else those sinnes so spared may buffet thee a long time after thou hast finished this course and besides they may get head and preuaile against thee in practice if by this course they bee not brought vnder Now that thou oughtest thus seriously to examine and call to minde thy sinnes and that this is one of the things God requireth of thee to bee distinctly done these places of Scripture do euidently proue and withall shew that God doth take euen this beginning of thy repentance well Lament 3. 40. Psal. 4. 4. Ezec. 16. 43 61. 20. 43. 36. 31. Ier. 8. 6. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Gal. 7. 3 4. Iob 11. 13. While thou art doing this thou shalt do well to doe no other exercise of Religion at that time but onely to attend this The second thing that God requireth of thee distinctly to be done is the confession of those sins thus gathered into the Catalogue and for the performance of this dutie set sometime apart and present thy selfe before the Lord and if thy memory will not carrie all the particulars of thy offences take with thee the written enditement and as Hezechiah did with his letter spread thy Catalogue before the Lord and then take vnto thee words in the best manner thou canst to iudge thy selfe for those offences Let the Lord know that it is thy hearts desire to pleade guiltie to each of those sins and in speciall vrge against thy selfe those sinnes wherein thou hast more especially offended Be not ouer-carefull for words the Lord requireth thee but to doe it in the best words thou canst onely let thy words bee the true voice of thy heart and thou maiest bee sure the Lord vnderstandeth the meaning of thy heart Let no obiection driue thee off from the practice hereof but doe it so as thine owne conscience may witnesse with thee that thou hast done it in the best manner thou canst Now that it is a dutie necessarily required these Scriptures plainly shew Hos. 14. 2 3 4. Pro. 28. 13. Leuit. 16. 21. 26. 40 51. Iob 33. 27 28. Psal. 32. 5. Ier. 3. 12 13. Mat. 3. 6. Act. 19 18. Dan. 9. Neh. 9. 2. Rom. 10. 10 1 Cor. 11. 1. Ioh. 1. 8 9. This is the second dutie The third thing thou must labour for distinctly is to conceiue true mourning and sorrow for these sinnes thus confessed This is that sacrifice is so well pleasing to God and this is euery where in Scripture expresly required and the promises fastened diuers of them vpon this condition as these places manifestly shâ—…w Mat. 5. 4. Iam. 4. 9. Ioel. 2. 12 13. Zach. 12. 12. Isai. 1. 16. Psal. 31. 9 10. Isai. 61. 1 2 3. Ier. 50. 4. Ier. 31. 18 19. Now that thou mayest attaine vnto softnesse of heart I aduise thee to take this course Resolue with thy selfe to set some time apart at least once euery day for this businesse and when thou doest stand before the Lord with thy former mournefull inditement while thou striuest to iudge thy selfe and to keepe an assise vpon thy owne soule begge of God to giue thee that soft heart he promised Ezech. 36. 26. begge it I say of God but let thy prayers bee without limitation for the time If the Lord heare thâ—…e not the first time yet pray for it the next time againe and so the third day and so still till the Lord doe heare thee and make thee feele thy heart to melt and if it may bee teares to trickle downe thy châ—…kes before the Lord yea put on this resolution that thou wilt neuer stand before the Lord for any request while this course lasts but thou wilt remember this Petition to beseech him to giue thee secret sorrow and sensible for thy sinnes It may bee the Lord will heare thee at the first or in the beginning while thou art preparing thy selfe to speake vnto him or while thou callest vpon him at the first or second time but yet if he doe not persist thou thy sute is iust and importunity will ouercome the Lord and this very desire to sorrow being resolute is a degree of true godly sorrow But yet that thou maiest be sure of it giue not ouer till the Lord heare the letter of thy desire if it may be And withall striue against the perplexities of an vnquiet heart feare not but that time of the day which thou setst apart for religious duties bee as earnest as thou canst and when that is done goe chearfully about the works of thy calling Hang not downe thy hâ—…ad like a bulrush as if thou must do nothing else but sigh and bemoane thy selfe and shew a troubled mind in all things Euen the freer and readier thy mind is the more fit thy heart will be for this or other holy employments And further know that the vse of this Catalogue is not for euer nor do I require this speciall mourning all the dayes of thy life but in this case of first repentance by which the body of sinne may be remoued Thereforâ—… thou oughtest so long to vse the Catalogue of thy confessions of sins till thou feele in some measure this sorrow and melting of heart which when thou hast attained eithâ—…r sooner or later then addresse thy selfe to the fourth rule The fourth râ—…le concernes the 〈◊〉 of the Promises especiâ—…lly the Promises of two sorts First sâ—…ch as shew that God hath giuen Iesus Christ to make satisfaction for the sinnes of men and then in speciall such promises as shew that through the merit of Christ hee that hath thus confessed and felt sorrow for his sin shall be receiued to fauour Now for this purpose thou must get thee a distinct Catalogue of promises made to such as confesse their sinnes with sorrow and mourning and in them thou shalt see most plainly vnto how much riches and treasure thiâ—… entrance vnto godlinâ—…sse hatâ—… brought thee For the conditioâ—… of the Promises being alreadâ—… formed in thee by this grace 〈◊〉 God thou maist safely assure thâ—… soule of so much fauour froâ—… God in particular as is expresâ—… contained in those promises Marâ—… it thou as yâ—…t dar'st not claimâ—… all the prerogatinâ—…s or gooâ—… things contained in any Promisâ—… in Scripturâ—… et thou maist safely lay vp as treasure so mucâ—… as the Promises that concernâ—… confession and godly sorrow dâ—… assure and estate vpâ—…n thee anâ—… so thou shalt finde tâ—…at thâ—…u hasâ—… 〈◊〉 in Câ—…rist already for 〈◊〉 and rich fauours and maist shâ—… Gods expresse Word to warraâ—… thy claime as for example Goâ—… hath assurâ—…d thee First that thou shalt not bee damned thou maist rest vpon it thâ—…se be plaine Scriptures 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. Iob 13. 18 19. Secondly that God will haue mercy vpon thee and loue thee freely and take away his anger from thee Prou. 28. 13. Ioel 2. 12 13. Hos. 14. 3 4. Ierem. 31. 18 19 20. Thirdly that all thy
the Gospell as accounting them the happy companions of this life Psal. 16. 3. 3 Iohn 8. Phil. 1. 5. 4. He hath a fellow feeling of their miseries he is in some measure affectioned to weepe with them that weepe and reioyce with them that reioyce especially he is glad when their soules prosper Rom. 12. 15 16. 3 Ioh. 3. 5. His desire is to walke inoffensiuely as being loth any way to be an occasion of stumbling or scandall to any Christian 1 Ioh. 2. 10. 6. He can beare their infirmities take things in the best sense suffer long and is not easily prouoked hee hopeth all things and boasts not himselfe nor enuies not them nor will receiue an euill report against them 1 Pet. 3. 8. 1. Cor. 13. 4 5 6. but rather makes apologie for them 7. Hee easily praiseth them in all places for their grace or obedience Rom. 16. 19. 3 Iohn 6. Psal. 15. 4. 1 Thess. 1. 8. 8. His wel-doing extends it selfe to them to his power he is bountifull pitifull and tender hee hath bowels of mercy according to the occasion of mercy either corporall or spirituall He gladly receiueth them and with a ready mind communicates to their necessities Philemon 7. 1 Pet. 3. 8. 4. 8. 1 Iohn 3. 17. 3 Iohn 5. 9. He loues all the brethren He hath not the glorious faith of Christ in respect of persons Iames 2. 1 2. Ephes. 1. 15. Col. 1. 4. Hee can make himselfe equall to them of the lower sort Rom. 12. 16. 10. Lastly hee loues them at all times euen when they are in aduersitie disgrace sicknesse or any other miserie Hitherto of the godly mans triall by his gifts CHAP. VII The triall of the godly man by his workes of obedience THE fourth way to trie him is by his workes or by his obedience in his life and conuersation and so his workes excell all the workes of vnregenerate men many wayes as 1. Because what he doth riseth out of the loue he beares to God and goodnesse and therefore hee doth good heartily and not by constraint or with repining or delay yea he is so stirred vp with the sense of Gods goodnesse to him that hee is much humbled when he hath done his best that hee cannot bring more glory to God Deut. 30. 20. Ios. 22. 5. Math. 4. 19 20. Rom 6. 17. 2. In doing good he hath respect vnto all Gods Commandements there is no part of an holy life but he desires to practise it and therefore he will obey Gods will in some cases when it is against his profit credit ease or the liking of carnall friends preferrings God 's commandements aboue all things yea life it selfe Ier. 35. Heb. 11. 8. Gen. 22. 12. Prou. 7. 2. Act. 5. 29. Mat. 16. 25. Exod. 15. 26. 1 King 9. 4. Ierem. 11. 4. Iohn 15. 14. 3. He will do good at all times and not for a fit making conscience of his wayes in all companies as well as any absent as well as present before meane Christians as well as before the best at home as well as abroad Philip. 2. 12. Gal. 5. 7. 2 Kings 28. 6. Psal. 106. 3. 4. Hee makes conscience of the least commandement as well as the greatest Mat. 5. 19. Iames 2. 10. 5. He comes to the light that his deeds might be manifest that they are wrought in God Iohn 3. 21. Hee is desirous in all things to bee guided by the warrant of the Word of God 6. He exerciseth his faith in the very discharge of the duties of his outward conuersation Hee liues by the faith in the Sonne of God and commits his way to God and trusteth vpon the Name of the Lord Gal. 2. 20. 7. Hee knoweth that his obedience is right because God heareth his prayers and entertaines him gratiously when he calls vpon him in secret whereas God heareth not sinners and if wickednesse were in his heart God would not regard his prayers Iohn 9. 31. Psalme 66. 18. And thus of his workes CHAP. VIII His tryall by the entertainment hee hath from God THe fifth way by which hee may bee tryed is by the entertainement that God vouchsafeth him in this life which hee neuer vouchsafeth to wicked men There are diuers specialties of fauour which God sheweth to him and not to any vnregenerate man As 1. His election in time is a manifest token of Gods election of him before time the Lord shews â—…hat hee hath chosen him from enerlasting when by the power of the Gospel hee seizeth vpon him particularly and effectually perswades him to leaue the world and the sinfull society hee liued in and to deuote himselfe as a liuing sacrifice vnto God 2. He is baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire the baptisme by fire is onely proper to Gods Elect the Holy Ghost at some times falls vpon him sets him all on a fire on a fire I say both of sudden and violent indignation at sinne as it is sinne as also the fire of holy affections with which from God hee frequently and on a sudden is enslamed while he stands before the Lord. For besides the affection which a godly man bringeth with him to Gods worship he doth feele his heart oftentimes on a sudden surprised with strange impressions sometimes of sorrow sometimes of feare and awefull dread of God sometimes of feruent desires after God sometimes of strong resolutions of holy duties to be done by him and the like Matthew 3. 11. 3. He feeles at sometimes in the vse of Gods ordinances a maruellous work of the Holy Ghost in respect of much assurance and strange establishment of his heart both in the certaine perswasion of Gods loue and the infallible beliefe of the truth so as at that time no danger of death could amaze him but hee could willingly witnesse his confidence by vndergoing any thing could befall him 1. Thessalonians 1. 5. 4. He feeles at some times the vnspeakeable and glorious ioyes of the Holy Ghost which are differing from the carnall ioyes or illusions may bee found in wicked men because they are such ioyes as hee feeles onely in the vse of some ordinances of God and such as by effect make him more humble and vile in his owne eies and doe inflame him to an high degree of the loue of God and goodnesse which illusions can neuer doe 5. The sanctification of his afflictions is another infallible signe of Gods loue to him For God makes his crosses to become blessings vnto him and worke his good so as hee may plainely see that it was good for him to be afflicted and besides God giues him many times the experience of his goodnâ—…sse both by vnexpected consolation in his distresses and gratious deliuerance out of them Rom. 8. 28. Psal. 119. 6. Lastly To this place I may referre Gods hearing and answering of his prayers whereas God doth not heare sinners as was shewed in the end of the former Chapter CHAP. IX His
discreetly obserued and applied Pro. 30. 6. 7. He must take heed of hardening his necke against reproofes Pro. 26. 1. Hee must needes run into headlong euils that is so proud as not to heare aduice or to reiect reproofes and it will be a singular furtherance to an holy life to be easie to be intreated to leaue his offences and to mend his errours 8. Hee must take heed of beholding vanitie Dauid praies that God would turne away his eyes from beholding vanitie He that would forsake vanitie must auoide the presence of vaine persons and the too much contemplation of vanitie shunning the reading and discourse of the enticement of others vnto any sin Psal. 119. 37. 9. And lastly hee must take heed of the beginning of euils in his owne heart he must keep his heart with all diligence for there on commeth life His practice will be easie to him if he resist sinne in the beginning and driue out Satan from his holds within his soule whereas he cannot but be much entangled and encumbred that allowes himselfe in the secret entertainement of contemplatiue wickednesse hee must watch his heart and striue for inward puritie Prou. 4. 23. CHAP. IIII. Containing the generall Rules to be remembred in the manner of doing all good duties HItherto of the first sort of generall Rules The second sort concernes the manner of well-doing There are diuers things in the generall which are to be obserued of the godly Christian in all good duties which he ought to haue perfect in his memorie and such as he might bring with him at all times to form his heart in respect of them to beget in him that holy mâ—…ner of carrying himselfe which is requisite vnto the acceptation of the good things he employeth himself in and the rather should he be moued to the care of learning and expressing of these things because the matter of good duties may be done by wicked men as they were by the Pharises and yet all abomination to the Lord. That therfeore hee may not lose that he worketh hee must striue in euery good action to expresse these nine things following in the manner of his behauiour The first thing required in the manner of euery holy duty is Zeale It is not enough that hee doe the duty but he must doe it affectionately bringing with him the stirring of the desires of his heart answerable and agreeable to the duty hee would performe Zeale hath in it two distinct things willingnesse and feruencie It must not seeme euill to him to doe Gods worke and in doing it he must lift vp his heart so as hee performe it with all his might and with all his soule and this hee doth when either he brings an heart delighting in good workes or when he iudgeth himselfe for what deadnesse or distraction or vnwillingnesse he findes in himselfe he is accounted zealous when he striueâ—… for it and lifts vp his soule against the impediments which burthen him This zeale is nâ—…cessary Christ died to redeeme a people vnto himselfe not onely that would do good workes but that would bee zealous of good workes Tit. 2. 14. 2. The second thing required in the manner of good duties is sinceritie all his actions must be done in the sincerity of his hart The life of a Christian is like a continuall Passe-ouer Now this Feast hee must keepe alwaies with the vnleauened bread of sincerity 1. Cor. 5. 8. Now this sinceritie hee must shew diuers wayes as 1. By the truth of his heart as it stands opposed to hypocrisie he must not talke of well-doing or seeme to doe it but he must doe it indeed 2. By his respect to all Gods commandements when he can say with Dauid I esteeme all thy precepts concerning all things to bee right and I hate euery false way He that is truly sincere accounteth that euery word of God is good desires to yeeld obedience in all things He hath not his reseruation or exception He doth not with Herod giue himselfe liberty to lie in the wilfull breach of one commandement resting satisfied to haue reformed himself in other things And he would haue God to forgiue him all his sinnes so his heart desires to forsake sinne and so hee desires also to doe euery part of Gods worke 3. By propounding the glory of God as the chiefe end of all his actions His praise must not bee of men nor must he do good duties for carnall ends 1. Cor. 10. 31. 4. By obeying without expostulating though God giue no apparent reason of his commandement Thus Abraham shewed his sincerity when God bade him goe out of his owne countrey though he knew not whither he should goe Heb. 11. 8. This is to obey simply because God hath commanded it 5. By obeying absent as well as present in all companies as well as one This praised the sinceritie of the obedience of the Philippians Phil. 2. 12. Thus of sinceritie which is the second thing required in the manner of wel-doing 3. The third thing is constancy He is blessed that doth righteousnes alwaies Doing righteousnesse will not serue the turne but it must be at all times Psal. 106. 3. Our righteousnesse must not bee like the morning dew It is not sufficient to do good by fits we are no day-labourers but Gods hired seruants He that is righteous must be righteous still Rom. 6. 19. Reuel 22. 11. There must be continuance in welldoing Rom. 2. 7 8. Now to bee constant in well-doing it is to doe good duties 1. Without wearinesse It is required as a thing necessarie to the manner of well-doing that we be not wearie of it and that wee faint not Gal. 6. 9. This we must striue for by prayer 2. Without discouragement we must lift vp the hands that hang downe and the feeble knees and make straight steppes to our feete How much hinderance to well-doing discouragement is may appeare by this similitude Feeble knees will dispatch but a little space of the iourney and hands that hang downe are not fit for worke great is the hinderance comes to many by their discouragements and aptnesse thereunto which ariseth vsually from pride and the dregs of worldly sorrow and ought much to bee resisted by true Christians Heb. 12. 12 13. Iosh. 1. 6 7. 3. Without impediment that is ' notwithstanding all the impediments may be cast in the way iudgement should runne downe as waters and righteousnesse as astowing streame we should ouercome all difficulties You cannot stop the flowing streame though you cast in great logs or stones yea though you would goe about to dam it vp and such should be the resolution of a godly Christian Amos. 5. 24. 4. Without wauering or vncertainetie It is vncertaine running the Apostle impliedly forbids 1. Cor. 9. 26. Our life is like a race Now in a race it is not enough that a man runne now
can men draw neere vnto God in the full assurance of faith if they will not be at the paines to examine themselues Heb. 10. 22. Or how shall we euer know that wee are of God or attaine vnto any confidence of faith as we ought to doe 1 Ioh. 5. 19. Eph. 3. 12. How fearefully this point of sound triall is neglected and how miserably most men are deceiued for want of it may appeare by this obseruation which may vsually be made of men in the most places viz. that many that are carnall men say they are godly and many that are godly men say they are but carnall Besides that a multitude of men both good and bad liue in securitie the one not caring to get out of so wofull an estate and the other not regarding the riches of Assurance The causes of this miserable securitie may be obserued and noted both in wicked and in godly men In wicked men these things may be easily discerned 1 A lothnesse to examine themselues and try their estates exactly for feare lest they should finde that they are not in a good estate Their hearts secretly condemne them and they thinke if they should take particular notice of their owne condition it would be found that they haue indeed no true grace in them and therefore they rather chuse to liue in that doubtfull estate then to be put out of doubt and made to know that they haue yet no right to the Kingdome of heauen neuer considering that the knowledge of our misery may be one degree to get out of it 2. In such as see all is not well with them the cause is slothfulnesse mingled with horrible presumption they had rather weare out their dayes in danger then be at the paines to vse the means for their owne repentance and reformation they will wretchlesly put it to the venture 3. Others will aduenture vpon their common hope of mercy they haue certaine generall confused apprehensions of mercy in God vpō which they wilfully engage their hopes without care of reformation or the particular warrant of their hopes from the Word of God and so miserably perish their hopes prouing but as the house of the Spider and the imaginarie mercy failing them they die either as stockes without sense or as Iudas in horrible despaire 4. Others rest themselues vpon their outward profession of Religion and some general things wrought in them and the good opinion others haue of them so being somewhat neare the kingdome of God they are content to rest there as the Israelites did neare Canaan though they neuer possessed it We see many think there needsno more to be sure they are in a good cōdition then to heare Sermons abstaine from grosse outward prophannesse and to be well reputed of among the godly c. pleasing themselues with the shew of godlinesse though as yet they deny the power of it as hauing attained to other righteousnesse then the righteousnesse of the S◅ribs and Pharises 5. In multitudes of men there are seated euill opinions about assurance They thinke either it is impossible to bee had or it is needlesse or it is presumption to seeke it 6. All wicked men are hindered by their beloued sinnes which they are not willing to part with but of purpose forbeare the care of heauen that they may the more securely liue in sinne Thus of wicked men It is true also that many godly Christians haue beene and are extreamly faulty in neglecting the triall of their estates and their assurance and the causes of this negligence in them are diuerse as 1. Some are so much mis-led by the surmises of their owne hearts that they think that assurance would breed security and that it is a better way to keepe their owne hearts humble to be somewhat doubtfull not knowing that vnbeliefe is the chiefe cause of slothfulnesse and securitie and that the assurance of faith is the chiefe meanes to purge the heart and quiet the soule and works effectually in all the duties of loue 2. In the most Ignorance of their owne gifts and Gods promises is the cause for if Christians did see distinctly how far the Lord hath brought them by his grace and withall did behold the euidences of their faith and hope in Gods promises they should not faile of comfort and establishment of heart 3. Smothering of doubts and temptations is a great let in many diuers Christians are secretly and daily assaulted with certaine strange doubts which if they did propound get sound answer vnto their hearts would heale within them and the worke of faith prosper 4. Some Christians are kept without assurance through the ouermuch viewing of their owne daily infirmities in all parts of Gods seruice They are wicked ouermuch wheras if they would study those Scriptures that shew how graciously the Lord stands inclined toward his people notwithstanding their daily wants their hearts would be much eased and their minds cleerely resolued to trust vpon the euerlasting mercies of their God 5. In some the cause is found in the disease of their bodies Melancholy when it is growne to a disease is a most stiffe and pertinacious aduersary to Comfort and Assurance it doth fill the heart with so many sad conceits and fancies and is an humour so vnteachable that comfort for the most part is as water spilt vpon the ground And the more difficult it is to remoue this let because vsually the parties possest by this humour are so far from seeking help that they will not be perswaded that they are troubled with any such disease 6. Some Christians are hindred by their owne Passions they are so froward and vnquiet in their dispositions that their hearts are daily lifted off from the benefit of setled assurance by their own habituall discont◅nts Frowardnes is a mischieuous distemp◅r that weakens both body and minde and assurance and strength of faith seldome dwels in an vnquiet minde 7. Others want assurance because they neglect the meanes of assurance they doe not try all things and keepe that which is good or they call not vpon God daily feruently and constantly to giue them the spirit of reuelation to shew them the hope of their calling and their glorious inheritance Eph. 1. 18 19. 8. A barren life is an vncomfortable life and contrariwise to abound in good workes hath stedfastnesse and a secret rest of heart as an vnseparable companion of it 9. The loue of earthly things is another great impediment Many professours haue their thoughts and cares so eaten vp with worldlinesse that they cannot seriously seeke Gods Kingdome nor constantly hold out in any course for the attainement of assurance This degree of faith requires some degree of the contempt of the world 10. In some there lodgeth some secret sin which they know and do not purge themselues for and doth daily preuaile in them and
a sure way and delight thy selfe in much peace 6. Take heede of idlenesse and prouide to walke faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life 7. Bee sure thou hold a constant course of confession of thy sinnes to God and do it without hiding or extenuating iudging thy selfe for euery knowne sinne and especially praying against and resisting the sinne thou art most prone vnto 8. Bee not well pleased with they selfe till thou canst approue thy care to be good at home as well as abroad looke to this rule and take heede of frowardnesse and peruerse behauiour in thy family Thou wilt hardly get any comfortable euidence that thou art sound at heart if the vsuall family sinnes reigne in thee 9. Thou mightst wonderfully aduance and establish vprightnesse of heart in thee if thou wouldest carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his Word that whensoeuer thou didst â—…le â—…hy conscience wounded or smitten for any particular offence by the word of God that then without delay thou wouldst in secret 〈◊〉 to God and humble thy self â—… by confession and from that time forward remember to striue against that sinne And so like wise when God with some speciall glory of â—…is truâ—… doth affect thee in the hearing of some needfull duty to be done not to dare to delay but 〈◊〉 to the obedience of that good Word of God FINIS THE PROMISES OR A TREATISE SHEWING how a godly Christian may support his heart with comfort Against all the distresses which by reason of any afflictions or temptations can befall him in his life Containing all the most comfortable places through the whole Bible orderly digested By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt and are to bee sold by P. Stephens and C. Meredith at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard 1630. TO THE MVCH Honored and right worthy Sir William Throgmorton Knight and Baronet and Sir Francis Darcie Knight N. Bifield wisheth the increase of all Grace and happinesse that accompanieth the loue of the Lord Iesus in sincerity IF the many crosses and temptations with which the life of all men euen the most godly is distressed bâ—… seriously weighed and withall the great disconsolation that too often surpriseth the hearts of most Christians bee compassionately thought on and if withall the singular glory of a godly mind framed vnto vnmoueable rest and stedfast contentment be throughly conceiued of it cannot but bee manifest that if a way may bee shewed how a Christian may fill his heart with comfort in any condition hee can fall into in respect of affliction that such a course is profitable and all ought to take notice of it and with all care paines employ themselues about it This by Gods assistance vpon apparent grounds of Scripture I haue endeuoured to shew in this Treatise and doubt not but by experience humble and godly Christians will finde much refreshing and establishment of heart if they apply themselues distinctly and diligently to draw of the water of life out of those wels of saluation opened for them euery where in this role of Gods promises This Treatise I present to your Worships vnder the countenance of your names desire to coÌ„mend it vnto the Church of God this I am induced to do for diuers reasons your forwardnesse in the profession of sincere religion for many yeeres the publike seruice you haue done in the Countrey in the administration of Iustice for the incouragement of the good and reformation of abuses your great care from time to time to plant painful profitable teachers in the places of your abode together with the excellent gifts with which God hath furnished your minds deserue to be freely publikely acknowledged in the Church of God in mine owne particular I haue beene so many wayes obliged that with much gladnesse I embrace this occasion to let the world know my desire to be thankfull for the many helps furtherances my ministery hath receiued from the countenance and endeuours of both your Worships as occasion â—…h at any time bin offered Desiring your acceptance hereof and praying God to preserue you in his fear without offence till the day of Christ and to enlarge in you the desire and power of wel-doing in all things I end and rest Isleworth Octo. 161â—… Your Worships in the seruice of Iesuâ—… Christ to be coâ—…anded N. Bifield The chief Contents of this Booke CHAP. I. THE drist of the whole booke is to shew abundant comfort against any distresse p. 282. Two things taken for granted viz. both the godly man shall bee distressed and also that comfort may be had in any distresse p. 284. The worth of those promises p. 283. 284. To whom the promises belong p. 284. The vse they will serue for being learned p. 255. 286. The infallibility of those promises proued by 13. arguments p. 288. to 293. The promises sealed foure waies p. 291. Six rules to be obserued if we will profit by the promises p. 293. 294. CHAP. II. Three sorts of promises p. 295. Sorts of afflictions in which wee need comfort p. 296. 297. 298. CHAP. III. 12. Priuiledges of the godly p. 300. to 308. CHAP. IIII. What is meant by outward afflictions p. 309. 10. Arguments of consolation to support vs against outward afflictions p. 3â—…0 to 319. CHAP. V. Men need comfort against reproaches p. 319. 12. Arguments of consolation against reproaches p. 320. to 328. CHAP. VI. Many principall obiections of the godly about reproaches answered p. 328. to 335. CHAP. VII Directions in the case of reproaches p. 335. to 336. CHAP. VIII How the godly may câ—…fort themselues in case of aduersaries p. 336. to 343. CHAP. IX 3. Things taken for granted about temptations p. 343. 344. Satan tempts vs fiue wayes p. 344. 345. 3. Sorts of temptations by suggestion p. 346. 347. 9. Occasions of temptation p. 347. to 35â—… CHAP. X. How many wayes a godly man may comfort himselfe against temptations p. 342. to 356. Sixe things in Christ comfort vs against temptations p. 353. 354. How farre forth wee may pray against temptations p. 366. How wee may know that wee are not ouercome of temptations p. 356. 357. CHAP. XI Two sorts of promises about infirmities p. 35â—… What is meant by 〈◊〉 p. 359. 9. Arguments of consolation against our daily infirmities p. 360. to 370. The goodnesse of Gods nature shewed in fourâ—… things p. 361 362. Many things comfortable in Christ. p. 363. 364. 9. Priuiledges about infirmities assâ—…ed vs in the Word p. 365. to 368. CHAP. XII Diuers obiections about our infirmities answered p. 370. to 375. About ignorance diuers comfortable meditations p. 373. 374. The explication of two excellent places of Scripture with the sundry answers of many obiections met withall in all these places from p. 377. to 385. CHAP. XIII Many consolations to support vs against the feare of falling away taken froâ—… the considerations 1. Of
Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Secondly the Decree of God concerning which the Apostle saith That the foundation of God remaineth sure hee knoweâ—…h who are his Though Hymeneus and Philetus fall away yet none that call vpon the name of the Lord and depart from iniquity can euer be lost 2 Tim. 2. 19. Thirdly the attributes of God and so there bee three things in God may wonderfully settle vs against this feare The one is his faithfulnesse The other is his power The third is his immutable loue All three are laid to pawne for the performance of this preseruation so pleaded in Scripture For his faithfulnesse the Apostle thence concludes that the godly shall bee confirmed to the end as was alleadged before 1. Cor. 1. 8 6. and so he reasoneth writing to the Thessalonians The Lord is faithfull who shall stablish you and keepe you from euill 2 Thess. 3. 3. And of the power of God these places speake we are kept by the power of God to saluation 1 Pet. 1. 5. I know saith Paul whom I haue beleeued and I am perswaded that hee is able to keepe that which I haue committed to him against that day 2 Tim. 1. 12. Now vnto him that is able to keepe you from falling saith Iude and to preserue you faultlesse before the presence of his glory with exceeding ioy to the onely wise God our Sauiour be glory and maiestie dominion and power now and euer Iud. 24. And for the loue of God that it is vnchangeable there is apparent proofe Whom he loueth he loueth to the end Iohn 13. 1. so as we may bee confident in this that hee which hath begun a good worke in vs will performe it till the day of Christ Philip. 1. 6. Fourthly wee haue the seale of God for it and he hath giuen vs earnest that we shal certainly enioy the inheritance purchased for vs. And thus euery one that beleueth is sealed by the holy Spirit of promise which is our earnest Eph. 1. 14 15. and therefore we shall be established 2 Cor. 1. 22. Now for the second If any aske how God will doe this I answer that the Scripture shewes how this will be performed thus For 1. God will not cast off his people he will neuer forsake his inheritance Psal. 94. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 22. For the Lord loueth iudgement and forsaketh not his Saints and therefore they are preserued for â—…uer Psal. 37. 28. 2. God will put his feare into their hearts that they shall not depart from him For this is his Couenant with his people that he will not turne away from them to doe them good and hee will put his feare into them that they shall not depart from him Ier. 32. 40 41. 3. To make all the surer he will put his Spirit into them which shall leade them into all truth and cause them to keepe his statutes and to doe them Iohn 14. Ezech. 36. 4. He will vphold them and order their wayes and keepe their feet that they fall not The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Though he fall he shall not vtterly bee cast downe for the Lord vpholdeth him with his hand Psal. 37. 23 24. He holdeth our soule in life and suffereth not our feet to bee moued Psal. 66. 9. He will keepe the feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2. 9. 5. Lastly God will worke their workes for them and continually assist them with his presence and blessings Esa. 26. Ezech. 36. Phil. 2. 13. And thus the comforts that we may gather from God Now secondly in Christ there are three things may minister much establishment in our harts against this feare 1. His intercession hee hath specially prayed for vs that God would keepe vs from euill Iohn 17. and therefore is able to saue vs to the vttermost because hee euer liueth to make intercession for vs Heb. 7. 15. 2. The consideration of his office herein It is his worke to be Omega as well as Alpha to bee the finisher of our faith as well as the author of it He is the end as well as the beginning Reuel 21. 6. Heb. 12. 2. 3. The power of Christ. None can take vs out of his hand Iohn 10. and as was said before he is able to saue vs to the vttermost Heb. 7. 25. Thus of the consideration of Christ also Now thirdly in our selues wee may looke vpon three things as we are in the estate of grace For first we are borne againe to a liuely hope of an immorall inheritance reserued for vs in heauen Our new birth intitles vs to heauen and it is kept for vs and our hope is liuely 1 Pet. 1. 3. Secondly our seed abideth in vs It cannot be blotted out Hee that is borne of God sinneth not because his seed remaineth in him 1 Iohn 3. 9. Thirdly eternall life is begun in vs Iohn 17. 3. Now if it be life eternall how can it end How can we fall away from it Naturall life may end but Splrituall life can neuer end CHAP. XIIII Promises that concerne Prayer HItherto of Promises that concerne affliction And in as much as my purpose was but to fence the godly man settled in his iustification against the grieuances which might befall him in respect of afflictions during the time of his pilgrimage here I shall end with the discourse of those promises sauing that I will giue a taste of the last sort of promise viz. such as are encouragements to holy graces or duties I will not instance in the promises made to the loue of God to meeknesse to such as seeke God to the loue of the word and the like but onely I wil open the promises made to the prayers of the godly and the rather because Christians are most troubled about their prayers The promises that concerne prayer may be referred to three heads For either they are such as assure vs that God will heare the prayers of his seruants or they shew vs what in prayer he will heare or else they describe the wonderfull goodnesse of God in the manner how he wil heare For the first that the Lord will certainly heare prayer these places of Scripture doe most comfortably assure vs. Esay 58. 9. Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry he shall say Here I am Math. 21. 22. And whatsoeuer ye shall aske in prayer if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it Iohn 14. 13. And whatsoeuer ye aske in my name that will I doe that the Father may be glorified in the Sonne 1 Iohn 5. 14 15. And this is the assurance that wee haue of him that if wâ—… aske any thing according to his will he heareth vs. And if we know that he heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske we know that we haue the Petitions that wee haue desired of him Iob 22. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer vnto him
better affections CHAP. I. Containing the Preface which shewes the drift warrant profit and vse of the ensuing Treatise THE only thing intended in this Treatise is to collect for thy vse Christian Reader those directions scattered here and there in the Scripture which may throughout the whole course of thy life tell thee what thou must do in the right order of thy conuersation how thou shouldest behaue thy self towards God and how thou shouldest carry thy selfe towards men in all the occasions of thy life in company out of company in all duties either of righteousnesse or mercie and how thou shouldest dispose of thy selfe in affliction and out of affliction at all times And thou maiest bee the more encouraged to studie and practise these rules because thou hast the most expresse and apparant word of God to warrant and require thy obedience herein Be not so profane as to thinke that heere is more to doe then needs or that I burthen the liues of Christians with a multitude of vnnecessarie Precepts and so make the way harder then it is For I require thy obedience in nothing thou hast not reason to be perswaded to be enioyned thee by the pure Word of God and thou must know to the confusion of thy securitie that he that will walke safely must walke by rule Gal. 6. 16. He is yet in darkenesse and walkes on in darkenesse and sees not what he doth or whither he goeth that doth not make the Word of God the light vnto his sect and the Lanterne vnto his paths Ps. 119. There is an holy order of life commended in the godly Col. 2. 5. And Gods promises are made to such as will dispose of their whole wayes aright A loose conuersation is an ill conuersation and if euer we would see the saluation of God we must be at the paines to dispose of our wayes and to see to it that wee dispose of our wayes aright Psal. 50. vlt. The benefit thou maiest reape by this Treatise is much euery way if the fault bee not in thy selfe for here thou maiest briefly behold the substance of a godly life thou maiest in a short time informe thy knowledge in that great Doctrine of practicall Diuinitie But especially thou maiest by the helpe of this Treatise see a sound way how to beautifie thy owne conuersation with the addition of diuers rules which perhaps hitherto thou hast not taken notice of God hath promised much peace and comfort vnto such as will walke according vnto rule Gal. 6. 16. Yea he hath promised that they shall see the saluation of God that dispose their way aright Psal. 50. vlt. It is true it is a greater labour to trauaile in the way then to shew it but yet it is a greater benefit to bee shewed the way Howsoeuer it may not bee denied but it is a greater glory to obserue these Rules then to know them or prescribe them It may be thou wilt obiect that the Rules are so many thou canst neuer remember them and so not profit by them I answer If I haue made the Rules no more in number then God hath made them in his Word thou mayest not finde fault with me Secondly No man that is to learne any Trade or Science but he meeteth with more directiōs then he can on the suddain reach to or practise and yet he reiects not his Trade or Science because in time hee hopes to learne it all Would we put on a resolution to serue a Prentiship to Religion and to worke hard one seuen yeeres Oh what worke would we dispatch How many Rules and knowledges would we grow skilfull in But alas after many yeeres profession of Christianitie the most of vs if all were put together haue not done the worke that might haue beene done in few dayes Thirdly I answer that it is not necessarie thou shouldest lay all these Rules before thee at once but marke out certaine choise Rules so many as thou canst well remember and striue by daily practise to bring thy selfe to some kinde of dexteritie in obseruing them There bee some Rules of each kinde which if thou bee a true Christian thou knowest and obseruest alreadie These thou mayest continue to obserue still without loading thy memory about them Now if those be omitted then consider of the rest that remaine which of them do most concerne thee or would most adorne thy practice and profession or are such as thou neuer hitherto didst make conscience of Extract or marke out so many of those at that time as thou wouldest in daily practice striue to attaine and when thou hast learned them then goe on and prescibe to thy selfe new Lessons To a carnall mind all the way of godlinesse is impossible but to a godly and willing mind all things through the power and assistance of God are possible God will accept thy desire and endeuour and will adde strength and might and encourage thee in all his wayes By prayer thou mayest forme any grace in thee by reason of the power the Lord Iesus hath to preuaile for any thing thou dost aske the Father in his name The last benefit may come to thee if thou daily reade these directions is that they wil quicken thee to a great care of weldoing and giue thee cause to walke humbly with thy God and abase thy selfe for thine owne insufficiencie The Lord giue thee vnderstanding in all things and vnite thy heart vnto his feare alwayes that thou mayest obserue to doe as hee commandeth thee and not turne from the good way all the dayes of thy life CHAP. II. Containing such Rules as in generall men must take notice of as preparations and furtherances to a godly life THE Rules of a holy life may be cast into two rankes the first containing such rules as are Generall and the other such as are Particular The generall rules are likewise of two sorts some of them concerne certaine generall preparations helpes or furtherances to an holy life without which men in vaine beginne the cares or endeuours of a reformed life And some of them comprehend those necessarie rules which are to bee obserued in the manner of doing all holy duties and so are of singular vse to bee alwayes remembred when wee goe about any seruice Of the first sort there are many rules for they that will addresse themselues to order their conuersation aright must be soundly carefull in the obseruation of these directions following 1 Hee must examine himselfe about his faith and repentance he must be sure hee is reconciled to God and hath truely repented himselfe of his sinnes 2 Cor. 13. 5. For vnlesse he be a new creature he is no creature but a dead man and so vtterly vnable for the practice of these rules following And without God wee can doe nothing and without God wee are till we liue by faith Besides the pollution of our hearts or liues drawne vpon vs by the custome of
preserue affection this spirituall loue in his heart and watch against and resist the first beginnings of decay or coldnesse or declining in his heart and take heede of suffering his heart to be drawne away by the deceitfulnesse of sinne or the enticements of the world 15. He must couet earnestly the best gifts 1 Cor. 12. vlt. There are some duties in piety or Mercie or Righteousnesse which in respect of our places doe most concerne vs would in a more speciall manner adorne our particular profession so are there some gifts which do aduance our communion with God and doe make vs more profitable amongst men Now these things we should study and earnestly labour to frame our selues to to expresse them more effectually in our conuersation This no doubt is the reason why the holy Ghost doth in the Scripture make Catalogues of certaine speciall duties or graces singled out from the rest and sitted to the cōditions of the people who are written to and this would be a singular aduantage to vs if we also would single out to our vse some few of the chiefest vertues or duties which we would daily set before vs an◅ striue by prayer and all holy endeauour to fashion them to the life in our hearts a◅d liues 16. He must renew often his mortification mans heart is like fallow ground which is not fit to receiue seed till it be broken vp and at best it is like a garden which will often need weeding If wee doe not at some times in speciall manner humble our soules before God worldly cares or carnall delights will ouer-grow our desires and our practice and choake the seed of the Word receiued by vs wee must keepe vnder our bodies and bring them in subiection and be often dragging our lusts to the crosse of Christ there to crucifie them Our practice is like to sowing which presupposeth plowing before Ier. 4. 3 4. Hosh. 10. 12. 1. Cor. 9. 27. 17. We must watch for the opportunities of well-doing and take heed of procrastination he must seeke righteous◅esse and haste to it he must not put it off till to morrow Esay 6. 8. Prou. 3. 28. and 2. 4. Amos. 5. 14. 18. Hee must remember the Sabbath Day to sanctifie it The commandement concerning the keeping of the Sabbath to sanctifie it is placed in the midst betweene the two Tabels of purpose to shew that the keeping of the Sabbath is a singular helpe to all piety and righteousnesse and God hath promised a speciall blessing to the obseruers of the Sabbath and giues strength by the rest of that day ◅he better to performe holy duties all the weeke after Commandement 4. Esay 38. 1◅ 19. Hee must meditate much on the example of the godly of all ages and striue diligently to learne their wayes and to quicken himselfe by the thought of their care zeale and sinceritie And thus hee may also profitably set before him the examples of such of his owne acquaintance as excell in the gifts of Christ and fruits of weldoing The example of good men should be as forcible to draw vs to good as the example of euill men is to incline others to euill wee haue beene compassed about with a cloud of witnesses who haue liued in all ages of the Church wee must therefore stand in the wayes see and aske for the old way to walke in it and with all gladnesse follow any that are fit to bee guides to vs therein Hebr. 12. 1. Ier. 12. 19. 6. 16. 20. He must go daily to him that teacheth to profit begging of God to shew him a way and to leade him by his Spirit vnto the right practice of euery holy duty euen to guide him in the plaine path Esay 48. 17. ◅sal 27. 11. Thus I haue s◅t downe those rules which are generall helpes vnto godlinesse and must be attended by a Godly Christian. CHAP. III. Shewing the things that are to bee auoided by such as would order their conuersation aright NOw before I proceed vnto the rules that concerne the manner of weldoing I will adde to the former directions nine Cautions or nine things which a Christian must take heed of in his practice of holy duties As First hee must take heed of wretchlesnesse or a scornefull carelesnesse of his owne wayes he must not despise his wayes as if he cared not how hee liued or rested satisfied to bee still as he was this carelesnesse proues the bane of many a soule whereas Hee that keepeth his soule keepeth his way Prou. 19. 16. and 2◅ 8. 2. He must take heed of precipitation or rashnesse or too much haste this is the ground of much false zeale and the cause of strange euils in the presence of some Christian but the godly Christian must learne of Salomon to prepare his worke in the field and then build his house he must get sound knowledge of the warrant of his actions guide his affaires by aduice and with serious preparation fit himselfe to the doing of what hee is sure is good Hee that hasteth with his feete sinneth what is done rashly cannot be done well Prou. 19. 2. As procrastination is a great vice so precipitation is no vertue Prou. 24. 27. 28. 26. 3. Hee must haue no confidence in the flesh he must not rely vpon his own wit memory reason desires vertues praises or power but all his comfort and affiance must be in the merits intercession vertue and assistance of Iesus Christ his Sauiour Phil. 3. 3. 4. He must not haste to be rich for the desire of money is the roote of all euill and they cannot be at leasure for good duties that are so eager to compasse great things in the world Pro. 23. 4. 28. 20. 5. Hee must take heed of the snares that rise from distrustfull feares There is a snare in feare Pro. 29. 25. There are many feares will assault a man that resolues to liue well as the feare that he cannot doe good duties the feare that God will not accept what he doth the feare lest men should scorne him or contemne him or lest he should lose the fauour of his friends or such like Now against all these must the godly minde be armed and take heede that those feares proue not great hinderances to him and especially take heed of that vnbeliefe or counterfeit humilitie by disabling himselfe or mistrusting God contrary to his nature and prom◅ 6. Hee must take heed of adding to or detracting from the word of God Hee must not imagine more sins then God hath made that is not trouble himselfe with feare of offending in such things as God hath not in his Word forbidden and so likewise hee must not impose vpon his owne conscience or other mens the necessitie of obseruing such rules of practice as God neuer prescribed This caution would ease the hearts of many Christians if it were
1 Cor. 3. 18. humbling our selues at his very feete to receiue his Law Deut. 33. 3. 2. Wee must bring with vs a meeke and quiet spirit a minde quieted from passions lusts and perturbations and at rest from the turmoyling cares of this world The Word is able to doe great things in our hearts if we receiue it with meeknesse Iames 1. 21. Secondly at the time of hearing wee must looke to two rules First we must hearken without distraction we must heare as if it were for our liues wee must incline our eares and shake off all impediments arising from our owne drowsinesse preiudice or vaine thoughts or distracting obiects Esay 55. 3. Psal. 116. 113. Secondly wee must proue all things and keepe that which is good We must heare with iudgement hearken for our selues hauing speciall care to looke to that doctrin which in particular concerns vs to lay it vp in our hearts and apply it effectually This is a rule of singular thrift in godlines If we did marke what sin in vs the Lord reproues or what comfort is speedily fitted to our hearts or what direction doth specially concerne vs He hath an honest memory that will bee sure to keepe these things though he forget all the rest and hee hath a wretched memory and heart too that forgets these things though he could repeate all the Sermon verbatim Thirdly after we haue heard two things also must be further done First we must by meditation labour to make those things wee haue heard which concerne vs fast that they runne not out of our mindes and we must take heed that neither the diuell steale away the good seed nor our owne heart through negligence forget it Neither is this a worke for an houre after to keepe these things till we may repeate them to others but ought to be our daily worke especially the weeke after to thinke so often of them till there be a sure impression of the Word in our hearts Hebr. 2. 1 2. Secondly wee must yet further see to it that we be doers of the Word yea we must obserue to doe as the phrase of the holy Ghost is It is the wisedome of God so to dispose of his ordinances that we receiue our directions by parcels and there is a time of interim betweene Sabbath and Sabbath Sermon and Sermon that we might in that space learne to frame our selues to the obedience of the truths receiued that so we might be ready to receiue new lessons from the Lord. The surest way for the husband man to keepe his seede is not to lay it vp in his baâ—… but to cast it into the ground for what is sowed he may receiue againe with aduantage or if he might faile of an haruest from his seede in nature yet godly men shall neuer faile to receiue what they sow by practice with increase So much of the truth as is put into practice is sure for euer the rest may be lost and it is a singular helpe to a Christian if he set vpon his obedience while the doctrine is yet fresh in his minde for delay will compasse him about with many difficulties and he will want those inward incitations that might stirre vp his heart with power and strength to obey CHAP. XI Rules about the Sacrament of Baptisme THus of the rules of our carriage about hearing Next we are to consider how we are to order our liues in respect of the Sacraments The Sacraments are two Baptisme and the Lords Supper The duties we are bound to in respect of Baptisme concerne either 1. Our children 2. Our selues 3. Others For our children it is our duty to present them vnto Baptisme but withall we must looke to it that it be done in due time and with faith and thankfulnesse to God In due time so as thereby we signifie our great estimation of Gods mercy to our seed and our great desire to haue the Couenant sealed euen vnto them We must also bring them to Baptisme with saith in Gods couenant The Lord hath bound himselfe to bee our God and the God of our seede Now it is our parts to giue glory to God and to declare before the Lord our perswasion of his goodnesse and claime to that part of his Couenant By faith we plead our right whereas by vnbeleefe wee giue God occasion to neglect our seed I adde also with thankefulnesse because we ought with great ioy and acknowledgement of the free grace of God to behold our seede admitted in the sure couenant of mercy and saluation with our selues and ought to thinke that God hath done more for our children to admit them into the couenant by Baptisme then if the greatest person on earth had made vpon them the assurance of some great estate of maintenance or preferment Secondly for our selues we must make conscience of it to make vse of our owne Baptisme and that throughout the whole course of our life It is giuen vs as a seale of Gods promises and as a vow of our obedience and so we must make vse of it all the dayes of our life especially in three cases First in the case of doubting and feare of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes or of the saluation of our soules for Baptisme saueth vs that is effectually assures vs of our saluation and we doe not offend in trusting Gods promise made in his word signed and sealed in Baptisme As certainly doth it saue our soules as the Arke saued the bodies of Noah and his houshold so as we cannot miscarry if we leape not out of the Arke into the Seas of water Let vs sticke to our Baptisme and then we are safe The washing in Baptisme did assure the washing of our soules by the blood of Christ for our sinnes If I be tempted to doubt of my saluation I must say to my owne soule Hath not the Lord prouided me the Arke of Baptisme to preserue me from the seas of his wrath And if I doubt the forgiuenesse of sinnes I must sayâ—… Hath not the Lord washed mee â—…om my sinnes by the blood of his Sonne Did he not shew mee so much in Baptisme We sin shamefully in that we doe not make this vse but neglect the confidence Baptisme should worke in vs as if the Lord had but dallied with vs or that Baptisme were but some idle Ceremony 1 Pet. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 29. Acts 22. 16. Secondly in the case of temptation to commit sin we ought to fight against sin by this mighty weapon of our Baptisme and so we may do by diuers Arguments As First in my Baptisme I haue made a vow to God that I would cleaue to him in Iesus Christ and renounce the world the diuell and sinne and shall I breake my vow to God that would be ashamed to breake my promise to men Secondly my Baptisme was the Baptisme of repentance and shall I yet liue in sinne My body was washed and shall
my soule be still impure Mat. 3. 11. Mark 1. 4. Acts 13. 24. Thirdly by Baptisme I was assured of the vertue of the death of Christ to kill sinne in me and shall I not beleeue the operation of God that he can deliuer mee from the powerfull temptations or inclinations to any sinne Shall I not seeke strength of Christ or shall I betray my selfe to the diuell and the flesh In Christ I am dead to sinne and shall I yet liue therein Rom. 6. 1 3. Col. 2. 12. Thirdly our Baptisme must bee vsed against the doubts of perseuering or whether we shall be kept vnto saluation and whether our body shall be raised againe at the last day for God hath assured all this vnto vs in our Baptisme that we haue our part not onely in the death of Christ but also in the resurrection of Christ and if Christ be raised in vs Christ can dye no more either in himselfe or in our hearts and the same power that raised him out of the graue will also raise vp our bodies at the last day as is pleaded Romans 6. 10. c. Galat. 3. 27 28. 1 Cor. 15. 29. 1 Pet. 3. 21. If we be baptized and beleeue we shall certainely be saued Mark 16. 16. Thus as it concernes our selues 3. In respect of others we are bound to the good behauiour in Baptisme as to acknowledge the communion of Saints so are we tied to preserue our selues in all brotherly loue with the godly who weare the same Liuery with vs and are Souldiers prest to the same warre and haue taken vpon them the same holy Vow with vs we are bound in Baptisme to loue them to stand for them aboue all other people and to liue with them in all holy loue to our liues end Eph. 4. 3 4 5. 1 Cor. 12. 1â—… 1. 13. Gal. 3. 27 28. CHAP. XII Rules about the Lords Supper HItherto concerning Baptisme The rules that concerne the Lords Supper follow Now concerning this Sacrament we are charged with these things First Examination 1 Cor. 11. we must examine our selues and so eate and drinke Examine our selues so as we be sure there bee no sinne in our hearts and liues which we haue committed but we are desirous to forsake and doe vnfainedly iudge our selues for it being as desirous to forsake as we desire God should in the Sacrament forgiue it Secondly The diseerning of the Lords Body and Blood so comming to partake of these outward signes of Bread and Wine as we withall know and beleeue the presence of Christ and that God doth as effectually giue Christ to the soule of the beleeuer as he giues Bread and Wine to his body yea we must thus discerne and beleeue that he is there offered and giuen vnto vs also and that God doth not delude vs but as truly giues vs the Body and Blood of Christ as he doth by the Minister giue vs the Bread and Wine 1 Cor. 11. Thirdly The shewing forth of the death of Christ This is a solemnity where we must intend to make a solemne remembrance of the Passion and Death of our Sauiour not onely in being present at the breaking of the Bread and powring out of the Wine but in raising vp in our heart a thankefull remembrance of his grieuous sufferings and death for our sins Math. 26. 1. Cor. 11. Fourthly Fellowship and louing communion with the godly which we both signifie and vow in the Sacraments and testifie before God and men that we wil cleaue vnto them aboue all the people in the world as being the same bread with vs euen members of the same mysticall Body of Christ 1 Cor. 10. Fifthly speciall reconciliation with such as we haue offended bearing malice to no man and desiring and seeking peace with all sorts of men Matth. 5. Rom. 12. Sixtly and lastly The vowes of sincerity resoluing to keepe this feast all our life in the vnleauened bread of sinceritie and truth euen to spend our daies in all vprightnesse of heart and vnfeigned hatred of all sinne and hypocrisie 1 Cor. 5. 8. CHAP. XIII Rules about Prayer THus of the Sacraments The Rules concerning prayer follow where besides the generall Rules that belong to all worship these things in speciall must be heeded concerning prayer 1. Thy words must be few Eccl. 5. 1 2. and the reason is because God is in heauen and thou art on earth He is full of maiesty and wisedome and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God without vaine repetitions and bablings pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God as affectation is ill in any thing so much more ill in prayer This rule may be vnsauory to the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale but let them take heede of wil-worship the words are so plaine in the text as they must informe themselues about them The Lord knew what was fittest for vs when he gaue vs this charge 2. Thy heart must be lifted vp in the performance of this dutie this is often imported in diuers Scriptures and this lifting vp of the heart hath diuers things in it 1. Vnderstanding thou must bee aduised what thou prayest for and know thy warrant that what thou askest is according to Gods will 1 Cor. 14. 15. Ioh. 5. 30. 2. Freedome from distractions thy heart must be cleansed from passions and lusts thy prayer must bee without wrath 1 Tim. 〈◊〉 8. And as the distractions arising from passion must be auoided so must al other distractions 3. Feruencie or the stretching out of the affections according to the matter of prayer thou must expresse the affections of prayer for God lookes at the prayer of thy heart not at the prayer of thy lips onely 3. Thou must pray with all manner of prayer according to the occasions of prayer Thou must pray at thy set times daily and thou must pray also with eiaculations as the Diuines call them that is those sudden and short speeches to God when thy heart is moued vpon speciall occasion Thou must vse Supplications Deprecations Intercessions Confessions giuing of thankes or the like according to thy necessities or the other occasions of thy life Thou must striue to get a fitnesse and language to speake vnto God for thy selfe in thine owne words as may best expresse the desires of thine heart Eph. 6. 18. 4. Thou must continue and perseuere in prayer without ceasing prayer must be the worke of thy whole life not an exercise for a fit for a day or two or a weeke or two or a moneth or two thou must make conscience of prayer alwaies Eph. 6. 18. 1 Thes. 5. 17. 5. When thy prayer is grounded vpon Gods will thou must be instant and not faint or be discouraged Thou must pray without doubting and wauering as resolued neuer to
Ioel 1. 2. Leuit. 16. 29. Secondly the time must bee spâ—…t in religious duties as a Sabbath especially in the exercises that concerne the humiliation of the soule in renewing of our repentance for the obtaining of pardon of sinne or some speciall blessing of God or the preuenting or remoouing of some great iudgement of God The former rule concernes onely the ceremony or outward exercise of the body but this rule containes the substance of the dutie without which a religious Fast is not kept vnto God who regardeth not the hanging downe of the head like a bull-rush if the soule be not humbled before God for sinne Leuiticus 16. 29. Ioel 1. 14. and 2. 16 17. CHAP. XVIII Rules about the Sabbath HItherto of the Rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship The rules that concerne the time of Gods worship follow and this time especially is the Sabbath Day Now the rules that binde vs to the good behauiour concerning the Sabbath concerne either the preparation of the Sabbath or the manner of performing holy duties on the Sabbath The preparation to the Sabbath containes in it these things First the ending of all our works on the sixe dayes as God did his Gen. 2. 2. This example of God is set downe not onely to shew what he did but to prescribe vnto vs what we should doe as is manifest by vrging this example in the reason of the commandement We must then take order to finish the works of the weeke dayes with such discretion that neither our heads bee troubled with the cares of them nor our hands tempted to worke about them on the Sabbath Day Secondly the preuenting of domesticall grieuances and perturbations Leuit. 19. 3. Ye shall feare euery man his mother and his father and keepe my Sabbath Discords and contentions and heart-burnings in the members of the family extend their infection and hurt euen to the prophaning of Gods Sabbath The Lord lookes not to be serued aright in his house if people liue not quietly and louingly and dutifully in their owne houses Thirdly we must cleanse our selues that wee keepe the Sabbath Nehemiah 13. 22. Which place though it speake of Legall cleansing yet it shadowes out that Morall and perpetuall care of cleasing our selues that ought euen to be found in vs. And thus we do cleanse our selues when we humble our selues that we may walke with God confessing our sinnes euen the sinnes of the weeke past and making our peace with God through the name of Iesus Christ. Thus of the duties of preparation Now for the manner of keeping the Sabbath the rules prescribe vnto vs these things 1. Rest from all your works whether they be works of labour or workes of pleasure Works of labour the Scripture instanceth in such as are selling of victuals Nehemiah 13. 15. Carrying of burthens Ier. 17. Iourneying from our places Exod. 16. 29. the businesse of our callings done by our selues our children seruants or cattell which the words of the Commandement forbid And as workes of labour so also workes of pleasure are forbidden Esay 58. 13. 2. Readinesse and delight We should loue to be Gods seruants on this day Esay 56. and consecrate it with ioy as a glorious priuiledge to vs Esay 58. 13. abhorring wearinesse or a desire to haue the Sabbath gone and ended Amos 8. 3. Care and watchfulnesse We must obserue to keepe it Exod. 31. 16. wee must take heed to our selues that no duty bee omitted and that wee no way prophane it attending our hearts and our words Ier. 17. 21. 4. Sinceritie and this sinceritie wee should shew diuers wayes First by doing Gods worke with as much care as we would do our owne or rather shewing more care for the seruice of God They had their double sacrifices on the Sabbath in the time of the Law and we should studie how wee might please God in especiall manner on that day choosing out the things that might delight him God hath taken but one day of seuen for his worke and shall wee not doe it willingly Further if we respect our selues shall wee not bee as carefull to prouide for our soules on the Sabbath as for our bodies on the weeke dayes 2. By obseruing the whole day as well as a part and keepe the Sabbath in our dwellings as well as in Gods house God requires the whole day and not a part As wee would be contented our seruants should worke for vs onely an houre or two in the sixe daies so neither should we yeeld lesse vnto God then we require for our selues Nor will it suffice to serue God by publike duties in his House vnlesse we serue him also by priuate duties in our owne dwellings Commandement 4. Leuit. 23. 3. 3. By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath as well as the greater especially not transgressing of contempt or wilfulnesse in the least things we know to bee forbidden The Prophet instanceth Esay 58. 13. We must not speake our owne words Thus of sincerity 5. The fifth thing required of vs is Faith wee must glorifie God by beleeuing that he will make it a day of blessing vnto vs and performe that blessing he hath promised accepting our desire to walke before him in the vprightnesse of our hearts and passing by our infirmities and frailties Wee many times disturbe the rest and Sabbath of our soules by vnbeleefe Commandement 4. Gen. 2. 2. Exo. 31. 13. Ezech. 20. 20. 46. 2 5. 6. The last thing is Deprecation we must beseech God when we haue done our best to shew vs mercie and spare vs for our defects and weakenesses Thus we must end the day and reconcise our selues to God that the Rest of Iesus Christ may bee established in our hearts Nehe. 13. 22. And thus of the rules that bind vs to the good behauiour in respect of the time of Gods worship CHAP. XIX Rules that shew vs how to carrie our selues when we come into companie in respect of Religion HItherto of the Rules that concerne our carriage towards God Now it followes that I breake open those directions that should bring our liues into order in respect of men And these rules are of two sorts for either they are such as binde vs to the good behauiour towards all men or such as order our conuersation towards some men onely as they are considered to be either wicked or godly The rules that concerne all men may be cast into 2. heads as they belong either to righteousnesse or to mercy The rules that belong to righteousnesse order vs either in company or out of company The rules which wee are to obserue in company concerne either 1 Religion or 2. The sinnes and faults of others or 3. Our owne inoffensiue behauiour towards all men For the first when wee come in company we must be carefull to bee that which may become the glory of Gods truth and the Religion wee professe that weetake not vp the
them to silence and to take them in their consciences at least to thinke well of vs Such as are 2. Mortification A sound care to reforme our wayes and true hatred and griefe for our owne sinnes will cause many times wicked wretches to say of vs that wee are the people of the Lord Esay 61. 3 8. I say a sound care of reformation for to professe a mortified life and yet in any thing to shew that we can liue in any fault without repentance this prouokes them exceedingly to speake euill of the good way of God Therefore the first care of a Christian that would be rightly ordered toward wicked mâ—…n must be to liue without offence and to discouer a true mortified minde and an heart broken for sinne Secondly to speake with all reuerence and feare when we intreate of matters of Religion much amazeth the prophane conscience of a wicked man whereas cursorie discourses of such grand mysteries emptie and vaine ianglings doe exceedingly occasion a confirmed wilfulnesse and prophanenesse in such men 1. Pet. 3. 16. and Prou. 24. 26. Thirdly it is a most winning qualitie in all our carriage to shew meekenesse of wisedome to expresse a mind well gouerned free from passions and also from conceitednesse frowardnesse affectation and the vaine shew of what wee haue not in substance For each of these haue in them singular matter of irritation and prouoke wicked men to scorne and hatred and reuiling Fourthly there is an holy kind of Reseruednesse which may adorne the life of a Christian in his carriage among wicked men and this Reseruednesse is to be shewed 1. In not trusting our selues too farre with them not beleeuing euery word not bearing our selues vpon euery shew of fauour from them For as too much suspition of them breeds extreme alienation if they perceiue it so credulitie is no safe way Prou. 14. 15. Ioh. 2. 24. 2. By abstaining from iudging of them that are without It is a most intemperate zeale that spends it selfe in the vaine and bootlesse censure of the estate of those that are without Those censures haue in them matter of prouocation and nothing of edification It were happy for some Christians if they could with the Apostle say often to their owne soules What haue I to doe to iudge them that are without 1 Cor. 5. 12 13. 3. By studying to be quiet and meddle with our owne businesse casting about how to cut off all occasions by which we might bee tangled with any discord or contention or much businesse with them It is a godly ambition to thirst after this quietnesse of life 1 Thess. 4. 11 12. 4. By our silence in euill times alwayes auoyding all such discourses as might bring vs into danger without any calling for our owne edification or the edification of others Many a man hath smarted sorely for want of this bridle for his tongue when his words could doe no good to others and much hurt to himselfe Amos 5. 13. Dauid held his peace while the wicked were present Psal. 39. 1. 5. In forbearing to reprooue scorners Prou. 9. 7 8. and 23. 9. 6. In seasoning their words with salt so as they discouer no vanitie lightnesse vainglory malice or desire of reuenge or the like faults in their speeches 7. In answering the foole but not according to his follie that is not in such pride passion or reuiling fashion as the foole obiects in Prou. 26. 4 5. 8. In getting out of their companie when wee perceiue not in them the words of wisedome If wee see they grow once to be peruerse outragious or wilfull in any notorious offence of words or workes we must get from amongst them Thus of the eight wayes wherein we should shew reseruednesse they are of excellent vse if men would studie them and practise them 5. Mercie is amiable euen in the eyes of wicked men and mercifull Christians that are full of good works doe bring a great deale of honour to religion It is true Religion and vndefiled to visit the fatherlesse and widowes and to be vnspotted of the world A conuersation that is vnrebukeable and full of mercie also cannot but be very honorable whereas Religion it selfe when it is â—…ated in the brests of such Christians as haue forgotten to shew mercy and not studie how to bee doing good to others is exceedingly darkened in the glory of it and many times extremely ill spoken of A true Christian should hold it a great disparagement that any Papist or carnall man in the world in equall comparison should put them downe for either the tendernesse or the abundance of workes of mercie 1 Peter 1. 12. Math. 15. Iames 27. 6. When we haue cause and a calling to speake for the truth or to reprooue sinne it is an excellent grace to bee vndaunted and free from sâ—…ruile feares or flattery To giue place to wicked men in Gods cause or to feare their faces in the quarrell of Religion or to shew a minde that would repent of wel-doing or that basely would stoupe some way to honour vngodly persons for our owne ends is so farre from gaining true fauour with euill-minded men that it makes them to scorne and hate vs and Religion so much the more whereas a godly man that is vnmoucable and refuseth to praise the wicked or iustifie the vngodly and when he hath cause will contend with them as Salomons Phrase is and not be like a troubled fountaine or acorrupt spring hee may for the time receiue ill words from the wicked but his heart is afraid of him and his conscience doth admire him Prou. 24. 25. and 28. 4. and 25. 26 1 Cor. 16. 22. 7. The like aduantage is brought to the conuersation of a godly man when he can shew like patience and firmenes of mind in bearing all sorts of afflictions and crosses Patience in affliction makes a great shew before a wicked man that well knowes how vnable he is so to carry himselfe 1 Pet. 3. 14. Lastly to loue our enemies and shew it by our suies in forgiuing them or being ready heartily to please them and to ouercome their euill with goodnesse To pray for them when they reuile and persecute vs is a transcendent vertue euill men themselues being Iudges Luk. 6. 27. to 31. Pro. 10. 22. CHAP. XXV Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues towards godly men THus of our carriage towards the wicked How we should carry our selues toward the godly followeth to bee considered of The summe of all is that we must walke in loue If wee can soundly discharge our duty to the godly in respect of louing them vnfainedly and heartily and constantly we performe all that is required of vs toward them And this loue to the godly is so necessary as that it is imposed vpon vs as the only commandement giuen by Christ who in one word tels vs the substance of our duties Ioh. 13. 34. Eph. 5. 2. 1
those sins that doe presently annoy thee Hold on this course constantly till thou hast gotten power against al or any of them as thou findest vertue against any of them so alter thy Catalogue giuing thankes for the sinnes thou gettest head against and putting them out of thy Catalogue The paines is little it is once done for a long time and thy memory will easily carry thy speciall present faults Besides this distinct daily remembrance of thy present sinnes will make thee more watchfull against those sins and thou maiest once a yeere or once a quarter or before euery communion examine thy selfe anew and mend thy Catalogue by putting in any corruption which thou discouerest then or at any time to arise anew in thee and putting out such euils as by prayer thou hast gotten victory against Thus maiest thou see the state of thy soule distinctly all the dayes of thy life discerning when thou goest forward or backward Besides this course of daily iudging thy selfe keepes thee out of the danger of any wrath of God Concerning thy hope there are foure things for thee to do First pray constantly and earnestly for the knowledge of the great glory is prouided for thee Thou must forme the admiration of heauen in thee by prayer for naturally it is not in vs Ephes. 1. 18 c. Secondly thou must vse all diligence to perfect thy assurance of heauen when thou diest Heb. 6. 12. 1. Pet. 1. 13. Thirdly thou must striue to accustome thy thoughts to the daily contemplation of heauen that thy conuersation may be in heauen Phil. 3. 20. Fourthly thou must striue to direct thy heart and enable thy selfe to the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ thou must labour for that skill distinctly to be able to waite for the comming of Iesus Christ and to shew that thou louest his appearing 1. Thes. 1. 10 and 2. Thes 3. 5. Gal. 5. 5. 2. Tim. 4. 8. CHAP. XXXI Rules that order vs in our particular calling THus of the rules that concerne thy generall calling In thy particular calling there are seuen things to bee auoided The first is slothfulnesse and thou art guilty of this sinne both when thou doest not the labours of thy calling and when thou obseruest not the reasons and opportunities of thy calling Prou. 10. 4 5. And that thou maiest be free from this sinne thou must auoide together with it the occasions of it And so thou must auoide 1. The loue of sleepe Prou. 20. 13. 2. Good fellowship and haunting of Alehouses and Tauernes and keepi◅g company with dissolute persons Prou. 21. 17. 3. Wandring from thine owne house euen that vnnecessary going from house to house though it be not to places of ill fame Fourthly thou must take heede of pertinacious entertainment of doubts and obiections about thy calling thou shouldest be afraid of excuses for idlenesse especially to be so selfe-willed as to be glad of any thing may seem to patronize thy slothfulnes Pro. 20. 4. 15. 19. 26. 16. And therefore to conclude this rule when thou art about thy calling what thou dost do with all thy power Eccl. 9. 10. rest not in words or pratling He is not diligent that brags much of what worke he can or will doe but he that doth it indeed Pro. 14. 23. The second sin to be auoided in thy particular calling is vnfaithfulnesse Pro. 20 6. and so thou must take heed of breach of thy promise in thy dealings with men Psa. 15. 4. and also thou must take heed of all deceitfull courses all waies of fraud and coozenage It is an hatefull thing in men when they are such as canot be trusted either because they make not cōscience of keeping their words or because they will vse so much cunning deceit and dissimulation and lying in their dealings The third sin to bee auoided is Precipitation hastines and vnaduised rashnes rising out of the leuity of mens minds or their wilfulnes Prouidence and wise diligence is wonderfull requisite vnto a right ordering of our selues in our callings Pro. 21. 5. The fourth sinne to be auoyded is Passion or perturbation and that hath in it both vncheerfulnesse and vnquietnesse Vnch◅erfulnesse when men are not content with their callings or gifts or estates 1. Cor. 7. 17. Vnquietnesse when men are froward and carrie themselues peeuishly or cholerickly with those that are about them This sinne of frowardnes is vehemently censured and condemned in Scripture Pro. 11. 29. Psa. 37. 8. Pro. 16. 32. 19. 11. 25. 28. whereas God requires a quiet contented and merrie heart Pro. 17. 22. Eccl. 9. 7 8. The fifth thing to be auoided and shunned is the Temptations of thy calling euery calling in the world is assaulted with certaine temptations they are vsually of two sorts For first in all callings there are certaine vnlawfull courses held for gaine by wicked men which we call the sins of such a calling These vniust courses thou must learn to auoid and abhorre and so exercise thy calling as thou shun those sinfull courses vsed by wicked men in that calling Secondly euery calling is assaulted with crosses and afflictions now in these afflictions the diuell is wont to tender ill counsell to perswade to sinne or the vse of vnlawfull meanes or other sins of distrust in God all these thou must auoid Sixtly thou must take heede of worldines or setting thy heart vpon those earthly things thou art to deale with in thy calling Thou must euer be ready to confesse and shew it by thy practice that thou accountest thy selfe to be but a stranger and Pilgrim in this world Heb. 11. 13. and if riches increase thou must looke to it that thou set not thy heart vpon them Psal. 62. 10. Thou must vse the world but not loue the world 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Thou maist oughtest to be carefull to doe the duties of thy calling but thou must in nothing bee carefull about the successe but submit thy selfe in all things to God Math. 6. 1. Cor. 7. 32. Thou must behaue thy selfe like a weaned child Psal. 131. 1 2. Take heed of eating too much hony Pro. 25. 16 27. 1 2. The seuenth and last thing thou must auoid is profanenesse which is to vse the workes of thy calling without exercising thy selfe in the Word of God and daily prayer for Gods blessing vpon thy labours and the creatures thou art to vse Psal. 90. 1. Tim. 4. 3 4. Gen. 24. 11 12 26 27. CHAP. XXXII How wee should carrie our selues in the time of affliction THus of the Rules of carriage which concerne thy selfe at all times Now follow the Rules that shew thee how to behaue our selues in time of affliction and aduersitie When thou art in affliction thou must consider what thou must auoid and what thou must doe Thou must auoid eight things First Dissembling Make not thy selfe poore when thou ar◅rich nor sicke
loue 15 He must couet the best gifts 16. He must often humble his soule be fore God 17 He must watch for the oppor tunities of wâ—…-doing 18 Hee must be 〈◊〉 of sanctifying the Sâ—…bbath 19. Hee must often thinke of â—…he example of the godly that haâ—…e excâ—…lled 20. He must daily seek 〈◊〉 way of God He must â—…oide 1. Carelesnessâ—… Rashnes 3. Carnall confidence 4. Hast to be rich 5. Distrustfull 〈◊〉 6 Adding to or ta king from the Word of God 7 Coâ—…teÌ„p of reproof 8. Beholding vanity 9. The be ginning of sinne There are 5 things to be still remembred which concerne the manner of wel-doing Zeale with continual willingnes and feruen cie 1. Sinceritie which hath in it fiue things 1 Truth 2 Respect to al Gods commandements 3 Right end 4. Obedience with out expostulation 5. Obedience in all places The third thing required in the maner of well-doing is constancie And hee is constant that doth good duties 〈◊〉 Without discouragement 3. Notwithstanding impediments 4 Without wauering 5. Without declining 4. Feare Simplicitie which is 1 To rest vpon the Word for the formes of holines and happines 2 To bee harmelesse 3 To bee simple concerning euill 4 To loue goodnesse for it selfe 5. To 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6. Feare God and not enuie the wicked The sixth is circumspection which hath fiue things in it The 7 is growth or increase Which hath three things in it 1 Abounding in goodnes 2. Perfecting of holinesse 3. Progresse 〈◊〉 Tâ—…m 4. 2. 1 8. Faith The last is moderation The place in Eccles. 7. 16. expounded The diuision of the particular rules The subdiuision The rules that con cerne the right knowledge of God of 〈◊〉 sorts That wâ—…e â—…ay conceiue â—…right of Gods nature 1 Wee must cast 〈◊〉 all likenesses 6. Wee must conceiue of him according to his prayses 3. Wee must beleeue the Trinity of Persons 4. Thou maist conceiue of God in the Humane Nature of Christ. 5. Thou must resist Atheistical thoughts 2. Of acquaintance with God That thou maiest bee aquainted with God 1. Thou must prepare thy heart 2 Thou must beg it by prayer 2. We must beleeue the Trinitie of Persons 3. 4. Thou must giue thy selfe to God Other things about our knowledge of God Rules about the exercise of our loue to God Sâ—…en wayes to manifest our loue to God 1. By auouching him to be our God 2 By prouiding him a place to dwel where wee dwell 3. By shewing our loue to Iesus Christ. 4. By walking with God Men walke with 5. wayes 6. By honouring God to waies of honoring God Rules about the praise of God When wee commend God diuers things are to be obserued 6 By trusting in him How wee must shew it that wee â—…rust God How wee may proue that wee trust God in distresse In relying vpon God in affliction We must auoid fiue things 7 By obeying him 2 Things in the manner of shewing our loue to God 1. Feruencie 2. Feare Eighâ—… wayes by which wee shew our feare of God About reioycing in God What it is to reioyce or delight our selues in God What wee must doe that wee might bee able to ioy in God Ruleâ—… about the seruice of God 9. Things to bee remembred in euâ—…ry part of Gods worship Rules about the publike worship of God 1. All must come 2. With all possible reuerence 3. And zeale And this zeale wee shâ—…uld shew sixe wayes 4. With one consent Three other rules gathered out of the Ps. 52. 8 9. Rules that order vs in hearing the Word of God 1 Before we come 1. In the time of hearing Noâ—… 3. After we haue heard Rules about Baptisme 1. Abouâ—… our children 2. About our selues In 〈◊〉 thingâ—… How Baptisme may help vs against sin 3. In respect of oâ—…hers Rules about the Lords Supper 1. We must examine our selues 2. We must discerne the Lords Supper 3. We must shew forth Christs death 4. We vow to cleaue to the godly 5. We must be reconciled 6. We vow an holy life Rules about prayer Thy words must be few 2. The heart must bee listed vp 3. Vse all manner of prayer 4 Thou must perseuere in prayer 5. Thou must be instant without fain ting or discourage â—…tat 6. With supplication for all Saints 7 In all things giue thankes Rules about reading the Scripture 1 Reade daily 2 Meditate of what thou readest 3. Confer vpon it 4. Resolue to obey Rules about singing of Psalmes The rules about vowing Rules about swea ring The rules about a religious fast Rules about the Sabbath 1. The preparation to it 2. Of the celebration of the Sabbath Rules that direct our carriage towards men Towards all men And so 1 in company Wâ—…th due râ—…spect of Religion Auoiding vaine ianglings in three thingâ—… How wee must behaue our selues in company concerning the faults of others Note Reproue but hate not Passe by mâ—…re frailties Rules that concerne the inoffensiuenesse of our carriage in company An humble behauiour hath three things in it 1. 2. 3. Note 8 Rules that concerne discretion in our behauiour Three rules that concerne the purity of our conuersation 1. The rules that order vs out of company 8. Things required in shewing mercy 1. Willingnesse 〈◊〉 Labour 3. Liberalâ—… ty 4. Humility Humility shewed fiue waies in doing workes of mercy 5. Faith in two respects 6. Discretion in 4. things 7. Sympa thy 8. Sinceritie in fiue things Needlesse socretie with them must bee auoyded Great wisdome required in conuersing with them Diuers things that affect the hearts euen of the worst men are 1. A mortified life 2. Reuerend speech of Religion 3. Meekenes of wisdome 4. Reseruednesse in foure things 5. Mercy 6. Vndauntednesse in a good cause 7. Patience in affliction Sixe waies of manifesting our loue to the godly 1 By courtesie 2. By receiuing them 3. By bearing their bur thens Note 4. By prouoking them to good duties 5. By faithfulnesse in all their businesse 6 By enioying our gifts for their good What wee must do to prâ—…serue our loue to the godly We must labour to be of one iudgement with them 2. We must 〈◊〉 peace 〈◊〉 We must couer their weakenesse 4. We must confesseour faults one to another 10. Things to be auoided 1. Suits in Law 2. Dissimulation 〈◊〉 Conceitednesse 4. Reioycing in iniquitie 5. Worldlinesse and selfe-loue 6. Ficklenesse 7. Vaine-glory 8. Iudging 9. Euill words and complaining 10. Forsake not their assembly How we must carry our selues towards such as are fallen from God How wee must carry our selues towards such as trespasse against vs. How wee must carry our selues towards weake Christians How wee must carry our selues towards the strong How wee must carry our selues towards our special friend How we must carry our selues in our â—…enerall calling 1 In matters of faith 2 About thy repentance 3 About thy hope 7. Things to be auoi ded in our particular calling 〈◊〉 Vnfaithfulnâ—…sse 3. Rashnes 4