Seven Treatises, Treatise 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. 5. Of the firſt priuate helpe, which is watchfulnes.
ANd to begin with them, according to the diuiſion made of them, in the entrance into this treatiſe: the firſt priuate help is Watchfulnes: worthily ſet in the firſt place, ſeeing it is as an eye to all the reſt, to ſee them well and rightly vſed. And it is a carefull obſeruing of our hearts, and diligent looking to our waies, that they may bee pleaſing, and acceptable vntounto God.VVhat it is. And firſt, that it is an obſeruing of the heart, Salomon prooueth, ſaying: Aboue all obſeruations, obſerue thine heart: for from thence commeth life. Prou. 4.23.And that it maketh a man to looke diligently to his waies, who ſo is watchfull indeede; let the words of the prophet teſtifie; I thought I will take heede to my wayes, Pſal. 39.1.that I ſinne not with my toung: I will keepe my mouth as with a bridle. And that by both theſe, God is pleaſed, it appeareth by the contrarie: For ſo it is ſaid, Hebr. 10.38. He that withdraweth himſelfe from liuing by faith, (which cannot be without watching) my ſoule (ſaith God) ſhall hauehave no pleaſure in him: euen as he delighteth in the contrarie. This is in ſundrie places of the Scripture commended vntounto vsus, that we ſhould hauehave a great care how we liue, and watch ouer all our waies. Saint Peter ſaith, 1. Pet. 5.7. be ſober, and watch: as though he ſhould ſay, notwithſtanding we hauehave ſobrietie,It muſt goe with ſobrietie. that is, a well ordering of our affections, which is a moſt fit vertue to keepe the life in frame; yet without watchfulnes, it will be loſt, and depart from vsus.Matth. 26.41. Mark. 13.33. &c. So our Sauiour ioyneth it with prayer where hee ſaith, Watch and pray, leaſt ye fall into temptation: As giuing vsus to learne thereby, that the force of the one, is much weakned and abated without the other: and that men ſhall make but cold prayers, if they watch not their liues, yea and for oportunitie to pray alſo.
And both render their reaſon why watching ouer our ſelues carefully, ſhould be a companion to vsus: ſeeing without it, we are by and by plunged into many noyſome temptations by Sathan, & our owne ſinful hearts. Beſides,The neceſſitie of it. the neceſſitie of this one helpe may eaſily be ſeene in our owne experience, by the contrarie ſinne, careleſnes and ſecuritie. For what doth more eaſily grieue the holy ſpirit of God, and quench it in vsus, then that whatſoeuer chaſeth away godlines? or what doth ſo ſet open the dore to all confuſion?
And further, becauſe of the vrgent neceſſitie of it,2. Tim. 4.5. What manner of watchfullnes we ſhould vſe. Saint Paul warnes Timothie to watch in all things: not in ſome one or few, but in all; and therefore at all times, in all places, with all perſons, and by all occaſions. It cauſed that holy man of God King Dauid to couenant and profeſſe this, that ſeeing he ſaw he could not diſcharge dutie to God, without an eſpeciall regard and taking heede to his life (by reaſon of Sathans vigilancie:Pſal. 101.2.) I will watch or doe wiſely (ſaith he) till thou come vntounto me: I will walke in the vprightnes of my heart, in the middeſt of my houſe. And that I may not be thought to ſpeake abſurdly, becauſe I ſpeake otherwiſe then moſt mens practiſe doth approoue, view other Scriptures, and thou ſhalt ſee this truth more cleerely: For I muſt make this foundation ſtrong; ſeeing there is a great weight to be ſet vponupon it. In the third to the Hebrewes;Heb. 3.12. Take heede that there be not at any time in any of you an euill heart: this that he ſaith at any time, what can it meane leſſe, then that from time to time, the heart, and the manifold affections and deſires thereof, ſhould be looked vntounto, and taken heede of, leaſt thereby the Lord ſhould be offended? &c.
This taking heede therefore to thy ſelfe, and to thy heart eſpecially (becauſe from thence the words and actions doe come) muſt be thy companion from time to time, and thou muſt ſet this watch before the doore of thy lips, and thou muſt be well acquainted with looking diligently to thy waies, that it may goe well with thee, and that thou maieſt proſper. But if thou beeſt a ſtranger vntounto it, and it vntounto thee, looke to fall often (I meane) to fall daungerouſly,He that watcheth beſt, ſleepeth ſometimes. (for otherwiſe he that watcheth moſt warily, cannot be free from offending) looke to finde many woundes in thy ſoule, and to want many comforts in thy life.
And this I may boldly ſay, is the cauſe why many, and thoſe not euil men, doe make many iarres in their liues, and breake often into vnſeemely actions, and doe many things againſt their holy profeſſion, which they by and by couer with the gentle name of infirmities, when indeede they doe rather wilfully fulfill the deſires of their hearts, and raſhly and intemperately giuegive themſelues the bridle, refuſing vtterly in thoſe caſes this holy watchfulnes; yea and ſticke not to count it bondage, and a depriuing Chriſtians of their libertie, and too ſtreight an holding of them in: whereas, who ſeeth not, that watching is that to the life, which the eye-lid is to the eye; and that which the eye it ſelfe is to the whole body: and as it doth eaſily fall into many annoyances, except it be carefully and wiſely guided from wind and weather; ſo it fareth with thy ſoule and life, when thou doeſt not take heede to them, as Gods word and good inſtruction teacheth thee: for a due looking to thy waies, is the ſafety to thy life.
Much euill for want of watching.And becauſe this is ſeldome welcome to men, and little in vſe; therefore is a wel ordered and ſetled courſe, which ſhould be diligently kept of them, a meere ſtranger to thē. But contrariwiſe, becauſe they are ſecure for the moſt part; therefore they hauehave at leaſt both their hearts out of frame, and their liues voyde of good order. For what other thing is to bee ſaid, when thoſe which goe for religious ſhall be ſo hot, haſtie and furious, that they are not fit to be liued with,1. Sam. 25.10. 2. King. 5.25. as Nabal? Others ſo vntruſtie, and ſo hollow, that they cannot be dealt with, as Gehazi? Alas, I am weary of ſo often reprehending, and complaining of the vnreformed qualities and actions of the moſt part of them who goe for Chriſtians, and many of them (it may be thought) are ſo indeede: and yet vntill they will take knowledge of this want of watchfulnes, and learne to bee acquainted with it, they ſhall neuer be at better ſtay, but out and in, off and on, neuer ſetled.
How a Chriſtian muſt frame himſelfe to it.But they muſt goe about it, to purpoſe and ſet their minde and delight vponupon it, if they deſire to be the better by it. They muſt be content in this behalfe, to be dealt with as children, whom we will not ſuffer to handle, much leſſe to play with kniues: and as people diſtracted are kept in from water for feare of hurting themſelues; ſo muſt Chriſtians abſtaine, as the Apoſtle ſaith, and by all meanes weane themſelues from that which their hearts would naturally moſt deſire,1. Pet. 2.10. VVhat he muſt weane himſelfe from, who is watchfull. Pſal. 131.2. euen their euill luſts which fight againſt their ſoules to deſtroy them. They may not be ſo bold as to venture into any companie, without reſpect, nor to fall into any talke which liketh them, nor to giuegive themſelues any libertie in their deſires; the prophet ſaith, he behaued himſelfe as one weaned from his mothers breaſt. And as experienced Chriſtians cannot but remember how they lay open to danger and offences by all occaſions, before they became watchfull, and ſince doe ſee, what a benefit it is to them, and keepeth them in ſafetie on eueryevery ſide: ſo they may eaſily know and bee able to diſcerne, how ill it goeth with all ſuch as walke not accompanied with it: which by little and little muſt be gotten, eſpecially, becauſe it is one of the helps, yea and that of greateſt vſe (as I further will ſhew in the next treatiſe) which God hath commaunded vsus to vſe for our daily benefit.
But as our Sauiour admoniſheth vsus, prayer is to goe with it, as that which doth quicken,Prayer muſt goe with watching. and (as it were) put life into it, and that cauſeth it to be continued with much cheerefulnes, and little tediouſnes, whiles we conſider that God will bleſſe it vntounto vsus, euen as by praying we beleeue: therefore he ſaith, Watch and pray, leaſt ye fall into temptation: where alſo he doth (and that not obſcurely) aſſigne and point out the time wherein we ſhould watch, namely, euen ſo long as we are in daunger of being tempted and drawne to ſinne. Which I obſerue, becauſe many good Chriſtians not hauing well weighed it, doe thinke it very much they ſhould diligently ſtand vponupon their watch, as thinking that it depriueth them of much ſweete libertie, and therefore doe, as they thinke, with good reaſon diſlike and refuſe to be guided by that doctrine: although with little good aduice, as they who will not bee contentious, may eaſily ſee, by that which hath been ſaid about this matter.
And for mine owne part, I thanke God, I can ſay, that many godly Chriſtians in my knowledge, hauehave reaſoned againſt the carefull vſe of it, when they heard it firſt vrged, & before they had experience of it (for they thought it very much, that all which they had done in raſhnes, haſte, and without good aduice (as their whole life had been little better) ſhould be brought in queſtion:) and yet ſince, they hauing found the fruite of it ſo ſweet, and the gaine ſo great, after better aduice, they would in no wiſe forgoe it againe, and be let looſe to their former raſhnes and ſecuritie. So I doubt not, but that many, to whom God hath giuen ſome taſte and ſauour in heauenly things,VVatchfulnes is counted too ſtrict, till men be wel acquainted with it. for want of experience may at firſt, thinke the vrging of this watching, to be ouer ſtrict; yet after further inſight into it, as both commaunded vsus of God, and it ſelfe of ſingular gaine, they ſhall ſee their errour, and rather pray moſt earneſtly to hauehave their part in it, then to hold their former iudgement. I ſpeake not, as though any which feare God were meere ſtraungers to this grace and gift of God (for I know they are not without it ſometimes) but for that either in their iudgement they are not reſolued, that it ought to be in vſe with them from time to time, that is to ſay, one time as well as another: or if they be, yet they hauehave too much neglected it.
As for them which obiect, that they cannot be ſo mortified as ſome are,The anſwere to them who ſay, they cannot watch. nor bee alwaies obſeruing themſelues as ſome doe, contenting themſelues with that which they hauehave, I ſay, it is a ſpeech much vnbeſeeming Chriſtians, who are to profeſſe growing forward to more watchfulnes, as to all other kinds of grace. And yet I count their caſe better then theirs, who thinke they can ſerue God (they hope) without all this adoe: For they indeede beare themſelues in hand, that whiles in ſome generall ſort they pray at ſome time, and goe to Church, they neede not greatly examine their other behauiour beſide, or take heed vntounto the ſame. Let all ſuch pleaſe themſelues as they liſt, ſure it is, they reſiſt God: and greatly to be lamented it is, that men being profeſſors of the Goſpell, ſhould hauehave ſo little vſe of this ſo gracious a helpe, ſo often preached vntounto them.
But to let them goe, ſee thou, whoſoeuer thou art, who deſireſt to walke with God in peace, that thou circumſpectly looke vntounto thy ſteps, and the ſeuerall affections of thy heart, what and how thou carrieſt thy ſelfe, as I hauehave ſhewed, how thou oughteſt to endeuour thy ſelfe to watch in all things. And this is the rather to be marked and learned, becauſe it lendeth helpe to all the other rules which hereafter follow, for directing thee in al the actions of the day, as I hauehave ſaid: Becauſe (as it followeth) neither in company with others,VVe muſt watch in the particular parts of our life. nor alone by thy ſelfe canſt thou pleaſe God, nor in proſperitie nor aduerſitie, except thou beeſt warie and watchfull to be led by Gods word therein. So neceſſarie to a Chriſtian is this vertue, that the Apoſtle S. Paul to the Epheſians giueth this warning:Epheſ. 6.13. When ye hauehave put on the whole armour, and withſtood the enemie, by it; yet after take heede that ye ſtand faſt: leaſt by the ſubtile and continuall attendance of the enemie, your fall be the greater. Which may eaſily be, if wee conſider amongſt how many occaſions and prouocations we walke, and how ſhiftleſſe we are to auoide them: yea rather how readie of our ſelues to like well of them, and giuegive place vntounto them.
VVhy we ought to watch.Our euill luſts, wherewith we be full fraught, doe carrie vsus headlong into ſundrie iniquities, in ſo much that wee can goe about nothing, but wee may feele (if we can diſcerne) that ſome one or other of them is in our way to hurt vsus, and at hand to moleſt and diſquiet vsus: or if we cannot eſpie it for the preſent time, yet it may be perceiued afterward that it was ſo.
If we be occupied in holy and ſpiritual duties, we hauehave ſhame and hypocriſie on the one ſide to hinder vsus: dulnes, wearines, vntowardnes, and many ſuch like poyſoned corruptions, on the other ſide to breake vsus off. If we hauehave to doe in things lawfull, and indifferent, and of their owne nature not euill, as recreation, or earthly buſines, we are ſecure and careles how we doe them: we hauehave boldnes to defend our ſelues, be the manner of doing them, and our end and purpoſe neuer ſo vaine and euill. If we go about any euill thing, we hauehave reaſon and ſtrength of perſwaſion from the pleaſure and profit to goe through with it, and to ſee no danger that accompanieth it, but to extenuate it,Eccleſ. 7. and not to looke to the end, as we ought to doe: but all ſound reaſon to diſſwade vsus is weake, the diuel ſhewing himſelfe at ſuch times as a tempter, who yet will afterward come to vsus as an accuſer, when we ſhould repent.
Therefore if wee be not skilfull to know theſe diſordred luſts, diligent to eſpie, preuent and auoide them, and ſo hauehave this foreſaid watchfulnes ouer our liues, as a helpfull companion with vsus; it cannot otherwiſe bee, but that wee commit many things vnbeſeeming vsus, contrarie to the holie doctrine which wee profeſſe to follow; and that in many things through the whole courſe of our liues. Now when a man is thus carried of his intemperate affections, and bringeth foorth the loathſome fruite thereof, what comfort can his life affoord him? Euen all ſuch to whom it is a ſad matter to abridge themſelues of their fooliſh will and vaine deſires, and to whom it is a death to withdraw their heart frō that which they long after, or to pluck back their eye from that which it delighteth in, they muſt feede vponupon froth, and take comfort in follie: but as for the ſound and conſtant ioy of them who hauehave made a watchfull life their greateſt quiet (who hauehave therefore libertie and free acceſſe to ſolace their ſoules in the varietie of heauenly pleaſures) this ioy (I ſay) they are ſtrangers vntounto, neither can they be partakers thereof.
For hereby the Lord hath freely graunted vsus to finde and inioy another manner of liuing here in this world,VVhen one is not watchfull, ſome one croſſe maketh many bleſſings vnſauourie. then the moſt doe know or beleeue, euen a peaceable life to Godward, ſafe and ſweete, I meane, ſo farre as of ſinners in a vale of miſerie may be inioyed; which whoſoeuer be voide of, although they hauehave varietie of earthly pleaſures and delights, yet one vexation comming among them, ſhall make all comforts vnſauourie and irkſome vntounto them:Examples. Exod. 8. As may appeare in Pharaoh, when but ſome one of the plagues of Egypt were vponupon him: in Nabuchadnezzar, Dan. 2.when hee had his fearefull dreame: and in Balthazar, when in the middeſt of his iolitie, that fearefull and vnwelcome hand-writing on the wall at midnight was ſeene of him:Dan. 5. and among all theſe there is none in whom this doth more liuely appeare, then in Haman, who for all his wealth, honour and promotion, could not ſatisfie himſelfe, while one meane man, yea a ſtraunger, Mordecai, refuſed to bow to him.
And to come neerer to ſuch of whom the true God was more heard of or knowne, the ſame may be ſaid of Saul; who although hee were a King, yet when the Lord anſwered him no more, his heauines was deadly:1. Sam. 28. of Nabal likewiſe, who when he heard he muſt die and goe from all, he became ſenſeleſſe through ſorrow and anguiſh, and was as a ſtone: and of Zidkijah, 1. Sam. 25.who for all his boaſting of the ſpirit of God, yet being a falſe Prophet and a flatterer, was driuen to hide himſelfe from chamber to chamber, 1 King. 22.when the arrow of the Lord was ſent foorth againſt him, when the Kings ſhelter could not keepe him, as Michaiah told him. All theſe when they had but ſome one diſturbance in their life, how did it make all other delights vnpleaſant vntounto them? So that I may truly ſay, that as the life which is paſſed in watchfulnes, is free from many, and thoſe alſo the greateſt diſcomforts, and filled with the contrarie peace: ſo whatſoeuer a man inioyeth according to his hearts deſire, yet not looking to his waies warily, to keepe himſelfe from euill, feare and ſorrow ſhall euer befall him, vnleſſe (which is worſe) he be hardened: ſo that his life ſhall be found to hauehave little in it, worthie the reioycing in.
And what cauſe there is to vrge this part of Chriſtian dutie of continuall watching, we may ſee by the example of our grandmother Eue, 1. Tim. 2.14. How the beſt hauehave offended, when they hauehave not bin watchfull.who being in the eſtate of innocencie, and therefore the liker to hauehave been kept from euill; yet ſeeing ſhe was not circumſpect and watchfull to hold cloſe to the commaundement, wee ſee ſhe became the cauſe of tranſgreſsion vntounto her huſband, and conſequently of the vniuerſall miſerie of her poſteritie. The like we may ſee by the example of king Dauid, whom though the Scripture doth renowne with as great commendation for his meditating in the law of God, as any man: yet for that he was not armed with a watchfull heart at that one time when he walked on the roofe of his palace;2. Sam. 11.2. behold how the diuell had laid a baite for him (which he, as wiſe as he was, could not diſcerne) and by his ſubtill and ſecret handling of the matter, caught him in his ſnare: So that hee receiued ſuch recompence for the letting looſe of his heart at that time, both in outward reproch and inward anguiſh and bitternes of ſoule, that by good right ſhould make other men cleaue faſt to watchfulnes, and be faithfull vntounto the Lord; yea and to beware with all diligence, that they dallie not with the baites of ſinne at any time, nor giuegive their hearts the bridle, vntill they be gone ſo farre, that they cannot, before great offence be committed, be called backe againe. The experience that I hauehave gathered, ſince I began to looke more aduiſedly into this thing, I meane into the neceſſitie and benefit of a watchfull courſe, which hath bin long enough to teach and aduiſe both my ſelfe and others vponupon ſo long a triall (well nigh theſe thirtie yeeres in ſome manner as I hauehave been able) this experience (I ſay) doth make me the bolder and earneſter in it, to perſwade ſuch as hauehave truly imbraced the Goſpell, that they would adioyne herewith this godly watch, a ſpeciall nouriſher and ſtrengthner of their faith, to ſettle themſelues therein whatſoeuer they goe about, or take in hand: as that their talke be not idle and frothie, but ſauourie and poudred with ſalt; that their actions be ſuch, as they may defend with peace of conſcience againſt their accuſers; and that they labour to ſuppreſſe, and to bring into ſubiection euen their wicked thoughts and deſires, and weaken euen the bodie of ſinne it ſelfe, I meane the old man with his luſts. For behold and this know, that euen amongſt thoſe who reioyce in the teſtimonie of a good conſcience, ſuch doe alwaies honour the Goſpell moſt; moſt ſtop the mouth of the gainſayer, and doe carrie themſelues moſt conſtantly and continually in an euen and good courſe, ſo farre as they hauehave knowledge, who hauehave been wiſe this way,Other gifts much beautified by this: and contrarie. and who hauehave determined with themſelues to ſtand vponupon their watch from time to time. And on the other ſide, ſuch as in whō many good things may be ſeene (I ſpeake both of teachers & hearers) and are for ſundrie cauſes much to bee accounted of; yet being noted for raſh and vnſtaied in their actions, and not ſo much looking to themſelues, by wiſe gouernment of themſelues, hauehave done the leſſe good to others by their example, and hauehave cauſed the other gifts which they hauehave to be the leſſe regarded. God be gloried for the good that is done by this in many: but if it were more commonly imbraced and taken vp of many moe, who for knowledge are able to ſeaſon and giuegive light to numbers, they ſhould not be moſt in diſgrace who hauehave leaſt deſerued it, nor many pleaſe themſelues in a looſe and vnprofitable courſe, which beſide that, it withholdeth from them much ſound comfort, it is a ſore blemiſh in their liues. Yet this I thought good to adde, for as much as the Romiſh Church, eſpecially they who will ſeeme more deuout then the reſt,The watchfull obſeruing of mens traditions, is farre off from this. ſtand much vponupon their diligent keeping of the cuſtomes of their mother Church, and the precepts of the ſame, who might therefore ſeeme to themſelues, and be thought of others to be before others in godlines: let all know, that this which I hauehave ſaid of watchfulnes, leaueth not the leaſt piece of commendation to them. For they watch to keepe the obſeruances of men; but watchfulnes muſt bee vſed for the obeying of the commaundements of God: they ſuperſtitiouſlie watch to obſerue ſome houres and daies and times, wherein if they performe any thing in outward working, they thinke themſelues more holy then others, though other times be little regarded: but the watchfulnes which pleaſeth God, tēdeth to euerie houre, day and time, as well one as another. And to ſpeak of their beſt watch which they keepe ouer their liues, yet from their owne words I conclude, that it cannot be allowed of God, becauſe it commeth not of faith, that is, of aſſurance of the fauour of God, and conſequently that he will bleſſe it (for this faith, which they call the Proteſtants faith, they vtterly renounce) without which yet,Heb. 11.6. it is impoſsible to pleaſe God.
Now to grow to an end about this matter. It is further to be marked, that (becauſe true Chriſtians, & the deareſt ſeruants of God do cōplaine of ſome eſpecial infirmities, wherewith they find thēſelues more troubled then with any other) they muſt be more ſuſpitious of, and vigilant againſt them, then others. And becauſe the diuell doth more eaſily winde them into ſome ſins, then others (as he ſeeth their diſpoſition and inclination, and thereby the greater daunger they are in, by meanes thereof) therefore they are taught in wiſedome and experience to hauehave a more narrow eye ouer them, and more eſpecially to auoyde the very occaſions of them whereby they hauehave fallen. For example, put the caſe, that ſome are ſtrongly tempted to the ſinne of vncleannes, who being blindfolded about that which they deſire,We muſt ſpecially watch againſt that infirmitie, which moſt anoyeth vsus. doe count it no offence, though they paſſe their bounds very greatly in wantonnes of eye, in libertie of ſpeech that way, or ſecret deſires, of though they ſee themſelues ſnared therewith; yet hauing through long cuſtome nouriſhed their hearts in ſuch lothſome delights, and too faintly miſliked their offence when they ſaw it, hauehave brought themſelues into bondage to their luſts.
In this therefore if there be not much occupying of the heart againſt this ſinne, to ſee into, and weigh the lothſomnes, ſhame and danger of it; how vnbeſeeming it is Gods ſeruants to be ſubiect to ſuch ſlauerie; if it be not acknowledged heartily to God, earneſt and daily prayers as occaſion ſhall be offered, ſent vp to God againſt it, with confidence both of pardon and power to mortifie and weaken it, with ſtrong and many reaſons to diſgrace and renounce it, and the occaſions of nouriſhing it wiſely and watchfully auoyded; euen this one ſin, though they ſhould neuer offend groſſely, would hold the conſcience in great vnquietnes, cauſe the parties to wander in deepe ſorrow, and make them vnfit to Chriſtian duties: yea if there be not more labour beſtowed there, then in other parts of the life, it will make eueryevery thing to goe forward much the worſe, and in other actions of the life much confuſion to grow; and the longer they hauehave nouriſhed ſuch vaine dreames, the more hardly they ſhall awake out of them, euen when they gladly would. And that which I ſay of this one, I may as truely ſay of the reſt, if they hauehave been harboured. To this purpoſe, is that complaint of the people of Iſrael in their repentance and turning to God: wherein they declare that one ſinne did more trouble them, then ſome other.
For thus they ſay in their confeſſion: We hauehave ſinned againſt thee, O Lord, 1. Sam. 12.19.but eſpecially in asking vsus a king, beſides all our other ſinnes. And as it troubled them moſt when they asked pardon of God; ſo it appeareth in the ſtorie, that of all other ſinnes they were moſt drawne by that to offend God: For when they would needes hauehave a King againſt the will of God,1. Sam. 8.19. and Samuel was ſent from God to tell them what a manner of one he ſhould be, if they would needes hauehave one contrarie to Gods mind; it is expreſly ſaid, that the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but anſwered, nay, but there ſhall be a King ouer vsus, and we will be like all other nations. Therefore as their ſin, whereby they did moſt offend God, put them to greateſt trouble: ſo muſt thoſe eſpeciall ſinnes, which hauehave preuailed againſt Gods children, be moſt watched againſt and auoyded.
And is there not great reaſon in it, foraſmuch as they hauehave moſt diſquieted them, that they ſhould bend the moſt force of their ſtrength againſt them? Euen as if ſome one troubleſome perſon in a towne ſhould diſquiet the whole, all would lay their helpe together to remoue and keepe him out;An illuſtrating it by ſimilies. And as in an houſe which hath many and great commodities, and yet ſome one ſore annoyance, as a principal chimney caſting ſmoke, with great ſpeede that ſhall be redreſſed, more then other things, which yet are to be regarded likewiſe: ſo in the life of ſound Chriſtians, wherein many good bleſſings of God may bee reaped and inioyed, the chiefe ruines are to be chiefely looked vntounto, although the meaner are not to be neglected. And great labour muſt bee taken about it, and watching againſt that ſinne, which moſt preuaileth in vsus; and much more, then againſt ſome other, by which there is leſſe danger to be feared.
And this helpe (as I hauehave declared how) if it be vſed, and the meanes faithfully practiſed from time to time,The fruite of ſuch watching. let no doubt be made (ſeeing God hath promiſed ſucceſſe thereby, euen greater grace in the vſe thereof, then the ſin ſhall be able to reſiſt) let no doubt (I ſay) be made, but that they ſhall maiſter it, ſo farre, as it ſhall bring peace; vnleſſe it be the caſe of vnmarryed perſons, to whom God hath appointed marriage for a lawfull remedie, when by none of the forementioned, or the like meanes, the gift of continencie can no longer be enioyed.
This aduiſe how vnſauorie and vnwelcome ſoeuer it be to ſuch as are wedded to their luſts, and will offer no violence to them: yet ſuch as know the ſmart that is raiſed by this ſinne, and that ſometime the deere ſeruants of God hauehave been deceiued by it, will be glad to bee directed and helped againſt it. And that which I hauehave ſaid of this, I may ſay of pride, worldlines, anger, malice, reuenge, vniuſt dealing and lying, that as eueryevery man is more eaſily ouercome of, or hurt by them, more then of other ſinnes; ſo hee ſhould hauehave a more continuall feare of them, watchfulnes againſt them, and beſtow more time in ſeeking the rooting out of them: that ſo the wealth and ſafetie of the whole life may be preſerued, when ſuch noyſome ſores, as did moſt of all impaire the ſame, be cured.
But if men be either ignorant of this dutie, or cannot be perſwaded to ſet themſelues to the entertaining of it, and to get acquaintance with it, they muſt looke to liue deſtitute of a chiefe part of godlines; or if it be but now and then in ſome eſpeciall actions and parts of our life, regarded and looked vntounto (as it is done of them who are not greatly experienced in the practiſe of Chriſtianitie) it will make the godly life in great part to be bereaued both of her gaine and beautie.
Our hearts muſt not range where they liſt, nor our delights bee faſtned where we pleaſe; but our eyes, our tongues, our eares, hands, feete, and the whole powers of our mindes,If we be but turned out of the way, we muſt ſpeedily returne. Phil. 2.12. Prou. 28.14. and members of our bodies muſt beholden within compaſſe. In ſo much, that if we ſee, we hauehave but broken out of our conſtant courſe a little, & that our conſciences begin to checke vsus, we ſhould tremble to thinke what we hauehave done: and feare alwayes for the time to come, leaſt we ſhould offend. We muſt watch when we are well, to keepe well: and when we hauehave been deceiued, to returne ſpeedily againe: we muſt watch in trouble, againſt triefnes and impatience: in proſperitie, againſt wantonnes and lightnes, Iob. 31.1. If we could frame to this, we ſhould doe well enough, as he that looketh to his foote in a ſlippery place, ſhall not be hurt. And if we may by watching ouer our ſelues, hauehave our whole life in ſafety, and welfare; are we not worthie to ſmarte, if we cannot doe ſo much for ſo great a benefit? Therefore, moſt worthily doe ſuch ſuffer hardnes and ſorrow, who will in no wiſe be brought to take heede to their waies; but cry out, that it is preciſenes and a kinde of death vntounto them, to be reſtrained from their noyſome and dangerous liberties: From whence ariſeth boldnes and wilfulnes, which cannot want much ſinne. But this watchfulnes doth God require to be in vsus, and to be accounted no tediouſnes, but had in high price: and he that with an honeſt heart and good conſcience ſubmitteth himſelfe hereunto, he ſhall be able to proue by good experience, that watchfulnes is a great meane to maintaine a godly life. Thus much for the more plaine and full handling of this firſt priuate helpe, called watchfulnes.