Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n
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A91729
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Precepts for Christian practice; or The rule of the new creature, containing duties to bee daily observed by every beleever.
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Reyner, Edward, 1600-1668.
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1645
(1645)
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Wing R1223; Thomason E1189_3; ESTC R208272
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6,129
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16
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PRECEPTS FOR Christian Practice Or the Rule of the new CREATVRE Containing Duties to bee daily observed by every Beleever The second Edition Corrected Inlarged and now Published according to Order Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule Peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God LONDON Printed by Rich. Cotes for John Bellamie and are to the sold at his Shop at the three Golden Lyons in Cornehill neere the Royall Exchange 1645. Jan. 31 1644 Precepts for Christian practice or the Rule of the new CREATVRE Dutie 1. 1. BE alwayes sensible of thy originall corruption and consider how it inclineth thee continually to all evill and indisposeth thee to any good groane under it and bewaile it as Paul did Rom. 7.24 Also take speciall notice of your actuall sins or daily infirmities in thought word deed Indeavour to make your peace with God for them before you go to bed which must bee done these foure waies 1. By repenting and confessing your sinnes to God working your heart to griefe and sorrow for them by some such melting considerations as these First of Gods goodnesse to you 2. Of the unreasonablenesse and every way unprofitablenesse of sin 3. Of the great prejudice and damage that commeth to the soule by sinne John 1.1 9. 2. By beleeving and casting your self wholly on Christs righteousnesse for remission of sinne and for reconciliation with God Rom. 3.22 24 25. 3. By cleaving to Gods promises of pardon and peace Isaiah 43.25 Rom. 5.1 4. By waiting till the Lord shall speake to you Psal 85.8 Dutie 2. Get your union with Christ and interest in Christ cleered and confirmed to you daily more and more that you are a branch in his vine and a member in his body 2 Cor. 13.5 This may be done three wayes 1. By daily renewall of your faith in Christ especially of that act of faith whereby the soule knits or tyes it selfe unto Christ casts or roules it selfe on Christ for salvation Cause your heart in a solemne manner every day to act this part or to put forth this primitive act of faith in the view of the whole soule The daily exercise hereof will increase strengthen the divine habit of faith in the soule and make the soule sensible of the very act of it By frequent beleeving you shall feele at your very heart that you do beleeve so shall you have a witnesse in your selfe that you are in Christ 1 Joh. 5.10 2. By examining your heart upon what grounds you take Christ to be yours The grounds are these five 1. A sight and sense of of your sins as of the guilt power and punishment of them and of your misery by them Mat. 9.13 2. Your want of Christ seene and felt at your very heart to justifie sanctifie redeeme and save you else you are utterly lost and undone everlastingly Luke 19.10 3. Gods free and generall offer of Christ to any that will take him by faith John 3.16 there are manifold promises to this purpose And the grounds of all Gods offers and donations of Christ to the poore soule are free grace rich mercy undeserved love Ephes 2.4 5 7. Tit. 3.4 5 6. 4 Christs sweet and gracious invitation of such to come to him as are weary of sin Matth. 11.28 to buy as have no money Isaiah 55.1 no worth or desert in themselves 5. As sinfull vile wretches as you are have been sought of Christ and found in Christ as 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. 1 Tim. 1.13 Paul was a blasphemer persecuter and yet obtained mercy and therfore why may not you Thus the more cleerely you discerne upon what grounds you take Christ the more cleare is your title to Christ evinced to your owne soule 3. By surveying and observing in what manner you take Christ daily Which is whether First you do wholly renounce all opinion and conceit of your owne righteousnesse and desert Mark 8.34 Phil. 3.7 8 9. so that you come to Christ empty of your selfe very vile yea nothing in your owne eyes unworthy to receive him 2. Whether you lay hold on Christ alone with an empty hand of faith joyning nothing at all with Christ in the matter of salvation as the holy Martyr at the stake cried out None but Christ None but Christ 3. Whether you find the Father drawing your heart after Christ Joh. 6.44 which is in hungring and panting desires that will never be satisfied without him so that the streame both of your Judgement Phil. 3.7 8. and affections run towards him 1 Cor. 2.2 Gal. 6.14 4. Whether you take Christ as a Lord to rule you as well as a Jesus to save you Col. 2.6 As one that is all in all to you your wisdome your righteousnesse your sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 your spirituall food John 6.48 your Rayment Rom. 13.14 your Strength Phil. 4.13 your life Gal. 2.20 Col. 3.3 5. Whether you seeke and waite for Christ out of the sense of your spirituall want and penury in every ordinance publike and private Word Sacraments Prayer Meditation Conference not as they are your owne works of sanctification but as they are Gods Ordinances appointed of purpose for the manifestation communication of Christ to the soule Frequent perusall hereof will cleare to you your manner of taking Christ and that will evidence to you your right and title which you have in Christ Jesus Dutie 3. Labour to draw and derive from Christ by the powerfull attractive force of faith spirituall ability sufficient for the day 1. To performe all your duties Phil. 4.13 2. To exercise all your graces 2 Cor. 3.5 3. To resist and overcome all your tentations and corruptions Rom. 8.37 4. To undergoe all your trials and afflictions thereof John 1.16 Make your provision of grace and strength from Christ every morning fetch from him so much as you shall have occasion to use all day long yea and upon all occasions that fall out in the day goe to Christ still for the wisdome that must direct you for the holinesse that must character you for the shoulder which must beare your crosses for that strength that must resist your tentations and for abilitie to perform all duties as duties To this end act your faith daily in the promises of grace and strength as John 1.16 Ezek. 36.26 27. Isaiah 44.3 Zech. 10.12 these and the like promises are security given you by God that you shall receive grace in the use of the ordinances which are as the conduit-pipes or instruments of conveying the same from Christ unto you This is the way and meanes to doe all in the strength of Christ and to take forth a great deale of Christ into your soule that not you but Christ may live in you Gal. 2.20 Dutie 4. Perform daily duties both in family closet especially these three of Prayer Meditation Reading and doe them with serious intention heate of affection diligence and delight Jerem. 48.10 Mal. 1.14 1 Chron.
21.24 To this end 1. Watch to these duties keepe the heart in a good frame for them undefiled with sin untainted by the world Ephes 6.18 2. Take the fittest time for the performance of them all when you are least dull and sluggish Begin the day constantly with thoughts of God Psal 57.7 8 9. 3. Bee very reall serious and substantiall with God in them indeavour to feele all duties at your heart inliving inlarging inflaming your affections These be the duties of most importance and consequent commoditie and comfort to the soule because they properly aim at and reach to soules good and celestiall happinesse to train up a soule for heaven Deut. 4.29 Dutie 5. Fortifie your selves every morning against your speciall lusts to which you are by nature most prone or shall bee most tempted bee it pride passion convetousnesse c. This is done 1. by Arguments and holy reasonings within your selves drawn from the sad effects thereof as disprofit discomfort disgrace or the like to discover the unreasonablenesse of your sins and make your soule ashamed of them For example shall I bee proud then I am sure to fall for pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall Prov. 16.18 and God will count me for his enemy for God resisteth the proud Jam. 4.6 Shall I be angry if I let passion in I cannot keepe Satan out Ephes 4 26 27. Againe I shall grieve the holy Spirit of God Ephes 4.30 31. Shall I bee covetous I cannot but bee very sinfull sith the love of money is the root of all evill 1 Tim. 6.10 2. By pondering in your mind upon the precepts in Gods booke against your sins Prov. 6.23 24. And on the judgments threatned or inflicted for them as on proud Herod Acts 12.23 voluptuous Dives Luk. 16.23 churlish Nabal 1 Sam. 25.38 3. By applying promises of mortification close to your hearts as a plaister to the sore for subduing your iniquities Mic. 7.19 Rom. 6.14 4. By drawing vertue from Christs death into the soule which hath in it a killing force of sin Rom. 6.4.5.6 Phil. 3.10 Dutie 6. Get your hearts strongly fixed on God by trusting on him Psal 112.7 and submitting to him 2. Sam. 15.26 1. Sam. 3.18 against all the feares cares doubts trialls afflictions of every day for sufficient to the day is the evill thereof Mat. 6.34 To this end 1. Be prudent to fore-see your personall trialls and troubles whatsoever they are like to bee Pro. 22.3 2. Goe hide and lay up your selfe in God run unto his name for God is a rocke of habitation to which a poore soule may continually resort God will give commandment to save him Psal 71.3 1 Peter 4.19 3. Especially commit that very thing to God put into his hands whatsoever you desire to keepe or feare to lose 2. Tim. 1.12 be it life libertie name friends maintenance c. What you would have resolved if it be a doubt Psal 37.5 Or supplied if it bee a want Prov. 16.7 Or removed if it bee a crosse Psal 50.5 And together with the thing cast all your care feare sorrow and trouble of minde about it wholly on the Lord Mat. 6.31 1 Pet. 5.7 Psal 55.22 4. Renew your faith in those promises every day which most concern your present estate as in promises 1 Of supplies if you bee in want Psal 34.8 37.3 84.11 Mat. 6.30 2 Of protection if you be in danger Psal 34.7 3 Of direction if in doubt Jam. 1.5 4 Of deliverance if in trouble Job 5.19 5 Of a good end and sanctified use of all Deut. 8.1 Jam. 5.11 Rom. 8.28 Heb. 12.10 5. Labour to see Gods hand Psal 39.9 beleeve his love Heb. 12.6 Rev. 3.19 and with all meekenesse and patience to resigne up your selfe wholly to his will in every affliction Mat. 26.39 Dutie 7. Get and keepe a savory relish continually of your christian priviledges wherewith you are invested as you are new creatures in Christ to wit 1. Of your dignity that you are Gods sons 1 Joh. 3.1 2. Christ brethren Heb. 2.11 heavens heires James 2.5 partakers of a high and heavenly calling Heb. 3.1 2. Of your liberty that your are the Lords freemen Cor. 7.22 delivered out of the hands of all your enemies 1 Sam. 12.11 2 Kings 17.39 3. Of your victory that you are through Christ more then Conquerors over all the world of Creatures 1 John 5.4 of evils of temptations of persecutions Rom. 8.35.37 4. Of your safety that you have almighty God for your place of refuge Psal 48.2 a hedge of providence Job 1.10 a Guard of angels Psal 91.11 an inclosure of mercy Psal 32.10 and Gods promise as a writ of protection for your defence Heb. 13.5.6 5. Of your riches as durable substance in heaven Heb. 10.34 and incorruptible inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 a kingdome of glory and a crowne of life for you are heires of God and co-heires with Christ 6. Of your joy and pleasure precious for kind and plentifull for measure Psal 16.11 peace un-conceiveable Phil. 4.7 joy unspeakeable 1. Pet. 1.8 the masters joy Get your hearts affected with all these as being yours Chew and sucke them by serious Meditation worke and warme them on your hearts by close application rubbing them into your affections Oppose these your spirituall priviledges to all your temporall pressures setting the one against the other as your heavenly friends to your earthly foes your high dignity in Christ to your meaness in outward condition your wealth above to your want below your future joys and rest to your present troubles and sorrows This will make you not onely patient under the afflictions of this life Rom. 12.12 but also joyful in them Rom. 5.3 triumphant over them 1. Cor. 15.55 Thus did the Apostle Rom 8.18 2 Cor 4.17 6.8.9.10 These will provoke to duty 1 Peter 2.9.11.12 and preserve from faining 2 Cor. 4.16.17 and from trouble of heart John 14.1 2. Dutie 8. Sanctifie God in your heart daily 1 Pet. 1.15 make him your feare Isaiah 8.14 your love delights Psal 37.4 To this end 1. Have often high and honorable thoughts of God serious meditations of his glorious Atributes as his wisdome power truth mercy Justice c. and work them upon your hearts that they may Eccho to them with pure and melting affections This will increase and nourish up the divine nature in you 2 Pet. 1.4 2. Labour to bee affected with all the workes of God as first to behold and admire the wisdome of God in the creatures Psal 136.5 2 To see and tast Gods goodnes in every mercy Psal 34.8 3 To take notice of and tremble at the anger and displeasure of God in all his Judgements Psal 119.120 Habb 3.16 4 That you may answer the dispensations of Gods providence with sutable dispositions your hearts carrying a counterpane in affection to all Gods actions Isay 26.8 3. Wrestle with God by praying and beleeving for an heart of flesh