or disputable Opinion to uphold and promote a private Interest He affects not the secular Pomp and Grandeur of this World considering whose Servant he is the great design of the Gospel he preacheth the Example of Christ his great Lord and Master and of the Apostles sent forth by him much less doth he affect to introduce it into the New-Testament Church which was well caution'd against in the first Ephisine Council Ne sub specie administrationis rerum Sacrarum potentiae secularis Typhus in Ecclesiam irrepat c. Canone ultimo He seeks not so much to please as to profit the People committed to him and yet will become all things to all Men to gain them and do them good and as it is Titus 1. 7. required of him not to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a self-pleaser so he is a Pleaser of Men only to their Edification and Salvation He is one not given to Contention nor soon angry no Striker or Railer no Promoter of Strife Faction or Sedition or inhumane Cruelties but with meekness instructeth those that oppose themselves if peradventure God will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth He is not for the promoting of Religion by Fire and Sword as Mahomet nor as some rigid Zealots Bellarmin de laici Lib. 3. Cap. 22. p. 1319. of the Roman Church that Hereticks are every where to be rooted out if they are not too strong for them then they must be quiet and shew them forbearance He is Sober and Temperate in all things not given to Wine no haunter of Taverns but useth all moderation in Meats and Drinks that his Mind may be more sedate and composed to intend and discharge the Work he is called unto He is not Morose nor Stoical but Affable and courteous to all and seeks to preserve an Esteem for his Person to the greater advantage of his Ministry yet he studiously avoids all lightness or vanity in Speech or Behaviour and by Gravity of Carriage puts an Awe Respect and Reverence to his Person upon the Hearts of the People He is one not greedy of filthy Lucre useth not a Cloak of Covetousness whatever Garment he weareth will not make merchandize of the People for his private advantage entangles not himself in the Affairs of this present Life but is ready to deny himself in his Earthly Interests rather than bring a blemish upon his Office and obstruct the success of his Labours whereby his People may see he seeketh not Theirs but Them. Again He doth not Lord it over the Faith and Consciences of the People but seeks by sound Doctrine and Evidence of the Truth to convince mens Judgments and perswade mens Minds to the Faith Obedience and love of the Word Neither doth he affect Preeminence and Dominion over his Brethren and to assume a Jurisdiction which Christ never gave him As when in the degenerate State of the Church the Bishops contended about the Superiority of their Sees and which our Saviour reproved in the Disciples when they disputed who should be greatest But what Authority he hath given to his Ministers he doth faithfully exercise it to preserve the Churches Purity to Propagate and Exalt his Name and Kingdom but not to exalt himself For the Jewish Priesthood being now changed as being typical he knows we can't argue from thence for an Hierarchy under the Gospel to be parallel to it without a new Institution from Jesus Christ Whereby Primacy over the Gospel Church might be as clearly declared as that of the High-Priests over the Jewish Church And therefore it is well known that the Council o◠Carthage would not allow the Name of Episcopus Episcoporum the Jurisdiction of one Bishop over another yet in all difficult Cases he taketh advice and submitteth his own Judgment to the Judgment of Synods regularly assembled to determine Controversies in Religion He is one who Practiseth himself what he preacheth to others Exemplifies his Doctrine in his Conversation that he may be an Example to his Flock and of good Report with those that are without and doth not tempt his People to think that he preacheth those things which he himself believes not to be true by his not walking accordingly And thereby not only bring Contempt on the Ministry but while he preacheth to others himself may be cast away Further He indulgeth not himself in Sloth and Idleness follows close his private Studies as strength and opportunity give him leave that he may grow in Learning and Knowledge and be better furnish'd for his publick Ministry more able to convince gainsayers and open the Mysteries of God's Kingdom as a Minister of the New Testament and lead up the People to further degrees of Knowledge and higher attainments in Christianity But as for Politicks and Mysteries of State and the Affairs of Civil Government he leaves them to the Study of Princes and the Civil Magistrates to whose Province they especially belong Again He considering that he is for Salt to Season others he seeketh to maintain a favour upon his own Heart of the Doctrine that he preacheth to them that he may not himself be rejected as unsavoury Salt. And for that end he is much in Prayer for the daily supply of the Holy Spirit and his teachings upon his Heart the New-Testament Ministry being a Ministration of the Spirit He is one who feareth not the Face of Men in the discharge of his Duty will not baulk or decline any Truth or faithful Reproof of Sin for the Fear of Man but declares the whole Counsel of God that he may give up his Account with Joy and be free from the blood of all Men. He will not accumulate Livings and enlarge his Cure beyond his Capacity to discharge it least he be injurious to some of his Brethren who may want both Work and Maintenance and aggravate his own Account by the neglect of his Duty Neither doth he think it reasonable that he should live of the Flock he doth not feed or of the Altar at which he doth not serve especially when no necessity compells thereunto He well knowing that at first there was no Bishops but to Single Congregations which he might be able to inspect with the assistance of Presbyters where the Church was numerous and the enlarging them to more crept in gradually by the Ambition of Men or humane Constitution He is one who Ruleth well his own House having his Children and Servants in subjection with all Gravity instructing his Family in the Knowledge of God their Duty to him and the Duty of their several Places and Relations And if he be unmarried he preserveth his Mind and Body chast but confines not himself to a single life as necessary to his Office. He also Preacheth sound Doctrine feedeth the Souls of his People with wholsome Food giveth not Chaff instead of Wheat nor Stones instead of Bread nor Scorpions instead of Fish warneth them against Contentious Schisms the