or any other ordinance of God 4. Fourthly they must make melody to the Lord They must direct their songs to God and to his glory and not vse them as meere ciuill imploiments but as parts of Gods seruice CHAP. XVI Rules about Vowing and Swearing HItherto of the Rules that concerne the most vsuall parts of Gods seruice There are other parts of Gods seruice which are to be vsed but at certaine times and vpon speciall occasions these are Vowes and Oathes and Fasting The rules about Vowing are briefely comprehended in that place Ecclâ—s 5. 3 4. and they are chiefly two 1. First Before thou vowest consider consider I say thine owne strength whether thou be able to do it and consider also the end that it bee to Gods glory and consider the matter that thou vow not things vnlawfull and consider what may be the euents of thy Vow for all Vowes being made before the Angell that takes notice of all Couenants it will bee in vaine afterwards to plead it was an errour thou wast mistaken God may bee angry at thy voice and destroy the worke of thy hands Be not rash therefore to cause thy flesh to sinne therein 2. Secondly when thou hast vowed thy vow to God deferre not to pay it be sure thou performe it it is a grieuous offence to breake a lawfull vow Better it is thou shouldst not vow then that thou shouldst vow and not pay Thus of Vowing Concerning the Oath when thou art called to sweare thou must obserue these Rules First that thou sweare not by any thing which is not God Ier. 5. 7. Secondly that thou sweare in truth that is that thy conscience know what thou swearest is true Thirdly that thou sweare in iudgement that is with due consideration of the nature of God and with sound deliberation not rashly and diligently weighing of all things that belong to the matter thou swearest about Fourthly that thou sweare in righteousnesse that is about lawfull things iust matters Thou must not sweare to do vniust things as Dauid sware to kil Nabal nor must thou swear about impossible things or about things that are doubtfull and vncertaine Nor in the forme of thy oath must thou vse such words as be contumelious to God or expresse not sufficient reuerence to the Diuine Maiestie as they that wickedly sweare by any part of Christ or such like CHAP. XVII Rules about Fasting THus of Vowes and Swearing Fasting followes Now if we would keep a religious Fast vnto God wee must obserue these two Rules First wee must looke to the strictnesse of the abstinence in the day of our Fast for we must abstaine from all sorts of meate as well as one and from all labour also and from our costliest apparell and from recreations and vsuall delights Wee must keepe the day as wee keepe the Sabbath in forbearing our own works Ion. 3. 6 7. 1. Cor. 7. 5. Ioel 1. 2. Leuit. 16. Secondly the time must bee spent in religious duties as a Sabbath especially in the exercises that concerne the humiliation of the soule in renewing of our repentance for the obtaining of pardon of sin or some speciall blessing of God or the preuenting or remouing of some great iudgement of God The former rule concernes onely the ceremonie or outward exercise of the bodie but this rule containes the substance of the dutie without which a religious fast is not kept vnto God who regardeth not the hanging down of the head like a bull-rush if the soule bee not humbled before God for sinne Leu. 16. 29. Ioel 1. 14. 2. 16 17. CHAP. XVIII Rules about the Sabbath HItherto of the Rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship The rules that concerne the time of Gods worship follow and this time especially is the Sabbath day Now the rules that bind vs to the good behauiour concerning the Sabbath coÌ„cern either the preparation to the Sabbath or the maner of performing holy duties on the Sabbath The preparation to the Sabbath containes in it these things First the ending of all our workes on the sixe daies as God did his Gen. 2. 2. This example of God is set downe not onely to shew what hee did but to prescribe vnto vs what we should doe as is manifest by vrging this example in the reason of the commandement We must then take order to finish the workes of the weeke daies with such discretion that neither our heads be troubled with the cares of them nor our hands tempted to worke about them on the Sabbath day Secondly the preuenting of domesticall grieuances and perturbations Leuit. 19. 3. Yee shall feare euery man his mother and his father and keep my Sabbath Discords and contentions and heart-burnings in the members of the family extend their infection and hurt euen to the prophaning of Gods Sabbath The Lord looks not to bee serued aright in his House if people liue not quietly and louingly and dutifully in their own houses Thirdly we must cleanse our selues that we may keep the Sabbath Nehem. 13. 22. Which place though it speake of Legall cleansing yet it shadowes out that Moral and perpetuall care of cleansing our selues that ought euen to be found in vs. And thus we doe cleanse our selues when we humble our selues that we may walk with God confessing our sinnes euen the sinnes of the weeke past making our peace with God through the name of Iesus Christ. Thus of the duties of preparation Now for the manner of keeping the Sabbath the rules prescribe vnto vs these things 1. Rest from all our works whether they be workes of labour or workes of pleasure Workes of labour the Scripture instanceth in such as are selling of victuals Nehem. 13. 15. Carrying of burthens Ierem. 17. Iournying from our places Exod. 16. 29. The businesse of our callings done by our selues our children seruants or cattell which the words of the Commandement forbid And as workes of labour so also workes of pleasure are forbidden Esay 58. 13. 2. Readinesse and delight We should loue to be Gods seruants on this day Esay 56. and consecrate it with ioy as a glorious priuiledge to vs Esay 58. 13. abhorring wearinesse or a desire to haue the Sabbath gone and ended Amos 8. 3. Care and Watchfulnesse We must obserue to keepe it Exod. 31. 16. we must take heede to our selues that no duty bee omitted and that wee no way prophane it tending our hearts and our words Ier. 17. 21. 4. Sinceritie and this sinceritie we should shew diuers waies First by doing Gods worke with as much care as we would doe our own or rather shewing more care for the seruice of GOD. They had their double sacrifices on the Sabbath in the time of the Law and wee should studie how wee might please GOD in especiall manner on that day choosing out the things that might delight him God hath taken but one day of seuen for his worke and shall wee not doe
it willingly Further if wee respect our selues shall we not bee as carefull to prouide for our soules on the Sabbath as for our bodies on the weeke daies 2. By obseruing the whole day as well as a part and keeping the Sabbath in our dwellings as well as in Gods house God requires the whole day and not a part As wee would not be contented our seruants should worke for vs onely an houre or two in the six daies so neither should wee yeeld lesse vnto God then wee require for our selues Nor will it suffice to serue God by publike duties in his House vnlesse wee serue him also by priuate duties in our own dwellings Commandement 4. Leuit. 23. 3. 3. By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath as well as the greater especially not transgressing of contempt or wilfulnesse in the least things we know to bee forbidden The Prophet instanceth Isaiah 58. 13. Wee must not speake our owne words Thus of sinceritie 5. The fift thing required of vs is Faith we must glorifie GOD by beleeuing that hee will make it a day of blessing vnto vs and performe that blessing hee hath promised accepting our desire to walke before him in the vprightnesse of our hearts and passing by our infirmities and fraileties We many times disturbe the rest and Sabbath of our soules by vnbeliefe Commandement 4. Genes 2. 2. Exod. 31. 13. Ezech. 20. 20. 46. 2 5. 6. The last thing is Deprecation wee must beseech God when we haue done our best to shew vs mercie and spare vs for our defects and weakenesses Thus wee must end the day and reconcile our selues to GOD that the Rest of Iesus Christ may be established in our hearts Nehem. 13. 22. And thus of the rules that binde vs to the good behauiour in respect of the time of Gods worship CHAP. XIX Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues when wee come into company in respect of Religion HItherto of the rules that concerne our carriage toward God Now it followes that I breake open those directions that should bring our liues into order in respect of men And these rules are of two sorts for either they are such as binde vs to the good behauiour towards all men or such as order our conuersation toward some men onely as they are considered to bee either wicked or godly The rules that concerne all men may bee cast into two heads as they belong either to righteousnesse or to mercy The rules that belong to righteousnesse order vs either in company or out of company The rules which we are to obserue in company concerne either 1. Religion or 2. The sinnes and faults of others or 3. Our owne inoffensiue behauiour towards all men 1. For the first when we come in company wee must be carefull to be that which may become the glory of Gods truth and the Religion we professe that wee take not vp the name of God in vaine And thus we shall rightly order our selues if wee obserue these Rules First to be soundly aduised before wee fall into discourse of Religion not doing it till God may bee glorified by it A wise man concealeth knowledge but the heart of fooles will publish foolishnesse It is as great a discretion to know how to conceale knowledge as it is to know how to vse knowledge Secondly auoide vaine ianglings and contradiction of words such as are 1. Doubtfull disputations about Ceremonies and things indifferent which may entangle the weake and keep them from more necessarie cares and knowledge Rom. 14. 1. 2. Curious Questions about things that are not reuealed in the VVord Rom. 12. 3. Bee wise to sobriety 3. Vnprofitable reasonings such as were those about Genealogies in the Apostles time 1. Tim. 1. Thirdly If thou be asked a reason of the hope that is in thee by such as haue authority to require it or need to seeke it then answer But be sure to remember two things namely that thou answer with all reuerence as may shew how much thou art affected with the Maiestie of Gods truth and withall with meeknesse that is without passion or frowardnesse and without affectation or conceitednesse or wilfulnes in thine owne opinions 1. Pet. 3. 15. Fourthly let thy communication be yea yea and nay nay otherwise customary and vaine swearing is a most damned sinne and such as God will surely plague CHAP. XX. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company in respect of the faults of others THus of our carriage in company in respect of Religion Now concerning the faultes of others wee must obserue these Rules First wee must neuer in our discourse iustifie the wicked or condemn the righteous all excesse in words is euill but this is an abomination to the Lord We must euer honour those that feare the Lord and as for vile persons they are to bee contemned Psal. 15. 4. Amos 5. 15. Prou 17. 15. Secondly let thy conuersation and discourse be without iudging Math. 7. 1. lam 3. 17. It is time exceeding ill-spent that is spent in censuring of others And the rather should we take heed of iudging if we consider how the holy Ghost hath matched that sin in that place of Iames wee must bee without iudging without hypocrisie as if he wold signifie that great Censurers are commonly great Hypocrites and as any are more wise they are more sparing of their Censures Thirdly thou must not walke about with tales take heed of Tale-bearing He goeth about as a slanderer that reuealeth a secret though it be true hee speaketh It is a maruellous euill custome that many haue to fill vp their discourse with the report of the frailties of others which they by some meanes or other come vnder-hand to know This is an euill frequently condemned in Scripture and yet most vsually practised as if it were lawfull to speake of any thing which they know to be true Thou shalt not walke about with Tales nor stand against the bloud of thy neighbour A strange connexion by which the Lord imports that this Tale-bearing is a kind of murther and it is true in the case of many a man thou wert as good lay violent hands vpon him as with that licentiousnesse of words to diuulge tales concerning him Prou. 20. 19. 11. 13. Leuit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthening of this rule thou art yet charged to looke to thy eares too as well as thy tongue Thou must not receiue euill reports against thy neighbour but make it appeare thou art not pleased with such Tales Psal. 15. 3. Yea thou art forbidden the society of such persons as carry Tales Thou must not meddle with Tale-bearers nor with such as flatter with their lippes Certainely such creatures commonly flatter the present and reproach the absent Prou. 20. 19. Fourthly if thou do know an offence in any with whom thou conuersest thou shalt not hate him in thy heart but rather reproue him plainely For he
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
all things giue thankes 1. Thess. 5. 18. He must study to be quiet and follow peace with all men meddling with his own businesse and auoiding all occasion of contention that might distract him in his owne course A busy-body is as good as no body in respect of sound progresse in sanctification It is an excellent skill to bee able to auoide the intanglements of discord especially hee must prouide to haue perfect peace with the godly Though GOD bee able to sanctifie the oppositions of vnreasonable men yet wee must take heed of drawing needlesse troubles vpon our selues for that makes vs neither to be nor to be accounted the more holy but contrariwise The Apostle could not speake vnto the Corinthians as vnto spirituall men but as vnto carnall at the best but Babes in Christ and the reason was because there was strife and enuy and diuision amongst them Romanes 9. 19. Hebrewes 12. 14. Marke 9. vlt. I. Cor. 3. 3. His eyes must looke straight and his eye-liddes right before him Prou. 4. 25. Hee must take heed of going about and fetching of compase in Religion Ier. 31. 32. Hee must bee still aiming at the marke of the high prize of his calling being sure that the things hee employeth himselfe in tend directly to the furtherance of his saluation and not lose his time in vnprofitable studies or practices proceeding from one degree to another till hee come to a ripe age in Christ. 13. He must bee conuersanrt in the Scriptures bee familiarly acquainted with them that they may dwell plenteously in him For those good words of God haue not onely light in them to direct vs but power also to assist vs to do what they require and by the daily reading and hearing of them wee shall bee excited to more care of well-doing we must exercise our selues in the Word day and night and neuer let them depart out of our hearts but keep our hearts still warme with the heate that comes from them neuer suffering the warmth to go out through our long forbearance of the vse of them Col. 3. 16. Psal. 1. 2. Iosh. 8. Isaiah 8. 16 20. 14. Hee must carefully perseuer in his first loue Reu 2. 4. The Lord is wont at some times or other about the first conuersion of a sinner to shew himselfe with such power in his ordinances and to reueale vnto him such glories in the merits gifts of Iesus Christ and the happinesse of his estate in him that his hart is thereby fired to a cheerfull liking of the meanes of saluation and of godly persons and to a wonderfull desire after God and care to please God Now hee that would prosper in a Christian course must bee wonderfully careful to preserue affection this spirituall loue in his hart and watch against and resist the first beginnings of decay or coldnesse or declining in his heart and take heed of suffering his heart to be drawne away by the deceitfulnesse of sin or the inticements of the world 15. Hee must couet earnestly the best gifts 1. Cor. 12 vlt. There are some duties in Piety or Mercy or righteousnesse which in respect of our places do most concerne vs and would in a more speciall manner adorne our particular profession so are there some gifts which doe aduance our communiō with God and do make vs more profitable amongst men Now these things we should study and earnestly labour to frame our selues to and to expresse them more effectually in our conuersation This no doubt is the reason why the holy Ghost doth in Scripture make Catalogues of certain speciall duties or graces singled out from the rest and fitted to the conditions of the people who are written to and this would be a singular aduantage to vs if wee also would single out to our vse some few of the chiefest vertues or duties which wee would daily set before vs and striue by prayer and all holy indeuor to fashion them to life in our hearts of liues 16. He must renew often his mortification mans heart is like fallow ground which is not to receiue seed till it be broken vp and at best it is like a garden which will often need weeding If we doe not at some times in speciall manner humble our soules before God worldly cares or carnall delights will ouer-grow our desires and our practice choake the seed of the Word receiued by vs we must keep vnder our bodies bring them in subiection and be often dragging our lusts to the crosse of Christ there to crucifie them Our practice is like to sowing which presupposeth plowing before Ier. 4. 34. Hosh. 10. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 27. 17. Hee must watch for the opportunities of well-doing and take heed of procrastination he must seeke righteousness and haste to it hee must not put it off till to morrow Esay 16. 5. Pro. 3. 28. 23. 26. Amos 5. 14. 18. He must remember the Sabbath day to sanctifie it The commaundement concerning the keeping of the Sabbath to sanctifie it is placed in the midst betweene the two Tables of purpose to shew that the keeping of the Sabbath is a singular helpe to all piety righteousnesse and God hath promised a speciall blessing to the obseruers of the Sabbath and giues strength by the rest of that day the better to perform holy duties all the week after Commandement 4. Esay 58. 13. 19. Hee must meditate much on the example of the godly of all ages and striue diligently to learne their waies and to quicken himselfe by the thought of their care zeale and sincerity And thus he may also profitably set before him the examples of some of his owne acquaintance as excell in the gifts of Christ and fruits of well-doing The example of good men should bee as forcible to draw vs to good as the example of euill men is to incline others to euill we haue bin compassed about with a cloud of witnesses who haue liued in all ages of the Church we must therefore stand in the wayes and see and aske for the olde way to walke in it and with all gladnesse follow any that are fit to bee guides to vs therein Hebr. 12. 1. Ierem. 12. 16. 6. 16. 20. Hee must goe daily to him that teacheth to profit begging of God to shew him away and to lead him by his Spirit vnto the right practice of euery holy duty euen to guide him in the plaine path Esay 48. 17. Psal. 27. 11. Thus I haue set downe those rules which are generall helpes vnto godlinesse and must bee attended by a godly Christian. CHAP. III. Shewing the things that are to be auoyded by such as would order their conuersation aright NOw before I proceed vnto the rules that concerne the manner of well-doing I will adde vnto the former directions nine Cautions or nine things which a Christian must take heede of in his practice of holy duties
forsake all sinne and so hee desires also to do euery part of Gods worke 3. By propounding the glory of God as the chiefe end of all his actions His praise must not be of men nor must hee doe good duties for carnall ends 1. Cor. 10. 31. 4. By obeying without expostulating though God giue no apparant reason of his commandement Thus Abraham shewed his sincerity when God bade him goe out of his owne country though hee knew not whither hee should goe Hebr. 11. 8. This is to obey simply because God hath commanded it 5 By obeying absent as well as present in all companies as well as one This praised the sincerity of the Obedience of the Philippians Phil. 2. 12. Thus of sincerity which is the second thing required in the manner of well-doing 3. The third thing is Constancy He is blessed that doth righteousnesse alwaies Doing righteousnesse will not serue the turne but it must be at all times Psalm 106. 3. Our righteousnesse must not be like the morning dew It is not sufficient to doe good by fits wee are no day laborers but Gods hired seruants Hee that is righteous must bee righteous still Rom. 6 19. Reuel 22. 11. There must be continuance in well-doing Rom. 2. 7 8. Now to bee constant in well-doing is to doe good duties 1. Without wearinesse It is required as a thing necessary to the manner of well-doing that we be not weary of it and that wee faint not Gal. 6. 9. This we must striue for by prayer 2. Without discouragement wee must lift vp the hands that hang downe and the feeble knees and make straight steppes to our feete How much hinderance to well-doing discouragement is may appeare by the similitude feeble knees will dispatch but a little space of the iourney and hands that hang down are not fit for worke great is the hinderance comes to many by their discouragements and aptnesse thereunto which ariseth vsually from pride the dregs of worldly sorrow and ought much to be resisted by true Christians Hebr. 12. 12 13. Iosh. 1. 6 7. 3. Without impediment That is notwithstanding all the impediments may be cast in the way Iudgement should runne downe as waters and righteousnesse as a flowing streame wee should ouercome all difficulties you cannot stop the flowing streame though you cast in great logs or stones yea though you would goe about to damme it vp and such should be the resolution of a godly Christian Amos 3. 24. 4. Without wauering or vncertainty It is vncertaine running the Apostle implyedly forbids 1. Cor. 9. 25. Our life is like a race Now in a race it is not enough that a man runne now and then though he runne fiercely for the time He must not trifle looke behinde and stand still at his pleasure and then run againe but he must be alwaies running so ought it to be with vs in the race of godlinesse It will not serue the turne to bee good by fits and to bee forward in good things onely at some times and then be careles and off the hookes as wee say at other times 5. Without declining or going backe Iob comforts himselfe against the aspersion of hypocrifie by this that his foot had held on his steps and Gods waies he had kept and not declined nor had hee gone backe from Gods Commandements Iob 23. 11 12. Though hee had not made such Progresse as he desired yet this was his comfort he had not backe-slided by Apostasie And thus of the third thing also required in the manner of well-doing which is Constancy 4. The fourth thing required is feare thus Pro. 28. 14. The man is blessed that feareth alwaies And 1. Pet. 1. 17. 3. 2. Our conuersation must be with feare This feare excludes rudenesse carelesnesse conceitednesse pride the like includes Reuerence awfull regard of Gods holinesse or holy presence whom wee should set alwaies before vs and the feare of the deceitfulnesse of sinne and our own corrupt dispositions and the care to auoyd all occasions of offending God or men The fift thing is simplicity This is so necessary as the Apostle mistrusted most the subtilty of the Diuel in beguiling Christians of this simplicity which they had in Iesus Christ 2. Cor. 11. 3. Now this simplicity containes in it distinctly diuers things 1. A resting in those forms of holinesse and happinesse which God hath prescribed when a man desires no more to make him happy then what God hath offered and giuen in Iesus Christ 2. Corin. 11. 3. and when he accounts nothing to defile him but what God hath forbidden and nothing needfull to bee done by him but what God hath in his Word required 2. A Doue-like innocency and harmlesnesse when the Christian shewes a desire to bee iniurious to no man but rather to seek the good of others as well as his owne 1. Cor. 10. 24. 3. An ignorance of the depths of Sathan and the methods of sinne when hee is not cunning in sinning out simple concerning euill no way desirous to get subtill excuses or arguments â—o defend himselfe in euill Romanes 16. 19. 4. A loue of goodnesse for it selfe and hatred of sinne as it is sinne 5. Meekenesse of wisedome I am 3. 13. which is shewed three wayes 1. By lowlinesse of minde when a man is not conceited or wise in himselfe but retaines a sence of his owne vnfitnesse and vnworthinesse Iob 37. 24. 2. By silence from his owne praises Prou. 27. 2. 3. By auoiding vain ianglings which arise out of Enuy or contempt of others 6. The preseruing of himselfe in the feare of God notwithstanding the prosperity of euill doers not enuying the wicked that hath successe in his way Prou. 23. 27. The sixt thing required in the manner of well-doing is Circumspection Eph. 5. 15. Now he walketh circumspectly or exactly 1. That makes conscience to obserue the lesser commandement as well as the greater Mat. 5. 19. 2. That abstains from the very appearance of euill 1. Thes. 5. 22. 3. That with discretioÌ„ lookes to the circumstances of things to bee done as time place persons order and the like that doth not onely doe good but is wise to doe good Romanes 16. 19. 4. That liues without rebuke and is vnspotted of the world Phil. 2. 15. I am 1. vlt. that is not guilty of any scandall and giues no iust cause to the wicked to blaspheme but prouides for things honest in the sight of all men 2. Cor. 8. 21. 5. That will not doe euil though good might come of it Rom. 3. The seuenth thing required in the manner of well-doing is growth increase Wee must not onely get grace and knowledge and doe good but wee must grow in the grace and knowledge of Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 3. 18. this growth should haue in it distinctly three things 1.
our respect of the duties of the first table that concern God before the duties that concerne men in the second table we honouring him by seeking his kingdome first First I say in the precedency of time and first in respect of the measure of our affections Math. 6. shewing a desire to please him rather then all the world 2. By making a bold open profession of GODS truth vpon all occasions without feare of oppositions or snares of the world 3. By grieuing heartily for his dishonours done vnto him by the blasphemies or prophanenesse of his enemies Psal. 42. 3. 4. By directing all our actions to his glory striuing in al the things to order them so that some way God may be praised by vs or others 1. Cor. 10. 31. 5. By our willingnesse to suffer any thing for his sake though it were extremities euen the losse of all worldly things yea and life it selfe if wee were called to it 6. By honoring them that feare his name and are begotten of him and beare his Image receiuing them making much of them and defending them for the loue we beare to God himselfe Psalm 15. 1. Ioh. 5. 1. 7. By hating them that are his enemies as if they were our own conceiuing more dislike of them for dishonouring God then for any wrongs they could do vnto vs Psal. 139. 21 22. 8. Wee honour God when we speak of the Oracles of God with alreuerence as may become the nature and glory of them Commandement 3. 1. Pet. 4. 11. 9. We honour him by gifts bestowed vpon him when we bring to him our free-will offerings such as are the first fruites of all our increase when out of all things wherein God hath prospered vs we with gladnes consecrate a part for the furtherance of his worship or the maintenance of his poore Prou. 3. 6. Esay 60. 6. 10. Wee honour him when we praise him One vsuall way by which we honour great persons in the world is by taking all occasions to magnifie them by commending their vertues or their worthy Acts And this is likewise one great way of honouring God therefore with sorrow for our neglects herein we should study his praises for the time to come and striue for language to be able readily to doe so Now God is praised diuers wayes Some of them belong not properly to this place and therefore I will but touch them We praise God 1. When we keepe and obserue carefully the solemnities set apart for his praise as when wee celebrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper which is therfore called the Eucharist because it is to be performed as a thanksgiuing and praising of God 2. When daily we take all occasions in priuate to blesse God for his daily mercies but let these and such like passe as not proper to this place We must praise him in our discourse to others This is required of vs in many Scriptures Psa. 33. 1. Iob 36. 24. Psal. 96. 4. But because this must not bee done cursorily diuers rules are to bee obserued As 1. That we may praise him effectually wee must wisely consider of his workes and so of his nature to extract from thence sound arguments of praise Psalm 64. 9. 2. We should do well for this purpose to keep Records and Register vp the speciall glorious workes of God Iob. 36. 24. 37. 14. Psalm 78. 7. 3. When we do praise him it must be done with our whole heart speaking of his prayses with all possible affection and not as if we spake of ordinary things Psalm 9. 1. 4. VVe must thus praise him not once or for one worke of his but wee must praise him for all his workes especially his wonderous works Psal. 9. 1. 105. 1 2. 106. 2. 5. VVe must praise him from day to day and continue to doe it while wee liue Psal. 63. 4. 96. 3. 6. This is a duety that all the kindreds of the people are bound to All the people must praise him Psalm 148. 12 13. 96. 6 7 8. Thus of the fift way of shewing our loue to God and that is by honouring him The sixth way by which wee must shew our loue to God is by trusting in him As men shew whom they loue most by relying most vpon them and their fauour and helpe Now there are diuers cases in which we must shew our trust in God 1 By relying vpon his mercy for our iustification and saluation and in this wee should most vse our trust as being in a businesse that most highly concernes vs Esay 45. 24 25. 2 By committing all our workes to him for assistance in them or successe of them This is to commit our way to God to be carefull to seeke his assistance to helpe vs to doe our duty and then to leaue the successe of all to his blessing Psal. 37. 3 5. Prou. 16. 3. 3 By beleeuing all that hee saith is true whether hee promise threaten or comfort by his Word vpon all occasions beleeuing his Prophets 2. Chro. 20. 20. 4 By staying our hearts vpon him in all our distresses Now in the time of distresse we may proue that wee trust in God diuers waies As 1 By running to him and powring out our hearts before him making our moane vnto him Psa. 18. 2. 62. 10. Looke amongst men to whom we first run to make our moane in our distresse and that person is he whom we most loue and trust so is it toward God 2 By casting our cares and burthens vpon him Psal. 55. 22. 3 By not respecting the proud and such as turne aside to lies Psal. 40. 4. 4 By relying vpon his help Ioel 3. 16. Esay 50. 11. but then we must obserue how wee must relye vpon Gods helpe For there are many things we must cast out of our hearts in affliction When wee haue beene with the Lord and committed our selues to him wee must relie vpon him 1 Without leaning to our owne vnder standing or wilfull inclination to follow our owne courses and proiects Prou. 3. 5. 2 Without murmuring or repining at our condition or vexing our selues at the prouidence of God toward vs Psal. 37. 7. 3 Without feare that is without mistrustfull feares and seruile perturbations imagining euils which the Lord hath not brought vpon vs Psal. 3. 6. 27. 1. 4 Without vsing ill meanes to get out of distresse Amos 5. 4 6. 5 Yea lastly without care that is without distrustfull carking cares Phil. 4. 6. Thus of the sixth way of shewing our loue to God and that is by trusting in him The seuenth last way by which we must shew our loue to God is To obey him For this is the loue of God that wee keepe his commandements Neither is the signe in this that wee do what God requires for the matter but that his cōmandements are not grieuous vnto vs Wee loue God if wee loue to doe his worke and if wee