Selected quad for the lemma: evil_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
evil_n	evil_a	heart_n	thought_n	2,080	5	8.0009	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17397	The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.	Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622.; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Beginning of the doctrine of Christ. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Spirituall touchstone. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Signes of the wicked man. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Promises. aut; Rules of a holy life. aut; Byfield, Nicholas, 1579-1622. Cure of the feare of death. aut	1630 (1630)	STC 4222; ESTC S120511	234,877	800

iudged of him call to minde particularly whatsoeuer thou canst remember by thy selfe consider thy want thy omissions and commissions of euill in youth or riper age in heart or life in things that concorne God or man or thy owne soule and disposition thoughts affections words or deeds Thou mayest then see an armie of rebellious euils thou hast beene guilty of By booke thus Procure thee the labour of some reuerend Diuine that hath briefly gathered the sins of euery commandement from thence gather out so many sins as thou knowest by thy selfe that thou hast beene guilty of lay those sins daily before thy conscience and consider how many wayes thou hast made thy selfe guilty Secondly consider then the iustice of God how he hateth all sinne which thou maiest be assured of if thou remember how he plagued our first parents the old world Sodom and Gomorrha how fearefully he neglected the Gentiles cast off the Iewes yea how he spared not his owne Sonne Iesus Christ when he became a surety for other mens sinnes Thirdly thinke of the terrible woes and threatnings and curses which are denounced euery where in Scripture against such offences as thou art guilty of Fourthly force vpon thy selfe the remembrance of thy latter end and thy appearance before the tribunall seat of Christ to receiue according to all that thou hast done in thy flesh Fifthly obserue with what iudgement the Lord euery day fights against wicked men in all parts of the world sometimes by common plagues sometimes by speciall particular calamities Sixtly aboue all things marke with all thy heart Gods goodnesse to thee in particular in enduring all this at thy hands his blessings of all sorts daily bestowed vpon thee chiefely his mercy offered to thee in Iesus Christ that can be content to forgiue thee all thy debts so thou bee sorry and weary of offending Nothing can more breake thy heart then to obserue how God dealeth with thee euen with thee in particular that hast deserued so much euill at his hands Seuenthly Try thy selfe by a particular examination of thine owne estate by euery particular of the signes of Gods children and then thou mayest see what a poore creature thou art what shew soeuer thou makest in the world and what naturall gifts or prayses soeuer thou hast for then thou shalt find how exceeding emptie thy heart is of solid gifts and the best graces and that many a poore creature that maketh little shew in the world hath an heart better graced by farre then thine Eightly thou must beg hartily an humble heart of God and a greater discerning of thine owne vilenesse The Lord wil be sought vnto and he is ready to be found if thou seeke him constantly and diligently It is not a small worke to breake the pride and stoninesse of thy heart it needs power from aboue Ninthly Pruoide to liue if it may bee vnder a forceable ministery where thou mayest heare such doctrine daily as will search thy heart and ransacke thy life where thou maist feele the Word of God go downe into thy heart and reynes Tenthly Marke what things they are which by nature thou art proud of and labour seriously both by arguments and restraint to alienate thy affection from them In particular take heed of the snare that is in gay Clothes delicious fare worldly titles and the like Eleuenthly Shun and auoide with detestation the flatterer and seeke vnto thee a righteous companion that may smite thee for thy fallings and reproue thee and not hate thee in his heart Twelfthly Labour to keepe in thy memory and thoughts six or eight or more or fewer of thy faults that thou wouldest be more ashamed of and hast more offended in and compell thy selfe daily to remember them this will wonderfully doe thee good and tame thy pride make thee more meeke and more tractable and mercifull all the day after thou hast duly thought of them Thus of the way how to get thy spirit to bee truly poore and humble The next question is What a man should do to get a soft heart and true godly sorrow that hee might be able to mourne for his sinnes before God 1 Hee must first consider of Gods promises who hath bound himselfe by couenant to take away the stony heart and giue an heart of flesh vnto them that seeke vnto him for it Ezech. 36. 16. 2 Hee must daily in the best words hee can keepe a constant course in the confession of his sinnes before God begging of God with all importunitie this mercie that hee would melt and soften his heart and resolue that hee would neuer stand before the Lord but hee would remember this petition alwayes iudging himselfe giuing glory to God It may bee the Lord will heare at the first or second time of prayer but if he doe not thou must resolue to watch and pray still without limiting God to the time of effecting thy desire as knowing that it ought not to seeme grieuous vnto thee that the Lord doth not presently worke what thou prayest for considering how long the Lord hath called vpon thee and thou didst not answere and withall the Lord is well pleased with these preparations in thy heart and excepts thy endeauour to mourne because thou canst not mourne 3 Hee must obserue how the Lord deales with him in prayer and be sure with all thankfulnesse to acknowledge any mercy God shewes him in prayer as if hee make him willing to pray or giue him words in prayer or let him feele any ioy in the time of prayer or that hee find his heart in any degree to melt he should be wonderfull thankfull if he can get but one teare in prayer or that hee find his heart in any degree to melt and this obseruation of Gods goodnesse letting him know that hee regards his particular requests will melt his heart indeed further and perhap●… set him all on a flame in desires to praise God and to abase himselfe euen to the dust before th●… Lord Hos. 14. 3. 1. Thes. 5. 18. 4. That rule of the Apostle Iames is sometimes of singular vse in this case of breeding softnesse of heart and that is acknowledging your sinnes one to another when in secret wee make our moanes to wise and mercifull Christians and shame ourselues for our speciall offences it many times hath melting of heart ioyned with it so as that heart that before seemed hardned and dry now easily dissolues into teares Iam. 5. 16. 5. To goe into the house of mourning may bee in this case profitable resort to such as be in sorrow for the hand of God vpon them especialy such as mourn through the affliction of their spirits conuerse with humble tender-hearted Christians Ecc. 7 2. 6. ●…n all the seruices of God be sure to draw neare to God and keepe thy mind from distraction and hypocrisie The Sun

and affections yea our very consciences are still impure within vs there is no good nature in vs in any one faculty of our soules but there is a miserable mixture of vile infection Secondly this is the worses because this is incurable There lieth vpon vs a very 〈◊〉 of sinning wee cannot but offend Of the flesh it is well said I can neither liue with the●… nor without thee The flesh is an inseperable ill companion of our li●… wee can go 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 it c. Thirdly if wee consider but some of the effects of this corruption in 〈◊〉 as 1. The eiuill warre it causeth in our soules there is no businesse can bee dispatched that concernes our happinesse without a mutiny in our owne hearts The flesh is a domesticall Rebel that daily lusts against the Spirit as the Spirit hath reason to lust against the flesh Galatians 5. 17. 2. Secondly the insufficiency it ●…eeds in vs for our callings The greatest Apostle must in this respect cry out Who is sufficient for these things Though Gods wor●…e be all faire worke yet we see that euery man is extremely burthened with the defects and mistakings and insufficiencies which befall him in his course of life 2. It works a perpetuall madnesse in the heart of a man in some respects worse then that of some lunatickes For they are mad at some times of the yeere onely or chiefly but man is seldome or neuer free from this inward madnes of heart Salomon saith The heart of the sonnes of men is full of euill and madnesse is in their hearts while they liue and after thnt they goe to the dead Now this madnesse appeares in this that men can neuer bring their hearts to a settled contentment in the things they enioy but death coms in vpon them before they know how to improue the ioy of their hearts in the blessings they enioy whether temporall or spirituall This vile corruption of nature diffuseth gall into all that a man possesseth so as it marreth the taste of euery thing 4. It fils our hearts and liues with innumerable euils it ingenders and breeds infinitely swarmes of euill thoughts and desires and abundance of sinnes in mens liues and conuersations so as godly Dauid cries out Innumerable euils haue compassed me about and I am not able to looke vp They were more then the haires of his head therefore his heart failed him Psal. 40. 12. 5. It is continualy madnes to be●…ray vs to Satan and the world in all the occasions of our life 6. It will play the Tyrant if it get any head and leade vs capti●…e and giue wretched lawes to the members yea euery sinne which is the brat bred of this corruption is like a fury to fright and amaze vs there is a very race of diuels bred in vs when Satan and the flesh ingender together in vs. 2. And as wee are thus miserable in respect of the remainders of corruption so are we in respect of the remainders of the punishment of sinne vpon our spirits Our hearts were neuer fully free since the first transgrssion our minds are yet full of darkenesse that euē godly men do seriously cry out They are but as beasts they haue not the vnderstanding of men in them And in many passages of life they carrie themselues like beasts Psalme 32. 9. Eccles. 3. 18. The ioyes of Gods presence are for the greatest part kept from vs our consciences are still but in a kind of prison when they goe to the s●…at of iudgement to giue sentence in any cause they come forth with fetters on their legs as prisoners themselues besides the many personall scourges light vpon our soules in this life 3. Lastly the very condition of our bodies should not bee ouerpleasing to vs our deformities and infirmities the dangers of further diseases should tire vs out and make vs account it no louely thing to be present in the body while wee are absent from the Lord. And thus of the miseries of our liues also Now it remaines that I should proceed to the second sort of contemplations that is those that are remoouals namely such meditations as take off the obiections which are in the hearts of men CHAP. XII Comforts against the paine of Death THere are in the minds of all men certaine Obiections which if they could be remoued this feare of Death would bee stocked vp by the very rootes I will instance in some of the chiefe of them and set downe the answers to them Some men say they should not be afraid of death considering the gaine of it and the happinesse after death but that they are afraide of the paine of dying It is the difficulty of the passage troubles them For answer hereunto diuers things would be considered of to shew men the folly of this feare First thou likest not death because of the paine of it Why there is paine in the curing of a wound yet men will endure it And shall death doe so great a cure as to make thee whole of all thy wounds and diseases and art thou so loth to come to the Cure Secondly there is difficulty in getting into an Hauen Hadst thou rather bee in the tempest still then put into the hauen Thirdly thou likest not death thou sayest for the paine of it Why then likest thou life which puts thee to worse paine Men obiect not at the paines of life which they endure without death There is almost no man but he hath endured worse paines in life then he can endure in death and yet we are content to loue life still Yea such is our folly that whereas in some pains of life we call for death to come to our succours yet when wee are well againe we loue life and loath death Fourthly we are are manifestly mistaken concerning death for the last gaspe is not death To liue is to dye for how much wee liue so much we die euery step of life is a step of death He that hath liued halfe his dayes is dead the halfe of himselfe Death gets first our infancie then our youth and so forwards All that thou hast liued is dead Fiftly it is further euident that in death there is no paine it is our life that goeth out with paine Wee deale herein as if a man after sicknesse should accuse his health of the last paines What is it to be dead but not to be in the world And it is any paine to bee out of the world Were wee in any paine before we were borne Why then accuse we death for the paines our life giues vs at the parting Is not sleepe a remembrance of death Sixthly if our comming into the world be with teares is it any wonder if our going out be so too Seuenthly besides it is euident that wee make the passage more difficult by bringing vnto death a troubled and irresolute minde It is long of our selues

allowes not the good he doth Rom. 7. 15. That doth the euill hee hates verse 15. 19. That hath not goodnesse dwelling in him ver 18. That doth not the good hee would ver 19. That hath euill present when he would doe good ver 21. That hath a law in his members rebelling against the law of his minde ver 23. That hath not knowledge to do good Ier. 4. 22. Hosea 4. 6. Isaiah 1. 3. This is aggrauated 1. If thou refuse knowledge and wilt not vnderstand Iob. 21. 14. Psal. 36. 4. 2. If thou walke not in the light whilst thou hast the light Iohn 12. 36. 3. If thou hate him that instructeth thee Amos 5. 10. 4. If thou detaine the truth for the loue thou bearest to wickednesse Rom. 1. 18. 5. That will not vnderstand though the foundations of the earth be moued Psal. 82. 5. That hath present occasion to doe good and yet puts it off though but till the morrow Pro. 3. 28. That seeketh his owne glory Prou. 25. 27. That boasteth of a false gift Prou. 25. 14. That praiseth himselfe Prou. 27. 2. That is pure in his owne eyes being not washed from his filthinesse Prou. 30. 12. That causeth others to goe astray especially the righteous Prou. 28. 10. That cals euill good or good euill or puts light for darknesse or darkenesse for light or that puts bitter for sweete or sweete for bitter Isaiah 5. 20. That changeth the ordinances or addeth to Gods Word or diminisheth ought from it Isa. 24. 5. Deut. 4. 2. Prou. 30. 6. That protects or defends others in sinne Ier. 44. 15. That sits still and is at rest ill sinne Zach. 1. 11. And considers not that God remembers his wickednesse Hosea 7. 2. and is without feare of Gods iudgements Prou. 28. 14. 1 Thess. 5. 3. That receiueth not correction but proudly hardeneth his heart and is wilfull in euill Ier. 5. 23. Ezech. 7. 10. Heb. 3. 15 16. That feares reproach for well-doing Isaiah 51. 7. or feares the displeasure of God for breaking mans traditions Math. 15. 2 9. or in things indifferent makes conscience of sinne where there is no sinne Rom. 14. That doth his worke to bee seene of men Math. 6. and 23. That hath the forme of godlinesse but denyeth the power of it 2 Tim. 3. 5. That is a louer of himselfe 2. Tim. 3. 2. That is neither hote nor cold Reu. 3. 15. That doth not good with a ioyfull heart Deut. 28. 47. That esteemes the way of the multitude Exod. 23. 2. That is not circumspect but foolish and rash and rusheth vpon things without knowledge or counsell or consideration of opportunities circumstances meanes or end Ephes. 5. 15. Prou. 15. 22. Ier. 8. 6. That is childish or vnconstant Ephes. 4. 14. as he is 1. That is carried about with euery winde of doctrine 2. That hath a diuided heart Hos. 10. 2. 3. That is mutable in his affection to godlinesse Gal. 4. 4. That falleth away from the truth or goeth backe Ier. 15. 6. Hos. 6. 4. Isai. 1. 4. Hitherto of the sinnes against the whole Law CHAP. II. The diuision of the sinnes against the first Table and the sorts of sinnes against Gods nature TThe sinnes against God forbidden in the first Table of the Law are of foure sorts 1. Some against his nature 2. Some against the meanes of his worship 3. Some against the manner of his worship 4. Some against the time of his worship For the first the sinnes against the nature of God are of two sorts 1. Some more vnusuall and personall 2. Some more vsuall and naturall The more vnusuall sinnes are such as are not found amongst Christians except it be in such persons onely as are most monstrously vile such as are 1. Blasphemie to reproach God 2. Idolatrie to worship the creature 3. Witchcraft or the seruice of the Diuell 4. Atheisme to defend there is no God or to desire constantly there were no God 5. That matchlesse Pride for a man to say hee is God or to exalt himselfe aboue all that is called God 6. Heresie to hold after con●…ction errors against the foundation of Religion 7. The inward hatred and loathing of God It shall 〈◊〉 to haue thus touched th●…se sins The more vsuall sins and such as are found in the most men by nature are such as these That naturall Atheisme of which he is guiltie 1. That customarily spends his time without God in the world Ephes. 2. 12. 2. That conceiues Atheisticall thoughts and of such thoughts he is guilty That with inward reasonings whether there be a GOD to which his heart inclineth Psal. 14. 1. That saith or thinketh God will neither doe good nor euill or that he neither seeth or regardeth Isai. ●…9 15 16. Zeph. 1. 12. Ezech. 9. 9. Iob 22. 13. That saith or thinketh there is no profit in seruing the Almightie Iob 21. 14. 22. 17. That in affliction saith or thinketh it is impossible to be deliuered 2 Kings 7. 2. That hath inward boylings about such things as God sheweth not reason of Iob 33. 13. That conceiueth rebellious thoughts about the decrees or prouidence of God Rom. 9. Thus of naturall Atheisme The second sin is Epicurisme which is shewed By fulnesse of bread and idlenesse Ezech. 16. 49. Phil. 3. 19. By liuing in pleasure Eccl. 11. 9. Iames 5. 5. By vanitie and strangenesse of apparell Isai. 3. Zep. 1. 8. The third sinne is the defect of those graces by which wee should cleaue vnto God and that also when we want tha●… life of them should be in vs such are the defects of the warmth of the knowledge loue and feare of God and of our ioying and trusting in God Psal. 36. 1. Zeph. 3. 〈◊〉 Prou. 30. 1 2. Rom. 7. These defects are the worse by reason of our impotency and extreme indisposition to seeke to mend those things And therefore it is an aggrauation of any of these defects that men doe not stirre vp themselues to take hold of God ●…sai 64. 7. Fourthly the misplacing o●… our affections in setting them vpon earthly things employing our confidence feare ioy or loue vpon the world and the things thereof whereby our hearts are any way alienated from God Ier. 17. 5. Isai. 51. 7. 1 Ioh. 2. 15. Math. 6. Fiftly Pride and there is a foure-fold pride 1. Arrogancie shewed By high lookes or indignation of spirit Isaiah 10. 12. and 16. 6. By fearlesnesse of a fall in prosp●…ritie and that boasting hopefulnesse in a broken estate Psal. 30. 6. Isai. 9. 10. Obad. 3. 2. The pride of life which hath in it the secret lifting vp of the heart glorying in friends money meanes houses riches beauty or the like 1 Iohn 〈◊〉 17. 2 Kings 20. 3. with 2 Chron. 32. 25. 3. The pride of gifts exprest By great thoughts of our selues being wise in our selues Rom.

themselues Prou. 22. 15. and 23. 13. and 29. 15. That prouoke them to wrath by immoderate correction or rebuke or intemperate speeches Ephes. ●…4 That prouide no●… or them in their callings or outward estates or marriage 1 Tim. 5. 8. 5. Seruants offend That are idle and slothfull That are disorderly as Without reuerence feare Without singlenesse of heart not as vnto Christ. With eye-seruice as men-pleasers Grudgingly and not from the heart Eph. 6. 5 6 7 8. That are vnfaithfull and shew it either by purloyning Tit. 2. 10. or by carelesnesse when they are such as cannot be trusted in any businesse Prou. 13. 17. The aggrauations are To answer againe Tit. 2. 9. or out of contempt or sullennesse not to answer Prou. 29. 19. Iob 19. 16. To runne away Philem. Through pride and folly to seeke to rule Prou. 19. 10. and 30. 22. 6. Masters offend That entertaine wicked seruants Psal. 101. That gouerne their family negligently 1 Tim. 3. 4. That with-hold what is iust and equall in diet wages encouragement c. Col. 4. 1. Iam. 5. 4. That vse indiscreete and immoderate threatning Eph. 6. 9. Thus of the offences in the Family In the Common-wealth 1. Subiects offend That speake euill of their Rulers Exod. 22. 28. Eccles. 10. vlt. That are disobedient to them Rom. 13. That pay not tribute nor custome Rom. 13. That rebell or are seditious 2 Tim. 3. 4. 2. Magistrates offend That oppresse the people by exactions or otherwise Prou. 28. 15. Ezech. 45. 9. That make vniust lawes or execute not iust lawes Esa. 10. 1. Ier. 5. 1. Mic. 3. 9. That are vnrighteons in iudgement either by bribery or lenitie or rigour or couetousnesse or wresting the Law Leuit. 19. 15. In the Church 1. The people offend That pay not their tithes or contributions Mal. 1. 1 Cor. 9. 13 14. Gal. 6. 6. That subiect not themselues but disobey them that haue the ouersight of them Heb. 13. 17. 2. The Ministers offend That preach not or not constantly but more of their sinnes afterwards amongst the sinnes against the soules of men CHAP. IX Of the sinnes against mans person THus of the sins against man considered more especially More generally man sinnes against man Either with consent of his will or without consent The sinnes with consent are Either against the person of man Or the puritie of man Or the possessions and state of man Or the name and praise of man The sinnes against the persons of men are Either against the whole person Or against their soules Or against their bodies The sinnes against the persons of men generally considered are Either by omission Or by commission 1. By omission he offends That pitties not the afflicted Iob 6. 14. That relieues not the afflicted 1 Iohn 3. 17. Mat. 25. Iob 31. 19 That is implacable and will not forgiue Rom. 1. 29. Iames 2. 13. The aggrauations are To professe to take no charge of his brother Gen. 4. 9. To stop his eares at the cry of the poore Prou. 21. 13. To estrange our selues from the very seruants of God in their misery Psal. 38. 11. 2. By commission men sinne either outwardly or inwardly Inwardly he offends 1. That enuies his neighbour Gal. 5. 21. either For his wealth Gen. 26. 14. For his respect with others Gen. 37. 11. For his giftes Num. 11. 27 28 29. 1. Cor. 3. 3. The aggrauations are So to enuy others as to desire their restraint Num. 11. To enuy the very wicked especially so as to desire to partake of their delights Pro. 24. 1 2. That is angry vnaduisedly Mat. 5. 22. The aggrauations To be hasty to anger Eccles. 7. 9. Prou. 14. 17 29. To continue long in anger Amos 1. 11. To rage and to bee confident without feare or care Prou. 14 16. To be incensed against the seruants of God and striue with them Esay 41. 11. To make friendship with the angry man Prou. 22. 24 25. 3. That hates and is malicious which sinne is not auoided though the person thou hatest Be poore Iam. 2. 6. Bee infirme and haue many weaknesses Mat. 18. 10. Yea though they sinne Leuit. 19. 17 18. The aggrauations are To increase in anger and hatred vpon euery occasion Gen. 37. 8. Ezek. 25. 15. To wish a curse to others Iob 31. 30. To reioyce at their destruction Prou. 24. 17. Iob 31. 29. To recompence euill Prou. 24. 29. Not to bee satisfied with the trouble of those whom he pursueth Iob 19. 22. That hates righteous men and shewes it By wishing their euill Psalme 40. 14. By reioycing at their hurt Psal. 35. 26. By gathering sinfull surmises into his heart when he comes amongst them and then telling them when hee comes abroad Psal. 41. 6. By iudging vncharitably of their afflictions Psal. 41. 8. Especially that hates them for this reason because their works are better then his 1 Ioh. 3. 12. and 2. 11. 4. That vexeth himselfe with worldly sorrow and causes 〈◊〉 distraction Prou. 17. 22. 2 C●… 7. 10. and vseth crying Eph●… 4. 31. The aggrauations are To refuse comfort Psal. 77. 〈◊〉 To wish his own death Num. 14. 2. Iob 3. Ionah 4. 3. Thus of the sinnes internall The externall sinnes are Either in gesture Or in words Or in workes 1. In gesture men offend by shaking of the head sharpening of the eyes casting downe of the countenance putting out of the finger gnashing of the teeth Iob 16. 4 9. Esay 58. Psal. 35. 19. and 37. 12. and 5. Gen. 4. 5. 2. In words he offends that speakes euill of any man Tit. 3. 2. Matth. 5. whether it be By censuring Rom. 14. 10. Iam. 4. 11. Gal. 5. 15. Or by reuiling or reproaching Math. 5. Or by any kinde of piercing bitter words Pro. 12. 18. Yea it is an offence to render reuiling for reuiling 1 Pet. 3. 6. To whisper euill of others though neuer so secretly Psalme 41. 7. To wrest the words of others for euill Psal. 56. 5. The aggrauations are 1. To speake euill of dignity Iude 8. 2. To reproach Gods seruants this is blasphemie Colossians 3. 8 and it is worse when men teare their names Psalme 35. 15. and it is increased when men●… reuile Gods Ministers 1 Corin. 4. 13. 2 Kings 2. 23. 3. To curse the deafe or put a stumbling blocke before the blind Leui. 19. 14. To deride men in miserie Iob 30. 1. 5. To take a pleasure in braw●…ing and contention Iames 4. 1. Psal. 52. 4. 6. To haue a mouth full of cursing and bitternesse Rom. 3. 14. Iames 3. 9. and an habit of forwardnesse and peruersnesse of lips Prou. 4. 24. and an vnruly tongue that cannot bee tamed Iames 3. 8. 7. To boast of his mischiefe herein Psal. 52. 1. 8. To complaine of his neighbour in all places and to be giuen to it Iames 5. 9. Thus he offends in words 3.

humilitie discretion and puritie Vnto the humilitie of thy conuersation bel●…ng these rules 1. Be soft shew all meekenesse to all men 2. Harken to the words of those that are wise 3. Stand not in the place of great men Vnto the discretion of thy conuersation belong these rules 1. Speake what is acceptable 2. Auoid those that cause diuisions 3. Make no friendship with the angry man 4. In the euill time be silent 5. And communicate not thy secrets 6. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours house 7. Restraine thy passions 8. Blesse not thy friend with a loud voyce Vnto the paritie of thy conuersation belong these rules 1. Refraine thy tongue from euill 2. Especially auoid filthy speaking foolish talking and iesting 3. 〈◊〉 re●…elling and drinking Chap. 22. p. 582. to 584. OVt of companie●… 1. Conceiue loue to all men 2. Pray for all sorts of men 3 Prouide to liue Honestly without scandall Iustly without deceit Peaceably without strife Chap. 23. p. 584. to 592. THus of righteousnesse Mercy followeth and vnto Mercy is requisite 1 Willingnesse 2 Labour 3 Laberalitie 4 Humilitie to be shewed fiue wayes 5 Faith in two respects 6 Discretion in foure respects 7 Sympathie 8 Sinceritie in fi●…e things Chap. 24. p. 592. to 601. THus of the Rules that order our carriage towards all men Towards some men followes as they are either wicked or godly As for the wicked 1. Hold no needlesse societie with them 2. When thou must needs come into their companie carry thy selfe wisely that thou mayst if it be possible win them and to this end shew 1. Thy mortification 2. Reuerend speech in matters of God and Religion 3. Meekenesse of wisedome 4. Reseruednesse in eight things 5. Mercie 6. Vndauntednes in a good cause 7. Patience 8. Loue to thy enemies Chap. 25. p. 601. to 608. THus of our carriage towards wicked men In our carriage towards the godly the summe of all is Walke in loue and the particular Rules concerne either the manifestation of our loue vnto them or the preseruation of loue to them Sixe wayes to manifest our loue to the godly 1. By courtesie 2. By receiuing them 3. By bearing their burthens 4. By prouoking them to good duties 5. By faithfulnesse in their businesse 6. By employing our gifts for their good Chap. 26. p. 608 to 613. FOr the preseruation of our loue to the godly some things are to be done other things to be auoided The things to be done are 1. Labour to be like minded 2. Follow peace 3. Couer their nakednesses 4. Confesse your faults one to another Chap. 27. p. 613. to 618. TEn things to be auoided 1. Suites in Law 2. Dissimulation 3. Conceitednesse 4 Reioycing in iniquitie 5 The minding of our owne thigns 6 Ficklenesse 7 Vaine-glorie 8 Iudging 9 Euill words complaining 10 The forsaking of their fellowship Chap. 28. p. 618. to 622. OTher Rules which concerne onely some of the godly 1 Such as are falne 2 Such as are weake 3 Such as are strong 4 Such as are especially knit to vs in friendship 1 Those that are falne are either falne from God or from thee from God either grosly or by infirmitie and so are guiltie of foule vices or extreme omissions 1 Warne them and reprooue them 2 If they mend not auoid them 3 If they repent for giue them Toward such as are falne from thee by trespassing against thee obserue these rules 1 Either speake not of it or so as thou vexe not as it 2 In great wrongs two things are to be done First When the trespas is secret reproue him priuately If he mend not reproue him before witnesse If he yet mend not make the Church acquainted with it If he will not then a●…nend hold him as an Heathen or a Publican Secondly If hee repent forgiue him as often as he saith it repenteth him Chap. 29. p. 622. to 625. 2 TOwards such as are weake 1 Wee must not intangle them with doubtfull Disputations concerning Ceremonies or things indifferent 2 Wee must beare with their weakenesses 3 We must not offend them 4 We must encourage and comfort them 5 In things indifferent we must suffer a little restraint of our owne libertie to please them 6 Towards strong Christians First We must acknowledge them Secondly We must set their practise before vs as examples of imitation Thirdly We must submit our selues to them to haue their iudgements in all doubtfull thing Fourthly How we may carrie our selues towards our speciall friend 1 Neuer forsake him 2 Giue him heartie counsell 3 Be friendly to him 4 Communicate thy secrets to him 5 Loue him with a speciall loue First As thine owne soule Secondly At all times Thirdly It must be a sincere loue that lookes not for bribes Fourthly It must be such a loue as will reach to his posterity if need be Chap. 30. p. 625. to 631. RVles that concerne our selues are of two sorts 1 Either our generall or particular calling Concerning our generall calling 1 Our Faith 2 Our Repentance 3 Our Hope 1 Concerning our Faith wee must be expert in the Catalogue of Promises that concerne infirmities mentioned in the third Treatise Our iudgement must be established particularly in the Doctrine of the Principles expressed in the fifth Treatise 2 Concerning our Repentance one Rule is of singular use and that concernes the Catalogue of present sins mentioned in the first Treatise 3 Concerning our Hope foure things 1 Wee must pray earnestly for the knowledge of the great glorie is prouided for vs. 2 We must vse all diligence to perfect our assurance of Heauen when we dye 3 Wee must accustome our thoughts to the daily contemplation of Heauen that our con●…ersation may be in Heauen 4 Wee must striue to enable our selues for the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ and to be able to wait for his comming Chap. 31. p. 631. to 6. 6. SEuen things to bee auoided in our particular calling 1 Slothfulnesse 2 Vnfaithfulnesse 3 Rashnesse 4 Passion or perturbation 5 The temptations of our calling 6 Worldlinesse 7 Prophanenesse Chap. 32. p. 636. to 640. HOw wee must carry our selues in affliction Eight things to be auoided 1 Dissembling 2 Shame 3 Impatience 4 Discouragement 5 Trust in carnall friends 6 Perplexed cares 7 Sudden feares 8 Carelesnesse of thy wayes Fiue things to be done in the time of affliction 1 Wee must pray and call vpon the Name of the Lord. 2 Wee must beare our crosse with patience and contentation 3 Wee must vse all good mean●…s for our deliuerance 4 Wee must be sure to shew our trust in God and cast our burthen on the Lord. 5 Wee must shew our obedience to God foure wayes First By submitting our selues to Gods will Secondly If wee iudge our selues and acknowledge our sins to God Thirdly If we be constant in the good wayes of godlinesse Fourthly If we learne more righteousnesse and are made by our crosses to doe holy duties with

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

name of God in vaine and thus wee shall rightly order our selues if wee obserue these rules First to be soundly aduised before we fall into discourse of Religion not doing it till God may be glorified by it A wise man concealeth knowledge but the heart of fooles will publish foolishnesse It is a great discretion to know how to conceale knowledge as it is to know how to vse knowledge Secondly auoide vaine ianglings and contradictions of words such as are 1. Doubtfull disputations about Ceremonies and things indifferent which may entangle the weake and keepe them from more necessary cares and knowledge Rom. 14. 1. 2. Curious Questions about things that are not reuealed in the Word Rom. 12. 〈◊〉 Bee wise to sobriety 3. Vnprofitable reasonings such as were those about Genealogies in the Apostles time 1 Tim. 1. Thirdly if thou be asked a reason of the hope that is in thee by such as haue authority to require it or need to seeke it then answer But be sure to remember two things namely that thou answer with all reuerence as may shew how much thou art affected with the maiestie of Gods truth and withall with meekenesse that is without passion or frowardnesse and without affectation or conceitednesse or wilfulnesse in our owne opinions 1. Pet. 3. 15. Fourthly let thy communication be yea yea and nay nay otherwise customary and vain swearing is a most damned sinne and such as God will surely plague CHAP. XX. Rules that shew vs how to carry our selues in company in respect of the faults of others THus of our carriage in company in respect of Religion Now concerning the faults of others we must obserue these rules First we must neuer in our discourse iustifie the wicked or condemne the righteous all excesse in words is euill but this is an abomination to the Lord We must euer honour those that feare the Lord and as for vile persons they are to be contemned Psal. 15. 4. Amos 5. 15. Prou. 17. 15. Secondly let thy conuersation and discourse be without iudging Math. 7. 1. Iam. 3. 17. It is time exceeding ill spent that is spent in censuring of others And the rather should wee take heede of iudging if wee consider how the holy Ghost hath matched that sinne in that place of Iames wee must be without iudging without hypocrisie as if hee would signifie that great Censurers are commonly great Hypocrites as any are more wise they are more sparing of their censures Thirdly thou must not walke about with tales take heede of tale-bearing He goeth about as a slanderer that reuealeth a secret though it bee true hee speaketh It is a maruelious euill custome that many haue to fill vp their discourse with the report of the frailties of others which they by some meanes or other come vnder-hand to know this is an ●…uill frequently condemned in Scripture and yet more vsually practised as if it were lawfull to speake of anything which they know to be true Thou shalt not walke about with tales nor stand against the bloud of thy neighbour a strange connexion by which the Lord imports that this tale-bearing is a kind of murther and it is true in the case of many a man thou wert as good lay violent hands vpon him as with that licentiousnesse of words to divulge tales concerning him Pro. 20. 19. and 11. 13. Leuit. 19. 16. And for the better strengthning of this rule thou art yet charged to looke to thy eares too as well as thy tongue thou must not receiue euill report against thy neighbour but make it appeare thou art not pleased with such tales Psal. 15. 3. Yea thou art forbidden the societie of such persons as carry tales thou must not meddle with tale-bearers nor with such a●… flatter with their lips certainly such creatures commonly flatter the present and reproach the absent Prou. 20. 19. Fourthly if thou doe know an offence in any with whom thou conuersest thou shalt not hate him in thy heart but rather reproue him plainly For hee that rebuketh a man shall afterwards finde more fauour then he that flattereth with his tong●… Leuit. 19. 17. Prou. 28. 23. Fiftly as for the meere frailties of others hold thy tongue passe by them A foole despiseth his neighbour but a man of vnderstanding will hold his peace Prou. 11. 12. Commonly they that haue most defect in themselues are aptest to contemne others for their weakenesses but a wise man must so distinguish of the faults of others that hee couer meere frailties and learne of God to passe by the infirmities of his seruants The Antithesis shewes that a wise man doth not onely hold his tongue but restraine his thoughts from thinking the worse of others for such infirmities Sixthly against the passions and wrongs of others thou must arme thy selfe with a soft answer and bee sure thou render not euill for euill Prou. 15. 1. 1 Thess. 5. 15. or rebuke for rebuke 1 Pet. 3. 9. CHAP. XXI Rules that shew vs how to carry ourselues in companie and not giue offence THus of our carriage towards others in company as it respects their faults Now followeth the third sort of rules which order our behauiour towards others in company in respect of inoffensiuenesse It ought to be our principall care to carry our selues so as no body may take offence at vs. Now these rules may bee directed to their heads as they concerne 1. The humilitie of our behauior toward others 2. The discretion 3. The puritie Wee must carry our selues humbly discreetly and honestly in our conuersation with others so shall wee conuerse with much amiablenesse and reputation First vnto the humility of our conuersation belong these Rules First be soft shew all meekenesse to all men restraining the inordination of thy heart endeuouring to shew thy selfe gentle and peaceable and harmelesse and easie to be intreated Tit. 3. 1 2. Prou. 8. 13. Iam. 3. 13. Secondly thou must bow downe thine care and heare the words of the wise and apply thy heart to get knowledge and profit thy selfe by others Prou. 23. 12. This is the same with that of Iames Be swift to heare and slow to speake Iam. 1. 19. Thirdly put not forth thy selfe nor stand in the place of great men till thou bee called Prou. 25. 6. In generall concerning humility the Apostle Peters phrase is much to be noted he saith we should clothe our selues with humilitie which notes both the great measure of it it should couer all our actions and also the continuance of it When we goe amongst men we should stirre vp our hearts and fashion our selues to expresse his grace and not dare to be seene without humilitie no more then wee would be seene without our clothes Humilitie hides our nakednesse and pride and passion lay it open to the view and contempt of others Secondly neither is humility all that is required to make our conuersation without offence