to be no offence to any For who would looke for any other then loathsome life in the greatest number as it hath alwaies been Christ himself affirming that his flocke is but small Luk. 12.32 But notwithstanding this in some places and those many throughout her Maiesties dominions where the Gospell hath been soundly preached and painfully especially in an ordinarie ministerie continued such particular parts of this Realme will testifie that there haue been and are many not of the Ministerie onely but of the people also who haue been lights vnto those which haue knowne them and liued amongst them and whose names haue sounded and that most iustly a farre off where they themselues haue neuer come My selfe haue knowne many and yet doe the Lord multiplie the number of them and the grace which he hath giuen them a thousand fold and be highly praised for them with whom to haue liued and bin conuersant hath bin the next choice vnto heauen it selfe and to the communion of Gods Saints there which some of them doe alreadie inioy Their names I spare for sundrie causes but such they were whiles they here remained and such they are of whom I speak who yet remaine though I know but few of those many I hope whom God hath beautified his Church withall as may iustly take away this offence from any who should thinke that wee haue none which may be paterns and lights to others of this Christian innocent and fruitfull life yea rather it may perswade them that there are many such as by good and long experience can testifie that which is elsewhere written that in seruing God there is great reward and that godlines receiueth many blessings as the fruites of Gods promises euen in this life And they do not as many that is giue ouer and faint as though the Christian life grew wearisome and tedious to them but the longer they haue continued therein so much the more setled and constant they haue been in the same increasing daily in faith and other graces and hold on their fellowship since they knew first the power of the Gospell Yea many there are at this day to Gods glorie be it spoken who haue so effectually tasted how good and sweete the Lord is that they haue been incouraged to adde to the times and to their trauaile in the seruice of God as prayer reading for one houre in the weeke many and for a little labour in looking to their waies watching their hearts and searching out their sinnes much and oft for the profit which they haue found thereby And whereas they haue sometime gone about these spirituall duties vntowardly whiles their mindes though renued were weakely seasoned with grace yet after they haue with much cheerefulnes and delight gone about the same when they haue had more acquaintance with the christian course The remembring of the houres of holie assemblies by keeping holie day on the Lords Sabboths in the word and prayer and other priuate houres of calling on God and reading of his word how pleasant and sweete is it vnto them before they come to it And yet if they should rest in these I would not thinke them worthie so great commendation not adioyning therewith other duties to men But when they haue found such delight in the former worshipping of God they haue also walked more roundly and fruitfully in their particular callings in their families and other companies and their wordly matters in which most men doe highly offend God and think they may deale in them as they thinke good they carefully endeuour to be directed in them by such rules as his word teacheth them And such as these are God hath set amongst others that they may learne of them and be shadowed as it were vnder the wings of their good example And this is the paterne of the life which God would haue vs to leade from the which the whole world well nigh are strangers though little to their reioycing and principally they who scornefully refuse all such instructions as require more then they doe or be willing to practise Indeed it must be granted that these being few in respect of them who set themselues to vphold the corrupt estate that the world hath euer lien in they haue not therefore many to commend their good examples as the other haue but rather are ill spoken of because they will not follow the same excesse of riot that others doe 1. Pet. 4.4 and especially where they dwell for the diuell enuieth their credit and good report And yet the worst in their controuersies and needs when they are driuen to trust some will soonest choose them to be comprimitters for them as knowing them to be men of good and vpright consciences rather then others as wee reade Saul did so account of Dauid when he spake according to sound reason and made him sweare to him that he would be kind and friendly to his posteritie after him 1. Sam. 24.22 And such honour haue the Lords people And therefore to turne a little to these obiectors let them not thinke that our age affoordeth none which are fit to be examples to them but let them rather be wise to discerne them at least that which is pleasing to God in them which is not hard to see for those which are willing to vnderstand but easie to be found out of such as desire it Let them reuerence and be in loue with such as excell in pietie and vertue and with the pretious things which are in such let them aime at this also that they may bee like them and not lie still in the darknes to the which they are accustomed And such of them as God hath blessed with some better liking of knowledge let them loue and frequent the companie of such as desire neither to be idle nor vnprofitable seeing he hath set such amongst them to farre more great and singular purposes then they can by carnall eyes see or discerne Let them labour to see their owne wants cause them to make much of those who may helpe to supplie them and of whom they may learne to come by those graces which they should without the helpe of such neuer haue attained vnto And if they carrie themselues in such humilitie and reuerent account making of their betters in whom there is a greater measure of Gods gifts they shal be no longer led with their former doubts whether any are before them in the Christian life but they shall praise God highly for setting such lights and examples before their eyes by whom they may be directed and when they are so farre inlightened they shall soone alter their language and speake with new tongues as they in the Acts chap. 2.13 compared with 2.37 who in their prophanenes railed on the Apostles and said they were drunken with new wine in the fore part of the day but being conuerted by Peters Sermon they had learned to come in humilitie to
needlesly of other mē or of their dealings was wont to be cōmon with them and in solitarinesse a spending of their thoughts and desires after the like manner vainely vntill they were able more wisely to discerne how to giue euery dutie in the day his time and how to occupie both the one and the other throughout the day But they haue with heartie thankes to God protested that after they had attained to this they saw farre more clearely into the practise of Christianitie then euer before they did and found the Lords yoke farre more easie to them and themselues setled with more sound peace in the leading of their liues This report of some Christians whom I know well I haue set downe where by this little the rest may be coniectured for the better encouraging of the reader to be acquainted with a daily direction for the course of his life and that he should not rest in a generall and vncertaine obedience to God And let nothing that I haue said of them be thought needlesse or vnmeete for vs as long as we can see good reason for this which they did But know wee that this kind of seruing God both may bee and is and hath bene God be thanked vsed of many of Gods seruants though I will not say in a like maner and ought to be of the rest as euery one shall be able to see into it And therefore I purpose to thrust no fancie nor conceit vpon any but that which all well aduised persons must iustifie to be the commaundement of God and which bewrayeth too plainely that many professors of the Gospell haue not so much sought for the sound practise of a godly life by reading the stories of holy men in the word of God as to report generally that they haue bene holy neither haue reaped that benefit by the Scripture in enioying a sweet life aboue other men as the Lord in much mercie hath affoorded them For though the sect of the Family of loue the Church of Rome and sundrie other lying spirits do fancie a course which the Scripture knoweth not and some of them also fantastically haue for euery day in the weeke deuised an order to be followed as the reading of certaine taskes nothing lesse then proper to direct their liues yet in this which I here propound namely that we should be daily directed in our whole course I haue followed no fancie and dreame of man but haue in all good conscience spoken from God and drawne it from the Scripture both for the learned and simple high and low one and other and is neuer in vaine to the right vser of it although I deny not but that a skilfuller handler of it might haue set it downe farre more exquisitely But from whence is the difficultie that it is no more in practise being a treasure of so infinite value and that so many pray and some of them often to leade a godly life yet when and where they should not there they fauour themselues and say they are weake and vnable From whence I say is this but from hence that they will put no diligence thereunto to obserue their waies in which they prosper and contrariwise also there is no aunswerable trauell nor labour for skill and experience in this Christian course to that which is in all other but euery litle is tedious to them and wearisome They are seuen yeares at other trades to learne them though they be apt to them and forward in them before they are thought fit to occupie by themselues But yet without seuen yeares or seuen moneths diligent exercising of the rules of christian life for before they be conuerted to the obedience of God what reckoning is to be made of their professing they will be thought fit to do as the best in this trade of christian liuing although it be cleane against their nature Nay I say more he is a rare man who can be perswaded to be guided by religion and the rules thereof but seuen weekes constantly I may truly say seuen dayes for if he who would but so long giue ouer himselfe to liue by faith and walke with God he would neuer seeke to be loosened and set at libertie againe to his old life but would renounce it vtterly so great should his aduantage be in this course and trade And as I know that this is the maine and greatest cause why so fewe are lights and examples to others so when people are taught the truth clearely concerning this matter for I am sure that it is neglected of many through ignorance let them either resolue to be gouerned through the day and from day to day or let them looke to find small reioycing in the christian life with much vncomfortablenesse which otherwise need not to be And therefore in the feare of God let men thinke and iudge of themselues as Gods word teacheth them yea let them professe as they be or let them looke to find as they be and not as they professe But as the most do handle the matter they shall find it harder to practise a christian life after seuen yeares twise told then the hardest trade after halfe seuen And as it is with many of them who neuer learned their occupation well that they are neuer skilfull in it nor thriue by it as others do so one especiall cause why many neuer practise godlinesse to the welfare of their soules neither prosper nor be well liking therein is because they neuer soundly learned how to liue godly for continuance and constantly one day as an other but peeced and patched vp the same with here a good deede and there another and in being sometime deuout and zealous the most of their actions being vnregarded and of many of them it may truly be said the power of godlinesse was neuer throughly rooted and setled in their hearts These rules and the like for the daily directing of a Christian are to be well conceiued and approued in our conscience to be such as are very fit and profitable to guide vs the which whosoeuer hath the spirit of God doth or may discerne because they are according to the word of God and practise of his children and so he yeeldeth to them and of euery such they are duely and daily to be regarded so farre as God giueth him to conceiue of and see into them this indeuouring to practise them will bring a man increase daily of sound libertie and freedome from bondage to his boisterous passions and vnruly life and recompence an hundred fold in sweet peace all his losse in earthly and vaine delights which he was wont to make the flower of his garland And seeing they will worke vpon the simplest whose heart is vpright and which the Lord hath opened to conceiue them therefore when thou seest that thou art such a one and that thou hast felt them these rules of directiō I meane to perswade and draw thee on to follow them
feare of God If a chiefe and maine post in a building be wanting will not the whole house bee soone shaken so if a Christian who must reforme his life goe about it not beleeuing that God will make him able he may be sure he shal want a maine helpe hereto euen that which will goe nigh to pull downe all that is set vp For if he haue not faith to beleeue that God will strengthen him what strength hath hee but his owne which is as fit for such a worke to bring it to passe as a child is to build a great Castle by his skill But if he be well setled in this confidence his heart also being purified and chaunged which as we shall heare afterwards is necessarily required he shall goe about it with cheerefulnes and readines he shall be incouraged to pray as his necessities shall giue cause hee shall be kept from fainting and dismaiednes when his strength is not very great and rise vp againe when he is fallen all which shall be great meanes in such a case to vphold him and set him forward to depend vpon God without any great vnsetling of him and yet shall he not for all this be without sense and feeling of his infirmities which another as willing to obey God as he shall neuer be able to doe but euery while cast downe and dismaied vntill hee get the same furniture And this must here be marked that there shall be the better proceeding herein of euery weake Christian as his knowledge shall be greater in the word of God which before grace came as fire to the stubble to kindle and set it a worke to burne although it were idle and vnprofitable in him and lay voide and vnoccupied as timber lieth by till the building goe forward yet it shall then helpe much to the leauing of euill and the doing of good especially after experience in time shall be ioyned to both And when all these meete together in an vpright hearted Christian how weake soeuer if he acquaint himselfe familiarly with the promises of eternall life and treasure vp in a good conscience the certaintie of the forgiuenes of sins from day to day then this is he who hath laid a strong foundation of a godlie life vpon which it shall be no hard matter to set the building of his life sutable and proportionable afterwards so that although the raine fall and the flouds come and the winde blow and beate vpon that house yet it shall not fall for it is builded on a rocke But he who laieth not this foundation but buildeth on the sand shall soone his building turned ouer And thus the case standeth with many in these daies who therefore are cast downe oft times from their good beginnings because they had not skill to make them more substantiall and sure And I feare not to affirme the Lord witnessing to that which I say that the offensiue liues of many with many startings aside from the good way which they haue entred into and the crooked and halting steppes that they make grossely in the sight of men who yet durst not somtime before quench the spirit in themselues not hurt their tender consciences secretly in the sight of God these I say are chiefly from hence that they laid not the foundation aright nor made not their first entrance into a Christian life sound and sure Among other things they haue failed for the most part in this of which I doe most specially speake in this place that they haue not been builded vp in this faith and perswasion that God will further their weake beginnings and fortifie their hearts against the stumbling blockes and discouragements which shall stand vp in their way I haue now onely shewed that this faith should bee in a Christian when hee first setteth on a godly life but how it should accompanie him after throughout his life that so he may liue by it being the same to the whole life that the eye is to the bodie I shall in place fit for it if God will declare and shew so farre as shall be expedient CHAP. 4. Of the heart and how it should be clensed and changed and so the whole man which is true sanctification tending to repentance and a godly life ANd now that I haue shewed that true godlines commeth from faith which iustifieth and that the one cannot bee without the other and that with the same faith wee must beleeue all other his promises also made to his children and all doctrine that doth instruct vs to obedience I will goe forward Now therefore to the end the beautie of the godly life may bee seene in some sort and that the beleeuer may bee able to practise it and know that hee doth so I will as I propounded speake of the heart which is the second generall head in this treatise and the next to bee handled according to the diuision made in the first chapter And thus I will speake of it first shewing that it must be renued and chaunged and then in place fit that it must be kept so afterwards for both are necessarie to the beleeuer And when he is resolued to be guided by Gods word in all things as he hath been taught before and so to liue by faith and then hath an heart fit to yeeld it selfe to do so who doth not see that the worke is in good forwardnes to liue godlie and as wee say by such a good entrance and beginning halfe at an end Here therefore vnderstand and know that the heart which is the fountaine from whence the practise of godlines must growe and come ought to be purged and clensed and consequently the bodie it selfe ought to be first made a fit instrument for the same to the accomplishing of that which is good and to the well ordering of the life in which two consisteth the sanctification of the whole man We must thus be changed before we can will well or liue well euen as a filthie and vnsauorie vessell must be well and thoroughly seasoned before it can be put to vse and occupied and we must hate sinne with a deadly hatred and haue the power of it abated in vs and loue goodnesse and righteousnesse and be renued in them before we can bring forth fruites of repentance and amendment of life But to the end we may see it more necessarie that this change and sanctification of the heart should be wrought and also what an excellent grace and gift of God it is it shall be meete to lay forth the nature and disposition of the heart what it is since the fall of our first parents in it selfe and of it selfe before there be any worke of grace in it and before the most exquisite cunning and workemanship of the holy Ghost in reforming and renuing thereof be shewed vpon it And when we haue seene into it know we that as is the heart so is the life both before the clensing and change of
blessing receiued bee made more readily disposed to pray often with thanksgiuing And these are some of the chiefe duties to God and in such manner as is before mentioned they are to bee performed vnto him Now further we are commaunded not onely in his worship but also in our whole life euery where to seeke his glorie for so he hath willed vs that we should frame the whole course thereof holilie throughout the sixe daies that so we may glorifie him therein And who doth not see that this should be so namely that in our life and behauiour we should as well walke worthie the Lord in al things as in the worshipping of him both publikely and priuately as we haue been directed before That so there may be in these two commandements fully laid foorth vnto vs a summe of all outward duties which in the sixe daies we ought to performe vnto him and in the due practise of both we may shew foorth the fruite of that knowledge acknowledgement faith feare and loue of God and all other inward graces which we haue bin taught to honour him with in our hearts by the first commandement Therfore as I said the duties inioyned vs in this third doe most fitly go with those of the two former that not onely in the time of preaching and prayer and such like exercises of religion but also in our common and vsuall speech and actions we declare what a worthie and reuerend estimation wee haue of the Lord as by speaking all good of his name word and workes and in our lawfull callings by ordering and behauing our selues wisely and graciously that al which liue with vs may see that our religion is ioyned with the power of godlines And that this bee done of vs in all estates and conditions of our life both in prosperitie and aduersitie and that as many as wee can preuaile with our owne familie and charge especially wee labour to perswade vnto the same yea and if wee at any time fall by infirmitie yet that wee acknowledge the same as cause requireth and so returne to the Lord againe as Iosua exhorted Achan to doe To be short Whether we eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we doe els all is to be done to the glorie of his name And in mentioning the commonest of our actions as our eating and drinking he excepteth none to the end that wee may carie our selues in a staied and well ordred course continually whilest wee shew that in the smallest matters and in our actions which seeme least weightie we be afraid to offend as in our common talke that it be sauourie and for edifying And seeing we vse the name of God very oft both in our common speech and particularly in an oth his mercie iustice wisedome and power are to moue our hearts as oft as we haue cause to speak of him with all high reuerence to vse the same But more especially when iust occasion of swearing by him is offered wee should diligently consider the person of the Lord how he is a reuenger of all such as take his holy name in vaine and the matter it selfe about which wee sweare that wee doe it in truth in righteousnes and iudgement In truth so that whatsoeuer be affirmed or denied may truly and for certaintie be affirmed or denied and whatsoeuer be vowed or promised be promised and vowed without fraud and simplie In righteousnesse that there bee a iust cause of our swearing and that which is agreeable to the will of God In iudgement that it bee done aduisedly not lightly or rashly but that we may take comfort in performing that great dutie aright namely that wee haue made knowne the truth which being made knowne by vs hath cut off some great doubt and controuersie And so should wee in the beholding of the workes of God as the firmament with the Sunne Moone and Starres the earth with her furniture as the corne grasse trees and her large prospect take sweete feeling of Gods Maiestie and beautie which shineth in them reioycing with reuerence that he hath giuen vs this cleere glasse to behold his face in although this wee must know that in all these inferiour creatures and workes of his wee see not any part of his throne but onely some part of his footstoole which should moue vs therefore in all our actions to beware of hypocrisie Seeing therefore we haue daily vse of these I thought good to make mention of them yet in as few words as I could so large matters how wee ought to vse them let the residue bee learned by ordinarie hearing those who being furnished with gifts fit for this purpose are appointed of God to make his people sound and skilfull in them that they may shew to the world that the honouring of God as it is set foorth in his word is another manner of life then the world is acquainted with and so bringeth another manner of honour to him and comfort to men then the imbracers and louers of the world can be partakers of Thus I haue spoken of the behauiour which inwardly and outwardly both in Gods holie worship and in our whole conuersation towards God directlie we are to shew in the whole sixe daies throughout our life That which followeth next is that part of holines obedience which is to be giuen to the Lord one day in seauen Nothing differing from all the three former sauing that all our owne workes though lawfull on other daies are on this day as much as is possible to be laid aside that is except in case of necessitie and the whole day to be bestowed in his worship and seruice and in things directly tending to the same So that by vertue of this part of Gods honour we are not restrained from our sinne onely which we are forbidden euery day but from common labour also which is an hinderance from the consecrating of the whole day vnto God And therefore lawfull workes being forbidden we may assure our selues that much more he condemneth the intermixting of vaine and foolish Enterludes and Playes with such like misspending of the time and the filling of mens mouthes as well as their heads with worldly cares and dealings to too common on that day although not tolerable on other But because the Lord knoweth how prone and readie we are to wearines of well doing therefore he hath not onely appointed some part of this day to be passed in publike and other some in priuate exercises of godlines but also he hath giuen vs great varietie of both sorts that so the whole time may be bestowed without tediousnes and toyle euen from our preparing our selues to the sanctifying of it at our vprising vnto the last duties at our lying downe which mercifull and wise regarde of his ouer vs if it cannot mooue vs to giue our selues to practise this part of holines whatsoeuer our excuses be we plainely shew that our mindes are earthly
to reape no fruite of it or being in suit of law wil lend his money to his aduersary to hold plea against him But such men are amongst vs I say not who take much paine to come to eternall life and yet are well inough content to goe without it For being louers of pleasures more then louers of God they knowe that they cannot haue it but as though the diuell were not strong enough to accuse and inchaunt them they doe negligently yea willingly offer him aduantage by keeping in a bad course though they know how to come out of it or grow worse and worse to their speedie confusion Or who is it which being warned out of his house yea and that in earnest manner will yet delay and neglect to seeke and prouide for himselfe till he be cast into the streete But concerning the matter which I deale in if mens prophane liues and slouthfulnes driuing off their repentance from day to day were but perpetuall beggery and going about all the dayes of their liues from doore to doore I would haue said nothing though it were pitifull to see any cast themselues into such misery but they sell themselues bondmen to hell without recouerie and are as stubble before the Lords wrath which is a fire to burne them and therefore it requireth more earnest calling vpon The Lord commended the vniust steward not for his particular act but because he had done wisely who when he had warning to be put out of his stewardship he prouided elsewhere to be receiued But such warning will not preuaile nor such wisdome fasten vpon these men vntill as they haue liued in pleasure and libertie of the flesh they die in sorrow and vtter bondage and so receiuing a iust recompence of their liues they finde though too late how true this is which I say And if this be the estate of many who yet doe commonly resort to heare Gods word who wil reade at home yea and haue praiers in their houses for this I am sure many of our countrie do whose case yet because I know I doe heartily bewaile for that the Christian life is not for all this aimed at almost in many of their actions good Lord what shall the estate of others be who come as farre behinde them as they doe behinde the best of Gods seruants euen those others I say who being the greatest part of the people are not troubled with any thought of God or diuell heauen or hell throughout the weeke but hauing their heads filled and their time continually taken vp in matters of the world and in hearing and telling newes and tales yet many of them nothing concerning themselues and leauing their callings doe busie themselues with other mens matters needlesly and spend many dayes in the weeke in idlenes prating vaine games and pastimes and cannot finde one houre in it to bethinke themselues of any account giuing to their heauenly Lord and maister though to that very end they are set here that once yet at last they might begin to returne vnto him But I haue taried longer about this matter then I meant Therefore leauing them who trouble not themselues greatly with godly exercises I will returne to such who are in profession and in shew farre before them and yet because they doe not hartily and faithfully seeke to be bettered I meane to be setled in a Christian life doe therefore reape no good by the meanes which they vse But some perhaps may thinke some hardnes in this speech and may obiect thus doe wee not therefore repaire to the word and vse good meanes to the end we may become faithfull and vpright and get good by them and haue not they who haue most profited in godlines attained vnto it hereby why then doe ye affirme they say and that to the discouragement of many that if our hearts be not reformed the meanes doe vs no good I answere that it is farre from my meaning to raise the least discouragement to any in whom if I knew but the smallest desire to be reconciled to God I would be most readie to cherish and to strengthen the same and he that exerciseth himselfe in reading hearing prayer God perswade him ten fold more if he desire to profit thereby neither doe I doubt but that such shall see in time to their great comfort that it is not in vaine to waite patiently on the Lord for a blessing vpon his own ordinance But this I say when men either thinke that they doe as much as they neede while they ioyne themselues to the exercises of religion and rest contented therein and see not that they are enemies to God vnder his curse and without faith and therfore without God in the world and see not their wants and emptines of grace how they are fraught with many sinnes vncontrolled and strong rebellions not restrained let not such looke to glorie in their meanes vsing their reioycing is not good their estate is wofull and that in no meane degree They may be said vnto as they of Laodicea were in the Reuelation by the holy Ghost Thou saist thou art rich and needest nothing and knowest not that thou art miserable and blinde and poore and naked I counsell thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire and eye-salue And marueile not that I haue said that such whose hearts are not purged by faith receiue no profit by the exercises of religion as might further be shewed by many more examples of Capernaum Corazin and Bethsaida For euen the deare children of God when they waxe wanton against the Lord and grow slouthfull in performing their duties to God or doe them in a sleighter manner then they sometime had done as he punisheth their transgressions other waies so doth hee this one way chastise them that they shall feele no sweetnes nor finde no sauour in the best things they shall doe or exercises of religion which they shall goe about And this it is that we heare many euen good people complaine of that they cannot profit at a Sermon their hearts are rouing elsewhere all the time almost of prayer reading is irkesome to them and they withdraw themselues euen from good companie All which with meditating about their estate were wont to bee the things wherein they tooke greatest delight and comfort what is the cause thinke wee that they are now become so contrarily minded Surely this they haue waxen wearie of their reuerent attending vpon God as all good things doth the flesh soone turne into wearines and begin after the manner of men with whom they liue to seeke their vnlawful libertie some way not being circumspect enough about y e keeping of the best things in price and estimation and when the Lord seeth this hee taketh from them the priuiledges which they enioyed before he dimmeth the light of their mindes that they see not so cleerely and shutteth vp their hearts that they
before in our course of liuing Also it is duly to bee regarded that wee applie that which we reade wisely to our selues seeing all that is contained in the Scriptures is written for our instruction and comfort as perswading our selues that all precepts of dutie and good life are set downe to direct vs not others onely to the practise of the same that all sinne is forbidden vs and that all the generall promises which we reade to be made to the Church are to bee beleeued of vs whether they appertaine to this present life or to the life to come and the comforts that accompanie them Likewise that all exhortations and admonitions quicken and stirre vs vp from coldnes deadnes and drousines and all reprehensions to checke vs for faults escaped and all threats to feare our boldnes and appale our securitie which is too easily and readily kindled in vs that so wee may make that vse of them which the Apostle requireth when he saith that all Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable to teach conuince to correct and instruct in righteousnes and thereof in matters as well concerning God as men and amongst men all particular kinds and therefore Prince and subiect noble and base men and women and more particularly in families husbands and wiues parents and children masters and seruants Thus to reade that thereby wee may be made fit vnto euery good worke and to glorifie God thereby is vndoubtedly to make our reading as it is appointed of God an especial helpe and meanes to grow forward in a godly life and therefore wee are commaunded to search the Scriptures and with the godly people of Berea to compare our hearings and our readings of them together For reading is much commended to be one of the three duties that make vs happie the Apostle saying thus Blessed is he that heareth and readeth and keepeth the contents of this booke But this one thing I cannot omit that the benefit and comfort of this exercise of reading being so great and the substance of the Scriptures being so brought to light as it is and such varietie of good bookes being granted vs of God that yet euen such as looke after eternall life delight so little in them I speake not of the prophane and vnruly whom nothing will moue to reade no nor so much as to heare Sermons till God make them see how they haue deceiued themselues But I am sure it is one speciall cause why heart is taken from many learned and godly men to set out any new workes in print seeing the professors of the Gospell doe bestow so little labour and time in reading of those which are extant alreadie And herein these two things I thinke meete to adde in regard of some Christians that such as haue not the gift of reading may endeuour to follow the foresaid rules by vsing the helpe of others exhorting all by their losse and discommoditie to haue reading in greater reckoning then it is with most at this day The second is that besides the former rules such as haue better helpes of vnderstanding memorie and leasure doe besides their publike hearing note their doubts and as they shall haue opportunitie seeke resolution of them at their learned pastors hands or of some others and mark the coherence of the Scripture how it hangeth together and the agreement that one place hath with another that thereby that which seemeth darke in one is made easie in another This shall suffice to haue said for making some better vse of reading then commonly men doe And though there are other things besides these which the learneder may take profit by yet they being more out of the reach of the greatest number of Christians they doe not so neerely nor necessarily concerne them And it must bee remembred that I propround not to say as much as may bee gathered together about reading but how it may bee profitably vsed to helpe the Christian to be fruitfull in a godly life And that which I haue said is auaileable thereunto For hee that shall consider how many waies the conscience is appeased the iudgement inlightened and inlarged the heart perswaded the memorie relieued the affections moued and in a word the whole man drawne by that which he may reade shall not neede to doubt how great the benefit of reading together with the other helpes is And that it being vsed as oft as possibly it may in such manner as hath bin prescribed and so many good things drunke in and receiued of vs as wee shall meete with in our reading who doubteth but it shall be a singular helpe and furtherance with the rest to a godly and Christian life For a mind well seasoned before shall be vndoubtedly better seasoned and refreshed when it shall vsually and oft drinke of the water of life out of the sweete fountaine of Gods word by reading And of the helpe of reading and so of al the ordinarie meanes both publike and priuate whereby a true Christian continueth a godly life and groweth to further ripenes and perfection therein thus much be said CHAP. 12. Of the extraordinarie helpes NOw follow the extraordinarie helpes which are not commonly nor daily in vse but sometime and that according to the extraordinarie occasions which the Lord offereth And these are especially two first solemne thanksgiuing and secondly fasting with prayer more then vsuall adioyned The first is when in some rare and vnlooked for deliuerance out of desperate danger wee doe by the commaundement of God and examples of the godly before vs in a most feruent manner yeeld praise to God for the same and reioyce heartily in the remembrance and consideration of it tying our selues as it were in a renuing of our holy couenant more firmely to the Lord and testifie both these by signes of vnfained good will to our brethren All which are to be seene most cleerely and liuely in that famous example of Hester and Mardocheus that I mention no other for breuitie sake who being with the rest of Gods people in those countries marked out and as sheepe appointed by Hamans subtiltie and cruell malice to be slaine did yet by prayer and fasting obtaine deliuerance when to mans iudgement all hope was past and not that onely but also their hearts desire against their aduersaries with great fauour of the King whom God had made of an heauie enemie a mightie friend and much wealth and prosperitie whereupon they caused a day and time to be appointed in the which the Lord might be praised and they might expresse their reioycing and send portions one to another to testifie their loue vnto them And this is that solemne thanksgiuing which I call one of the extraordinarie helpes to set vs forward in godlines which of all Gods people by the like occasion is to be offered vp to God differing as ye see apparantly from this dutie daily performed as in
Our exhorting one another is commaunded to be daily as we shall haue occasion howsoeuer the practise of it be straunge and out of vse with many Christians who yet are they which ought to vse it if any bee and this when wee haue opportunitie is to be vsed to supplie the roome of other helps which cannot then be well inioyed As for reading the booke of his law and speaking of the infinit wisedome of God reuealed in the same howsoeuer that place of Iosua doth not so precisely and strictly tie them to euerie daie as other scriptures doe to prayer thanksgiuing c. because the daie may possiblie be passed in the seruice and worshipping of God aright without that but not without these and a good Christian may necessarilie bee hindred from that by other duties for a time more necessarie yet who doubteth that euen that was commaunded by the Lord to be vsuall and oft that is so farre daily vsed as when more necessarie things in the way doe not occupie vs The same I say of publike hearing the word of God as may be gathered by that in the Prouerbs in these words Blessed is the man that watcheth daily at my gates and giueth attendance at the postes of my doores And the like is the saying of Saint Luke of the godly who were in Ierusalem that they continued daily in the temple hearing the Apostles doctrine I goe not about to tie any as I said to the vse of the same particulars euery daie which cannot possiblie be vsed euery daie but onely of those that may and of the rest but one or other that we may be well able to answere for the Christian passing of euery daie The summe therefore is this that God hath commaunded and in his word set downe so many parts of a daily direction for a Christian as by the which hee may bee guided holily and safelie through euery daie and therefore that one daie as well as another is to be consecrated vnto God and not left free to our selues to passe it as we thinke good and as too many in a very vnprofitable manner doe and yet such as professe the Gospell CHAP. 5. Of the fourth reason ANother reason for the perswading of vs to looke to the daily guiding of our selues in some certaine manner is for that hee who will let loose his heart any day or time of the day to any intemperance or vnlawfull libertie doth fall into some of Sathans snares and is caught with the deceitfulnes of sinne immediatly some way or other if he be not hardened also yea though he be the best of many hee shall finde to his cost how needfull the counsell of the Apostle is watch in all things and therefore at all times so that there shal be no time wherein he may cast off feare of euill that so he may be the man which is spoken of Blessed is he that feareth alwaies Yea he shall find that he is more weakened and indaungered by one daies negligence in little regarding his soule and his actions whiles other things of lesse value are carefully looked to then in an hundred wherein his care and conscience were continued besides that he shall not easily recouer himselfe againe For although God keepe his children from many euils while they desire it yet if they be secure hee leaueth them to themselues and doth punish their sinnes as he doth other mens And who would bee willing to haue his life filled with many feares disquiets reproches and such other crossings when he might be free and merrie But besides nothing is better prooued to vs then this that the enuious man watcheth all opportunities yea when men least suspect it to sow tares with the good seede to vnsettle them to steale away their heart and loue from God to giue it vnto creatures And therefore much more when we haue remitted our care and left off our watch whereby hee knoweth and seeth that we are now as an house swept and trimmed vp readie to receiue such a guest much more I say doth he then take his opportunitie to enter and keepe possession in vs more strongly and so depriueth vs of our former liberties And euen as Sampson when his lockes were clipped off was afraid and troubled at the voyce of his wife saying The Philistims be vpon thee Sampson but yet thought with himselfe I will arise and escape their hands as in times past but could not so when the diuell hath secretly stolne our hearts from our true treasure euen from attending vpon God and hath fixed them vpon some other thing as pleasure profit aduauncement or such like wee thinking to doe as in times past when we had our hearts at commandement doe goe about it in vaine For our strength which we had sometime is gone and we by seeking libertie amisse and shaking off the Lords yoke doe finde by experience the fruite of such follie I may more fitly call it madnes It is not therefore without cause that wee are so earnestly warned by the holie Ghost that we keepe our hearts with all diligence And againe Let thy heart be in the feare of the Lord continually which a man would thinke should be vnderstood by vs of one day as wel as another that it be not neglected at any time For although God will direct and guide vs in the way wherein he hath set vs as I haue said yet out of this way if we will needes waxe wearie of it we shall finde nothing but awknes and crossing of vs wandring and vncomfortablenes because that in no such state hath God promised to gouerne vs. But stirre vp the gifts of God which are in thee and that powerfull grace which thou hast receiued daily pray to haue renued in thee by such direction as may be giuen thee and thou shalt finde thy selfe to bee set forward with such ease as thou wilt beware that thou forgoe it not againe Moreouer if any would shake off this doctrine as sifting him more narrowly then he can well like of and therefore would for the seeking of more libertie to the flesh cauill at these Scriptures as misalleaged such an one must needes maintaine that there is some time and some daies more libertie giuen to man then at other times and on other daies But hee is driuen from that hold by manifest Scripture as hee is tied to a daily direction by the former For to the stopping of such mouthes is that written by the holy Ghost Take heede that there be not at any time in any of you an euill heart and so a departing thereby from the liuing God If not at any time then much lesse any day wherein are many times seeing it is manifest that there are many times yea houres in the day wherein the heart may start aside from God that is from doing his will So that nothing shall be gained by resisting the truth but it
case of many much lesse doe they one daie as well as another keepe an euen course for they omitting their care any one daie are the easilier brought to the like securitie many daies after Which men although I denie not but in some of their actions and at some time doe honour God highly and performe many duties well and that is for the most part when they haue been quickned by the preaching of the word or their owne meditation and prayer or reading c. yet they being vsually carried by such libertie taking to themselues farre out of the way doe pull downe againe that which they had builded and cause their holy profession to be ill spoken of and the former commendation of them to become ridiculous and are themselues soone vnsetled by euery light occasion dulled by worldlie dealings vnquiet by prouocations incensed to reuenge by iniuries and much estraunged from the life of godlines in many points whereas some proportion and sutable agreement should bee in the whole course of Christians And yet thus it will be as I haue said which is bad enough if it bee well weighed with such Christians as doe not learne how and seeke with all diligence to be able to preuent such daungers For they being subiect to the same infirmities occasions of offending and prouocations inward and outward vnto the which the best armed people of God are and yet not so afraide and suspitious of them not daily making it the chiefest matter to walke well fenced against them as the others doe which without a dailie and continuall watch as farre as frailtie will permit cannot bee they must needes finde much discontentment in their liues and discomfort as also far more loosenes and distemperature then the other doe Besides this they not accustoming themselues to any certaine course of walking with God nor following any direction to order their waies they doe bring this burthen vpon themselues that when they are fallen they lie long and hardly rise vp againe and make it also an harder matter for them to serue God as they were wont to doe vnlesse which is worst of all they make a light matter of sinne and so returne too hastily for mercie to God before they haue well weighed and considered their falles and offences And by this consider on the contrarie what the safetie of the other is who count Gods seruice perfit freedome and therefore will not be drawne from it at any time or if they fall yet lie not still because they haue setled themselues to be well guided daily Besides all that hath been said this appeareth cleerely that God looketh for it that Christians should euery daie be directed as well as some one daie by the order that he hath set in the tenne commaundements For whereas all dutie to bee performed of vs is either to bee shewed towards God or men he to teach vs in what sort and manner this is to bee done hath thus set downe his will vnto vs saying Concerning my selfe for the sixe daies throughout the weeke yeare your whole life worship and serue me both inwardlie and outwardlie as in the three first commaundements I haue bound you and on the seuenth daie as the fourth commaundement inioyneth And this is your direction in all dutie to me for euer Concerning men without any respect of any daie or particular time frame your selues daily and alwaies as the sixe last commaundements doe require Who doth not see that the Lord setting downe his minde in the commaundements after this manner hath of purpose set downe a perpetuall direction for his people throughout their pilgrimage For though all see it not neither consider it what then Shall the will of God be of no effect because of the ignorance of men but they who see the will and meaning of God aright in them see no lesse thē this that I haue said Neither let any obiect here that there is no other direction giuen vs then generally to follow the commandements for our guide seeing euery commandement is to be vnderstood spiritually and therefore reacheth to all particulars of that kind yea euen those which are inward For he setteth downe more then that namely that both on the sixe daies and euerie of them one euen course of worshipping and seruing him be vsed and aimed at in our particular actions and on the seuenth daie another perpetuallie to bee obserued on the sabboth for euer diuers from the former And because the duties that wee owe to men are in the sixe last commaundements indifferentlie on all the seuen daies to be performed therefore indifferentlie on the one as well as on the other and not at our pleasure when wee list or as we thinke good our care to practise and faithfullie endeuour after them is to bee continued and so the contrarie sinnes in like sort are to be renounced Now in that many of Gods people see it not to be thus nor make any such vse of it it is by reason of their ignorance of Gods will in the commaundements and vnwillingnes to take paine about the same and vnacquaintance with a daily endeuouring and setting themselues to the particular practising of dutie in euery commaundement according to their knowledge as euery one hath heard the same laid open vnto him But further that we should thus be fullie resolued euery daie to liue religiouslie and that in particular and not serue God by the grosse it is plainelie declared in the Epistle to the Galathians namely that we should not esteeme one day aboue another neither attribute holines to one more then to another and so neglect one in regard of another And although it may be said that they in so putting difference in daies did therein shew themselues superstitious but we are not so to bee iudged of though wee doe not as carefullie worship and obey God one daie as another I answere that both in that place and to the Colossians he rebuking that sinne of putting difference in daies doth condemne as well our securitie who seeke not to glorifie God as sincerelie and holilie on one daie as another as their superstition who groslie thought one daie holier then another And consequentlie looke what certaine and cleare rules the Scripture giueth vs for directing our liues one daie the same must conscionablie bee applied to euery daie And in this respect the sabboth it selfe though appointed by God to holie exercises more then other yet is neither in it selfe holier then other nor we to thinke that we may be lesse holie on other daies then on that but so to looke to our hearts and our waies that although euery daie cannot bee as the Sabboth through want of the helps which on that daie we may inioy and by reason of many hinderances which fall out on other daies rather then on it yet wee should endeuour to walke in the sanctification of our hearts and innocencie of life on the other daies as
our whole course And therefore to see how this forme of daily direction is drawne out of the word of God let euery part of the whole proue and testifie vnto vs. CHAP. 9. Of the illustration or more full declaration of the former part of the direction FOR the first point that we must be displeased with our selues and humbled for our sinnes euery day as ignorance deadnesse of heart rashnesse vncharitablenesse and wrath or any other that shall giue vs occasion yea euen the body of sin it selfe that verse of the Psal 51.3 doth proue where Dauid seeking pardon of his sinne acknowledged it to God saying I know mine iniquity my sinne is euer before me thē no day to be forgotten So the Apostle saith the sunne must not go downe vpon our wrath meaning thereby that we must soone forget and forgiue and compound our controuersies and breake off our strife and not lie therein till the euening therefore daily confesse and be humbled for thē which cannot be done we know to the pleasing of God except our harts be broken with relenting and melting for them And if the sunne may not go downe vpon our wrath neither by the like reason any other sinne may be suffered to lurke or abide any such time in vs who doth not see that it should be a good part of our care throughout the day both to cast out such draffe as we haue drunke in by lamenting our estate euen as it ought to be another part of it to hold and keepe it out And if Iob when his sonnes and daughters did feast together for the preseruing of loue euery day in their course if he I say did command them to sanctifie and cleanse themselues euery day and did in like manner offer burnt offerings for them himselfe euery morning because he thought they had some way displeased God would he thinke we on other dayes when they were like more to offend count it a needlesse matter for himselfe or them to do the like which clearly teacheth vs that we should purge and cleanse our hearts from all such sin as might infect them euen euery day we should do this I say as well as vpon any one seeing there is cause and need euery day and when we go through the day in the best maner that it may be passed new guilt by sin ariseth against vs that if Dauid for his great grieuous sins did euery day wash his bed water his couch with teares for a space as he testifieth can we thinke but that he kept some proportiō on the other daies although he had not euer the same particular cause in lamenting bewailing and acknowledging his sins especially seeing we reade of him that three times in a day his vsuall maner custome was to praise and pray vnto God And if the wicked are said not to be vp and readie any day as the Prophet speaketh vntill they haue wrought some mischiefe so naturall and ordinarie a matter it is with them should any doubt but that we should hold it for one peece of our chiefe worke daily to cast downe our selues before the Lord and to humble our selues in the heartie confessing of our sinnes And it was one of the principall things that God meant to teach vs by the morning and euening sacrifice prayer daily in the lawe of ceremonies But I would all good Christians did as duly and conscionably perfourme this dutie to God euery day and bind themselues resolutely thereto as the word of God doth clearely proue that they ought to do so as for them who may please themselues in outward humbling of the bodie and confession of the mouth in a word they must know that the chiefe glorie of it is inward The second point followeth namely that euery day we ought to be raised vnto a cheareful and liuely beleeuing that our sinnes thus bewailed confessed and repented of are forgiuen and freely remitted vnto vs for and through the onely and sufficient satisfaction of Iesus Christ And for the proofe of this it is sufficient that these two are neuer parted but go together as Peter saith Repent and ye shall receiue the forgiuenesse of your sinnes and in Hosea the people were thus taught to seeke and come by it Returne vnto the Lord from your iniquities and then say to the Lord Take away all our iniquitie and receiue vs graciously and he will heare your rebellion and loue you freely for his anger is turned away from you And our Sauiour commanded his Apostles to abide in his loue euen as they had tasted how sweet it was Now then if euery day we ought to turne from our sinnes we ought also euery day to embrace the promise of mercie Besides in that the Church of God is taught this for an article of her faith to beleeue her sinnes to be forgiuen and the articles are firmely and constantly to be holden and beleeued and all vnbeleefe is sinne at any time therefore as we are to be raised vp by faith in Christs merites that our sins are pardoned now euen so we are at other times and one day as well as another to be so vpholden Againe as in our common prayer which is called the Lords which serueth for euer to square out our prayers by and therefore for euery day the word this day is expressed seruing for euery day of our life that wee may know that there is no day of our life wherein this prayer in effect is not to be made no day wherein we pray not for our daily bread euen all necessaries for this present life so is there no day in which we aske not and so in which we ought not to enioy it by faith I meane the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And if euery morning Gods mercies be renewed of which this is chiefe then we also must in the same manner imbrace them by faith as our owne and so partake them So that this bindeth the conscience also as the former that euery day the true Christian must be perswaded of the pardon of his sinnes and that no day he should loose his part in so great a treasure though it is to be feared that many good Christians enioy it not Neither indeed can this second rule be faithfully obserued and kept but it will cause all the other to be well looked too and regarded Bring we therefore our hearts daily to count it our treasure that so they may delight in it for where our treasure is there will they be also and then we haue well and wisely prouided for our selues in that day and our greatest toyle is ouer as they say for the whole day following And this will be done if as it is the greatest of all other so we resolue that none is greater with vs. To speake more largely of these pointes here is not my purpose for that they haue bene handled before in the first and third
treatise onely thus much to referre this beleeuing of pardon to euery day And this is here to be looked for of the reader that euery one of the points and partes of this daily direction the which I haue taught in other parts of this booke how they should be attained and come by must be kept of a Christian euery day The third point is that when we shall be strongly haled after sinne for we must know that euery day giues occasion thereof that we so account of the libertie of our hearts and minds to keepe them well disposed and armed against all sinne and most of all our speciall infirmities that we let them not loose at any time in the day to be hardened with the deceitfulnesse of any sinne but kept with all diligence posssible from the loue and liking thereof that so our outward actions may be well ordered Therefore is that charge giuen in the Epistle to the Hebrewes that our hearts be not made nought and rebellious at any time and therefore by consequent on any day whiles we suffer them to be hardened with the deceitfulnesse of sinne And agreable to this the Lord in Deuteronomie aunswering Moses when he brought him word that the people would willingly be ruled by him although before they refused so to be said This people hath said well all that they haue said but oh that there were an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe all my commandements alwaies then it should go well with them So that we must see such necessitie of holding maisterie ouer our hearts and keeping them in feare of offending that we may make a daily practise of it and so keepe them for continuance neither can we otherwise shew our selues to regard that waightie charge of the Lord giuen vnto vs Thou shalt worship the Lord with all thy heart and soule For they who are euery while off and on vnsetled in their harts can neuer be long well ordered in their liues therefore the Lord requireth this constancie that we must euery while be looking to them euen alwaies that so we may be out of daunger Behold how needfull a thing this is to keepe and hold this maisterie ouer our hearts daily when nothing goeth well forward where they with the affections of them be not well ruled But this shall be shewed in the next section following Neither let men obiect their necessarie businesse though they will not pleade for carnall libertie they say and multitudes thereof which will distract their hearts I aunswer of multiplicitie of earthly dealings which will hinder holy peace let wise Christians beware and so doing if as farre as they are able they set themselues to haue care of all parts of Christian obedience their hearts shall in good manner prouide thereby for the well ordering of their earthly businesse also which is one part of it and none of the meanest Now from this heart well gouerned the next two points as two armes of a tree from the bodie or stocke do issue and come The first that we shold euer keepe from euill which shall not be hard if alwaies and euery day we be held in feare of offending as we are directed before The second that we alwaies indeuour to please God and therefore in all things and as was said in Deuteronomie to keepe all his commaundements which all may see cannot be if we haue not our hearts so prepared to seeke the Lord that we may be readie in one dutie as well as in another to shew our selues obedient All which three namely 1. to haue a heart to feare God 2. to flie euill 3. and please him in all things in that one Scripture before mentioned are required daily to be found in vs so there is no man but may easily see reason why it should be thus first seeing the one cannot be without the other secondly the keeping of such agreablenesse betwixt our hearts and liues is our beautie and honour And on the contrarie it is most harsh and offensiue when they which beare a faire shew and are content somtimes to be gouerned shal yet at other times be nothing so I will say somewhat the more of these two seeing it is one of the chiefest causes why I entred into this present treatise as may appeare by that which I haue alreadie said namely that the Christian should be euery day free from all reprochfull euill insomuch as if by any occasion he be turned out of the way yet he should speedily returne and also that he should be daily giuen vnto euery good worke watching his oportunitie thereto that so he may haue a good conscience in all things and may bring foorth much fruite that God may be glorified Yet I meane not that he should spend the whole day in reading prayer hearing of Sermons or other religious exercises excepting the Sabbath but in one lawfull thing or other about his calling or any other in stead thereof which may be as well defended and as pleasing to God as the duties of his calling More particularly to appoint or prescribe is hard and this is plaine enough for euery true beleeuer to vnderstand and apply vnto himselfe for I exclude not the commonest and meanest seruices and workes so as they be such as God alloweth and without vitious affections gone about of him as in the man plough and cart sowing and reaping and all worke thereto belonging if he be called thereto or other worke in the man of occupation as he hath bene trained vp and fitted for as also all prouision of things necessarie to the maintenance of his familie by lawfull skill and honest meanes and paying and receiuing of that which is due In the woman to haue care that all be frugally and thriftily done within the house and without which is vnder her hand that she be diligent to see her children christianly brought vp according to their age her houshold to haue all that is meete in due season and more particularly among the rest spinning sowing knitting being done as to the Lord and being those works which he appointeth them and such like are commendable that they may be neither idle nor vnprofitable And these I name in some particular manner lest any should thinke that I go about any new-found out holinesse to tye Christians vnto as some will be ready inough to imagine and thinke when they shall see and vnderstand that they must euery day be well occupied which few will be tied to and doing of one good duty or other And yet this I adde that as these and such like must be done and in one or other of them the sixe dayes must be bestowed yet I say this must be added that all these lawfull workes must be done of them in faith that is they must know that God commandeth such workes to be done of them and therefore they do them readily and willingly not
fell asleepe notwithstanding his sinne after he was told of the great danger which did then hang ouer him These and such like whiles they are secretly brought vpon the people of God do they not thinke we manifestly proue that Sathan hath beguiled them And whiles he bringeth them to this point doth he not greatly deface the beautie of a godly life in them Do not some of them feare that they are departed from God vtterly no more to returne though this I say should not be And they who go not so farre from sound iudgemēt are they not yet much appalled where is their former peace and spirituall reioycing in God their portion what is become of their constancie in watchfulnesse and holy care where is their strong confidence which they should not cast away their feruent prayers their fruitfulnesse in sundry duties when they feele themselues neither fit to be in company nor to be occupied in their calling nor without danger to be alone by themselues I thinke these are the fruits of lamentable wants in such good things as sometime they inioyed and not bare wants for such shall the best of vs haue whiles we liue and yet not be without peace nor vnsetled but these which I haue spoken of both vnsetle and distemper them whom the Diuell oppresseth with them So that it may truly be sayd that this is one speciall kind of lets whereby he hindreth the going forward of Gods people euen in holding them from constancie and stedfastnesse in liuing godly from day to day and from renuing their couenant with God from time to time without which grace it is not possible for them to be free from sore blemishes and inward vexation and outward reproach thereby which the beloued of the Lord should be farre from And although through Gods tender kindnesse whereby he keepeth them that they be not vtterly forsaken and will keepe them to the end although I say through this goodnesse of God all these turne to their good yet that is not long of them or of their securitie and sleight seruing of God the Diuell intending no other thing thereby but the dishonor of God and their ouerthrow If any shall say There are none but go aside these waies I answer It is therefore the more necessarie that we should be warned thereof and fenced against them And by this it may appeare what a maine let and hindrance this is to Gods people from a Christian life to be destitute of direction how to please God and thereby to be vnsetled and wander in their course of liuing as though there were no certaine way appointed them of God The remedie to all these is appointed by God and brought to light by his word and inioyed and practised of sundrie of his faithfull seruants who were sometime kept voide of it by the enuious man as euen many thousands of them are still by his malice depriued thereof vnto this day And this remedy is first that we suffer our selues easily to be perswaded that all our speeches in the commendation of a godly life in generall are but wind except we faithfully indeuour to bring it into practise euerie day and therefore prouide as we may be taught and that aboue all other things to giue to euerie part of the day some duty or when we be weakest that we mind no euill as in the former Treatise of my booke I haue proued seeing the Lord in appointing the day to the seuerall actions which are to be done in it doth not passe by and omit these wherein men thinke they haue greatest libertie to forget God namely eating and drinking but yet with them extendeth his charge to all other things also saying Whether we eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we do else let all be done to the praise of God Is it not for this cause that we are rebuked of our Sauiour saying The children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light c. namely for our improuident and shiftlesse regard of our growing on in a christian course to heauen-ward when yet the men of the world if they be disappointed of their earthly commodities one way will shift for them another If we find this impossible in all points shall we therefore yeeld and giue place and seeke shelter for our vntoward hearts which would do no more in the seruice of God then we haue done in times past or shall we ayme vnto no further perfection then we list And if there be hardnesse in practising some part of christian duties at the beginning yet let there be no resistance against it but our wants acknowledged that we may see the greater cause to grow forward yea and know we that the worke that we haue euery day to do euen our chiefest and onely worke is to see God truly serued and honoured of vs in one thing or other For such as cannot better direct themselues I haue indeuoured to be some helpe vnto them in the former treatise vntill a perfecter may be come by This or any other which thou approuest in thy conscience vse reuerently and acquaint thy selfe with it and thou shalt find it sweet and gainefull leaue not off the practising of the rules of it or the like by litle and litle for then shalt thou neuer gather any sound experience of the good that is gotten therby but as thou mayest obserue it better and better and so become more expert in it so doing although thou shouldest sometime be turned out of the way yet thou shalt by one part or other of it learne how to returne againe For doth a man go out of the way and not returne againe Yea tye thy selfe resolutely to a daily walking with God in faithfulnesse for it is as a watch tower to keepe from daunger and as an hand continually to hold vp from falling and constantly giue credit vnto him that as he hath promised to his rest with himselfe for euer so he will also keepe them by his power to the day of resurrection This confidence being preserued and heartie prayer oft vsed and watchfulnesse against thine especiall infirmities with oft and due considering what a precious treasure this course of life is shall preserue thee against this wandring course which Sathan intendeth to bring thee into by which thou shalt be vnsetled in the seruing of God the least euill whereof is vnquietnes of mind or idlenesse and vnsetlednesse if not hardnesse of heart These remedies the better and longer time that thou hast had experience of the more thou shalt perceiue the diuels force to be weakened towards thee and thou canst not be greatly indaungered except thou beest slouthfull in exercising of them And that do they proue vnto vs who although they are not altogether voide of them yet they thinke it too much to make them daily armour vnto them alleadging for themselues that this is euen to deny to Christians the libertie
which God hath giuen them And therefore at this stay they keepe and will not be drawne from it till God bewray to them more clearely the diuels subtiltie in holding them there and what they haue lost by the hote maintaining of their vaine liberties that which they lose for them being far more precious and how for want of daily and more heartie embracing of these good meanes they are driuen by experience to see and confesse that they were kept long in bondage If therefore through our neglect of these we be otherwise fallen into Sathans hands then we were wont there is no other remedie but that we beare our punishment for a season euen heauinesse and reproch because we haue sinned but although we haue thus fallen yet let vs rise againe and that betimes for he hath smitten vs and he will heale vs. Let vs not harden our harts against God when he hath so iustly chastised vs but as humble children let euery of vs say My father my father we are ashamed that we haue turned aside from thee for why should we prouoke our God any while after wee once see his frowning face beginning to arise vpon vs we being his sonnes and daughters vnlesse we thinke it a small thing to haue him frowne vpon vs I stand the longer in this point because I haue experience by many how hardly they dare or can be perswaded to craue pardon with confidence after that they haue bene caried by their rebellious hearts to offend in somewhat which they knew to displease him Of whose weakenesse regard must be had and for such especially haue I taken this labour in hand though I know that for such as haue experience lesse might haue serued And yet whose case soeuer it shall be of vs all in triall we shall find it no easie matter after carelesse or wilfull offending of God to haue immediatly vpon the sight thereof relenting and tender-hartednesse and when we durst a litle while before prouoke him so soone after to be bold to beleeue in him that euen that so great a trecherie shall be pardoned for canst thou beleeue forgiuenesse of thy sinne who beleeuest not that thou must forsake sinne No no relenting commeth not by and by in the best who haue thus offended God but hardnesse of heart till after awhile when there hath bene a considering of the matter and of the state in which they are that so they may waxe ashamed of their so great vnkindnesse But otherwise where there is boldnesse in sinning there is no strength in beleeuing Thankes be vnto God for his vnspeakeable mercie that many of these times fall not out to his deare seruants who are resolutely prepared to stand vpon their watch for it is an heauie worke when that betideth vs and they who see not this see litle in the mysterie of godlinesse And as I would haue my good brethren farre from lying still and abiding in vnbeliefe at such a time when they haue cast themselues into it by their owne default so yet to let all bold presumers vpon God and abusers of his mercie vnderstand that Gods bountifulnesse is not set foorth in the Scriptures to adde drunkennesse to thirst in men and to giue them libertie to sinne who are alreadie too forward that way this I say That as the people of Israel perceiuing God to be iustly displeased with them for their trespasse of the calfe and therefore remouing the tabernacle where his presence was a farre off from them and their tents they durst not presume to go to the tabernacle to seeke the Lord who in displeasure was departing from them but they sought him a farre off that is standing in their tent doore and worshipping so let those who see their shame and nakednesse by sinning against God blush and be ashamed yet because he neuer taketh away his louing kindnesse from those whom he loueth let them shew themselues as guiltie persons though at the first afarre off and with much difficultie to seeke vnto him that they may be receiued againe And thus I haue made mention of the first let which hindreth from godly life euen the want of daily direction to serue God by and haue shewed how Sathan holdeth Christians in daungerous vnprofitablenes by keeping them vnsetled in a godly course and withall haue set downe some helpe against the same CHAP. 6. Of another let The leauing our first loue NOW followeth the second let in this first sort that is that many such as do hold on in some Christian course do yet lose and fall from their first loue not for a short time as they before mentioned but euen for years dayes as they say whē yet they hauing once receiued it of the Lord at their first effectuall calling and conuersion it ought to grow vp with them and accompanie them throughout their life to make euery part of it more sweet and comfortable And great reason there is why it should be so for if we be truly conuerted vnto God the longer that we haue bene trained vp in his house which is the militant Church and tasted of the diet of his seruants how good it is in comparison of any other the more we had need to take liking of his seruice and with all chearefulnesse to liue in it afterwards which at our first entrance we saw so great cause to like and approue of In so much that although wee shall haue strong perswasions to waxe wearie and slouthfull therein yet there are many more and greater considerations to moue vs to constancie and good liking in the same But that it may the better be seene what our first loue is I will in fewe words lay foorth the same We are to know therefore that when God first called vs from darknesse to light and from vnder Sathans tyrannie and feare of hell to see our selues deliuered from them which we saw were by our sinne due vnto vs and that yet for all that he would pardon our sins receiue vs graciously and loue vs freely whereas before we were his enemies this astonished vs and after due consideration inflamed our hearts and caused vs to admire this kindnesse of his and to esteeme and preferre it before all pleasures and to haue our hearts knit to him for it for this loue of his constrained vs to loue him most feruently and dearely againe Which our Sauiour Christ knowing well asked of Peter in that case if he loued him not more then the rest euen as Dauid also calling the same to mind brake out into these wordes saying I loue the Lord because in the sorrowes of death he heard and deliuered me Thus when we first saw the exceeding loue of God and Christ to vs we could not I say but loue him sensibly and heartily and therefore our brethren and so his word and Ministers that brought vs tidings of it for we no sooner beleeued but faith that worketh by loue
but carefully seeke oportunitie to muze vpon it by our selues or commune of it with others as our small abilitie will suffer vs or both And when we shall haue learned to put in vre this part of the remedy we intend to marke how this with the former doth bring our minds better in frame that we may both take incouragement in beholding any fruit to continue it and in seeing the contrary to marke where the fault lieth that it may be remoued And to sharpen our desire to heare and reade the more willingly seeing there is much vntowardnesse in our nature to such exercises and we haue strong temptations to perswade vs that it is as needlesse as we feele it irkesome we haue seene it necessary for vs to stirre vp our dulnesse not onely by the commaundement of God that we should search the Scriptures and so reade thē that we shold giue eare daily to the Apostles doctrine and therfore heare the same in season and out of season that by both the word of God may dwell plentifully in vs but also to haue in fresh memory the power of the Scriptures which besides that they are able to saue our soules so they can fill vs with goodnesse and comfort euery way as we shall haue need and haue done so often in times past vnto vs. For many times we haue bene brought so low in feeling of any present cōfort to such a barrennesse emptinesse of all good instructions sometime which was worst of all to such an vnsauourinesse in the good things of Gods word and so vnapt and vntoward to them that we thought in our weaknesse it would neuer be otherwise with vs yet when we haue come againe to the ministerie of the word the Lord hath scattered our darknesse raised vs out of our deceiueable dumpes and drowsinesse and shewed vs ioy and comfort againe so that we haue bene taught thereby that this is the fountaine which refresheth vs in our vnsatiable thirsts and cooleth the heate of our sinne and finally giueth greater grace then Sathan for all his subtilties and tyranny And further because experience hath taught vs that we easily lose that in the world amongst the manifold incombrances discouragements and dealings thereof which we learned of the Lord by any good meanes we haue faithfully couenanted for the better keeping of our hearts watchfull and safe frō euill once in the day if it be possible to set apart a time from all other law full and necessary duties for meditation and priuate prayer to the seasoning of our hearts with grace and to the stablishing of them against all temptations afflictions and other hinderances Not to free our selues hereby from other times of communing with the Lord as occasions shall be offered necessity shal require but because our vntoward harts would otherwise draw vs altogether to breake off this duty if we should not determine of some speciall time therefore one quarter of an houre or as euery one shall find himselfe able we haue seene meete to appoint hereunto if we can haue good oportunity that is to say if God giue vs minds fitly disposed thereto and minister profitable and plentifull matter accordingly or if we faile in both so much the more to take occasion by our present wants and infirmity to repaire vnto God And because the morning when we arise is both meetest to be imployed that way as wherein our minds are best able to thinke vpon heauenly matters when we haue not yet bene about our worldly affaires and for the most people the best time that may be spared therefore we haue purposed to allot the first part of the day thereunto with this prouiso that if through necessarie occasions we should be hindered from it we may yet carefully performe it on some other part of the day And although at the first we shall see some vntoward beginnings herein by which discouragement from the continuance hereof might arise yet we resolued with our selues that it is some profiting to begin though in weaknesse and there is hope that good proceedings and great shall come euen of small beginnings being faithfully entred into And if by these meanes we should not become better seasoned in our harts it is litle to be hoped for that other meanes should do vs the good that we haue need of But when the day is thus begun that wisedome communeth with vs in the morning and awaketh vs with heauenly salutations we are for the most part kept more sober and continent from all out-straying the whole day following for when good things either concerning the life to come and the glory of it or the vanity and change of this present life are deeply digested and throughly thought vpon it is no small occasion to make vs more stranger-like to this present world and to cary about vs greater freedome ouer our secret corruptions And because it is hard especially for priuate persons to haue alwayes matter in a readinesse which is profitable to meditate vpon for he that shall be furnished herewithall must be one which hath a daily obseruation of his life without the which grace euen the learneder sort shall be to seeke therefore some points were set downe for those which are least able to helpe themselues that by some few of those which are very fit auaileable they may set themselues on worke and by them learne to find out others like vnto them which do most nearly tend to the well ordering of the life By which meanes appointed and found out for their helpe and furtherance if yet vnfitnesse of mind an vntoward heart shall hold them backe being troubled with cares of the world or deceiued with dreames of vaine pleasures which make the meditation of heauenly matters loathsome they are to know that they can haue no better occasion offered them to the performing of this duty then for them to complaine of and seeke redresse euen against this euill and earthly heart of which they presently complaine and as they can bring that vnder so to proceed in musing of and praying for such grace as they shall see most needfull Lastly we concluded to obserue what fruite we reape by these remedies what release of our strong and vsuall maladies and diseases what weakning of any such lusts as sometimes had strongly preuailed against vs Also what liking we find of this manner of dealing with our selues or contrarily whether we feele any watchfulnesse ouer our hearts throughout the day since we entred into this couenant and whether any bettering of our waies by the same whether in company we haue bene more wary of taking or doing good according to the occasion offered in our dealings more carefull not to be found offensiue And weekly and by daies to marke it and to communicate our estate with some faithfull brother with whom we may freely and faithfully open and impart our whole course what meanes and how farre foorth we vse them what we see cause
yoong man in Ecclesiastes They will reioyce in their youth and inioy the delights of sinne though it be but for a season But they marke not that answere to him in the Gospell Thou in thy life time receiuedst thy pleasure therefore now thou art tormented nor to the yong man by the Preacher what was said Know that for all these things God will bring thee to iudgement No such thing I say they do consider but all that they obserue is this How the better that men are for the most part the lesse they are set by as it is said I haue seene the iust to perish in his iustice and the lesse men fashion themselues after this present world the lesse they may they see depart from a good conscience and be merrie after the common maner which these obiecters count an irkesome and tedious thing Againe they see that as the most part of men among whō the godlie liue haue them in some indignation and vile acount so that they doe by meanes thereof sustaine mocks taunts checks and complaints before their betters with cruell threatnings and in persecution times that they are conuented imprisoned railed on yea and oft times put to death These things I say they only looke at with carnall eyes and therefore are easily brought to beware that they come not neere their course but they neither consider that they suffer for righteousnesse sake and therefore that they are blessed neither that they themselues and such as they are liue in darkenesse and after the lust of their eie and heart and that their pleasures wanze away as the cracking of thornes vnder a pot and afterward they must come to their heauie and vnwelcome account Besides this though they haue sorrow and vexation dailie in their liues by meanes of their sinne vnlesse they breake it off through foolish mirth and vanitie for a while yet partly they see it not neither count it any as to be cast into fretting frowardnesse strife debate c. And if they doe purchase any trouble by their deserts ill doings as shame charge by the purse and other punishment yet they will chuse to suffer much this way rather than they will be driuen from their will and the inioying of their fond liberties And now let all wise men iudge what these kinds of men haue gained by following their sinfull course let I say the vttermost of their gaine and pleasure be considered and what troubles they haue shunned in shunning to liue godly But when they haue done seeing the Lord hath sufficiently confirmed this that plagues abide the vngodly that they may be sure of it that their sin shall finde them out let none looke to prouide well for himselfe that way namely to shunne and be farre from the sincere practise of a religious and godly life to the end he may be free from troubles for he can no other way more certainly and speedily multiplie them And whereas it is obiected that the best of Gods seruants are not free from troubles but suffer much for their profession and a good conscience it is granted But their troubles for those causes are of another kinde namely fatherly chastisements to holde them in from perishing with the world or trials of their patience faith and other graces of God in them or such as they suffer for good causes and so weepe and lament when the world is iocund and mery and therefore they turne euer to their profit as I shall haue occasion to shew more plentifullie in another place more fit for that purpose And to conclude let all know this that though a sinner doe euill an hundred times and God prolongeth his daies yet that it shall be well with them that feare the Lord and doe reuerence before them And thus much of the first point in this second branch of this priuiledge that the godly may liue void of manie and great troubles and therefore that such as doe not may thanke themselues for it whether we vnderstand inward distrust and feare or outward punishments that are fruits of sinne CHAP. 10. Of the second branch of this priuiledge concerning the afflictions of the faithfull namely That God deliuereth them out of manie when the wicked still remaine in theirs THe second point is that they may also assure themselues that the Lord will deliuer them and that of very fauour out of many troubles though they see not how euen as I haue shewed that some shall not touch them at all For although they themselues see not how nor any other likelihood but that they shall long oppresse them yea vtterly consume them yet euen then doth the Lord know how to deliuer them and hath many waies which we could not see to rid them out of so great calamities and so he doeth either before they haue long lien vpon them or at least before they haue beene driuen to any extremitie by them and before they haue had their course as in the deliuerances of Dauid mentioned 1. Sam. 19.20.23.24 26. chapters thorowout is to be seene And this he doth as oft as it is expedient when in the meane season he dealeth not so with the vnbeleeuers but when the other escape they come many times in their roome as the wise man saith The godly escape out of trouble by the Lords deliuering of them and the wicked are come in their stead Now for proofe of that which I said that God deliuereth them out of many what is more plaine then that which the prophet saith If the Lord had not beene on our side may Israell now say if the Lord had not been on our side when men rose vp against vs they had then swallowed vs vp quicke when their wrath was kindled against vs c. But praised be the Lord who hath not giuen vs a prey vnto their teeth Our soule is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fouler the snare is broken and we are escaped The Apostle prooueth it also in his words We would not haue you ignorant brethren of our affliction which came vnto vs in Asia how we were pressed out of measure passing strength so that we altogither doubted euen of life but God deliuered vs from so great a death and doth deliuer vs in whom we trust also that he will deliuer vs. The dangers of Gods people vnder the gouernment of king Ahashuerosh who knoweth not How had that wicked Haman by malice and subtiltie obtained of the king commission to take their goods and put them to death The day was set and all preparation made for the bringing of it to passe and yet before it could be effected how did the Lord at the humble sute of Mardocheus and the Queene Hester in prayer and fasting seeking vnto him turne away the plague from them and deliuering them bring their enemies and Haman the first of all the rest as he was the chiefest into
it as they are directed and as many of them also haue done sometime that they may see themselues to goe forward I appoint to them no new or strange way but faithfulnesse and constancy in keeping of that which already hath beene shewed them and the same or like direction for the daily gouerning of themselues which hath already bene set downe to them assuring themselues that God will not be wanting from time to time in blessing the same vnto them Then as the corne rooted in good ground through the blessing of God by seasonable weather becommeth farre vnlike that in few moneths which it was at the new comming vp and appearing aboue the ground so shall they by the same meanes daily continued reuerently and in faith become farre vnlike themselues which they were at their first beginning and they shall finde as I haue said through the same shine and dew of Gods blessing that increase which before they neuer looked for But seeing there are many of Gods deere seruants who being by the malice of the diuill either altogether depriued of teaching or seldome taught or not so taught that they may grow heere I am inforced to bewaile their estate and mourne with them exorting all such that as they see any further light and liberty then in times past so they indeauour to goe forward though they cannot attaine to that which others may And withall I say vnto the other which may profit better as hauing greater helpes that they forslow not the time nor neglect to reape the benefit daily which thereby is offered them For as in the glory of the kingdome of heauen the highest degree of happines shall be inioied because men shall then be wholly subiect vnto God and obey him willingly in all things so the next is to be more subiect to his will and in more things and vpon better ground and to be better acquainted with the minde of God and his secrets then in times past which may make them more forward then when they first beleeued As for them which thinke there is no nearer fellowship to be inioied with God while they are heere on earth then they themselues haue attained vnto nor any greater measure of grace then they are partakers of let them inioy their opinion alone till they be ashamed of it let vs rather hope to the further glorifying of God to see that to be our ordinary diet which hath beene sometimes our banquetting cheere I meane to be able better and better to reioice in all things that we goe about through the day whereas sometime we could scarsely doe it at any time in the day and in nothing be discouraged whiles we haue the Lord both in precept and promise to goe before vs. Little perswasion should need heereunto if mens hearts were set vpon this Christian course as they are vpon deceitfull vanities It is not seene with bodily eie and therefore slender credit is giuen to it It is almost vnknowen what bewty and contentation the beleeuing soule findeth in it and therefore in small request no not with many of the better sort and therefore few grow vp to that which they might But ô earthly peace and prosperity an especiall occasion of this through the deceitfulnesse of the heart how hast thou wounded many with thy outward and flattering looke by meanes whereof they cannot loue that which should be their greatest glory And of this priuiledge thus much CHAP. 13. Of the ninth priuiledge That the beleeuers shall perseuere vnto the end NOw out of this proceedeth another as necessarily as it selfe ariseth out of the former and that is Perseuerance vnto the end and continuance in faith and repentance For as he which groweth to excell himselfe in all goodnesse must first of necessitie make a beginning be rooted wel setled therein so he which increaseth daily more and more shall at length make a good end proportionable at least vnto his course of life For the faithfull Christian hauing obtained of the Lord a delight in his seruice and by the same a proceeding from grace to grace he maketh an easie way for him to perseuerance graunting this vnto him as another priuiledge That he shall not reuolt and turne aside with the workers of iniquitie but shall holde out in this holy course vnto his end This appeareth to be true by the Scripture which saith Hee which hath begun this good worke in his will also finish and make an end of the same Agreeable heerunto is that saying of our Sauior This is the Fathers wil which hath sent me that of all which he hath giuen me I should lose nothing but should raise it vp againe at the last day And againe None shall take them out of my hands Therefore if God will finish the worke that he hath begun in his children if he will keepe them safe vntill all danger be past that is to the day of the resurrection and if none shall take them out of his hands it is manifest that all such as are grafted into Christ by faith and who haue beene effectually called into the number of Gods children through the preaching of the Gospell vnto the sure and certaine hope of eternall life setting their faces daily toward the same shall be safely conducted home and abide in the same estate vnto the end But as great a benefit as it is That they shall continue to the end yet if the Lord would hide it from them and keepe them from the knowledge of it it should be much lesser and therfore this is further to be added that they which know themselues to be the Lords may also know that they shall be preserued and kept safe against all aduersarie power of the deuill and his instruments and so perseuere vnto the end For although it seeme to be a mysterie and a secret that the determinate will and counsell of God concerning this matter should be knowen yet it is a secret vnto such only as lie in darkenesse in the shadow of death which through vnbeleefe are not able to see into it because it is a mystery but the secret of the Lord is not hidden from his owne seruants but shall in time be reuealed vnto them whom because he calleth his friends therefore he sheweth them his will and minde in the most precious secrets which it is expedient for them to know For by often hearing the doctrine of perseuerance plainly preached vnto them God draweth their hearts to beleeue it that as they heare the Lord will perfect the good worke which he hath begunne in his people and withall doe know themselues to be his people so they hold this in persuasion though they see not how by any thing in themselues that he will continue his fauour towards them vnto their end For they which know that they shall haue eternall life must needs also know that they shall be kept by God in this present world from all
SEVEN TREATISES CONTAINING SVCH DIRECTION AS IS GATHERED OVT OF THE HOLIE SCRIPTVRES leading and guiding to true happines both in this life and in the life to come and may be called the practise of Christianitie PROFITABLE FOR ALL SVCH AS HEARTILY DESIRE THE SAME IN THE WHICH more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day PENNED BY RICHARD ROGERS PREACHER OF the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex DEVT. 33. vers 12. The beloued of the Lord shall dwell in safetie with him who protecteth him all the day long PSAL. 84. vers 10. One day in thy Courts is better then a thousand other where DEVS IMPERAT ASTRIS RD AT LONDON Imprinted by FELIX KYNGSTON for THOMAS MAN and ROBERT DEXTER and are to be sold at the brasen Serpent in Pauls Churchyard 1603. TO THE RIGHT VERTVOVS HIGH AND MIGHTIE PRINCE King IAMES our dread Soueraigne by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith c. long life happie daies and most prosperous raigne MOst gracious and dread Soueraigne Lord I haue not presumed vpon this dedication as being ouertaken with the forgetfulnes either of your Maiesties greatnes or mine owne pouertie For I confesse that if comparison were made that way I might worthily be blamed of presumption But the truth is that I laid in balance your mind rather then your Maiestie and the argument rather then my penning of it In this I confesse I presumed and I trust without desert of blame that as you haue preferred godlines before glorie in the middest of this glorie which God hath brought you vnto so you will preferre a treatise of godlines thus simply furnished before a glorious stile Which is not seldome repugnant to the simplicitie of holie things And yet my meaning is to confesse to your Maiestie that this argument deserued both a more learned and more gracious penne then mine To which I would with al my heart haue giuen place if I had either seene before me or heard behinde me the footsteps of any tending that way that I goe though I confesse there are some to bee seene trauailing in waies neere adioyning to this Concerning your Maiestie I am perswaded that you repose your greatest greatnes in the communion of Saints and not in your seuered calling which is transitorie and therefore will account your selfe honoured by the augmentation of grace and the furtherance of true holines Your Maiesties owne affaires must be permitted to inioy their opportunities and your godly wisedome to inioy your choice in this varietie of reading But I doubt not but your godly heart will perswade you to receiue a booke of this kinde with a gracious hand though it were to no other end but to begin to Gods people in the entertaining of any true hearted motiue vnto holines And this to say the truth is that wherein I haue made bold to vse your gracious and renowmed name to aduantage my intent of furthering the people committed to your charge in their passage to saluation Let it therefore I most humblie supplicate please your Maiestie to giue allowance to my endeuour and drift and to pardon my slips for my meaning hath been to seeke the honour of God in this work and to borrow helpe in this Dedication of the grace he hath giuen you for such purposes Thus reioycing with the rest of Gods people for the comfort wherewith the Churches heart is comforted by you and desiring the lineall descent of these kingdomes to your Maiesties royall posteritie till Iesus Christ with his glorious comming obscure all the glorie of the world I beseech the holie Ghost to be with your spirit and keepe your Maiestie in Christ vnto the end Your Maiesties most humble subiect RICHARD ROGERS Minister of the Gospell TO THE CHRISTIAN READER THe children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light The truth hereof may appeare in the Papists who discerning that their bookes of Controuersies stuffed with manifold vntruths fallacians and corruptions were not able to gaine sufficiently though small gaine be too great for such merchants to their Babylonish kingdome haue set themselues and others on worke being all set on worke of Hell to penne certaine treatises tending to insnare and intangle the minds of ignorant and simple Christians in the corrupt and filthie puddle of Popish deuotion In this respect I perswade my selfe it is come to passe not without the gracious prouidence of God that the author hereof hath been incouraged in himselfe and by others to write these Christian directions as a counterpoyson to all such inchauntments of Papists who would by these meanes beare men in hand that al true deuotion dwelt amongst them and were inclosed and tyed to their Cels and Cloysters In which vncleane cages it is vnpossible for any true spirituall and holy meditations to haue their abiding for as much as euen the very mindes and consciences of such vncleane birds are defiled with damnable errors and Idolatries Wherefore I would earnestly aduise and heartely intreate thee Christian Reader to imbrace this booke wherein thou shalt finde good precepts and holy directions not deliuered by rote as from a Parrat out of the bookes and writings of other men but confirmed by the singular experience of one who hath long laboured the conuersion and confirmation of many other but especially the mortification and quickning of his owne soule and conscience one whom indeed I haue euer esteemed another Greenham and herein more happie then he because he hath liued to penne and peruse his owne labours and may yet liue by the mercie of God to correct and amend whatsoeuer slip of his penne for in a long worke one may happily take a nap two or three shall be shewed vnto him Reade it therefore beloued Christian and that with diligence and thou shalt finde I doubt not more true light and direction to a true deuout and holy life then in all the Resolutions of the Iesuiticall Father Parsons though neuer so refined as a brick newly washed or meditations of Frier Granatensis or any Popish Directories whatsoeuer And so I commend thee and all thy holy labours in this and all other good bookes especially in the booke of bookes I meane the holy Bible to the rich and mercifull blessing of God our Father in Iesus Christ Blackfriers London this 26. of May 1603. Thine in the Lord STEPH EGERTON TO THE CHRISTIAN READER WHat be the priuiledges and high fauours of God Almightie wherwith he hath preferred this age and in speciall our nation aboue all before vs since the daies of the holie Apostles needeth more meditation to moue our selues to thankfulnes thē proof to cōuince our aduersaries who though they should gainsay it shall gnash their teeth and pine away in griefe to behold it Among all I may say with the Prophet and the Apostle this is chiefe that God hath so
and full of the holie Ghost and faith and much people ioyned themselues to the Lord. Receiue therefore good Reader this prouision which he hath made for thee of holesome meate not caring for conceited cookerie but remember that godly hunger is the best sauce for heauenly foode Thine in Christ FRANCIS MERBVRY THE ENTRANCE INTO THE BOOKE OR PREFACE TO THE READER which containes these foure things First the generall summe of the whole Secondly the reasons why it was set foorth Thirdly the matter and argument of euery particular treatise Fourthly a directing of the Christian reader how to reade it with most profit IN so great varietie of all learning as God hath furnished this age withall it were not onely needlesse but arrogancie and follie for me to put any in hope that I goe about to teach that which hath not been taught and set foorth alreadie by godly and learned brethren But yet least any should thinke my labour vaine in that which I enterprise I would all such might vnderstand that howsoeuer I shall bring no other thing then some haue in generall or in some part heretofore published yet they shall not be glutted with the same thing in particular whether they respect the treatise and argument it selfe or the manner of following and prosecuting the same At leastwise I may say that there hath not come to my hand any booke directly tending to this end which I propound here in the seauen Treatises following to helpe the frailtie of Gods children and namely by setting before their eies as in a glasse the infinite secret and deceitfull corruptions of the heart from whence without a gracious regarding of the same sore and dangerous euils doe arise and breake out in their life Neither haue I seene any treatise and direction particularly drawne and gathered for mens liues to gouerne and order them which tieth them to daily vse of the same throughout their whole course of both which my purpose is most chiefly as well faithfully as louingly to intreate and to aide my poore neighbours and brethren with that which I haue gathered by reading and noted by experience if by any meanes I may be able hereby to make the Christian way any thing more easie and pleasant vnto them then many finde it and to bring it into more price then the most doe value it at In few words this is that which I aime at that such as haue tasted how good the Lord is and haue felt the power of the life to come by any worke of faith and Christian life which they haue obtained by the preaching of the Gospell may after that see their wants their infirmities their corruptions rebellions hindrances other discouragements from that blessed estate wherinto they are entred and how they may euery day in the best manner remedie or at least wise weaken and diminish them and that they may also behold their liberties and prerogatiues which they haue by Christ as the certaintie of Gods loue deliuerance from the feare of the great and euill day peace and comfort through faith and the blessednes of such an estate and daily inioy the same And therefore not to be as men that haue no such priuiledges either cast downe with needeles feare or possessed with an earthly or vaine reioycing or destitute of incouragement to walke forward in an heauenly course But that they may be mery in the Lord and yet without lightnes sad and heauie in heart for their owne sins and the abominations of the land and yet without discouragment or dumpishnes resting and beleeuing in God without bold presumption and fearing their owne weaknes but yet without dreadfull and deadly despayring And that thus the Christian man and he who is faithful indeede may so carrie himselfe in his course as he may haue no thought or purpose to reuolt and turne from this hope which is set before him but be perswaded that he is infinitly incouraged to hold out constantly therein against all that might come in his way to the contrarie And that the vngodly may see how such are blessed in comparison of other and what they themselues goe voyde of which they might inioy and therefore may seeke how to become not almost but altogether Christians with them To these I say who haue set themselues in a full and resolute purpose to passe their daies godly in the midst of many encombrances and to walke with the Lord so far as of fraile flesh may be obtained how weake so euer in their owne perswasions to these I say I desire in this treatise of mine to be some helpe and assistance and to speake plainely that such as would faine doe well and yet cannot tell how may hereby be eased and relieued And if any who yet are in superstition hypocrisie prophanenes or as yet in darknes desire to be partakers thereof also and so to like of that aduice and instruction which is written for the beleeuers that they be willing to depart from the wicked crooked and cursed way which they haue walked in I should be so farre from enuying them this blessing that although this was not set out directly for them yet they may vnderstand that with such a willing mind as I haue vndertaken this worke for their good who are in Christ alreadie with the like I am readie to further and helpe forward them who thinke and know themselues as yet to be strangers from Christ altogether and to reioyce if I might vnderstand that they haue been moued hereby with their brethren to become the true disciples of Christ Indeede I haue not laboured so much to perswade these to returne from their miserie and to become penitent because many both examples of the like and reasons to moue them are plentifully plainely and in good order extant among them alreadie and for that I know that for the most part they profit not by our writing who doe not before regarde and take good by our preaching and yet they shall haue my best aduice in the end But as for such as haue alreadie been in the truth of their hearts conuerted vnto the Lord and vnfainedly been called backe from the former lusts of their ignorance and the fashion of the world after the which sometime they framed themselues for such I say I know it is the earnest desire of their hearts that they may as well haue a path-way to godlines and a direction to the same lie by them to the which they may alwayes at neede resorte when publike helpes by sermons cannot euermore be enioyed as also to be made more fit thereby to profit by them when they doe repaire vnto the same And although I looke not for it that such account should be made of this booke among the greatest number who haue resolued with themselues either not to learne or imbrace any thing more thē alreadie they haue especially proceeding from a meaner person then themselues or to scorne whatsoeuer
as benefits to our good wee shall praise God euen for them also for it becommeth well the righteous who know how greatly they be occasioned hereto thus to be thankfull It is the loue of God that constraineth vs and inlargeth our harts to Godward and giueth vs matter and occasion of singing and making melodie to the Lord and of praising him alone as well as in the assemblie of the righteous and no meruaile whereas without that sweete smell of his loue wee should be vtterly lumpish and farre from all cogitation of any such matter And I say it is no meruaile that continuall and oft thinking on Gods kindnes should make vs thankfull for how seruiceable yea how slauish shall ye see a poore man to a benefactor to him in his bodily necessities though it be but a little when he can be content to lose his life for him Rom. 5.7 and the very borrower is a seruant to the lender These formentioned affections which accompanie faith in vs doe take such taste and sweetnes in God he making vs so acquainted with his fatherly kindnes and bountie that we finding no such welfare in any estate beside doe now desire to be with him that we may see his glorie and so long after his blessed presence that we desire nothing more then being vnburdened of this earthly tabernacle and prison of our bodies euen to be with Christ to see his glory For thus wee resolue with our selues vpon deepe consideration and certaine triall that if we might haue our choise whatsoeuer we should wish one day in sweete communion with God and so passed and bestowed in his seruice as our frailtie is able to attaine to is better then a thousand in all varietie of earthly pleasures And if his fauour be so much to be desired here where we see but as in a glasse and his benefits which he bestoweth vpon his beloued ones so sweete where we are but strangers what thinke wee shall they appeare to vs when we shall see him in his maiestie as he is and when we shall inioy the pleasures of his house in fulnes for euer Yea I say if here where we liue but in a vale of miserie God doth so shew his bountie towards vs what thinke we shall our estate be when we shall rest from our labours and haue fulnes of ioy with God at his right hand for euermore The beleeuing and weighing of this hath caused Gods deare seruants to say Come Lord Iesus come quickly And againe I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ And this if wee be not grossely deceiued shall cause vs euen when our daies shall be at the best to receiue and hold fast this minde and heartie desire to go home and be euer with the Lord. And if this heauenly affection holie desire be a companion to true faith it might be meruailed where their faith is become and where it lieth a rusting who make so little haste home and haue so small desire to be with Christ where he is in his fathers house that they may see his glorie and where there are many mansions euen for vs as well as for him that they cannot abide to heare of departing thither no more then Nabal who when hee heard of his death he was as a stone and who are so besotted with that which is visible that they haue no longing after that which is not seene with eye but eternall when yet all should know this that the presence of God in heauen is farre to bee preferred before his presence here on the earth yea when our estate is at the best But to ioyne the next companion of faith to this from which it cannot be separated This maketh vs sigh oftentimes and to desire to goe hence and that which we thought would neuer haue been to become strangers and pilgrimes here and so to haue no more to doe in this world then we needes must And this I may truly say is more then was like euer to haue been if it be considered how exceedingly we haue been tied to the world what pleasure it hath been to vs to thinke what we haue here and may haue how we haue sought to fulfill the lusts of our heart the lust of our eye and what pride and what glorie we haue had in the things which we haue loued best yea and how like vnto mad men wee haue nestled and delighted our selues here where yet we haue had no certaintie of abiding til to morrow as though we should haue continued alwaies and yet who seeth not that euen then when we ioyed most in our life we were but as the bankerupts which flourish in their kinde and occupie with other mens goods So that in which we gloried was not our owne goods and glorie which wee tooke such pleasure in they were anothers they were but borrowed In which times God was not knowne of vs nor the daily course of his liberall dealing with his faithfull ones was not once dreamed of And therefore we being earthly minded could not sauour of heauenly things but onely of the earth But since that the Lord hath by faith perswaded vs of his fauour and granted vs to see what varietie of holie heauenly delights may be inioyed of vs in this our Christian course in comparison of the pleasantest estate that euer we liued in before we haue as I haue said determined with our selues to renounce our former course to hold all things here as transitorie vaine and soone flitting away and beleeuing that we our selues are with al other things daily drawing to our end we desire to haue nothing to hold vs here rather then to abide here in the flesh which ought to admonish vs that we keep fast a willingnes to die and when wee haue gotten it that wee lose it not againe and the rather seeing it is that alone which maketh vs fit to liue while we remaine here as we ought Euen this grace accompanieth faith in vs after that it is effectually wrought in vs I say not that wee loath the benefit of life which God hath giuen vs here neither doe we forsake our particular callings in the which we are commaunded to abide neither condemne wee the moderate care of maintaining our selues and ours and prouiding for our outward estate retaining in all these heauenly mindes but we renounce the corruption that is in the world through lust 2. Pet. 1.4 and prophane abuse of earthly affaires and dealings which will not stand with the practise of Christianitie nor with the word of God Which I say for two causes The one because in some respects it is lawfull yea holie to desire to liue namely to doe good in the Church and wee may and ought to say with Dauid I will liue and not die to set foorth the praise of the Lord. The same I say of dealing in our earthly affaires to the end we
euer in learning how to depart from euill and to forsake their sinnes but the diuell holdeth them at a stay that they neuer obtaine it because they goe about it preposterously not yet beleeuing assuredly that they shall be saued A few find the way the Lord directing them to beleeue which others who will not be taught of God how they should beleeue but by their owne reason doe neuer reach vnto But I haue not yet spoken of the worst sort of all who heare this doctrine For they hate them who teach it most deadly they raile on them and disgrace both them and it and if they can bring them into danger for teaching of it although their pretence shall be another thing Yea doubtlesse I say more if by her Maiesties gracious authoritie and protection wee did it not which more preuaileth with them then the authoritie of God from whom and in whose name wee teach it their poysoned and malicious stomackes would suffer none to walke peaceablie who plainly and soundly publish it These therefore are farre from ouercomming themselues and yet whiles many sorts in the world are thus farre off as I haue shewed from victorie getting ouer their wicked hearts and consequently their liues in the meane while the seruants of God who know what the Lord hath done for their soules renounce all inordinate desires and wicked actions that they haue afterward no more fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknes howsoeuer they were sometime chiefe doers in committing of them So that as the true repentant people of Iuda who had before offended God by Idolatrie when they were brought captiues into Babylon loathed the sight of false gods and as the good people who repented by Ezra his preaching did put away their strange wiues how deare soeuer they had been vnto them and as Ephraim was heard complaining thus I am ashamed and blush that now I beare the reproches of my youth so loathsome and wearisome it was vnto her So are they who haue felt the saluation of God at vtter defiance with the corruption of the world And yet if this were done but for a time or for companie or by constraint and for feare or any such like corrupt end it were not worth the speaking of for it is to be seene that after these sorts iniquitie is left of many which kind of renouncing euill is little to their reioycing and shal be to their reproch when it shall appeare in how euill manner they haue gone about it I will not digresse but this I must say wee haue had too much experience in our parts and I doubt not so haue others of sundrie persons who once accounted their teachers burning lights and for a season they receiued and reioyced in them casting off their old course in the sight of men readily but some for companie of those who perswaded them some for feare of the woe which hung ouer them and others for good report as long as they could hold out but these because they renounced them not neither vpon good consideration abiured them they returned to them againe as the dogge to his vomite Whereas such who truly beleeuing do of conscience renounce sinne doe as they in Nehemiah came to the oath and the couenant that they would neuer take againe their strange wiues which they were commaunded to put away nor looke back to Sodome any more nor being washed wallow againe in the mire Which I say not as though their word protestation or oath could alone by any strength thereof performe such a weightie vow but because therewith they duly considered what cause they had to doe so how infinitly they were bound to God to discharge it and how firmely they were perswaded that God would make them who had made them willing alreadie able also to doe it And therefore although they saw not that helpe present with eye yet they hoped for that which they saw not and therefore waited patiently for it till it should be granted them And thus both faith and hope being nourished and strengthened in them from day to day they who are the Lords do finde both will to desire and strength though not perfect to accomplish to the peace of their hearts that which they haue set vpon and attempted I meane a departing and that with willingnes from their former intemperance Indeede it must be graunted that this is not obtained without much striuing against the same and that it will cost many prayers to weaken such corruption and to hold such rebellion vnder of meditating vppon Gods promises also much sighing and sorrow to see what vnlikelihoods there are of subduing such vnruly passions through our owne manifold weaknesses But what then Is it much if so great a worke require our watching thereto and diligence when God is pleased that it be bestowed that way and without it no common worke will goe forward Or is that any iust cause of discouragement to vs to take paine for so great profit when we are sure of it before we goe about it But it may bee demaunded doe God seruants alwaies preuaile in striuing against euill and obtaine that which they seeke thereby for otherwise say some what discomfort and dismaiednes will come thereby I say that as God oftē helpeth them that they ouercome so they are oft ouercome themselues of their affections against which they striue but yet they haue learned not to be troubled at this as at any strange thing as if their hope were either wholy or chiefly vpholden hereby and as though they held their happines by feeling onely when they are taught that by grace they stand Neither yet on the other side doe they make light of it when they are foiled and preuailed against but as they reioyced in measure and gaue God the glorie when they felt strength of grace against their temptations so after they come to themselues againe they are troubled and sorrowfull chiefly for displeasing God they take view of their owne frailtie ignorance negligence better and confesse the same to God and take shame to themselues and cast not away their confidence but bee incouraged and heartened both to hope for pardon and also to bee more circumspect in looking to their waies afterwards Now tell me if Gods children be thus brought low and abased somtimes to pull downe and asswage the strength of pride in them what fearefull matter is hereby fallen out what rasing out of their faith is there hereby procured or what great cause of complaining is this when it is manifest to all who can iudge that the thing which through ignorance and weake faith they feared would separate them from God doth fasten them more neerely vnto him and through his working that which they thinke to bee cause of great sorrowing is turned indeede into sound reioycing and that for this cause especially that they doe better know themselues hereby and
set on worke that they may auoide them Therefore such as know the vse of fasting ioyned with their prayers do vse it as occasion serueth as their neede requireth that they may the easilier purge out that old sower leauen They renue their couenants with the Lord to please him better when they see how they haue slipped and fallen from their good purposes and yet are soone vnsetled againe They are in very good case this day or weeke to withstand any sinne and yet to morrow or next weeke vnsetled and sensiblie distempered in their prosperitie soone forgetfull of their feruent care which they had and then as much misliking themselues for it when they see it and to bee short they are much grieued for their sinnes and yet oft ouercome of them by inward suggestion and outward occasions And what is such a life but a combat and conflict which although it may seeme miserable yet is it safe and the life that is voide of this is the life full of woe and dangers Furthermore whatsoeuer their earthly dealings are although they neglect them not yet they are not most deepely and earnestly setting their hearts vpon them as farre as they can espie it in themselues but often looking to the principall and that which is most worth that they may finde peace betwixt God and their hearts Through ignorance and vnacquaintance in their Christian course knowing what hardnesses and difficulties are in their way they are many times discouraged but they who haue laide their foundation strongly rise vp after some heauines and discomfort out of their sleepines and securitie complaining thereof and come to themselues againe All good helpes that they can inioy they are glad of publike or priuate and thus I meane by the strength hereof they haue oft and much refreshing of their minds and put away much tediousnes fearefull panges and dangers of euill by all which and such like it may be perceiued what the thoughts of such are and how their hearts in great part are occupied And although they haue not as the former sort which I haue spoken of abilitie and strength to occupie and exercise their senses and minds so continuallie and constantlie to be heauenly hearted and to haue God their guide so sensiblie as they for want of experience and perhaps knowledge to yet are they much delighted with the good examples of such as goe before them and giue them light and to be framed after them as they are after Christ is the thing which they most looke after and desire They hauing thorough Gods goodnes preuailed somewhat especiallie at sometimes against their strongest corruptions which were wont to beare too much sway in them they earnestlie are set against the smaller and such as seeme lesse dangerous as the idle and vnprofitable rouings of their braine which do not directlie so much carrie them after euill as hinder them from good blindefolding their iudgements first and then poysoning the will afterwards as the dreaming of outward peace and prosperitie of long life of pleasure and profit vaine wishings of that which other haue being things pretious in their eyes Which they are oft tickled with till they come to better remembrance of themselues much like the Apostles when they were yet weake dreaming of promotion of an earthlie kingdome and who should be greatest among their fellowes which toies and other like building of castles in the ayre the diuell had filled not onely their heads but also their hearts with the delight of them sometimes and their mouthes also with the talke of them as their chiefest pleasure So that they hauing thorough custome long lien in them they cannot so easilie and readilie cast them off though they see the shame and vanitie of them Their labour therefore of their mindes I meane is in great part this to keepe themselues from being taken vp of them seeing good meditations are hindered yea and estranged hereby sometime preuailing sometime preuailed against whereby their sorrow is the more but they doe not all this while see the happines of this their combate which seemeth their greatest miserie Because it is certaine that for their great good they are holden vnder of their infirmities euen that they may be the more humble when they see themselues so vnperfect and corrupt who yet had dreamed sometime before that they were voide of that corruption though the more was their ignorance a long time before and their short mourning shall bring after deliuerance from that bondage great measure and continuance of reioycing whereas if they were not held downe after this manner they should forget what they were in times past when they liued vnder the power of darkenesse and the bondage of sinne By this which I haue said it may appeare how the mindes of these are occupied and that this second age and growth in Christianitie is a striuing rather betwixt feare and hope sorrow and ioy then a superioritie ouer the vnrulie affections and an estate standing in neede of counsell and helpe rather then fitted and experienced to counsell direct and settle others But the more sure they be of their saluation the more expert they shall be in the battaile Now the third sort of the people of God are compared to little children of the which some are as it were in the birth of whom the Apostle speaketh Gal. 4.19 My little children of whom I trauaile in birth againe till Christ be formed in you who though they as yet know it not are deare to God and haue sure tokens of it as I haue shewed in the first treatise and they haue many properties of the other young ones which are of this third sort The other be such as are young and hang vpon the breast that as such growe to know the father and mother when as yet they know nothing else crie after them and desire the breast whereby they are nourished and ioy and take their pleasure in these euen so it fareth with this third sort of Gods elect if they be well grounded in the truth and haue rightlie been taught how weake soeuer they be except in temptation For they as the Apostle saith know the father such light and vnderstanding they haue of the Gospell that though they know not how to serue him yet they know that his fauour is all in all to them in so much as if some of them haue not full certaintie that he is tenderly affected towards them they so long after it that nothing can satisfie them without it About which their thoughts are chiefely occupied and in the which their delight is after they know what it is worth and in the meanes of their spirituall nourishment which is the word of God and not least of all in this that they may not in the least thing offend or displease God This Saint Peter setteth forth by the same similitude of young children when he teacheth young Christians how they must looke to growe
among men and be vpholden and maintained in such sort that they may weigh downe all wicked practises of men against the same The duties in generall which belong to all inferiours doe arise from this one as from a fountaine that is to say subiection which is a voluntarie acknowledging that they are set vnder those which are their superiours by Gods ordinance and appointment The which when men are perswaded of they will readily goe vnder any dutie that appertaineth to them And from hence issueth inward reuerence towards them as to thinke highly of them for that person which God hath put vpon them and therefore also to giue them that outward reuerence which is due to them as to rise and bowe to them to giue them the higher place libertie to speake before them and to giue them reuerent titles and submitting themselues to them euery way as it is meete which if in loue it be not regarded and the benefit which God hath appointed thereby to come to their inferiours considered that so there may be a preseruing of the dignitie and worthines of such persons and places amongst men all confusion and barbarousnes must needes insue and follow And for this cause the superiours againe for their parts must see that they carry themselues towards them as brethren in all curtesie sauing their authoritie and further also that they goe before them both in all innocencie and example of good life And because there are some superiors to vs by ciuill authoritie as princes and other magistrates and some ecclesiasticall as Church officers some by nature as parents some by age as the gray headed and some by gifts as of knowledge experience and other graces therefore both their inferiours to them and they to their inferiours besides the former duties in generall set downe haue somewhat seuerally to looke to one towards the other To such as haue authoritie ouer them inferiours must submit themselues in bearing their rebukes and receiuing their corrections willingly and without resistance by not answering again by stomack or countenance yea though they suffer wrongfully which commaundement Saint Peter giuing to seruants toward their masters who are not superiours of the highest power or of greatest authoritie doth much more binde other inferiours to be subiect thereto And further besides this such inferiours are charged by God to be obedient onely to their lawfull commaundements so that God be not thereby depriued of his due for this cause subiects pay tribute to their Princes hold both their goods and liues so as they be at their commaundement And seruants which will testifie and shew that they count their masters worthie all honour do frame themselues to serue them with faithfulnes and diligence not with eye seruice by the one seeking their profit and good trustily by the other doing their duties with care and painfulnes euen as to the Lord himselfe So all high Magistrates both Kings and such as are in authoritie vnder them owe this particularly to the people ouer whom they are to regard that the Gospell of Christ Iesus be published freely and purely by the Ministers thereof thorough their whole dominion to bring the people to God and the same dominion to bee well gouerned by the right executing of wholesome and good lawes that the people may liue an honest and quiet life vnder them So also Masters for recompence to their seruants are charged by the Lord to shew themselues as well good and bountifull towards them in recompencing their labour and trauaile to the full as besides it to doe that which is iust and equall vnto them the which they for their parts doe owe to them againe which is to prouide that they may bee taught in the congregation and at home as also of themselues to see that no necessaries in meate drink work and honest intermission in due time bee wanting neither that they with whom they haue so couenanted bee kept ignorant and vnexpert in their trade Another kinde of superiours are kindred by nature and parents in the flesh to whom their inferiours and children for the singular benefits which they receiue from them except they degenerate farre from their duties do acknowledge much to be due to them againe Among which this is not the least that they shew themselues forward in the imbracing of holie instruction according to the ripenes of their yeeres That their reuerence and obedience continue of children I speake euen vnto their end although with more libertie when they shall be of more ripe yeeres their parents themselues consenting thereto Also that they make no mariages without their consent That in token of thankfulnes they be readie to helpe their necessities And that they be carefull also to doe their duties euen to those which shall succeed their parents by way of second mariage For their parents are bound to teach them from their youth as was said of seruants to keepe them from idlenes to traine them vp in some lawfull and honest trade to gouerne them wisely and kindly to prouide for their necessitie of mariage and to minister things needfull for this life as they shall be able and as they may doe it religiously and lawfully Of those superiours which excell their inferiours in gifts the Minister of God is chiefe who is furnished with knowledge and grace to conuert many to God and to perfect them as Gods instrument vnto the day of Christs comming And so particularly to lift vp the faint-harted by comfort to strengthen the weak to direct him that wandreth vncertainly for want of knowledge and to waite with patience and by becomming all to all that he may gaine some to God Therefore the Lord hath giuen him a great honour with them whom hee preuaileth with not to bee counted their teacher onely but their father they who know their duties for this heauenly communion which they inioy with God himselfe and with Iesus Christ by his ministerie doe with gladnes make him partakers of all good things for this life and haue them in singular loue for their workes sake And this they doe besides the subiection reuerence and obedience which they haue in common with all inferiours who are willing to be taught and reioyce to be counted obedient children in the faith Among these which I count superiours in gifts of the mind they are to be reckoned who are strong Christians and whom God hath indued with a liberall portion of heauenly grace wisedome experience c. more then other of their brethren and who know their libertie which they haue by Christ in things indifferent and abuse it not Towards these the weaker sort must know that it is their dutie not to iudge them who vse their libertie which they haue by Christ neither to count them as prophane men for doing that which they themselues dare not doe but to thinke
bee taken vp in fearing and auoyding sinne and in labouring still to bee better this strict chaining of them is a taking away of their whole comfort for it is death to them to goe about to bridle their thoughts and vnruly desires so that ye may perswade them to any thing saue that which should be in them and therefore is there so small shewing forth of the light of the Gospell in mens liues Yet doe I nothing doubt but where men of God doe faithfully in the pitie they haue of their brethrens miseries shew them the way to this by doctrine and liuing that some shall growe by little and little to a liking of it But oh happie they who haue chosen this way of Gods testimonies to walke in for their soules shall be bound vp in the bundle of life and they shall flourish as the plants and growe as the Lily and fasten their rootes as the trees of Lebanon Their branches shall spread and their beautie shall be as the Oliue tree and their smell as Lebanon And thus much of the second reason And what shall we say further for no exercise of religion nor godly meanes of the best sort can doe them any good who will not resolue themselues to come to this faithfull practise of true religion and obedience to God his commaundements nothing shall be found more true then this if we will suffer it to come vnder triall For to begin with the Scripture What did all the priuiledges of the stifnecked Iewes profit them the law circumcision the couenant and sacrifices There were no greater prerogatiues to any people or nation vnder the sunne And they also did in the outward practise of religion ioyne with the best of their brethren both in keeping the appointed dayes and places in the worshipping of God and also in being readie to offer their extraordinarie seruices to him and that voluntarily yet what saith the Scripture from their first comming out of Egypt both in the wildernes and afterward In many of them God had no delight but slew them Many thousands of them at sundrie times perished for their false heartednes that when they had bin deliuered out of their daungers they did not cleaue fast vnto the Lord as in their afflictions and anguishes they promised to doe but started aside like a broken bowe And therefore how doth the Lord take vp this complaint against them Oh that there were an heart in them that they would feare me and keepe all my commaundements alwaies And in the Psalme When he slew them they sought him yea they turned and sought God earely they remembred that God was their strength and the most high God their redeemer but they flattered him with their mouth and dissembled with their tongue for their heart was not vpright with him neither were they faithfull with him in his couenant And after that he saith of other generations Oh Ephraim how shall I entreate thee Oh Iudah what shall I doe vnto thee which I haue not done And againe Oh that my people had hearkened vnto me and that Israel had walked in my waies I would soone haue humbled their enemies and turned my hand against their aduersaries Thus we see because they did not seeke him daily in the vprightnes of their hearts all the helpes of religion did them no good brought them no wisedome experience nor comfort all which on the contrarie Gods faithful seruants inioy For Dauid the man of God vttereth this sweete speech and the like through the booke of Psalmes Thou hast made me O Lord more wise then my teachers then mine elders and men of experience because I haue kept thy commaundements before I knew thee I went astray but since I haue brought my feete into the way of thy testimonies The religious women of whom we reade in the Gospell after that they sawe the power of the Scriptures and had their hearts humbled and meekned by the wisdome of them how did they growe in holy affections Christian duties painefully labouring to attaine more knowledge by hearing Iesus his sermons from day to day For when the word is receiued into a good and honest heart both it and all other holy exercises with it become profitable to singular vses But where men propound not this with themselues to be cast into the mould of holy doctrine and to be fashioned after it in their liues it is farre otherwise For to say nothing of them who from the beginning of the weeke to the latter end aske not after God so little sauour they finde in the Scriptures or sweetenes in him yet this is worthie our consideration that there are thousands which come to Church and heare prayers and sermons who for all this are neuer the better to themselues and the most of them doe more hurt to others by their offensiue life nothing fashioning themselues after the doctrine of faith and amendment Of whose lamentable condition what other cause can be shewed but this that their hearts are hardened with the deceitfulnes of sinne so that they walke afterwards in their olde wayes still and that they see no such beautie in the truth which shineth amongst them that they will be subiect to it though Christ raigneth onely by the power thereof in the hearts of his Iohn 18.37 For seeing they haue not beleeued and reuerenced that which they saw and knew the Lord hath kept backe his grace from them which he did not owe them and so giuen them into Sathans hands to make them bondmen in euill at his pleasure The which people being not renued and changed in their mindes and so brought to a louing and delighting in good things their lippe-labour in their seruing of God and time which they giue to it commeth to nothing neither commendeth them any whit to him neither leaueth any fruite thereof to themselues And yet we must know that there are others of the same companie at the same time and vsing the same meanes with much blessing of God vpon their liues who also declare as I haue said that they haue effectually receiued into their hearts the heauenly doctrine which hath sounded amongst them for why they haue set themselues to seeke the Lord. By whose gaine in godlines the greater it is as there is no comparison betwixt all the pleasures of the world and it so much we may see the other to haue lost And is it not lamentable to see that any should take such a course that they should bestow all their prayers confession of sinnes and hearing of sermons in vaine I might more rightly say to their iust condemnation in the day of the Lord Men will not be made fooles in any thing sauing in this though foolishnes in all other things is not to be compared with this What man is there to be found who being deepely in debt and greatly behinde hand when he hath sowen his field will be contented
with in the Minister it is certaine that the fault is in the hearers That they though otherwise they may belong to the Lord yet are not reuerent and attentiue in hearing are not prepared before to heare or els doe not digest willingly that which they haue heard but are surfeited of some dangerous qualities in their liues or corruptions in their hearts among which this is a speciall one that as they thinke of the person who teacheth so doe they of his doctrine and not otherwise Now if in this one meanes so great helpe may be gotten what may bee thought when this and others go together But I conclude with this exhortation Feede the Lords flocke which dependeth vpon you and be instant in season and out of season O ye Ministers of the Lord. Know the day of your visitation and the things which belong to your peace by preaching O ye people who liue vnder the ministerie of the word lay vp now in your haruest against the time of your necessitie and this be ye perswaded of that ye shall haue neede of all that you gather Seeke to inioy this libertie of the ministerie of the word ye that want it and if ye may inioy it as easily and with as little paine as you doe your market thinke it worth your labour if ye can no easilier come by it and buy wisedome whatsoeuer it cost you but sell it not whatsoeuer ye may get for it pray the Lord of the haruest to thrust foorth labourers plentifully into the haruest ye that are white vnto the haruest to be laboured amongst and desirous to be brought into the Lords barne Lastly all ye that haue the ouersight of the Lords ministerie see them teach soundly plainly faithfully and diligently who are called to it and go before them your selues painfully as lights and good examples that many thanks may be giuen and prayers made to God by the people for you when you shall giue them so good occasion to remember you and for warming their hearts and comforting them with such good diet for their soules and liberall prouision and that in the day of accounts ye may haue many to witnes the godly care that ye had ouer them And thus much of the first publike helpe for the encreasing and nourishing of a godly and Christian life in all such as haue truely entred into it that is to say the word preached CHAP. 3. Of the second publike helpe namely the Sacraments THe next meane or helpe publike are the Sacraments which of the two are more darkely seene and found to be helps to godlines then the word among the most part of those who are partakers of them both because men haue seldomer vse of them then of other doctrine and also for that they be not so fully instructed in the same And of the two Sacraments which God hath left to his Church in this latter age to be inioyed Baptisme is lesse seene and perceiued to be an helpe then the Lords supper In speaking whereof I purpose only to stand vpon this which I haue taken in hand namely to shew the Christian reader how the Sacraments are meanes and helpes to set him forward in a godly life as too few doe make them and to leaue him for other knowledge about the Sacraments which is exceeding large to those who haue written of them at large as M. P. Martyr M. Caluin M. Beza and to ordinarie teaching And this also I will doe with as much breuitie as I can Therefore first seeing the Sacraments are helps necessarily adioyned vnto the preaching of the word and doe visibly confirme and ratifie that which the word doth teach and the couenant betwixt God and the beleeuer made is most surely sealed vp and effectuall on both parts by them thereby it may appeare what helps they are both to the strengthening of faith and incouragement to godly life which that it may more plainely appeare let this which I haue said be thus vnfolded to the Christian reader God hath freely granted to euery faithfull person that he will neuer call his sinnes to a reckoning but will be his God and loue him to the end through Christ for the making good of this promise he hath put to his seale and hath caused the same his promise and will to be established in the sacrament by so euident and infallible a signe as cannot deceiue Now therefore doth not this sacrament alwayes remaine to the faithfull receiuer to whom it is made out and graunted a cleere witnes that whatsoeuer benefit is promised is his and as oft as any doubt hereof might through weakenes arise to the partie is it not hereby sufficiently remooued and therefore they are called of the Apostle seales of the righteousnes of faith And as God hath thus couenanted for his part so hath euery beleeuer againe in his owne behalfe couenanted to trust in God alwayes to indeuour to walke before him continually in vprightnes of heart and innocencie of hands Now of the truth of his heart the sacrament is a signe which he hauing receiued hath openly professed thereby that he hath giuen and consecrated himselfe vnto the Lord and is now no more his owne to liue as carnall will would desire Is not therefore the sacrament though it be not alwayes receiued yet is it not alwayes before his eyes as it were to tell him what he hath done yea and that not rashly nor by constraint but with good aduise as knowing that he shall neuer haue cause to repent him of so doing seeing he beleeueth that strength in measure shall be giuen him of God to performe that which he hath promised and sealed Is not then the Sacrament a continuall spurrer forward of him to performe his couenant Is he not by the fresh remembrance of it incouraged against temptations wearines of doing his dutie and such other hinderances Doth it not cause him to say against them all how can I that am dead to sinne liue any longer in it So that although to others the Sacraments be a mystery and hidden thing and as a booke written in Hebrew or Greeke which a simple man opening findeth nothing profitable for him but saith I cannot reade it and yet the booke containes most fruitefull matter if a skilfull reader taketh it in hand although I say he who is ignorant finde no helpe nor benefit by the Sacraments yet the true beleeuer hauing been soundly instructed therein beholdeth much in them to incourage and set him forward in the godly life hauing as sure hold of Gods fauour and helpe by them also as the same God who cannot lie is to be beleeued This may for the edifying of the simple bee seene particularly in the two Sacraments of our Church at this day baptisme and the Lords supper For euery faithfull Christian which hath been baptized may as long as he liueth haue this benefit thereby that as by his ingraffing into Christ he
in comparison and I must looke for greater Heb. 13.5 and 12.4 The carefull obseruation of our hearts and waies is an especiall meane to keep vs from euill and to see our infirmities better that we may bow to God and obtaine pardon of them Where new knowledge is not sought there is the lesse sauour in and vse of the old and when men make not good vse of the old the seeking of new is but noueltie Seeing the conscience is so tender and so soone pricked a man would meruaile how they do who make many breaches therein and solder them vp slenderly and easily Men hauing experience of Sathans malice and continuall dogging them to euill it should teach them to trust better to their armour and lesse to themselues Dispose thy outward affaires with wisedome and so as thou spend not ouermuch time about the same when thou maist doe it in a little whether it bee in companie by talking thereof for commonly when wee enter talke thereof once wee cannot tell when to make an end or whether it be alone by our selues in consulting for thoughts of the world doe tickle vs and that may be determined in a few sentences and in a part of an houre which may hold vs worke the most part of a day yea many If any of Gods children will waxe bold against the Lord and break forth to seeke libertie amisse he shall surely smart for it Psal 89.31 If mine owne children breake my lawes and keepe not my commandements I will punish their sinnes with the rodde and their offences with the scourge And if they sinne openly against their conscience they shall one time or other and one way or other come to smart for it openly As Iosiah 2. Chron. 35.22 23. God afflicteth sometime to correct pride least wee should be lifted vp aboue measure 2. Cor. 12.7 and sometime to instruct vs and make vs wise in our course and constant as we were not before Psal 119. and so to bee wiser and afraid to offend Psal 119. Men haue neuer too much wealth but the more is euer welcome Why should not wee doe the like in spirituall things euen whosoeuer hath most 1. Cor. 14.1 and greatest part therein For a while we finde sweete sauour in an holie estate oft times but the strength of feruent desire is soone cooled many waies namely by feare of outward troubles and losses c. for if that take hold once it eateth deeply It is too cleere that many professors doe but aime at a godly life and therfore they are soone vnsetled when they be at the best and gather not experience for the time to come to be directed Where we suspect that conceits grow if wee goe not about to pull them vp they will be too deeply fastened in a short time Though a man pray and meditate and keepe a better course in his life then some doe yet if he doe it but sleightly that the flesh preuaileth much in hindring the well performing of it all will soone come to naught it may be perceiued by the sway it beareth in other parts of life and then let it be speedily amended It is good so to taske our selues with duties one or other at all times and in all places that so doing we may cut off occasions of much sinne Let no sin be sleightly passed ouer or committed For when it commeth to remembrance in trouble it will be an heauie burthen and pinch vs to the heart Seeing in age our company will be tedious and we shall be left alone without company let vs learne in our youth to ioyne the Lord to our companie and to haue him our familiar that we may be neuer lesse solitarie then when we are alone He that can sinne freely and giue it no vent out againe by repentance though he will not see nor remoue it yet seeing he knoweth he must Lam. 3.40 he shall not thriue nor prosper in Gods familie nor taste of his dainties by faith Sundry necessarie obseruations for a Christian fit also to meditate vpon 1. THat we keepe a narrow watch ouer our hearts words and deeds continually 2. That with all care the time be redeemed which hath bin idly carelesly and vnprofitably spent 3. That once in the day at the least priuate prayer and meditation bee vsed 4. That care be had to doe and receiue good in companie 5. That our familie be with diligence and regard instructed watched ouer and gouerned 6. That no more time or care be bestowed in matters of the world then must needes 7. That we stirre vp our selues to liberalitie to Gods Saints 8. That we giue not the least bridle to wandring lusts and affections 9. That we prepare our selues to beare the crosse by what meanes it shal please God to exercise vs. 10. That we bestow sometime not onely in mourning for our owne sinnes but also for the sinnes of the time and age wherein we liue 11. That we looke daily for the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ for our full deliuerance out of this life 12. That we vse as we shall haue opportunitie at least as we shall haue necessitie to acquaint our selues with some godly and faithfull person with whom we may conferre of our Christian estate and open our doubts to the quickning vp of Gods graces in vs. 13. That we obserue the departure of men our of this life their mortalitie the vanitie and alteration of things below the more to contemne the world and to continue our longing after the life to come And that we meditate and muse often of our owne death and going out of this life how we must lie in the graue all our glory put off which will serue to beate downe the pride of life that is in vs. 14. That we reade somewhat daily of the holy Scriptures for the further increase of our knowledge if it may be 15. That we enter into couenant with the Lord to striue against all sinne and especially against the speciall sinnes and corruptions of our hearts and liues wherein we haue most dishonoured the Lord and haue raised vp most guiltines to our owne consciences and that we carefully see our couenant be kept and continued 16. That we marke how sinne dieth and is weakned in vs and that we turne not to our olde sinnes againe but wisely auoyde all occasions to sinne 17. That we fall not from our first loue but continue still our affections to the liking of Gods word and all the holy exercises of religion diligently hearing it and faithfully practising the same in our liues and conuersations that we prepare our selues before we come and meditate and confer of that we heare either by our selues or with other and so marke our daily profiting in religion 18. That we be often occupied in meditating on Gods benefits and workes and sound forth his praises for
righteousnes and godlines which we can reach and attaine vpholden in that hope which he hath put into vs strengthened with that faith in all his promises which at our first imbracing them we receiued and prepared and staied in our afflictions with peaceable and quiet hearts by the Gospell as he hath incouraged vs then shall we be able to liue in all estates which God shall set vs in and in all places which hee shall bring vs to and chaunge by no occasions seeing he hath strengthened vs vntill we see an end of all difficulties and vncertainties And all such as conceiue the matter which is presently handled should thinke this aduice and counsell so needfull for them of going thus armed thorough the battaile of this life that they should not think themselues readie any day till they haue put on the Lord Iesus with his wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption that is done when by faith they count him theirs that so they may as farre as Christ can helpe them and wherein can he not want nothing And when by the helpe of this we shall be defended against the euils of the day for behold and this know that to this end is this mightie armour bequeathed vs by our God then haue wee acquited our selues well and brought the worke of that day to a good end that so we may doe one day after another And thus to bring this whole matter of the armour to an end also whosoeuer thou art who canst be perswaded resolutely to be thus armed thorough this warfare of thy life thee will I not doubt to leade into the only safe way yea pleasant profitable beautifull honourable and the onely happie way And thou thy selfe shalt say it in a short time when through some experience thou shalt bee able to compare it with all the daies of thy life past euen the best of them and shalt finde it euen at the first entrance into it which is the weakest farre to exceede them in their greatest beautie For the longer thou shalt abide in it the better thou shalt finde it and the more it will make thee to be in loue with it for that thou shalt see a continuall vse of it and no estate to be comparable to it Neither maketh it any matter how ignorant thou art for that perhaps may discourage some if thou hast knowledge enough to see this to be the best of all other wayes nor how weake thou art if thou beest strong enough to be perswaded to walke in it and gesse what thou shalt want of that which I haue said when God shall giue thee an heart thus inclined as bidding farwell to all courses which he approoueth not to settle thee in this which he commendeth to thee And when thou seest that thou art acquainted with this armour and how it helpeth thee daily to liue innocently and christianly then consider what thou hast how rich it maketh thee and what great priuiledges the Lord hath giuen thee and then as Abigaile said to Dauid when thou shalt reape such fruite of it thou shalt not repent that thou tookest such counsaile be glad of them be highly thankfull for them more then if thou haddest found great treasure weigh what protection against the diuell thou hast thereby what safe-conduct from falles what feare and doubts thou art deliuered from what mists of ignorance as scales from thine eyes are pluckt from thine heart what strength against thy strongest infirmities thou findest how easily thou maist turne into the way againe if at any time by weakenes thou hast slipped yea consider moreouer what peace to thy conscience thou hast and rest to thy soule when thou seest not onely more cleerely then before thou wert thus armed that there is no condemnation to thee but also that God now fighteth for thee and maketh thee fit to resist the deceitfulnes of strong temptations who wert before so faint and impotent in resisting them In few words to speake what I thinke meete concerning this matter thou canst neuer sufficiently esteeme of this blessed estate although thou art not vtterly free from all temporall afflictions thereby Oft times shalt thou be thinking it is too good to continue till thou remembrest that there is no shadowe of changing with God Oft times thou shalt wonder to see what a liberall portion God hath giuen thee to haue such sweete communion with him and to haue confidence and boldnes before him in all difficulties when the most part of the world is euer subiect to most dreadfull feare of his vengeance as oft as he shall shew them the danger wherein they lie And when thou shalt see and feele all this how much it is worth to be thus fensed in from daily vexations which most men are turmoyled withall then thou shalt not neede to doubt whether thou shalt be willing to keepe on this armour still for thou shalt see that thou canst not feele thy selfe well without it Now whereas it may be obiected who or where is the man which findeth this libertie in his life or what arming of a man is able to set him in safetie from the manifold euils which most men complaine of daily I affirme of my knowledge in all reuerence giuing the praise and glory of it to God that there are many such who to the peace of their conscience enioy it and I as little doubt that there are many more whom I know not And yet I am perswaded that thousands euen of Gods deare seruants are holden backe from this blessing through the malice of our common enemie who are kept at a stay by his subtilty either ignorant of this libertie and thinking that God doth not honour any of his seruants with such priuiledges while they liue here and therefore count it presumption to looke for any such thing or if they know it yet doe fauour themselues in their present wants and infirmities and doe vse small violence against the same and so they are holden backe from inioying this comfort and blessednes in their liues which they might otherwise be partakers of For let all know this that the suffering of their hearts to take their fill in the delights of this world and little paines taken in musing vpon this heauenly estate and their slight praying for it is the principall cause seeing God hath promised to worke by meanes why Christians haue not further acquaintance with this armed life and the blessed fruites thereof and many other attaine not hereto seeing they neuer vnderstand although they are not vtterly without faith that God hath appoynted them to liue after any certaine direction throughout their course and to be armed thereunto but in a generall manner onely serue God without any great watchfulnes ouer their particular actions Now if they count this burthensome they must bee content to bee brought to shame sometimes for their doings and sometimes to terrour and torment of conscience for their slippery walking and small regard of
in one day as well as another to consecrate our selues to God and according to our knowledge to walke with him whatsoeuer our workes dealings or busines be that therein wee may keepe our peace with him and declare that we feare and honour him thereby which is it that I contend for and seeke to drawe Gods people vnto and would thinke I had obtained a great matter at their hands if we agreed and consented herein For it is too manifest that this is farre off from the very perswasion of many who are yet to be hoped well of and yet rest in this that so as the sabboth be passed in religious exercises it is not so great a matter if the other dayes be parted betwixt God and them I meane they looke not to be called to so narrow a reckoning as to see their words and workes especially the thoughts of their hearts to be framed after the will of God Nay the Sabboth it selfe is farre enough off from being had in due regard euen of the most which goe for Christians but is spent idly and vnprofitably if not in worldlines or vanitie especially a great part of it euen almost as much of it as is free from publike exercises and yet I would euen that part of the day were not iustly to be complained of that men did present themselues reuerently before the Lord to their profit when they come together 1. Cor. 11.17 But what may then be looked for of such vpon other dayes It is too manifest that it is not so much as setled in the iudgement of many which are of the forwarder sort that euery day our greatest care should be how God is pleased and serued in it and that it ought to bee our chiefest worke and yet where men thinke so how many make conscience of it or shew that they dare doe no other but hold fast and nourish their good desires to serue God day by day one day as another so that there might be felt and found some agreeablenes betwixt euery dayes seruice the one and other except it be to make them all alike in securitie For then there should not be in many that professe with the best such bold taking of libertie on some dayes to be secure and licentious and others who beare shew aboue many should not haue so many apparant and foule blemishes and yet mixed with sundrie good actions which iarre witnesseth that no euen nor constant course is sought after of them that I say nothing of their many secret wounds of conscience All these and such like patternes in Christians as they are hoped to be doe prooue that few are acquainted with this to looke to be guided in the whole course of their liues by the word of God one day as well as another and therefore that they goe astray daungerously seeing Gods word directeth vs how to liue euery day CHAP. 3. Of the second reason of a daily direction consisting of two branches BVt let vs proceede to other reasons Therefore for further proofe thereof I say that seeing it is commaunded vs in the scriptures that we keepe a certaine course in seruing God and walke in a certaine and plaine beaten way namely after the word and the same course is commaunded there also to bee daily and euery day it followeth therefore that the Christian life is a certaine daily and euery dayes directing of vs in our way and not an vncertaine generall and confused liuing according to knowledge when we thinke good By a certaine direction I meane not that the selfe same particular actions and duties should be euery day but yet all euill auoyded euery day and such good done as in our calling and life shall be occasioned And seeing it is so if wee dispence with our selues to lay aside this care any day as though it were allowable before God and lawfull for vs so to doe euen that libertie taking is our sinne and that intermitting of dutie any such day is a breaking off of our course and a going out of the way euen into crosse paths and by-wayes wherein the least danger is to returne backe againe Which if it were but the losse of one dayes iourney especially when we goe about any matter of weight would be no small griefe especially when our busines is weightie and requireth speede and therefore much more in this Christian course being the high way to heauen from whence when wee haue strayed willingly wee cannot easily come into the way againe but rather goe further to our exceeding hurt and daunger This with much inconuenience besides will follow if the word of God requiring a daily walking with him after such rules as hee giueth vs wee notwithstanding shall not regarde them but walke at randon and some day frame our selues thereunto and some day not at all or one day keepe compasse and another day none or be well occupied in some part of it and in the other doe what we list But for proofe of both points of this reason somewhat is to be said that so waightie a matter and so hardly perswaded to many namely that euery day wee are to follow some certaine direction for the well ordering of our liues througout the same may not depend vpon my bare report and credit For the first poynt therefore that a Christian must bee directed in his whole life and therefore may not be left to his owne discretion and gouernment that which is written in the Psalme doth cleerely proue it when a question was put forth by Dauid the man of God in the person of a young man who of all other is hardliest kept in order for the edifying of the whole Church saying By what meanes may a young man who hath had his sinnes pardoned clense his wayes afterward that so he may be blessed He answereth the question himselfe thus Euen by taking heede thereto according to thy word O God And as he taught this in doctrine so he brought his owne example in the seuen verses following to shew that hee sought to proue himselfe happie the same way And this all will graunt that Gods word must be our guide in generall tearmes this will be affirmed of the most but what is this which they say For they obiect through the ignorance that is in them and other infirmities carrying them as a whirlewinde that they are not to bee vrged to follow this word of God so particularly for it distracteth them sore but euery man in the state he is in they say is to carry himselfe as he thinkes good in his common actions and busines they hope men be no children to be appointed what they should doe when yet God ceaseth not to sound this in our eares continually 1. Cor. 10. Whether we eate or drinke c. So that I may well answere them that God hath not onely left his Scriptures among vs to the end we should in such a loose manner looke after them and fall into
grosse errors for not knowing them and so become nothing the better for them but he hath taught vs to draw as it were a copie and a certaine platforme for our liues out of the same the poore the rich the old the young the married and the vnmarried all are I say to draw out of them direction for their vse And what other thing is contained in the words of the Prophet for in saying that we must take heede to our wayes that is our course of life and the actions thereof doth he except any one more then another So that it is manifest both by the doctrine of the word of God as also by the examples thereof that not onely there ought to be a generall guiding of Gods people by the word but also a particular trying of their wayes thereby and that this ought to be as a trade to be followed in one poynt as in another according to the knowledge of euery one and therefore to be made an ordinarie course to seeke to haue direction in all things So that in the more actions of our liues that we are ignorant and to seeke whether we doe them lawfully or no the more wee must see our debt to God and finde fault with our selues that we may see the greater neede to sue for pardon which few doe see And therefore are the particular duties set downe almost in euery epistle both which all Christians ought to performe and the contrary sins that they may see according to the occasions offered how to imploy themselues and also more specially of men and women old and young rich and poore maisters and seruants both inward affections and externall actions all which to what end serue they or why should they haue been set downe but to teach this that men must tie themselues shorter and denie many noysome liberties which now they take and runne after and also to teach that euery part of a Christians life requireth direction that hee must shun that which is naturall I meane his owne and be guided by that which is spirituall namely by the word of God And therefore it is not to be counted as a common sinne but as the head of many sins that as though the Scriptures were among vs but for fashion or for the deciding of some rare and hard doubts and controuersies in religion which is but one vse of them the most thinke themselues by their naturall wit and skill able to direct their waies which opinion with their practise what doth it differ from that which is written of the Heathen Gentiles God in times past suffered all nations to walke in their owne waies Act. 14.16 And this be said for the proofe of the first part of this former reason namely that all their actions must bee squared after the rule of Gods word throughout their life The second part of this reason namely that it ought to be daily and euery day and so through the day the saying of the Lord doth cleerely prooue Blessed is the man that feareth alwaies And againe 1. Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eate or drink or whatsoeuer ye doe else doe all to the glorie of God And to Iosua 1.8 Thou shalt meditate and exercise thy minde in this booke of the law day and night as if he should say early and late all times of the day that his heart being well seasoned with the sweete sauour of knowledge his tongue might vtter the same and hee might be exercised by the helpe thereof in the manifold actions of his life S. Paul also when he writeth of the widow that should be chosen to looke to the poore describeth her by this one note whereby a good Christian is discerned amongst men namely if she haue been daily giuen to euery good worke And hee whom it may well beseeme vs to follow did not onely make it his daily trade to bee directed by the doctrine of Gods word but euen through the day did the same diuiding as it were the day into one good doing or other for these are his words Oh Lord what a loue haue I to thy law all the day long is my meditation in it that is I am musing still how I may please thee whatsoeuer my actions are which I goe about Againe Euery day will I praise thee Euen so if it may be let vs be doing good and that in an holy and right manner euery day and when wee cannot yet let vs auoide and shunne euill But if thou wilt doe neither nor endeuour after the same constantly from day to day then renounce Gods word and doe what thou lustest And why should not mens hearts be daily giuen to the Lord who is most worthie of them what haue we to doe in the day more necessarie as it shall appeare one day to all who now will take no knowledge of it Weigh what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding that in thy heart and life thou maist euery day serue him doth the holie Ghost Prou. 4.23 and 25.25 when hee saith Keepe thy heart with all diligence and againe let it be in the feare of the Lord continually doth he I say meane any certaine time or one day and not euery day so when rules for praying are giuen are they not to direct vs in all our prayers for euer If thou saist why is this then so strange to men I say first naturally men desire to satisfie God with a little and soone to haue done with him and few will weigh particularly and daily what they ought to be and how to walke one day as well as another but are content to goe the easiest way to worke as they thinke and slubber vp their sinnes and are therefore neuer long confident in nor bold with God as they might bee and as some others also of his deare children be and they themselues also perhaps sometime haue been Whereas if it were the matter which is in account with them who doubteth but that it would be daily looked to Againe if ye say why are wee troubled with these nouelties now more then in times past I say men are content to haue such things to be nouelties vnto them with which they desire not to bee acquainted for els these are not nouelties in the Scriptures and that is seene seeing there are diuers who as they haue learned it to be the will of God that al good duties as they may should euery day be practised so they doe carefully and conscionably prune off that behauiour in the day which could not well be thought vpon and remembred at the euening without an vnwelcomed wound and accusation For what can lesse be gathered out of the Scriptures before alleaged then that Christians should bee daily giuen to euery good worke that is to aime thereat though when they haue done all they may finde themselues to bee much behind hand and vnprofitable seruants And what meaning else hath this Scripture Herein I
the contrarie Furthermore the workes which must of necessitie be done daily are to carry our selues both in prosperitie and vnder all blessings rightly that is cheerefully thankfully and fruitfully and in our afflictions patiently and with contentation And who doth not know that these both should bee daily For first that praises and thanksgiuing in our prosperitie are required to be daily as long as that estate abideth consider what the psalmist saith my tongue shall talke of thy righteousnes daily Psalm 71.24 and that meant Saint Iames Chap. 5.13 In our prosperitie to sing praises and Saint Paul wishing vs to giue thankes in all things bringeth vs to the same dutie euery day And although the word daily be not there mentioned and where he saith reioyce in the Lord alwayes Phil. 4.4 yet who doubteth that he can meane any lesse then this when hee saith in all things euen such as come to passe daily and euery day and yet euen this word daily is in other Scripture vsed For as the mercies of God are renewed daily vpon his so Gods people are in the example of the man of God whose praise is so great in the Scripture taught that as they enioy them euery day so they are euery day to sound forth his praise thankfully and cheerefully as such who feele and acknowledge thereby the exceeding sweetenes of Gods louing kindnes and benefits and that is to make the true and right vse of them And as daily praises are to be offered for benefits so must the patient and right bearing of afflictions bee daily also and earnest prayers to God made for the remouing of them as we reade the Prophet Daniel did daily and three times in the day Dan. 6.10 But about afflictions God requireth these two things of vs the one that we should prepare and make readie our selues to beare them as from him in such quiet manner as that we be not vnsetled nor troubled at the heart by them when we heare of them the other that when they come we shew our selues to be such indeede and through the incouragement which we haue from him we submit our selues euen as our necke vnto the yoke willingly to goe vnder them Now though no wise man doubts but that Gods meaning is that we should be patient and obedient in one as well as another and one time as well as an other yet that it may plainely be seene it is to be knowne that both these are giuen vs in commandement euery day For first God hath taught vs in the fourth petition giue vs this day our daily bread so to pray for all things needefull to this present life as his most wise prouidence seeth meetest and best for vs and therefore if he in wisedome doe see afflictions fit for vs though we are not to pray for them we offer our selues readie to receiue them and take them as a part of our daily bread or else we vnderstand not what God teacheth vs to pray for nor what we offer to him in making that prayer For we desire of God in it blessing fit for the time wherein we are euery day and therefore not onely in peace and prosperitie the blessing of thankes c. but vnder affliction patience contentation and such like graces euen the thing of the day in the day as Agur saith that is euery thing in his time and as the time requireth For in prosperitie the time requireth one blessing in affliction another that so wee may hang on God euery moment By this it may bee seene that Christians ought euery day to prepare for troubles and that is a speciall part of their dutie in the day The other thing about afflictions is that wee beare them willingly when they come euery day And this is that which our Sauiour Christ teacheth when he saith he that will come after me must deny himselfe and take vp his crosse daily and this is an other part of our dutie in the day so needfull to be looked vnto as none more So that God hath taught his that whether their life be incombred with afflictions or whether it be passed in the vse commodities and benefits they shall in both estates learne of him how to be directed daily Yea and to shut vp this poynt and make it more full not onely euery day he hath directed vs how to liue in both estates but euen through the day also according to that which is written by Moses in Deuteronomie The beloued of the Lord shall dwell in safetie vnder his protection all the day long When Christ saith watch and pray least ye fall into temptation what day or part of the day doth he warrant vs to be free from daunger without these meanes as experience also sheweth By these things which I haue now spoken of namely daily to be giuen to euery good worke and to looke to our selues that both in prosperitie and aduersitie we be daily well ordered we see that a Christian may be able to gouerne himselfe safely through the day although hee had no further direction But yet more particularly the word of God doth direct them how to passe the day in their calling in company alone by themselues and consequently in all the actions of the day Which because I haue appointed afterward to prooue it and would auoyde tediousnes in not repeating it againe I will deferre it till I come to the more particular handling of the daily direction But yet the meanes and helps whereby a godly life is preserued daily as I promised before and least I should not so particularly handle them in the direction following I will in few words set downe and shew how God hath inioyned so many of them as doe necessarilie helpe to the practise of godlines daily to be vsed and though not the same yet one or other as prayer meditation exhorting one another praise and thankes attending to the publike meanes of the word daily as oft as we may inioy it These meanes God doth not onelie inioyne daily to bee vsed but also in such wise as he who weigheth how the commaunding of them daily to be vsed goeth with the commaunding of the godlie life daily to be continued by the helpe of them shall cleerelie see that God meant not coldlie and ceremoniouslie to haue them performed of vs but that of them both a true and holie seruing of him daily should bee framed that so we might be one daie as another and not fickle and chaunging alwaies as otherwise we must needes be For prayer and praises in Dauids example thrise in the day we are taught to offer them besides occasions at other times of the daie which a man that looketh well to his waies shal finde to be many Watchfulnes which is a due considering of our waies a taking heede to them is required to be through the daie and all the daie long not on some more then other
well as on that And to conclude if our conuersation must be in heauen euen whiles we liue here on earth that is if our whole practise and course not some part of it ought to bee squared out after the heauenly patterne of the word of God then who seeth not that we must be setled after som godly directiō one day as another to glorifie God in our conuersation Neither let any obiect that because the seuerall actions of our life are many and infinit therefore no certaine rules can bee propounded to bee followed of vs for as many as they are both throughout the daie and the whole yeare yea our life yet may they all be brought vnder and fitly referred to a few rules which will shew when we be well gouerned and when it is otherwise with vs. And if it were not thus that we both may and ought to be daily guided by some certaine and good direction and haue our hearts also readily disposed ordinarilie and for the most part throughout the daie vnto euery good worke then in vaine should that be written which being spoken of Dauid must be practised of all the faithfull I beheld the Lord alwayes before me that is I liued by faith that I might not be shaken Act. 2.25 Or if we will say we neede not that constant heede taking it must needes follow that our hearts would be ranging out so many waies amisse that we should be driuen to exceeding toyle to bring them backe againe and yet should not alwaies obtaine it neither though wee laboured for it earnestly And so we should make a deadlie and endles toyle of godlines and yet be farre from the power of it and fall so oft and so dangerously that it would breede sore discouragement from seeking to rise vp and recouer our selues againe much lesse should we perswade other by our example to feare God and we must of necessitie leaue vndone many duties which ought to be done and so breede miserable distractions so that the life of God in vs should weakely and litle be discerned Lo such effects would follow this loosenesse and libertie-taking when according to that which we know of God we should not honour him as God As I am my selfe priuie to it that it is the case of many weake brethren who yet it is to be hoped feare God and yet for that they will oft take libertie which God alloweth them not stolne waters being sweete to them they purchase for an inch of vaine pleasure an elle of sorrow and when they would after come backe againe to an holy course either they dare not or know not how to do it or be ashamed as the idle scholar is to goe to his booke againe when through his negligence his fellowes are got before him And by this which hath bene said it may easily appeare that the Lord doth require in his word that such as beleeue vnto saluation shall renew their care to glorifie him in their Christian conuersation and therefore euery day to be constant therein and set themselues earnestly thereto and if they fall by infirmitie not to lye still but speedily recouer He will also haue them to know that it is a sore blemish in them to be loose and vnstable in a godly life sometime hauing their hearts in awe and sometime not and so their tongues and liues after the same manner which seruice God abhorreth And therefore we may be sure that much more the disordered life of many professors and ciuill persons whose irreligious liues are couered with some outward exercises of religion are nothing lesse then pleasing to God but vtterly abhominable Now seeing all duties cannot be practised euery day and yet euery day must be passed holily we must of necessitie see how to be guided daily so that neither we neglect those which must be done daily nor our consciences be not troubled for omitting those which we are by no necessarie bond of Gods word tyed to performe Act. 23.1 And of the reasons why the beleeuer should be directed euery day to liue godly which are the summe of the first part of this treatise thus much CHAP. 8. Of the description of the daily direction I Hauing now prooued that the word of God setteth out vnto vs direction for our liues euery day it followeth to shew what this directiō is And although it may in some sort be gathered by that which hath bene spoken alreadie yet to the end we may more clearely see the will of God and our duties for the more easie guiding of vs through euery part of our life I will further lay foorth and describe the same Yet let none think that I meane to set downe to thē particularly what actions they shall doe euery day for they are for the most part variable innumerable on the sixe daies especially therfore impossible to be inioyned but only such as bind the conscience euery day cannot without sin be omitted yet such as are neither too many to be learned to the troubling of the memorie nor so few but that they yeeld great furtherāce to the true Christian for the well passing of the day This daily direction then of a Christian is a gathering together of certaine rules out of Gods word by which we may be enabled euery day to liue according to the will of God with sound peace and therefore the following of such direction is a faithfull and constant indeuour to please God in all things euery day as long as we liue here to the peace of our conscience and to the glorifying of him Let this description be opened more plainely and then I will set downe the parts thereof And before I go further I thinke meete to giue the Reader to vnderstand that I set not downe this as prescribing any other direction then Gods word hath taught but whereas through common ignorance and negligence in obseruing that which God hath taught the most do faile this may be an helpe to bring them to see the light after which they ought to walke It is first called an indeuour to please God to teach vs that neither full perfection is required by God nor to be looked for in the best Christians nor to be thought that it is intended of me to feare any weake conscience with it or thrust it vpon him but onely to shew that the will and desire of the heart and the indeuour of the life in the beleeuer is accepted of him through Christ and as well pleasing to him as our actions themselues should be when they cannot be performed 2. Cor. 8.12 And if it were not so what comfort could we haue who see daily that we are holden backe from many duties which yet because we know we desire with all our hearts and striue to performe them we haue peace to God-ward And thus are the places to be vnderstood which make mentiō of keeping the commaundements that they are blessed which
keepe them as Psal 119.2 and .8 Luc. 11.28 Blessed are they which heare the word of God and keepe the same as is to be seene by conference of other places as 1. Chron. 28.7 If Salomon thy sonne shall indeuour to keepe my commandements I will establish his kingdome for euer And in Hosea 6.3 then shall we indeuour our selues to know the Lord. In which places the keeping of Gods commaundements is interpreted by the holy Ghost in the Scriptures to be an indeuouring to know and keepe them And this indeuor is euery day necessarily to be found in vs to please God euen as euer we did any day neither can it be neglected of vs at any time but God is offended For it is a neare companion to the feare of God euen a fruite of it which must be in our hearts continually Which is to be marked the rather for that we see how commonly it is neglected many dayes of Christians and how they thinke it meere bondage to be tyed to this care of looking to their waies without which yet they lye open to all the craft and malice of the diuel being taken of him at his will And therefore it is that when the Apostle hath charged the Ephesians to take vnto themselues the whole armor of God he addeth that they must stand fast in it and giue no place to the diuell So that as we must not be preassed with practise of that which is out of our power but rest with peace in this that we indeuour and go about it neither can there be lesse offered to God of vs then this but we shall be iustly charged to be secure and carelesse And this meant the holy Apostle when he said I indeauour alwaies to haue a good conscience both before God and men But we must remember that this indeuour must be heartie and constant heartie not constrained or hollowe that our beginning may be good as well as our proceeding and constant that we faint not but hold out therein For many make faire shewes but they are not sound and true from the heart and therefore soone vanish other meane well in practising that which they haue bene taught but seeing they do not strongly renew their couenant from day to day and that with as good courage and desire as they beganne first and nourish and preserue integritie they therefore breake off and waxe faint and wearie before they haue brought their worke to an end that is before death Wheras we should know that forasmuch as the diuels attempts will euer be great with new deuises and by new occasions in euery part of our life to breake off our care and yet we can neuer grow cold in it but it shall be to our cost seeing whensoeuer it shall be so it will be our great sin therefore we should go as chearefully about it as at the first we began it I meane to continue our care that so we may proue our selues to be constant and not charged as they in the Psalme 78.34 to be vnfaithfull in our couenant The third thing in this description is whereto our indeuour shall tend euen to this that we may please God in all things for God will not admit anie into his seruice to do it by halfes neither can we serue two contrarie maisters This is Saint Paules prayer for the Colossians That they might walke worthie the Lord euen that they might please him in all things and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Pray for vs for we trust that we haue a good conscience desiring to liue honestly in all things Now who doth not see that this is a worke of great weight and requireth the taking vp our hearts wholy from other hinderances that we may attend to this And therefore this much condemneth the backwardnesse and rebelliousnesse of such as looke not after this dutie especially we may say so if we adde the other two points in this description mentioned as that this must be daily and continue to our end Both which points are included by the Apostle in this one word alwaies when he saith Act. 24.16 Herein I do exercise my selfe that I may haue a good conscience both before God and man alwaies that is both through all the dayes of my life and to the end And hereto agreeth that of Salomon Prou. 4.26 Ponder the path of thy feete and let all thy waies be ordered aright If all our waies must be ordered aright then no day can be excepted but euery daies actions and waies must be ordered aright So Paule Act. 26.7 when he would note the constant and continuall course of the fathers in a godly life saith thus The twelue Tribes instantly serued God day and night And this dayly walking with God is the life which honoreth God 1. Cor. 10.31 and that onely which worketh our ioy and peace 2. Cor. 1.12 as the last part of the description of the daily direction declareth By this which hath bene said though it may in some sort be gathered and that of the most of Gods children how the day ought to be passed of them yet for the simpler sort whō I do chiefly respect and regard through this my whole labour for their sakes I say I will adde vnto this direction somewhat more particularly a briefe summe of such rules as of necessitie must guide vs and which do bind the conscience to a daily practise of them which I may call the necessarie parts of it and they among others are these CHAP. 8. Of the necessarie parts of the daily direction being the second branch of the second part of this Treatise FIrst that euery day we shold be humbled for our sins as through due examination of our liues by the lawe of God we shall see them 2 Euery day we be raised vp in assured hope of the forgiuenesse of them by the promises of God in Christ 3 Euery day we prepare out hearts to seeke the Lord still and keepe them fit and willing thereto 4 Euery day we strongly and resolutely arme our selues against all euill and sinne fearing most of all to offend God 5 Euery day wee nourish our feare and loue of him and ioy in him more then in any thing and endeuour to please him in all duties as occasion shall be offered looking for his comming 2. Thes 3.5 6 Euery day our thankes be continued for benfites receiued and still certainely hoped for 7 Euery day we watch and pray for stedfastnesse and constancie in all these 8 Euery day we hold and keepe our peace with God and so lye downe with it And this is the direction which euery Christian must practise euery day in his life and these are the necessarie parts of it which may not be omitted any day at all without sinne nor carelesly and wittingly without great sinne To the which if it shold be said that they are darke and hard to be vnderstood much more
for necessity onely or for feare of punishment or shame of the world or because they would be rich all which are carnall sensuall and diuellish respects as I sayd before in forbidding all vitious affections in mens lawfull actions neither do they please God which thus go to worke And further they must do these lawfull workes in perswasion and confidence that God will blesse them therein and giue them good successe and take that for their daily bread and blessing which God in their thus-going to worke doth bestow vpon them And lastly they must do these without adding the common sinnes which wicked persons do vse at their worke as swearing lying negligence idlenesse falshood and deceiuing cursing quarrelling impatience and contention These and such other of their owne deuising the wicked do bring in among the lawfull workes which God commaundeth them to do and mixeth such euils with the doing of the workes which of themselues are good that they vtterly marre and deface them thereby depriue themselues of Gods blessing and it causeth their callings and trades to be meanely accounted of and in discredit with such as are not able to iudge as though none could vse them better whereas others as poore as they and as much put to their shifts yet taking better direction and depending on God and carefully abstaining from such sinnes as are wont in the most to accompany their lawfull workes and dealings do liue in them contentedly peaceably and holily and do in that manner put honor and beauty vpon their callings and testifie that God hath to singular ends and purposes appointed and giuen them vnto vs. And thus would God haue Christians go to their worke and do all their lawfull businesse not as hirelings onely in regard of their bellies And this were a goodly and most beautifull sight to behold in all sorts maisters seruants buyers sellers and euen in the poore labourers yea cutters of wood and drawers of water and they that are of meanest place in families may liue godly in them while religion rules their actions and while they desire to do them as they are taught in the word of God And they who go to worke after this maner may be merry at their worke and merry at their meate and yet I meane not as the prophane and earth-wormes who sometime are merry when they haue more cause to be heauy seeing neither they nor their worke are pleasing to him but the other may reioyce and be glad by Gods allowing yea commanding it them where he saith Reioyce thou and thine before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hand vnto And againe Serue the Lord thy God that is in that thou art appointed by him to do in ioyfulnesse and with a good heart for the aboundance of all things And this is the mirth and ioy of heart which the Apostle willeth vs to take our part in saying Speake to your selues in Psalmes and Himnes and spirituall songs singing making melodie to the Lord in your hearts with thankes for all things through Iesus Christ In this sort hath God allowed his seruants who haue learned and are resolued to obey him in all things to reioyce and go about their worldly affaires and in like maner doth he allow them to vse all their lawfull liberties in this life all which he knoweth they haue need of to allay the tartnesse and asswage the painfulnesse and griefe which through their afflictions are infinite wayes ready in all places to meete with them And not to do lawfull businesse and workes thus and with the three former rules set downe but as the vnruly and disordered people of the world do them is to make the lawfullest and excellentest callings base and meane and to the persons themselues most hurtfull while they stand forth against them as accusations for that they haue vsed them vnlawfully which in themselues are very honest and lawfull which I say that I may answer the brutish and irreligious sort who say they know no difference betwixt those who are counted godly and themselues seeing they are faine say they to worke for their liuing as well as we their godlinesse will not feede them The difference let them learne from that which I haue sayd I haue also spoken this by occasion for the satisfying of the simple-harted that they may not thinke that in requiring that we should liue euery day in a godly maner I do vrge any to leaue off and lay aside their callings and businesse and yet this I shew to be required by the Lord how and in what maner those lawfull workes ought to be done of them that he therein may be pleased And so I conclude that the beleeuer ought euery day to arme and frame himselfe to a godly life and to cast off all that sauoreth not thereof as in some which are most vsuall actions I haue shewed seeing his whole conuersation must beseeme the Gospell remembring what the wise man saith All that thine hand shall find to do do it with all thy power for there is no worke in the graue whither thou goest Which if it were perswaded throughly to men that it ought to be so and that it is as necessarily to be looked after as their maintenance health yea or their life it selfe which none wel aduised wil deny then should there not be this posting it off from one to another which now there is nor this refusing to be subiect to God in this maine and great commaundement of doing all to his glorie which they that refuse do refuse godlinesse it selfe And there should not be this parting of stakes betwixt God and our selues that sometime we will be forward and sometime backeward in some things obedient but in others denying our obedience which causeth such patching and peecing of duties as is farre from holinesse without which yet we shall neuer see the Lords face whereas yet by constancy in duty and keeping of a daily course therein much dulnesse deadnesse barrennesse slouth idlenesse and the fruits thereof lewd lusts and many such dangerous euils should be auoided with which euen many good Christians to their great heart-smart afterwards are annoyed because they know not how to do better The sixt point of our daily direction in thankfulnesse I meane a renewing of this duty to the Lord euery day that so we may still see and acknowledge our selues indebted vnto him and be the fitter to go vnder any of his fatherly chastisements which he shall lay vpon vs which without it will presse vs downe and raise bitternesse in our hearts and also that by it we may the ofter call to mind Gods many kindnesses to cheare our harts which are too soone forgotten of vs. The Prophet Ieremie forceth this daily duty to be continued of vs when he saith that the mercies of God are renewed vpon vs daily and what followeth vpon that but this that our
hearts should conceiue and our mouthes should set forth and declare his praise accordingly For if we be commaunded as the Psalmist teacheth to continue this duty long after his benefits be receiued as he saith Let Israel now say that the Lord is gratious after his bountifulnesse had bene declared vnto them how much more ought we to praise the Lord daily for his mercies renewed vpon vs Therefore did Dauid the faithfull seruant of God force himselfe to performe this duty as too slouthful in his owne iudgement though we reade of none more continually occupied in it Psalme 103.3 saying Praise thou the Lord ô my soule and all that is within thee praise his holy name and further he saith that he will be euer setting forth his goodnesse and praise his name alwayes And yet that none may hinder this duty in vs by saying we are not bound to follow no not good examples in all things let vs well weigh the commandement of God by the Apostle saying In all things be thankfull as if he should say that our whole life ought to be a thanksgiuing and therefore it is no life when we cannot be thankfull And what the thankfulnesse is which should daily be in vs looke in the former treatise The next duty to be daily performed of vs is watchfulnesse and prayer of which two as the first ought to be continuall euen to ouer-see our whole worke in and through the day and to looke before vs that all may be done to the glory of God for as the eye-lids preserue the tender eyes from annoyance so doth this our life from offence and our feete from falling so this latter namely prayer is to be as an helpe and hand-maid vnto that And although I prescribe no certaine rule nor set houre to the solemne performing of this duty because we are taught to pray alwayes at any time as we shall haue fit oportunity yet ought our hearts to be lifted vp to God often hauing euer occasion and sometime solemnely and by set prayer powring out our complaints and making our requests vnto him Both of them are so farre to be in vse with vs as we are desirous to retaine sound peace and quiet minds toward God and to be free from or at least not to be ouercome of temptations which seeing we are subiect vnto euery day it cannot be doubted of but as the one should not cease I meane watchfulnesse but be working in vs continually and keepe vs waking out of spirituall slumber throughout the day so the other which is prayer should quicken and sharpen it and both of them strengthen vs being oft and vsuall with vs against all occasions which might else ouer-match vs. And can any be ignorant when our Sauiour taught vs to pray euery day for our daily bread but that we should pray euery day for grace to be guided aright and comforted there being as great need of it and more then of the other The same thing he meant when he vttered a parable to them to this end that they ought to pray alwayes and not to waxe faint but euer willing though not euer able So that the life of a Christian is no day well passed when prayer as it hath bin before described is not one member part of it The last point of our direction is that we by meanes of all these as our faith and feare of displeasing God c. may keepe and hold fast our holy and most sweete peace with God and our reioycing which is the fruite of this Christian walking and an vnseparable companion vnto the same I haue taught this in generall before onely now I shew that it is daily to be kept and maintained of vs in such wise that as we regard our bodily maintenance while we liue here so should we prouide that this our peace which passeth vnderstanding be not broken off betwixt God and vs. If it be asked how this shall be the Apostle saith If we be iustified by faith in our Lord Iesus Christ we haue and do inioy it And we haue heard that the Lord hath both giuen liberty yea and commandement to his children that they should daily beleeue and lay hold on eternall life and rest themselues in the assurance of his loue and how can this exclude that peace which we speake of Nay our reioycing in the Lord which is rather a degree beyond this peace we are commaunded to entertaine and retaine alwayes that is at all times that none may imagine that I meane we should onely some one time in the day or other possesse and inioy it Neither indeed is any part of our life any day pleasant vnto vs without it Therefore the Apostle doth very fitly meet with an obiection of ours in the forenamed Scripture thus that if any of vs dare not presume so farre as to take our part in cōtinual reioycing in the Lord or if we shold thinke that the Apostle was not well aduised in offering so great libertie vnto vs he repeateth his words thus againe I say reioyce as if he should say you who are carefull ouer your selues and ouer others for to such he speaketh be ye merry and ioyfull in the Lord from time to time yea and so as no worldly sorrowes do breake it off Now I haue shewed what are the necessary graces which should accōpany the life of the beleeuer daily I wish him to view thē all at one sight together to see if he may well be without any of them as without certainety of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes without feare of offending God a thankfull heart and chearfull watching and praying against euill c. And he cannot walke voide of any of them so yet he must not thinke but that there are other particular actions beside these but they be all to be well ordered and gouerned by these And now somewhat I will set downe about them not vnprofitable and needlesse I haue briefly proued that some certaine manner of directing a Christian daily is required in the word of God and that it is no fancie of mans braine thus nearly and narowly to looke to himselfe and haue set downe a draught thereof out of the Scripture and therefore men must know that it is their sinne when they are not guided by these rules in the daily course of their liuing I say when these accompany them not whatsoeuer their calling is or the actions which they are occupied about it is their sinne whether it be of ignorance that they know them not which is the lesse if they be willing to learne or carelesnesse or wilfulnesse that they do not or will not regard them and being sinne it is to be resisted seeing no sinne is to be borne withall or rested in And that it may be thought more necessary to be daily guided in this maner we must know that these graces which I haue spoken of are not at some one
time or other of the day to be thought or spoken of thinke not this to be my meaning in saying we must haue them euery day for so we might possibly be litle the better for them as if once in a day a man should pray giue thankes looke to his waies to his peace c. a man might do all these the like and yet not of necessitie well guided for all that through the day but this I meane that this holy furniture should cloath and beautifie our soules throughout the day and haue their setled abode in vs and not ebbe and flow as the tide doth nor go and come as passengers that tary not but home-dwellers as for example that our peace should not be broken off by any occasion our watching should not cease we should keepe our selues from euill the whole day and so likewise be ready to one duty or other and we should cherish our weake faith from time to time retaining minds thankfull and walking in the strength of our prayers though we be not euer vttering and expressing in words either prayers or thankes So that our hearts may be well seasoned with these as the chiefe things which we should regard and looke after and yet neglecting no needefull worke that must be done but doing it much the better by meanes of these and so the froth of our owne braines as endlesse and needlesse wandrings vaine cogitations and foolish and noisome desires shall be much restrained and allayed in vs. This is it all wise men do know that most troubleth vs and of the which we be euery day in greatest daunger I meane the loosenes and disorderednesse of our hearts for they as they be neuer vnoccupied but prone to euill a thousand waies so if they be not bridled holden vnder and suppressed they are so soone fixed vpon some obiect that commeth in the way that they carie vs headlong after it we being then impotent for the time and vnable to resist when we haue let them loose and giuen them scope And from thence arise I speake of the better sort of vs great heauinesse and vnquietnesse to see such chaunges wrought in vs and this is the best that commeth thereof vntill we recouer our selues againe if a worse thing follow not that we fall not into some further vnsetlednesse and distemperature which will cause no small annoyance Now what is a like remedie against this and all other baites of this deceitfull world which the diuell layeth in our way as to haue our hearts daily fenced thus with watch and ward against them as I haue said to hold such sinne execrable alwaies to keepe in loue with pietie and goodnesse to retaine hope and confidence that God will make vs strong against them to liue in his fauour still that we may want nothing that is good and to enioy most sweet and sound peace to comfort vs so to our liking that we may not neede to hast greatly or gape after such allurements which are no better then deadly poyson What I say is like this precious remedie to keepe vs in safetie euery day Which God hath therefore giuen vs that we may be preserued from infinite fearefull dangers which are in this world and that we may also liue with much comfort yea he that giueth his heart to the Lord that it may be taught all these rules of the daily directing of a Christian can tell how true this is and what reward is found and enioyed daily of such as take delight in them But many Christians who beare a good affection to the Gospell and generally meane well yet will not particularly trouble themselues as they count it to be brought in their whole course within a narrower compasse and to a more neare acquaintance with the Lord yea when they heare that it is to become by but would faine beare themselues in hand that they are well inough when yet they are oft constrained to feare yea and to feele the contrarie for what do they find but much wearinesse and griefe checkes and accusations yea and are sometime also noted of others to be but cold and barraine professors when they haue followed so much and so farre the deuises and desires of their owne hearts And besides this how much detract they from the beautie and excellencie of the godly life and what iniurie offer they vnto it when they are able no further to commend it then as they find for as they find so they will speake of it whereas it cannot sufficiently be esteemed and accounted of neither can the seruants of God who haue experience of the benefite of it satisfie themselues in setting out the excellencie thereof I deny not but there are many who for want of knowledge do not see that which sundrie others of their brethren do and yet are faithfull in that which they know but they rest not satisfied with their present estate but long much to see the will of God more clearely and desire feruently to attaine to greater measure of grace And to all such I know how welcome it will be to haue more cleare direction then as yet they haue found and such I would haue know that for their causes I was perswaded to vtter that which God hath reuealed to me so farre as concerneth them But as for such as like so of their present estate that they hast not to be acquainted with any better seeing there is euer in Gods children a desire to grow and a longing to be better whatsoeuer they thinke of it and how highly soeuer they account of themselues in it they shall go forward euery one his way till they be as blind as the moule as deafe as the adder as dumbe as he that openeth not his mouth and as vnprofitable as the salt that hath lost the sauour and is good for nothing but to be troden vnder foote and cast vpon the dunghill Neither let the people of God count this any burthen to be thus directed but it is their flesh and corrupt wisedome which burdeneth them whereto they are not debters And what do I perswade vnto but the vse of and continuance in that holy condition which euery true beleeuer hath tasted of and had his part in but that many such through ignorance and vnacquaintednesse with it haue not attained vnto stedfast continuance in it But to return a litle to the other ô people to be lamented and euer pitied that they being borne to great honour euen here in this life should forgo it so contentedly and suffer others to enioy it whom I require to heare me saying vnto them that if they were wise and well aduised though they might liue as their heart desireth here and should neuer be called to their account for the same yet they would flie from a licencious life being but a sweet poison and would chuse to spend one day godly euen for the fruite and pleasantnesse of it
behind vs. That is seeing some part of the day is vsually bestowed in companie therfore in what cōpanie soeuer we shall be either of our owne familie or strangers superiours or inferiours and how oft soeuer that we haue speciall regard to be harmelesse and free from giuing any ill example carefully marking and shunning the occasions thereof and prouocations thereto And that we be readie by all oportunities to take any good that we may either by example or communication from others or do good our selues by offering both And that in any of our dealings with men about or in the things of this life we neither hurt or do wrong to any but rather suffer it knowing how we are giuen to loue our selues and in matters of profit especially with the neglect of others which among Christians is a sore blemish That we do not ill spend the time in our solitarines or when we be alone I meane that at such times as wherein we shall be free from companie we haue the like care of our hearts and behauiour being alone that we were taught to haue of them both and of our talke in companie For example that in our behauiour we attempt or go about no euill as stealing whoring or committing any vnlawfull thing c. and concerning our hearts that we suffer them not to wander after needlesse and vaine things but hold them within this compasse that either our thoughts be of those things which are lawfull as the well ordering of our busines and yet that also with moderatiō or of things holy and spirituall as the glorie of the life to come Gods loue to vs and care ouer vs in this world and such like considering and remembring that we must redeeme the time to the best vses we can and in conscience most approue of or if our thoughts be at any time of things euill that it be onely to bring vs into further hatred and detestation of them and not to ingender and raise vp a liking thereof in our hearts which Sathan euer intendeth though we had no such meaning nay rather purposed against it when we first entred into thought of them That we vse our prosperitie and all the lawfull liberties of this life soberly and so as we seeke to be the better by them Forasmuch as our merciful father bestoweth vpon vs many great blessings euen here where we be straungers both in token that he can affoord vs them and to shew that pietie and the feare of God are not without reward no not in this life 1. Tim. 4.8 Therefore it behooueth vs to be circumspect and warie that we swell not neither be insolent because of our prospering neither idle and loose in our liues and so abuse the same to carnall libertie but to be more rich and fruitfull in all good duties both to God and men because we know that he which hath receiued much of him shall much be required Amos 3.2 And that herein is our heauenly father glorified that we bring foorth much fruite Iohn 15.9 And so we haue the right vse of Gods benefits which is a greater treasure then the benefits themselues 1. Kings 3. as we may see by the fearefull ends of such as had many great blessings but regarded not how to vse them That we be ready to receiue our afflictions meekly and patiently and so be found indeed where we are tried with them that our patient minds may be knowne to all Our liues are subiect to many calamities and euery day to sundry yet doth not the Lord chastise vs for that he taketh any pleasure in our sufferings but of very loue sendeth them for our benefit namely to weane vs from the excessiue loue of the world and to purge out our drosse thereby that we might not perish with the world but haue proofe of our faith and patience which causeth the greatest ioy of all other Therefore we must not fret and be impatient in them but confesse that they are necessary and meete as oft as God sendeth them and therefore waite to see a good end of them that so we may haue experience of great good by them which may make vs hope for the like after and that without fainting That we constantly keepe and vse the exercise of prayer and thanksgiuing in our families and such other helpes to maintaine the knowledge and true worship of God and of true happinesse amongst vs. For seeing we are forgetfull of our duties and easily drawne away by the world we haue need to haue daily and oft accesse to God and our seruants especially who haue litle other priuate helpe These exercises of Religion are prayer reading chatechising and conference with singing of Psalmes c. and that these or such of them as are common to the whole family be vsed at the most conuenient times when the family may come together and that we indeuor to do the same together twise in the day at least prouiding to performe the duty of it with chearfulnesse and reuerence knowing that we haue therein communion with our God and most sweet refreshing of our soules thereby alwayes remembring that this shall not be so aukely gone about nor so hard as many find it if other duties before mentioned be carefully looked to That before we lye downe at night we looke backe to the workes of the day how we haue passed it that where we haue had blessings we may be thankfull and proceede in the like course after where we haue faulted and failed we may reconcile our selues to God and so lye downe in peace For seeing we haue some speciall infirmities to make mention of and some particular benefits to giue thankes for and to powre out our complaints in speciall maner it is meete as we shall be able that we should thus view and go through the seuerall acts of our life in the day calling them to remembrance as we can that where we shall see that we haue receiued helpe and strength to liue well and to keepe peace with God by the rules and duties prescribed otherwise then we were wont before we did so particularly obserue our wayes we may with praise to God reioyce and take comfort in our gaine and more constantly hold out in the same course and where we haue failed we may be willing to see and acknowledge our faults laying hold of pardon and looke better to our selues after and so making agreement with the Lord as being reconciled to him and leauing no accusations nor checkes to our consciences we may lye downe in peace and fall asleepe in that state euen as we awoke with it in the morning ready to make our bed our graue and so shew our selues to be pilgrimes and strangers as our fathers were And these are the duties of our liues falling out ordinarily and most commonly to be done euery day at least some of
by the quarter of the yeare and to signifie whether any such daily course might possibly be fastened vpon Christians and with fruit which doubtlesse few are acquainted with And after triall made priuatly by themselues they inioying also the publike Ministery to the further inlightning of them about the same they confessed freely to the praise of God that they found and obtained more vse of their knowledge more constancy in their course and sweete delight in seruing of God then they euer looked for or once could haue asked of God before they did in such particular maner looke to their waies though they had set their hearts to seeke the Lord some while before For they sayd when they did consider that God ought as well one day haue his due at our hands as another which they had not thought vpon so throughly but now by the helpe of this they began to see more clearly and that it was nothing beseeming the greatnesse and goodnesse of God that he should be serued by fits and vncertainly some day a litle some day nothing at all they confessed that they framed their minds of conscience to looke to their wayes more constantly and carefully and that in one part of the day as another and more especially that they did vsually consider of and call to mind Gods loue and kindnesse in his many mercies much more often then in times past when they thought of them but seldome And hereby they saw such blessing of God vpon their labours and indeuors that they were able with chearfulnes and without tediousnesse to passe the day in their calling and in the performance of other necessarie duties either at home or abroad as occasion was offered which they could neuer do before for any long time together they were not vnsetled by matters about family nor so easily and readily passing their bounds and ouer-shooting themselues in dealing about their worldly affaires they were not so soone prouoked to vnquietnesse by losses or other of Gods chastisements nor to breake out into heart-burning fretting and vncharitablenesse against such as offered them hard measure in speech or otherwise they did now more narrowly view their desires affections which way they caried them and what deceitfulnesse was in them which yet for many of them they had not before suspected or at least litle laboured against them and how oft they had smarted by them when they had not this regard daily They saw they could willingly do one good thing or other in the day for the most part or at least keepe themselues from euill and were not maistered of idlenesse or busying themselues needlesly in other mens matters they were not vsually so vntoward when they went to prayer nor walked in many of their actions so loosely as they well remembred they had done before they now could find matter to ioy in and make their songs of euen the many kindnesses of God which haue no end whereas their ioy was wont to be in thinking of that which they had or desiring that which was other mens or dreaming of long life c. And aboue the rest this did exceedingly comfort them that whereas they had oft times before that bene much shaken with feare that they should not with any peace perseuer to the end now their experience in subduing their vnruly affections and setting themselues to frame their liues to Gods will as they were able and that for some continuance one day as another did giue them strong hope that they should much more easily do the same hereafter yea and were perswaded that if the Lord should exercise them with harder afflictions then they had as yet sustained that he would also vphold them euen therein and that as they should increase so should their comfort increase whereby they should be made able to beare them So that this daily tying of themselues to record and thinke vpon Gods kindnesses towards them in that he had made them happie both here had giuen them sure hope of happinesse for hereafter and the submitting themselues to be guided daily did greatly amend them as we see by their owne confession in their whole course And what maruell though it was thus with them For is there not thinke we a great difference betwixt a daily and a seldome or vncertaine view of our estate betwixt a particular obseruing our waies and a generall course in Christianitie For although men may haue without such like helpe and direction oftentimes their hearts well affected yet will it be nothing like with thē as when they do with a resolute and constant purpose aboue all other things looke to this one and not to be remoued from it seeing it is the best of all daily and through the day to hold fast the profession of their hope with ioy and to be careful to please God in one thing as in an other For then doth Christs commendation of Marie reach also to them that they count one thing needefull and they haue chosen the good part and it shall not be taken from them when they can testifie to their owne consciences that in their weightie businesses and dealings and in their matters of pleasure and profite they be thus indifferently caried about them that this one thing is still counted needfull that is by faith to rest in God and still to be ruled by his word But to end my report of these Christians for proofe of that which they say of the benefite of the daily direction faithfully obserued they alleadge that it was not wont to be thus with them no not since they had embraced the Gospell had hope of saluation thereby nay and that they were wont as soone as they had bene out of their beds by and by to haue their hearts set vpon some light and foolish matter or to haue falne into iarres and brawles or to be caried into the world and so earnestly set vpon the same one way or other as that all goodnesse was forgotten yea and this also euen since they had receiued some care to please God and that prayer a spirituall dutie of all other most vsually intended to be frequented of them yet by the least occasion was put by and omitted And when the morning which being the first part of the day should be consecrated to the seruice of God if in any conuenience it may be hath bene thus prophanely spent and taken vp the whole day after we may be sure hath bene sutable for the most part and answerable So that they haue not felt that sweetnesse in their liues which by teaching they had heard to be graunted of God to his people to enioy but contrarily they felt much wearisome passing of the day and clogging of their hearts with their corruptions which since they tooke this order hath bene farre otherwise with them yea euen in the new entrance into it which we all know to be then weakest much trifling out the time in companie by talking
daily CHAP. 12. Of the declaration of the first dutie of awaking with God AND of the first three parts of this treatise thus much Now for the better vnderstanding of the nine last mentioned duties and more cleare insight into them especially for the helpe of them which cannot so easily gather so large a matter out of so few wordes I will more fully open euery branch thereof one after another And whereas I teach Christians in this place first when they awake to be with God and to accustome their thoughts to be holy I meane indeed so much that so soone as they awake they should be taken vp about heauenly things for where their treasure is there should also their hearts be as to thinke of Gods kindnesse and loue towards them and that they abide still in his fauour as at any time before the remembrance whereof at our first breaking off our sleepe what can be like sweet and comfortable euen as a prisoner condemned but to temporall death doth on the contrarie at his awaking out of sleepe fall into most dreadfull thoughts and feare They are also to thinke how they haue bene refreshed by their rest and kept from the manifold dangers of the night c. by the which many haue miscaried And all these and such like meditations should salute them when they first awake to this end to reuiue that foundnesse of heart wherwith they lay downe the night before if they lay downe as became them and also that no roote of bitternesse breake out of them to staine their actions at their first entring into the day which were very like to be if it should not be preuented and held out by some such gracious thoughts Also by this meanes they prouide well for the better keeping their liues in frame all the day after without the which regard had in purpose to performe it assoone and as well as they can they are so ready to range and go astray one way or other that although they did lye downe the night before in peace and with quiet and meeke hearts yet the diuell as we know it well watching his oportunitie they may easily be vnsetled and so runne into sundrie euils which cannot be auoided All which being considered who doth not see how great a meane this kind of awaking with God is and how worthily it may be reckoned for one of our duties to indeuour to take vp some time thus when sleepe departeth Neither let any obiect that this is more then poore Christians can attaine to for all such would faine attaine to that grace if they were taught how and directed the Lord hauing framed and fitted them for it euen by this that he hath made them Christians and therewithall hath giuen them hearts which are willing thereunto but yet euery man in his measure and as he hath receiued of God which giueth to no man nigardly who seeketh heartily And if this satisfie not some who desire to begin the day aright after their first perfit shaking off of sleepe and awaking let such for their better direction breake their minds to those who through longer experience are better exercised in the wayes of the Lord then themselues Onely this caueat and watch-word I giue that if through barrennesse in good things thou art not able to set thine heart a worke when sleepe is gone from thee to fasten vpon somewhat that is profitable to thy soule or to thy companion if thou hast any with thee arise if it be conuenient if not and that thou feelest thy heart to be caried vnto prophanenesse or to cause thy mouth to sinne any way checke thy selfe rebuke thine heart and so take occasion euen by thy euill to do good And remember him who at his first awakings in the morning did thus giue vnto the Lord the first fruits of the day as I haue taught thee to do as in the Psalme where he saith O Lord thou wilt heare my voyce early in the morning Early in the morning will I direct my words vnto thee and will looke vp and in the Prouerbes Wisdome shall commune with thee when thou wakest and guide thee when thou walkest The words of the Psalme although they be not to be vnderstood only of the time of our first awaking yet they include that time as well as any other in the day but that place of Salomon doth plainely shew that it ought to be as vsuall and ordinary to set our hearts on worke about some holy and heauenly things when we first awake as it should be to looke to be guided by Gods word all the day through And there is no doubt but if this Scripture and such like were beleeued and well weighed directly tending to this end to teach Christians to take vp their hearts in holy cogitations and heauenly desires before the diuell hath poysoned them and euilly imployed them and further if they would be willing to see this first letting loose their hearts to sundry sinnes as iesting vaine laughter light and loose talke iarring contention depth of worldlinesse and such like to be one chiefe cause of an vnprofitable yea an offensiue life in the day afterwards it should be farre better with them then it is I meane if they would thus do they should find much more ease in seruing of God and fruite therein and comfort thereby both in the morning and all the day after whereas I see with mine eyes heare it with mine eares that many passe the day very vnbeseeming Christians who haue long sought the Lord though only in a generall manner indeed and others see that it is not with them so well as both it might and they themselues know it should be who do perhaps some one time in the day now and then go to prayer but otherwise they haue litle regard of many their actions yet their prayers which they make are not for the most part powred out to God till their heads and harts both are so filled and fraught with the world and other matters that they haue made themselues in a maner vnfit to pray And as for such as say they haue other matters to thinke on as soone as they be awake and they cannot bestow their time after that manner it may please them to know that as for the time if their heart were ready and did know how to do this duty it might very sufficiently and well-nigh be performed in so much time for a need as the Lords prayer distinctly vttered might be sayd ouer in For in such a space might a Christian lift vp his heart to God and salute him with an holy remembring of his fatherly kindnesse and namely for present preseruation in soule and body and confirme himselfe in his former sound-hartednesse which if he did no more were a true and right awaking with God and the onely right way to thinke of other things as they ought Therefore with thine heart thus seasoned if it
we ought not at any time to be vnwilling to such duties if it were alwayes expedient to be with the Lord in this manner vnlesse we could proue to our consciences that we are taken vp in things more necessarie Neither can this desire be quenched in vs which the spirit of God hath kindled but by our owne fault whiles we haue through lightnesse rashnesse or in seeking some other vnlawfull libertie expelled and banished the same from vs. But for as much as all other duties go well forward whiles the heart is kept in loue and liking with these holy exercises and not otherwise for pray well and liue well and contrarily therfore this grace and heauenly affection cannot neither may well be wanting in the seruants of God Insomuch that they which are not necessarily letted as by pouertie or otherwise as want of leisure are not to make this to stand in stead of their familie exercise in the morning as being loath to bestow more time in such holy communion with God then they must needs but rather they must begin the day with this after they are risen and afterward with their houshold as the oportunitie shall permit I meane as it will best stand with euerie ones businesse in the familie And especially preachers and students and those which do inioy many great means and who are not holden downe with pouerty and such multitudes of outward calamities and hinderances and whose discouragements be but small in respect of other mens such I say should not offer to God so nigardly sacrifices as they who can do no otherwise but as they haue receiued more many wayes then their brethren so they should render more then they both in this and other duties for otherwise who should be examples and patternes to the weaker sort if such should not and yet that I may discourage none he that shall offer but his mite with the poore widow willingly hauing no more hath done as much as any other who hauing greater gifts haue made longer prayers Now if after the declaration of this dutie in this maner ought remaine doubtfull let them seeke resolution at their faithfull teachers hands that so they may more freely and with more profite continue it CHAP. 14. Of the declaration of the third dutie about our callings THE third dutie concerneth our callings and particular trades the which we may be fit and readie to enter vpon when our minds be thus well prepared as in the two former duties hath bene declared Know we therefore that with this well ordered heart we are to take the same in hand euery one as he is to be employed throughout the day so long as is expedient that we may safely and comfortably bring it to an end About the which argument my purpose is not to write a treatise of all matters appertaining hereto but so farre to speake of it as I may shew that which I intended namely this seeing it is a great part of our life to doe the workes of our callings and a chiefe part of a godly life to do them aright therefore to direct a Christian how to please God in the same contrarie to the opinion of many and those not of the worst who imagine but most vniustly that their calling is such a let to them from the practise of religion that thereby though they had no other they are hindred from seruing God aright But they shall better be answered hereafter First therefore I will proue that all Christians must liue in some lawfull vocation Secondly that they must with practise of other godly duties faithfully and diligently walke in the same Thirdly which will follow vpon the two former that they who do so which the children of God only can do may highly please God therein and find great helpe and furtherance thereby to passe the other parts of the day well and christianly And for the first of these three it is cleare by the words of the Lord himselfe In the sweate of thy face thou shalt eate thy bread that all men are bound to trauell and labour though not with the hands in some painefull estate of life wherein they may serue God and if need be they may prouide for themselues and theirs At least wise they may be good members in the Church and Commonwealth as is meete for them to be not idle and vnprofitable Vnto the which rule the highest magistrates do submit themselues being appointed of God to their places that the people may liue a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie and therefore very vnmeete it were that any inferiour to them should raunge and liue without compasse in the world inordinately as though they were exempt from the Lords gouernment But I as I haue set my selfe to do throughout this booke will deale onely with those who hauing submitted themselues vnto the will of God in other things are therefore readie to heare his voice in this All such must know and religiously perswade themselues if through ignorance and long custome therin they shold think otherwise that they must of conscience betake themselues to such an estate of life lest otherwise liuing without a calling as rogues theeues cousiners cōmon gamesters parasites other disguized persons they should loath labour liue vpon others waxe idle and so runne either into heresie sects curious questions and fond opinions or else into loose behauiour and wicked companie and then finding no sauour in their religion should fall away from the truth and grow senslesse and frozen in their dregges and filthinesse As not onely we may reade in the Scriptures that some haue done which also were members of the Church but haue seene many carrying good shew of zeale and hauing many good parts in them whereof some became prophane and vaine in their liues others held straunge opinions and separated themselues from the Church of God amongst whome they had liued familiarly before neither were they to be blamed by men with any reprochfull crime which might be like to bring them thereunto saue onely this that they exercised no calling but went about from place to place and setled themselues in none neither could be perswaded by the dearest of their friends so to do But although a man could assure himselfe that he should neuer fall to such a depth of sinne through the neglect of a vocation and following of a lawfull trade of life as there seldome cōmeth any better fruite therof yet what man wold but so much as liue vnprofitably if he may be well employed when God hath made him for a farre more excellent end and bring discredite and ill report and that iustly vpon himselfe hauing bene had in good account before of his godly neighbours and brethren or liue inordinately and so voide of comfort and that for neglecting the ordinance of God But to say no more of this first point the next and the nighest degree hereunto that may be is
that so we giue occasion to none by our liberties taking so vnseasonably to embolden others against conscience The manner should be in moderation of our affections in it as anger choler contention strife coueting that which is our neighbours and such like and in moderation of the time how long we continue it remembring that it is a refreshing tanquam somno caterisque quietibus as he saith that is as a man that is wearied doth desire rest and to giue himselfe to sleepe that he may be refreshed by it and it must not be an ouerlaying of our selues or a toyle vnto vs or wearying of vs so that necessarie duties of the day be omitted by it neither get such an interest in vs that we cannot leaue it when we should Our companions therein should not be men of euill name for corrupt life and notorious offences but such as be readie to heare of it if they be ouershot Our end to be the fitter to the duties of our calling not couetous cōtrarie to the tenth commaundement nor seeke our gaine thereby nor to increase our liking of such passing of our time and so to draw vs after the same oftener then might seeme expedient for vs or from one kind to another spending out our precious time therein as though we were to yeeld no account of it that we may not be seruants to our lustes And as this may somewhat direct vs in companies where we meete to refresh our selues so he that is not willing thus to vse recreation shall wish in time that he had neuer bene acquainted with it besides that it is not said in vaine He that loueth pastime shall be a poore man Now for other companies in which we meet about our earthly affaires God hath taught vs vertues fit to vphold and carrie vs through them as all other parts of our life in peace and in good sort whereas without them full daungerous hurts might easily take hold of vs therein by such meanes as we litle suspect Therefore to speake particularly of our bargainings and other couenants they ought to be without hollownesse deceipt vndermining and such other vnconscionable dealing that so we may be simple and our meaning good our words plaine our agreements reasonable our promises kept our couenants performed except consent on both sides to the contrarie but where the aduauntage should fal out against the poore and needy there mercie and compassion would be required In suites and controuersies great charitie is to be shewed and in this to be shewed namely that although no compromise can be made which if it may with any indifferencie be obtained is in no wise to be neglected yet that the question or case betwixt vs about words goods or other matters may not turne vs from the pursuing of the thing to the persons nor to breake off our Christian loue howsoeuer we receiue hatred and deadly malice for our good meaning Strong patience also must be laboured for to beare the cost the trauell the toile and tariance with all other griefes and molestations which fall out thereby or may possibly be offered vs vntill we see the end and issue But especially if it should stand with the aunswering for our selues in accusations of any crime before the magistrate with this patience would wisedome and christian courage with modestie and meekenesse be necessarily adioyned And by the helpe of these the Lord hath brought to passe that the frowning lookes and cruell faces of tyrants and persecutors haue not bene feared their bloudie threats haue not daunted the people of God much lesse haue they turned them from their most holy faith and profession but they themselues who haue vexed them haue appeared to be more tormented in their conscience at the beholding of the graces of God in them then they who haue bene bodily tormented by them And this for the vse of companie be said as in such breuitie I could which aduice and direction the reader must receiue in all companies one day as another to guide him therein And to shut vp this fourth dutie let this be added that not onely in our companies we be harmelesse and giue good example but euery way and in all our dealings with men whether they be priuie to it or no innocent and iust to all and mercifull and pitifull to the needie and oppressed and the rather for that we are so naturally giuen to regard and seeke our owne profite whosoeuer sustaine losse thereby and therefore to be alwaies thus resolued that rather then any should haue iust occasion to complaine of our iniurie or hard dealing we are readie to depart from some peece of our owne right as Abraham did to Lot And because it is most mens calling euery of the sixe daies to haue dealings with some other therefore let the true Christian arme himselfe with this mind euen thus to liue and conuerse with them in all that they haue to do with them for many of them are so deceitfull and vnconscionable that they will abuse the most innocent and honest Christians with slaunderous tongues and false reports if they cannot get what they would at their hands Now what would such do if they had any iust cause giuen them to open their mouthes But besides euen honester men if they deale together either for that they do not plainely set downe their minds or if they do yet one sustaineth the losse in the end when both looke to gaine I cannot tel how it commeth to passe that there arise hard thoughts betwixt them that loue is broken off or so cooled as the diuell hath apparantly shewed that the persons wanted care and wisedome therefore such should so looke to their actions that they may haue no such accusations come against them at euen or in the iudgement day nor prouoke the Lord to measure out to them after the same manner againe which they may be most sure of Yet one thing remaineth which most fitly is here to be placed that seing we shall in hauing companie fellowship and affaires with sundrie men behold many gracious examples among the rest as worthie patternes of godlinesse that we be diligent to marke and learne and follow whatsoeuer in thē may better adorne furnish vs as the Apostle taught Be ye followers of me as I follow Christ that we carie not that high opinion of our selues as that we stand in no such neede of others because we haue somewhat more then the common sort of the world but in humilitie and meekenesse make that reuerent account of Gods gifts in others rather then enuie and disdaine them that we may with all speed seeke to enioy the same our selues and much more to follow the good examples of such as are commended to vs in the Scriptures as Abraham the father of the beleeuers in faith Moses in meeknesse Ioseph in chastitie Dauid in the loue of Gods worships and
although the man of God whose praise is so great in the Scripture could make it his worke both in the day and the night season And therefore seeing I can no otherwise helpe to redresse this wretched custome of neglecting this benefite and libertie of oft meditating and profitable vsing of solitarinesse in them who might well vse it I will say no more but pray for such as know not by experience how good and gainefull it is in stead of all idle and vaine wandrings and fantasies wherewith they swarme for the most part when they are alone And I will not cease to bewaile the vnhappinesse of the men of our daies who in the vsuall and daily trifling out of their precious time declare that they are ignorant of their best portion which is to haue daily communion with God but are wise to deceiue themselues in forgoing it for folly and sinne And therefore it is no maruell though of many wise and learned yet there are so few which both find an heauenly sweetnesse in their owne liues and are fit to season others therewith because they are not oft and vsuall daily with the Lord in their soliloquies that is in their communing betwixt God and themselues in their prayer and meditation and in hauing recourse to him sequestred from the companie of men as Moses the man of God had Which part of Christian comfort both might and ought to be more generally enioyed of the seruants of God without either the least sauouring of Monkerie much lesse without the establishing and the bringing in of it againe which some prophane Protestants litle knowing the vse of will be readie I doubt not to imagine and say as they peruert all other things to their owne hurt Although I could wish that they had no earthlier minds I allow not their doing then some of them had who first left the dealings of the world to liue apart out of companie As for the Popish progenie who would be thought as it were by apish imitation to follow and be like them they are farre from it as they are from sound religion in their profession But to returne although I commend solitarinesse I would yet thus be vnderstood that such as are troubled with melancholie by meanes whereof they are much vnable to gouerne themselues and the rather through strong and vehement temptations when they are oppressed with them that such I say should not be pressed with it and vrged to it to be long or much alone for feare of casting themselues into further and more daungerous dumpes and extreame heauinesse as experience hath taught till they may be stronger and therefore with lesse daunger may be permitted to the libertie of it as other Christians CHAP. 17. Of the declaration of the sixth dutie Of vsing prosperitie well THE next dutie to be obserued is that with the same sanctified and sound heart we enioy all our lawfull liberties and commodities of this life rightly and soberly from day to day whiles the Lord graunteth them vnto our vses and whatsoeuer crosses and afflictions befall vs in the day as both these are distinct parts of our life from the former that we goe vnder them patiently meekely and thankfully These two parts of dutie are required not at some one time in the day as the first and second rules haue their certaine time in which they are to be performed but as some of the other parts of daily direction throughout the day because there is no part of our life in the day but it is either exercised with some crosse or with likelihood and feare of it or it is free from both and enioyeth sundrie benefits of the Lords or that which is the most vsuall and common case of Gods seruants it is mixed and compounded of both which of all these soeuer be our estate we are in great danger if we be vnprouided for it I meane if we be not watchfull in either of them to carie our selues vprightly and before the time of both if we pray not feruently with full resolution to it And to say somewhat distinctly and seuerally of both although it be my purpose to say as litle as I may seeing I haue by occasion spoken of both in another place of the first I will speake in this chapter and in the next of the other It is not hard to vnderstand what I meane by prosperitie properly euen all pleasures and delights which may lawfully be enioyed of the seruants of God in this life as health riches friends peace mariage and all that appertaine thereto as wife children c. These therefore which are things that a man would most desire with freedome from afflictions which might impaire the sweetnesse of them we must know that it is a most difficult thing to possesse them without great daunger to our soules and therefore the liuing in such an estate as to abound in many good blessings of God which the world counteth happinesse is compared to a slipperie way in the which a man is euer sliding and readie to fall Now then to looke to our selues daily that we be not hurt what lesse worke is it then as if a man iourneying all the yeare through yea and all his life long should be constrained continually to be looking to his feete and steppes which thing how vnwelcome it would be and wearisome if it were but one day who doth not see and perceiue Now the case being like in this part of our trauell and spirituall iourney therefore that we may be free from the hurt which might meete with vs herein these two points shall be needfull to be considered and learned First how hardly in prosperitie we walke safely from day to day towards the kingdome of heauen secondly how and after what sort we may do it though it be hard and how we may grow to the right vse of the same which who so attaineth vnto shall find no common nor small ease in his life ouer others do and passe by manifold and grieuous dangers which few auoide And first although a man should much better performe all Christian duties euery day who hath fewest afflictions to draw his heart from them and who hath most helpes by peace wealth to set him forward therein yet as men go to worke we see it is cōmonly cleane contrary For by reason of this that men are so readily caried to vse all earthly things amisse euen to their owne hurt and hinderance and so hardly brought to be the better by benefits it commeth to passe that it is found by experience with vs for the most part as we read in ages past that it was with men then that is the more that a man hath of these earthly commodities the lesse he is inriched with spirituall grace and as they are increased multiplied so this decaieth and is diminished And yet I do not here speake of the wicked of the world as oft times I put the
the earth in comparison of him So that it may be seene of all such as desire to be satisfied that God hath not giuen to his faithfull seruants earthly prosperitie to naile their hearts to it but to proue them whether any thing be sweeter to them then he himselfe who hath giuen it that is whether the gift or the giuer be in greatest request with them and that all which he giueth them might be an occasion to knit them nearer vnto him who will yet giue much more to them which depend vpon him to this end I say all Gods benefites serue And I haue not denyed in all that I haue said but that it becommeth the best of Gods seruants to labour for earthly maintenance that they may be able to giue rather then to receiue and that without any iust offence they may do it and that they ought to acknowledge it for a great mercie of God that he reacheth out his hand to helpe them with necessaries euen here where they be straungers and to prouide for their bodily necessities and therefore to be thankefull yea and ioyfull in this respect that they are freed from much care and distrust and haue the way made more easie thereby to the heauenly life for want whereof many of their deare brethren are in much pensiuenesse and sorrow But yet may they not in any wise take such sweetnesse in those things that they forget or neglect better but alwaies remember that they serue to a further end that is to seeke better and are not themselues the end of their hope in which they should rest And so to conclude it remaineth that we in no wise reioyce nor put our delight in any transitorie thing but with most great diligence we vse all earthly benefites of God daily and throughout our life moderately And this is to enioy our prosperitie aright and to make that part of our life sweet and sauorie to vs indeed which is passed therin And this is that which I haue thought conuenient to be said of this sixt rule namely that it is a great part of godlinesse euery day to looke to this with due regard that we moderately and fruitfully vse our lawfull liberties and all the commodities earthly of this present life CHAP. 18. Of the declaration of the seuenth duty Of bearing afflictions rightly euery day they come THE next part of our life not yet mentioned is that which is vnder the crosse and in affliction Our dutie here is that when and so often as it shall please the Lord to trie vs therewith and to chaunge the course of prosperitie or any part of it yet that with the same well ordered heart which I haue said should accompanie our other actions and parts of our liues with the same I say we be prepared to receiue it from him and count it no straunge thing to be exercised with it and the rather for this reason as the Apostle admonished the godly of his time that we are predestinate thereunto euen to be like vnto Christ in afflictions also seeing through many of thē our way lyeth to the kingdome of heauen And all may see how needfull it is for vs to hearten on our selues by these and such like perswasions to be willing to beare our crosses meekly with chearefulnesse because we do so soone shrinke backe at the hearing of them as the Apostles did when they heard that their maister would go into Iury againe where the Iewes before had sought to stone him and seeing they be so vnwelcome to vs by nature although we be subiect to many and sundrie and that daily It must not be with vs as it is with the most that is that we loue not to heare of them when we haue bene awhile free from them and so hope still for earthly peace of the which we haue no promise but rest perswaded euery day that our heauenly Father knoweth what is best for vs and as he seeth affliction or freedome from it to be meetest so he will alwaies bring it to passe To this end we are admonished of the Prophet to accustome our selues to beare the yoke in our youth that we may be the better acquainted with it when it shall be put vpon vs that so we being tamed and subdued by it and our proud and rebellious hearts brought vnder of him we may beare it with the more ease and comfort encouraged hereby that if we be able to beare afflictions contentedly and with quiet and meeke spirits which is the hardest part of our life we may easily prouide to haue our whole life sweet and ioyfull Furthermore to this end that we may be readie to waite vpon the Lord patiently in our chastisements we must consider that euery day Sathan intendeth mischiefe against vs and he knoweth our weakenesse to be greatest in bearing the crosse and therefore will not leaue vs vnassayed as much as in him lyeth and not so onely but also will terrifie vs with this perswasion that they be greater then they are and feare vs with the oft and much thinking of them that our sorrow may be increased Against all which his cursed vndermining of vs we hauing so great encouragement from the Lord ought to be thus stayed that such of them as we can we may auoide and the rest we may go vnder contentedly waiting for a good issue euen as in faith we pray for it seeing our God will haue vs perswaded that of very loue and faithfulnesse he correcteth vs whensoeuer we be corrected of him But because we faile many times in obseruing these rules and therefore find not grace then to beare them aright whiles they are vpon vs nor afterwards get any wisedome experience or comfort thereby we must diligently and faithfully marke how we be affected vnder them that if we should be oppressed with confused and vnprofitable heauinesse distrust or any other daungerous passions we might learne before that they be no fit companions for vs and sooner get out of them after we espie them in vs and so betake our selues to better gouernment And that this labour be thought no more then necessarie we must know that by Troubles we do not onely meane great vnwonted losses long sicknesses persecutions and such like but those also which fall out verie oft and commonly as vnkindnesse and discourtesie in neighbours vnthriftinesse vnrulinesse and disobedience in children vnfaithfulnesse and negligence in seruants discommodities and harmes in family matters with such like all which to beare without vnquietnesse impatience and vnsetling our selues out of the Christian course must be thought no meane nor smal gift of God nor without daily and continuall watchfulnesse and wise regard to be attained vnto And I do the rather make mention of these troubles which for the most part arise in our families as well as other waies because many Christians do thinke through ignorance that we are not to be
all see and easily know that God hath commanded that parents and fathers of families should rehearse his lawes continually vnto their children and as it were whet their memories with them by talking of them in their house and when they lye downe and when they rise vp and to bring the word of God into familiar acquaintance with them which is no more then he saw necessarie for them By the which commandement we may see how this latter age of ours is degenerated from the holy custome of religious exercises in our families which were in vse so many thousand yeares agone For there can be no time found throughout the day nay the whole weeke in many Christians houses to be occupied about such matters and yet which maketh their sinne the greater how are they letted from them by more weightie occasions No but partly through ignorance so that they could not through the trifling out of the time in idle and vnnecessarie talke or folly and partly through continuall taking vp of it in one worldly thing or other or nourishing teachinesse and such like by which their prayers as well as all other good things are broken off whereas they should do it by themselues alone also rather then neglect it with their houshold the Lord so requiring of vs the one that we should do the other also and not so tyed vs to one time that we should looke after it at no other for it should be oft times as we heard in Deuteronomie but thereby teacheth vs in wisdome to appoint to our selues some certaine time or other for that his seruice lest we should obserue no time but omit it altogether And as for the fruite of this dutie if it be perfourmed with reuerence of vs as the Lord himselfe hath taught vs it is an opening of the doore of his treasurie vnto vs as we who haue any experience can truly say That by it we haue not bene meanely enriched So that such prayer and holy exercise is sutable and answerable to the other parts of christian dutie which are to be perfourmed throughout the day as by the other duties before mentioned may appeare And so our prayer as I said before of the vse of it in the morning shall be an helpe to godly life to make vs liue better and our good life an helpe to our prayer that we may pray more feruently Therefore to say no more of this point because I haue before set downe after what manner we ought to pray and present our selues before God in euery Christian exercise if we purpose and indeuour constantly to continue the same about euening and morning there remaineth no more but this that we take heede to our couenant indeed and that we breake it not off by euery light occasion neither giue place to such lets as Sathan will raise vp in our way as by the vntowardnesse of our heart by sleepe and slouthfulnesse the comming in of straungers and occasion of ordinarie businesse neither vse it for fashion yea and this let vs know that if the ruler of the family performe not this dutie yet is the Christian familist to perfourme it by himselfe And of the eighth rule thus much CHAP. 20. Of the declaration of the ninth and last duty Of viewing the day NOW the last dutie remaineth that thou must with the same wel-ordered heart whereby thou hast bene taught to go through all the actions of the day looke backe before thy lying downe how thou hast passed it how farfoorth thou hast walked with God in it as thou art directed and taught and wherein as thou art able to remember thou hast offended whether thou hast remitted thy care and watch and how thou hast wandred thereby after the desire of thine owne heart That thy soule may reioyce in the blessing which thou hast found so farre as thou hast bene guided aright and thou mayest by this experience hope more confidently that thou shalt with more ease keepe the same course hereafter and for thy strayings and infirmities be sorrowfull and displeased with thy selfe that so thou mayest both humble thy selfe and craue pardon for thy sin be the more carefull to sin no more in that manner This I am sure euery sound-hearted Christian must needes approue of and thinke him in good case who thus lyeth downe to his rest For this is indeed to lye downe in peace and safetie that it may be sutable to his awaking and entring into the day on the morning And the benefite and fruite of this trauell who would not be glad to reape and enioy which is continuall safetie and a prosperous estate whiles a Christian thus setteth himselfe to passe the dayes of his pilgrimage and one of them as another when his heart is looking after his actions in and through the day that God may be pleased This were to lead a stranger-like life indeed and a walking with God which is no more then should be aymed at by him and the necessariest worke which he hath to do Such an one shall well proue that he seeketh a kingdome elsewhere and looketh not for his heauen here And if it be asked whether we looke hereby to be voide of sinne I say no. But yet if in this course there haue notwithstanding the care of pleasing God in the day some thing escaped which ought worthily to trouble vs as by Sathans malice and vigilancie and our owne corruption may easily come to passe yet by this order taking with our selues that hath bene mentioned it shall not sleepe with vs but we hauing so farre preuailed with our selues as thus to hunt and pursue it and to expell and banish it and so reconcile our selues to our God as it is said If any man sinne we haue an Aduocate before our lying downe what a quiet and sweet estate is this like to be But it is will some say an offering of great violence to our selues to doe thus daily and more then Gods word imposeth vpon vs therefore except it be proued to vs by authoritie of Scripture we will leaue it to such as list to be subiect to it To whom I answer That the violence which is offered is but to the flesh to the which we are not debters and therefore are not to take thought to fulfill the lusts of it but to hinder them rather which shall be graunted of necessitie if it be prooued that God commaundeth vs to offer such violence to our selues and that he straightly chargeth vs that we lye not downe in our sinnes neither be bold to sleepe in them the which what other thing is it then that we so consider and looke backe vnto our actions in the day that we may haue peace when we lye downe at euen The words of the Lord which I alleadge to this purpose are these Be angrie but sinne not let not the Sunne go downe vpon your wrath neither giue place to the diuell In the which
words there is more required then in this place I vrge but yet euen that also For the Apostle teacheth that if anger be kindled in vs for want of heed-taking yet that we should soone allay the same but if through the hardnesse of the heart after sinne is committed it is not by and by acknowledged and repented of but it remaineth and boyleth in vs yet we must force our selues to relent and craue pardon of it before the Sunne go downe and so before we dare giue our selues to rest lest the diuell preuailing so farre with vs we find it harder afterwards to remoue it Now we know that other sinnes are in a like detestation with God that anger is and therefore that they must be no more suffered to abide within vs then it and consequently if we be priuie in our selues to any like sinne that we haue offended we should expell and driue out the same as poison that it lodge not nor remaine with vs. And to doe this it is necessarie that we take some conuenient time to vs both to search and enquire what we haue done and withall to purge ourselues from it accordingly But here if any thinke that this was not intended of the Apostle that wee should before we fall asleepe consider how we haue passed the day neither will I precisely vrge the houre or time so particularly for indeed he requireth it to be done sooner rather then that it should be deferred so I say likewise that if this care be conscionably kept at some other time of the day that there be peace maintained betwixt God and vs it is well but if that be not perfourmed before at least before our lying downe it ought to be which also is the time very fit to commend our soules into the hands of God not knowing whether we shall rise in the morning Besides if it be required by the holy Ghost in the Epistle to the Hebrewes that we take heede that there be not at any time and so any part of the day in vs an euill heart we being forgetfull and slow to obserue such a charge can any deny but that he doth there as well require that we should sometime looke backe to see how we haue regarded the charge that is giuen vs And is any time ordinarily and for the most part fitter for that businesse then whē we haue ended the day except some speciall sinne committed in the day do require a more speedie examining of our selues before And if Iob as we read of him did euery day of his childrens banquetting together offer sacrifice to God and pray for them and commaund them to cleanse their hearts and sanctifie thēselues for so it is said that Iob did euery day adding this reason Lest they might therin offend God is it any maruell if we in our own person do retaine this care euery day and vse this practise For euen as men who are in great occupyings do not onely write their takings and their layings out but do also at euen conferre them together lest any delay of time should cause forgetfulnesse and yet this labour they thinke needfull about things that shall perish so is it much more necessarie in the accounts of our soules that we should do that is daily looke what we gaine or loose that we may procure to our selues thereby most sound safetie and prouide also the better for the time to come to do the like and that with more ease There is nothing against this dutie so much as the prophane custome of the world to whom all goodnesse and controlling of their licentious courses is vnsauourie and therefore vnwelcome and ridiculous But let such go know we that if we desire to giue an easie reckoning to God at our latter end it is our wisedome and the best prouision we can make for our selues to yeeld with all conscionablenesse a reckoning to the Lord at the end of euery day and so much the rather because we loue no after reckonings to be brought against vs which may iustly be feared when we haue not indeuoured faithfully to do the same frō day to day but are accused by our consciences that we haue dealt too slightly yea hollowly somtime too much fauouring our selues in passing by many particulars which we were willing to be forgottē buried That which we may reade in heathen Poets as Pythagoras and others concerning this matter may and ought worthily to put to shame a number of Christians They wrote that a man should looke backe at the end of the day how and in what manner it hath bene spent and passed which cogitation it is to be feared hath not once entred into the heart of many which professe to know God in Christ For such as see any cause of going about it this I will say to helpe them forward that the more circumspect they haue bene in obseruing of their wayes and the more diligently the gouerning of the hart and life be kept throughout the day the more readily and willingly shall they go about this view of the day-spending at their lying downe neither shall it be cast off or neglected and vntowardly taken in hand but when they haue bin too secure slight in doing the duties of the day Neither would I lay vpon any a burthen which they be not able to beare calling God to record that I seeke in this as in the rest which I haue sayd onely the glory of God and the further peace and comfort to all the faithfull and the high pricing and estimation of a godly life which will be much set by where the life is so looked to in the day as I haue wished and at our lying downe viewed in this manner and therefore wishing euery one according to the light and grace which he hath receiued to consider whether he can say any lesse but that they walke most safely most confident who go about as they shall be able to make an end of the day in this maner And the reason why this is required as the last worke beside prayer in the familie is because a Christian hath somewhat to mention and deale about and complaine of particularly concerning himselfe which he cannot so well be satisfied in when he prayeth in company And he that hath most warily looked to himselfe in the day and ioyned with the family in duties of humiliation at night shall see cause inough to adde this duty to both as we reade it written of Maister Bradford who had much inward communion with God that he was neuer satisfied in the duties he did through the day and namely in praying at the Chappell when he was fellow of a colledge and in his chamber with his puples vntill he had also powred out his heart to the Lord by himselfe alone But yet notwithstanding this which I haue sayd speciall regard ought to be had of the many bodily infirmities diseases and sicknesses with the feeblenesse of
mind ignorance and other incomberances which Gods deare children shall be afflicted with for they cannot doe as other may and therefore as euery one shall be more oppressed then other so he must needs be the more respected For in such cases the bare lifting vp of the heart to God sincerely is as much and mercy I know is better then sacrifice but withall this must be graunted that the more godly euer one is the more he will bewaile his wants and so this among the rest which doth no lesse in a well ordered heart then a kind purgation discharge the soule of all such drosse as remaineth to waite him a mischiefe Thus I haue more largely as I haue thought it expedient gone ouer these parts of the life of a Christian which for the most part are euery day to be done the better to direct him therein and so likewise I haue sayd that which I intended of this whole Treatise It remaineth now to see how the practise of it is by Sathan and our selues broken off and hindred which is in the next Treatise to be set downe and handled But first I thinke good to adde these two things The one that as I haue set downe rules for daily direction so for the helping of the weaker sort some example also be shewed vnto them thereof The other what vse is to be made of the whole Treatise After what maner a Christian should view his passing of the day at night AS concerning the first this I haue thought expedient to say When thou goest alone by thy selfe for this purpose first call to mind the seuerall actions as thou canst from thy first awakening how thou diddest awake and as soone as thou wert ready take order about necessaries which must be done and then wentest to prayer after to thy calling then haddest occasion to be in some company and how thou diddest looke to thy selfe therein if at another time in the day thou wast alone or at exercise of prayer in family or at meate in another part of the day haddest some crosse befall thee and some ill newes brought vnto thee or if thou hast dealt and communed about worldly affaires buying or selling how thou diddest it and what care thou haddest therein These or any other like vnto these whatsoeuer actions or the maner of them or whatsoeuer the cogitations and desires of thine heart haue bene whether they were good or bad call to mind as many of them as thou canst Thus looke backe as thou art able to remember how thou hast spent the day from one thing to another and from one place where thou hast bene to another which though at the first it shall seeme strange and hard to do yet in time will be more easie When thou hast thus done thou shalt see how thou hast had vse of any of the nine duties set downe which are the common and ordinary actions of the day and how the eight inward graces which ought to be companions to vs euery day haue accompanied thee and then so farre as thou mayest truly do it giue thankes for all grace whereby thou hast bene guided and humble thy selfe in confessing thy defaults and praying as thou shall see cause I haue set downe a paterne and example to direct thee therein which as thine estate doth agree with it follow A forme or example of viewing or passing of the day when we are ready to lie downe at euen I Thanke thee ô Lord for my awaking with thee and that with a willing and ready mind I entred into the day after with calling vpon thee if thou diddest so and for that I had liberty and oportunity thereto and that afterward I went chearfully to the duties of my calling or supplied the omitting thereof some other way with a good conscience and that I was wary in company and in solitarinesse and in my prosperity and vnder my chastisements that I might not offend but that I did some good as I could and that I had part in family exercises and had care in my earthly dealings that I might not be made worldly by them that I haue taken any benefit by meditation and reading if thou hast done so and now at the end of the day that I looke backe how I haue passed the day Thus as these or any of them haue bene done of thee call them to mind as thou canst and how they were done and as they and such like are the chiefe actions to be done in the day so proceed in giuing thankes for doing them or so farre as thou hast with thy mind seasoned with the graces which should direct all the actions of thy life through the day euen these eight thus I also thanke thee ô Lord that in these actions and parts of my life I haue not done them in opinion of any goodnesse in me but by thy grace and haue thereby humbled my selfe for my sinnes and imbraced pardon by faith and by the same faith haue bene holden from many sinnes and kept in doing many duties as loue mercy vprightnesse and the workes of my calling and haue had some consideration of my mortalitie and looked for thy comming on the Sabath that I haue attended to sanctifie it in publicke and priuate exercises and that I haue held the peace which passeth vnderstanding and had thy kindnesse in remembrance thankfully with some vse of watching and praying and now viewed the passing of this day in this poore maner let experience bring hope of better doing this from day to day And if thine heart go with the mentioning of these thou shalt find sauour in them But seeing I haue faulted and failed many wayes both in good doing and the right maner of it and in following the deuices and desires of my heart too much here if any particular action or corruption be remembred of thee bewaile it accuse and iudge thy selfe and renounce it that thou mayest find mercy in that thy need I confesse and renounce the same praying for Christs sake to be pardoned that I may lie downe in peace The second thing which I sayd I would adde was the vse of this doctrine For the vse of the doctrine of this Treatise Of daily guiding thy soule and life it may be gathered out of that which hath bene sayd of it and out of this last paterne or example so farre as thou seest nothing in it which God approueth not And that is in few words that euery day and through the day thou weane and withdraw thine heart from any such noisome baite or prouocation as suffereth thee not to arise in the morning to walke through the day and to lie downe at night in peace and safety vnder Gods protection and euerie day I still say wishing thee to remember that if thou beest negligent and carelesse but one day that may fall on thee to vexe thee long after which should not else fall out in thy whole life And that part of life
which will not stand with this let it as deadly poyson be carefully auoided and reiected of thee Here followeth a prayer containing the summe of the life which is to be daily led of a true Christian A forme or paterne to teach and direct a Christian how to begin the day with meditation and prayer and confession of sinne and thankes after he hath first awaked with the Lord containing in it the matter of this Treatise necessarie for him to practise throughout the day following and for euery day The summe may be drawne out of it more briefly O Lord God most mighty and mercifull through Iesus Christ let that mind be in me which is in thy faithfull people and with the which thou delightest to be sought vnto sound and without hypocrisie humble meeke teachable to euery good thing fitly and readily disposed vnto euery good worke let me be framed this morning to the liking of the Christian course as I haue learned it out of thy word and haue tried that it is the only happie estate which here can be inioyed And with this mind let me enter into my meditation thansgiuing confession of sinnes and prayer For whom haue I in heauen ô Lord but thee or whom do I desire on earth in comparison of thee who doest whatsoeuer it pleaseth thee and hast all creatures euen the Diuels subiect to thee who as thou hast filled the whole earth with thy goodnesse so particularly thy mercies are wonderfull to me and that my soule knoweth right well And as in thy fauour is life and happinesse so thou as one abounding in loue and compassion hast counselled yea and commanded vs for our owne good to seeke it that we might be happie by it And yet lest we should be deceiued with the delusions and baites of this world and set our delight on them thou soundest this alarme in our eares daily that all things in this world are transitorie vaine and soone flitting away and we our selues with them daily drawing vnto our end Thou hast caused this to be published in our hearing that all flesh is grasse and the glory and beautie of it as the flower of the field that fadeth and that all things below the more they haue bene delighted in the more deeply they shall sting and vexe vs when they forsake vs. And lest we should iudge and hope of our estate after the deceiptfull dreames of our owne braine as we are most easily inclined to do thou hast liuely set out our whole shape as in a glasse to be full of miserie and cursednesse if we haue not yet attained to know that we are thy sonnes and daughters that our names are written in the booke of life These all and such like while I meditate vpon as also that thou wouldest haue vs euery day make our saluation more sure to be perswaded of thine vnchangeable loue I wonder at them and most of all to consider thine inestimable and vnutterable kindnesse in them all This draweth from me as there is exceeding great cause vnfeined thankes with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious especially for that I see thou hast done all this for me euen the vnworthiest of other that for my sake thou gauest thy deare sonne to death that he might bring me to euerlasting life that to me among other thou wouldest haue the glad tidings of it to be brought and preached to the end that I may know my selfe as surely to be one of thine as if I were gathered vp to my fathers to inioy thy presence most glorious already that of me among the rest of thy chosen ones thou hast an especiall regard and care against all things that might hurt me and wilt continue the same euen to my liues end when I shall feare neither trouble nor danger neither Diuell nor hell any more that thou hast granted me to know it by faith and in token thereof hast sanctified me and made me able to loue goodnesse and loath euill in some measure that thou hast wrought repentance in my heart whereby I indeuour to forsake all knowne sinnes and to please thee in all things that thou hast giuen me a delight in thy word whereas many find litle sauour in it that thou turnest mine afflictions to my good and teachest me the right and sober vse of my prosperitie that thou giuest me accesse vnto thy maiesty by prayer when I will and for whatsoeuer is needfull that I haue liberty to vse all other helpes for the maintaining of a godly life that I may rise vp when I haue fallen and offended thee and returne to thee againe that thou hast giuen me to striue against sinne and Sathan as a souldier of Christ and makest me to find ioy in the Christian life and thy seruice to be perfect freedome And yet for all this that thou giuest me hope of nearer communion with thee that thou assurest me that through thy power I shall be inabled to perseuere in this christian course to my liues end and that after it I shall be receiued into glory And further that thou hast not onely bestowed these great priuiledges vpon me which are proper and peculiar to thine owne children but also hast in most gratious maner prouided for the continuance of these vnto me and ministred abundantly vnto me the good things of this life as to liue vnder a most Christian and religious Prince and King defending and maintaining the Gospell against all Antichristian malice and tyranny and other aduersary power and the same truly and sincerely preached and by whom our liues liberties and liuings are peaceably continued I thankfully also acknowledge thy great mercy for the fellowship which I haue with thy good seruants in liuing with them and for that credite and fauour which thou grantest me among them also for conuenient habitation competencie of thy outward blessing good liking contentation and agreement in mariage or if ones state require it out of it for health and strength to walke in my particular calling and the benefit of a lawfull calling it selfe for freedome from grieuous paines and diseases from suite and seruice burden and bondage to Pope and tyrant and all other vnreasonable ones for blessing and successe in my lawfull affaires other benefits mention as thou shalt haue cause These thy mercies with many other daily renewed vpon me both to the comfort of soule and body do cause me I say to thinke my selfe infinitly beholding and bound to thy Maiestie and to say ô Lord what is man that thou so delightest in him and againe What shall I render vnto thee for all thy kindnesse which hath no end nor measure This loue therefore constraineth me contrary to my corrupt nature to be most willingly subiect to thy will and holy gouernement this maketh thy commandements not to be to me as sometime they were burdensome and vnwelcome but sweet and pleasant this causeth the strength of mine vnruly lusts and vnlawfull desires to wanze and be
weakened in me contrary to that which sometime I haue found and perswadeth me that euen my afflictions and the hardest parts of my life are sent not in thine anger and displeasure but of fauour and mercy and that for my good thou doest of very faithfulnesse cause me when so euer I am chastised to be corrected And so for thine afflicting of me also I am and more learne daily to be thankfull And the rather I see iust cause hereof because I am priuy in mine owne heart how litle cause I giue of this tender handling and most kind regarding of me yea rather I see causes innumerable why I should be giuen vp into a reprobate sense and both be made an example vnto others in this life of miserie and after be cast into endlesse woe For besides mine originall sinne wherein I was conceiued and borne my whole life before I was called to know thee to be my Sauiour through Christ my redeemer was nothing else but an vtter departing from thee and a dishonoring of thy name In euery cōmandement and branch thereof I was rebellious and disobedient to thee and that as many times as I haue haires vpon my head And since thou hast washed me from my wickednesse and purged me from my sinnes whereas I thought I should haue roundly and readily liked and submitted my selfe to thy holy will which is the rule of righteousnesse yet I haue fealt and do daily that I am hindred much from that good course which I desire not doing the good which I would most willingly but oft times that which I allow not and yet besides this I perceiue that there is much sinne in me which I know not as from time to time since my first beleeuing in thee I haue by litle and litle espied and found out so that most iustly I may say Oh Lord who can tell the manifold errors of this life or how oft he offendeth thee And as for the deceiptfulnesse of sinne who is wise inough to discerne it in many things as when we shall be angry for a iust cause when we shall giue our eye and heart liberty to please themselues in that which they desire when we grow weake in faith whiles we be about our lawfull businesse and such like which because I feele my selfe to be incombred with and with many such I do here as most vnworthie in my selfe acknowledge the same and humbly sue vnto thee ô heauenly father for thy deare sons sake Iesus Christ to pardon still my sins corruptiō who do confesse that I offend thee so oft in the day as I cannot expresse this morning to receiue me gratiously into thy fauorable protectiō that I may be satiate replenished with thy louing kindnes so that al the day after I may retaine the sauour of it haue my heart so sweetly seasoned with it that I may find feel all my actiōs as good things to proceed out of the good treasury of it and not to be fleshly rebellious corrupt as proceeding from a roote of bitternesse And as for the sinne which is hidden from me reueale and bring to light vnto me that I may be shamed and humbled thereby and not abuse thy pardoning of me to bold licentiousnes making that a colour of euill in me but let me plucke downe all pride of my heart and see my selfe daily and so this day more indebted to thy maiestie then otherwise I could possibly thinke my selfe to be and to send vp more oft and earnest prayers against the same Thus good Lord let me sensibly feele this mornings worke to be effectuall through thy blessing euen as it is thine owne ordinance that I should begin the day thus that I may haue my heart inlarged hereby to do my other duties with more cheare and fruitfulnesse and that I being thus perswaded of thy fauor may also be assured that thou wilt be with me to assist me and blesse me in all the lawfull workes actions which thou hast appointed me this day to do And seeing thou hast appointed that we should be occupied in some trauell and worke profitable to the common-wealth which also may keepe our selues from idlenesse incline my heart to obey this thy commandement not onely for other causes but chiefly because thou wilt haue it so and with chearfulnesse that may shake off tediousnesse and vntowardnesse as farre as of my frailtie may be obtained In the workes of my calling let me keepe my heart from all distemperature disorder and rebellion and containe my selfe from euerie euill way in the good successe which thou giuest let me not be lifted vp with lightnesse in the contrary not cast downe with immoderate heauinesse Let me see good and sufficient cause of intermitting the same as oft as I cease from it and let my mind be stable and well setled to follow thee though the actions of the day be many and variable In all companies let me frame my selfe this day to be harmelesse and innocent at home let me be warie against the common euils which are in families as brawling disagreeing with any anger vncharitablenesse reuiling prouoking or being prouoked by others but forbearing and forgiuing if I haue ought against any so let me be free from foolish iesting slandering of others lying vnprofitable and needlesse talking So abroad let me not fashion my selfe after the euill example of the world in these or the like but humbly carying my selfe towards mine equals giuing honor to my betters and making my selfe equall with those who are my inferiours as knowing my selfe what I am And not onely so but as I shall haue oportunitie graunt good Lord that I may do good by exhorting teaching comforting and admonishing and offering my selfe to take good by receiuing the same where I may that thus I may leaue no ill sauour in any place but with comfort call to mind the companies that I haue bene in and not with an euill conscience And that part of the day which I shall haue free from the fore-mentioned duties to be alone whether iourneying sitting walking or lying graunt most mercifull father that my heart may be weaned from vaine cogitations and fond desires euen the secretest and that out of the good treasurie of my heart I may raise holy and profitable meditations oft musing of the heauenly things contained in thy word namely thy mercies of mine owne mortality troubles subiection to sinne and Sathan and how I may order aright all my lawfull affaires and disgrace and bring in discredite with my heart all iniquity and the very apparance thereof Let me aime at these things this day as at a marke And whereas most mercifull father we are wont to go to prayer hearing conferring and reading of thy word with much vnwillingnesse and vntowardnesse and to be sleepie and vnreuerent therein graunt that I may be armed against these and contrarily may stirre vp my selfe to chearfulnesse and gladnesse when such times
Christian seeing there are so many helpes meanes and incitements thereto granted to them by God Also to make them better see themselues the vilenesse which remaineth in them and Sathans malice and other of his properties how many things he layeth in their way to make them stumble thereat that the reading of these may hold them from securitie and from faintnesse and wearinesse in their Christian course whereto they are most inclined of themselues though they were set forward thereto by no other Now although as oft as a man practiseth not this or the like daily direction it is certaine that he is letted yet euery one seeth it not to be so by and by neither how or by what he is letted much lesse how to redresse it therefore is this place and treatise of the lets most needfull to shew what lets will lye in our way to hold vs from following good direction and from practising of the Christian life daily that they being knowne may be preuented and auoided so farre as we may haue peace which shall be if the rules for directing vs be carefully obserued or at leastwise if we be hindred any manner of way yet we may see how and so hauing remedies at hand we may be glad to repaire speedily vnto them and thereby returne into the way againe And therefore I haue thought it expedient to signifie the same in this chapter and that my purpose is to speake in the whole treatise following of these and such like matters of purpose for the helpe and comfort of such as cannot yet find the Lords yoke to be easie nor his commaundements pleasant and sweet vnto them at one time as another in one point as in another but toilesome and burthensome So that although I haue in the first treatise said somewhat particularly for their sakes as I could take fit occasion to do yet because I know that many who are willing to liue well and christianly do make a toyle thereof and do not find any great pleasure in the duties of it and therefore make question oftentimes seeing they find it so hard whether they were best to go forward or no especially when they haue bene driuen to commit any shamefull sinne therefore I thinke it very expedient to remoue these daungerous thoughts and shew them some way to come out of this vncomfortablenesse Now the maine and chiefe lets are the diuell with all his force subtiltie and malice and our euill hearts so farre as they are vnreformed and by means of both all things in the world though not in their owne nature but by thē made occasions to vs of falling and offending God Whereby may be gathered what I meane by lets and hinderances in this treatise euen whatsoeuer may hold vs backe from peace with God Now all these and euery of them is able to breake off our course in godlinesse that we shall not bend our minds otherwise then in some generall sort and manner to worship God and liue with men and although they preuaile not so with all that they breake off their course altogether yet some one part or other of the godly life shall be neglected and so one day after another it shall continue with them in such wise that their reioycing in the Lord shall faile neither shall their light shine amongst men whereby God might be glorified In this darknesse and bondage the most part of Gods people are holden so that although they haue some litle sight of redemption and dimme hope at some times that their sinnes are forgiuen them yet neither enioy they their part in this any long time nor their sweet libertie in godlinesse which they should haue in all estates both which the Lord hath graunted to enioy as I haue shewed before They must therefore learne carefully to resist all such lets as they shall know to stand vp in their way to hinder them of these therefore I meane to giue a tast and of the chiefe and most of them that we may see and discerne them and shew some helpe against them And first generally I will set downe the properties of the diuell as his malice subtiltie crueltie and the like by the which in sundrie sort he worketh vpon the hearts of poore Christians and deceiueth them infinite wayes and together with these I will set downe the encouragements which God hath giuen them against the same which be farre greater then many of them do thinke And secondly more particularly of the seuerall kinds of lets and hinderances which Sathan raiseth vp against them and the kinds of them and which they be and how he vseth their hearts and the world as his instruments to ouerthrow them and the particular remedies against the same wherby such as are incumbred with any of these lets may count it no strange thing neither be dismayed thereat and by this which they shall reade may be prouided of some helpe and deliuerance CHAP. 2. Of Sathans properties and attempts against vs in generall and our helpe against them TO begin therefore first generally euen he it is Sathan I meane that withstandeth vs in euery good thing as I haue said before and leadeth vs amisse many waies although we see our selues set free from the infernall woe And therefore it is that our hearts cannot so soone be raunging though it be neuer so litle but he is readie to meete with them and set them forward in some euill and by his most slie subtiltie he fasteneth our liking and our affections there before we can be aware of it so that we maruell after to see such a suddaine vnsetlednesse in vs and such a chaunge from a wel-ordered course wherein we were before And hereby it is also of him I meane that we can deale about nothing but we may possibly and be oft times snared with it he knowing how to vse all outward objects to our hurt as wealth beautie friends libertie peace and all blessings and contrarily losses sickenesse disgrace c. If that we be at home he workes by domesticall affaires if abroad he taketh occasion from thence So that wheresoeuer or whatsoeuer we do or be occupied in the Scripture teacheth vs that he is about vs how good soeuer we be if not in vs as in the men of this world and that which is most daungerous of all he doth most craftily deceiue vs when we do least suspect it More particularly to lay foorth this I cannot here conueniently If therefore men be ignorant or vnexperienced of his working and properties in themselues it is not to be maruailed at though they beare their deadly wounds about them through his vncessant malice and subtiltie for it is not possible but that euery naturall man one way or other should be deepely bewitched made senslesse and foolish with pleasures profites dreames of earthly happinesse to come feare securitie hard-heartednesse or some such like And this is the estate of the world at this day
how the loue euen of the godly should waxe cold which he spake as a thing both admirable and to be much lamented and withall this exhortation of the Apostle of not quenching the spirit be of any weight with vs why is it at this day with many which are of good hope that they appertaine to God as it is and as we see it to be that is to say that their good beginnings haue bene turned into vnlike euen daungerous proceedings For in many it may be seene of whom it may as truly be said that they are nothing like the people which once they were when they first embraced the Gospell I might iustly make the complaint of any which haue bene but abated in their zeale and feruent loue of good things of which sort there are innumerable but I would I might not also charge numbers that they are disguised being so farre off from forward and zealous professors which once they were that as Saint Paule complaineth of the Corinthians they are now full yea they thinke it meere foolishnesse to hunger after knowledge and thirst after grace and as new borne babes to desire the sincere milke of the word that they may grow thereby who if they thinke much to be still called babes and so to desire milke yet I hope though they be men growne they must still hunger after strong meate But howsoeuer it be and howsoeuer some haue degenerated from their first loue more then others it is too fearefull to see I say not how many haue no affection neither beare any heartie good will to the sincere preaching of the Gospell neither at any time euer did for who can number them but it is too fearefull I say to see how many of them are chaunged who began well and as the Apostle saith Ranne well but they haue bene letted in such wise as they obey not the truth If wearinesse of at least wise litle pleasure taking in the publike ministerie neglect of priuate conference and of exhorting and edifying one another vntowardnesse to good workes and shaking off loue to the brethren imbracing the world and the entertaining of ill companionship with hart-burning against the Preachers for telling them the truth whom sometime they loued and reuerenced highly and if the making of no conscience of open sinnes where secret and small ones could not sometimes haue bene abidden if I say these and such like in men where the contrarie haue bene be signes that the first loue is cooled and sore decayed there are enough who giue iust cause of complaining Euen these I say are sufficiently conuicted to haue left their first loue who are thus eclipsed and darkened as I haue said For how can others be drawne by their examples when they see them not to hold out the profession of their hope with ioyfulnesse as they were wont Nay how can they choose but be more backward in religion and discouraged by the same Indeed I confesse it requireth the whole man to be taken vp and employed in this worke that God may be serued of vs with such chearefulnesse and readines as he was at the beginning but what then Can we for all that denie that we ought to be employed with all possible care therein And what day cometh ouer our heads wherein God giueth vs not encouragement hereunto For what day do we not or may we not make our hearts merrie with the Lords fauour freely graunted vs and his louing countenance shining vpon vs And can it be any lesse then our great sinne to haue our hearts going after straunge delights which shall shoulder out this which is the greatest I grant we are renewed but in part and that much corruption remaineth to cloy and incumber vs and through Sathans malice and vigilancie not onely to hinder but euen to hold vnder goodnesse in vs especially through so many occasions and prouocations as we walke subiect to in the world But yet for all that may we not shake off our feruencie and diligence in doing the Lords worke And although we cannot auoide it but we shall be nearely laid at and narrowly beset with all manner of hinderances both allurements and discouragements so as we shall be broken off againe and againe yet must we therefore know that our life is called and so we must find it euen a continuall battell with our lusts worldly and vnruly and our affections vnmortified and we must accustome ouerselues hereto carefully seeing the Lord hath promised to teach our fingers to fight and our hands to warre that in time wee may be expert rather then cowardly to faint or trecherously to run away Yea but ye will say We are ignorant in many points how to behaue our selues which procureth vs no small disaduantage And I say againe by the grace of God that ignorance shall not greatly hurt vs which we cannot be without but shall serue to humble vs onely Yea but we are forgetfull also ye will say that much troubleth vs. To this I answer as to the former It is not this that can vnsettle vs if we adde not thereunto our owne witting wilfull negligence And if ye obiect that for all our care and watch to nourish and preserue grace and holy affections in vs yet who is so circumspect and vigilant but he shall be vnsetled and turned out of his course before he be aware I aunswer againe Howsoeuer this be or come to passe it is but to the end we shold rise vp recouer by making our mone to our God who cānot be without pitie towards vs yea if we haue felt bitternesse arise in our hearts against this christian course which is the Lords yoke and vnder our afflictions yet let not this dismay vs from clinging and cleauing to him we are his and he will forgiue and receiue vs againe I haue obiected the hardest that is wont to hinder and breake off our first loue and were our hearts daily set to count it our greatest worke to keepe it as how great are our helpes and encouragements hereto God witnessing to that I say though many doe who will not be counselled yet we should not be they who shall lose their first loue And thus much of this second let arising from want of some necessarie thing namely of our first loue where in the way of aunswering obiections I haue set downe the remedie against it CHAP. 7. Of a third let in this first kind namely The want of the ordinarie preaching of the word of God AND now to make an end of this first kind of lets we are to know that there is another want which Sathan laboureth to hold vs in and the fittest of all other to bring on the two former and that is The want of an ordinarie and sound ministerie of the word of God wherby the way to saluation and godlinesse is plainely and in good order with loue and diligence taught so
oft in the weeke as the people can conueniently attend vpon the same Which being the light of the world and as it were the Sun that warmeth all the creatures of the earth with his influence so it can but warme and inlighten them who are within the sound of it as the Sunne doth that part of the earth to the which he can spread his beames And although many vpon whom this heauenly light shineth are not made fruitfull like a garden by the heate of the Sunne but rather as a dunghill to sauour worse yet such as enioy not this grace of the Gospell at all can be but as the shadowed places where no Sunne commeth which bring foorth nothing or else that which is soure and vnsauourie God be blessed for those which are painefull labourers but yet for the infinite thousands who know nothing neither can know I would that all which will be called the Lords Ministers did diligently and faithfully prophecie and that the Lord would poure his spirit vpon them plentifully for that purpose If Peter could say no lesse but that it was meete whiles he continued in this tabernacle to put the people in remembrance of heauen and the way to it yea though they were stablished in it alreadie no more to be remoued who doubteth but that it must needs be a sore want to be without that help For ignorance is a great and vsuall impediment of sinceritie and good conscience for when the mind erreth or misconceiueth it doth misleade the conscience and deceiueth the whole man For where that is not besides the thousands which perish for want of it euen the godly if any be there cannot see their wants in grace their corruptions of heart and the many occasions by which they offend in their life neither the depth of Gods loue how he hath taken order to draw them out of all these nor be refreshed with the oft remembrance of these things as their need requireth But this is a large field to walke in and not of me in this place to be long taryed in but yet I will not cease to pray and hope for that which is wanting as to be highly thankefull for that which we haue namely that the Lord of the haruest would thrust foorth labourers into the haruest and establish the libertie of the Gospell preached by authoritie and continue to vs the glorious light and sweet and deepe insight into the will of God thereby which we haue attained and many moe might also haue done the same vnder her Highnes most prosperous raigne and long peace for whome many thankes be giuen to God amongst vs. Now seeing by the wanting of this sound ministerie ordinarily inioyed euen the most of Gods beloued do want the greatest part of their best priuiledges or full weakly inioy them let all welwillers to Sion procure this as much as in them lieth both by their feruent prayers and other Christian endeuours and let such as desire to be more free from Sathans snares prouide whiles they may to be partakers of this benefit As for such as inioy it and price it not aboue all that they haue or euer can inioy in this world but esteeme it as a thing which they set litle by yea and could want it well enough I will say no more to them but this Many shall come from other places to seeke comfort there both from East West North and South and shall sit downe with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen and they themselues shall be cast out into vtter darknesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth and that of Amos Behold the dayes come saith the Lord God that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread nor a thirst of water but for hearing of the word of the Lord. And they shall wander from sea to sea and from the North euen vnto the East shall they runne to and fro to seeke the word of the Lord and shall not find it They who should weigh how the Diuell hath laboured in all nations and throughout all generatiōs to hinder the passage of the Gospell as if that one booke of the Acts of the Apostles onely were perused doth appeare in that time might easily be perswaded that the preaching and establishing of it is a singular and rare treasure howsoeuer blind men can iudge of no colours and therefore that the want of it is none of the small lets whereby Christians are hindered if possibly many might be perswaded of it For how should a poore Christian rise vp when he is fallen by any occasion or come into the way againe when he is strayed out or how shall he be strengthened being weake or be comforted in his heauinesse if he haue not this at hand ordinarily to bring tidings of Gods will to him and euery way to supplie his many wants euen as if the trumpet sound not who can prepare himselfe to the battell Therefore it is that there are such maine blockes layd in the way of Gods seruants that either they cannot inioy this blessing any long time or in any good sort and manner to build them vp and direct them euerie way as is meete or if they haue all this yet they shall hinder themselues and one another For it is to be lamented to see how few can rightly vse such liberties and make their profite of them while they inioy them as to draw out of their teachers vnderstanding and humbly pray and labour for spirituall wisedome whereby they may haue the right vse of their knowledge in euerie particular action and in the spirit of meeknesse to helpe build vp one another and to be lights to the ignorant by giuing good example but worldly minded or contentious or passing their time vainely and prophanely And if this complaint may iustly be made where the Gospell is purely and plainely preached as who doth not see that it may then what need many words to proue what hauocke there is of goodnesse where the word of God is not in place to rebuke the euill and vphold the contrarie no lesse doubtlesse then as if haile-stones in the haruest season which battereth and and beateth downe the corne no lesse I say doth the Diuell with his bad instruments make a spoile of religious and christian life So that it is apparent how sore an impediment the want of sound familiar and diligent preaching of Gods word is Salomon including many hurts and dangers in one word saying Where that is wanting the people perish The same I say of other helpes to the building vp of a godly life which I haue spoken of in another place that if we suffer our selues to be hindred by the Diuell from the daily reuerent vse of them he shall sufficiently preuaile in holding vs backe that we shall not flourish as plants in the Lords orchard I meane if we do not consecrate our selues to God pray and meditate
great part against their will as shall be said afterwards for else they should haue their heauen heere which may not be but as they espy it they giue it no rest but with hearty mislike they oppose themselues and fight against it and because they haue sweetnesse and pleasure in in the Christian life therefore the gainesaying lusts which rebell against that course and striue to hold them from it are neither so forceable as they haue beene neither doe so long time as they were wont hold them vnder But this which I haue said of the remainder of sinne and of rebellion of nature abiding still in the best of Gods seruants I would haue well to be marked for that many will be ready to take occasion otherwise to cauill and quarrel against that which I haue said namely that God hath giuen this priuiledge and liberty to serue him with delight For thus they reason If you can goe forward thus easily in a Christian life that you can take pleasure in it which to so many Godly people is toile it seemeth that you are not hindered nor clogged with the rebellion of the old man which is our corrupt nature but that his force and strength is extinguished and killed whereas the scriptures tell vs farre otherwise and the best men that euer were borne after the maner of men felt it smarted by it and complained of it Therefore say they you set before vs such a Christian as is no where to be found But to all this I answere somewhat more fully than I did before that if it were not for the stirring and rebellion of the old man and the corruption and naughtinesse that cleaueth fast vnto vs we should by many degrees farre exceed the greatest measure of holinesse which we can now possibly reach vnto although we denie not but that through the grace of God we haue attained to somwhat already For as we serue God with delight now and may God be glorified do so for the most part so we should but for the sinne that sticketh fast in vs doe so perfectly and continually without intermission and contradiction as the heauenly spirits do And as our Sauior Christ seeing he could neuer be conuicted of any sinne when he was heere vpon earth as his words prooue Which of you can accuse me of sinne therefore when the Prince of this world namely the Deuill came he found nothing in him which he looked for namely sinne euen so should it likewise be with vs but for this fountaine of spirituall leprosie whereas now we finde through the vncleannesse of our hearts that there is imperfection and weaknesse euen in our best actions that I say nothing of those which are common And although with delight we goe forward in duty both to God and men yet through weake knowledge faith memorie c. through subiection to sinne and Sathan euen the best estate that we can attaine to is with much infirmitie and with iust cause of crying out as the Apostle by his example taught the perfectest in this world to doe saying O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death So that the olde man is not killed nor his strength extinguished we say no such thing but abated indeed and weakned much aswell as pardoned through the grace and power which wee receiue dailie from our Lord Iesus Christ by faith And this for answere vnto the former obiection whereby it may clearely be seene what I meane when I say that God hath giuen power to vs if we acknowledge and beleeue it to leade a Christian life with delighting in it which though it be not without change full and absolute yet in that it is so great libertie as it is it ceaseth not to be worthily accounted a most great priuiledge as I haue said before For is it a small thing to finde pleasure and the greatest reioycing in the subduing of our euill hearts and in the forgoing of our vnlawfull liberties which other men fight for with tooth and naile and would count their life worse than any death except they might inioy them Nay is it not an high degree of honour that we may from day to day be admitted to reioyce before the Lord in the duties which we doe euen all that we shall set our hand vnto when yet others are so farre off from it that they would chuse to lie in prison all the daies of their life rather than they would be thus yoked as they account of it O therefore praise the Lord all ye seruants the Lord I say who doth so wonderfull things for his for in this is that Scripture fulfilled which saith Honourable things are reported of thee that is which thy God hath done for thee O thou citie or people of God And if it were not so that the Lord hath done so great good things for his people how could that be true which is said in another place of their happie estate that it is better to be a doore-keeper in Gods house because we are there in his seruice and vnder his gouernment than to dwell in the tents of the vngodlie wheresoeuer yea though it were in the palace of Princes If it be further demanded Where are such as inioy this prerogatiue in their liues I say I know no cause why Gods people which haue an acquittance and discharge against the day of iudgement and the wrath to come and haue sound knowledge and assurance of their saluation and of Gods fatherly care ouer them while they liue here I say I know no cause why all they should not haue some good and liuely resemblance of such persons For did they holde fast this perswasion that God hath giuen this libertie vnto them the Deuill who it is which iniuriously deteineth it from them should deceiue and defeat them no longer in the grosse sort and maner that he doth But this I must adde because it is a common bait whereby they are snared earthly pleasures and profits yea though lawfull must be in meaner reckoning with them They are too eager and greedy in their dealings and their hearts especially must be pruned of much drosse rubbish as vnwillingnesse vntowardnesse in the vsing of those helps by the which men may wait vpon God with ease from time to time Also men must thinke it the greatest libertie to haue their hearts readilie framed and disposed to their seuerall duties and be perswaded that nothing is better for them then thus to bridle the vnruly affections which are euery while ready to breake off the best course that can be entred into of them And if we thinke it much to be inioined thus to curbe vp the old man which most hindreth from going forward with delight and readinesse consider what iniury we offer to the Almighty that whereas nothing goeth forward well that is vnwillingly gone about so neither should this worke of the Lord
forasmuch as God hath giuen this liberty as a singular priuiledge to his people to vse these helpes constantly and continually it is our part to see whether we doe so or not or whether we suffer our selues to be plucked away with the errour of the wicked and so fall from our stedfastnesse For if we finde not our liues and our whole course in all dealings and affaires through the day to be so passed as that we haue peace to God-ward throughout and with peace lie downe at euen it is our owne sinne God hath taught vs and also prouided how it might haue beene otherwise with vs if we had beene but as carefull to finde it as we were carefull about our liuing and maintenance or to seeke vp a straied beast which we had lost and to bring it into the pasture againe And to speake more plainely if we doe not so begin the day with thanksgiuing confession of sinne and praier when we may doe it conueniently and so arme our selues with the whole armour of a Christian so watch and pray after so vse Christian exercise in family and remember Gods bounty towards vs and lastly so looke backe to our passing of the day that we may see by all these that we haue beene guided by God and that we haue beene holden in our course without any iust cause to wound our conscience then it is the diuill who hath detained and kept our right from vs and depriued vs of so good a portion as our God hath bequeathed vs when he shewed himselfe willing to haue had it otherwise And whither through ignorance we know not how to be safely led through the day or that which is little better although we know yet for slougth or for that we loue darkenesse more then light we let passe many knowen duties or suffer sundry offences to passe from vs in the day it is all one as if we would suffer our selues to be depriued of our owne proper inheritance by some cousener who shall tell vs that it belongeth not vnto vs when yet we are able to shew cleare and sufficient euidence for it For when the Lord shall say Let no man take away your crowne then the diuell sheweth himselfe manifestly in detaining it from vs. And therefore we must remember that to vse these helpes rightly is no bondage nor seruitude as men of the world count them who straine themselues and striue mightily to be deliuered from the holy and spirituall vse of them and not to be tied thereto we must rather be perswaded that they are most precious liberties peculiar to gods deerest seruants and a singular benefit of God that in such a dead world and frozen age as we liue in we may be counted meet and made able to honour our God which to most men is tedious and to haue peace with him throughout the day and that we may be taught of him to vse the helpes thereto which others are well content not to be acquainted with And if we be throughly perswaded of this that it is a libertie a benefit and honour to vs to hold our mindes willing from day to day to the reuerent vse of them and be resolued that we haue no worke more needfull to be done of vs any day then this we shall not need to doubt of such fruit heereof as is not to be repented of euen such as will cause vs to confesse that the meanes and helps to grow in godlinesse and a minde to vse them daily against the discouragements and hinderances of the day are a singular prerogatiue to a Christian And otherwise how precious soeuer they be in themselues yet if we thinke not so of them but shall be well content by euerie light occasion to omit and neglect them or sleightly and houerly to passe them ouer I testifie that we shall get no good by them no more than the common sort do but as they haue lost their beautie with vs so we shall lose our fruit of them Consider what I say and the Lord giue thee vnderstanding For be this knowen to the profanest and proudest contemner of God which seldome and onely for fashion doth pray or heare a sermon that these helps whereby we grow constant in a Christian life are not of little account because they are so with him but that they are so glorious that he is not woorthy of them nor to reape the profit that commeth by them his light esteeming of them causeth me to set the more by them his vnsauourinesse that he findeth in them and wearinesse of them causeth me to commend them the more highly and the more to admire the Lords kindnesse to me who maketh them so sweet and gainfull to me which are to him very gall and wormewood For otherwise how could they properly be called priuiledges if they were a like precious to good and to bad or were in as good reckoning with the one as with the other For the euill sort are not perswaded thus of them therefore they finde nothing They either know not these helps which may truely be said of the most of them or if they doe yet they know not how to vse them in faith especially I may say not constantly one day as another or one of them aswel as another that it may go better with their soules thereby but thinke that though they vse them not at all it is no great matter and if they doe vse them though it be but in ceremonie and neuer so houerly then they thinke that euen for that very cause they highly please God Which maner of vsing them is neuer able to proue to them what fruit and benefit may be reaped by them But we who beleeue in him may know them and rightly practise them though full weakly at some time we do it and looke for fruit by them and inioy it and when we see what blessing he giueth vs therof as he doth and that very great to the end that we may haue the better experience how manie waies he keepeth promise with vs and how he inricheth vs then we waxe more constant therein and are the more hardly withdrawen by any occasions from holding out in the same This I say we may do although with griefe it may be spoken that many euen of vs are too farre off from inioying this libertie as we might do But let all such know that it is their owne sinne who cannot therefore praise God for this sweet helpe while they be not the better for it Therefore to shut vp this point let this be perswaded to all Gods faithfull seruants that he hath of singular fauour giuen the helps which settle them in a Christian life as a great prerogatiue and priuiledge and therefore when vnder colour of weaknesse we yeeld to the waiwardnesse of our hearts which are soone vntoward to these gracious helps and wearie of them we must repent of such vnthankfulnesse and of
mightily preuaile we beleeuing withall that he is faithfull who hath promised and calleth vs heereto who will also doe the same to quicken vs to the bearing of the burden though otherwise heauy and in it selfe intollerable Also in another sort these The afflictions of this present life are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vnto vs And againe Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre more excellent and eternall weight of glory while we looke not on the things temporall which are seene but on things not seene which are eternall Also If we suffer with Christ we shall also be glorified with him All which duely considered with the like are able to make vs bow to the bearing of such difficulties as our mercifull father shall see meet to try vs with The examples of our Sauiour his Apostles and other holy martirs whom we count blessed which haue suffered for a good conscience haue no small force to perswade vs. Of our Sauiour it is said when the holy Ghost wisheth Christians to run with patience the race that is set before them Looke to Iesus the author and finisher of your faith who for the ioy that was set before him indured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God Consider therefore him that indured such speaking against of sinners lest yee should be wearied and faint in your mindes Of the Apostles Paule writeth this We are afflicted on euery side yet are we not in distresse we are persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but we perish not alwaies deliuered to death for Iesus sake that the life of Iesus may be made manifest in our mortall flesh And againe Chastened but not killed sorrowing yet alwaies reioicing as poore yet making many rich as hauing nothing yet possessing all things Of the Martyrs this is said They were tried with mockings and scourgings yea moreouer by bonds and imprisonment they were stoned they were hewen asunder they were slaine with the sword they wandred vp and downe in sheepe skinnes and in goat skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented whom the world was not woorthy of they wandred in wildernesses and mountaines and dennes and caues of the earth Oh how should these glorious examples with those who suffred death ioifully in our remembrance for the gospell I say how should they draw our hearts and incourage vs to set light by our liues when the Lord will require them at our hands And to adde the fourth and last kind of perswasions to set vs forward in this worke of the Lord which is hindred in vs not a little by thinking what we forgoe and leaue behinde vs if we should be ready to suffer persecution for Christs sake as our pleasures profits preferments friends to this I answere Besides that our Sauiour saith Whosoeuer forsaketh house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospels shall receiue an hundredfold now at this present and in the world to come life euerlasting I say beside this alas what a poore life is this that we lead heere where few haue any great store of pleasures and commodities if they be religoius yet if they haue they haue them with much sorrow feare and vnquietnesse though they haue lawfully come by them And yet besides the vncertainty of them and of life it selfe with reproch vnkindnesses malice ill will and disdaine of our betters the lewd tongues of our inferiors and the repining and emulation of our equals and the wearyings of vs by all sorts vnto the which we are subiect why should there be such shrinking and going backe at the hearing of persecution and death I confesse if it were not for the communion of Saints which we haue in this world with God and his church there is nothing of any weight to mooue a Christian to desire to liue heere especially when the Lord calleth him hence and yet the forgoing of Gods presence in this world is recompenced largely with the inioying of it in the life to come which is alwaies to be preferred before the best estate that may be heere inioied Oh it is not the least peece of our misery that we seeing what little good may be done of vs heere but contrarily how great cause of complaining we haue for that we are led by the law of our members so many waies to euill that we be not for all this able to say euery day Come lord Iesus come quickely we desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ But to end this discourse seeing God hath taught his children to prouide for the hardest and how they may perseuer in a good course vnto the end euen through great tribulations and persecutions and much more when they haue an easier passage without them let this be holden as the greatest of all the rest that they haue this as a singular prerogatiue granted them of God and that thereby they may say in reuerence and confidence Nothing shall separate vs from God neither life nor death neither things present nor things to come And let not this honor and liberty be lost which all the goods of the world cannot redeeme nor buy againe And therefore let vs nourish daily the hope of this perseuerance First by keeping in vs a willingnesse to die as sometimes we doe and so shall we be fit to liue Secondly that we vse oft to meditate of the vanity of all things and of the contempt of the world and set our mindes on things heauenly that so we may preserue and continue that liberty Thirdly that we hold fast our reioicing in Christ daily Fourthly that we mortifie all sinne and keepe it out of loue with vs which is a plucking out of the sting of sinne Fiftly that we inure our selues to beare smaller afflictions which is a part of denying our selues so we shall welcome and goe vnder greater when they come yea euen death it selfe And let vs know that he who indeauours not to hold fast these is like to finde any other estate harder and full of wearinesse And thus much be said of this priuiledge Of the perseuerance of the godly vnto their end and so of all the other which are inioied in this life All which although they be of so singular price as I haue declared yet if they had not other adioined vnto them which are immortall and perpetuall and should then be inioied when these temporary prerogatiues shall be at an end our liues should be but miserable as the Apostle speaketh when he saith If in this life onely we haue hope of Christ we are of all men the most miserable and yet both together vnmatchable CHAP. 14. Of the tenth and last priuiledge inioied perfectly in the life to come but begunne heere SO that when we haue had our part in all these then
commeth the greatest and that which maketh all these great and that is the pleasures at Gods right hand for euermore and the glory the vnspeakeable glory which was prepared and laid vp for vs before the beginning of the world And amongst all the other although this be by many degrees the chiefest yet I confesse that for the excellency thereof and for that I cannot see into the bewty of it as I doe somewhat into the other whereof I haue some experience I confesse I say that I cannot expresse to my contentation my minde about the same and do feare that in speaking of it I shall rather make it seeme lesse then if I said nothing yet somewhat seeing this place doth so require This estate therefore of the faithfull after this life the scripture setteth out by earthly comparisons and similitudes to our capacity for that we are not able to conceiue the same if in it owne nature it were described vnto vs and especially by the resemblances of those things which we doe most affect and delight in as honour treasure riches bewty friends pleasure ioy inheritance and possession of our owne Behold therefore heere prepared for thee ô happy Christian an habitation not made with hands but euerlasting in heauen an inheritance immortall vndefiled c. not purchased with gold and siluer but with a farre more excellent price for what is more desired then to liue with our friends But lift vp thine eies and see how God hath prepared for thee the company of the celestiall spirits namely his holy angels and elect people to eat and drinke with at his table for euermore I meane to haue fellowship with them and to dwell with Iesus Christ and his blessed Apostles Prophets Martyrs friends kinred and acquaintance which is the highest degree of the communion of Saints Pleasure and ioy how is it sought after yea what is welcome without them And that thou maist know that the Lord hath liberally prouided for thee this way know and vnderstand that the ioy which there is possessed is such as it causeth a continuall singing and thanksgiuing And what honour can be greater then to be the kings sonnes and daughters yea to raigne triumphantly after we haue ouercome death sinne hell the deuill the greatest enemies that euer were conquered The like I might say of the rest And all these priuiledges are so much the greater because as their habitation it selfe is permanent and euerlasting so are all the treasures which are inioied therein euerlasting also And therefore the precious things of the kingdome of heauen are said to be such as no eie hath seene no eare hath heard neither is the heart of man able to conceiue The happinesse of princes hath beene inioied and therefore is knowen what and how great it is which prooueth that it is in no sort to be compared to this Neither is it any maruell seeing one day in the courts of the Lord euen in this life is better then a thousand else-where euen in a princes palace therefore in the estate of glory after this life how much more And yet further this is not to be neglected that when the wicked shall be at their wits end and smitten with horror weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth euen then shall the faithfull inioy this infinite varietie of heauenly blessings which if it were possible for them to haue a dreadfull feare and perswasion of losing and forgoing would be an exceding and intolerable torment vnto them Besides we that liue now in this corrupt estate of the world for it was not so in the beginning and behold the varietie of Gods creatures replenishing the world the beasts of the field the fishes of the sea the fowles of the aire the Sunne Moone and starres furnishing the vpper parts aboue vs the trees corne and grasse beautifying these inferiour parts of the earth beneath vs if we might haue seene all these in their perfection with him which was made Lord of them euen man when he was yet without sinne in the world what a glorious habitation should it haue beene And yet but as a court-yard or entrie into a kings palace should it haue beene in respect of the heauenly mansion which is the celestiall Ierusalem for this is called but his footstoole but heauen is his throne And therfore if the Lord did so adorne this earth as that it is yet full of admiration to see but the prints of his glory his power and wisedome therein and yet it is but for a season euen a while to be a place of refreshing for vs who can thinke how magnificent the kingdome of heauen is which with all the infinite commodities he hath made to be a perpetuall habitation and dwelling place for all his beloued ones And so likewise it is an high degree of prosperitie to be inlightned to see by faith but in this world the sweet life of a Christian yet is this but a taste of heauen and a day there is better then a thousand elsewhere and the prerogatiues of a Christian are admirable When Paule was wrapt into the third heauen had heard things that were not to be vttered it is said that he was lift vp with the aboundance of reuelation and When Christ was but transformed that his garments did shine as the sunne Peter was astonished how much more then with this glory which in the former are but dimly represented As for the further describing of it by the particular kindes of pleasures and delights to the body and euery part of it and euery sense partaining to it and to the soule likewise which some haue taken vpon them to affirme and set out the Lord hauing said no such thing himselfe of the kinds of pleasures which are to be inioied there I leaue it as a bold coniecture of mans braine and fitter for the popish cleargy to teach to their superstious company who as their whole forme of their worshipping of God is outward grosse and carnall with Sonnets and sounds to please the eare and praier-like sights to delight the eie but that worship which is in spirit and truth is not in vse with them so they imagine as grosly of the delights which are in heauen that part of them are in the exceeding sweetnesse to the sense of smelling maruellous pleasure to the sense of tasting and so of handling they speake answerably I will not I say wade further then I may wade safely what the kindes and varietie of pleasures are particularly which the righteous are partakers of the Lord hath not reuealed vnto me and therefore I am not ashamed to say I know not It is enough that I am sure they are so great and many that they cannot be once thought of according to their woorthinesse no not of the wisest who can see furthest and enter most deepely into matters Onely this I will say and with this I will end That
feruencie of the spirit so in other solemnities beside a longer time of continuing the same This dutie when the occasion of it belonging to a whole Church is publikely performed ought to be accompanied with the preaching of the word to quicken the assemblie to the more liuely professing of their thankfulnes accordingly as their solemne feasts vnder the law were with an holie conuocation And if the cause of this extraordinarie helpe be priuate concerning some one person alone or a familie or some few then it is to bee offered in priuate of them whom this great benefit concerneth with Psalmes and praisings of his name speaking of his workes and reading Scriptures tending to that end as Psal 105. 106.107 And because I finde one place very fit for this purpose which teacheth a most right manner of the practise of this dutie whether we shall be occasioned publikely or priuately to doe the same I thought it very expedient here to put in the same which manner of praising God was appointed by the man of God Dauid at the setting vp of the Arke of God in the tabernacle Some of the words are these Praise the Lord and call vpon his name declare his workes among the people sing vnto him sing praise vnto him talke of all his wonderfull workes Reioyce in his holy name let the hearts of them that seeke the Lord reioyce And this of solemne thanksgiuing The other extraordinarie helpe is fasting ioyned with most feruent prayer And this is a most earnest profession of deepe humbling our selues in abstinence with confession of sinnes and supplications for the greatest part of the day at the least to God to turne away some sore calamitie from vs or for obtaining of some especiall blessing This description in few words I will lay open for their cause who perhaps haue not read nor heard much of this exercise of fasting neither haue bookes at hand to helpe them to the right vse of it I say we must be deepely humbled and make earnest profession of it more then in the ordinarie abasing of our selues For though as oft as we doe pray and confesse our sinnes we ought to doe them hartily and deepely yet neither in the like continuance of time nor in the same measure of feruencie can they alwayes be as at and in this exercise they ought to be Secondly I adde that with this abstinencie must be adioyned I meane thereby that we must depriue our selues herein of the lawfull pleasures and liberties of this life as meates drinkes more then for necessitie costly apparrell earthly dealings which yet at other times are free for vs to inioy thereby declaring that we haue by our sins made our selues vnworthie of them And thirdly in that I say it must be done the most part of the day that is to the end that by this long time of our humiliation and abasement our hearts may be more cast downe and throughly touched with our distressed estate then in a shorter time they are like to be Fourthly supplications which containe our suites and confession of sinnes are added to teach vs that the chiefe part of this exercise consisteth therein Fiftly in that this is done for the remoouing of some great calamitie that is to be vnderstoode either of some sore affliction outwardly hanging ouer vs or the whole Church or alreadie vpon vs or for some greeuous sinne committed or long lien in of vs. The which when weaker meanes remooue not from vs these are inioyned vs of the Lord to deliuer vs from them wholy or in part or else to stay vs that we may rest our selues on God that his grace shall be sufficient for vs. And here we must know that to be required which I said to be in thankes whether priuate or publike that to enable vs to this dutie the rather we must in the one vse the benefit of sermons and fit scriptures to stirre vs vp hereunto and in the other to meditate of the like scriptures priuately for the well carrying of our selues through that so weightie a busines but in both let this be regarded that we take them not in hand except we come in true and vnfained repentance which as surely as we bring thither so sure we may be that God will be with vs there and heare vs which will make the whole action more sauorie and the end of it to be with comfort which is the right manner of taking it in hand Now therefore the nature and qualitie of this exercise being in some sort laid out vnto vs as the former was if we duly weigh the force and vse of them both in their proper kind namely how the one raiseth vs to a ioyfull recording of Gods wonderfull kindnes the other bringeth vs loue for our owne vilenes more especially remembred both of them doe exceedingly draw our hearts in more loue and obedience to God who can deny that they both in the time wherein they are to be vsed euen as a long time after are most effectuall meanes to set vs forward in the godly life To say more of the meanes and helps I haue not thought it expedient Therefore to end this whole treatise of the helps these few cautions I would wish to be had of thee the diligent reader to the end thou maiest haue the right vse of them namely to vnderstand them well and consider throughly of them and of the commoditie which they may bring and so with a quiet and meeke heart set vpon them in that manner that thou hast them set downe vnto thee And incourage thy selfe hereunto by this reason that seeing some one of them hath so great force to the wel framing of the heart and life each in his kinde then all of them together being so vsed must needes bring a more large and liberall blessing that way But as they are pretious and haue an excellent end so hold still that account and estimation of them and vse them with all high reuerence as frailtie will permit and not for fashion as the counsell of flesh will be to make the best things vile and common in a short time Neither giue place to wearines and slacknes in vsing of them either in the first entrance or after longer continuance yet if by vnawares or any other way these faults escape be diligent and readie to espie them and hide them not but checking thy corrupt heart confesse it to the Lord in secret and he will heare thee and forgiue thee and then set vpon the vse of the forementioned helps freshly and sauourly againe as thou diddest before There remaineth onely this at what time so farre as we may know it we should vse them and which of them should be vsed euery day and which otherwise which is a poynt most needefull to bee knowne But this requiring another place cannot conueniently bee done here but shall follow in the next treatise of the