lowliness of Mind let each esteem other better than themselves Rom. 12.16 Mind not high things but condescend to Men of low Estate 5. If any difference in Principles or Practices fall out among you persue after Peace notwithstanding thereof especially if it be not in fundamentals of Faith and if it be visible that what the parties that differ from you do is from a Principle of Conscience and are in all other things conscientious Rom. 4.2 3. One believeth that he may eat all things another who is weak eateth Herbs Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not v. 17 18 19. The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost for he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of Men Let us therefore follow after the things which make for Peace and things wherewith one may edifie another Phil. 3.15 16. Let as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same Rule let usmind the same thing Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. 6. Harbour not suspicious thoughts of one anothers Hypocrisy Rom 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another Man's Servant To his own Master he standeth or falleth yea he shall be holden up v. 10. Why dost thou judge thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment-seat of Christ Jam. 4.11 12. Speak not evil one of another Brethren he that speaketh evil of his Brother and judgeth his Brother speaketh evil of the Law and judgeth the Law but if thou judge the Law thou art not a Doer of the Law but a Judge There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy Who art thou that judgest another Matth. 7.1 2. Judge not that ye be not Judged for with what Judgment ye Judge ye shall be Judged and with what Measure meet it shall be Measured to you again 7. Be very tender of doing any thing that may give just cause of offence to your Spiritual Relations especially in matters indifferent Rom. 14.13 14. Let no Man put a stumbling-Block or an occasion to fall in his Brother's way I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self i. e. none of those Meats which were unclean under the Law are so now made under the Gospel but to him that esteemeth any thing unclean to him it is unclean If thy Brother is destroyed with thy Meat thou walkest not charitably destroy not him with thy Meat for whom Christ Dyed 1 Cor. 9.10 11 12 13. Take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling Block to them that are Weak For if any Man see thee which hast knowledge sit at Meat in the Idols Temple Shall not the Conscience of him that is weak be emboldned to eat those things which are offered to Idols And through thy knowledge shall the weak Brother perish for whom Christ Died But when ye sin so against the weak Brethren and wound their weak Conscience ye sin against Christ wherefore if Meat make my weak Brother to offend I will eat no Flesh while the World standeth lest I make my weak Brother to offend 1 Cor. 10.23 24. All things are Lawful for me but all things are not expedient all things are Lawful for me but all things edifie not let no Man seek his own but every Man another Wealth v. 32.33 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God even as I please all Men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved Matth. 18.6 7. Gal. 5.13 1 Pet. 2.16 8. Visit one another as frequently as your occasions will give leave and let your Visits be as Acts of Charity When you come together spend not your time in talking of News Trifles or against others but fall upon some Soul-edifying discourse Mal. 3.16 They that feared the Lord spake often to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name and they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that Day when I make up my Jewels Ephes 4.29 Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may Minister Grace to the hearers Col. 4.6 Let your Speech be always with Grace seasoned with Salt 9. Pray one for another Ephes 6.18 Praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit watching thereunto with all Perseverance and Supplication for all Saints 10. Shew a tender Sympathy with each other in your several conditions 1 Pet. 3.8 Have compassion one of another and be pitiful 1 Cor. 12.26 If one of the Members do suffer all the Members should suffer with it If one Member be Honoured all the Members should rejoyce with it Gal. 6.2 Bear one anothers Burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ 11. Confess your faults one to another and forgive one another even where there has been not only supposed but real injuries Jam. 5.16 Col. 3.12 13. Put on as the elect of God Holy and Beloved Bowels of Mercies Kindness Humbleness of Mind Meekness Longsuffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Matth. 5.23 If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy Brother and then come and offer thy gift 12. If there are such among you as are really Poor Sick Aged and Infirm not able to work for themselves or impoverished by the Hand of Providence contribute to their necessities out of that which God has lent you 1 John 3.17 Who so hath this World's Good and seeth his Brother need and shutteth up his Bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the Love of God in him Read the whole Eighth Ch. of the 2 Epistle to the Corinthians Where the Apostle exhorts them unto a liberal distrubition to the poor Saints at Jerusalem from the example of the Macedonians from the commendation of their former forwardness from the example of Christ and the Spiritual profit that would redound to themselves thereby Moreover Brethren we do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia how that in a great tryal of Affliction the abundance of their Joy and their deep Poverty abounded unto the Riches of their liberality For to their Power I bear record yea and beyond their Power they were willing of themselves praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of Ministring to the Saints Therefore as ye abound in every thing in Faith in Utterance in
speak it shall be given you in that same hour For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you 10. If the Lord should suffer you to be Imprisoned or Banished be comforted from Jer. 15.11 The Lord said Verily it shall be well with thy Remnant verily I will cause the Enemy to entreat thee well in the time of Evil and in the time of Affliction Psal 12.5 For the oppression of the Poor for the Sighing of the Needy Now will I arise saith the Lord I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him Isa 35.10 The ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with Songs and Everlasting joy upon their Heads they shall obtain Joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighing shall flee away Jer. 30.18 19. 20 Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacob's Tents and have mercy on his dwelling places and out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry I will Multiply them and they shall not be few I will also Glorifie them and they shall not be small Their Children also shall be as aforetime and their Congregation shall be established before me and I will punish all them that oppress them And 33.10 11. 11. Are you afraid that you may so Apostatize and fall away as cease to be a Church and God's People See Isa 54.9 10. As I have Sworn that the Waters of Noah shall no more go over the Earth so have I Sworn that I would not be Wrath nor Rebuke thee For the Mountains shall depart and the Hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy one thee Jer. 31.35 36 37. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a Light by Day which divideth the Sea when the Waves thereof Roar If those Ordinances depart from before me saith the Lord then the Seed of Israel also shall cease from being a Nation before me for ever Thus saith the Lord if Heaven above can be measured and the Foundations of the Earth be searched out beneath I will also cast off all the Seed of Israel for all that they have done Joh. 10.27 28 29. My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me and they shall never perish neither shall any Man pluck them out of my Hand My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no Man is able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand Lastly Would you be comforted with some grounded assurance that God's work in the latter Days shall go on and prosper maugre all oppsition The Kingdom of Christ shall be advanced i. e. There shall be a glorious reformation in Doctrine Worship and Discipline Antichrist and Antichristianism shall gradually be extirpated God's ancient People the Jews shall be converted and a more abundant measure of the Spirit of the Lord shall be poured forth See Isa 2. Begin Micah 4. Begin In the last Days it shall come to pass that the Mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the Mountains and it shall be exalted above the Hills and People shall flow unto it and many Nations shall come and say Let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths For the Law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem v. 5 6 7. All People will walk every one in the Name of his God and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever In that Day saith the Lord will I assemble her that halteth and I will gather her that is driven out and her that I have afflicted And I will make her that halted a Remnant and her that was cast far off a strong Nation and the Lord shall Reign over them in Mount Zion from hence forth even for ever Psal 2.6 7 8. 2 Thes 2.8 9. Then shall consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming Rev. 14.6 7 8 9. Rom. 11.25 26. Rev. 11.15 Would you know how to demean your selves to them that are over you in the Lord 1. You owe them Love and Respect for their Office and Works sake as they are the representeves of Christs Person 1 Thes 5.12 13. We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly for their works sake Gal. 4.13 14. Ye know how through infirmity of the Flesh I Preached the Gospel to you at first and my temptation which was in the Flesh ye despised not nor rerejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Christ Jesus I bear you record that if it had been possible ye would have plucked out your own Eyes and have given them to me 2. Be not too credulous of every calumny and report that 's raised against them without due Examination of the truth or falshood thereof 1 Tim. 5.19 Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses 3. Walk according to their example so far as they are followers of Christ Phil. 3.17 Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example 1 Cor. 4.15 16. Though ye have Ten Thousand instructors in Christ yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Jesus have I begotten you through the Gospel therefore I beseech you be followers of me And 11.3 Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Thes 1.5 6 Jam. 5.10 Take my Brethren the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and of patience 4. Pray heartily for them Ram. 15.30 31 Now I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake and for the Love of the Spirit that ye strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea And that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the Saints that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed with you Ephes 6.19 20. And for me that utterance may be given unto me that I may open my Mouth holdly to make known the Mistery of the Gospel for which I am an Ambassador in bonds that therein I may speak boldly as I ought to speak 2 Thes 2.1 2. Brethren pray for us that the Word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified even as it is with you and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked Men for all Men have not Faith Heb. 13.18 19. Pray for us for we trust we have a good conscience in all things willing to live
to any Man but Love for they that love one another have fulfilled the Law More particularly the several Duties of all Relations are Christianly and Conscionably to be performed And that this small piece may be of the more universal usefulness to all of all sorts into whose Hands it shall come I will endeavour by the Divine Assistance to make it a clear Prospective or Looking-glass wherein every one may see the Duties of their Respective Relations Are you Magistrates 1. Be truly thankful to God for advancing you above your Brethren not having an over-weening conceit of your selves because of your Exaltation so God did require of him that was to be over his own People Deut. 17.20 That his Heart should not be lifted up above his Brethren 2. Acquaint your selves both with the Law of God that you may know what is Just and Honest and also with the Laws of that Kingdom Common-wealth Country or Corporation where you exercise your Office Deut. 17.18 19. When he sitteth upon the Throne he shall write him a Copy of this Law and it shall be with him and he shall read them all the days of his Life 3. Hate Sin and Vice in your selves ruling in the fear of God 2 Sam. 23.3 that so you may the better punish Vice in others 4. As in the Administration of Justice you represent God's Person on Earth so in all your judicial Proceedings do nothing but as if God were the Actor thereof himself he is no respecter of Persons no more must you he cannot be bribed with Gifts to pervert Justice no more must you 2 Chron. 19.6 7. 5. As you are to take severe Notice and inspection of the wicked Works of profligat Persons punishing them according to their Demerits so where you observe such as are Ingenious Industrious Vertuous and Peaceable Countenance Encourage and reward them Rom. 13.3 4. Rulers ought not to be a terror to good Works but to Evil he that bears the Sword is to be an Avenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil but a Minister of God for good to them that do Well 6. Let Justice be mixed with Mercy not executing the rigor of the Law unless in Cases highly Criminal and unless an unevitable Necessity urges to it Summum jus summa injuria And do not so shew Mercy to incorrigible Offenders as by remissness in Justice to encourage others to the like Offences shew Mercy especially to the Poor the Oppressed Fatherless and Widows 7. Preserve Propriety Peace and Safety promoting Piety and the Means thereof Reformation and Righteousness that your Government may have an influential Operation upon the Godliness and Honesty of all in their Lives and Conversations 1 Tim. 2.2 And that in you that prophesie of Isa 49.23 may have its Accomplishment being to the Church and People of God what a Father and Mother a nursing Father and nursing Mother is to a poor young Suckling 8. Prefer the Peoples Good to your own private and personal Interest being as little chargeable as it is possible Nehem. 5.15 The former Governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the People and had taken of them Bread and Wine beside 40 Sheckels of Silver yea even the Servants bare rule over the People but so did not I because of the fear of God Duties of Subjects 1. Bless God for hedging you about with such a Fence of Magistracy as an Ordinance whereby you are secured against all Injuries and Violence which you are lyable unto from Adam's apostate Posterity Men turned into Monsters The Consideration of the desperate Wickedness that now lodges in the Hearts of the Sons of Men has often made me put a high Estimate upon this Mercy of Magistracy for if it were not for it the whole World would be quickly fill'd with horrid Robberies Adulteries and Murthers sheathing our Swords into one anothers Bowels As God's Glory and his People's Good have been the two great ends which he has proposed to himself in all his Transactions so in this Rom. 13.4 He is the Minister of God to thee for Good therefore be thankful 2. Seeing God has so well provided for you you are to suffer any injury rather than be your own Avengers Matth. 5.39 40 41. Whosoever shall smite thee on the Right Cheek turn to him the other also and whosoever will sue thee at the Law and take away thy Coat let him have thy Cloak also i. e. rather than fall a quarrelling and fighting with him that thus misuses thee If thou art injured thou hast God's Deputy to go unto but a private Person and a Christian must never be his own Avenger nor retaliate injuries for injuries Rom. 12.17 18. If it be possible as much as in you lyeth live Peaceably with all Men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto Wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay saith the Lord Deut. 32.35 3. Honour the Persons of Magistrates whether Wicked or Godly for their Office sake as being Gods upon Earth 1 Pet. 2.17 Fear God Honour the King Exod. 22.28 Thou shalt not revile the Gods nor curse the Ruler of thy People no not in thy Thought or Bed-Chamber for a Bird of the Air shall carry the Voice and that which hath Wings shall tell the Matter Eccles 10.20 4. Seeing your peaceable possession of Temporals is from them as an Ordinance of God you are to contribute to their maintenance according to your Ability and their publick Necessities Rom. 13.6 7. For this cause pay you Tribute also for they are God's Ministers attending continually upon this very thing render therefore to all their Due Tribute to whom Tribute Custom to whom Custom 5. Obey them in all their lawful Commands and in Case they command any thing contrary to God's Word submit to their Authority and the Penalties inflicted by them without making resistance Rom. 13.1 2. Let every Soul be subject to the Higher Powers for there is no Power but of God whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God 6. Pray for them 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort that first of all Supplications Prayers Intercessions and giving of Thanks be made for all Men for Kings and all that are in Authority for this is good and acceptable in the fight of God our Saviour 7. As thou art a Subject and so one that in conjunction with others constitute'â— a Body Politick study to promote the Publick good according to thy Power and the station in which Providence hath placed thee Pray for mercies to the Nation Country City and Town where thou livest as well as for mercies to thy self and Family Jer. 2.9 7. Bless God for Publick as well as Personal mercies mourn for national Sins and Calamities Whatever thy Talent is Publick or Private I mean for a more Publick or Private use wrap it not up in a Napkin if it be for Preaching Phisick Teaching School or for advancing Trade and Manufactures make improvement
their hire beginning from the last unto the first To withold the Labourers Wages is a crying sin Deut. 24.14 Thou shalt not oppress a hired Servant that is poor and needy thou shalt give him his hire at his Day neither shall the Sun go down upon it lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee Jam. 5.4 Behold the hire of the Labourers which have Reapt down your Fields which is of you kept back by fraud cryeth and the cryes of them which have Reaped are entred into the ears of the Lord of Sabbaoths 3. Bear with many infirmities and small faults in Servants not being too couriosly sollicitious to pry thereinto Eccl. 7.21 22. Take no heed to all words that are spoken lest thou hear thy Servant curse thee for often times also thine own Heart knoweth that thou thy self hast cursed others 4. Do the same things unto them forbearing threatning knowing that your Master also is in Heaven neither is there respect of Persons with him Ephes 6.5 Deal by them as you would have your Heavenly Master deal by you and as you would have Earthly Masters deal by you if you were Servants They are to obey you in the Lord so command them only in the Lord command them nothing against their own consciences You would have them serve you not with eye-service but sincerly and in singleness of Heart so shew your selves kind to them not dissemblingly or fraudulently but uprightly and conscionably You would have them leave nothing of your work undone so leave nothing of their Wages unpaid Carry not your selves Imperiously Harshly Churlishly nor Nabal-like to them give them not provoking or irritating Language 5. Walk exemplarily in all Holiness and Righteousness of conversation before them especially in the performance of Family-duties The eyes of Servants are much on their Masters and Mistresses to mark what they say and do Prov. 29.12 If a Ruler hearken to Lyes all his Servants are wicked Ps 101.2 3 4. I will walk within mine House with a perfect Heart mine Eyes be upon the faithful of the Land that they may dwell with me He that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my House he that telleth Lyes shall not tarry in my sight Let not wickedness dwell within your Tabernacles that so God may make the Habitation of your Righteousness prosperous Job 8.6 Col. 4.12 Masters continue in Prayer and watch in the same with Thanksgiving Duties of Servants 1. Honour your Masters 1 Tim. 6.1 Let as many Servants as are under the Yoke count their own Masters worthy of all Honour that the name of God and his Doctrine be not Blasphemed 1 Pet. 2.18 2. Do in all things Lawful according to their command Ephes 6.5 And Col. 3.22 Obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh Tit. 2.9 3. Do their work chearfully and readily at all times when their eye is off as when upon you and as remembring you are still under God's eye Col. 3.22 23 24. Not with eye-service as Men-pleasers but in singleness of Heart fearing God And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto Men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ Ephes 6.5 6 7 8. Doing the Will of God from the Heart with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to Men knowing that whatsoever good thing any Man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bound or free 4. Disclose not their secrets neither discourse of things out of the Family to their prejudice Servants must not be as spies in the House nor Tale-tellers out of it for such are worse than Thieves 5. Be diligent in the quick dispatch of their bussiness and speedy execution of their commands Gen. 24.31 Abraham's Servant vvould not eat till he had told his errand and as soon as he had done he sayes thus v. 54. Send me away that I may go to my Master 6. Do for them as for your selves nay prefer their business before your own Gen. 30.30 The Lord faith Jacob to Laban hath Blessed thee since my coming to thee and now when shall I provide for mine own House also See Gen. 37.38 Do not Purloin Steal or Wast their Goods by riotous Eating Drinking or any unnecessary expences you must not wittingly or willingly cousen them of a Farthing Tit. 2.10 Not purlonging but shewing all good fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Mat. 25.23 7. When you are Rebuked or Chid for your faults do not return any proud or sawcy replies but rather answer with silence Tit. 2.9 Not answering again Prov. 15.1 A soft Answer turneth away Wrath but grievous words stir up Anger 8. If Providence cast you upon such as are harsh and untoward who both in words and deeds do misuse you carry it meekly and patiently towards them 1 Pet. 2.18 19. Servants be subject not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward for this is thankworthy If a Man for conscience towards God endure grief suffering wrongfully for even hereunto were ye called 9. If ye are Servants to such as are Godly shew them not the less but rather more respect upon that account 1 Tim. 6.2 3 4. They that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them service because they are Faithful and Beloved partakers of the benefit These things Teach and Exhort if any Man Teach otherwise and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to Godliness he is Proud knowing nothing but doating about questions and strifes and words whereof cometh envy Thus you have had some delineation of the Duties which you owe unto God and others The Conclusion of all shall commend some few things which concern every particular Christian in reference to the right orderâ—ing of his own Conversation 1. Let God have the first Fruits of your thoughts every Morning you will find it profitable and advantageous to your Souls to begin and end every day with some Godly meditations As soon as you awake let this or some such thought enter into your Heart O what mercy is it I am yet out of Hell that the Lord has given me any comfortable refreshment this last Night my awaking thus after Sleep and rising after a lying down may serve as an Ebmleme to put me in mind of the Resurrection of the Body after it hath slept the sleep of Death in the Grave for some season O how comfortable to the Eye is the Light of the Sun after a dismal Darkness but how much more comfortable would the Light of God's countenance prove to my dark and disconsolate Heart shewing himself as a reconciled God to me in the Blood of a Saviour What is the end of God
in sparing me this one day more And what is the work carved out for this day And how shall I manage it When you are putting off or on your Cloaths have these or the like thoughts O that I could cast off the works of Darkness and put on the Armor of Light O that I might be devested of the Old Man and invested with the Righteousness of the Lord Jesus When you are Washing your Hands send up this or some such Ejacluation to Heaven O that all my sinful pollutions may be done away this Morning by the Blood and Spirit of the Lord Jesus 2. Drive some Trade with Heaven oftner than once every Day by Private Prayer Ps 55.17 Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud First Chuse the most seasonable times for it and what time is thus spent account it no hinderance but rather a furtherance to your oher Business Secondly Shun Formality and Pharisaicalness in it Mat. 6. begin 3ly Let the whole Heart be engaged in it with all possible seriousness and Spirituality without Distracting Carnal Roving Wandering and Worldy thoughts 4ly Consider your Soul-wants before-hand that you may know what to say to God when you go to him 5ly Go in a most humble self-abasing Sense of your own vileness and unworthiness but with some Holy confidence upon the account of Divine precepts and promises Christ's Death and Intercession Look upon God in Christ as a Fountain of all supplies 6ly Do not give over wrestling till you can say that more or less your Soul has found something of God in this duty 7ly Rest not on the Duty done but study to keep your Heart from Morning to Night in a praying temper Luke 18. begin Thess 8. O for the Lord's sake let me engage you to perseverance in this so Soul-concerning an exercise Eighthly Take heed of frequent intermissions upon pretence of Business present indisposition or any other account whatsoever He or She that will leave off Praying for one or two whole Days together may come to do so for Months together I have known some professors my self that have sadly smarted under the experience of laying side Private Prayers 3. Be diligent in the duties of some Lawful Calling Prov. 10.4 The Hand of the diligent maketh Rich Be just and honest in it Make conscience of following it close because of God's command to work Six Days This you will experience to be an excellent preservative from many evils and inconveniencies which Idleness would expose you unto An Idle Person lies open to all temptations he is a cushion for the Devil to sit down on and a Horse ready Sadled to Ride to Hell on 4. Be critical in the observation of every Days Sins for exciting an assiduous renual of repentance for the same and of every Days mercies not forgetting to give thanks unto God for them Say thus towards the close of the Day O that I might not go to Bed with guilt upon my Conscience this Night whatever in me has been offensive to thy Holy Majesty in Thought Word or Action pardon for Christ's sake the carnality of my thoughts When first Ia woke in the Morning my backwardness formality and deadness in Private Prayer the Earthliness Vanity Frothiness and Levity of my Spirit all Day long And so for mercies say thus O Blessed be God for Food and Rayment Health and Strength and Liberty and Relations Protection and Preservation O Blessed be God that I have been keept from the actual commission of such sins as many others are wallowing in and I my self might have been if not restrained by Grace 5. Take heed of the first rising and beginning of every the least sin Keep a continual strict watch over your Hearts take present notice of what you discover amiss within check your selves for it dally not with any temptation without making some vigorous resistance That which may be easily nipt in the Bud may cost you Thousands of Prayers and Tears afterwards Custom in sin is not conquered with a wet Finger Have a Holy jealousie of your selves as to every sin otherwise you know not what height of impiety you may come to ere you be aware Luke 21.34 1 Cor. 10.12 1 Pet. 4.7 And 5.8 6. Study mortification especially of your Beloved Sins and Lusts such as your Natural temper or education or strong temptations with which you are continually haunted or such as your Calling most prompts you unto that so you may approve your Hearts unto God in something beyond what is attainable by the most refined Hypocrite Ps 18.23 Keep under your Bodies make no Provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof Deny your selves of carnal pleasures rather than suffer an interruption of your inward peace and communion with God Rest not satisfied with a bare cessation from the external acts of sin for a season with the silence of a secure Conscience ceasing to trouble you with the removal of temptation or the exchange of one sin with another But get the unclean Spirit totally dispossessed lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree and strike at the most inward close unmortified corruptions of the Heart Pray for the fin-mortifying Spirit of Jesus Christ and draw virtue from him whereby you may be enabled to mortifie the deeds of the Body Rom. 8.13 7. Look well to the government of your affections First Never desire things sublunary but with submission to the Will of God but let your desires after God and Christ Grace and Glory know no bounds or limits being enlarged to a kind of infinitness Secondly Lay not out your Love so inordinatly upon any Creature Person or thing so as to bereave the Lord of Glory of his due Love Creatures for what of God is in them for what of God you may have from or by them and so as contentedly to part with them when Providence would have it so Thirdly Hare the Persons of none in the World but so as that you can cordially pity and pray for the vilest Sin is to be the only object of your hatred in whatsoever Subjects your selves or others Fourthly Moderate your joy for outward enjoyments and also your Sorrow for outward Crosses and Losses all excess in carnal mirth and melancholy is discommendble 1 Cor. 7.29 Phil. 4.4 Fifthly Give not way to servile fear where there is no cause of fear neithere be too Foolishly bold or venturous when there is just cause of fear Sixthly be Angry at no thing but sin and sin not in being Angry at sin Eph. 4.26 27. If at any time you are Angry let not the Sun go down upon your wrath lest by that time you have slept a little upon it it turn into malice Labour to subdue your Passions so as that you can patiently bear with affronts and indignities without a Passionate retribution of like for like Seventhly Be never too hotly zealous in pleading for your own Private Personal concerns but be zealous in the cause of God