the Thessalonians that they abounded in these and were ready to doe whatsoeuer he commanded them and Dauid praied that he might not wander from Gods commandements What is heere commended in them but that which these mislike and speake against at this day in vs who labor for some measure of it Is that il in vs which was good in them There want no proofes nor examples to teach what we should doe in this behalfe but the flesh rocketh asleepe euen many good Christians But whatsoeuer these Obiecters alledge who haue not tasted of these dainties let vs be most glad to heare and more glad to learne that the beloued of the Lord may dwell in safety vnder his protection all the day long And if we haue not knowen so much as that God hath left vs such direction to inioy his presence in some continuall maner amongst vs then let vs now learne and beleeue it that we may reape fruite of it accordingly and not be so haled this way and that way in the world with cares and vexations and snared and allured with earthly pleasures and delights neither vnsetled so with vnreasonable and vngodly persons that we can hardly once in the day yea sometime through the weeke haue liberty and abilitie so much as one quarter of an houre to solace our selues with holy meditation and remembrance of heauenly things for thus it hath beene with many of the deare seruants of God of such slauery they haue beene holden vnder who yet I doubt not but they shall without neglecting any necessarie businesse shake off much needlesse tediousnes in their liues and see their estate much altered to the contrary liberty and holy reioicing if they will duely regard what God hath said of this daily keeping of a good course and not what carnall Obiectors say to discourage them And thus much of the first obiection CHAP. 3. Of answering this obiection That no such direction can be obserued daily BVt I hauing thus shewed the cause why I tooke this in hand and answered them who may thinke that no direction for a Christian through the day is of necessitie to be imposed vpon him now I will proceed to satisfie the reasonable about this particular direction or the like in effect by answering such obiections as may be brought against the same Some perhaps will obiect and say It cannot be daily obserued of any man neither haue they heard that good men in other ages haue beene giuen to any such speculatiue life except the monks and friers and other of that rable they will not deny but it is good sometime to giue our selues to praier and other good exercises but euery day to doe it and to be tied vnto them and to other duties before mentioned were a toile intolerable which no man can like of a taking away of all delight from our liues Againe they say What should become of mens labour and businesse in the world how should it go forward Also they say It were a strange world to see men liue now after such a sort and a bringing in of Monkery againe These and such like obiections although they proceed from very euill men and are vttered of them with a scoffing spirit yet for want of knowledge and due consideration they may be at the first the thoughts of many simple well meaning men for whose cause I will answere them because I would be loath to leaue such in any doubts which might trouble and hinder them But they who obiect thus might more iustly haue alledged other reasons why they thinke it so hard to keepe any such daily direction that is to say partly their owne ignorance vnacquaintednesse with this course vnablenesse and partly the taunts mocks and other discouragements which prophane and vngodly men would persue them with who should walke so vnlike other men of the world by the practising heereof First therefore I will answere their doubt in that they thinke it impossible and then their reasons why they thinke it cannot be without great inconuenience If it were impossible to bring our selues to such a course for heere is no perfection to be dreamed of by me but an holy directing of our selues daily towards the kingdome of heauen why would the prophet Dauid haue said Blessed is the man that exerciseth himselfe and meditateth in Gods law day and night Also why would he haue said it of himselfe That all the day long he was considering it in his minde that is to say meditating on it It is manifest whatsoeuer particular maner or order he vsed heerein that he did tie himselfe daily to this course that is to say to see that he walked homeward that he might not be carried aside or out of the way either with the deceitfull inticements of this world or any discouragements but much hath beene said in the former treatises to this purpose And such examples this present age of ours God be praised doth affoord he vouchsafe to multiply the number of them for one an hundred who do so passe through the affaires of this world that the Christian life is vnto thē not in word as it is with many which deceiue themselues but indeed and sensible account daily their chiefe treasure And all that I require is no more but that faith and godlinesse may be continued increased in the beleeuers and that they prouide for the same purpose that though the malice of the diuill doth lay many lets in their way yet that they bridle bring vnder their corruptiōs to the maintaining of a pure hart a good conscience vnfaigned faith which worketh by loue to the praise of God their owne comfort The which will not be brought to passe through security negligence but whiles they giue al possible diligence hereunto set themselues in some good order and daily direction for the preseruing of the same So that if there be any before others in this practise who by experience haue found how mightily God hath blessed them in this estate who is as ready to do the same to the rest that desire it haue prooued that it is possible yea and easie through God who maketh it so to passe the day in well doing with peace or when it is worst with them to be free from euill for the most part rather then wearisomely and vnwillingly as the most doe let such be patterns and examples to those which are not so forward Let one learne of another in meekenesse of spirit that which he hath not as yet attained vnto and not hold this opinion That none can doe more then they themselues doe nor goe beyond them who yet haue scarcely at all or very slightly gone about this practise themselues There is no reason in it that such as serue God in the day as it falleth out at a venture without any certaine purpose of care or vsing the meanes for the quickening of their
behind vs. That is seeing some part of the day is vsually bestowed in companie therfore in what cōpanie soeuer we shall be either of our owne familie or strangers superiours or inferiours and how oft soeuer that we haue speciall regard to be harmelesse and free from giuing any ill example carefully marking and shunning the occasions thereof and prouocations thereto And that we be readie by all oportunities to take any good that we may either by example or communication from others or do good our selues by offering both And that in any of our dealings with men about or in the things of this life we neither hurt or do wrong to any but rather suffer it knowing how we are giuen to loue our selues and in matters of profit especially with the neglect of others which among Christians is a sore blemish That we do not ill spend the time in our solitarines or when we be alone I meane that at such times as wherein we shall be free from companie we haue the like care of our hearts and behauiour being alone that we were taught to haue of them both and of our talke in companie For example that in our behauiour we attempt or go about no euill as stealing whoring or committing any vnlawfull thing c. and concerning our hearts that we suffer them not to wander after needlesse and vaine things but hold them within this compasse that either our thoughts be of those things which are lawfull as the well ordering of our busines and yet that also with moderatiō or of things holy and spirituall as the glorie of the life to come Gods loue to vs and care ouer vs in this world and such like considering and remembring that we must redeeme the time to the best vses we can and in conscience most approue of or if our thoughts be at any time of things euill that it be onely to bring vs into further hatred and detestation of them and not to ingender and raise vp a liking thereof in our hearts which Sathan euer intendeth though we had no such meaning nay rather purposed against it when we first entred into thought of them That we vse our prosperitie and all the lawfull liberties of this life soberly and so as we seeke to be the better by them Forasmuch as our merciful father bestoweth vpon vs many great blessings euen here where we be straungers both in token that he can affoord vs them and to shew that pietie and the feare of God are not without reward no not in this life 1. Tim. 4.8 Therefore it behooueth vs to be circumspect and warie that we swell not neither be insolent because of our prospering neither idle and loose in our liues and so abuse the same to carnall libertie but to be more rich and fruitfull in all good duties both to God and men because we know that he which hath receiued much of him shall much be required Amos 3.2 And that herein is our heauenly father glorified that we bring foorth much fruite Iohn 15.9 And so we haue the right vse of Gods benefits which is a greater treasure then the benefits themselues 1. Kings 3. as we may see by the fearefull ends of such as had many great blessings but regarded not how to vse them That we be ready to receiue our afflictions meekly and patiently and so be found indeed where we are tried with them that our patient minds may be knowne to all Our liues are subiect to many calamities and euery day to sundry yet doth not the Lord chastise vs for that he taketh any pleasure in our sufferings but of very loue sendeth them for our benefit namely to weane vs from the excessiue loue of the world and to purge out our drosse thereby that we might not perish with the world but haue proofe of our faith and patience which causeth the greatest ioy of all other Therefore we must not fret and be impatient in them but confesse that they are necessary and meete as oft as God sendeth them and therefore waite to see a good end of them that so we may haue experience of great good by them which may make vs hope for the like after and that without fainting That we constantly keepe and vse the exercise of prayer and thanksgiuing in our families and such other helpes to maintaine the knowledge and true worship of God and of true happinesse amongst vs. For seeing we are forgetfull of our duties and easily drawne away by the world we haue need to haue daily and oft accesse to God and our seruants especially who haue litle other priuate helpe These exercises of Religion are prayer reading chatechising and conference with singing of Psalmes c. and that these or such of them as are common to the whole family be vsed at the most conuenient times when the family may come together and that we indeuor to do the same together twise in the day at least prouiding to performe the duty of it with chearfulnesse and reuerence knowing that we haue therein communion with our God and most sweet refreshing of our soules thereby alwayes remembring that this shall not be so aukely gone about nor so hard as many find it if other duties before mentioned be carefully looked to That before we lye downe at night we looke backe to the workes of the day how we haue passed it that where we haue had blessings we may be thankfull and proceede in the like course after where we haue faulted and failed we may reconcile our selues to God and so lye downe in peace For seeing we haue some speciall infirmities to make mention of and some particular benefits to giue thankes for and to powre out our complaints in speciall maner it is meete as we shall be able that we should thus view and go through the seuerall acts of our life in the day calling them to remembrance as we can that where we shall see that we haue receiued helpe and strength to liue well and to keepe peace with God by the rules and duties prescribed otherwise then we were wont before we did so particularly obserue our wayes we may with praise to God reioyce and take comfort in our gaine and more constantly hold out in the same course and where we haue failed we may be willing to see and acknowledge our faults laying hold of pardon and looke better to our selues after and so making agreement with the Lord as being reconciled to him and leauing no accusations nor checkes to our consciences we may lye downe in peace and fall asleepe in that state euen as we awoke with it in the morning ready to make our bed our graue and so shew our selues to be pilgrimes and strangers as our fathers were And these are the duties of our liues falling out ordinarily and most commonly to be done euery day at least some of
death to be the finisher of his sorrowes it might haue seemed to giue him place among the Epicures who take their pleasure whiles they liue looking for nothing after death but that he declared himselfe at other times to be of a contrary minde But all these as I haue said proceeded from mans frailty as we may afterwards heare Iob himselfe to confesse For who doth not maruell in that so great trouble and anguish of his that he vttered not one word either against his wife or against his friends dealing so vnwisely with him and so sore prouoking him as furious and raging men are wont to doe in such a case So that we should not so much maruell that he could be moued to any impatience at all being stricken downe with so many and weighty blowes of sorrow as that he could keepe any measure therein that he neither brake out into rage against them which so vexed him nor into blasphemie against God which sathan laboured most especially to haue brought him vnto Neither is he to be counted an impatient man who doth not by and by resist and ouercome all vexations of body and torments of minde with such strength and constancie as were to be wished but he who so goeth to worke that the hellish spirit in the end preuaileth ouer him and hath the vpper hand Therefore most wisely and fitly to this purpose doth the apostle Iames admonish that in iudging about Iobs conflict we consider not so much what came to passe in the combat and fight as we marke the end of the battell that is to say that God did inwardly vphold his seruant and pronounced him an happie man and though he suffered him to be very grieuously tempted yet neuer beyond his strength which he in most fit time and season did support him with And what one among all the Saints of God hath not prooued and found this true if we marke and consider their words and their liues Let thus much be granted therefore that the flesh raged in Iob and so that he offended grieuously and no maruell for he was a man but yet God himselfe being iudge of this matter he neuer wholly gaue place to the flesh but although it was not without manie wounds receiued in the battell yet the spirit preuailed and had the vpper hand in him Of Peter likewise this is to be said As the Lord Iesus had done much for him and giuen him many priuiledges euen as to other of the Apostles he had done yet in that dangerous plunge of his being the greatest downefall a man would think that euer any good man might susteine he neither sinned against the Holy Ghost neither was wholly drawen from his holde and subdued by Sathan For although he denied in word that he knew Christ yea and that with a curse called for vpon himselfe if he knew him I say more though his conscience did burne within him at the same time yet did not his minde goe with his mouth neither did he change his iudgement with his speech but he was brought vnto it partly by that rashnesse of his which was too readie at hand with him in many of his actions and partly by the feare of that danger which was at hand if he had confessed Christ But in the meane season that spirit which had taught him that Christ was the sonne of the liuing God and so taught it him that he loued nothing more dearely than his master that spirit I say dwelling still in him was not caried to such outrage but either was silent in him not consulted withall as in heady and boisterous affections it cōmeth to passe or els it secretly rebuked the tongue though no such thing appeared And so likewise the faith for which Christ praied that it might not faile nor be ouercome was not extinct in him nor vtterly lost For if it had beene so he would haue ioyned himselfe in familiarity with the Iewes and haue complained that he had all that while beene deceiued of his master whereas on the other side he went forth and wept bitterly and declared many waies how deeply he was displeased with himselfe for that his offence Neither yet doe I speake this of Peter as though I went about to make his sinne small and light which surely I am perswaded did deserue eternall death a thousand waies but that if any haue sinned of infirmity or in any such maner as Peter did and yet besides the vnpardonable sinne one would thinke that none could be greater yet that they should not cast away all hope and so despaire but that they should be perswaded that the way is open to saluation if they haue the faith and repentance which Peter had Of Dauid and others the like may be said but I haue staied too long in these examples I will returne now to the priuiledges and liberties which the seruants of God haue proper vnto themselues from other men that they may not coldly and vnwillingly despise the world and cleaue to the Lord without fainting I trust now the hardest obiection is answered which can be brought against their welfare and prosperitie and that it cannot be taken from them by any subtiltie or malice of the adversarie as it is written The gates of hell shall not preuaile against them and therefore I may be bold to affirme that they hauing their names written in heauen already and this being testified of them by the Lord himselfe That they shal be kept safe vnto the resurrection day that none shall take them out of his hands that they are in great account with him and highly esteemed of him as was said before And howsoeuer the world thinke and speake of them because they know them not yet is their estate most honourable because they are honoured of the Almighty and from the greatest feare of danger they are deliuered Is a valiant and noble gentleman in disgrace because whiles he goeth vnder great perils for his countrey hazardeth his life for his Prince and goeth thorow many hard aduentures he is reported of to be confederate with the enemie when yet he is beloued and renowmed and that for iust cause of Prince and Peeres No more is the seruant of God to be reputed vile and his estate contemptible for that whiles he goeth about to honour his God and in his life to expresse his exceeding kindnesse he is both then and therefore set against by the deuill and his ministers and by their malice and subtiltie drawen into some action which might cause ill report and breed a doubt of his godlinesse when yet his faithfulnesse is approoued of the Lord his God Was Paul because he was buffited by the messenger of Sathan that is after great exaltation and glory a little before now immediatly not only depriued of the feeling of it but brought to so contrarie an estate that he was deeply ashamed to thinke he had beene so high was he therefore
with vs at the sudden hearing of heauie newes yea all the powers of the minde and heart would be affected with it euen as a man is by the sting of an Adder or when he is pricked with the point of a sword so I say it is with him that doth vnfainedly beleeue his owne miserie without exception casting away all deluding conceits which might hinder it such a sudden alteration it shall worke in him how farre off so euer hee was before that from it And that is liuely set foorth in the example of the three thousand that were conuerted at Peters sermon who for their estate before had been of them that crucified Christ and euen at that present time were mockers and railers at the Apostles saying they were drunken with new wine yet when on the sudden the Lord arrested them by his word and challenge and with his spirituall sword by Peters skilfull handling the same had wounded and striken them so as they could not scape nor resist the power and stroke of it they were pricked in their harts as if an arrow had pierced their liuer crying out immediatly that the paine which they felt within them was intolerable which they expressed in their words when they made their mone euen vnto them whom they had so lately railed vpon now speaking with new tongues which is admirable Men and brethren what shall wee doe Euen thus in some sort doth the Lord worke when hee maketh them to giue credit to this his thundring voyce by his law arraigning men for their sinnes which is no lesse fearefull to them then the roaring of a lion when yet other men whose sinnes are as great and haue as good cause to be feared and to faint vnder the burthen of them are not a whit mooued thereat not moued I say through the commonnes of it any more then the fowles are afraid of the scar-crow after they haue been long accustomed to it who in time dare sit vpon the head of it and plucke strawes out of the very nose thereof And this I doe the more stand vpon to make this point cleere because I haue obserued by long experience how grossely the people of our age doe suffer themselues to be bewitched about this matter For to bewaile them who are soone healed if they be pricked at all and them who fall deadly to raging at the Minister if their hearts be vexed by hearing their daunger I say to bewaile the estate of them there is yet a third sort in number an hundred for one of the other who were neuer troubled in conscience for their sinne or the woe that it hath purchased them neither doe once dreame that such a thing is needfull for them but eate drinke and sleepe some play and some worke and as they did in the daies of Noah imbrace this present euill world prophane merrie yea and light-hearted when as S. Iames saith they should houle and mourne and as though they feared no more then they would make men beleeue they doe are neuer scared till the very time and houre of death or deadly daunger But what do they then when they haue called in lustily as men at a banquet I meane when they haue taken their pleasure and liued therein I say when they see their reckoning and day of accounts is neere then what doe they where is their mirth become Oh they die as Nabal that is as fooles and are as he was when he heard he shuld die as a stone and a blocke or despaire as Iudas did and some of them die as he died that is sooner then they needed as well as they loued their life And the best sort of them are but as they that are spoken of by the Prophet that is they haue no bands in their death they die quietly perhaps with a Lord haue mercie on vs but they not regarding blessing in their life it is now farre from them at their death and therefore dying without repentance let other be feared by them And yet while the world is full of such people as I haue said behold as if they yet wanted something to make them miserable how this vnsauourie and dangerous speech is spread farre and neere among such by many ministers as well as common persons who crie out that it is pitie that some are suffered to preach the lawe and that such vrging of mens consciences for their sinnes is enough to driue the people to desperation and such like When yet S. Paul commaunds that the word be preached with all authoritie which men may not be able to resist and with conuincing of the conscience And S. Luke in the Acts commends the fruite of that doctrine so highlie euen that they were pricked in their harts for their sinnes without which they had neither repented nor obtained pardon of their sinnes Indeede if any preach the law alone without the glad tidings of the Gospell or vrge repentance without the incouragement of Gods mercie through Christ and forgiuenes of sinnes he were worthie to be sharply reproued and to bee restrained till he should amend so dangerous an error and so grieuous a fault But if any finde fault with the ioyning of both together when experience and Scripture doe shew that no other kinde of preaching can profit and doe good in the Church they are earnestly to be desired if they doe it of ignorance to be taught if of a worse minde to desist from it But this shall suffice for answere to this speech rashly and vnwisely cast foorth to cause many to stumble at I returne to that from which I went aside a little to perswade those which are teachable that God doth vse to make his law to cast downe such as he purposeth to lift vp againe as I haue said The Scripture yeeldeth many complaints and cryings out of Gods seruants who acknowledged as much Some when they had once escaped the daunger of their former woe as that of Paul to Timothie doth testifie I was a blasphemer a persecutor and an oppressor Some in the time of their distresse as by that in Ieremy I heard Ephraim complaining thus Conuert me O Lord or els I cannot be conuerted and they in Sam. 1.12.20 with many other And God be thanked although they are but a few of so many thousands as haue liued in former ages yet he hath not left this vnwitnessed by many in this our age of whom some are fallen asleepe and others remaine amongst vs vnto this day who with bitter complaints salt teares and dolefull groanes no lesse sensibly then Iacob sorrowed when he thought that a wild beast had deuoured his sonne Ioseph Gen. 37.34 haue confessed the depth of their woe sighing and seeking if by any meanes they might finde ease and deliuerance although the most are hardned and can bee brought to no such abasement And if that which I haue said before to this purpose perswade not men to thinke so
haue receiued the Gospell with ioy and been much cast downe by the force of the lawe But as their humbling hath been a bowing of themselues for a short time like a bulrush with the wind so their ioy hath been a suddaine flash of fleeting mirth not well grounded in them and an inlightning of them with the generall knowledge of saluation rather then a sealing of the assurance of their owne in their hearts for continuance Oh how many haue after the report made by others what great change the Gospell had wrought how many I say haue resorted to the hearing of it and giuen good and commendable hope of their owne change also and repentance who yet were soone wearie of the Lords yoke and of being subiect to his holy gouernment how many haue forsaken the fountaines of the water of life which could haue refreshed their soules in their necessitie with sound comfort and haue digged to themselues broken pits which can hold no water to comfort them And so haue started aside like a broken bowe and haue returned shamefully to their vomit and as the sowe which was washed to wallow againe in the mire Which I speake not as though God had not both called out of this life many amongst vs within these yeeres in her Maiesties raigne of singular hope and left a comfortable companie amongst vs still with others dailie comming on but to cast their shame as dung in their faces who haue fallen from that feruent desire of the sincere milke of the word which once they had to the world to prophanenes and to carelesnes These as the Scripture saith of Iudas went out from vs but they were none of vs for if they had been of vs they would haue continued still with vs. For when either prosperitie hath been graunted them they haue waxen wanton and haue turned the grace of God into loosenes or when affliction hath followed them they haue growne wearie of their profession saying as we reade in Eccles 7.12 That the former dayes were better and wished againe for the merrie world which they inioyed and the pleasant life as the Israelites did their flesh pots which they passed in ignorance of God and the lusts thereof in superstition and such like and so haue fallen from the grace of God and haue departed from him to whom yet they had professed themselues to haue been infinitly indebted as for his other benefits so especially for his Gospell in the which they seemed to take no small delight for a season But these when I consider their falsehood towards God and their double dealing that they would not giue their hearts to him to beleeue his mercies to be their onely treasures and so hold fast their confidence in him who would sufficiently haue recompenced their forsaking of the world I cease meruailing at them although they are fallen from an high account and estimation among the seruants of God vnto a vile and reprochfull estate to be reckoned with the vnbeleeuers some of them making this their chiefe religion rather to be iudges and censurers of their brethren then to hold and retaine loue and fellowship with them For whom yet I will not cease to intreate the Lord dailie that if any of them belong to him it would please him to awake them and to bring them home with the prodigal sonne in the sight of those who haue seene their reuolt that so not onely themselues may be saued though they take shame in the world but others also who were imboldened to sinne by their example may be reclaimed Thus the loue of these men hath constrained me a little to go aside in lamenting their miserie because I haue knowne many of them who hauing shined as lights for a season are become mistie cloudes to hinder light from others whom I also counsell to consider that they haue not been driuen away from their holy profession by persecution which if they had been might haue giuen better hope of them to their brethren that meere weakenesse had hindered them but they haue gone away from their first loue and broken off their fellowship with their brethren euen in the time of the Gospell flourishing and preached in some places with more power then when they were in the beginning most earnestly stirred vp to imbrace it yea and some of them then forsooke their good beginnings not when Moses was gone aside from them for the space of fortie daies but whilest he was amongst them and in the middest of their tents calling vpon them to be sound and constant and to goe forward as he had done long before and himselfe also to Gods glorie be it spoken of some with great courage and cheerefulnes of good example going before them And therefore seeing their sinne is the greater they are to be aduised to looke for better assurance of their saluation and whom they haue offended that so they may repent and now take surer hold of eternall life with the hand of their faith rather than by so weake and small occasions to let it goe For if they had in the feeling of their sinne feare sorrow and other distresses for the same been vnfainedly humbled their hearts mollified and they resolued to seeke the forgiuenes thereof and righteousnes thereby and that through the free imputation thereof by Iesus Christ they should soundly haue had their diseases healed their sorrow and doubtes expelled and true comfort ministred from their faith in him which would so effectually haue wrought in them and haue raised such an vnfained loue to God againe that they would for no cause haue been withdrawne but rather haue set themselues to growe in godlines with their brethren then in the least manner to haue returned to their former lusts of their ignorance from which they professed themselues to haue been purged This I haue written for their causes who haue been content to be deceiued with an opinion of happines and yet to be voide of it who because they haue had some light in the beholding of their sinnes and haue been wounded in conscience for the guilt of them and punishment due to the same haue therefore perswaded themselues that they haue been effectually called when yet they haue not seene nor found this that their sinnes haue been pardoned to them and in token thereof that they themselues haue been changed in will affection and conuersation and so haue become new creatures For though they alleage and that iustly that in the conuersion of Paul the people mentioned Act. 2.37 the returning of the people of Israel to God in the time of the Iudges and in the dayes of Samuel and in such other examples the holy Ghost setteth downe their trouble of minde their pricke of conscience and their great abasing of themselues which I graunt are wrought in such as haue been truly penitent yet there hath been ioyned also with these an earnest hungring
and yet euen that maketh them complaine vntill they be inlarged and he that hath not this witnesse within him shall not doe best to sooth vp himselfe with a vaine confidence Thus I conclude that ioy and peace are inseparable companions of faith But here me thinkes I heare some obiecting thus If you zealous folke who glorie so much of the assurance of saluation and for that very cause be so ioyfull ye agree not within your selues for some which are of your mind are euer sad and sorrowfull To this I answere that many desire to be sure and grone for it in the Lords eares and in time shall be comforted being already pronounced to be blessed and sometime they are assured for a season and then are cheerefull and before this they cannot be so as they whose hearts the Lord hath opened more cleerely to behold that excellent mystery But further I say that it should trouble no wise bodie to see them mourne for a while after that which shall being atteined make them merrie for euer after And it is a meere cauill in them that twit Gods weake seruants for that which giueth so iust cause of mourning namely their doubting seeing they desire nothing more then to be assured And if they doe not mixe their feare and heauines with melancholy passions they offend not in lamenting after God while they long aboue all things to behold Gods louing countenance towards them But if their heauines make them waspish tuchie froward vnquiet rash in censuring them who are not in their estate I say these as mad and frantike passions are to be condemned But these obiecters say that this sad countenance and behauiour in them who are more religious than the most part of others causeth many to shun religion and to be afraide to ioyne themselues to their acquaintance and company and to meddle with muzing on the Scriptures or on Sermons more then to heare and reade them and so trouble themselues no further To this I say that we are not so to looke to exemples that we hurt and hinder our selues thereby from that benefit which the Scriptures doe most certainely direct vs vnto But if men would weigh things indifferently they who are so ready to challenge many good Christians for their heauines which yet they know tendeth to the seeking of comfort might see their owne fault greater whose mirth for the most part is ioyned with lightnes and profanenes holding goodnes and grace out of the company and not a reioycing for that they know God to be their most louing father without which their ioy is but follie yea madnes as Salomon speaketh of laughter which testifieth such ioy But to end this in few words let such as haue true hope in God though weakely moderate their heauines that they may offend as few as they may and they that finde fault with them for that let them know that they ought rather to pitie and pray for them and interpret all in the best manner and looke that their owne mirth and cheerefulnes be well warranted them or else it were farre better for them to haue part in the others heauines And for answere to this thus much But to goe forward as the due consideration of the greatnes and perswasion of the certaintie of his benefits will raise this ioy in the heart of him that possesseth it so likewise it will cause him to maruaile with reuerence to see his state so changed himselfe to be brought from so lowe a depth of extreame miserie to so high a degree of honour and glorie and so to be enriched by this fauour of God that he shall oft feare on the suddaine least it should not be so wondring at the greatnes of the same as Iudas the good Apostle did who considering the great kindnes of Christ brake forth into these words Lord what is the cause that thou wilt reueale thy selfe to vs and not to the world Yea and the woman of Samaria which had long lien in blindnes and superstition and in the fruites of both that is in cauilling and mocking yet when our Sauiour had ouercome her euill with good and conuerted her her heart was so set on the benefit which she receiued by him that she forgat her water-pot which in her who sauoured before only of the earth was a great matter and went admiring at her owne change to tell her neighbours of that welcom newes which had befallen her and was a meane of their conuersion also Ioh. 4.28.29 But Sauls conuersion did so cause him to wonder at Gods worke therein that it caused also them that beheld it to admire it to be amazed when they saw him preach the doctrine which he before pursued with the imbracers of it Act. 9.21 So great admiration doth this precious faith worke in them that obtaine it And yet if this holie and reuerent admiration at so great good things befallen those or other such should but then onely immediatly after the receiuing of them be felt the benefits might seeme the smaller but it is farre otherwise if it be duly nourished and maintained for they are so sweete and so farre aboue all that they can aske or looke for that except it bee through mens owne default they are euery day new and fresh and so farre from bringing tediousnes that the oftner they be daily considered and the longer they be inioyed the more they will cause wondring at the loue of the giuer and what should moue him to bestow so great a portion euen more then the whole world vpon so vnworthie an one as would haue thought a little before that it had been an happie estate not to haue been at all The Sunne in the beautie and strength thereof doth not more cause the eye to dazle then the viewing and beholding of this glorie which God communicateth with his beloued ones doth astonish and abash the heart to thinke of it which is so true that Dauid the man of God did many yeeres after hee felt himselfe beloued of God fall into this holie admiration as that God should doe such great things for his soule as deliuer him from the neathermost graue by which he meant hell And therefore it cannot be without grosse bewitching of many professors by Sathan that if they haue at the hearing of this tidings published meruailed a little they thinke they haue receiued this benefit with that reuerent account that it deserueth though after it waxeth a common thing with them for this they say it were foolish daily to bee wondring at one thing as when we first heard of it Full well all such declare what fruite they reape by it but if they did daily consider their vnworthines they should see more cause to wonder euery day then at the first if comparison may bee made in such a case It is to be wondred at that God pardoneth sinnes daily in that his mercie continueth daily to pardon them and for that
and desire as their frailtie doth permit for they know who haue so farre been instructed that they cannot loath some sinne and loue other that were but halting but as he who taught them that they should not commit adulterie taught also they should not lie nor steale in like manner they who are taught of him doe so iudge and therefore disclaime the one and the other For how can they loath one sinne and loue another which were to do contraries And as pure and sweete water and filthie cannot come from one fountaine so neither doth the heart reformed send foorth good and euill So that as one in prison hardly dieted feedeth with great appetite and greedines vppon scrappes and parings and is well at ease if he may fill his bellie with them who yet when he is set at libertie and conuersant with his friends where hee findeth varietie and plentie cannot fall to his old fare againe but wondreth now how he could finde sauour in euery mans leauings euen so it is with him who hath besotted and made drunken himselfe with the deceitfull baits of sinne who if like a swine he may fill himselfe with that which his heart desireth and his eye lusteth after he is safe and hath what he would but when he shall see his estate as in a glasse how shamefull and daungerous it is and hath but tasted of the heauenly priuiledges and liberties of a Christian he casteth out that former draffe as vomite and by no meanes can be brought to be in loue with it againe Behold such honour giueth God to his seruants that their old conuersation wherein they liued sometimes with the rest of the world and could by no meanes be drawne from it they haue it in most vile account and detestation and they which were of the synagogue of Sathan shall worship God among the faithfull This is the power of faith which hath changed their heart that it is able to make him who hath it to ouercome I say not himselfe but euen the spirituall craftines whereby the diuell deceiueth many thousands and euen the poysoned baites and allurements of the world also O power vnconquerable and not to be matched If there were any earthly stay or fleshly hold in any sort comparable to it which is impossible in what price and reckoning should it be had think we If there were any thing which at mens request could giue the life of their enemie into their hands or helpe them with long life or satisfie their desire with abundance of wealth and varietie of sinfull pleasure oh how welcome should that be But consisider O ye seruants of God and behold it ye mightie and wise of the world here is a greater and another manner of treasure then all these and bringeth other delights then these are able This suffereth you not to pine away with desire of your enemies death but it will make you as it did Dauid to turne your hearts towards your greatest enemie which is true manhood and wisedome and to preserue his life when you had him in your hands to kill him And this suffereth not you to hunt about the world for varietie of sinful pleasures as though there were no better vse to bee made of the time which is so pretious but this will make you with Moses to renounce them when yee might haue them and to finde greatest pleasure in doing so and yet in forgoing them to thinke your selues plentifully rewarded Finally this will not suffer you to fret and to be vnquiet in thinking vpon the day of death and to put the remembrance of it farre from you by wishing long life but it will make you sigh and groane to be out of your life and with Paul to account it a prison to liue in the bodie still and as the Preacher saith to reckon the day of death when you must liue here no longer better then the day of birth which is the beginning of life O ye men of this world if ye can tell vs of greater commodities and tidings of better things then these and assure vs how we may come by them wee will forsake and leaue all and reioyce with you If ye cannot but rather your best things are those which I haue spoken of alreadie namely great riches pleasures your enemies death and desire of long life to your selues the vanitie vncertaintie and danger of the which I haue set downe alreadie then renounce you all that ye cannot safely keepe and reioyce with vs doe but taste and see how good the Lord is and when you see what is best imbrace it or els I will pronounce the saying of the Prophet against you which in time shall most surely finde you out and take holde of you although you hide your selues from it Behold and wonder and vanish away for I will worke a worke in your daies that if a man tell you the truth ye shall not beleeue it More might be said of this point but the treatise is too long now I will returne againe to shew that the beleeuing Christian doth renounce the sinfull course which all the world besides lieth and walloweth in though some more then others who as I haue shewed that he renounceth al kinds of wickednes so hee doth it not in some good moode onely neither crieth out of his old conuersation when he seeth shame or daunger approch he doth not I say then onely signifie his mislike of it but vpon good deliberation hee maketh protestation no more to haue to doe with it as Ephraim was counselled to say being called to repentance What haue I to doe with Idols which yet before had been her glorie So whatsoeuer others doe he is resolued to forsake it and casteth off all such behauiour as a loathsome and ragged garment And this is it which our Sauiour acquainted his Disciples and followers with after that they had testified Peter answering for the rest that they beleeued in him vnto saluation He that will be my disciple must denie himselfe which is as much as vngodlines and worldly lusts for then onely indeed and not till then are men fit to heare of any such thing but doe keepe out of the sound of such doctrine as much as they can which is the cause at this day that many professing the Gospell yet neuer know what this meaneth namely to abstaine from the filthie lusts which fight against their soule Others which doe and must needs heare such things taught that all Gods seruants doe and shall disclaime their liues past and be ashamed of them it is pitie to thinke how coldly they receiue it Some of them scorne it and mock and so turne it off that way some neuer conceiue it some are often accused and made afraid to see their liues so farre off from that which is taught them but soone forget it because they see the most of the world to doe so Some are
put in him for continuall defence deliuerance and succour in soule and bodie they are carried with distrust as with a whirlewind and therefore their hope is faint or none at all before they see their desire accomplished In their great dangers when meanes to come out doe faile them they are ouercome with feare and almost beside themselues In losses impatient and full of murmuring receiuing them as from a cruell iudge and sorrowing for them deadly And as some haue their hearts thus boiling in their trials and afflictions so others haue their hearts swelling against God in obstinacie and contempt for his afflicting them and are loose careles and desperate whatsoeuer pincheth them yet in a scoffing spirit they say within themselues let him doe his best yet will we not turne vnto him nor seeke vnto him oh horrible blasphemie fearefull to be once named that I say nothing of them who ascribe all to blinde fortune in cursing of the which they curse God or as the Atheists doe to nature Are not these loathsome guestes to lodge in the hearts of Christians I doe not goe about to set downe the poisoned corruptions and lusts of Heathens Turkes and Atheists as they are properly called that is such as deny God vtterly for so should I neuer haue done but to lay forth some part of the corruptions which dwell and abide in the hearts of such as goe for Christians that many of them who can beare out matters boldly here among men may see what villanie and treacherie they commit against God This is a little of a great deale of the dishonour which they offer to God And as this declareth what rebellion is in men vnder the crosse so how they behaue themselues towards him in the daies of their prosperitie experience teacheth and I could shew at large if the time would suffer me to declare it As for thankefulnes there is little or none in them I appeale to their owne consciences what doe their hearts yeeld to God the whole day thorough for his manifold mercies and if some doe yet is it done onely in words for a fashion onely and from the very teeth outward and yet many are ashamed euen at their table to doe that They reioyce in the merry world whilest they haue ease and plenty they looke for no other but wish it alwaies so yet what grace doe they desire the more although they haue their fill but are rather more headstrong and inordinate And if they aske ought of God it is to bestowe it on their lusts being made drunken with their pleasures so that they are louers of them more then louers of God and become insensible thereby and past all feeling If some be not thus hardened yet shall they be found to haue small desire to furnish their hearts with the best gifts when yet they see that he which hath giuen the one is as readie to giue the other also And as for the true worshipping of God how farre are the most from taking pleasure therein when yet one day bestowed in it is better then a thousand in any delights beside For superstition and blind deuotion carrie many to false worships affirming boldly that they cannot rest in that manner which God prescribes in his word that is to doe it in spirit and truth though God sendeth vs to the Scriptures to know his will and minde but the will-worship which they deuise to themselues and which they take vp by tradition as to represent God by an image and Christ by a Crucifixe that onely pleaseth them and their deuotion is frozen and cold except it be helped by such counterfeit delusions And many of them which imbrace the truth and retaine the right manner of worshipping God according to his word yet are content to be deceiued while they denie that which onely maketh the other well pleasing to God and sauourie to themselues that is to doe it with their heart and ioyfully without which God telleth them plainly that in vaine they worship him And as in their worshipping of him by the vse of religious exercises their harts take no delight euen so in his seruice throughout the course of their priuate conuersation how vaine prophane and dissolute are their hearts what pleasure is it to them to please him though it should be their meate drinke and pastime and how lightly are his iudgements passed ouer how fearefull soeuer they be so farre is it off that they can expell their hypocrisie and other sinnes Moreouer they haue no desire in peace to bee taught the true vse of it namely to haue peace with God and as much as in them lieth to be at peace with all men Rom. 12.18 no not in their owne houses which yet to be without is a little hell to them And as for the Lords Sabboth and other many good meanes appointed on the same to season and change their hearts they sensiblie loath them or finde no sauour in them neither is it any part of their thought to seeke any comfort in them although they be the chiefe flower of a true Christians garland or if some of them doe it is in superstitious deuotion wishing that religion vp againe whereby God is dishonoured highlie but as their fathers before them did euen so doe they passe through the world as shadowes their mindes looking no higher so that though they were made to honour yet they not vnderstanding it are like the beasts that perish These may serue for a taste of the corruptions and worldly lusts which men not worse accounted of doe swarme with directly tending to the dishonour of God from which with the rest that follow when wee shall see how God deliuereth his beloued we shall haue cause to loue the godly life more heartily which is by Gods grace freed from such intemperancie freed I say so that it ruleth them not neither reigneth in them although sometimes in some thing it preuaile against them till they repent of it which grace none of the other doe finde nor obtaine when they be at the best But to goe forward to acquaint men with some of the vnbridled and worldly lusts which carrie them after the hurt of their neighbour what vnreuerence contempt and obstinacie appeareth to be in the hearts of many against their betters diminishing that authoritie credit and estimation which God hath giuen them so that place yeeres and gifts are had in meane account of them Where is that ancient reuerence which younger men in the Ministerie haue giuen to those who haue gone before them in labours gifts and good example they imagining themselues able to doe farre better then their elders and therfore ambitiously aspiring to that which they ought not and lifting vp themselues aboue them when yet they should haue learned to honour and submit themselues to those of low degree What vnthankfulnes in the people to them which labour for their
contempt seeing the minde is euer busie and seldome vnoccupied I answere that the persons are as I haue said sinners as others be but sanctified and weake but willing to be better and that their thoughts are according to the diuers growths and ages of Gods children which are three The highest degree is olde age or the experienced estate which yet is not the perfect age in Christ for that shall not befall vs vntill the life to come but a firme constant and setled going forward vnto that perfection The second is the middle age in christianitie in which as young men in wrastling we haue courage against our sinfull lustes but yet like vnto them we haue many foiles and are oftentimes cooled in our courage though we sometime preuaile And in this estate we are very fitly compared to the graine of mustard seede after that it is shot vp and hath a blade and stalke till it come to haue boughes and branches to shelter the fowles of the ayre so in this we are euer growing though slowlie and this degree of christianitie is betwixt olde age and infancie The third is childhood or infancie the lowest and the last the which is principallie discerned by an earnest desire of the sincere milke of the worde and namely of the promise of the forgiuenes of sinnes which although some of these deare children of God cannot with full assurance lay holde of yet this their hungring desire after it which cannot be satisfied without it with a sensible feare to offend God is a true signe thereof And this is the lowest degree of true beleeuers which estate is at first weake in respect of the other two as it is in the naturall bodie for in the young babe it is first weake and after groweth to greater strength as it groweth in yeares yea and this is an excellent estate in respect of the counterfeit which haue most neere resemblance of it in whom may be seene some flitting motions after good things but in time they vanish and goe away as they came These degrees of the spirituall birth being thus described which by the Scriptures may easilie be discerned I will now shew about what things the thoughts of these three are chiefelie occupied or desire at least to haue them occupied though they doe not euer attaine to that which they desire And to begin with the first some of Gods elect through long experience and much acquaintance with the practise of a godlie life haue obtained grace to guide them more constantlie then others whereby they so serue God that they may please him with a reuerent awe of his maiestie which holdeth them within bounds and in holie and religious feare of offending him while the other often breake out more easilie And this estate though it be to be aimed at of all godlie people yet it is not obtained but of such as haue accustomed their mindes to the heauenlie course and to whom good meditations and thoughts to shunne and auoide euill are become a pleasure and as well to be able to discerne the same by their vnderstanding and iudgement as to haue their will in good sort at commaundement to follow the good and shunne the euill Such as Saint Iohn calleth fathers in his epistle saying I write vnto you fathers because they had knowne the Lord and his manner of dealing with his people and had experience of the discipline and gouernement of his house in a godly life a long time Now such as haue been trained vp in the obedience which the Scripture teacheth from their youth are able vpon their so long triall of Gods directing them in that course not onely to goe forward cheerefullie and readilie themselues but also to perswade and hearten on others And such therefore thorough this grace receiued at Gods bountifull hands are much freed from this bondage and seldome so grosselie holden vnder of their corrupt lustes as others sauing that God will make them see their weakenes from time to time especiallie to subdue pride in them which is soone kindled in them and to holde them vnder they haue therefore their mindes vsuallie set vpon some one or other of the infinite heauenlie instructions which from time to time they haue treasured vp in their hearts both out of the Scriptures and the fountaines of other holy men whereby although they are not quickened as they would and desire to be yet they are held from much euill The particulars of Gods vnutterable kindnes of mans mortalitie the momentanie estate of all things vnder the sunne the blessed estate of the elect the endles woe of the damned c. who can recken They haue much time taken vp in the beholding and meditating of Gods maiestie as they can conceiue of him his power his wisdome his euerlasting being of his iudgements and how he is prouoked of his patience and long suffering towards the world his dailie pulling of them from their pleasures who thought they should neuer be taken from them and their owne estate and seuerall parts of their liues much occupie them how they may keepe in their way For it is the wisdome of the prudent to vnderstand their way Also how they may hold out constantlie the profession of their hope with ioy vnto the ende how they may resist all occasions of euill for they presume not without dailie helpe from God for all their strength they consider what lets they shall finde from Sathan the world and their owne hearts how they may order well their particular actions in and through the day in their callings giuing to all men their due that they may prosper and also that they may make a good account at the ende of the day and so at their last ende They who haue these and the seuerall particularities vnder all these contained to occupie their mindes about is it doubted what thoughts desires and occupying of their heads and hearts they haue to keepe them that they may neither be idle nor vnprofitable The thought they take daily vnlesse they be much blinded is in the greatest part this how they may haue a good conscience in all things pleasing God and how they may be prepared for the crosse and to keepe the same minde vnder it that being exercised therein oft and much they may reape the fruite of righteousnesse euen most sweete peace and as their saluation groweth neerer then when they first beleeued so they may be fitter and readier to meete the Lord their latter daies being farre better than their former to be merie whilest they thinke he hath blessed them and neuer at ease nor to thinke themselues well but while they are vnder his gouernement Haue suâ—â— no other things to doe but that with the scumme and ofscourings of the world they must aske how to spend the long sommers day and the wearisome winter nights Although others who are prophane haue not yet with these
and carnall and that we doe but fauour our selues in worldlines or profanenes idlenes and ease when we reason against it as being too precise The publike duties are the reuerent assemblies of Christians in the preaching of the word in prayer and administring of the sacraments on that day especially to be vsed howsoeuer on other dayes by occasions oft intermitted All of them are most blessed helps for the establishing of vs in an holy life Of the priuate some doe particularly concerne our selues alone some are as well for the benefit of others as for our owne comfort for our selues we are to meditate on the works of God vpon his wonderfull workes which he hath done for the sonnes of men that so we may feele his goodnes many waies and from the sweetnes which we perceiue in the creatures we may be lifted vp to behold the beautie and fauour of the creatour We are also to thinke of the doctrine which we haue heard that it may the easilier be imprinted in vs. And on this day we are more freely to consider of our estate how we proceede in the religious keeping of our couenant with God and how we grow in the assurance of Gods mercie and our redemption or whether we goe not backe or stand not at a stay And euery way as our neede shall most require we are to vse our examinings of our selues meditations and thanksgiuings on this day not only for our present comfort but for our more fruitfull walking all the weeke following Conference of good things tendeth as well to the edifying of others as our selues Beside the which there are other duties to be don to them as to do the workes of mercie to them as well in visiting them in their sickenes releeuing their necessities breaking off their disagreements and reconciling them who were at variance as in spirituall comfortings of them as God doth inable vs. And these al laid together are as a continuall direction for the holy vse of the Sabboth to vs euen as the daily direction which I shall adde afterwards is to serue a Christian daily as long as he shall liue for the profitable and heauenly spending of the Sabboth is the market of the soule in the which he who is wise will prouide and store himselfe for all the other dayes of the weeke wherein it is like he shall haue little helpe but much discouragment as in the world may be seene And this holy passing of the Sabboth must be religiously regarded of al the Christian family as the charge giuen to the gouernor thereof doth shew and of the stranger also who shall come vnder his roofe This is the sum of the holines which we are to shew towards God he that desireth to heare more fully of this matter which I may not handle at large let him reade such treatises as are written of that argument CHAP. 16. Of certaine duties to men in the fift sixt and seuenth commaundement the obeying whereof is a part of the godly life NOw followeth another branch of the second part of this godly or Christian life requiring of vs righteous dealing towards all men Where by the way this is to be carefully regarded that seeing there is an apparant distinction and difference betwixt those forenamed duties of holines to God and these of righteousnes to men which shal follow and yet both alike commaunded therefore that no man disioyne in his practise or separate the one from the other seeing the Lord hath set them downe ioyntly together I speake this because there are many who delighting in hearing the word preached and prayer and reading which are duties directly appertaining to God yet are very negligent in performing that which is due to men as in doing workes of charitie to the poore liuing peaceably and comfortably in mariage or in shunning hastie iudging of their brethren and in being dutifull to superiours as magistrates parents maisters when yet they commaund in the Lord and so contrarily some shall be found doing many things commendable to men and no religion in them towards God Which thing if it be of ignorance is a shamefull blemish in them who are guiltie of it seeing they haue had so long a time graunted them of God in which they might haue learned better but if after it bee knowne it remaine still it plainely testifieth that there is in them a wilfull disobedience against God and that the best of their workes are in vaine And before I enter into the particular duties of righteousnes to all sortes of men it is here as in the fittest place to be taught which cannot be afterward so conueniently added That we haue this minde in vs that we beare loue towards all men euen our greatest enemies from which ground and roote of loue we may be readie to performe all the duties which we shall know to belong to them from vs required particularly in the commaundements following And secondly that we ioyne with it an other generall vertue which is brotherly kindnes to Christians which are brethren with vs which is an holy and especiall loue of one faithfull brother towards another And these two are those which Saint Peter speaketh of when he saith ioyne with brotherly kindnes loue where this vertue is they haue learned to giue euery one of the faithfull their brethren according to the knowledge wherewith God hath inlightened them the seuerall duties required in the second table A rare and singular gift of God which if we could see the practise of it what light of good example it giueth and what profit it would inflame vs wonderfully to the practising of it Now follow the seuerall parts of righteousnes to men as they are distinctly set downe in the sixe commaundements following to be performed of Christians and which helpe to make vp the second part of a godly life In all which although there are many more particular duties to be mentioned then were in the former part because we haue so many dealings and that with infinit persons yet I will set them downe with the like breuitie as neere as I can that I haue done the duties of holines to God leauing the reader to learne the other as I haue said before by other ordinarie meanes And first the dutie which men owe as they are inferiors to others and the superiors to them againe come here to be considered both generally and one particularly towards another Where this is required of all inferiours that they so carry themselues in their whole course to them which by Gods appointment are aboue them or excell them that they may shew in their whole course that they honour them for so the will of God is not to require any one especiall action or dutie of them but that their whole conuersation be such towards them that the person which they take vpon them and the place wherein they are may haue more credit and estimation
to reape no fruite of it or being in suit of law wil lend his money to his aduersary to hold plea against him But such men are amongst vs I say not who take much paine to come to eternall life and yet are well inough content to goe without it For being louers of pleasures more then louers of God they knowe that they cannot haue it but as though the diuell were not strong enough to accuse and inchaunt them they doe negligently yea willingly offer him aduantage by keeping in a bad course though they know how to come out of it or grow worse and worse to their speedie confusion Or who is it which being warned out of his house yea and that in earnest manner will yet delay and neglect to seeke and prouide for himselfe till he be cast into the streete But concerning the matter which I deale in if mens prophane liues and slouthfulnes driuing off their repentance from day to day were but perpetuall beggery and going about all the dayes of their liues from doore to doore I would haue said nothing though it were pitifull to see any cast themselues into such misery but they sell themselues bondmen to hell without recouerie and are as stubble before the Lords wrath which is a fire to burne them and therefore it requireth more earnest calling vpon The Lord commended the vniust steward not for his particular act but because he had done wisely who when he had warning to be put out of his stewardship he prouided elsewhere to be receiued But such warning will not preuaile nor such wisdome fasten vpon these men vntill as they haue liued in pleasure and libertie of the flesh they die in sorrow and vtter bondage and so receiuing a iust recompence of their liues they finde though too late how true this is which I say And if this be the estate of many who yet doe commonly resort to heare Gods word who wil reade at home yea and haue praiers in their houses for this I am sure many of our countrie do whose case yet because I know I doe heartily bewaile for that the Christian life is not for all this aimed at almost in many of their actions good Lord what shall the estate of others be who come as farre behinde them as they doe behinde the best of Gods seruants euen those others I say who being the greatest part of the people are not troubled with any thought of God or diuell heauen or hell throughout the weeke but hauing their heads filled and their time continually taken vp in matters of the world and in hearing and telling newes and tales yet many of them nothing concerning themselues and leauing their callings doe busie themselues with other mens matters needlesly and spend many dayes in the weeke in idlenes prating vaine games and pastimes and cannot finde one houre in it to bethinke themselues of any account giuing to their heauenly Lord and maister though to that very end they are set here that once yet at last they might begin to returne vnto him But I haue taried longer about this matter then I meant Therefore leauing them who trouble not themselues greatly with godly exercises I will returne to such who are in profession and in shew farre before them and yet because they doe not hartily and faithfully seeke to be bettered I meane to be setled in a Christian life doe therefore reape no good by the meanes which they vse But some perhaps may thinke some hardnes in this speech and may obiect thus doe wee not therefore repaire to the word and vse good meanes to the end we may become faithfull and vpright and get good by them and haue not they who haue most profited in godlines attained vnto it hereby why then doe ye affirme they say and that to the discouragement of many that if our hearts be not reformed the meanes doe vs no good I answere that it is farre from my meaning to raise the least discouragement to any in whom if I knew but the smallest desire to be reconciled to God I would be most readie to cherish and to strengthen the same and he that exerciseth himselfe in reading hearing prayer God perswade him ten fold more if he desire to profit thereby neither doe I doubt but that such shall see in time to their great comfort that it is not in vaine to waite patiently on the Lord for a blessing vpon his own ordinance But this I say when men either thinke that they doe as much as they neede while they ioyne themselues to the exercises of religion and rest contented therein and see not that they are enemies to God vnder his curse and without faith and therfore without God in the world and see not their wants and emptines of grace how they are fraught with many sinnes vncontrolled and strong rebellions not restrained let not such looke to glorie in their meanes vsing their reioycing is not good their estate is wofull and that in no meane degree They may be said vnto as they of Laodicea were in the Reuelation by the holy Ghost Thou saist thou art rich and needest nothing and knowest not that thou art miserable and blinde and poore and naked I counsell thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire and eye-salue And marueile not that I haue said that such whose hearts are not purged by faith receiue no profit by the exercises of religion as might further be shewed by many more examples of Capernaum Corazin and Bethsaida For euen the deare children of God when they waxe wanton against the Lord and grow slouthfull in performing their duties to God or doe them in a sleighter manner then they sometime had done as he punisheth their transgressions other waies so doth hee this one way chastise them that they shall feele no sweetnes nor finde no sauour in the best things they shall doe or exercises of religion which they shall goe about And this it is that we heare many euen good people complaine of that they cannot profit at a Sermon their hearts are rouing elsewhere all the time almost of prayer reading is irkesome to them and they withdraw themselues euen from good companie All which with meditating about their estate were wont to bee the things wherein they tooke greatest delight and comfort what is the cause thinke wee that they are now become so contrarily minded Surely this they haue waxen wearie of their reuerent attending vpon God as all good things doth the flesh soone turne into wearines and begin after the manner of men with whom they liue to seeke their vnlawful libertie some way not being circumspect enough about y e keeping of the best things in price and estimation and when the Lord seeth this hee taketh from them the priuiledges which they enioyed before he dimmeth the light of their mindes that they see not so cleerely and shutteth vp their hearts that they
acquainted with it For answere to all let such vnderstand and know that this Christian life is not to be peeced vp with some good actions in the which we may rest neither consisteth of good intents and in chopping and changing our course from good to euill and contrarily but it is the same which I haue said euen the keeping of our hearts sincere and vpright and vnfainedly bent to walke with the Lord after all his commaundements throughout our whole course according to our knowledge and that in such wise and with such delight that he who hath experience of it would not change it for any other for why it yeeldeth an hundreth fold for one in all carnall liberties or delights which we forsake And that it must be thus with the people of God and may possibly be also that of the Prophet doth plainely declare that the man which may reioyce and speake of his estate with comfort indeede is he which doth not by fittes and at some odde times lift vp his heart to God but who doth so loue his law that he meditateth in the same all the day long as he himselfe did meaning this that his thoughts should leade him to God from time to time and when they are occupied about euill or ranging in the world vnprofitabile and amisse that he should by and by without dallying or delay call them backe againe And what thinke we doth he meane in another place when not speaking particularly of himselfe but generally of all which are the Lords he saith The blessed man doth exercise himselfe day and night in this that he may please God as his word directeth him and haue peace thereby with him and so may testifie that God is his treasure because his heart and loue is set vpon his commaundements He doth not meane that we who will be happie must be occupied in prayer hearing or reading onely both day and night neither yet doth he meane that in some pange or when we thinke good we should be occupied thus and well affected and haue our liues well framed but this he meaneth that he who is godly and happie indeede indeuoureth to this that his minde may delight in and be possessed of good matters or rightly vsing lawfull or carefully resisting those which are sinfull And it is the same which the Apostle ment when he said our conuersation is in heauen though we are on earth teaching therein himselfe and all other Christians that their whole course so farre as mans frailtie would permit and how farre it may permit let this treatise out of Gods word testifie ought to be a setled and constant carrying of themselues as I said before throughout their liues in such sort as they might shew and approue themselues to be men of God If we desire to see examples of these things the Scripture setteth out many vnto vs and namely the life of our father Enoch that in his time which soone after the creation of the world was corrupted he did yet walke with the Lord as if it should say he did so liue in the world amongst men that he had yet through his life an heauenly and most happie communion with God Abraham though he be not exempted from infirmities yet from the first time of his calling vnto his death what a rare paterne did he set before the eyes of men in his example of a man consecrated to God and not earthly minded For wheresoeuer he came he set vp an altar vnto the Lord declaring thereby that no change of place time or companie could withholde him from following the Lord but as the first left countrie and kindred at his commaundement when he knew not as yet whither he should goe or what should become of him So when he had leasure after to returne yet he refused because he sought a better countrie namely heauenly witnessing still more and more that his obedience was sound and faithfull by looking to another inheritance vntill an hundred yeares were fully complete in an holy course And of Iob how cleerely doth the holy Ghost witnes this whereof I speake In somuch that he not onely withdrew himselfe and departed from the corrupt examples of the people of his time but also had a particular regard of the actions of his life both towards God and men For proofe whereof his strong faith with patience prayers and sacrifices doe testifie the one his iust dealing with all men and mercifulnes to the poore with rare wisedome in gouerning his owne family and in carrying himselfe toward all doe shew most cleerely the other All which were not at times but vsually and ordinarily performed and through his course of life looked vnto and continued And yet another thing I must needes adde as I am perswaded very admirable that he did vse to acquaint himselfe in the middest of his prosperitie with the looking for a change and did learne in his greatest abundance to want and being in so high a place yet he was not puffed vp because he considered how fleeting and momentany all things were and that his prosperitie was lent him onely for a short time and was not a patrimonie or inheritance to him for euer So that when he was afterward tried with losse of all which was exceeding much it might appeere that he was but little moued with it because he had loued it but a little when he did inioy it The which gratious man thus vsing the world as hath been said holding all so strangerlike while he had it and so willingly foregoing it when God would require it how could he doe it without a diligent looking to his wayes and the directing of the thoughts of his heart in a very particular manner and that in and about worldly goods in which case men thinke no bounds should be prescribed them As for Moses although it was a rare grace when he was of full and ripe yeares to refuse to be maintained as the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and to inioy the pleasures of sinne for a season yet it is more marueilous how in example he went before the rest in the things which God required and shining daily more and more as the Sunne till the noone tide not weary of his seruice as many are but liking better of it the longer experience he had of it so that there was no good being elsewhere to him and so accomplished eightie yeares in that righteous and holy course As for Dauids practise besides the Lords commendation of him that he was a man after his owne minde so that we may see more particularly how he passed his time that one place of his Psalmes doth cleerely shew where he saith This is the course of my life after the which I frame my selfe as the blessed of the Lord also doe with my whole heart I seeke thee O Lord as thy word teacheth me the which so farre as I haue
exercise vs sinne or trouble neither were it profitable for vs to the end we may be euer in combate Though we doe a good thing yet if it be not in knowledge it is sinne Ioh. 13.17 No good thing abideth long with vs in his strength and beautie without new quickning yea quailing and deadnes sometime groweth vpon vs what meanes soeuer we vse We cannot rest in any estate how prosperous soeuer except we see the Lord goe with vs to guide vs. We should not suffer our selues to be carried from the best things whatsoeuer weightie dealings or matters be in hand and hauing been imployed in Gods businesse in liuing fruitfully and cheerefully among men we should be loath now to faint and chaunge our course When wee feele any wearines in a godly course by what occasion soeuer it be the diuell hath met with vs. Complaine therefore and relent wee for our vnkindnes and wandring from God and he will be found and returne right soone Hos 4.3 Cant. 3.3 It is well prooued that faith and godlines are the vpholders of our ioy and peace Rom. 5.1.6 and 2. Cor. 1.12 and that they make an hard estate easie and a prosperous fruitfull 2. Cor. 6.10 Act. 9.31 Among many reasons to moue vs to goe vnder afflictions meekly these are two Thinke that God will exercise and frame vs for hard times Lam. 3.27 and perhaps an end of our daies is at hand Matth. 24.39 God is not only the same to vs in afflictions that he hath been but will be felt more sweete when the world becommeth more bitter That seeking of ease profit or pleasure ought to be restrained which holdeth from seeking the common good of others We may obserue that when our Christian state is at the best it is no better then it had neede to be but when wee consider how many waies wee might decline we may thanke God it is no worse Hardly is a good Christian brought to giue ouer many vaine liberties some hee will but not others but after his excursions from God hee hath much adoe to returne into a good course againe This causeth much vncheerefulnes in the life and till we cleaue to him with delight to serue him it will neuer be otherwise A great difference there is betwixt the continuall obseruing and viewing of our life from day to day and the doing of it by fits now and then in the one we are safe cheerefull and fruitfull in the other rash offensiue and after vnquiet for it walking in feare and with little comfort If thou wilt finde Christ sweete thou must euer finde sinne sowre If thou wouldest forgoe thy riches willingly and readily vse and enioy them soberly and moderatly set little by them and lose little It is to be feared that many professing the Gospell with some liking doe onely generally aime at godlines and therefore they haue many vnsetlings and rangings out but they doe not particularly looke to themselues therefore they gather not experience nor finde any great fruit of it Feare euer to offend God and thou needest feare no other perill as ill tidings Psal 112.7 Exod. 20.20 for he keepeth thee Psal 32.7 and 91.11 It is strange that we hauing no good part in our life but through the well framing of our hearts yet that wee should thinke it much to keepe them in compasse Prou. 4.23 They who can neglect and set meanely by a little vaine glorie and credit with men may gaine and enioy much peace with God A man by Gods spirit shall doe a thing well which another without it shall doe very ill Iosh 6.4 compared with 1. Sam. 4.4 Looke not to tie God to thee in thy neede who regardest not him in thy ease 1. Sam. 4.5 They are rare men who are not led by their passions into extremities seeing they are rare who so looke to themselues that they may keepe from extremities 1. Sam. 4.5.6 Many at their death hold that they ought to be godly but is it not good at one time which is at another He is a rare person who is in fauour with God when he afflicteth Psal 2. vers 12. and he oft afflicteth because wee should beleeue that he will deliuer vs. It is follie yea madnes to be heauie to death for any earthly thing when yet a man desires nothing more then life All our life ought to be a prouiding for a good end and a keeping away of woe by sinne which few will doe for they will not lose an inch of their libertie and yet but for this what were the life of Gods people When the Scripture telleth vs of the happinesse of the Church as Psalm 89.11 and 87.3 we may thinke we come short very much when we esteeme not our estate better then the best of the world If wee would euer through the day be at peace with God and know wee are pardoned wee must be euer readie to remoue our sinnes which raise a controuersie betwixt vs. We would willingly please our selues in some vnlawfull liberties when we haue pleased God in some duties But a wise man will keepe well while he is well and not trouble himselfe with an ill conscience when God doth not trouble him with hard afflictions seeing it is written Hebr. 3.12 and 1. Cor. 10.31 whether we eate we see many fall fearefully and offend but few returne againe therefore it is to be feared that many perish or at least are in great daunger The more grace we perceiue in any man and constancie and the more he is like to God the better we ought to loue him as Christ did Iohn and contrariwise Ioh. 13.23 Psal 15.4 This is a worthie thing when in feare of or by great afflictions our innocencie and repentance is so sound that wee haue bold confidence to claime Gods promise of helpe in the time of neede and are vpholden by it from the strength of feare till wee see an issue as Israel did in feare reade 1. Sam. 7.8.10.11 Where there is wilfulnes in sinning there is great difficultie in relenting as also no power nor boldnes in beleeuing As for such as count it more then needeth to seeke and to make chiefe reckoning of godlines let them learne what these Scriptures meane are they not for vse Psalm 87.3 and 84.11.12 One day in thy house O God is better then a thousand elsewhere And Psalm 4.8 Trie out therefore the truth of them When we become to the highest degree of seruing God with much trauaile yet wee abide hardly and a short time therein at least much vnprofitablenes and barrennes will meete with vs againe after euen by meanes of our corrupt hearts which being so we neede not thinke that we be too forward when we be at the best Many beginning well in godlines haue fainted and quailed or been iustly reproched before their end that others may the more feare their owne weaknes When pettie troubles arise in families and other waies we should stay our selues thus These are small
daily direction The end of the third treatise THE FOVRTH TREATISE DIRECTING THE BELEEVER VNTO A DAILY PRACTISE OF THE Christian life CHAP. 1. Of the summe order and parts of this treatise NOw that I haue shewed who is a true beleeuer and next described the godly life in the second part of this booke and haue set downe last of all the helps and meanes by which a Christian groweth in the same it might seeme that any seruant of God hauing these three before him should neede no other direction to helpe to the practising of this godly life but might easily doe the same And so should I thinke hauing been once of that minde but that I haue perceiued by diligent marking and experience that it is seldome seene and hardly found so Generally I confesse it is obtained but particularly it is with them as with the surgion who hauing learned what is a good medicine for a daungerous sore can lay it to but hauing not particular skill how to prepare the sore how to diet the partie and when and how to apply the medicine doth long keepe him at one stay or sometime better sometime worse but healeth him not neither doth by degrees bring it to any good estate so the Christian who hath onely some knowledge how and by what meanes he must growe in godlines and resist the diuell and ouercome his sinne shall finde it hard and awke in particulars and on one day as well as another to doe it with peace except hee haue full resolution as well as knowledge and skill how to vse and apply the meanes euery day to the diligent obseruing of his wayes both at home and abroade that he may haue the testimonie of a good conscience and reioycing thereby And this is it which I meane in this treatise to acquaint the reader with namely that the godly life which is to be continued by the many helps before set downe is neither left to men sometime to be practised and at other times may be neglected nor generally which is far off from Gods meaning and will but particularly in al their actions and euery day and throughout the day to bee looked vnto and regarded This is my meaning and that which I ayme at in this present treatise which is thought of many to be too strict a tying of men to dutie who are so giuen to seeke carnall libertie and it is counted strange that they should be holden within bounds euery day and hower who are not wont to call themselues to any great account through the whole weeke or more who if they be reprooued neuer so iustly once in a yeere for it is to be feared that few reproofes are vsed to such a point the world is come they count them nice and too holie which rebuke them they are so little vsed to it Will they not thinke we straine hard to cast off this yoke of watching and obseruing their liues and as they shall see cause to finde fault with themselues throughout euery day I haue had experience how hardly such haue been able to heare a kinde and friendly rebuke for foolish iesting swearing vnseemely talking c. but they haue counted it precisenes there is no doubt but they will impatiently beare it to haue their whole bad course controuled and brought within compasse It is out of question therefore I say that both such as I haue here spoken of and many better then they and which haue the Christian life in more reuerence then many such hauing giuen themselues much libertie in their liues will thinke it strange that euery day care should be had ouer their hearts and waies But why thinke they so but for that partly through ignorance and securitie and partly through custome in both they haue long bin estranged and held backe from it and so are vnacquainted with it Also they see few examples to leade them to it Among whom yet God be blessed there are some yea numbers I am well assured who if they knew better would imbrace it Such therefore as are readie to cast any mists of fleshly obiections before the eyes of the simple and most of all to put out their owne light that thereby they may be hindred from seeing the pathway of this christian direction to the end they may not walke in it I exhort to heare me patiently To whom as to all other who shall regard it I offer a cleerer knowledge of the will of God which hath long been smothered by the bold contempt of some and a safer way to their owne happines then is commonly found of the most Christians that is that as I said they must euery day looke to their waies and liues and settle themselues constantly therein and not think they doe well till they doe so but hold it for a great offence to God and a bold tempting of him howsoeuer they offer him some manner of seruice and therefore shall pay deare for it when they dare let any one day in the weeke passe by them without good regard had of pleasing God This was the principall end of my writing euen to helpe to bring the Christian life into practise and consequently into price and estimation with professors yea with some good persons and people more then it is For though in word many professe themselues followers of Christ and that they ought so to doe yet with their deedes they denie him and the power of godlines also And likewise though the Christian life be in some account with others yet it commeth to passe that it is not in chiefest reckoning with them aboue other things without the which it is neuer practised to any purpose Which is one great cause why both many weake Christians are not better then they be and why the bad and vnreformed persons please themselues in their ignorance and loose estate and make so slow haste as they doe to amend and be changed For they see in many hot professors that there is no euen and constant course kept in the practise of godlines one time as wel as another and in one thing as in another Generally we say all as I set downe before wee must liue godly but in particular the godly life is seldome and hardly found euen amongst those who say so And as for any certaine time when this should be practised as no time should be free from some part of it though wee affirme that it should be so to the end of our life it is so little considered that it is most cleere that sundrie euen good men do shine but dimmely are too often times yea and too grossely out of the way And as there are many which doe not honour God by a good conuersation as they know they might if they would bend themselues to it for this point of wisedome is easie to him that would vnderstand Pro. 8.9 so a great number who gladly would cannot tell how to goe about it For many
shall turne to the swifter damnation of them which doe it Men may say I denie not that it is hard to haue that rule ouer their hearts but it will not serue them to the reiecting of the truth which God hath brought to light to them and made manifest to their consciences but that they must for all that grant that it is a dutie to be yeelded vnto of them and therefore to bee set vpon and gone about rather then resisted assuring themselues that an honest endeuour shall not be in vaine And if we see this in common reason that a man which hath a long iourney to trauaile as an hundred or two hundred miles will not count this sufficient directiō to go on Eastward or Westward as his way shal lie or by a generall rule only but will take a particular note by what townes he must goe euery day and how hee must passe from one to another what marueile should it be that they who are to trauaile this great and long voyage to the kingdome of heauen yea and that through this large and wearisome wildernes of the world doe not reckon their way generally by the yeere but particularly by euery day and through the day consider the diuers kindes of dutie which they are to performe as a part of the way by which they should goe that at night they may reioyce that they are so much neerer their iourneys end and that in safetie and quiet then they were in the morning at their setting foorth and haue not with the greatest part lost their labour by going out of their way Euen as Moses teacheth vs by his owne example in the Psalme where hee saith Teach vs O Lord to number our daies that is to consider the shortnes of our life by the daies of it that we may applie our hearts to wisedome that is in those few daies thereof And as the Steward of some Noble mans house doth not make a generall reckoning and account of much money laid out but writeth the particulars daily and hourely as he giueth out and receiueth that hee may not bee deceiued so and much more as the Christian life is more precious then all earthly treasure doth the wise man looke daily to his waies and through the day that his account may the lesse trouble him at his lying downe and consequently at the day of his death Yea and more then that so will hee euen set downe many parts of his life in writing also such as are principally to be kept in record as Gods benefits and his owne sinnes as he is able and all to helpe him to be better directed in it To the same purpose of daily looking to our waies our Christian life is compared to a course or race that as they which runne keepe their bounds and course and goe not aside out of the way so should they who runne in the Christian race looke before them and see that they keepe in their way and not runne on vncertainly or wandring they know not where whither nor how by peruerting their waies It is also compared to an high way in the which if we guide and keep our beast although it be loden it commeth safely to the market with the cariage or burden but if we suffer it to goe out of the plaine way into cartrakes and to climbe vp to the browes and rough waies it is cast and wearied so if we keepe in the knowne and beaten way we goe on our Christian course safely although with some difficultie and with many incombrances but if wee peruert our way and goe out of it by and by we fall into daunger we know not how great as by wofull experience many fearing God haue found it with them who then wished they had been circumspect when it is too late So it is compared to a rule to guide vs that as well in our talke with other as alone by our selues in our earthly busines as our spirituall seruice of God in our affaires abroad as well as our dealings at home and in one thing as well as another we should haue certaine direction for euery part of it And the very same thing did the faithfull seruant of God S. Paul teach Timothie his beloued and naturall sonne in the faith by his owne example when he said Thou hast knowne my course and manner of liuing c. as if hee should say what hath been my daily carriage of my selfe for else hee could not haue spoken so and particularly that it hath been beautified with faith loue patience in great afflictions and persecutions with gentlenes to all and long suffering and bearing much at the hands of vnworthie persons thou hast knowne also my minde and purpose what I haue desired yet further The same is to be said of other faithfull seruants of God as Enoch walked with God Noah was a iust and vpright man and walked with God And Moses was faithfull in the house of God Which speeches vttered of the holie people of God in those times wherein things were set downe more darkly what can they testifie of them lesse then this which I say So that it is manifest both by the doctrine of the word of God and also by the examples thereof that not onely there ought to be a generall guiding of Gods people by the word but also a particular trying of their waies therby and a framing of them thereto and that this ought to be as a trade to be followed in one point as in another according to the knowledge of euerie one and therefore to be made an ordinarie course of them euery day to seeke to haue direction in all things CHAP. 6. Of the fift reason sixe seuen and eight FVrthermore if a certaine direction daily to guide vs doth best keep vs well when we be wel and when we step aside or wander out of the way by any occasion if this be fittest to bring vs easily to consideration of our selues and hold vs from going further from God if I say it be the best and fittest estate thus to order well and settle our liues in comparison of any other then who doubteth but that it is chiefly to be laboured for and looked after and holden as most necessarie But that it is so who can denie who will say but that he which resolueth with himselfe euerie morning to looke to his waies all the daie following and to keepe a good conscience towards God and men and for that purpose setteth himselfe to follow such speciall and particular rules as by the which this may be best effected shall in farre better sort performe this bringing the daie to a good end then they who though they be in Christ also yet are not so prepared and well furnished I meane such as haue onely a minde to doe well in generall but doe not particularly set themselues to obserue their waies but as it falleth out which is the
time or other of the day to be thought or spoken of thinke not this to be my meaning in saying we must haue them euery day for so we might possibly be litle the better for them as if once in a day a man should pray giue thankes looke to his waies to his peace c. a man might do all these the like and yet not of necessitie well guided for all that through the day but this I meane that this holy furniture should cloath and beautifie our soules throughout the day and haue their setled abode in vs and not ebbe and flow as the tide doth nor go and come as passengers that tary not but home-dwellers as for example that our peace should not be broken off by any occasion our watching should not cease we should keepe our selues from euill the whole day and so likewise be ready to one duty or other and we should cherish our weake faith from time to time retaining minds thankfull and walking in the strength of our prayers though we be not euer vttering and expressing in words either prayers or thankes So that our hearts may be well seasoned with these as the chiefe things which we should regard and looke after and yet neglecting no needefull worke that must be done but doing it much the better by meanes of these and so the froth of our owne braines as endlesse and needlesse wandrings vaine cogitations and foolish and noisome desires shall be much restrained and allayed in vs. This is it all wise men do know that most troubleth vs and of the which we be euery day in greatest daunger I meane the loosenes and disorderednesse of our hearts for they as they be neuer vnoccupied but prone to euill a thousand waies so if they be not bridled holden vnder and suppressed they are so soone fixed vpon some obiect that commeth in the way that they carie vs headlong after it we being then impotent for the time and vnable to resist when we haue let them loose and giuen them scope And from thence arise I speake of the better sort of vs great heauinesse and vnquietnesse to see such chaunges wrought in vs and this is the best that commeth thereof vntill we recouer our selues againe if a worse thing follow not that we fall not into some further vnsetlednesse and distemperature which will cause no small annoyance Now what is a like remedie against this and all other baites of this deceitfull world which the diuell layeth in our way as to haue our hearts daily fenced thus with watch and ward against them as I haue said to hold such sinne execrable alwaies to keepe in loue with pietie and goodnesse to retaine hope and confidence that God will make vs strong against them to liue in his fauour still that we may want nothing that is good and to enioy most sweet and sound peace to comfort vs so to our liking that we may not neede to hast greatly or gape after such allurements which are no better then deadly poyson What I say is like this precious remedie to keepe vs in safetie euery day Which God hath therefore giuen vs that we may be preserued from infinite fearefull dangers which are in this world and that we may also liue with much comfort yea he that giueth his heart to the Lord that it may be taught all these rules of the daily directing of a Christian can tell how true this is and what reward is found and enioyed daily of such as take delight in them But many Christians who beare a good affection to the Gospell and generally meane well yet will not particularly trouble themselues as they count it to be brought in their whole course within a narrower compasse and to a more neare acquaintance with the Lord yea when they heare that it is to become by but would faine beare themselues in hand that they are well inough when yet they are oft constrained to feare yea and to feele the contrarie for what do they find but much wearinesse and griefe checkes and accusations yea and are sometime also noted of others to be but cold and barraine professors when they haue followed so much and so farre the deuises and desires of their owne hearts And besides this how much detract they from the beautie and excellencie of the godly life and what iniurie offer they vnto it when they are able no further to commend it then as they find for as they find so they will speake of it whereas it cannot sufficiently be esteemed and accounted of neither can the seruants of God who haue experience of the benefite of it satisfie themselues in setting out the excellencie thereof I deny not but there are many who for want of knowledge do not see that which sundrie others of their brethren do and yet are faithfull in that which they know but they rest not satisfied with their present estate but long much to see the will of God more clearely and desire feruently to attaine to greater measure of grace And to all such I know how welcome it will be to haue more cleare direction then as yet they haue found and such I would haue know that for their causes I was perswaded to vtter that which God hath reuealed to me so farre as concerneth them But as for such as like so of their present estate that they hast not to be acquainted with any better seeing there is euer in Gods children a desire to grow and a longing to be better whatsoeuer they thinke of it and how highly soeuer they account of themselues in it they shall go forward euery one his way till they be as blind as the moule as deafe as the adder as dumbe as he that openeth not his mouth and as vnprofitable as the salt that hath lost the sauour and is good for nothing but to be troden vnder foote and cast vpon the dunghill Neither let the people of God count this any burthen to be thus directed but it is their flesh and corrupt wisedome which burdeneth them whereto they are not debters And what do I perswade vnto but the vse of and continuance in that holy condition which euery true beleeuer hath tasted of and had his part in but that many such through ignorance and vnacquaintednesse with it haue not attained vnto stedfast continuance in it But to return a litle to the other ô people to be lamented and euer pitied that they being borne to great honour euen here in this life should forgo it so contentedly and suffer others to enioy it whom I require to heare me saying vnto them that if they were wise and well aduised though they might liue as their heart desireth here and should neuer be called to their account for the same yet they would flie from a licencious life being but a sweet poison and would chuse to spend one day godly euen for the fruite and pleasantnesse of it
more then needeth to be tied to any such thing and to perswade themselues that they may with some few duties doing please God as well as they who spend their whole life in searching out infinite points of Gods will to practise the same and they count that an easie way to heauen in comparison of the other which they thinke long and tedious But let such vnderstand that they are not fit to make their vse of it They must be other maner of persons whom I speake to or go about to perswade for they who will weigh things aduisedly shall consent I doubt not to that which I say and shall see further the daunger of these men who content themselues to stand at a stay rather then to be led still forward in a fruitfull and holy course and so being much idle and vnprofitable imagine and conclude by and by that it can be no otherwise with men whiles they here on earth be absent from God and so likewise that the christian life is not such or so pleasant as the Scripture euery where affirmeth it to be which is nothing else then to charge it with falshood and lies but many of Gods deare seruants do know it and find by experience that this Christian life hath no match abounding in delights yea and those most sound permanent and vnspeakeable To returne therefore to them whom God in mercy hath called to assurance of their saluation for they by such direction as I speake of shall see the Christian life more easie by many degrees then euer they found it whiles they walked after no certaine direction before such I say both poore and rich Minister and people one and another may learne and that euery day through their life how to keepe company how to be solitarie how to be occupied in their labours how to cease from them how to rise and how to lye downe and how to bestow the other times of the day not discouraged at night though they did not all duties which in one day cannot be but quiet and chearfull seeing they did those which by good direction they saw most necessary For they shall be taught by it to keepe a certaine proportion and agreement in their actions that as one sauoreth of Religion and a godly mind so may the other also and as they speake and heare the word well so they may haue their thoughts good also their harts purged from whence both these do come and as in their prayers to be holily affected so in their husbandry houswifery feasting iourneying buying eating and other dealing that so euery part of the day in the diuerse actions of it may haue the proper due thereof which if it may be obtained is not meanly to be accounted of if we consider how many thousands neuer tast of this dainty through the yeare which we may inioy euery day yea and for the want of it haue a wofull and a deceiueable passing of the time and for the most part wearisome and tedious Besides we may by the benefit of it so be occupied in our earthly and common businesse as from the same we may come readily and willingly to heauenly exercises whereas the most come vntowardly and also in the same businesse we may haue our minds heauenly and therefore our actions which are done thereby to be there after And whereas many euen of good hope are wont to complaine and say that longer then they be in praying reading or such like exercises they cannot keepe in any well ordered course any long time in the day together but are distracted like others of the world which vse neither reading nor prayer yet we by the helpe which God giueth vs hereby when we necessarily intermit them and cease from them for a time being occupied in our calling or other profitable duties we I say may hold a good and well ordered course in our other actions and businesse in and through the day notwithstanding And more then this when we can bring our hearts to looke carefully to this as to our haruest we shall get such a distast in euill in respect of that which we had sometime that we shall haue great liberty to forsake and contemne it And here for the better incouragement of the reader to looke more carefully into this matter and not to be dismayed by the strangenesse and vnaccustomednesse of the thing to the which I perswade I will faithfully report vnto him the speech of sundry Christians long taught and of the best sort of such as had profited by the preaching of the Gospell as farre as I could iudge in those parts When they first heard of any forme of daily directing them whereby men are taught to be euery day kept in the same holy compasse that they should be any day some conceiued it not at the first hearing seeing they had not bene acquainted with it secondly some smiled at it as thinking it impossible to be brought into practise thirdly some confessed that their hearts did rise against it as perceiuing that it was a certaine rebuking in great part of their former liues which was a thing vnwelcome to flesh But it appeared to be a fault in all three sorts by this that they did afterward correct themselues For when they saw further into it and weighed the benefit of it more deeply they were of another iudgement and sayd as a fourth sort did say when it came first to their hands that they did highly approue of it and that it ought to be so and that for want of such helpe and direction they had bene much confounded and troubled in their course and that they would haue thought themselues happy if they could possibly haue attained to the practise of it wishing that they had bene acquainted with it long before For they saw in perusing the parts of this daily direction which I haue here set downe that their hearts and liues should be freed from many incumberances hereby wherewith they were before annoyed and that they should serue God and liue with men much more chearfully then they did before And this is the summe of their first speech which diuerse honest and well disposed Christians vsed which I report for the further incouraging and perswading of the Reader to a more free and willing receiuing of this course which I offer and set before him After this they were aduised and exhorted to go about the practising of it according to the seuerall points thereof after the right and cleare vnderstanding and due considering of it and to shew faithfully how they felt it to helpe them forward in well passing the day more then when they walked without it in the world and which points of it they found hard to be obserued and how they were letted or what liberty they found more by it in the gouerning of their liues then when they looked not after it Thus they were counselled to make triall of it by the moneth and so
daily CHAP. 12. Of the declaration of the first dutie of awaking with God AND of the first three parts of this treatise thus much Now for the better vnderstanding of the nine last mentioned duties and more cleare insight into them especially for the helpe of them which cannot so easily gather so large a matter out of so few wordes I will more fully open euery branch thereof one after another And whereas I teach Christians in this place first when they awake to be with God and to accustome their thoughts to be holy I meane indeed so much that so soone as they awake they should be taken vp about heauenly things for where their treasure is there should also their hearts be as to thinke of Gods kindnesse and loue towards them and that they abide still in his fauour as at any time before the remembrance whereof at our first breaking off our sleepe what can be like sweet and comfortable euen as a prisoner condemned but to temporall death doth on the contrarie at his awaking out of sleepe fall into most dreadfull thoughts and feare They are also to thinke how they haue bene refreshed by their rest and kept from the manifold dangers of the night c. by the which many haue miscaried And all these and such like meditations should salute them when they first awake to this end to reuiue that foundnesse of heart wherwith they lay downe the night before if they lay downe as became them and also that no roote of bitternesse breake out of them to staine their actions at their first entring into the day which were very like to be if it should not be preuented and held out by some such gracious thoughts Also by this meanes they prouide well for the better keeping their liues in frame all the day after without the which regard had in purpose to performe it assoone and as well as they can they are so ready to range and go astray one way or other that although they did lye downe the night before in peace and with quiet and meeke hearts yet the diuell as we know it well watching his oportunitie they may easily be vnsetled and so runne into sundrie euils which cannot be auoided All which being considered who doth not see how great a meane this kind of awaking with God is and how worthily it may be reckoned for one of our duties to indeuour to take vp some time thus when sleepe departeth Neither let any obiect that this is more then poore Christians can attaine to for all such would faine attaine to that grace if they were taught how and directed the Lord hauing framed and fitted them for it euen by this that he hath made them Christians and therewithall hath giuen them hearts which are willing thereunto but yet euery man in his measure and as he hath receiued of God which giueth to no man nigardly who seeketh heartily And if this satisfie not some who desire to begin the day aright after their first perfit shaking off of sleepe and awaking let such for their better direction breake their minds to those who through longer experience are better exercised in the wayes of the Lord then themselues Onely this caueat and watch-word I giue that if through barrennesse in good things thou art not able to set thine heart a worke when sleepe is gone from thee to fasten vpon somewhat that is profitable to thy soule or to thy companion if thou hast any with thee arise if it be conuenient if not and that thou feelest thy heart to be caried vnto prophanenesse or to cause thy mouth to sinne any way checke thy selfe rebuke thine heart and so take occasion euen by thy euill to do good And remember him who at his first awakings in the morning did thus giue vnto the Lord the first fruits of the day as I haue taught thee to do as in the Psalme where he saith O Lord thou wilt heare my voyce early in the morning Early in the morning will I direct my words vnto thee and will looke vp and in the Prouerbes Wisdome shall commune with thee when thou wakest and guide thee when thou walkest The words of the Psalme although they be not to be vnderstood only of the time of our first awaking yet they include that time as well as any other in the day but that place of Salomon doth plainely shew that it ought to be as vsuall and ordinary to set our hearts on worke about some holy and heauenly things when we first awake as it should be to looke to be guided by Gods word all the day through And there is no doubt but if this Scripture and such like were beleeued and well weighed directly tending to this end to teach Christians to take vp their hearts in holy cogitations and heauenly desires before the diuell hath poysoned them and euilly imployed them and further if they would be willing to see this first letting loose their hearts to sundry sinnes as iesting vaine laughter light and loose talke iarring contention depth of worldlinesse and such like to be one chiefe cause of an vnprofitable yea an offensiue life in the day afterwards it should be farre better with them then it is I meane if they would thus do they should find much more ease in seruing of God and fruite therein and comfort thereby both in the morning and all the day after whereas I see with mine eyes heare it with mine eares that many passe the day very vnbeseeming Christians who haue long sought the Lord though only in a generall manner indeed and others see that it is not with them so well as both it might and they themselues know it should be who do perhaps some one time in the day now and then go to prayer but otherwise they haue litle regard of many their actions yet their prayers which they make are not for the most part powred out to God till their heads and harts both are so filled and fraught with the world and other matters that they haue made themselues in a maner vnfit to pray And as for such as say they haue other matters to thinke on as soone as they be awake and they cannot bestow their time after that manner it may please them to know that as for the time if their heart were ready and did know how to do this duty it might very sufficiently and well-nigh be performed in so much time for a need as the Lords prayer distinctly vttered might be sayd ouer in For in such a space might a Christian lift vp his heart to God and salute him with an holy remembring of his fatherly kindnesse and namely for present preseruation in soule and body and confirme himselfe in his former sound-hartednesse which if he did no more were a true and right awaking with God and the onely right way to thinke of other things as they ought Therefore with thine heart thus seasoned if it
may be addresse thy selfe to be ready to any duties which thou hast to do and be strongly perswaded and confident that God who loueth thee so dearly as in thy prayer thou beleeuedst and in thy thanksgiuing thou didst acknowledge that he I say will be with thee to guard thee from all aduersary power of Sathan and his instruments which might rise vp against thee and by the comfort of his holy spirit keepe thee from euill for he which hath all power in his hand looketh downe from heauen and beholdeth all the earth to shew himselfe strong with them which are of an vpright heart towards him and therefore be incouraged thereby with confidence to set vpon any duty and to withstand any euill And further remember that thou art armed by God with all furniture meet for the seruant of God with faith to beleeue all Gods promises with hope to be kept from fainting with righteousnesse to performe all duty with sincerity to do it with a single heart with knowledge of the word of God to direct thee aright and with the preparation of the Gospell of peace to be shod against troubles and dangers in thy voyage to Gods kingdome Remember all these and that thou hast not the right vse of these except thou beest setled against the discouragements which might stand vp in thy way And therefore be chearfull and of good courage although there are many things which may one time or other put thee to trouble and many occasions of vnquietnesse and vnsetlednesse may arise which also would otherwise vndoubtedly soreshake thee Thus before thou goest about any thing it is requisite for thee to renew thy faith that thou mayest rest freshly on God for his protection throughout the day and waite to see it so and obserue that thou mayst be guided by him and make thy heart mery in him considering that he is more to thee then all the world beside And this for the declaration and further laying open of this first duty as with any conuenience it may be done to teach vs how to awake with God CHAP. 13. Of the declaration of the second duty of beginning the day with prayer NOw when thy heart shall after thy first shaking off thy sleepe be lifted vp to thy God set thy selfe to the next part of thy duty prayer confession of sins and thanksgiuing in solemne maner vpon thy knees casting off and renouncing such foolish and fruitlesse thoughts and fantasies as were wont and still may hold thee from this duty and set vpon it as soone as thou canst conueniently yea if it may so be let it be the first worke that thou shalt take in hand in the morning season except in time of sicknesse when thou keepest thy bed and then ioyne it with the former rule and make of both one and pray shortly when paine giueth thee no further libertie but yet feruently and more often But if it cannot be thy first worke yet let not thy deferring of it be a breaking it off if thou mayst performe it neither let a light occasion cause thee to deferre it for such shall neuer be wanting especially thine owne vnwillingnes or slouth but when for some especiall and weightie cause thou doest deferre it returne if it may be after thy necessarie businesse ended to the performing of it therwith renew thy couenant of amendment of life And to expresse my meaning about this more plainely remember and acknowledge the kindnesse of thy God in benefits daily and hourely receiued both to soule and bodie and sometime particularly that so thou mayst be more nearly knit vnto him and delight in him For daily and oft thankfulnesse to God is of great force to subdue thee vnto God and to maintaine a thankfull heart in thee all the day following And let another part of this morning worship of God adioyned to this be an hearty recording and viewing of thy sinnes a bewailing and confessing of them to God and accusing of thy selfe with an especiall remorse for those which haue most troubled thee and be humbled vnder the burthen of them that so thou mayest see thy selfe a wretched person and infinitely indebted to God and so withhold thy heart from insolencie and securitie and be broken-hearted that thou mayst the better abide so after And with both these send vp loud cries vnto the Lord through Iesus Christ confidently looking for pardon of them that thus thou mayst find the death of Christ daily fresh sweete and sauorie to thee which the most do make too common and vnsauorie And pray also in faith for grace and power to mortifie thy sinne and to direct thy wayes and for all earthly blessings and by thine owne necessities be moued with compassion towards thy brethren euen the whole company of the militant Church who haue the like need of Gods blessing as thou hast and withall that those which are yet without and strangers from the common-wealth of Israel may be brought home that thus thou mayst both testifie thy loue to them and daily remember and consider how thy selfe and all other do depend vpon him for whatsoeuer is good and necessarie And to helpe forward this dutie the better some meditation or musing vpon such things as may asswage the bitternesse and corruption of the heart and season it with grace were a thing most requisite as euerie one may be brought to it As for example sometime of our mortalitie of the vncertaintie and slipperie estate of all things vnder the Sunne of the change of persons times estates of the glorie of the kingdome of heauen sometime of our saluation to make it more sure of the duties we are to do in the day and how we may keepe our selues from the defilements and sinnes which we are in danger to fall into of the occasions by which we are most like to be led to euill and of the helpes and meanes with the sundrie priuiledges of a Christian which we haue to withdraw vs from the same and sometime of any particular branch of any of these and the corruptions of the heart and of the Christian armour of some of these or of the like matters let meditation be raised before prayer be entred into if it may be And because meditation is much out of vse euen among Christians and therefore it will be found the harder matter to go about and take it in hand I haue therefore set downe some meditations of all sorts both briefly and in larger manner to helpe those which without helpe cannot draw matter from their owne experience to meditate vpon as I haue before set downe a short Treatise about the same that through the helpe of both they may want nothing about this dutie and Christian exercise so that their hearts be framed and fitted thereto This part of Gods worship namely prayer confession of sinne thanksgiuing and meditation being conscionably and carefully vsed and gone about before
for no such labour doth God approoue of But contrariwise we must so play the good husbands that we become not worldlings and such as find more sweetnesse and pleasure in our earthly dealings and the comming in of our profites then in our heauenly trafficke through the practise of Christianitie we must so follow our owne businesse and shunne medling in other mens matters vnnecessarily that we be not shut vp in our owne without regard of our brethren or care for their matters when cause shal require for that were great vnkindnesse and want of charitie towards them ioyned with too much selfe loue toward our selues To be short we must so vse the world as though we vsed it not not lifting vp our hearts when we prosper nor casting them downe with deadly sorrow when we sustaine losses and discommodities but so carie our selues throughout that we may be patternes and examples to other of right vsing the world for so hath the Lord appointed men to liue in and vse their vocations And this kind of walking in them is highly pleasing and acceptable to him For they who thus set vpon common actions and worldly businesse are not caried after their owne earthly minds as men of the world but set the Lord before them and looke what he will haue done they bridle their desires which would else carie them after them So Moses was faithfull in all Gods house and Iosua in his place and Iob who had much to do in matters of profite and commoditie yet was a rare patterne to all men of vsing the world aright euen earthly things with an heauenly mind that they may haue the more to accuse them and that iustly who will not in farre meaner affaires take him for their example This regard must be had of all Christians and of all sorts both of rich and poore one and another in their earthly dealings though it be a lesson most hardly learned that whiles we auoide slouth and idlenesse on the one side yet walking in our callings we be not worldly minded on the other side that it may come to passe that our calling being one part of Christian obedience and dutie to God may not onely for the time while we are occupied in it witnesse well to vs that we please him but also make vs more fit to other christian duties after and that we seeing this maner of passing our time to be enioyned of God who hath promised blessing thereto and seeth what is good for euery one and considering duly with our selues the infinite fruite that commeth thereof we may more willingly and of conscience betake our selues thereunto that so we may find in this faithfull walking in our calling a peaceable course of liuing here which may bring happines with it in the end The necessitie and benefite of this in a Christian few do sufficiently know or consider For all are naturally giuen to seeke libertie amisse and stolne waters as it is in the Prouerbe are sweet and many who zealously professe a godly life not painefully following some lawfull calling doe by wofull practise proue this to be true and so shall find much sorrow in their dayes which others shall be free from Now to the end we may thus chearefully go about them as knowing that God alloweth such workes of ours and so thereby be disposed more readily to other parts of dutie which we see to be no common thing in the world first this must be considered that it is the Lord that setteth vs in our callings and hath promised to be with vs and to giue vs good successe in them and to helpe vs beare all tediousnesse therein and further that he hath willed vs to do all such duties for his sake in such manner as if we did them vnto him and from him to looke for a reward Now what true Christian is there who if he beleeue this is not encouraged to do his businesse readily and willingly who would not be glad to do any thing which might please God and whose heart should not be ioyfull to go about the Lords worke whereby tediousnesse vnquietnesse and manifold vnsetlings are remoued And so should we not grow out of frame but haue our minds readily prepared to other duties And most sure it is that mens callings and labours are so burthensome vnto them euen for this cause that they do not thinke thus of them Neither are such chearefull at their worke but onely for the gaine that moueth thē or for that they must needs being so vnwillingly corruptly occupied in them neither are they fit for any good thing or dutie after The Minister who is consecrated by the Lord euen to diuine studies and passings of his time and hath it enioyned him for his calling that he attend daily to reading priuately and to doctrine and exhortation publikely how hardly obtaineth he it of himselfe as heauenly and sweet a calling as it is to abide and hold out therein yea and how few do it I speake euen of such as haue receiued good gifts of God not of the worser sorts onely but trifle out their precious time as other do As though it were litle to be regarded which is written He that winneth soules is wise and they that haue instructed others shall shine as the starres Dan. 12.3 And therefore of others whose calling is not to be occupied through the day in that heauenly maner how were it to be looked for if they should not of conscience tye themselues thereto and walke chearefully and faithfully therein But when men shall know and may be bold to remember and consider that they are appointed by God to bestow the most part of the time in their callings though they be not meerly spirituall actions to the end that they may with better appetite returne to exercises of religion againe after and that they haue a promise of blessing therein with what peace may they be occupied in them and ouercome that tediousnesse and wearisomenesse which would otherwise cleaue vnto them Thus I could wish that Christian men tooke their callings to be in such sort enioyned them of God that they neither durst neglect them nor yet find them burdensome and wearisome to them but that they could wisely see how when and why to intermit them that is to say for necessarie and profitable causes and considerations as for the ministerie of the word the visiting of friends moderate lawfull and necessarie refreshings of themselues and in good sort to returne to them againe more fitly Furthermore we shall not be vnsetled by the workes of our callings nor wearisomely cast them off when we shall be able to see that we haue practise of most duties in Christianitie therein as diligence obedience faith patience truth c. and thereby learne experience that God who hath giuen vs wisedome chearefulnesse patience and the rest heretofore to beare the burthen of them contentedly and willingly when in the prayer
commodities of this life and thereby to haue our loue weakened towards the Creator For this is not christian wisedome though it be the wisedome of the world to increase our loue toward the things of the world but by all meanes possible to diminish it and so the lesse to set by them Againe whereas another vse of our solitarinesse is that we should bend our minds to holy and heauenly things when we are alone this is a speciall caution herein that we do not for all our oft recourse to this duty goe about them with the lesse reuerence whether we go to prayer or set our selues to reading or enter into any meditation The which admonition I know to be very needfull for that I see many to set lesse by and lightlier to esteeme the most holy exercises of piety euen for the cōmonnesse of thē who yet when they first inioyed them could neuer sufficiently commend esteeme or haue their full of them For as our Sauiour Christ saith of Iohn Baptist Iohn was a burning light and for a season ye delighted in him and as the Galatians ran well for a time but were letted so I may say of this that diuerse for a while take pleasure in the vse of priuate helpes to godlinesse but they are soone broken off their hote zeale is quickly cooled And this if they were well rooted in the beginning is for that they do not daily nourish the estimation and loue of them nor see daily the necessitie of them but many dayes suffer them to be omitted which they would not do if they did not begin to be glutted with them Therefore resolue thy selfe of this that thou hast daily neede of such holy exercises and to haue some time in the day by thy selfe alone to call thine affections home from wandring in the world and to haue thy secret and sweet talke betwixt God and thy soule that thou mayest therby vnburthen thy selfe of the loade of worldly cares and desires which by too earnest dealings haue growne vpon thee And what day doth passe wherein thou hast not as great neede as thou hast had vpon any other of meditating vpon Gods vnchangeable loue to thee of the continuall and daily benefite of Christs death to heale the sore of thy soule through sinne what day goeth ouer thy head in which thou hast not neede to confesse thy sinnes to see them better and to bethinke thy selfe how thou mightest grow more constant in godlinesse Another thing to be taken heede of here is that thou thinke not ouer-wel of thy selfe for that thou shalt do somewhat more in the seruice of God then others and for that cause looke to be borne with in some of thy faultes We are herein too like Peter though in other parts of godly feruencie we come short in following him that whiles we looke to one thing what grace wee haue receiued we halfe triumph before the victorie litle or nothing marking how many good things we are without whē yet the Apostle ceasseth not in his owne example to teach vs that we should forget the things which are behind vs that we should not be fleshed and made any thing the more slow and carelesse by them but we should looke to the things which are before vs and which yet remaine to be done of vs and be caried to the marke euen to the reward of our heauenly calling Phil. 3.14 Finally for the vse of solitarinesse in renouncing things vnlawfull thou art to beware if at any time when thou art alone thou entrest into the consideration of the manifold sinnes which raigne in the world and some of thē such as do sometime much snare and take hold of thee that thou be not secretly allured and drawne to like of some of them whiles thou goest about to refraine and waine thy selfe from them by musing on them For the diuell can chaunge himselfe into an Angell of light and cause that to seeme the greatest pleasure vnto thee which is rancke poyson nay which is more when thou goest about to disgrace it to thy selfe euen then to bee brought to like and be snared with it And as Saint Paule hath giuen charge to Timothy and in him to all true ministers of the Gospell that when they should execute this one part of their ministerie namely to exhort young women which was a good thing they should beware they mixed it not with euill by vnchast thoughts arising in their hearts and therefore he saith Exhort the younger women with all purenesse and chast mindes so I say in thy solitarie musings of thy sinnes which is also a good thing let the like regard be had that is to say that whiles thou intendest to grow further out of loue with them the diuell tickle thee not with new desire of them or some other For thou art blind through thine owne selfe-loue and corruption but especially when the diuell goeth about any such matter he will blindfold thee more strongly that thou shalt see that which liketh thee in sinne but not that which will slea thee and the strength of thine affections being set on fire by a deepe impression of that which they like will more forcibly hale thee forward then a bare weake desire to auoide the sinne shall be able to hold thee backe And if thou beleeuest not this thou hast I dare warrant thee found it so alreadie and howsoeuer thou thinkest that thou hatest sin thou shalt be drawne vnto it againe vntill thou perceiuest that thou art wounded vnlesse which is worse thou be hardened To this end remember how Iuda going foorth about a lawfull and honest thing namely to see his sheepeshearers intending no euill yet because he went not armed he defiled himselfe by the way with an harlot To the like end many more examples may be brought And hereof it is to illustrate that which I say by an instance or example that sometime such as haue liued in malice with their aduersarie do vpon better consideration purpose to agree with him and pray that they may no longer beare hatred but euen then a thing worthie to be marked the manifold iniuries vnkindnesses and indignities are so amplified by the diuell which their corrupt heart also liketh full well to aggrauate that they rather depart after their prayer with triumphing ouer their aduersarie then ouer their sinne and being strongly incensed against him they be very slaues to their sinne So haue many Christians of good hope oft times by themselues reasoned debated in their harts how they haue bene haled and drawne to vncleane desires till they haue bene checked for their sinne misliked it and accused themselues for it c. and yet at the same time so couertly Satan worketh or at the least soone after haue either set forward and reuiued such vnruly desires or which is worse haue nourished them and so runne further So I may say of all other iniquities that which I
in the day come seeing thou hast appointed them to be especiall helpes for my weaknesse labouring that my heart may be affected with them and strength obtained thereby from Christ Iesus my head to go forward in my seuerall duties Let me in all these and other actions this day hold fast my confidence in thee that thou hast a fatherly care ouer me both in turning my afflictions which it shall please thee to send to my great good and granting me many sweete blessings for my further incouragement that when I shall be perswaded that they are both from thee of a fatherly cōpassion and tender care I may greatly be vpholden and comforted And whatsoeuer I shall haue to deale in with any man though I be not in presence with him let me euer giue that which is due to him as farre as I see it to appertaine to me especially in the commodities of this life that none may haue any iust cause to complaine of any iniurie done by me neither may I haue any wound of conscience at any time for such gaine or substance and the rather for that I am giuen too much to looke after mine owne right and with this let mercy and compassion be ioyned that I may as thou hast inabled me glad the hearts of such thy poore seruants as whose necessities it most appertaineth to me to relieue And so long as in thy fatherly wisedome thou hast purposed to grant me health and prosperitie let me vse and inioy the same with much thankfulnesse and soberly humbly and meekly cary my selfe in that estate not thinking my selfe any thing better then such as want it let me not disdaine others nor my selfe be drowned in idlenesse sensualitie and sortish ease but let me be so much the more profitable in euerie good worke whiles thou giuest me so many helpes thereto then in afflictions I could be that so I may serue thy maiestie with a sound mind and bodie so farre as thou shalt see it expedient And yet not promising to my selfe continuance of peace and prosperitie but to looke for my chaunge to learne to be abased and to want and contentedly thankfully and patiently to take vp that crosse which thou shalt allot vnto me receiuing much comfort in the triall of my faith by thy chastizing of me and for that I know that in great mercie and loue thou doest it And good Lord keepe from me heauie iudgements which are aboue my strength and when thou freest me from manie troubles let me in no wise trouble my selfe with an euill conscience And because I am occupied about many things in the day and therefore am more readie through the Diuels malice and vigilancie who seeketh all occasions against me to be vnsetled and brought out of frame graunt most louing Father that I may at such times remember how I ought to haue a stayed mind and constant euer counting one thing to be necessarie in the middest of all my businesse dealings and varietie of actions and that is that I may highly prize thy word that so I may do thy will seeing I haue then most need of this grace of faithfulnesse and care when the danger is greatest And yet if I should be ouertaken with any forgetfulnesse and vnawares be preuented by Sathan slipping into any securitie rashnesse earthlinesse of mind or such like blind-folding of me that I should be thereby vnsetled and this my course of holy walking be broken off yet good Lord leaue me not ouer-long in that danger graunt me to espie my fall and offence whatsoeuer it be and not to hide it in any wise but speedily to acknowledge it that I may obtaine mercie for it at thy hands so may returne to thee againe because I haue sufficiētly seene and tried that it is no liuing but worse then death to haue thee at any time against me Lastly I most humbly beseech thee that I may so warily cary my selfe throughout this day in all that I go about that I may not be vnwilling to view my doings and what hath bene done amisse at euening and reuerently looke backe and examine how I haue spent it and that by these rules whereby I haue prayed to be directed and that I may be willing to see where I haue failed that I may the better know what badnes doth still remaine in me that so I may haue iust occasion to humble my selfe and confesse my sinne to thee and may make an end of all breaches not lying downe in any of them vnrepented Let me count this no burthen nor toile to do it as the most of the world do who thereby prouide so many after-reckonings for themselues that they cannot answer one among a thousand of them And by all my weaknesses neglects of dutie and out-strayings let me not be discouraged to leaue off this daily looking to my waies but to increase my care rather And wherein so euer I shall see and find that I haue obtained grace in any good sort to be guided by the direction which thy word setteth before me there I may be ioyfull and thankfull that thou makest any part of my dutie easie to me which I know to haue bene farre otherwise And thus let me haue good proofe that in all the cariage of my selfe and in euery part of my life I am a stranger on earth as my forefathers were and lie downe in peace at night euen as this morning through thy goodnesse I appeare before thy Maiestie And for the nourishing and preseruing of this Christian libertie in me and that I may walke after this direction carefully let my prayers be oft as I may be able to offer them and earnestly continued this day and watchfulnesse adioyned thereto as thou hast taught me that although this manner of liuing be not regarded in the world yet I hauing obtained of thy Maiestie to make it my delight and knowing the incredible gaine that commeth by it I may be resolute and throughly perswaded to make it my practise not onely this day but euerie day hereafter wheresoeuer I shall become or in what estate and condition soeuer I shall be That by the faithfull continuance of this Christian course I may see my profiting daily in the denying of my selfe and litle esteeming of this world and so haue good testimonie that I liue by faith and that when I shall be gray-headed and waxe old I may haue mine old age blessed vnto me and not full of tediousnesse and wearinesse idlenesse and vnprofitablenesse waywardnesse frowardnesse and such like annoyances whiles I acquaint my selfe now with the renouncing and forsaking my will in these and such like that thus my latter dayes may be better then my former And for the obtaining of grace to the practising of all duties this day arme me with the armour of a Christian that my particular actions may by the helpe thereof be well ordered that by the armour of faith I may be
flesh in this mortall body I liue by faith in the sonne of God who hath loued me and giuen himselfe for me By the which words it is manifest that in his owne person he sheweth how the faithfull being vnited to Christ by faith do thereby draw and as it were sucke spirituall grace from him daily whereby they liue that is to say leade a spirituall life or rather Christ liueth in them Now therefore if the iustification of Gods people and the holinesse which they shew foorth in their liues do arise from hence that they beleeue God hath promised them strength to waite for saluation and to liue well then it must needs follow that faith failing mens strength to the doing of any good thing vtterly faileth also And therefore if we be perswaded after we haue once receiued grace to beleeue that we are thereby well inough though we labour not to grow daily and to hold fast thereby the hope of forgiuenesse of our sinnes and of other grace how grossely doth the Diuell bewitch vs By what meanes soeuer he do it whether by keeping vs ignorant of this truth or otherwise busieth and occupieth vs in the world that we thinke not of it nor at all looke after it or whether we be holden from it any other way all as one And although this is a thing with which men of the world are not acquainted yet they who haue learned to know what the excellencie of beleeuing is and haue felt any power of it working in them they are to know that they can neither liue comfortably nor do any thing well without it for without faith it is impossible to please God And as the people of Israell in that one part of their life daily rose vp perswaded that the wals of Iericho should fall after God had foretold it them and for proose thereof did euery day compasse them blowing trumpets of rammes hornes as they had beene commanded so in our longer conflict not with Iericho but with him who is called the Prince of the world this our faith is to lie downe with vs and to rise vp with vs and through the day to accompany vs. And nothing is more to be lamented then this that though it be rare and seldome found in the earth the Diuell holding men in vnbeliefe strongly as it were in bands yet it is not wanted or once missed and the godly themselues for the most part of them scarcely haue any great vse of it in respect of that which they might haue Neither is this point made so familiar and well knowne to manie Christians who yet haue a long time imbraced the Gospell euen with good liking though some of greater experience are better setled Neither do many of them grow to see that their life is a continuall and daily conflict with sinne and distrust neither are they acquainted with the subtile sleights of the Diuell how couertly he bringeth to passe that they forget they are purged from their sinnes and therefore led after other deceiptfull allurements in the world I speake it for that I see how hardly they can be holden in the daily strengthning and nourishing of their faith who yet haue truly though weakly tasted how sweete it is and Christ thereby through the preaching of the Gospell And no maruell if they cannot be brought as some others are and yet they but weake also to set their delight therein as in the best treasure And for that so few are to be found who hauing had comfort by it twenty or thirtie yeares agone when they first heard of it and receiued it or in later yeares as many it is not to be doubted haue also had for I dare not be so vncharitable as to iudge otherwise of them for that such I say who haue inioyed much comfort by it do not now nor haue since that inioyed the same stil what is the cause of it Is it any other then this that for sundry yeres past and now also they haue so sleight fruite of it that Sathan hath stolne away their hearts after the loue of present things euerie one his way and caused them to lose that high estimation of the Gospell which once they had of it though they still commend it they not wise inough in the meane while to obserue how they were deceiued blindfolded by him nor once to misse or cōplaine of their losse whiles they may liue at ease prosper on earth in the meane while And that it hath bin thus with many therfore also is so with others still hereby it hath appeared that at their death they recouered their decayed faith sundrie haue more deeply descended into thēselues then of late before they had done and haue called to remembrance the seasons in which they had reioyced through their faith in another maner then in their latter dayes much bewailing also the losse of so great a benefit as they by the decay of it had so long time sustained euē great liberty of mind to walke with God that boldnesse and freedom of good conscience which the wise man saith is a cōtinuall feast Such therfore as see what the diuell pulleth frō them by darkning and burying this sure trust cōfidence in God how it goeth from thē couertly as the Sun frō her line before they be aware if it be not wel looked to such I say must learne to put thēselues forth cōsider what strōg hold they haue they must sticke to it when they may say The Lord is my helper whom then shal I feare again I should vtterly haue fainted but that I beleeue verily c. Such must learne of Gods seruāts to waxe more bold with reuerence resolute and seeing as Dauid saith Our fathers trusting in thee were not confounded therfore to cry Though thou kill vs yet will we trust in thee And such must leaue that worldly wisdom whereby they thought it needlesse and foolish to nourish it in thēselues daily must become fooles in the estimatiō of men that they may be wise by the testimony of God to keepe their faith as they would their life that by oft recourse had to the Lords promises which faile not neither chāge prouoked therto by their daily infirmities and wants thinking oft much of thē and praying for grace to apply them to thēselues growing stronger by experiēce that thus they may clearly see Gods louing kindnesse daily to them and not at some one time only and that so they know themselues to be in continuall safetie thereby as their hearts desire which is to set the Lord alwaies before thē that they may not be shaken so shall they not be snared in Sathans bāds as otherwise they must needs be neither greatly fall I mean to their hurt although they be not free from tēptation These are the chiefe hinderāces of faith wherby the diuel troubleth Gods seruants holding
as appeareth by the parable of the talents deliuered to be occupied till it should be demanded how they were imployed and by that of the steward who was called to giue an account of his stewardship The account which shall then be demaunded shall be according to the doctrine which hath bene set downe in the foure remedies namely whether we haue not vsed them to the hurt and iniurying of others and how long and wherein And secondly whether we haue done good with thē as we in conscience haue seene our selues bound to do and as occasion hath bene offered Thirdly whether we haue not our selues yeelded to commit some noisome and fearefull sinnes for and by occasion of them which we should not otherwise haue bene bold to do And lastly whether we haue bene furthered by them to euerlasting life By this we see we may not deale and behaue our selues about these earthly commodities as we shall thinke good for we are but stewards and disposers of them as the owner our Lord and maister hath appointed Wherein as we haue failed we shall haue litle cause to reioyce considering that whatsoeuer we haue gotten and gained yet the worst is behind euen our account giuing which we shall not be able to yeeld no not one of a thousand And though I deny not but there is mercy with the Lord and plentifull redemption yet it is that he may be feared of vs for the time to come in occupying our goods and talents as he hath commaunded and it is also for them that tremble when in remembring and thinking how ill they haue vsed them they say penitently within themselues What haue we done But to the rest shall be tribulation and anguish when they not wisely casting their reckoning before shall be vrged to it by the Lord they being vtterly vnready for it In this regard therefore as in all the former we see good cause to withstand carefully this sinne of worldlinesse These are the remedies and reasons which perswade to giue a foile to this couetousnesse now heare the direction in few words how to vse them both For although we know them yet if they do but swimme in our braine and be talked of now and then they shall be so farre off from doing vs the good they may do that we shall the rather deceiue our selues with a false conceit of practising them when yet we remaine drowned in some grosse point of worldlinesse still Therfore it is necessarie that we nourish and retaine a mind willing to see and find out what is amisse in vs this way and then as the sins of this kind are most daungerous and many that therefore we force our selues from day to day to stoupe and submit our selues in an honest and good heart to vse these remedies and be perswaded by these reasons till we find ease by them through practise of them that is a ready mind to vse the world soberly and aright and desirous lest we should deceiue our selues through selfe-loue both to learne by the publicke ministerie and by our priuate reading as also by the helpe of any faithfull brother which can shew vs what blemish remaineth to annoy and hurt vs. Thus vsing both remedies and reasons from time to time for this must be no worke of a dayes or a yeares continuance with feruent prayer to God both to see and cast out such excrements we shall not need to doubt but that we shall be blessed in our worke And yet this I will adde because I know that the matter which I haue set downe for the redresse of couetousnesse will sauour but harshly in the tast of worldly minded Christians that I do not in all that I haue sayd speake or except against any libertie that God alloweth his people about the vse of the world for some will be ready so to gather For concerning skill and wisedome in mens trades dealings and occupyings I am so farre from counting them points or properties of couetousnesse that I hold them for comely ornaments if they be not choaked and ouer-growne with the weedes of their corruptions Yea I say more that ignorance and vnskilfulnesse if ye except the contrarie extremities subtilty and craftinesse is one of the greatest occasions of euill dealing among men Also I deny not but that forecasting and thrifty prouidence in a familie is both lawfull and meete and that no more be spent then for necessarie and comfortable vse to make prouision also of things needfull in the fittest time so as it be without fraudulent dealing in fore-hand bargaines also good husbandrie warinesse in their doings sure bindings of men in their contracts and couenants and sufficient securitie for mortalitie sake euen betwixt the best by writings or witnesse and a taking heed of suretiship as Salomon willeth that one be not vndone by another diligence also in mens callings with such other like religion and Gods word alloweth them all And all to this end that the more outward dangers a man can auoide the more free he may be to liue godly But seeing it falleth out commonly that the wisest are the worldliest and these fore-mentioned liberties are much abused of earthly minds and such do too easily passe their bounds and much nigardly nipping go vnder the cloake of frugalitie and honest sparing therefore these fore-mentioned liberties which being well vsed are also commendable vertues grow into ill report among the ignorant and vnstayed which otherwise are not reproachfull neither deserue any blame And this I haue spoken to meet with an obiection which might rise in the minds of some by occasion of that which went before And if this content them not they shew themselues iustly to be suspected of worse meaning then in their obiection they pretend As for them who say If they had riches they might ioynt their enemies and stand against them and do many other things which now they cannot for want of them it is not worth the answering For God doth not giue these his blessings to men to bestow them on their lusts but to profitable and necessarie vses And where men do not make that reckoning of them and learne not to be maisters ouer them rather then to be seruants and slaues to them what one among a thousand is the better but the worse for them And therefore to a reasonable man I would say What if we could in diet and apparell countenance and controling of others flourish and please our selues also in other iolity libertie and exercise what were we the better All men see that we may want these better then the pairing of our nailes and that we may please God better without them and that we shall not haue so many things to let and hinder vs if we be free from them We haue promise of sufficiencie if we desire to liue vnder his gouernemnt and without that cursed is all plentie But here an end of this matter
CHAP. 12. Of the third kind of generall lets whereby the beleeuer is hindered from foing forward in a godly course NOw followeth the third kind of generall lets which do much hinder a Christian from fruitfull and chearfull walking through his pilgrimage as becommeth him And to this I referre all the outward occasions whereby Sathan draweth vs to euill and by the which he stirreth vp most poysoned thoughts and affections in our hearts though the things themselues whereby he vnsetleth vs be not euill as by afflictions and chastisements by prosperity and abundance or variety of Gods blessings by family matters at home by our worldly yet lawfull dealings abroad by that which we see and heare by chaunge of our estate place acquaintance and other our affaires by the deepe securitie and bold sinning of others who feare no iudgement day by the hard handling of those which liue godly by such as are mightie and in authoritie who yet ought not to be terrors to to such as do well and to be short by other things innumerable yea to say the truth we go about nothing in the world how lawfull soeuer no not our prayers themselues and hearing of Sermons which are the holiest actions of our liues but from them all doth he take occasion to hurt and wound our soules as I will for the better instruction of the Reader in as few words as I can set downe and shew to rouse and stirre vp such as haue care to do well to become more vigilant against his sleights and snares when they shall better know them and be mory wary in all their wayes and that they may see that there are causes sufficient why they should daily be setled in a godly course when they haue so many occasions on euerie side to hinder them And to touch these in order First how iustly is this to be complained of almost vniuersally that for all the encouragements we haue to the patient and well bearing of our afflictions yet rare is the man who is not made worse and whose heart is not hardened against God by them rather then the person more meeke and humbly minded For if they be heauie and grieuous they do oft times raise bitternesse and impatience and if they continue long they will commonly worke a feare of Gods wrath for some sinnes although repented of yet comming a fresh into his remembrance The Lord hath taught vs in many parts of his word that his corrections are sent from him to all his beloued ones as from a most louing father and for their great good that they may not perish with the rest of the world but haue triall of their faith and patience thereby and so most sound ioy so farre is it off that he taketh pleasure in hard handling of vs but doth all for our good yet how many are so wise as to make these vses of their afflictions as God would haue them but contrarily are led by the diuell to impatience fretting frowardnesse and most painefull pensiuenesse all which do vexe them more by many degrees then the troubles themselues For this doth he often ring in their eares How can it be that he loueth you and yet afflicteth you thus Againe God hath taught them that he hath many waies to deliuer his and promised that their afflictions shall not be aboue their strength and also that he wil send a good end of them which being weighed were enough to vphold them but Sathan washeth away all such encouragements and carieth them headlong from resting vpon Gods word with peace and yet for all this his preuailing against them they see not themselues to be made his bondmen And thus it may easily be seene that the diuell doth vsually take occasion by the chastisements of Gods children to turne them aside from their stedfastnesse in a godly life neither can it be otherwise if they will not prepare themselues for them before they come that their vnruly passions may not breake out so impatiently against God as there is litle cause why they should when he telleth them that of very loue and faithfulnesse he afflicteth them This the diuell had experience of in the dayes of Iob when he said Lay thy hand vpon him and thou shalt see that he will curse thee to thy face and although he was deceiued in Iob yet he hauing had long triall of the nature of man spake the truth in the generall as hauing long proued how readily it is caried to vnquietnesse by occasion of the crosse He therefore who hath learned in prosperitie to want and be abased and to looke for a chaunge before it commeth that he may not in the same be chaunged from a godly mind he it is that shall be deliuered in the time of affliction from manifold disturbances yea although they be sore and great But if our troubles be many and grieuous as no man can warrant himselfe to be free from either it is to be knowne that all the priuiledges of Christians and their whole armour will be litle enough for the enabling of vs to stand safe and vpright in them and to keepe our hearts in the peaceable and faithfull seruing of God And otherwise our froward nature being sodainly prouoked by losses iniuries heauie tidings disappointings of our hope or other such molestations when we looked for no such things before will passe her bounds in a moment and carie vs into sundrie vnquietnesses And when we are vnsetled in such a manner we do easily fall into further degrees of impatience and fretting whatsoeuer we thought of our strength before And therefore our Sauiour said I haue giuen you many comfortable instructions that in me ye may haue peace when tribulation commeth And I haue not maruelled when I haue often heard that many vexations and bitter anguishes of mind haue possessed the liues of some Christians by reason of their crosses who hauing many commendable parts in them haue not for all that such wisedome to prouide for themselues better shelter against the time of neede God yet ministring such varietie of helpes to them to the end they might not be destitute These therefore if we enioy not the benefite of daily to make the heauenly life sweet and pleasant vnto vs in the middest of so many crosses as we meet with and namely hope which experience bringeth it can no otherwise be but that there shall arise many vnsetlings discouragements and vnchearefull times euen vnto them which haue receiued some good fruite by the Gospell so farre off shall it be from them to learne experience of Gods helpe in their need whereby they might hope for the like afterwards But to say somewhat of other occasions by which the diuell hindereth our proceeding in a godly life if we liue vnder abundance and outward blessings of God enioying health peace sufficiencie of all things for this life are we then free from daunger on his behalfe Nay
any thing about their businesse and dealings but they shall too easily shew and bewray how farre they be from hauing their conuersation in heauen while they are occupied here on the earth and that it being a thing so common to be vnsetled wounded and sore shaken by earthly dealings and commodities And another great cause there is of this sinne and that is a perswasion rooted in them that no man how godly soeuer he be can go about them with an heauenly mind and that a Christian is not tyed to measure and square out his earthly and domesticall affaires after the rules of Scripture but that euery man is to do herein as he seeth good that he can do such things of his owne head without helpe of the word of God Which opinion is so deeply setled in mens minds through sathans crafty beguiling of thē that the most euen of those who be of good hope are both at home and about their dealings in the world with wife seruant neighbour or straunger oftentimes more like bruite beastes or franticke persons then sober and religious Christians And it may be easily gathered that they tye all religion for the most part to the publike place that is to say to go to the church once in a weeke to do as others do there and to order other matters after their owne discretion So litle do such consider what the Apostle hath taught Whether we eate or drinke c. And againe Do these things as though ye did them not Now when men giue this libertie to themselues not to be directed by God in their most common dealings and when the diuell hath brought thē to this point who seeth not how euery thing which they are occupied about is made a let and a snare to them and becommeth a blocke in their way which they stumble at A man shall not speake to his wife but he breaketh into frowardnesse one neighbour contendeth falleth out with and raileth at another for a matter of nothing and one is vnquiet with seruants vexed at children yea cursing them that euer they were borne impatient and wayward at euery thing which goeth against him fretting if any man saue a penie by him though it be by good and lawfull dealing reioycing if he can pull ought to himselfe from any and infinite other such And this is the life of many yet who is wise to see and marke this but that the diuell may leade the most as it were blindfolded whither soeuer he will A wise man will therefore I hope better consider this and learne to disburden himselfe of multitudes of worldly dealings and businesse seeing they suffer not the mind to be free and to subdue his affections so as I haue before taught him that he may haue them ruled and vnder gouernment in one part of his life as well as in another and about family-matters as well as those which are most weightie Other remedies cannot be set downe but seeing this euill riseth from the heart which is stuffed with sundrie corruptions as distrust too great delight-taking in the world rashnesse desire of getting feare of losing c. that therefore it be carefully kept purged from these and that he be wel armed as I haue counselled before and particularly with that part of the armour which is requisite against this point of Sathans deceiuing him as righteousnes patience such like seeing he who is thus bewitched by him as hath now bene set downe highly dishonoureth God and reprocheth his profession but faith must banish distrust and hope must chase away doubtfulnesse and feare and he must know that whatsoeuer he wanteth of them and such like graces to suppresse the said noysomenesse of the heart so much the greater ought his trauell be till he attaine vnto them and yet when he hath them to stand fast in holding them and if he know not his sinnes to be doubtfulnesse distrust and feare c. let him take to him the sword of the spirit euen the word of God which may clearely shew them to him more particular remedie must be sought according to any particular sinne by well obseruing these in generall Furthermore the diuell taketh occasion by chaunge of companie dwelling and acquaintance to steale away mens hearts from goodnesse as he did thus deceiue Lot and to neglect the vse of good meanes publikely and priuately as the maner of many is and to chaunge religion as they say with the place And no maruell when neither the word of God meeteth with them where they become to awaken instruct and admonish them neither good neighbours to obserue and prouoke them to loue and good works nor to admonish them when they haue turned out of the way but contrarily euill talke and companie is found in stead of them for such force we reade to be in them that they are able to corrupt euen good manners But although they meete not with these yet the diuell taketh occasion by the very change of place to make them change their maners which mightily ouer-weigheth with good men that they sooner gather rust as coldnesse loosenesse c. from other then they shall season them with goodnesse and when they liue not with such as know them to haue bene forward Christians it is a strong prouocation to them and a tempting of them to be like others and to become more backward then they were before as we may heare of many for they shall be set vpon by the wicked traine till they haue found out what is in them that if they cannot draw them to euill they may leade them with despite and reproch Againe when we see how litle account holinesse and christian practise of dutie is in the world either in high or low for the most part yea and that wise men are growne to count it meere foolishnesse and nicenesse to make conscience to do those duties whereunto our knowledge leadeth vs is it not thinke we a strong cord to draw vs after the multitude especially when they who boldly contemne goodnesse shall yet be seene to be merie and lustie and without feare as though they had done nothing but that which they can iustifie and as if there were no feare of the iudgement day at all How mightily he preuaileth euen against the godly by this occasion the example of the Prophet doth plainely declare For when I saw saith he the wicked licentious and to talke presumptuously and set their mouth against heauen c. yea and more then this to vtter it boldly How doth God know it and for all this yet they prospered in the world and increased in riches Certainly I said he haue cleansed my heart in vaine washed my hands in innocencie So that the licentious course of bad men so commonly continued and oft without plagues as to Gods seruants they seeme to be and contrarily their owne life to be as it were a continuall mourning and
but carefully seeke oportunitie to muze vpon it by our selues or commune of it with others as our small abilitie will suffer vs or both And when we shall haue learned to put in vre this part of the remedy we intend to marke how this with the former doth bring our minds better in frame that we may both take incouragement in beholding any fruit to continue it and in seeing the contrary to marke where the fault lieth that it may be remoued And to sharpen our desire to heare and reade the more willingly seeing there is much vntowardnesse in our nature to such exercises and we haue strong temptations to perswade vs that it is as needlesse as we feele it irkesome we haue seene it necessary for vs to stirre vp our dulnesse not onely by the commaundement of God that we should search the Scriptures and so reade thē that we shold giue eare daily to the Apostles doctrine and therfore heare the same in season and out of season that by both the word of God may dwell plentifully in vs but also to haue in fresh memory the power of the Scriptures which besides that they are able to saue our soules so they can fill vs with goodnesse and comfort euery way as we shall haue need and haue done so often in times past vnto vs. For many times we haue bene brought so low in feeling of any present cōfort to such a barrennesse emptinesse of all good instructions sometime which was worst of all to such an vnsauourinesse in the good things of Gods word and so vnapt and vntoward to them that we thought in our weaknesse it would neuer be otherwise with vs yet when we haue come againe to the ministerie of the word the Lord hath scattered our darknesse raised vs out of our deceiueable dumpes and drowsinesse and shewed vs ioy and comfort againe so that we haue bene taught thereby that this is the fountaine which refresheth vs in our vnsatiable thirsts and cooleth the heate of our sinne and finally giueth greater grace then Sathan for all his subtilties and tyranny And further because experience hath taught vs that we easily lose that in the world amongst the manifold incombrances discouragements and dealings thereof which we learned of the Lord by any good meanes we haue faithfully couenanted for the better keeping of our hearts watchfull and safe frō euill once in the day if it be possible to set apart a time from all other law full and necessary duties for meditation and priuate prayer to the seasoning of our hearts with grace and to the stablishing of them against all temptations afflictions and other hinderances Not to free our selues hereby from other times of communing with the Lord as occasions shall be offered necessity shal require but because our vntoward harts would otherwise draw vs altogether to breake off this duty if we should not determine of some speciall time therefore one quarter of an houre or as euery one shall find himselfe able we haue seene meete to appoint hereunto if we can haue good oportunity that is to say if God giue vs minds fitly disposed thereto and minister profitable and plentifull matter accordingly or if we faile in both so much the more to take occasion by our present wants and infirmity to repaire vnto God And because the morning when we arise is both meetest to be imployed that way as wherein our minds are best able to thinke vpon heauenly matters when we haue not yet bene about our worldly affaires and for the most people the best time that may be spared therefore we haue purposed to allot the first part of the day thereunto with this prouiso that if through necessarie occasions we should be hindered from it we may yet carefully performe it on some other part of the day And although at the first we shall see some vntoward beginnings herein by which discouragement from the continuance hereof might arise yet we resolued with our selues that it is some profiting to begin though in weaknesse and there is hope that good proceedings and great shall come euen of small beginnings being faithfully entred into And if by these meanes we should not become better seasoned in our harts it is litle to be hoped for that other meanes should do vs the good that we haue need of But when the day is thus begun that wisedome communeth with vs in the morning and awaketh vs with heauenly salutations we are for the most part kept more sober and continent from all out-straying the whole day following for when good things either concerning the life to come and the glory of it or the vanity and change of this present life are deeply digested and throughly thought vpon it is no small occasion to make vs more stranger-like to this present world and to cary about vs greater freedome ouer our secret corruptions And because it is hard especially for priuate persons to haue alwayes matter in a readinesse which is profitable to meditate vpon for he that shall be furnished herewithall must be one which hath a daily obseruation of his life without the which grace euen the learneder sort shall be to seeke therefore some points were set downe for those which are least able to helpe themselues that by some few of those which are very fit auaileable they may set themselues on worke and by them learne to find out others like vnto them which do most nearly tend to the well ordering of the life By which meanes appointed and found out for their helpe and furtherance if yet vnfitnesse of mind an vntoward heart shall hold them backe being troubled with cares of the world or deceiued with dreames of vaine pleasures which make the meditation of heauenly matters loathsome they are to know that they can haue no better occasion offered them to the performing of this duty then for them to complaine of and seeke redresse euen against this euill and earthly heart of which they presently complaine and as they can bring that vnder so to proceed in musing of and praying for such grace as they shall see most needfull Lastly we concluded to obserue what fruite we reape by these remedies what release of our strong and vsuall maladies and diseases what weakning of any such lusts as sometimes had strongly preuailed against vs Also what liking we find of this manner of dealing with our selues or contrarily whether we feele any watchfulnesse ouer our hearts throughout the day since we entred into this couenant and whether any bettering of our waies by the same whether in company we haue bene more wary of taking or doing good according to the occasion offered in our dealings more carefull not to be found offensiue And weekly and by daies to marke it and to communicate our estate with some faithfull brother with whom we may freely and faithfully open and impart our whole course what meanes and how farre foorth we vse them what we see cause
shall not propound to themselues for this purpose some certaine course daily to walke in but goe on vncertainly that is one day giuing themselues carefully to good duties but an other day neglecting them and following the occasions thereof rather then resolutely armed against the same it both causeth great distraction and vnsetlednesse in them though otherwise good men and bringeth much barrennes of heart giueth more strength to their corruption and more aduantage to the aduersary and therewithall depriueth them of much communion with the Lord and comfort thereby and causeth that the godly life is not found and inioied of them in many points as it might be I haue spoken much of the priuiledges of a godly life though no tongue of Angels can sufficiently set out the same yet many no doubt of good hope haue not found it so for that they haue had but weake helpes to set them forward in hauing their part in them but are ignorant rather of the variety of the good things which God hath prepared for them that loue him and therefore their faith and comfort are weake when yet their discouragements and hinderances haue beene strong and many These at some time haue felt the fauor of God shed into their harts that they might not turne from him altogether but if they haue not attained to some good order and setled course to direct themselues by they must needs tast the more of the corruption of the world be the more in subiection to their rebellious affections and therefore the lesse feele the benefit of a Godly life For from whence are there so many heauinesses complaints of vnsetlednes inconstancy yea halting with God but frō hence in great part that they do quench the worke of Gods spirit in themselues cannot tel how to quicken vp themselues againe nor to arise when they are fallen to return when they are gone out of the way nor to guide themselues from one duty to another I know that it is not the vertue nor the power of outward meanes vsing nor of any direction that can bring our liues in frame but yet for al that when they are reuerently and confidently vsed God hath promised that it shall not be in vaine but they shall auaile much to our benefit What meant the Lord Iesus else to charge vs to watch pray to heare and read and the Apostle also in the name of God to exhort vs whiles we are in this warfare of the world to haue alwaies our compleat full armour not to walke naked hang that vpon the wall but that we should daily gird it vnto vs suffer no day to passe in the which we should walke without it and to what other end tendeth this direction which I am now occupied about For if euery day oft in the day we looke not carefully that we be armed with it let vs looke for no other frō him who is our professed enemy as able to hurt vs as willing and watching for it let vs looke for no other I say but to be dangerously foiled as many euē of the better sort are though some of them through spirituall slumber feele it not neither perceiue it in a long time till it please God to awake them But to returne to perswade that it is necessarie that Gods people should be daily holden within holy bounds is it not preposterous and lamentable that we can say that where no order is in any thing that is taken in hand there is confusion and danger and yet although there be none taken for the daily gouerning of a Christian mans life out of Gods word which without daily direction is soonest out of order yet there we suspect not neither feare any confusion and danger The husbandman cannot yeeld his rent nor reape his yearely haruest without his daily and continued labour neither can the captaine mainteine warre against his enemie except he renue his band and cause daily attendance to be giuen by the same and necessary prouision to be in a readinesse and so I may say of the rest In like maner the Christian cannot looke to continue faithfull vnto the end if he set not himselfe of purpose to continue daily his diligence in resisting his sinne and if he gather not daily strength by the continuance of some good meanes against the euils thereof Insomuch that if a man had all the knowledge that many men haue and should be ignorant of no necessarie point of dutie yet if he should not with a well ordered minde prouide and carefully looke for the right vse of his knowledge euery day as he shall haue occasion to practise it he might quickly be too farre gone out of the way in some grosse dishonouring of God which though it doe not pricke and wound them by and by yet a time will come when he shall wish he had borne the yoke of Christ and kept compasse for the end of a thing is not like the beginning If any should thinke me vnaduised to call in this earnest manner for daily directing of men priuately as though I set little by or made small account of the helpes which they haue in publike assemblies I haue said before that I preferre these before the other yet it may please them to vnderstand that besides the benefit of them which is very great and singular euery man shall finde it more then necessarie that they be not idle nor vnprofitable at home about the well gouerning of themselues in the seuerall and manifold affaires of the day and yet shall not this be any derogating from the other but the fruite of it euen as necessary for the soule as to haue a daily good diet and ordinary for the body although it haue a feast once in the weeke This I haue spoken generally hitherto to perswade many that feare God and yet for want of knowledge doe serue God very vncerteinly and see not therefore the excellency and price of the estate that he hath called them vnto that he hath not left vs so desolate and stranger-like from him heere on earth that we shoulde but seldome thinke of or heare from him but should haue daily recourse to him and throughout the day be with him and not as the wandring man who hath lost his way so to be at any time out of his gouernment And that it is not onely his pleasure but also his commandement that we should so liue in the world and so haue to doe in it that yet all the day long as our frailtie doth permit we may haue our meditation on him and on our happinesse in conuersing and walking still with him If this state be thought too precise by some let them consider the examples of those who are commended in the Scriptures for their constant walking with God how they were taken vp with the loue of him and possessed of faith c. for so the Apostle speaketh of
faith should either finde the godly life so easie or be able to iudge of the best way to it as they who haue painfully trauelled in it and spent much time about it For they must be able to report what repulses they haue had and how they haue recouered their strength againe what temptations and how they haue resisted them what hinderances and discouragements whereby they haue beene long held backe and how they haue ouercome them They must be able to say what hardnesse is in the godly life and how it is made easie how flitting and soone vanishing our faith is and how it is strengthened and confirmed what comfort and vnspeakeable peace God giueth his to incourage them to goe forward constantly They must haue good proofe of their many infirmities and how they send them the more earnestly to God in their praiers to strengthen them against the same to be short they must be acquainted with the subtile and malicious practises of the diuill in seducing them and with the falshood and deceiuablenesse of their owne hearts and how they haue withstood them and how deadly and loathsome the broad way that the wicked walke in is though it onely seeme pleasant For such honour haue his Saints such grace he bestoweth vpon them which seeke it of him in trueth And when God hath thus trained and made them fit for his seruice then shall they finde great ease and reward in seruing God and finde by proofe the exceeding benefit of a daily direction for the well ordering of their liues yea they shall count themselues much vnsetled when any day shall passe them which is not consecrated to God in that sort Of such I wish them to learne the way who would gladly please God they say as well as others but yet all meanes are tedious to them to vse besides such as they thinke good that is sometimes to pray as it falleth out but as for any further or certainer course to honour God in they thinke it meerely impossible for them to be brought vnto and therefore needlesse And as we are wont in our matters of law to resort to them for counsell which are best acquainted with the lawes and best experienced in them and in dangerous sicknesses to resort to those Physicians who besides their knowledge haue bene a long time practisers and haue done many great cures so in the practise of the rules for a godly life all which be grounded vpon the word of God none can so well teach how as they who haue taken greatest paines in the practising of them by long experience besides their knowledge which they haue in common with others And therefore we are to resort to them as being best able to perswade vs that as we ought so we may possibly attaine to the daily practise of some certaine duties and the reuerent vsing of the helps and meanes for the well passing of the day wheerunto if they who professe yea and preach could submit themselues to learne how to be setled by the furtherance of such as haue gone before them both in the searching out the way and the practise of it there need not be any doubt but that many should both finde it and with much blessing giue heartie thanks to God for it CHAP. 4. Of answer to this reason against the practise of daily direction That it is toilesome and inconuenient taking away all pleasure from men and hinders their labours BVt now I haue shewed that it is not impossible I will further answer their reasons whereby they are led to thinke it a toile intolerable that which would bring exceeding inconuenience First therefore whereas they thinke it would make mans life irkesome and a very toile to bring our selues to this point that our liues should be ouerlooked and regarded thorowout the day and that we should obserue certeine rules for the well ordering of the same the trueth is that there is no pleasure nor comfort in the world like it no nor to them who know it should be so without it howsoeuer men thinke otherwise Which if I can proue I hope they will be far from this minde to account it toile or wearisomnesse And for proofe heereof they may vnderstand that the Holy Ghost giueth the very contrary sentence and iudgement of this matter For whereas this right ordering of our liues or framing them to obey Gods commandements is the greatest wisdome euen greater then that of the aged experienced or our teachers yet of the same wisdome Salomon saith All pleasures are not to be compared vnto her therefore if thou desirest pleasure be wise and prouide that thy soule be safely kept from euill in the day and throughout For if it must needs be graunted that it is good at some time then it followeth that the oftner and more vsually it is kept so it is so much the better And if it be the greatest pleasure of all other to haue our hearts and conuersation with God some one houre in the day then by many degrees is it the greatest pleasure if we can by any good direction obtaine it for the most part or throughout the day Agreeably to the which that man of God who was so well experienced in these matters testifieth not of some one time of his life but of some whole part thereof I haue had as much delight and pleasure in thy testimonies as in all maner of riches But you wil say What is this to proue that he was thus minded through the day He speaketh I say of his daily course in such places as it is easie enough to see according to that which I alleadged before All the day long is my meditation in thy law that is as he expoundeth himselfe elsewhere casting and pondering in his minde how he might keepe and might not breake it nor wander out of the way from the direction of it And who so hath any practise of his knowledge and experience what reward there is in seruing God doth clearly iustifie this to be true For wherefore doth the godly Christian take order to haue his recourse to God by praier meditation reading when he can haue opportunitie wherefore is he fearefull of ill company and desirous of good why dareth he not fashion himselfe after the world in their common prophane delights why is the holy assembly of Saints most desired of him but because it is the pleasure which he seeketh aboue other when no man doubteth but that he hath both leasure as well as other and occasions enough offered him to the contrarie if he found not greater delight in this course then any other or if there were not pleasure in the Christian life and so the more Christian-like the more pleasure Why would the best Christians in all ages suffer mocks reproches displeasure of their friends and betters losse of their goods and other liberties and in such times and places as their profession hath
beene pursued with imprisonment banishment yea and death it selfe goe vnder all with free choice rather then to inioy all other pleasures of sinne as other haue done Indeed I graunt that this is not pleasure vnto all neither is that to be proued of me but that it is a pleasure to those which loue the Lord no toile to be conuersant with him in one part of their life or other all the day long and that with delight it may be aimed at as at a marke that they may please God in the things which they goe about euen throughout the day and may haue an eie to their actions which they doe that they may not offend him This vnto the vpright in heart is such a pleasure as without it there is none to them although I denie not but that there is much resistance against it partly through corruption and partly for want of the knowledge of it who yet when they haue further vnderstanding are most of all grieued for this that they wandred so long vncheerefully because they knew no better And as for them which are not pure in heart though indeed they please themselues some way or other yet their pleasures are but paine and though they follow a way that seemeth pleasant yet the issues thereof are the waies of death Insomuch that not onely stolne waters which are commonly most sweet that is vnlawfull liberties are mixed with poison but euen the pleasures of wealth and mariage which are things not vnlawfull doe hold them out of Gods kingdome Thus it may appeare that it is no wearisome thing to be setled in such a course wherein we may please God as frailty will permit but the sound and chiefest pleasure rather yea and besides it is that onely which so seasoneth our earthly and temporall liberties that so they become lawfull and pleasant to vs also and the duties and works of our callings that they be not as to others burthensome and tedious If all finde it not so yet let the trueth remaine and let such learne otherwise And if by the vntowardnesse and rebellion of the heart there be sometime found vnpleasantnesse and wearisomnesse in good things euen amongst the best so that they be ouercome thereof yet must not the vnruly heart for all that be yeelded vnto but be the more strongly mastered and all libertie which we finde to be an hinderance from the life of godlinesse remooued But another reason why this course is alleadged to be absurd and inconuenient is this that mens labours should heereby be hindered and their callings neglected and so pouerty grow vpon the land and many euils thereby which where absurd and not to be suffered To the which it may be answered that godly thrift and Christian gaining and lawfull prospering in the world doe arise from hence when a man doth so goe to worke in the world and follow his dealings that he be sure that he goeth about them with a minde which is at peace with God and well ordered that is guided by him and when he doth faithfully and deuoutly cōmend himselfe and his affaires euery day to Gods prouidence and rest therein quietly when he doth as it were arme himselfe with circumspect heed-taking and wise regard that he behaue not himselfe prophanely in the world nor after the maner of men but according to that which is written Whether we eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we doe doe all to the glory of God And when for these purposes he shall resolue with himselfe in the most conuenient sort that he can to begin the daie in some Christian and godly maner as I haue set downe in the daily direction that all the rest of the day following he may sauour of the same he shall in his duties doeing about the world please God and he shall also as farre as God shall see it expedient prosper in the same as it is written First seeke the kingdome of God and his righteousnesse and other things shall be cast vpon you And this is the labour which should goe with religion This ought Christians to indeauour to come vnto wherein although all which feare God haue not a like measure of wisdome and grace yet let them all wherein they want and be behinde in any part of duty therein be willing to see their failings and slacknesse and so shall it goe well with them and they shall daily come forward and be better acquainted how to doe earthly businesse with heauenly mindes And thus carying themselues they shall haue much blessed experience of Gods promises in remembring visiting and caring for them so graciously whereas on the other side such as rise early and goe late to bed breake their sleepe often and fare hardly and barely which sort vse most meanes to be rich and are most like to get the same yet not attempting these things through Gods helpe not vsually and oft crauing his grace and direction not hauing their mindes seasoned with piety and the feare of God not being patient sober-minded and watchfull against the euils which will meet with them but prophane rash and worldly cannot finde Gods blessing in their course If they gaine and gather they may I denie not flourish and prosper in the world a while yet is all but as Iudas his soppe and the Israelites quailes to become bane and poison vnto them the Lord hath heaped hoat coales vpon their heads and increaseth their damnation thereby the more swiftly and oftimes they are needy that is vnsatisfied for all their shifts therefore neuer the richer and many of them poore indeed putting their mony into a bottomlesse purse and that although they toile for much yet inioy nothing Which kind of men prouide ill for themselues many other waies in omitting the chiefe duties which appertaine to them for they fill their liues with much vnquietnesse frettings impatience quarrels cursings and such like and when death commeth although they be little thought on in the meane season these things will grow to some hard reckoning and in such the prouerbe is verified That though they be early vp yet are they neuer the neare For what pleasure doth God take in their toiling when they goe to it like swine not beginning proceeding and ending in him that is by his direction And whereas they apply another prouerbe in reproch to them which will first see God serued thus throughout their course namely this That the furthest way about is the nearest way home with thē they need not be ashamed of it For as the nearest way doth not alwaies bring a man soonest to his iournies end when he must goe ouer hedge and ditch through mire and water so they who goe roundly and directly to their earthly affaires and worldly dealings as soone as they are vp and as they say from their bed to their businesse refusing or omitting the daily duty of renewing their praiers their
of these and changing of such cursed fashions and customes into ciuill and religious orders the breaking off of Christian fellowship And as for other than it what may better be spared than they And what trafficke and merchandize is hindered by the reforming of such disorders and abuses And were the abandoning of these the leauings of mens callings and disobedience to prince when who seeth not that it were the way to liue in obedience and to follow mens callings diligently And what complaints are occasioned heereby but by such as being called from their sinnes are not to be pitied Indeed daily care of well liuing doth chase away these euen as a whirlewinde and God in his good time remoue them that as the holy man king Dauid said of his seruants and subiects A froward heart shall not dwell in my house him that priuily slandereth his neighbour will I destroy him that hath a proud looke and an high heart I cannot suffer and such like so we might once see and haue them and all of like sort odious amongst vs. And whereas they say that it is to set vp and bring in monkerie againe to betake mens selues to any better course of liuing than is commonlie practised I answer That I can not easilie say whether the monks in their hypocrisie superstition and false worship of God were greater sinners than these obiecters in their prophanenesse and Atheisme who worship not God at all vnlesse we will call a mocking of God a worshipping of him And this is the answer which I will vouchsafe them CHAP. 6. Of the doubts and obiections which weake Christians ought to propound vntill they be satisfied namely how they may atteine to such direction daily and answer thereto and other like namely that they count it hard and what such ought to do BVt as I haue said before to let these cauils goe as not fit to trouble them who would do well I thinke these and the like the meetest obiections for such as are willing to learne first that they see not how they might be able to attaine to the practise of any good and Christian direction and constantly keepe the same and secondly how they may because they are vnacquainted with it be armed with patience against the mocks and discouragements of such as might dismay them from it For the first it is meet that such as shall learne and practise it be willing and desirous of it which they may easily see cause of if they consider what vnsetlednesse is in their liues and what vnfitnesse of minde to serue God when they haue not by some good order taking for the same resolued and accustomed themselues thereunto that is to walke with God euery day and how much they are the worse when they haue not done so but neglected the same Also it helpeth much hereto that they make this account with themselues that they deale about nothing of such value or importance in the world as ought by right to hinder or draw them from it And yet when they be brought to this they must striue much against vntowardnesse and slouth which hangeth in their members as if a lion were in the way and withall they must call backe and holde in their earthly affections and carnall desires from nestling themselues any way here below so that they be not clogged thereby and made vnfit for this worke and then a full perswasion they must haue that their fruit shal be farre aboue their labor And to one thus prepared I doubt not God working by meanes nay I warrant it from God that the rules which I haue set downe or the like for safe conducting a Christian in his way shal be found both possible in the beginning and easie in time and pleasant and the gaine of the trauell such as he will not readily lose or forgo againe And before he be throughly acquainted with the practise of this let him impart his doubts to such as may most conueniently satisfie him in the same and so commend himselfe to the grace of God in this new enterprise betaking himselfe vtterly from his former wandring and vncertaine seruing of God and let him after a weeke and so after a moneth take view of his doings to see what is amisse and what is wanting that it may be helped if anie slouthfull deferring or omitting of any necessary part of dutie hath beene that it may be restored if any blessing be seene thereby that it may be increased by procuring the continuance of it And when he shall haue had experience of good successe therein he shall be past the danger or discouragement which Ismaels progeny I meane the generation of scorners and mockers may raise vnto him For as infinite swarmes of vaine and hurtfull thoughts doe occupie and fill the mindes of such as haue not earnestly set themselues against them so through Gods grace after they haue accustomed themselues to better cogitations and weaned themselues of purpose from their old conuersation they shall finde occasions enough to honour God in doing one good dutie or other so that they shall neither need to be idle nor vnprofitable Which thing if many were perswaded of they would both taste and trie it which now they doe not because as they say if they should not suffer their hearts to wander and roue euery where as they are caried but restraine them they know not how they could liue But I will proceed with other obiections which are yet behinde among which this troubleth many of Gods poore children that they feare they shal neuer bring their harts to a daily course of Christian walking seeing they are so weake and haue so much to do in subduing some one vnruly affection The peruerse sort obiect the same who say they could like well that men should be taught a good order course but in no wise can abide that it should be daily continuall and I haue in a maner answered it before For what is that which they mislike heerein It is not the thing it selfe nor the direction for their life in generall they say but that continuall binding them to it which is vrged is a wearines that they cannot beare But to leaue them as sufficiently answered before I turne to these in whose name this obiection is here propounded to whom this I say As God in the Scripture requireth perseuerance in a good course to the end euen so they which will faithfully submit themselues vnto that doctrine cānot but like also to be daily setled in such an estate as leadeth thereto for otherwise how shall they be sure that their master when he commeth shall finde them occupied Luc. 19.13 and if they doe so the hardnesse of it wil soone be alaied and they shal in short time find it a sweet pleasant way as Christ calleth it Mat. 11.30 to his kingdome so that the tediousnesse as they count it being
taken away in great part there is no cause why they should feare that as too hard which shall not hurt them or seeke to shunne that as too vnpleasant the benefit whereof they haue not prooued Some say they like it well and would with all their hearts that they could practise this direction but they haue so many lets to holde them off and cut them from it that they doe not see how they shall in anie meane sort performe the duties through the day required in it But such are to know that the chiefest lets of all from a godlie life which be the intemperancie of the minde and vnbridled lusts thereof are by this direction best remedied and staied the most of other which are outward in the world as prouocations temptations and other like occasions are heereby also and by the well ordering of the affections preuented and auoided or the easilier borne And as for the third kind which are mens callings dealings labours which through ignorance many doe meane when they complaine of hinderances are none at all but as they are made by the vnskilfulnesse carelesnesse or other sinne of the partie which ill vseth them And to this purpose I will tell thee what I haue heard a man of good account and long experience say I neuer had such lets as farre as I can call to remembrance but if my heart had beene held in good gouernment I might haue serued God with peace and gone forward in the course which I propounded Which what differeth it from that in the Prouerbes Keepe thine heart with all diligence for from thence commeth life So that yee see the chiefe hinderances are vnfaithfulnesse hardnesse of heart frowardnesse licentiousnesse and such like euill distemperatures of the heart by meanes whereof outward occasions of sinning doe the easilier prouoke vs and our lawfullest actions which we goe about come vntowardly to passe But perhaps they will reply thus We would sometime pray or read by our selues or looke to some other duties which God requireth for the well guiding of our liues when we must needs goe about our owne worke or the princes businesse or such like lets of one sort or other call vs away so that we cannot performe them whereas they which are free from these outward businesses and seruices may take their libertie in these spirituall duties But I aske this question of them againe Why they should be most earnestly bent to praier and reading at such times when they see other duties to be laid vpon them necessarily Is it not because they see they cannot doe them that the deuill setteth them forward so hotly at such a time to goe about them that they may thinke themselues to be godlier then they be and so be deceiued And why are they not but euen halfe so feruent in going about reading praying and other heauenly seruing of God when they haue time and leisure Which if they be it is well let them rest with peace therein so shall they be the fitter to outward duties and so doing they must not count thēselues letted when they do that which is their calling If they do not let them wisely marke how they be blind-folded on both sides and make conscience so to doe the one dutie in his season that the other be not counted an hinderance of them from the seruing of God but be performed also and that with cheerefulnesse when it lieth vpon them And that which I answer in this one I would haue to be vnderstood of all other of the like kinde of questions and therefore heereof enough Onely I thinke good to put them in minde that when two duties meet together at one time both being of great waight that they pray God to giue them discretion to consider which is most necessarie alwaies following the light which God giueth them and in things indifferent to do that which is most to Gods glorie their owne peace and the benefit of their brethren An other sort there is who are not troubled about this yet haue another doubt which discourageth them very much from practising such a Christian course For when they heare that there must not onely be appointed set times to pray and meditate but also that in our going through the whole day we must watch against euill and euen in particular actions be circumspect that we sinne not against our knowledge they aske whether they may not haue their mindes on their worke while they are at it If it be granted them they aske how they shall doe both I say no scruple is to be made of this but that there should be a minding and that carefully of those things which we doe though they be not spirituall neither needed there be any question made of this but that they haue after the maner of carnall and worldly men so fraught and stuffed their heads with earthly thoughts and worldly desires that they cannot vnburden themselues of them when they pray vnto God And therefore when he doth afterward giue them conscience thereof and of other sinnes they are so grieued to remember their long continued offence that way in that they were woont to fill their hearts with all sensuality and worldlinesse that now they thinke they dispease God when they haue them set vpon their businesse at all euen as he that hath abused musicke myrth or meate dangerously thinks afterward that he may not vse them in any sort whereas they may vnderstand that there is no such disagreement or contrarietie betwixt holy things and lawfull liberties neither therefore betwixt spirituall duties and the workes of our calling but that there maie be recourse had from the one to the other without quenching the gifts of Gods spirit in vs. And he that doth both of them in their season as becommeth him I meane with a single and honest heart may worship God in praier hearing his word or any such like and not be distracted at the same time by earthly thoughts and fantasies so as they should interrupt and breake him off and againe the same man may be occupied in his earthly affaires and businesse in such wise that he comming to them with a religious and well ordered heart need not be distracted vnsetled or made vnfit thereby to other duties of Christianity afterwards nor any thing more earthly minded while he is at them For why euen they are the worke which God hath set him about and therefore obeying him therein he may be quiet yea and chearefull which God alloweth vs freely if we could be wise to see and vse our liberties to our good For a godly minded man who hath tasted how precious and sweet a thing it is to keepe peace with God in all his waies and hath experience how soone his heart is drawen into the world by the deceitfulnesse of sinne will with such faithfulnesse keepe his affection knit vnto goodnesse as he knoweth he ought to do that he is not drowned in
beside themselues while they were in such good moodes they come to themselues againe that is to their old course and say Shall we forgoe our pleasant life our mery companie our braue stomacks which make vs famous and to be spoken of yea the meanest haue somewhat to hold themselues in as it were in chaines that they may not returne to God lest he should saue them But now I haue shewed them their estate euen their shame and the woe which they are in and what variety of spirituall and heauenly delights they haue forgone by refusing to walke within the compasse of Christian duty from daie to daie which sweetnesse of holy delights God giueth his seruants as a taste of heauen in this life what remaineth but this that all which will not shew themselues desperate wilfully to seeke their owne confusion consider this though they haue long forgot God and lay it to heart namely that they say with the apostles euerie one seuerallie when Christ their master told them that one among the rest should betraie him Is it I master and with Paule when he was smitten downe at the gates of Damascus Lord what wilt thou haue me to doe yea and let them doe as the seruants of Benhadad when they were in great feare of their liues by the king of Israell They put halters about their necks and came and humbled themselues before him and said they were his seruants to the end they might finde fauour at his hands Thus I say let them seeke the Lord while he may be found and say Spare thy people ô Lord and be no longer angry with the sheepe of thy pasture But let them doe it in trueth till the promises of God be beleeued of them and applied to them piercing to the heart and taking hold of the affections so that they may see themselues to be of the number of Gods people and to goe beyond all reprobates and till the same word of God which they haue heard preached hauing beene the seed of saluation to them may be the mould of their conuersation also which they being cast into may be fashioned after the doctrine of it And the rather for the renued peace and defence of the gospell by the happy succession of our most gracious Soueraigne the kings Maiestie as well as the hope we haue for the time to come of liuing safely vnder our vine figgetree lest if they serue not the Lord with ioy and a good heart for all such good things they doe procure such plagues as shall manifestly shew that he is angry with them Now to shut vp all if it be said to me that I haue shewed how men may liue happily but nothing hath beene said about happie dying be this for answere An happy life bringeth an answerable death and the learning and accustoming of our selues to die contemne the world while we liue shall lead vs the way to eternall and blessed life when we must die For that knowledge faith hope and other grace is to vphold and guide vs at death which was the staffe and stay of vs in our life which God shed plentifully into our hearts both in our life and at our death to make vs blessed in both And of this Treatise and of the whole booke thus much A SWEET MEDITATION OF THE AVTHORS LONG AGOE of the benefit of reading conference musing on holy things and praier conteining a complaint that these holy exercises are neglected for that which is worse than nothing euen mens sinfull will 1 OH what a blessed thing it is with godly learn'd to talke By reading and by conference both as we sit and walke 2 And oft to thinke vpon the ioy by God for his prepar'd And eke to pray with groanes to him the like hath not beene hard 3 It doth reuiue our hearts most dull and bring our mindes in frame It doth indue our soules with light made fit to praise Gods name 4 It causeth vs our time to spend in fruit and heauenly sort It keeps from euery euill way and so from ill report 5 It holds our minds frō earthly thoghts and vanities most vaine It doth become pleasant and sweet instead of irkesome paine 6 By this ill tidings are not fear'd afflictions are not heard But from impatience and ire hereby we are preseru'd 7 By meditation and reading with prayer annext thereto We make our gaine of that which we are loth once to forgo 8 It maketh vs a sauour sweet in places where we come That some are gain'd to God thereby and folly hath no roome 9 Blessed is he whose portion this in stead of toile is giuen Whereby some cannot read a line from morning vnto euen 10 And as his lot in fairer ground is cast whom this behighteth In reading and in studie sweet that ioyfully delighteth 11 So he that seeth not this grace and priuiledge most great Sorrow and shame shall him pursue and folly be his meat 12 I speake of those whose calling is by learning for to liue Whom God would haue be free from world and good example giue 13 And so of euery one as he hath liberty and leaue That he do not for fond delight◠himselfe hereof bereaue 14 But Lord what griefe it is to thinke that this so happie a lot Should be trod downe as pearles of swine of many a drunken sot 15 That this deceitfull merchandise of profit and of gaine Should darken so blinde mens eies that they should loath this paine 16 That some should dreame of honour high and of promotion so That this sweet state with all her fruits they should gladly forgo 17 That neither Scripture giuē by God nor books by learned made Can cause them be in loue with them and so forsake their trade 18 Indeed it doth require the heart from euill to be brought That louers of pleasures more than God may come to better thought 19 I meane that they may sin abhorre of euery loathsome kind And that their chiefest ioy may be from thence to weane their mind 19 And with no lesse delight of heart they wisdome may imbrace Till godlinesse hath got in them a roome and setled place 20 Such shall it finde a pleasure sweet their yeeres and time to spend In authours holy and diuine vntill their life do end 21 And such therefore may be full sure the forenam'd fruites to reape And to inioy all good delights in measure and in heape 22 If any thinke this too great toile and state of life to hard Let him againe thinke that full great and sweet is the reward 23 〈◊〉 for my selfe with Salomon this one thing I may say Tha◠〈◊〉 haue had experience of 〈◊〉 a happy day 24 Such as deceitfull world doth yeeld to such as it imbrace Yet neuer saw I pleasure like vnto this heauenly grace 25 What did I say Not like to it no nor to be compar'd For one it yeeldeth twenty fold in pleasure and
watchfull An other is to view the day at our lying downe For we beleeue that which God hath promised Ios 1.3 Ios 11.6 Hebr. 11.30 Gen. 6.22 Hebr. 11.17 1. Ioh. 5.4 Mich. 7.8 Dan. 9.5 1. Sam. 12.19 No fruit of the best helps if we vse them not in faith Iam. 1.6 2. Pet. 3.17 How the day is to be begun and continued What it is to neglect duty or to commit offences Reuel 3.11 The sweetest liberties of a Christian are wretched bondage to a man of the world Note A sleight and formall vsing of the meanes will not profit The beautie of the worship of God is too glorious for the armeyes of prophane persons to beholde That which is common to all is no priuilege Note Who they are that are constant in the seruice of God Prosperitie a slipperie estate God teacheth his to stand in this slipperie way The wicked cannot How he teacheth his to do it First by the scriptures Luc. 14.18.19 Dan. 4.27 Act. 12.22 Also by experience and obseruatiō of things Dan. 1.8 Iob. 1 21. By meditation also of their gaine heereby The effect heereof Iob. 31.24 Esa 59.1 Heb. 8.11 Act. 2.17.18 Note It is most false that some say My goods are mine owne and therefore I may do with them as I lift The Christian must be perswaded that it is Gods worke which he goeth about and also that God will strengthen him thereto How the godly doe rightly vse their lawfull liberties Who shall enioy this foresaid priuiledge They that attaine not to this benefit prouide ill for themselues Pro. 16.32 Phil. 3.18.19 The cauillers at this doctrine are vnder heauie and speedy condemnation The godly escape many troubles altogether The greatest sinnes bring the greatest punishments Gen. 3.17.24 Deut. 28.44 Gen. 19. The freer from sinne the freer from trouble All the godly doe not avoid the sorrowes which they might doe here Note 2. Tim. 3.12 Many trouble themselues greatly by their corrupt affections And many other with those which ouerrule them another way Heb. 12. They bring also vpon themselues outward troubles by their sinnes It is prooued by many particulars Prou. 21.17 God giueth grace to ouercome these sinnes Note What quiet some finde in their liues more then other and how Note Math. 18.7 Obiection Answere Luc. 8.18 Iam. 1.2 1. Pet. 4.15 Ier. 5.25 To whom chiefly the comfort of this doctrine doth appertaine 1. Sam. 8.19 compared with 12.19 Excuses for mens sinnes Many shun to be truely religious because they would auoid trouble Luc. 16.25 1. Cor. 15. Eccles 11.9 The foolishnesse of them that do so Mat. 5.12 Eccles 7.8 Iob. 21.13 Ps 32.10 Num. 32.23 1. Cor. 11.32 1. Pet 1.7 Iohn 16.20 Rom. 8.28 Eccles 8.12 God oft deliuereth his altogether Ioh. 16.7 2. Cor. 12.9 Prou. 11.8 And the wicked come in their roome Psal 124.1 2. Cor. 1.10 Esther 3.13 c. 7.10 Dan. 6.23 Gen. 21.15 1. Sam. 31.8.1 The godly are deliuered in gods fauour Hos 6.1 Ester 4.16 2. Chro. 20.3 Hose 14.4 Iosua 11.6 Iudg. 7.9.15 The wicked not so Yet the godly doe not alwaies beleeue this Obiection Obiection The fathers had particular promises but so haue not we 2. Chron. 20.17 Ios 11.6 Iudg. 6.14 Answer 2. Tim. 4.8 Hebr. 1.1 God in the chiefest matters hath spoken as plainly to vs as to them Rom. 7.25 Iam. 4.6 Iohn 14.13 15.16 Rom. 8.28 2. Sam. 15.25 Dan. 3.17 Note 1. Sam. 28.7 Iona. 2.8 1. Sam. 25.37 Math. 27.5 Ps 73.13.14 Iona. 4.4 Note Ps 119.71 Iohn 16.6.7 1. Pet. 1.5.6 Luc. 9.23 Ia. 1.5.6 How we may take good by our afflictions Rom. 8.28 Petit. 3. For God sendeth them to that end Lam. 3.33 1. Pet. 1.6 Iohn 16.7 Heb. 12.11 Reasons why God afflicteth his Ps 34.17.19 2. Cor. 1.10 Rom. 5.4.5 Iam. 1.3 1. Cor. 11.32 Ps 119.67 2. Cor. 4.9 6.9 Gods children are neuer forgotten though they may seeme for a time to be neglected Ps 20.8 Ioh. 16.22 1. Sam. 30.6 Ps 73.1 Ps 119.71 Heb. 11.8 Ps 105.19 Ps 105.18 Act. 2.21 Rom. 10.14 Though God promise to turne our troubles to good yet we must not be carelesse vnder them Dan. 9.5 Ps 18.26 How they may profit by afflictions Heb. 12.11 Vses of afflictions Lam. 3.27 Iam. 1.2 Col. 1.11 Rom. 5.4 Animi securitas conscientia bona causae fiducia plurimùm valent ad sustinendas afflictiones Eph. 3.19 The 1 point God giueth to his greater grace then they could aske As in particular may be seene Note Col. 1.9 c. Ioh. 16.13 Examples Exod. 4.11 Exod. 10.17 Iohn 1.52 Math. 13.31 Luc. 15.17 Mat. 15.27 Numb 11.28 Ios 1.5 Ios 24.15 c. 1. King 3.12 Iohn 16.12 ver 23.24.25 Luc. 22.57 Act. 5.29 1. Thess 3.7 2. Thess 1.3.4 Esay 59.1 This priuiledge causeth much comfort if it be duely considered Ephes 4.1 1. Tim. 4.15 Though there be many things to hinder it yet there is also much to helpe to greater grace Heb. 5.12.14 Rom. 1.17 Ps 103.5 Ps 119.11.12 Rom. 15.4 The Scriptures are plentifull in prouing this Note Prou. 4 1◠The Lord thinketh it not to great for his Note All must be ready to grow to that grace which they may attaine to Note The godly shall continue to the end in a good course Ps 37.37 Phil. 1.6 Ioh. 6.39 10.28 God letteth them know it that they shall Though it be a secret to the world 2. Cor. 4.3 Ps 25.14 Ioh. 15.15 Reasons why they shall know it The first 1. Pet. 1.4.5 1. Iohn 5.13 1. Thess 5.9 The second Ios 1.5 1. Pet. 5.9 The third reason Luc. 8.15 Heb. 3.6 Note How they perswade themselues of a good end 4 The fruit of the knowledge of perseuerance The second fruit of it 5 We must not alwaies iudge of men by the maner of their death Ps 37.37 1. King 13.24 2. King 23.29 A good Christian may possibly offer violence to himselfe not knowing what he doth He that doth so aduisedly is a murtherer in the highest degree 2. Cor. 6.1 c Mat. 5.10 No cause to desire to liue when we must needs dishonor God Eccles 7.1 Ps 50.15 Mat. 10.19 Heb. 4.2 Reason 1. Mat. 10.28 2. King 6. 1. Cor. 10.13 1. Thess 5.25 2. Reason Rom. 8.18 2. Cor. 4.13 Rom. 8.17 Heb. 12.2 3 2. Cor. 4.8.9.10 2 Cor. 6.9 10 Heb. 11.36.37 38. Marc. 10.29 Reu. 22.20 Ro. 8.38 Col. 3.1 2. 1. Cor. 5.31 Col. 3.5 Lam. 3. 1. Cor. 15.19 What this priuiledge is Ps 16.11 Math. 25. It cannot be conceiued how great It is shadowed out by earthly comparisons Hebr. 13.14 1. Pet. 1.18 With whom their fellowship shall be What ioy they shall haue in heauen Their honour An amplifying of these prerogatiues A further commending of thē 1. Cor. 2.9 Farre greater then princes The pure estate and vncorrupt of things in Adams innocency but a shadow of heauen Ps 84.10 87.3 2. Cor. 12.5 Mat. 17.2 Of things vncertaine we may not speake boldly The ioyes of heauen cannot
we may see it is otherwise What doe men thinke because the diuell hath filled the most parts of the world with darkenes so that the most see none of these things and hauing no experience of nor acquaintance with them doe not desire to be partakers of them doe men I say therefore thinke that there is no other nor better way to take vp their mindes then as they doe but like brute beasts and wilde Irish to passe their time or to iumpe with the world and so to be like others Oh land oh people infatuate and sottish that vnder the Gospell and the same so long in thee continued yea and that in many places so fruitfullie and faithfullie preached art yet to seeke of the true fruite of the Gospell and art not led to God by it more then if there were none oh that men created of God to liue for euer should be content to bee ignorant and without care or loue of the infinite good things which are reuealed to be knowne and delighted in of them The Lord hath done great things for thee ô man but they are not wonderful in thine eyes this blessed time is the day of thy visitation but it is hidden from thee But to returne I haue shewed thee how some of Gods people haue their minds exercised when they haue chased away the noysome droue of such vncleane lusts as were wont in times past to possesse them as well as other yet doe I not conclude that these are not at all troubled with euill thoughts and vaine desires as though I would preferre them before the Apostle himselfe who said that the messenger of Sathan euen some prickes of corruption was sent to buffet him and at another time Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this bodie of sinne Nay I am so farre from saying so that I contrarily affirme that their purest actions are mixed with corruption and no better then good water running thorough an vnsauourie vessell as their faith loue vprightnes mercie c. Now then if God should look vpon their faults though they may be kept from foule and filthie vncleannesses how should they be able to abide it no if it were no more then vntowardnes and vnfitnes to the duties of their callings and to other good works and much wearisomnes therein I doe not therefore forget my selfe in speaking thus of some of Gods seruants for whatsoeuer I say of them let no man gather that it is a making of them equall with the singularest of the Apostles For we know what Paul could say of his ioy in his sufferings and that oftentimes and the strangenes and varietie of them of his lifting vp into paradise and that he had heard such things as are not lawfull for a man to speake These and such others I thinke God gaue him as priuiledges which were meere arrogancie and ostentation for any man among vs to dreame of or compare with him in seeing our sufferings to speake of them who haue sustained the greatest afflictions for the Gospell in our age haue bin small and the other things mentioned to haue bin shewed him are more extraordinarie but to haue our minds and hearts so clensed purged from the strength of corrupt lusts as I haue said to haue no fellowship with them and when they are kindled in vs to haue grace and strength ordinarily and vsually against them and to see and know how to auoide them it is so farre off from arrogancie to thinke that it should be so that it is farre vnbeseeming the grauitie and age of fathers in Christ and strong Christians not to haue it so So that as ancient men who haue liued long are called fathers for their age skill and experience so these for their time and long continuance in Christs schoole are called fathers and therefore ought to haue wisedome and knowledge how to walke thorough the world though a wildernes in safetie how to withstand the diuell in his assaults though subtile and skilfull also in their course and cariage of themselues how to be paternes of good life vnto the younger sort And thus they hauing their minds established with grace and vnburthened of such affections and thoughts they may rightly and in good sort goe about their workes and dealings as labouring bargaining iourneying companying seruing their prince and doing any other lawfull actions and yet not be distempered by them which things for want of such a well ordered minde no other men can doe as by the complaints of the better sort may bee seene and by experience of the bad sort is perceiued and daily found And this for the highest degree and greatest measure of grace in Gods children The second sort is compared to yong men who then are in their strength rather then when they are either children or old men so some of Gods seruants are as yet neither experienced nor throughly acquainted in the Christian battaile as the fathers nor vtterly ignorant of it as the new borne Christians these are especally occupied in fighting against temptations and resisting and ouercomming their vnruly desires which hale and draw them after the same Therefore as they who are yong men in age and in their lustie yeeres are commonly of this middle sort of Christians if they bee truly religious so S. Iohn writing to them doth shew them what is their chiefe and principall worke that is to resist the diuell and his strong assaults which in them lustie and strong are not easily subdued and perswadeth them to this combat not only by telling them what a glorious victorie it shall be to them to vanquish such an enemie but also that they may bee sure of it as if they had got it alreadie These knowing by the light of the Scriptures and the Commaundements how corrupt their hearts are and how many sinfull thoughts and desires doe swarme in them they watch their hearts whereas before they knew of any daunger they little looked after them they pray against them now often and earnestly they haue some feare in companie and alone by themselues which is no part of euill mens thought least they should be ouercome by any such affections as they are in danger of and yet they are oft ouercome They do also oft times consider how they may auoid the occasions of sinne least thereby they should be inticed and so disquieted in their mindes and breake out to the offence of their brethren and the reproch of their profession among the bad anger impatience frowardnes fretting sensible desiring of their neighbours goods as wife seruant or such like which in times past were common matters with them and their delight their hearts haue now such smart and wound for the same that they grow to beware of them wearie of them ashamed to thinke that such vices should bee found in them and count it no needlesse nor lost labour to haue their care thus