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A51047 Christian advice both to old and young, rich and poor which may serve as a directory at hand, ready to direct all persons almost in every state and condition. Under XXVII general useful heads. Mocket, Thomas, 1602-1670?; Cross, Thomas, fl. 1632-1682, engraver. 1671 (1671) Wing M2303A; ESTC R217853 68,834 211

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and brotherly compassion to the poor with an humble heart looking to God only for a reward of his bounty according to his gratious and free promise Luk 6.38 2 Cor 9. v. 6. to the end also 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Remember the poor widow that gave two mites all that she had by her and was highly commended for it by the Lord himself Mar. 12.42 43 44. Mat. 10.42.43 12. In prosperity as in health strength ease peace liberty plenty courteous respects from others good success in lawful undertakings and the like 1. Labour to see the good hand of God in all outward good things for God is the God of all mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Every good gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of Lights Jam. 1.17 1 Chron. 29.11 12. It is God that giveth power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 even when men are most industrious and instrumental Promotion cometh neither from the East nor from the West but God putteth down one and setteth up another Psal 75.6 2. Thankfully acknowledge Gods goodness in every thing and give him the praise Psal 103.1 2. 3. Use all his benefits in those ways and to those ends and uses to which God hath appointed and serve him more cheerfully with them and for them It is a great abuse of Gods benefits and dishonour to God to hoard them up covetously to look on or delight in excess of eating drinking apparel lavish idle expences gaming to bribe some to oppress others or to be proud of them and Lord it over others or to slight and neglect them 4. In abundance labour to keep thy heart humble and be courteous towards all even to the meanest Take heed of being proud or domineering over the poor or slighting them as rich men are apt to do for who made thee to differ from the meanest and poorest 5. Even in abundance take heed of trusting in any worldly things but labour to live in the world above the world trusting and relying on God alone Psal 62.10 If riches increase set not your hearts upon them 1 Tim. 6.17 18. Take heed of being ensnared by them Deut. 8.10 11 12 13 14. 6. Use the world with weaned affections Sit loose to all worldly things as friends children worldly goods that you may be ready to part with them whensoever or howsoever God shall please to take them from you or you from them 1 Cor. 7.29 30 31. If outward things stick to us or we to them as our skin on our back as a right hand or right eye they will very hardly be parted with but if they fit loose in our affections as a loose garment on us or as a wooden legg or arm or glass-eye then it will be easie to part with them To this end consider how vain empty uncertain and unsatisfying all worldly things are especially to give us any true comfort peace ease of Conscience or of outward pain many times to procure Gods favour pardon of sin freedom from wrath and the like also how many cares and troubles do usually accompany worldly estates consider Judas his case his money then would not comfort him and Hamans Esth. 5.9 11 12 13 and 7.7 8 9 10. 13 In adversity viz. in sickness weakness pain reproaches poverty in juries losses crosses and the like 1. Labour to see Gods hand in all these things for God hath a righteous wise and gratious providence in all these things and for good to all his Amos 3.6 Is there any evil in the City namely of punishment or suffering and the Lord hath not done it Isa 45.7 I form the light and create darkness I make peace and create evil I the Lord do all these things Afflictions come not out of the dust Job 5.6 Therefore own acknowledge and justifie God in all his dealings though never so sharp and grievous to flesh and blood 2. Labour if it may be to find out the particular cause the sin that is the cause of your suffering ingeniously confess your sins bewail them and resolve to amend what is amiss 1 Cor. 11.30 31. If we would judge our selves we should not be condemned with the world c. 3. Be patient humble and quietly submit to the good pleasure of God Be willing to be what God would have you to be he knows best what is fittest for us take heed of murmuring repining fretting at his hand distrusting God much more of using any unlawful or unwarrantable means to be freed Above all take heed of seeking unto cunning men or women for help or ease that is in plain terms to go to the devil for help when God afflicts a hainous crime for what or whosoever is the instrument yet God is the Author of afflictions and troubles therefore Job though his sufrings were exceeding great from the Chaldeans the Sabeans and the Devil that set them all on did not say the Chaldeans or Sabeans or the Devil but the Lord hath given and the Lord hath taken and blessed be the Name of the Lord he looked at Gods hand in all and justified God God lays afflictions on his people either to correct them for sin humble and bring them home to himself or to exercise and discover the truth and strength of their faith and other graces as patience c. and to brighten them and make them more illustrious Also consider that out greatest and sharpest sufferings are much less than we deserve and we suffer most justly but Jesus Christ most unjustly and yet bore it most patiently 4. Look on the Examples of the Godly and how patiently they suffered Heb. 10.34 and Heb. Chap. 11. especially ver 37. to the end Jam. 5.7 8 9 10. yea the Lord Christ himself though most innocent and made it his whole work to go about to do good 1 Pet. 3.18 and 4.12 13 14. Heb. 12.1 2 3 4. 5. Consider how many good things you have which many others want be thankful and contented consider also that many others suffer as well as you yea in the same kind and others in some kind or other as much as large and some much more grievously even such as are dear unto God as Job David Paul and many others even unto the death 6. Consider also the many promises God hath made As 1. That he will lay no more on his Servants than they shall be able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 And if he lay on more burden he will give them more strength 2 Cor. 1.4 5. And so a very great burden or suffering will be no more troublesome than a small matter with little strength 2. That he will be present with you in afflictions and troubles Read Isa 41 12 13. and 43.2 3. 3. That all afflictions and seeming cross-Providences are out of his love in mercy and faithfulness for their good Psal 25.10 4. That he will deliver his out of all troubles and sufferings make a way for them to escape in the best time 1 Cor. 10.13 5. That he will
false way ver 113. I hate lying vanities but thy Law do I love Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is within my heart Psal 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy way do I love and as Paul Rom. 7 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 8.6 7. To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 5. Look also to your thoughts that they be good useful holy heavenly spiritual of good things yea as much as may be on the best things to desire them labour for them love them delight and rejoyce in them And on evil things especially of sin to shun avoid and abhor them Prov. 22.3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil hideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished Be careful to watch against and avoid vain foolish idle thoughts but much more vile wicked thoughts envious malicious unclean revengeful proud and all other ungodly thoughts You read what a reproof God gave Jerusalem Jer. 4.14 Oh Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge in thee 6. Above all look to your hearts they are the spring and fountain of all good and evil thoughts aff●ctions words and actions Therefore the Wiseman counselleth Prov. 4.25 Keep thy heart with all diligence the Hebrew is above all keeping mark his reason for out of it are the issues of life All good holy gratious thoughts desires affections words and actions spring from a good and holy heart and all evil and wirked from an evil and wicked heart Make the heart good and all will be good if that it be naught all is naught Tit. 1.15 To the unclean all things are unclean Mat. 12.34 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things And then remember that God always sees you and his eyes are upon you Prov. 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good The thoughts of some eminent grave person standing by as Cato Laelius or Scipio would be a means to keep men from doing any uncomely thing as the Heathens supposed and so adjudged Seneca How much more will the believing that the All-seeing holy and righteous Lord is always present The Rabbins were wont to say that if a man did remember three things he should not sin viz. 1 His creation that he came from the dust 2. His end he must return to the dust and 3. the strict account he must give The Hebrews have another like saying to that purpose That if a man did think of three things he would not sin viz. 1. Of the Eye that sees all 2. of the Ear that hears all and 3. of the Book in which all his faults are written 17. Study to carry your selves affably courteously neighbourly to all persons as well to the poor as to the rich to be beneficially publike spirited and ready to do good to all persons charitable open-handed to the poor when they come hid them welcome sit down Job professes he did not eat his morsel alone but the fatherless eat thereof he was to him as a father the loyns of the poor blessed him and he was warmed with the fleece of his sheep Job 31.17 18 20. Humility affability Charity do much adorn Religion put a beauty and lustre on it honor our conversation stop the mouths of evil men are pleasing to God good and profitable to men gain the esteem and good will of many and a good report in the world Luk. 7.5 Act. 10.22 oftentimes make friends of foes at least sweeten their sour natures and stop the mouths of such as would otherwise be open against Professors and Religion it self But a sour high losty slighting carriage scarce bidding a poor or mean Neighbour drink or sit down or perhaps as some proud persons scarce speak to them or take notice of them doth very much unbecome civil persons much more persons professing Christianity and loseth them much in their hearts and affections and often gives occasion to slight and speak evil of them and of Religion for their sakes While God gives and I have it I would not willingly let any poor Neighbour go away without some refreshing unasked or other expressions of charity and neighbourliness I have often seen the good fruit of it and am sure Christ Luk. 6.38 saith Give and it shall be given to you again good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosoms Matth. 10.42 Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward Remember also that loving courteous words to them and of them though they be never so inferiour and bad also is as cheap as evil harsh surly or churlish words and only pleasing to God and men words of contempt are commonly returned in the like kind full measure running over by some others Not railing or evil-speaking but let every one of us please his Neighbour for good saith the Apostle Rom. 15.2 But what good office soever you do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to man Gal. 3.23 Ephes 6.5 18. Vse moderation at all times in all things and to all persons Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand Be not only temperate and moderate but let it appear abhorring vain-glory in all things and always so that all that know you and your conversation may see it and be gained by you not unlike to that of our Saviour Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven This the Apostle exhorts to in the word sober 1 Thes 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 and 4.7 and 5.8 one of the three great lessons the Gospel teacheth Titus 2.11 12. Vse a moderation in the use of meat drink and apparel for the quantity the quality and the fashionableness that it be not too much too rich or costly nor too conformable to the world and garish but always within the bounds of Religion reason your estate calling degree and condition of life never beyond but alas the devil pride and self have so blinded all sorts and ranks of men and women and almost all of all sorts that our eyes are almost out that we cannot see wood for trees but take one for another vice for virtue Vse a moderation in spending and laying out your estate if you have never so great an overplus there are other ways and uses that may be laid out more to the Glory of God the good of others and much more to your own advantage whereas vain and lavish spending in the former or any
and condition to be always good and useful as David who served his generation Act. 13 36. and so fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the wills of God ver 22. 20. Vse Recreations when nature requires in conventent places fit company and at convenient times and seasons not in times of mourning fasting or publike calamity never on the Lords day which is to be imployed in holy exercises Read and consider Isa 22.12 13. Exod. 20.8 and use them lawfully as recreations not as a trade or calling to refresh and make you more fit for the duties of your calling civil and religious not like him that is all day or a great part of it whetting his sythe but cuts down nothing or little But always let your recreations be only such as are lawful honest harmless of good report and sutable to the end you use them gravely and soberly as Christians Dicing carding mixt-dancing scurrilous sports and stage-plays are unbecoming the piety and gravity Christians should exercise in all their act on s if not simply unlawful for Christ ans 21. Think often of and prepare daily for suffering and death For our Saviour commands all that will be his Disciples to deny themselves and take up his cross and so follow him Luke 9.23 in respect of preparation and expectation for as Solomon tells us We know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 And the Apostle James also Chap. 4. ver 14. Therefore labour to get and clear up to your selves that you have true saving faith truly repented of your sins and have all other renewing and sanctifying Graces that you have an interest in Jesus Christ that your sins are pardoned the sting of death pulled out and all sufferings shall work together for your spiritual and eternal good See before in Adversity And then for death Know and consider that when where or howsoever it cometh it is to a true believer to a godly man only a means to put off the body of sin and to free the Soul from all sin both actual and original from Satans temptations from all worldly cares sufferings and sorrows from all toil and labour from all diseases distempers weaknesses and imperfections both of body and Soul a passage from natural life to eternal life from earth to Heaven from the company of evil and ungodly men and enemies for so many are in this world to have immediate and full communion with God the Father Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit and all the holy Angels Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all other Saints departed in the faith And though you must part with many things desirable in this world and lovely as friends relations and some with riches honour and greatness in the world yet remember it is but for a time and to enjoy a far better estate incomparably better far better friends the most blessed and glorious Lord God the Heavenly Father Jesus Christ your husband Head Redeemer Justifier elder Brother the blessed Spirit your sanctifier and comforter godly relations and all the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven and free from all the infirmities and corruptions they had while on earth which sometimes made the meetings of beloved and desired friends uncomfortable yea bitter as that of Paul and Barnabas two most godly persons and dear friends and companions Act. 15 37 38 39. And though the body shall go to the grave and see corruption yet it is but for a time God will destroy death it self and the grave raise up the body and glorifie it with the Soul to live for ever in Heaven in glory and happiness Hos 13.14 Phil. 3.21 1 Thes 4 15 16 17. Who after wearisome labour all day is unwilling to go to bed and rest Isa 57.1 2. why should any be unwilling to part with the worse for a state and condition that is every way incomparably better and everlasting wherefore comfort your selves and one another with these things and in an holy humble manner triumph over death and all worldly evils as the Apostle did 1 Corinth 15.54 c. 22. Married persons husbands and wives you know you are one flesh Gen. 2.24 And therefore your duty in common is 1. To dwell together that you may be mutual helpers one to another and to live chastly keeping each to other only keeping your bodies undefiled Adultery is a great sin to be punished with death Levit. 20.10 16. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Consider Prov. 5.15 16 17 18 20 21. Drink waters out of thine own cistern c. 2. In a special manner to love one another above all other persons in the world and delight one in another above all others in respect of Gods command and because of their near union In this respect Solomon and God by him counselleth Prov. 5.18 Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth let her be as the loving Hand and pleasant Roe let her brest satisfie thee at all times This is the wives duty as well as the Husbands Love is the ground of all other duties and good carriages the bond of perfection it bindeth together all those duties that do or ought to pass between man and wife neighbour and neighbour Love provoketh constraineth to all duties where this is wanting all other duties will be wanting and often altogether neglected or slightly performed and where true love is there all other duties will be readily performed 3. To bear one with another and bear one anothers infirmities Gal. 6.2 Bear ye one anothers burden and so fulfil the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 4. To defend protect and preserve one anothers person good name credit and chastity 5. To nourish and cherish one another Eph. 5.29 No man hateth his own flesh but nourisheth cherisheth it Now husband and wife are one flesh and thus doing they do in effect preserve their own persons lives chastity credit comfort and nourish their own bodies This duty lieth on them at all times and in all estates and conditions in sickness and weakness in health in poverty lameness c. as well as in time of health strength beauty prosperity yea though the other party be not able or wilfully wanting to do his or her duty because of Gods command their near conjunction and solemn Matrimonial covenant to take one another for better for worse for richer for poorer c. 6. To be diligent provident careful to increase preserve that estate which God hath or shall give you the command of God reason and your own common interest mutually bind both to be as careful of the goods of the family as if they were their particular own goods and therein also to be helpful one to another 7. To govern the children servants and whole family wisely and discreetly for the good of the whole family and therein also to be helpful one to another 8. Especially to be the helpers one to another for the good of your Souls using all loving means to win and draw
are those that having by their labour gotten a little money either lavish it out in some finery or dainty fare and strong drink above their ability in a moderate way at some special time is not to be blamed And so feasting as it were one day and then are forced to fait or go with an empty belly two or three days after whereas a wise husbanding that little they get might supply their wants at all times something comfortably Thus living and walking according to these and the former rules and directions none need to fear either want or death but may comfortably say with David The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want Psal 23.1 and apply that of Isaiah Isa 57.2 He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds None need to fear want that hath an All-sufficient God and a most tender Father to provide for them nor need to fear death seeing to die to a Godly man is to enter into peace and rest in his bed none fear to go to bed when they know they shall rest Object Thus to live perhaps some will say or at least think were to banish all joy and comfort and to live an heavy mopish melancholy life Ans 1. The world is much mistaken and deceived The Godly man is forbidden or debarred no joy natural or worldly that is lawful and convenient for matter and other circumstances but only meer carnal sensual delights and others when and so far as they are evil in respect of circumstances which worldly delights so far worldly and voluptuous men must and will repent of when they shall give an account of themselves and their sinful pleasures and delights unto God 2. None under Heaven have so much true joy delight and content as the truly Godly man hath or may have even the most strict and most religious of them But indeed their joy and delights are not carnal but spiritual not outward in the face voice and lungs but inward in the heart a true sound solid joy but the joy of worldlings is a slight superficial underling joy of the bo y not of the soul like the flash of a bavin in the fire or straw it will make a great flame and noise but yeeld little hear it doth scorch rather than heat kindly and is quickly gone and out but the Godly mans joy is in his soul Luk. 1.46 47. Psal 13.5 and 33.21 a substantial hearty and lasting joy What greater joy can there be What greater comfort and cause of rejoycing than to know and be assured or have some comfortable grounds of hope that they are freed from the reigning and condemning power of sin from the destroying power of the devil death and hell have their sins pardoned God reconciled Christ to be their Saviour God to be their Father the Holy Ghost to be their sanctifier instructer guide and comforter and Heaven to be their everlasting inheritance and that in the mean time all things even the worst shall work together for their spiritual and everlasting good comfort and happiness the all wise and over-ruling gratious Providence of God Rom. 8.28 Psal 25.10 Therefore says the Apostle Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say Rejoyce Such a joy as the world can neither give nor take away nor understand Isa 9.3 Prov. 14.10 John 16.22 Object 2. Yet again p ssibly some may think this seems to be too much preciseness and niceness more than needs What shall none go to Heaven but such as live very precisely and strictly Answ I cannot deny but many shall go to Heaven yea all that are truly Godly and live holily though they are not of so strict a life as some are But 2. I never heard or read of so much as one in all my life that was truly Godly that thought himself too holy and strict but of many no doubt truly Godly strict who have complained and were troubled that they were no more holy and conformable to the will and Law of God and to Jesus Christ Read and consider David Psal 119.5.14 15 16 33 34. and many other places Paul also Rom. 7.18 19 c. and Phil. 3.9 10 12 13 14. 3. I say also that even wicked loose prophane persons when themselves come to die if the eyes of their understandings be truly open and conscience awaked they will justifie the most holy strict Christians and heartily wish that themselves had lived so I have heard and seen some do so on their sick beds when they had dying thoughts 4. Consider what Christ saith and commandeth us and all men Mat. 5.48 Be ye perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect and what the Apostle saith and enjoyns in the name of God 1 Pet. 1.15 16. As he which has called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation Because it is written Be ye holy for I that is God or Christ am holy Now who can be perfect in this life for degree as God our Father in Heaven is Holy And who can be so holy in all manner of conversation while in the state of mortality as Jesus Christ is holy yet this we are all commanded to endeavour after here And now dear Friends and Christians give me leave to add only a few choice places of Scripture to be always ready at hand and before your eyes Ephes 4.22 23 c. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts And be you renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour for we are members one of another Be angry namely when there is a just cause but sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devil Let him that stole steal no more but labour with his own hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that needeth Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouths but that which is good for edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are souled up unto the day of redemption Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be ye kind to one another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake hath or as you desire God should forgive you Phil. 2.1 2 to 7. If there be any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship in the Spirit if any bowels of mercy fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife and vain-glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of another Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Rom. 12.1 2 I beseech you by the mercies of God Brethren that ye present your selves a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed in the renewing of your minds Phil. 4.8 Whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any vertue if there be any praise think on these things 1 Pet. 3.8 9 10 11. Be all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing For he that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil Colos 3.12 13. Put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel one against another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And above all things put on charity which is the bond of perfectness And let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which ye are called in one body and be ye thankful Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving thanks unto God and the Father by him Act. 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren farewel be perfect be of good comfort be of one mind live in peace and the God of peace and love shall be with you Heb. 13.18 20 21. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live honestly Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 5.10 11. And the God of all Grace who hath called us to his eternal Glory by or in Jesus Christ after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you To whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Now dear Christians Brethren and friends consider what I have written and the Lord give you understanding in all things and forget not to pray for him and his who is April 1670. Your very affectionate kinsman and friend to love and serve your Souls good while he is T. M.