about prayer THVS of the Sacraments The Rules concerning prayer follow where besides the generall Rules that belong to all worship these things in speciall must bee heeded concerning prayer 1. Thy words must bee few Eccles. 5. 1 2. and the reason is because God is in heauen and thou art in earth Hee is full of Maiestie and Wisedome and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God without vaine repetitions and babblings pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God As affectation is ill in any thing so much more ill in prayer This Rule may bee vnsauory in the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale But let them take heed of will-will-worship the words are so plaine in the Text as they must informe themselues about them The Lord knew what was fittest for vs when hee gaue vs this charge 2. Thy heart must be lifted vp in the performance of this duty This is often imported in diuers Scriptures and this lifting vp of the hart hath diuers things in it 1. Vnderstanding thou must be aduised what thou prayest for and know thy warrant that what thou askest is according to Gods will 1. Cor. 14. 15. 1. Ioh. 5. 14 2. Freedome from distractions Thy heart must be cleansed from passions and lusts Thy prayer must be without wrath 1. Tim. 3. 8. And as the distractions arising from passion must bee auoided so must aâ—l other distractions 3. Feruency or the stretching out of the affections according to the matter of prayer thou must expresse the affections of prayer for God looks at the prayer of thy heart not at the prayer of thy lippes onely 3. Thou must pray with all manner of prayer according to the occasions of prayer Thou must pray at thy set times daily and thou must pray also with eiaculations as Diuines call them that is those suddain and short speeches to God when thy heart is moued vpon speciall occasion Thou must vse Supplications Deprecations Intercessions Confessions giuing of Thankes or the like according to thy necessities or the other occasions of thy life Thou must striue to get a fitnesse and language to speake vnto God for thy selfe in thine own words as may best expresse the desires of thine hart Eph. 6. 18 4. Thou must continue and perseuer in prayer without ceasing prayer must bee the worke of thy whole life not an exercise for a fit for a day or two or a week or two or a month or two thou must make conscience of prayer alwaies Ephes. 6. 18. 1. Thess. 3. 17. 5. When thy prayer is grounded vpon Gods will thou must be instant and not faint or be discouraged Thou must pray without doubting and wauering as resolued neuer to cease praying till God heare and shew mercy 'T is basenesse of minde not humility to be quickly discouraged if God entertaine vs not according to our expectation or liking we must not bee weary of seeking to God but set vpon prayer with a resolution to take no nay Luk. 18. 1. Iam. 1. 6. 6. Thou must remember supplication for all Saints especially to pray heartily for Magistrates Ministers especially those vnder whose charge thou art Ephes. 6. 18 19. 1. Tim. 2. 1. 7. Thou must looke to it that in all things thou giue thankes Let the Lord see the truth of thy heart herein that what thou obtainest from God especially by prayer thou wilt with all gladnesse remember and acknowledge This Rule must by no meanes be forgotten 1. Thess. 5. 18. Colos. 4. 2. CHAP. XIIII Rules about reading the Scriptures THus of the Rules that concerne praier There remaines the reading of Scripture and singing of Psalmes as the other parts of the ordinary worship of God Concerning the reading of the Scriptures I will instance in one place of Scripture onely which containes the charge giuen to Ioshua chap. 1. 8 9. which comprehends the substance of the necessary directions about priuate reading I say necessary for godly men may and haue aduised diuers courses for reading of Scripture which are not absolutely necessary but arbitrary as may stand with the leasure and capacity of the person that will reade such are those directions that shew how many chapters may bee read in a day and what things may be obserued in reading c. which as they may bee profitable to many Christians expedient too yet they must not bee vnderstood so as that those persons sinne which reade not so often or so many chapters or the like The things therefore that must necessarily be obserued by such as can reade the Bible I take to be these First they must exercise themselues therin daily they must constantly be imployed therin if their occasions interrupt theÌ„ at some time they must redeeme it at other times This is the praise of the blessed man That he exerciseth himselfe in Gods Law day and night that is constantly Psal. 1. 2. Secondly in reading they must meditate therein that is they must obserue profitable things as they reade attending to reading marking what the Lord saith vnto them by that part of the Word which they reade This is that meditation which is chiefly required of a ChristiaÌ„ to get into their harts good thoughts froÌ„ the matter they reade of so as they may the better bee inabled to imploy their thoughts all the day after Thirdly The Word of God must not depart out of their mouth they must make the best vse of it they can in conference to speak of it to others for the edification of themselues and others Fourthly They must obserue in their reading what the Lord saith vnto them that concernes their practice They must obserue to do according to those holy directions they reade of They must bring a minde desirous and resolued to let the Word of God both informe them reforme them making conscience of it to let God direct them by his holy Word read and not onely by the Word preached to them Their liues must be bettered by their reading and to that end they must obserue the chiefest things they can out of their reading to remember them in their practice CHAP. XV. Rules about singing of Psalmes THe rules that concern the singing of Psalms are summarily comprehended in that place Col. 3. 16. and they are these 1. First they must teach one another by their Psalms and Hymnes and spirituall songs They must learne to profit and make good vse of the holy matter contained in the Psalmes they sing 2. Secondly they must sing with their hearts they must attend to the matter they sing of lift vp their hearts as well as their voices 3. Thirdly they must sing with grace in their hearts they must imploy the graces of the holy Spirit or Gods Spirit in singing of Psalmes as wel as in prayer
continue to obserue still without loading thy memory about them Now if those be omitted then consider of the rest that remaine which of them do most concerne thee or would most adorne thy practice and profession or are such as thou neuer hitherto didst make conscience of Extract or marke out so many of those at a time as thou wouldst in daily practice striue to attaine and when thou hast learned them then go on and prescribe to thy selfe new Lessons To a carnall minde all the way of godlinesse is impossible but to a godly and willing minde all things through the power and assistance of God are possible God will accept thy desire and endeuour and will adde strength and might and encourage thee in all his waies By prayer thou maist forme any grace in thee by reason of the power the Lord Iesus hath to preuaile for any thing thou dost aske the Father in his name The last benefite may come to thee if thou daily reade these directions is that they will quicken thee to a great care of wel-doing and giue thee cause to walke humbly with thy God and abase thy selfe for thine owne insufficiency The Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things and vnite thy heart vnto his feare alwaies that thou maist obserue to doe as hee commandeth thee and not turne from the good way all the daies of thy life CHAP. II. Containing such Rules as in generall men must take notice of as preparations and furtherances to a godly life THE Rules of holy life may bee cast into two rankes the first containing such rules as are Generall and the other such as are Particular The generall rules are likewise of two sorts some of them concerne certain generall preparations helpes or furtherances to a holy life without which men in vaine beginne the cares or endeuours of a reformed life And some of them comprehend those necessary rules which are to be obserued in the manner of doing all holy duties and so are of singular vse to bee alwaies remembred when wee go about any seruice Of the first sort there are many rules for they that will addresse themselues to order their conuersation aright must be soundly carefull in the obseruation of these directions following 1 He must examine himselfe about his faith and repentance hee must bee sure hee is reconciled to God and hath truely repented himselfe of his sinnes 2. Cor. 13. 5. For vnlesse hee bee a new creature hee is no creature but a dead man and so vtterly vnable for the practice of these rules following And without God we can do nothing and without God we are till we liue by faith Besides the pollution of our hearts or liues drawne vpon vs by the custome of sinne past and present will so infect all we do that it will bee abominable to God and so lost labour This is the first Rule 2 His next care must be to learne the knowledge of the rules of life wee can neuer practise what we know not and therefore our next care and paines must be to get the knowledge of Gods waies distinctly and effectually into our heads and hearts Our direction must not be in our bookes but in our heads and a Christian must haue his rules alwaies before him that so hee may walke circumspectly by line and leuel Ephes. 5. 15. vnderstanding the will of God in what hee is to doe He is in the way of life that hath and keepeth instruction how to liue Prou. 10. 17. whereas he that will not be at the paines of getting instruction erreth as Salomon saith And therefore wee must take fast hold of instruction and not let her goe but keep her for shee is our life Prou. 4. 13. Knowledge then of necessity must be had or in vaine we go about to liue well Now this is such a rule as must not slightly bee passed ouer and it is not enough thus in generall to require knowledge but withall I would shew certain choice rules to be obserued by vs if wee would take a sound course to attaine knowledge He then that would prosperously seeke sound knowledge must remember these directions First hee must esteeme knowledge and labour to frame his heart to a high estimation of it accounting it as great treasure accounting the getting of wisdome aboue all gettings Pro. 4. 7. We must seek for knowledge as for siluer search for her as for treasure and then with wonderfull successe shall wee vnderstand the right feare of the Lord Prou. 2. 4. else our labour will bee blasted and fruitlesse if wee bring meane thoughts to the exercise of directions for the attaining of knowledge Secondly he must take heede that hee consult not with flesh and bloud Gal. 1. 16 He must not regard other mens opinions or his own carnall reason but resolue to giue glory to God and his Word as willing to beleeue or doe whatsoeuer the Lord saith vnto him 3. Thirdly he must redeeme the time Ephes. 5. 16. Inasmuch as he hath lost so much time past hee must now prouide to allow himselfe conuenient and certaine time to be spent this way for the attaining of knowledge else to study by snatches and vncertainly will bee to little or no purpose To complaine of ignorance will not serue the turne nor will the pretence of worldly businesse excuse vs and therefore we must buy so much time of our occasions as may bee competent for the supply of our wants in knowledge 4. Fourthly in seeking knowledge he must be wise for himselfe Prou. 9. 12. He must striue to vnderstand his owne way so to be carefull to know the generals about religion as his speciall care bee in all things to referre what hee reades or heares to the particular directions of his owne soule This is a rule of singular Vse if it could bee beaten into mens heads and for want of this many Christians after long paines much time spent haue bin found exceeding ignorant 5. Hee must be swift to heare Iam. 1. 19. with all frequency and attention making vse of the publike Ministry striuing with his owne heart against deadnesse and drowsinesse and remouing al impediments might bee cast in his way from the world or his worldly occasions obseruing all opportunities for hearing especially when hee seeth the heart of his Teacher enlarged and the power of Doctrine more then at other times or in other things 6. Sixtly he must auoid vaine questions and fruitles contemplations Titus 3. 9. 1. Tim. 6. 20. 2. Tim. 2. 23. When the light of doctrin was so great in the Primitiue times this was one practice of Sathan to draw aside the studies of Christians from necessary and solid truths to Genealogies or quarrels about words or vaine controuersies falsly called oppositions of science We must therfore be warned of this method of Sathan till we know cleerly the wayes of life allow our selues no time for more
As 1. First hee must take heed of wretchlesnesse or a scornefull carelesnesse of his owne waies he must not despise his waies as if hee cared not how hee liued or rested satisfied to be still as hee was This carelesnesse proues the bane of many a soule whereas Hee that keepeth his soule keepeth his way Pro. 19. 16. 21. 5. 2. Hee must take heed of precipitation or rashnesse or too much haste this is the ground of much false zeale and the cause of strange euils in the practice of some Christians but the godly Christian must learne of Salomon to prepare his work in the field and then build his house he must get sound knowledge of the warrant of his actions and guide his affaires by aduice and with serious preparation fit himselfe to the doing of what he is sure is good He that hasteth with his feet sinneth what is done rashly cannot he done well Prou. 19. 2. As procrastination is a great vice so praecipitation is no vertue Prou. 24. 27 28. 2â— 3 Hee must haue no confidence in the flesh hee must not relye vpon his owne wit memory reason desires vertues prayses or power but all his comfort and affiance must be in the merits intercession vertue presence and assistance of Iesus Christ his Sauiour Phil. 3. 3. 4 He must not haste to be rich for the desire of money is the roote of all euill and they cannot be at leasure for good duties that are so eager to compasse great things in the world Prou. 23. 4. 28. 20. 5 He must take heed of the snares that arise from distrustfull feares There is a snare in feare Prou. 29. 25. There are many feares will assault a man that resolues to liue well As the feare that hee cannot doe good duties The feare that God will not accept what hee doth The feare left men should scorne him or contemne him or lest hee should lose the fauour of his friends or such like Now against all these must the godly minde bee armed and take heed that those feares prooue not great hinderances to him and especially take heed of that vnbeleefe or counterfet humility in disabling himselfe or mistrusting God contrary to his nature and promises 6 Hee must take heed of adding to or detracting from the Word of God Hee must not imagine more sinnes then God hath made that is not trouble himselfe with feare of offending in such things as God hath not in his Word forbidden and so likewise he must not impose vpon his owne conscience or other mens the necessity of obseruing such rules of practice as God neuer prescribed This caution would case the hearts of many Christians if it were discreetely obserued and applied Prou. 30. 6. 7 Hee must take heed of hardening his necke against reproofs Pro. 29. 1. He must needs run into headlong euils that is so proud as not to heare aduice or to reiect reproofes and it will bee a singular furtherance to a holy life to bee easie to be entreated to leaue his offences and to mend his errours 8 Hee must take heed of beholding vanity Dauid prayes that God wold turne away his eyes from beholding vanity He that would forsake vanity must auoide the presence of vaine persons and the too much contemplation of vanity shunning the reading and discourse of the inticements of others vnto any sin Psal. 119. 37. 9 And lastly hee must take heed of the beginning of euils in his owne heart hee must keep his heart with all diligence for thereout commeth life His practice will be easie to him if hee resist sinne in the beginning and driue out Sathan from his holds within his soule whereas hee cannot but be much intangled and encumbred that allowes himselfe in the secret entertainment of contemplatiue wickednesse he must watch his heart and striue for inward purity Prou. 4. 23. CHAP. IIII. Containing the generall Rules to be remembred in the manner of doing all good duties HItherto of the first sort of generall Rules The second sort concerne the manner of well-doing There are diuers things in the generall which are to be obserued of the godly Christian in all good duties which hee ought to haue perfect in his memory and such as hee might bring with him at all times to forme his heart in respect of them to beget in him that holy manner of carrying himselfe which is requisite vnto the acceptation of the good things he employeth himselfe in and the rather should hee bee moued to the care of learning and expressing of these things because the matter of good duties may be done by wicked men as they were by the Pharises and yet all abomination to the Lord That therefore hee may not lose what he worketh hee must striue in euery good action to expresse these nine things following in the manner of his behauiour The first thing required in the manner of euery holy duty is Zeale It is not enough that hee doe the dutie but hee must do it affectionately bringing with him the stirring of the desires of his heart answerable and agreeable to the duty he would performe Zeale hath in it two distinct things willingnesse and feruencie It must not seeme euill to him to do Gods worke and in doing it he must lift vp his heart so as he performe it with all his might and with all his soule and this hee doth when either hee brings a heart delighting in good workes or when hee iudgeth himselfe for what deadnesse or distraction or vnwillingnesse he findes in himselfe He is accounted zealous when he striues for it and lifts vp his soule against the impediments which burthen him This zeale is necessary Christ died to redeeme a people vnto himselfe not onely that would do good works but that would be zealous of good workes Tit. 2. 14. 2 The second thing required in the manner of good duties is sincerity all his actions must bee done in the sincerity of his heart The life of a Christian is like a continuall Passe-ouer Now this Feast hee must keepe alwaies with the vnleauened bread of sincerity 1. Cor. 5. 8. Now this sinceritie hee must shew diuers waies as 1 By the truth of his heart as it stands opposed to hypocrisie he must not talke of well-doing or seeme to do it but he must doe it indeed 2 By his respect to all Gods commandements when he can say with Dauid I esteeme all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate euery false way He that is truly sincere accounteth that euery word of God is good and desires to yeeld obedience in all things Hee hath not his reseruations or exceptions He doth not with Herod giue himselfe liberty to lie in the wilfull breach of one commandement resting satisfied to haue reformed himselfe in other things As he would haue God to forgiue him all his sinnes so his heart desires to
some directions about it For if thou wouldst acquaint thy selfe with God Thou must prepare thy heart for this Vision of God by driuing out filthy and vnholy thoughts and affections For without holinesse no man can see God The pure in heart shall see God Math. 5. 7. Hebr. 12. 14. 1. Chro. 19. 3. God delights to shew himselfe familiarly in a cleane heart 2. Thou must beg this acquaintance by prayer if thou seeke it of him earnestly though God be in himselfe inuisible to mortall eyes yet hee will shew himselfe to the eies of thy minde pray for his acquaintance and he will be acquainted with thee This is to aske after the Lord and to seeke God if wee seeke him hee will be found Psal. 105. 3 4. But then we must remember three things 1 To seeke him with our whole hearts we must pray with great earnestnesse and desire 2 To seek him earely Psalme 119. verse 10. and while hee may bee found God offers acquaintance in his Ordinances and sometimes comes neere and knocketh at mens hearts and workes greater impressions vpon them Now if thou wouldst call vpon God heartily hee would shew thee his presence 3 To seeke him constantly wee must seeke his face continnally both till we finde it and after wee haue had acquaintance with him it must be continued we must not thinke much if we be put to pray often and long before we attaine such an incomparable benefit 3 Thou must giue thy selfe soule and body to God seriously and from thy heart deuoting and promising to spend thy daies in his seruice and then hee will reueale himselfe vnto thee Rom. 12. 1 2. 4 Thou must waite vpon his Ordinances and watch how the Lord speakes vnto thee either by his Word or by his Spirit For in them hee shewes himselfe to men and conuerseth with them 5 It is a great furtherance to our acquaintance with God to keepe company with his Houshold for with them hee dwels and by conuersing with them we may-occasionally often see God 1. Ioh. 3. 6 7 8 12. Thus of acquaintance with God There are other things to bee further noted concerning our knowledge of God such as these That when we attaine vnto any acquaintance with God we must neuer rest till wee know him to be our God Col. 2. 2. That it must bee our daily care to increase in the knowledge of God labouring to plant in our hearts a more large and affectionate contemplation of the glories of Gods Nature Loue. That aboue all earthly things we should glory in it if wee attaine some happy admission into Gods presence and ability to conceiue of God and to be acquainted with him Ier. 9. 24. CHAP. VI. Rules that order is about the manifestation of our loue to God HItherto of the Rules that concerne the knowledge of God as the foundation of our loue to God The rules that should order vs in the exercise of our loue to God follow and those are of two sorts 1. for either they concerne the manifestation of our loue 2. or our preseruation in the loue of God wee must shew our loue to God and we must keepe our selues in the loue of God Iude 21. In our manifestation of loue to God we must look to both the matter as the things whereby and also the manner how we should expresse our loue to God For the first there bee diuers excellent Rules to bee heeded of vs in our practice in obseruing whereof we may soundly prooue the truth of our loue to God if wee say wee loue God wee must shew it by these things following 1. Wee must auouch God to be our God Deut. 26. 17. and so we doe if wee do not onely make choice of God aboue all things to set our harts vpon him but also maintaine our choyce by a constant refusall of all idols in the world euen all things which might intice vs to loue them in stead of God by sound affection and practice declaring our resolution to cleaue to God as our sufficient happinesse though all the world follow their profits or pleasures c. 2. Wee must prouide and prepare a place for God that he may dwell with vs wheresoeuer we dwell Exo. 15. 2. It is a signe of our true loue to God when we cannot liue without him He that can be content to liue in any place where he is not powerfully present in his ordinances shewes no loue to God It should be our chiefe care to seate our selues so in the world as the Lord and his presence may bee prouided for that hee may raigne amongst vs by the Scepter of his Word 3. We shall shew our loue to God by our loue to the Lord Iesus the Sonne of God we must kisse the Sun Psal. 2. vlt. And if any man loue not the Lord Iesus hee hath not the Father 1. Cor. 16. 22. We shew that wee loue God when we highly esteeme Iesus Christ and make much of him in our hearts striue to fire our affections toward him and this must bee our care through the passages of our life to forme in vs the loue of the Lord Iesus that wee may long after him and haue the desires of our soules after him and his comming 4. We must shew our loue to GOD by walking with him Genes 17. 1. Mica 6. 8. The Lord doth not account it a signe of loue to offer to him a thousand Rammes or riuers of oyle But this is it that pleaseth him To humble our selues to walke before him Now we walk with God diuers wayes 1. When we set the Lord alwaies before vs remembring his holy presence not daring to goe long without thinking of God Psal. 16. 18. 2. When wee nourish the motions of the Spirit and retire our selues of purpose to entertaine them 3. When we daily haue recourse to those meanes by which the Lord is pleased to conuerse with men and not rest in the bare vse of the meanes but striue to finde out the Lord in his holy presence in euery ordinance of his Psal. 63. 1 2. 4. Whē we vse our selues to Soliloquies with God taking all occasions to speake to God by prayer and priuate meditation of things offered to vs out of which wee could extract matter for frequent Ciaculations lifting vp our hearts vpon the very first motions of good vnto God Psalm 63. 5 6. 5. When our hearts are fired with longing desires after his presence of glory in heauen 2. Cor. 5. 8. Thus of our walking with God 5. We should manifest our loue to God by honouring him For this is one speciall way by which God requires to haue our loue shewed to him Malac. 1. 6. Now there are many waies by which in our cōuersation we may declare our desire to honor our God As 1. By performing the care of businesses that concerne his kingdom aboue al other businesses shewing
shoulder that when they speake to God it may be as the voyce of one man when the Lord speakes to them they should heare with one heart It is a maruellous glory in Religion when people can come once to this to serue the Lord with one shoulder Zephan 3. 9. Lastly in the 52. Psalm v. 8 9. we may gather three other rules which in a speciall manner fitte vs for a right behauiour in Gods house 1. First wee should alwaies be as green Oliue trees in the house of the Lord. Howsoeuer it go with men in the world yet when wee come before the Lord our hearts should reioyce and reuiue and our spirits bee fresh and cheerefull and our affections should bee healed of all the cares or distempers were before in them Gods ordinances should haue such a power ouer vs as to make a sudden fresh spring of desires and holy thoughts in vs. There is this power in the ordinances of God to effect this if the fault be not in vs I meane when these ordinances are exercised in the power life of theÌ„ 2. Secondly wee must trust on the mercy of GOD bringing a heart ready to beleeue euery good word of God resoluing that if the Lord will speake comfortably to his seruants we will not dishonor his coÌ„solations through carelesnes or vnbeleefe but receiue them with all our hearts and establish our selues in the safe keeping of his good word 3. Thirdly we must resolue to be thankefull with all tendernesse for all experiences of Gods presence and goodnesse towards vs in the means vowing with Dauid to praise him for euer for them And if the Lord doe with-hold his power and presence for a time so as we feele not the effectualnesse of his ordinances yet we should resolue without distemper to wait vpon the Lord and obserue him according to the seasons of his grace CHAP. X. Rules that order vs about hearing of the Word THus of the rules that we must obserue in all publike seruice of God Now there be certain speciall rules which must bee particularly headed in each part of Gods worship by it selfe And first I will beginne with those rules which wee must more specially obserue in hearing the Word of God and these are of three sorts 1. Some bind vs to the good behauior before we come to heare 2. Some at the time of hearing 3. Some after we haue heard 1. Before wee come to heare we must bring with vs two things 1. A resolution to deny our own wits reasons opinions and conceits and empty our heads of al perswasion of our owne skill to iudge in the things of the kingdome of God being ready to beleeue and thinke in all things as God shall teach vs out of his Word We must be fooles that we may be wise 1. Cor. 3. 18. humbling our selues at his very feete to receiue his Law Deut. 33. 3. 2. VVe must bring with vs a meeke and quiet spirit a minde quieted from passions lusts and perturbations and at rest from the turmoyling cares of this world The world is able to doe great things in our hearts if wee receiue it with meekenesse Iam. 1. 19. Secondly at the time of hearing we must looke to two rules First wee must hearken without distraction wee must heare as it were for our liues wee must incline our eares and shake off all impediments arising from our owne drowsinesse preiudice or vaine thoughts or distracting obiects Esay 55. 3. Psal. 119. 113. Secondly we must proue all things and keepe that which is good Wee must heare with iudgement and hearken for our selues hauing speciall care to looke to that doctrine which in particular concernes vs to lay it vp in our hearts and apply it effectually This is a rule of singular thrift in godlinesse If wee did marke what sinne in vs the Lord reprooues or what comfort is specially fitted to our hearts or what direction doeth specially concerne vs He hath an honest memory that will bee sure to keepe these things though hee forget all the rest and hee hath a wretched memory and hart too that forgets these things though hee could râ—peat all the Sermon verbatim Thirdly after wee haue heard two things also must be further done First wee must by meditation labor to make those things wee haue heard which concerne vs fast that they runne not out of our mindes and wee must take heed that neyther the Diuell steale away the good seed nor our owne heart through negligence forget it Neyther is this a worke for an houre after to keepe these things till we may repeate them to others but ought to be our daily worke especially the weeke after to thinke so often of them till there be a sure impression of the VVord in our hearts Hebr. 2. 1 2. Secondly wee must yet further see to it that we be doers of the Word yea wee must obserue to doe as the phrase of the holy Ghost is It is the wisedome of God so to dispose of his ordinances that wee receiue our directions by parcels and there is a time of interim between Sabbath and Sabbath Sermon and Sermon that we might in that space learne to frame our selues to the obedience of the truths receiued that so we might bee ready to receiue new lessons from the Lord. The surest way for the husbandman to keepe his seed is not to lay it vp in his barne but to cast it into the ground For what is sowed he may receiue againe with aduantage or if hee might faile of a haruest from his seede in nature yet godly men shall neuer faile to receiue what they sowe by practice with increase So much of the Truth as is put into practice is sure for euer The rest may be lost and it is a singular helpe to a Christian if he set vpon his obedience while the doctrine is yet fresh in his minde for delay will compasse him about with many difficulties and hee will want those inward incitations that might stirre vp his heart with power and strength to obey CHAP. XI Rules about the Sacrament of Baptisme THus of the rules of our carriage about hearing Next wee are to consider how we are to order our selues in respect of the Sacraments The Sacraments are two Baptisme and the Lords Supper The duties we are bound to in respect of Baptisme concerne either 1. Our children 2. Our selues 3. Others For our children it is our duty to present them vnto Baptisme but withall we must looke to it that it be done in due time and with faith and thankefulnesse to God In due time so as thereby wee signifie our great estimation of Gods mercy to our seed and our great desire to haue the Couenant sealed euen vnto them We must also bring them to Baptisme with faith in Gods Couenant The Lord hath bound himselfe to bee our God and the God of our seed Now it is our parts to giue glory
it willingly Further if wee respect our selues shall we not bee as carefull to prouide for our soules on the Sabbath as for our bodies on the weeke daies 2. By obseruing the whole day as well as a part and keeping the Sabbath in our dwellings as well as in Gods house God requires the whole day and not a part As wee would not be contented our seruants should worke for vs onely an houre or two in the six daies so neither should wee yeeld lesse vnto God then wee require for our selues Nor will it suffice to serue God by publike duties in his House vnlesse wee serue him also by priuate duties in our own dwellings Commandement 4. Leuit. 23. 3. 3. By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath as well as the greater especially not transgressing of contempt or wilfulnesse in the least things we know to bee forbidden The Prophet instanceth Isaiah 58. 13. Wee must not speake our owne words Thus of sinceritie 5. The fift thing required of vs is Faith we must glorifie GOD by beleeuing that hee will make it a day of blessing vnto vs and performe that blessing hee hath promised accepting our desire to walke before him in the vprightnesse of our hearts and passing by our infirmities and fraileties We many times disturbe the rest and Sabbath of our soules by vnbeliefe Commandement 4. Genes 2. 2. Exod. 31. 13. Ezech. 20. 20. 46. 2 5. 6. The last thing is Deprecation wee must beseech God when we haue done our best to shew vs mercie and spare vs for our defects and weakenesses Thus wee must end the day and reconcile our selues to GOD that the Rest of Iesus Christ may be established in our hearts Nehem. 13. 22. And thus of the rules that binde vs to the good behauiour in respect of the time of Gods worship CHAP. XIX Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues when wee come into company in respect of Religion HItherto of the rules that concerne our carriage toward God Now it followes that I breake open those directions that should bring our liues into order in respect of men And these rules are of two sorts for either they are such as binde vs to the good behauiour towards all men or such as order our conuersation toward some men onely as they are considered to bee either wicked or godly The rules that concerne all men may bee cast into two heads as they belong either to righteousnesse or to mercy The rules that belong to righteousnesse order vs either in company or out of company The rules which we are to obserue in company concerne either 1. Religion or 2. The sinnes and faults of others or 3. Our owne inoffensiue behauiour towards all men 1. For the first when we come in company wee must be carefull to be that which may become the glory of Gods truth and the Religion we professe that wee take not vp the name of God in vaine And thus we shall rightly order our selues if wee obserue these Rules First to be soundly aduised before wee fall into discourse of Religion not doing it till God may bee glorified by it A wise man concealeth knowledge but the heart of fooles will publish foolishnesse It is as great a discretion to know how to conceale knowledge as it is to know how to vse knowledge Secondly auoide vaine ianglings and contradiction of words such as are 1. Doubtfull disputations about Ceremonies and things indifferent which may entangle the weake and keep them from more necessarie cares and knowledge Rom. 14. 1. 2. Curious Questions about things that are not reuealed in the VVord Rom. 12. 3. Bee wise to sobriety 3. Vnprofitable reasonings such as were those about Genealogies in the Apostles time 1. Tim. 1. Thirdly If thou be asked a reason of the hope that is in thee by such as haue authority to require it or need to seeke it then answer But be sure to remember two things namely that thou answer with all reuerence as may shew how much thou art affected with the Maiestie of Gods truth and withall with meeknesse that is without passion or frowardnesse and without affectation or conceitednesse or wilfulnes in thine owne opinions 1. Pet. 3. 15. Fourthly let thy communication be yea yea and nay nay otherwise customary and vaine swearing is a most damned sinne and such as God will surely plague CHAP. XX. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company in respect of the faults of others THus of our carriage in company in respect of Religion Now concerning the faultes of others wee must obserue these Rules First wee must neuer in our discourse iustifie the wicked or condemn the righteous all excesse in words is euill but this is an abomination to the Lord We must euer honour those that feare the Lord and as for vile persons they are to bee contemned Psal. 15. 4. Amos 5. 15. Prou 17. 15. Secondly let thy conuersation and discourse be without iudging Math. 7. 1. lam 3. 17. It is time exceeding ill-spent that is spent in censuring of others And the rather should we take heed of iudging if we consider how the holy Ghost hath matched that sin in that place of Iames wee must bee without iudging without hypocrisie as if he wold signifie that great Censurers are commonly great Hypocrites and as any are more wise they are more sparing of their Censures Thirdly thou must not walke about with tales take heed of Tale-bearing He goeth about as a slanderer that reuealeth a secret though it be true hee speaketh It is a maruellous euill custome that many haue to fill vp their discourse with the report of the frailties of others which they by some meanes or other come vnder-hand to know This is an euill frequently condemned in Scripture and yet most vsually practised as if it were lawfull to speake of any thing which they know to be true Thou shalt not walke about with Tales nor stand against the bloud of thy neighbour A strange connexion by which the Lord imports that this Tale-bearing is a kind of murther and it is true in the case of many a man thou wert as good lay violent hands vpon him as with that licentiousnesse of words to diuulge tales concerning him Prou. 20. 19. 11. 13. Leuit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthening of this rule thou art yet charged to looke to thy eares too as well as thy tongue Thou must not receiue euill reports against thy neighbour but make it appeare thou art not pleased with such Tales Psal. 15. 3. Yea thou art forbidden the society of such persons as carry Tales Thou must not meddle with Tale-bearers nor with such as flatter with their lippes Certainely such creatures commonly flatter the present and reproach the absent Prou. 20. 19. Fourthly if thou do know an offence in any with whom thou conuersest thou shalt not hate him in thy heart but rather reproue him plainely For he