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work_n	bring_v	good_a	tree_n	9,027	5	9.0012	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88645	The practice of godlines or brief rules directing Christians how to keep their hearts in a constant holy frame, and how to order their conversation aright. With an addition concerning self-examination, and the nature of faith. / By Henry Lukin minister of the gospel.	Lukin, H. (Henry), 1628-1719.	1659 (1659)	Wing L3479; Thomason E2107_2; ESTC R210051	38,795	129

very obvious I would not interpret that place Eccles 7.16 in favour of lukewarmness or to allay mens zeal with the base mixture of carnall policy yet doubtless men do sometimes destroy themselves by too much opinionativeness and self-conceit or over-rigidly insisting on some things where God allows them a greater latitude See Dr Reynolds on this place in his most excellent Commentary on Ecclesiastes in the larger English Annotations But Christians do usually most wrong others hereby First In judging them and casting them out of their charity for those things which they have liberty in or which they may lawfully do strong Christians are not more ready to despise the weak then the weak are to judg the strong Rom. 14.3 and I know not which is the greater sin the former for the most part is worse in respect of its principle from whence it proceeds but the latter in respect of the effects of it But secondly We further wrong others in that we do not leave our selves a liberty where God hath left it us for accommodating our selves to them and pleasing them for their good to edification or as others have it in that which is good where we have the true bounds set to man-pleasing for the matter it must be in that which is good we must not please their sinfull humours or comply with their corrupt lusts Then there must be a right end it must be for their edification Rom. 15.2 and this rule the Apostle himself put in practice 1 Cor. 9.19 Chap. 10.33 Direct 7. Labour to make the best improvement of your time The Apostle indeed exhorts to redeem time Eph. 5.16 which is an expression of doubtfull signification and capable of various interpretations but in propriety of speech time that is lost is not to be redeemed we cannot possibly recover mispent time redeeming time is alike impossible as merit Luk. 17.10 because all that we can do in our time is our duty and it is not in morals as in naturals where by resting one hour we are able to work more vigorously another but the more remiss we are the greater indisposition we bring upon our selves If a man suffer weeds to grow in his field though he pluck them up before they seed or spoyl his corn yet he loses so much ground as they grow upon so though God should pardon the mispending of our time yet we shall lose the fruit of what we might have in that time sown to the Spirit and as good husbands will lose none of their ground but have every parcell bring them forth something so we should endeavour that every parcell of our time may be sown with some seed of righteousness yea we should make some improvement of that time in which we do the works of our particular callings to some spirituall advantage if our imployments be such as exercise the hand and not the head by some usefull meditations as some will plant their hedg-rowes with fruit trees reckoning that what they get thereby is clear gain because they take up no room which might be put to any other use so what we get by such meditations is clearly gained because it doth not hinder any other imployment But as it is not enough for the husbandman to sow all his ground but he must observe what agrees best with this or that grain and as it is not sufficient that he be alwayes employed unless he observe the due season for his severall affairs so it is not sufficient that we be alwayes doing that which is materially good but there must be a prudent choice of the fittest season for every action for there is for every purpose a time and judgment therefore is the misery of man great upon him because some few men have the wisdome to know time and judgment Eccl. 8.5 6. but he is the blessed man that brings forth fruit in its season Psal 1.3 Yet let not your souls enter into the secrets of those who seeming to themselves to have a perfect understanding of the times and seasons wherein the things foretold in Scripture shall have their accomplishment think themselves bound to attempt such things as they suppose may be helpfull to the bringing forth of that which divine providence seems to be travelling with calling this the work of the day or of their generation The good man Moses ran into this mistake but he was glad to flee for it and keep sheep fourty years till he had a more cleer call from God to undertake that work which he before knew God had designed him for Acts 7.23 c. More particularly let us endeavour to improve our time well when we are in company and when we are alone for society and solitude share our time First In company let us labour to do good or to get good at least that we do no hurt nor receive any and to that end avoid as much as may be the society of those with whom we are like neither to do or receive good and those are such as are prophane scorners and such as are meerly carnall and are much our superiours And when you are in company make conscience of your words 1. Because we are very apt to offend in them Jam. 3.2 6. We may complain of most mens discourses as Bernard Apolog. ad Guil. Abbat Nihil de Scripturis nihil de salute agitur animarum sed nugae risus verbae proferuntur in ventum they are all froth and vanity there is nothing in them of the Scripture or of the salvation of mens souls Ita fabulantur ut qui sciant Dominum audire saith Tertullian of the ancient Christians Apol. cap. 39. they so talk as those who know that God hears them So Psal 139.4 Remember the story of him that heard a pen writing behind the curtain while he was under examination which made him look more narrowly to his words 2. There is speciall notice taken of them Mal. 3.16 And 3. We must give an account of them Mat. 12.36 37. and that we may never want matter of usefull discourse let us alwayes be furnished with some profitable questions to propound 1 King 10.1 c. which we may be supplied with either from what we hear or read daily of the Word of God or some passages of Gods Providence or our own experience and this will be usefull both to our selves and others we may hereby increase our own knowledg and give others occasion for imploying their Talents which many times lye wrapped up useless either through too much reservedness or slowness of speech or an over-awing modesty or because men know not so well how to suit their discourses to the conditions and capacities of others and it will not be altogether in vain to propound questions to those that are our equals or below us in understanding We may likewise take occasion from ordinary occurrences to raise spirituall discourses which was Christs usuall practice Joh. 4.10 6 26. but it is ever necessary that we

THE PRACTICE OF GODLINES OR BRIEF RULES Directing Christians how to keep their hearts in a constant holy frame and how to order their Conversation aright With an Addition concerning Self-Examination and the Nature of Faith The second Edition Revised and Corrected By HENRY LVKIN Minister of the Gospel Pro. 4.23 Keep thine heart with all diligence Psal 50.23 To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God London Printed by A.M. for Tho. Vnderhill in Pauls Church-yard near the little North Door 1659. To The Right Worshipfull Mrs Elizabeth Masham BEing now upon a review of this small Treatise to send it a second time to the Press I thought it a fit season to dedicate it to you both particularly to commend to you the practice of the Rules therein contained and likewise that I might here take occasion to give you some Directions for the right improvement of that affliction under which it hath pleased the Lord of late to exercise you And although it may be said that this might have been done rather in the car then thus on the house top yet I have chosen rather to do it thus publikely both for your sake that you might reckon your self the more oblig'd to observe them while the world is witnesse that you wanted not advice and admonition and likewise for the sake of others that if these Directions be of any use others may have the benefit of them I was much induced here to by the complaint which I heard you make when God had brought you back from the gates of death and Patience had had its perfect work in bearing that heavy burden which you lay under viz. that your greatest work was yet behind reckoning it an harder matter to improve an affliction then to undergo it And indeed so it is as appeares plainly by the instance of Hezekiah who was a good man and did much good in the beginning of his reign as we may read 2 Chron. 29. and he had the comfort of it when he came to lye on his sick-bed Isa 38.3 And how did he plead for the continuance of his life Vers 19. Doubtlesse upon a good intention and hope of living as he had before done to the glory of God and doing good in his generation But he turned aside as a broken bow Psal 78.58 He missed the mark which without question he sincerely aimed at We read of his pomp and worldly greatnesse through the abuse of which he entail'd a curse upon his people whom he lest behind him but little of his goodnesse only that he repented and humbled himself and so saved his own soul 2 Chron. 32.25 c. Now these things are written for our instruction that we might not fall by the same example of ingratitude It is an observation of a Learned man the Lord Verulam that prosperity belongs to the Blessings of the old Testament adversity to the Blessings of the New Something indeed there is in his observation but I am sure correction accompanied with instruction was then a Blessing Psal 94.12 And without this it is not yet a Blessing Heb. 12.11 Now that we may know what use to make of affliction or what lesson we are to learn thereby we must understand that God sometimes sends affliction on some special errand with respect to some particular sinne And this is evident either when God dealeth with men by retaliatio● as in the case of Adonibezek Judg. 1.7 or by punishing men in such things as have been the instruments of their sinne as he made Jeroboams arm wither which he stretched forth against the Prophet 1 King 13.4 and many Instances there are of this kind Sometimes God makes that which is the natural effect of mens sinne to be the moral effect or punishment of it Thus he punisheth luxury with diseases in the body Job 20.11 Idlenesse with poverty Prov. 23.21 c. and fills men with the sruit of their own doings Sometimes God bringeth some special sin to remembrance and awakens conscience to smite them for it as in the case of Josephs Brethren Gen. 42.21 Sometimes God saith in effect to us as Christ to Peter What I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know Joh. 13.7 At present we may not know the particular meaning of an affliction but may understand it better afterwards But as the Schoolmen observe to speak strictly and properly God hath no end without himself But when we say this or that is Gods end in such a passage of his providence which he exerciseth us with or in such a gist which he bestows on us the meaning is that it doth of it self conduce to such an end or is to be improved by us thereunto Wherefore till it be more evident what is the special use of any affliction we must consider what improvement in general may be made of it And there are five things which I shall propound to your consideration for this end First Consider what was your greatest comfort and stood you in greatest stead in the time of distresse that so you may know what to put the greatest price and value upon and how to prepare for what trials may befall you in time to come for the remedies which you have found effectual at one time will be usefull to you at another and we keep the receits of those things by us which we have found to be good by experience Was it any worldly enjoyment These I am sure you complained of as miserable Comforters Can you not rather say with David Psal 94.9 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts O Lord have refreshed my soul Oh let not the consolations of God be small with you Job 15.11 Labour for more clear evidence of his loving kindness prize it more then life And though you should want many other comforts blesse him for this as long as you live Psal 63.3 4. Was not the Word of God your chief stay and support Say with David Psal 119.93 I will never forget thy Precepts for with them thou hast quickned me See vers 49 50 54 97. Was not the testimony of your conscience concerning your sincerity your great comfort and rejoycing 2 Cor. 1.12 Exercise your self continually to have a conscience void of offence in the sight of God and man Act. 24.16 Secondly Consider what was your greatest trouble in your affliction that so you may take heed of providing sorrow for your self against the time to come Was it a sense of the neglect of your duty in any thing or of any thing wherein you have exceeded Job 36.9 For who is it that can say they have herein made their hearts clean Say unto God through his Grace You will do so no more Job 34.32 Was it the leaving of any worldly comforts Be loosing your affections from these things every day by the study of mortification and take heed of letting your heart cleave to these things for then you will have the greater trouble at