Seven Treatises, Treatise 4 · Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. Of the illuſtration or more full declaration of the former part of the direction.
The firſt point of the daily direction.FOR the firſt point, that we muſt be diſpleaſed with our ſelues, and humbled for our ſinnes eueryevery day, as ignorance, deadneſſe of heart, raſhneſſe, vncharitableneſſe and wrath,Humiliation for ſinne. or any other, that ſhall giuegive vsus occaſion: yea, euen the body of ſin it ſelfe, that verſe of the Pſal. 51.3. doth proue: where Dauid ſeeking pardon of his ſinne, acknowledged it to God, ſaying: I know mine iniquity, & my ſinne is euer before me; thē no day to be forgotten. So the Apoſtle ſaith, the ſunne muſt not go downe vponupon our wrath, Epheſ. 4.26.meaning thereby, that we muſt ſoone forget and forgiue, and compound our controuerſies, and breake off our ſtrife; and not lie therein till the euening: therefore daily confeſſe, and be humbled for thē, which cannot be done (we know) to the pleaſing of God, except our harts be broken with relenting and melting for them. And if the ſunne may not go downe vponupon our wrath, neither (by the like reaſon) any other ſinne may be ſuffered to lurke or abide any ſuch time in vsus, who doth not ſee, that it ſhould be a good part of our care throughout the day, both to caſt out ſuch draffe, (as we hauehave drunke in) by lamenting our eſtate, euen as it ought to be another part of it, to hold and keepe it out?Iob. 1.5. And if Iob when his ſonnes and daughters did feaſt together for the preſeruing of louelove eueryevery day in their courſe; if he (I ſay) did command them to ſanctifie and cleanſe themſelues eueryevery day, and did in like manner, offer burnt offerings for them himſelfe eueryevery morning, becauſe he thought they had ſome way diſpleaſed God, would he (thinke we) on other dayes, when they were like more to offend, count it a needleſſe matter for himſelfe or them to do the like? which clearly teacheth vsus, that we ſhould purge and cleanſe our hearts from all ſuch ſin, as might infect them, euen eueryevery day: we ſhould do this (I ſay) as well as vponupon any one, ſeeing there is cauſe and need eueryevery day, and when we go through the day in the beſt maner that it may be paſſed,Pſal. 6.6. new guilt by ſin ariſeth againſt vsus: that if Dauid for his great & grieuous ſins, did eueryevery day waſh his bed, & water his couch with teares, for a ſpace (as he teſtifieth:) can we thinke but that he kept ſome proportiō on the other daies (although he had not euer the ſame particular cauſe) in lamenting, bewailing, and acknowledging his ſins? eſpecially ſeeing we reade of him, that three times in a day his vſuall maner & cuſtome was to praiſe and pray vntounto God. And if the wicked are ſaid not to be vp and readie any day, as the Prophet ſpeaketh, vntill they hauehave wrought ſome miſchiefe, (ſo naturall and ordinarie a matter it is with them:) ſhould any doubt, but that we ſhould hold it for one peece of our chiefe worke, daily to caſt downe our ſelues before the Lord, and to humble our ſelues, in the heartie confeſſing of our ſinnes? And it was one of the principall things that God meant to teach vsus, by the morning and euening ſacrifice, & prayer daily in the lawe of ceremonies. But I would all good Chriſtians did as duly and conſcionably perfourme this dutie to God eueryevery day, and bind themſelues reſolutely thereto, as the word of God doth clearely proue that they ought to do ſo: as for them who may pleaſe themſelues in outward humbling of the bodie, and confeſſion of the mouth; in a word, they muſt know, that the chiefe glorie of it is inward.
The ſecond point followeth, namely,The ſecond point. that eueryevery day we ought to be raiſed vntounto a cheareful and liuely beleeuing, that our ſinnes thus bewailed,Forgiueneſſe of ſinne. confeſſed and repented of, are forgiuen, and freely remitted vntounto vsus, for and through the onelyonly and ſufficient ſatisfaction of Ieſus Chriſt. And for the proofe of this, it is ſufficient, that theſe two are neuer parted, but go together, as Peter ſaith: Repent, and ye ſhall receiue the forgiueneſſe of your ſinnes: and in Hoſea the people were thus taught to ſeeke and come by it:Act. 2.38. Returne vntounto the Lord from your iniquities, and then ſay to the Lord, Take away all our iniquitie, Hoſ. 14.2.3.and receiue vsus graciouſly: and he will heare your rebellion, and louelove you freely, for his anger is turned away from you. And our Sauiour commanded his Apoſtles to abide in his louelove, euen as they had taſted how ſweet it was. Now then,Ioh. 15.9. if eueryevery day we ought to turne from our ſinnes, we ought alſo eueryevery day to embrace the promiſe of merciemercy. Beſides, in that the Church of God is taught this for an article of her faith, to beleeue her ſinnes to be forgiuen; and the articles are firmely and conſtantly to be holden and beleeued, and all vnbeleefe is ſinne at any time: therefore as we are to be raiſed vp by faith in Chriſts merites, that our ſins are pardoned now, euen ſo we are at other times, and one day as well as another to be ſo vpholden.
Againe, as in our common prayer which is called the Lords; which ſerueth for euer to ſquare out our prayers by,Peti. …. and therefore for eueryevery day, the word (this day) is expreſſed, ſeruing for eueryevery day of our life; that wee may know, that there is no day of our life, wherein this prayer in effect is not to be made; no day wherein we pray not for our daily bread, euen all neceſſaries for this preſent life: ſo is there no day in which we aske not, and ſo in which we ought not to enioy it by faith, I meane, the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes. And if eueryevery morning Gods mercies be renewed,Lamen. 3.23. of which this is chiefe; then we alſo muſt in the ſame manner imbrace them by faith as our owne, and ſo partake them. So that this bindeth the conſcience alſo as the former, that eueryevery day the true Chriſtian muſt be perſwaded of the pardon of his ſinnes, and that no day he ſhould looſe his part in ſo great a treaſure, though it is to be feared, that many good Chriſtians enioy it not. Neither indeed can this ſecond rule be faithfully obſerued and kept, but it will cauſe all the other to be well looked too and regarded. Bring we therefore our hearts daily to count it our treaſure, that ſo they may delight in it: (for where our treaſure is, there will they be alſo) and then we hauehave well and wiſely prouided for our ſelues in that day, and our greateſt toyle is ouer (as they ſay) for the whole day following. And this will be done, if, as it is the greateſt of all other: ſo we reſolue, that none is greater with vsus. To ſpeake more largely of theſe pointes here, is not my purpoſe, for that they hauehave bene handled before in the firſt and third treatiſe: onelyonly thus much, to referre this beleeuing of pardon to eueryevery day. And this is here to be looked for of the reader, that eueryevery one of the points and partes of this daily direction (the which I hauehave taught in other parts of this booke, how they ſhould be attained and come by) muſt be kept of a Chriſtian eueryevery day.
The third point is, that when we ſhall be ſtrongly haled after ſinne, (for we muſt know that eueryevery day giues occaſion thereof) that we ſo account of the libertie of our hearts and minds,The third point Preparation and arming of our hearts againſt euill, & readie to good. to keepe them well diſpoſed and armed againſt all ſinne, and moſt of all, our ſpeciall infirmities, that we let them not looſe at any time in the day, to be hardened with the deceitfulneſſe of any ſinne, but kept with all diligence poſſsible, from the louelove and liking thereof, that ſo our outward actions may be well ordered. Therefore is that charge giuen in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes,Heb. 3.12. that our hearts be not made nought, and rebellious at any time, and therefore by conſequent on any day, whiles we ſuffer them to be hardened with the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne. And agreable to this, the Lord in Deuteronomie, aunſwering Moſes (when he brought him word, that the people would willingly be ruled by him, although before they refuſed ſo to be) ſaid: This people hath ſaid well all that they hauehave ſaid: but *Deut. 5.29.oh that there were an heart in them, that they would feare me, and keepe all my commandements alwaies; then it ſhould go well with them.
So that we muſt ſee ſuch neceſſitie of holding maiſterie ouer our hearts, and keeping them in feare of offending, that we may make a daily practiſe of it, and ſo keepe them for continuance: neither can we otherwiſe ſhew our ſelues to regard that waightie charge of the Lord giuen vntounto vsus:Mat. 22.37. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord with all thy heart and ſoule. For they who are eueryevery while off and on, vnſetled in their harts, can neuer be long well ordered in their liues:Prou. 4.18. therefore the Lord requireth this conſtancie, that we muſt eueryevery while be looking to them, euen alwaies, that ſo we may be out of daunger. Behold how needfull a thing this is, to keepe and hold this maiſterie ouer our hearts daily: when nothing goeth well forward, where they with the affections of them be not well ruled. But this ſhall be ſhewed in the next ſection following. Neither let men obiect their neceſſarie buſineſſe (though they will not pleade for carnall libertie, they ſay) and multitudes thereof, which will diſtract their hearts. I aunſwer, of multiplicitie of earthly dealings, which will hinder holy peace, let wiſe Chriſtians beware: and ſo doing, if (as farre as they are able) they ſet themſelues to hauehave care of all parts of Chriſtian obedience, their hearts ſhall in good manner prouide thereby, for the well ordering of their earthly buſineſſe alſo, which is one part of it, and none of the meaneſt.
Now from this heart well gouerned,The 4. Flee euill, the next two points (as two armes of a tree, from the bodie or ſtocke) do iſſue and come: The firſt,5. Follow good. that we ſhold euer keepe from euill: which ſhall not be hard, if alwaies and eueryevery day we be held in feare of offending, as we are directed before. The ſecond, that we alwaies indeuour to pleaſe God, and therefore in all things; and as was ſaid in Deuteronomie, to keepe all his commaundements: which all may ſee, cannot be if we hauehave not our hearts ſo prepared to ſeeke the Lord, that we may be readie in one dutie as well as in another, to ſhew our ſelues obedient.Deut. 5.29. All which three, namely, 1. to hauehave a heart to feare God, 2. to flie euill, 3. and pleaſe him in all things, in that one Scripture before mentioned are required daily to be found in vsus; ſo there is no man but may eaſily ſee reaſon, why it ſhould be thus: firſt, ſeeing the one cannot be without the other: ſecondly, the keeping of ſuch agreableneſſe betwixt our hearts and liues is our beautie and honour. And on the contrarie, it is moſt harſh and offenſiue, when they which beare a faire ſhew, and are content ſomtimes to be gouerned, ſhal yet at other times be nothing ſo.
I will ſay ſomewhat the more of theſe two, ſeeing it is one of the chiefeſt cauſes, why I entred into this preſent treatiſe, as may appeare by that which I hauehave alreadie ſaid: namely, that the Chriſtian ſhould be eueryevery day free from all reprochfull euill: inſomuch as if by any occaſion he be turned out of the way, yet he ſhould ſpeedily returne, and alſo that he ſhould be daily giuen vntounto eueryevery good worke, watching his oportunitie thereto, that ſo he may hauehave a good conſcience in all things, and may bring foorth much fruite, that God may be glorified. Yet I meane not that he ſhould ſpend the whole day in reading, prayer, hearing of Sermons,A godly life daily, conſiſteth not onelyonly in the exerciſes of religion. or other religious exerciſes (excepting the Sabbath) but in one lawfull thing or other about his calling; or any other in ſtead thereof, which may be as well defended, and as pleaſing to God as the duties of his calling.
More particularly to appoint or preſcribe is hard,VVe may ſerue God in our ordinarie and meaneſt works. and this is plaine enough for eueryevery true beleeuer to vnderſtand, and apply vntounto himſelfe: for I exclude not the commoneſt and meaneſt ſeruices and workes, ſo as they be ſuch as God alloweth, and without vitious affections gone about of him: as in the man,The man in his. plough and cart, ſowing and reaping, and all worke thereto belonging, if he be called thereto; or other worke in the man of occupation, as he hath bene trained vp and fitted for: as alſo all prouiſion of things neceſſarie to the maintenance of his familie by lawfull skill and honeſt meanes; and paying, and receiuing of that which is due.
The vvoman in hers.In the woman, to hauehave care, that all be frugally and thriftily done within the houſe and without, which is vnderunder her hand; that ſhe be diligent to ſee her children chriſtianly brought vp according to their age, her houſhold to hauehave all that is meete in due ſeaſon:Prou 3…. and more particularly among the reſt, ſpinning, ſowing, knitting, being done as to the Lord, and being thoſe works which he appointeth them, and ſuch like, are commendable, that they may be neither idle nor vnprofitable. And theſe I name in ſome particular manner, leſt any ſhould thinke, that I go about any new-found out holineſſe to tye Chriſtians vntounto, as ſome will be ready inough to imagine and thinke, when they ſhall ſee and vnderſtand that they muſt eueryevery day be well occupied, (which few will be tied to) and doing of one good duty or other.
And yet this I adde, that as theſe and ſuch like muſt be done, and in one or other of them the ſixe dayes muſt be beſtowed, yet (I ſay) this muſt be added,They muſt be done by faith. that all theſe lawfull workes muſt be done of them in faith, that is, they muſt know that God commandeth ſuch workes to be done of them, and therefore they do them readily and willingly, not for neceſſity onelyonly, or for feare of puniſhment,Not for carnall reſpects. or ſhame of the world, or becauſe they would be rich: all which are carnall, ſenſuall and diuelliſh reſpects, as I ſayd before in forbidding all vitious affections in mens lawfull actions; neither do they pleaſe God which thus go to worke.Committing the ſucceſſe to God. And further they muſt do theſe lawfull workes in perſwaſion and confidence that God will bleſſe them therein, and giuegive them good ſucceſſe, and take that for their daily bread and bleſſing, which God in their thus-going to worke, doth beſtow vponupon them.
And laſtly, they muſt do theſe without adding the common ſinnes, which wicked perſons do vſe at their worke,Auoiding the common ſinnes that prophane ones ioyne vvith them. as ſwearing, lying, negligence, idleneſſe, falſhood and deceiuing, curſing, quarrelling, impatience, and contention. Theſe and ſuch other of their owne deuiſing the wicked do bring in, among the lawfull workes which God commaundeth them to do, and mixeth ſuch euils with the doing of the workes, which of themſelues are good,Men diſgrace and marre their lavvfull callings, by their ſinnes. that they vtterly marre, and deface them thereby, depriue themſelues of Gods bleſſing, and it cauſeth their callings and trades to be meanely accounted of, and in diſcredit with ſuch as are not able to iudge, as though none could vſe them better: whereas others as poore as they, and as much put to their ſhifts, yet taking better direction, and depending on God, and carefully abſtaining from ſuch ſinnes, as are wont in the moſt to accompany their lawfull workes and dealings, do liue in them contentedly, peaceably, and holily, and do in that manner put honor and beauty vponupon their callings, and teſtifie that God hath to ſingular ends and purpoſes appointed and giuen them vntounto vsus.
And thus would God hauehave Chriſtians go to their worke, and do all their lawfull buſineſſe, not as hirelings, onelyonly in regard of their bellies. And this were a goodly and moſt beautifull ſight to behold in all ſorts, maiſters, ſeruants, buyers, ſellers, and euen in the poore labourers; yea, cutters of wood, and drawers of water: and they that are of meaneſt place in families may liue godly in them while religion rules their actions, and while they deſire to do them as they are taught in the word of God.The true Chriſtian only may, and ought to be mery at his vvorke. And they who go to worke after this maner, may be merry at their worke, and merry at their meate: and yet I meane not as the prophane and earth-wormes, who ſometime are merry when they hauehave more cauſe to be heauy, ſeeing neither they nor their worke are pleaſing to him; but the other may reioyce and be glad by Gods allowing, yea commanding it them, where he ſaith: Reioyce thou and thine, Deut 12.18.before the Lord thy God, in all that thou putteſt thine hand vntounto. And againe: Serue the Lord thy God (that is,Deut. 28.46. in that thou art appointed by him to do) in ioyfulneſſe and with a good heart for the aboundance of all things. And this is the mirth and ioy of heart, which the Apoſtle willeth vsus to take our part in, ſaying: Speake to your ſelues in Pſalmes, and Himnes, and ſpirituall ſongs; ſinging, Epheſ. 5.19.& making melodie to the Lord in your hearts, with thankes for all things through Ieſus Chriſt. In this ſort hath God allowed his ſeruants, who hauehave learned and are reſolued to obey him in all things, to reioyce, and go about their worldly affaires; and in like maner, doth he allow them to vſe all their lawfull liberties in this life: all which, he knoweth they hauehave need of, to allay the tartneſſe, and aſſwage the painfulneſſe and griefe which through their afflictions are infinite wayes ready in all places to meete with them. And not to do lawfull buſineſſe and workes thus, and with the three former rules ſet downe, but as the vnruly and diſordered people of the world do them, is to make the lawfulleſt and excellenteſt callings baſe and meane, and to the perſons themſelues moſt hurtfull while they ſtand forth againſt them as accuſations, for that they hauehave vſed them vnlawfully, which in themſelues are very honeſt and lawfull: which I ſay, that I may anſwer the brutiſh and irreligious ſort, who ſay they know no difference betwixt thoſe who are counted godly, and themſelues; ſeeing they are faine (ſay they) to worke for their liuing, as well as we, their godlineſſe will not feede them. The difference let them learne from that which I hauehave ſayd.
I hauehave alſo ſpoken this by occaſion, for the ſatisfying of the ſimple-harted, that they may not thinke that (in requiring that we ſhould liue eueryevery day in a godly maner) I do vrge any to leaue off, and lay aſide their callings and buſineſſe: and yet this I ſhew to be required by the Lord; how, and in what maner thoſe lawfull workes ought to be done of them, that he therein may be pleaſed. And ſo I conclude, that the beleeuer ought eueryevery day to arme and frame himſelfe to a godly life, and to caſt off all that ſauoreth not thereof (as in ſome which are moſt vſuall actions I hauehave ſhewed) ſeeing his whole conuerſation muſt beſeeme the Goſpell; remembring what the wiſe man ſaith:Philip. 1.27. Eccleſ. 9.10. All that thine hand ſhall find to do, do it with all thy power, for there is no worke in the graue whither thou goeſt.
Which if it were perſwaded throughly to men, that it ought to be ſo, and that it is as neceſſarily to be looked after, as their maintenance, health; yea, or their life it ſelfe (which none wel aduiſed wil deny:) then ſhould there not be this poſting it off from one to another, which now there is: nor this refuſing to be ſubiect to God in this maine and great commaundement of doing all to his glorie, 1. Cor. 10.31.which they that refuſe, do refuſe godlineſſe it ſelfe: And there ſhould not be this parting of ſtakes betwixt God and our ſelues, that ſometime we will be forward, and ſometime backeward, in ſome things obedient, but in others denying our obedience, which cauſeth ſuch patching and peecing of duties,Heb. 12.14. as is farre from holineſſe, without which yet, we ſhall neuer ſee the Lords face; whereas yet by conſtancy in duty, and keeping of a daily courſe, therein much dulneſſe, deadneſſe, barrenneſſe, ſlouth, idleneſſe, and the fruits thereof, lewd luſts, and many ſuch dangerous euils ſhould be auoided, with which euen many good Chriſtians (to their great heart-ſmart afterwards) are annoyed, becauſe they know not how to do better.
The ſixt point:The ſixt point of our daily direction in thankfulneſſe: I meane, a renewing of this duty to the Lord eueryevery day,Thankfulneſſe. that ſo we may ſtill ſee and acknowledge our ſelues indebted vntounto him, and be the fitter to go vnderunder any of his fatherly chaſtiſements, which he ſhall lay vponupon vsus, which without it, will preſſe vsus downe, and raiſe bitterneſſe in our hearts: and alſo that by it, we may the ofter call to mind Gods many kindneſſes, to cheare our harts, which are too ſoone forgotten of vsus. The Prophet Ieremie forceth this daily duty to be continued of vsus,Lament. 3.23. when he ſaith, that the mercies of God are renewed vponupon vsus daily: and what followeth vponupon that, but this, that our hearts ſhould conceiue, and our mouthes ſhould ſet forth and declare his praiſe accordingly? For if we be commaunded as the Pſalmiſt teacheth, to continue this duty long after his benefits be receiued (as he ſaith,Pſal. 118.7. Let Iſrael now ſay, that the Lord is gratious, after his bountifulneſſe had bene declared vntounto them) how much more ought we to praiſe the Lord daily for his mercies renewed vponupon vsus?
Therefore, did Dauid the faithfull ſeruant of God force himſelfe to performe this duty as too ſlouthful in his owne iudgement, though we reade of none more continually occupied in it, Pſalme 103.3. ſaying: Praiſe thou the Lord, ô my ſoule, and all that is within thee, praiſe his holy name: and further he ſaith, that he will be euer ſetting forth his goodneſſe, and praiſe his name alwayes.
And yet that none may hinder this duty in vsus by ſaying, we are not bound to follow, no not good examples in all things, let vsus well weigh the commandement of God by the Apoſtle,1. Theſ. 5.18. ſaying: In all things be thankfull: as if he ſhould ſay, that our whole life ought to be a thankſgiuing; and therefore it is no life, when we cannot be thankfull. And what the thankfulneſſe is which ſhould daily be in vsus, looke in the former treatiſe.
The ſeuenth point:The next duty to be daily performed of vsus,VVatch and pray. is watchfulneſſe and prayer: of which two, as the firſt ought to be continuall, euen to ouer-ſee our whole worke in and through the day, and to looke before vsus that all may be done to the glory of God (for as the eye-lids preſerue the tender eyes from annoyance, ſo doth this our life from offence, and our feete from falling:) ſo this latter, namely prayer, is to be as an helpe and hand-maid vntounto that.
And although I preſcribe no certaine rule, nor ſet houre to the ſolemne performing of this duty,1. Theſ. 5.17. becauſe we are taught to pray alwayes, at any time as we ſhall hauehave fit oportunity, yet ought our hearts to be lifted vp to God often, hauing euer occaſion: and ſometime ſolemnely, and by ſet prayer powring out our complaints, and making our requeſts vntounto him. Both of them are ſo farre to be in vſe with vsus, as we are deſirous to retaine ſound peace and quiet minds toward God, and to be free from, or at leaſt, not to be ouercome of temptations: which ſeeing we are ſubiect vntounto eueryevery day, it cannot be doubted of, but as the one ſhould not ceaſe, I meane watchfulneſſe, but be working in vsus continually, and keepe vsus waking out of ſpirituall ſlumber throughout the day; ſo the other which is prayer, ſhould quicken and ſharpen it, and both of them ſtrengthen vsus, being oft and vſuall with vsus, againſt all occaſions, which might elſe ouer-match vsus.
And can any be ignorant, when our Sauiour taught vsus to pray eueryevery day for our daily bread, but that we ſhould pray eueryevery day for grace to be guided aright and comforted, there being as great need of it, and more, then of the other? The ſame thing he meant, when he vttered a parable to them to this end, that they ought to pray alwayes, and not to waxe faint: but euer willing, though not euer able. So that the life of a Chriſtian is no day well paſſed, when prayer (as it hath bin before deſcribed) is not one member & part of it.
The laſt point of our direction is, that we by meanes of all theſe,The eight▪ Peace. as our faith, and feare of diſpleaſing God, &c. may keepe and hold faſt our holy and moſt ſweete peace with God, and our reioycing, 2. Co. 1.12.which is the fruite of this Chriſtian walking, and an vnſeparable companion vntounto the ſame. I hauehave taught this in generall before: onelyonly now I ſhew, that it is daily to be kept and maintained of vsus, in ſuch wiſe, that as we regard our bodily maintenance while we liue here, ſo ſhould we prouide that this our peace, which paſſeth vnderſtanding, be not broken off betwixt God and vsus. If it be asked how this ſhall be; the Apoſtle ſaith,Rom. 5.1. If we be iuſtified by faith in our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, we hauehave and do inioy it. And we hauehave heard, that the Lord hath both giuen liberty, yea and commandement to his children, that they ſhould daily beleeue and lay hold on eternall life, and reſt themſelues in the aſſurance of his louelove: and how can this exclude that peace which we ſpeake of?
Nay, our reioycing in the Lord, which is rather a degree beyond this peace, we are commaunded to entertaine and retaine alwayes, that is,Phil. 4.4. at all times, that none may imagine that I meane, we ſhould onelyonly ſome one time in the day or other poſſeſſe and inioy it. Neither indeed is any part of our life any day pleaſant vntounto vsus without it. Therefore the Apoſtle doth very fitly meet with an obiection of ours in the forenamed Scripture, thus: that if any of vsus dare not preſume ſo farre as to take our part in cōtinual reioycing in the Lord, or if we ſhold thinke, that the Apoſtle was not well aduiſed in offering ſo great libertie vntounto vsus, he repeateth his words thus (againe, I ſay, reioyce:) as if he ſhould ſay, you who are carefull ouer your ſelues, and ouer others, (for to ſuch he ſpeaketh) be ye merry and ioyfull in the Lord from time to time,1. Theſ. 5.16. yea and ſo as no worldly ſorrowes do breake it off.
Now I hauehave ſhewed what are the neceſſary graces which ſhould accōpany the life of the beleeuer daily, I wiſh him to view thē all at one ſight together; to ſee if he may well be without any of them: as without certainety of the forgiueneſſe of his ſinnes, without feare of offending God, a thankfull heart, and chearfull watching and praying againſt euill, &c. And he cannot walke voide of any of them, ſo yet: he muſt not thinke but that there are other particular actions beſide theſe, but they be all to be well ordered and gouerned by theſe. And now ſomewhat I will ſet downe about them, not vnprofitable and needleſſe. I hauehave briefly proued, that ſome certaine manner of directing a Chriſtian daily, is required in the word of God, and that it is no fancie of mans braine, thus nearly and narowly to looke to himſelfe: and hauehave ſet downe a draught thereof out of the Scripture, and therefore men muſt know,Aduertiſement to the Reader about the direction. that it is their ſinne, when they are not guided by theſe rules in the daily courſe of their liuing: I ſay, when theſe accompany them not, whatſoeuer their calling is, or the actions which they are occupied about, it is their ſinne, whether it be of ignorance, that they know them not (which is the leſſe, if they be willing to learne:) or careleſneſſe, or wilfulneſſe, that they do not, or will not, regard them; and being ſinne, it is to be reſiſted, ſeeing no ſinne is to be borne withall, or reſted in.
And that it may be thought more neceſſary to be daily guided in this maner, we muſt know, that theſe graces which I hauehave ſpoken of, are not at ſome one time or other of the day to be thought or ſpoken of (thinke not this to be my meaning, in ſaying we muſt hauehave them eueryevery day) for ſo, we might poſſibly be litle the better for them (as if once in a day a man ſhould pray, giuegive thankes, looke to his waies, to his peace, &c.) a man might do all theſe & the like, and yet not of neceſſitie well guided for all that, through the day: but this I meane,VVhat the beleeuer is to vnderſtand by the direction. that this holy furniture ſhould cloath and beautifie our ſoules throughout the day, and hauehave their ſetled abode in vsus; and not ebbe and flow as the tide doth, nor go and come as paſſengers that tary not; but home-dwellers: as for example, that our peace ſhould not be broken off by any occaſion,Note. our watching ſhould not ceaſe, we ſhould keepe our ſelues from euill the whole day, and ſo likewiſe be ready to one duty or other, and we ſhould cheriſh our weake faith from time to time,Heb. 10.35. and caſt not away our confidence, Flowers for a Christian to ſmell on. retaining minds thankfull, and walking in the ſtrength of our prayers, though we be not euer vttering and expreſſing in words either prayers or thankes.
So that our hearts may be well ſeaſoned with theſe, as the chiefe things, which we ſhould regard and looke after, and yet neglecting no needefull worke that muſt be done, but doing it much the better by meanes of theſe; and ſo the froth of our owne braines, as endleſſe and needleſſe wandrings, vaine cogitations, and fooliſh and noiſome deſires, ſhall be much reſtrained and allayed in vsus. This is it (all wiſe men do know) that moſt troubleth vsus, and of the which,The vnruly heart, the chiefeſt trouble that a man hath. we be eueryevery day in greateſt daunger; I meane, the looſenes and diſorderedneſſe of our hearts: for they, as they be neuer vnoccupied, but prone to euill a thouſand waies; ſo if they be not bridled, holden vnderunder, and ſuppreſſed, they are ſo ſoone fixed vponupon ſome obiect that commeth in the way, that they carie vsus headlong after it, we being then impotent for the time and vnable to reſiſt, when we hauehave let them looſe, and giuen them ſcope.
Some fruit of it.And from thence ariſe (I ſpeake of the better ſort of vsus) great heauineſſe and vnquietneſſe, to ſee ſuch chaunges wrought in vsus: and this is the beſt that commeth thereof, vntill we recouer our ſelues againe, if a worſe thing follow not, that we fall not into ſome further vnſetledneſſe and diſtemperature, which will cauſe no ſmall annoyance. Now what is a like remedie againſt this, and all other baites of this deceitfull world, which the diuell layeth in our way,Daily directiō, the chiefe remedie againſt it. as to hauehave our hearts daily fenced thus with watch and ward againſt them, as I hauehave ſaid, to hold ſuch ſinne execrable alwaies, to keepe in louelove with pietie and goodneſſe, to retaine hope and confidence that God will make vsus ſtrong againſt them, to liue in his fauour ſtill that we may want nothing that is good, and to enioy moſt ſweet and ſound peace to comfort vsus ſo to our liking, that we may not neede to haſt greatly or gape after ſuch allurements, which are no better then deadly poyſon? What (I ſay) is like this precious remedie, to keepe vsus in ſafetie eueryevery day? Which God hath therefore giuen vsus, that we may be preſerued from infinite fearefull dangers, which are in this world, and that we may alſo liue with much comfort; yea, he that giueth his heart to the Lord, that it may be taught all theſe rules of the daily directing of a Chriſtian, can tell how true this is, and what reward is found and enioyed daily of ſuch as take delight in them.
But many Chriſtians, who beare a good affection to the Goſpell,Some Chriſtians (ſay what may be ſaid) will go no further in practiſe of religion, then they be already and generally meane well, yet will not particularly trouble themſelues (as they count it) to be brought in their whole courſe within a narrower compaſſe, and to a more neare acquaintance with the Lord, yea when they heare that it is to become by, but would faine beare themſelues in hand, that they are well inough; when yet they are oft conſtrained to feare, yea and to feele the contrarie: for what do they find but much wearineſſe and griefe, checkes and accuſations, yea and are ſometime alſo noted of others, to be but cold and barraine profeſſors, when they hauehave followed ſo much and ſo farre the deuiſes and deſires of their owne hearts? And beſides this, how much detract they from the beautie and excellencie of the godly life, and what iniurie offer they vntounto it, when they are able no further to commend it then as they find, (for as they find, ſo they will ſpeake of it) whereas it cannot ſufficiently be eſteemed and accounted of: neither can the ſeruants of God, who hauehave experience of the benefite of it, ſatisfie themſelues in ſetting out the excellencie thereof.
I deny not, but there are many, who for want of knowledge, do not ſee that which ſundrie others of their brethren do, and yet are faithfull in that which they know: but they reſt not ſatisfied with their preſent eſtate, but long much to ſee the will of God more clearely, and deſire feruently to attaine to greater meaſure of grace. And to all ſuch I know, how welcome it will be to hauehave more cleare direction, then as yet they hauehave found: and ſuch I would hauehave know, that for their cauſes I was perſwaded to vtter that, which God hath reuealed to me ſo farre as concerneth them. But as for ſuch as like ſo of their preſent eſtate, that they haſt not to be acquainted with any better, (ſeeing there is euer in Gods children a deſire to grow, and a longing to be better) whatſoeuer they thinke of it, and how highly ſoeuer they account of themſelues in it, they ſhall go forward eueryevery one his way, till they be as blind as the moule, as deafe as the adder, as dumbe as he that openeth not his mouth,Reu. 3.17. The wicked ſhall waxe vvorſe. and as vnprofitable as the ſalt that hath loſt the ſauour, and is good for nothing but to be troden vnderunder foote, and caſt vponupon the dunghill.
Neither let the people of God count this any burthen to be thus directed:Incouragement to the teachable but it is their fleſh and corrupt wiſedome which burdeneth them, whereto they are not debters. And what do I perſwade vntounto, but the vſe of, and continuance in that holy condition, which eueryevery true beleeuer hath taſted of, and had his part in, but that many ſuch through ignorance and vnacquaintedneſſe with it, hauehave not attained vntounto ſtedfaſt continuance in it? But to return a litle to the other:A bewailing of them vvho reſt in their ſtate, not ſeeking to be bettered. ô people to be lamented and euer pitied, that they being borne to great honour euen here in this life, ſhould forgo it ſo contentedly, and ſuffer others to enioy it: whom I require to heare me, ſaying vntounto them, that if they were wiſe and well aduiſed, though they might liue as their heart deſireth here, and ſhould neuer be called to their account for the ſame, yet they would flie from a licencious life, being but a ſweet poiſon, and would chuſe to ſpend one day godly, (euen for the fruite and pleaſantneſſe of it) rather then a thouſand dayes otherwiſe: which many heathens in their kind, and according to the light and knowledge they had, as Cato, Scipio, and others did, that is, in morall vertue and honeſtie, to the perpetuall ſhame and iuſt reproch of many which go for Chriſtians.
And this is that which I go about, that in this ſhifting and godleſſe world, ſome who are very willing alreadie to be guided well, but are vnable to direct themſelues, may hauehave ſome helpe by this which I hauehave written: who if they ſhould be hindred thus, namely, that they thinke, for all that can be ſaid, yet there will be wandrings out of the way, earthlineſſe of mind, frowardneſſe, and much rebellion, and therefore to ſmall purpoſe it might ſeeme to be, to take great paines for little profite: I ſay (by the grace of God) their profite ſhall be great, and their paines ſmall, for the benefite which they ſhall reape by it, yea in time it will become pleaſure to them, after they ſhall accuſtome themſelues daily to ſeeke the Lord in ſuch manner, as I hauehave here taught, and as his word preſcribeth, and they ſhal ſee their ſtrongeſt rebellions much weakened, and euill deſires much abated and aſſwaged in them, and they themſelues prepared and made fit by this well ſeaſoning of their hearts to make the actions of their liues correſpondent.
And to vphold our ſelues in holineſſe thus as it is required of vsus, no leſſe helpe is needfull,1. Theſ. 4.3. then the daily keeping of our hearts in this eſtate, which I hauehave ſet downe. For although while the heart is thus looked vntounto, (as it wold be of vsus, if we counted it the neceſſarieſt worke that we hauehave to do throughout the day) while the heart (I ſay) is thus looked vntounto, eueryevery thing doth well follow our hands, and much good is done in our liues: ſo yet, except we make great prouiſion, that this worke may be daily and conſtant, we cannot chuſe, no not the beſt of vsus, but we ſhall commit many things in our liues vnbeſeeming our profeſſion, and ſmally to our owne comfort. And howſoeuer the rebellious world cannot away with it, yet (as I ſaid before) all the godly, if they knew it, and ſo farre as they do know it, do aime at it, & would thinke themſelues happie, if they could be partakers of this libertie: I meane, when they can and do aduiſedly, and with good conſideration keep ſtedfaſt daily in this holy and ſweet courſe, and are not peruerted and turned out of it, as ſometime they hauehave bene.
I confeſſe, all are not in a like meaſure enlarged, either by knowledge to ſee the excellencie of it, (as I hauehave ſaid) or in heart to deſire it, ſeeing they are not acquainted with it: but yet when they do ſee, how God of his abundant kindneſſe, hath ſhewed them a way to make their liues more pleaſant, and his ſeruice more eaſie, then they hauehave thought or could find; they will wiſh a part in this wiſedome, thus to guide themſelues, before all other pleaſures, though the fleſh ſhould neuer ſo much rebell againſt it. And it muſt be granted, that the heart will ſtriue ſore againſt the continuance in this courſe,The fl…ſh will ſpurne againſt daily direction. and rebell and be diſcontented with this, that all vnlawfull libertie ſhould euer be denied vntounto it. But as they ſhall ſee more clearely into this bleſſed eſtate, and hauehave daily more experience, both that God doth giuegive them power to mortifie and ouercome themſelues, and make this holy courſe ſweet vntounto them, the more their harts ſhall be ſet vponupon it, to deſire and long after it, and to hauehave it in an high account, which is the greateſt matter, and the hardeſt peece of worke to be obtained, eſpecially with continuance and ſtedfaſtneſſe therein.
For if it were mens pleaſure and delight throughout the day to be well occupied one way or other, and in all that they ſhould go about, to hauehave their hearts readie to guide them aright therein, all other gaine-ſaying deſires of the fleſh ſhould ſoone be withſtood and reſiſted, and the occaſions, by which they were wont moſt of all to be hindered and withdrawne, ſhould be ſhunned and auoyded. And this may much ſet them forward in this courſe, that if they ſeeke to retaine conſtantly any one of theſe eight rules,Follow one of theſe rules throughly, and all the other vvill be familiar. which are ſet downe to guide them daily, they may know, that it will be no hard matter to enioy all the reſt with it, ſeeing they hang together as linckes of a golden chaine. For they cannot arme themſelues with a mind free from the louelove of ſinne preſent, but they muſt be repentant for their ſinne paſt, and embrace forgiueneſſe by faith, and find reſt to their ſoules, and filled with thankes: and ſo I ſay of the reſt, if they know this point of Gods will, that he requireth it, that one of them ſhould daily go with the other, as indeed the one cannot be without the other.
And if any ſay, belike I go about to make men perfecter and holier,Obiection. then the Lord euer did, and to perſwade, that they may ſerue God without ſtrife and battell with their owne luſtes and the diuell: I aske them againe, if this courſe of daily keeping our hearts in frame, and ſpirituall gouernement can be without moſt diligent obſeruing of our wayes, and ſtrong ſetting of our ſelues againſt all aduerſary power? And further, I anſwer,Anſwer. that I go about no other thing then this, that Gods ſeruants may be beſt fenced againſt the common corruptions which are in the world through lust, and may honour God in the beſt maner, and themſelues liue with the moſt comfort, and that they may know and be perſwaded, that he of his mercy hath prouided this ſweete path-way to heauen, for his poore ſeruants, who are deſpiſed in the world. And they who hauehave not as yet experience of this ſeaſoning of their hearts with grace daily, I wiſh them to deſire it aboue all other things, and in no wiſe to hold themſelues contented without it, if they deſire to do well and to ſee good dayes. And let me obtaine this at the hands of all well meaning Chriſtians, that they beleeue it.
But now I hauing ſpoken of the foundation, that ſhould be layd in the heart of all Gods people, vponupon which the building of a godly life eueryevery day is to be ſet, and without the which (indeuored after of eueryevery one) it can in no wiſe ſtand; and that is, an heart indued with the ſeuerall gifts of the ſpirit, which I hauehave ſet downe; I hauehave thought it very meete and neceſſarie to adde one thing to this which I hauehave ſaid: and it is that, which the diligent reader will require and looke for, eſpecially if he be not well experienced in the practiſe of chriſtianitie.Obiection. And this it is: why men are not directed how to leade their liues daily, and to gouerne their tongues, as well as to rule and beautifie their hearts, and why they hauehave not direction how to do all their outward actions daily: (for of theſe, they ſay, no rule hath bene ſet down in this whole treatiſe) but onelyonly of the well ordering of the heart; whereas that toucheth but ſome part of mens duties in the ſight of God: but all other things are left (as it ſeemeth) to our owne diſcretion, which are to be done in the eyes of men.
To the which I anſwere, that the heart of true Chriſtians being kept thus purged from euill,Anſwer. and ſeaſoned graciouſly, (as we hauehave heard) good life and behauiour will come from thence, Pro. 4.23.as Salomon ſaith: and according to the diuers occaſions, which ſhall fall out to eueryevery one daily, his knowledge ſhall and will guide him either in his calling, or in the ſupply of it, by other neceſſarie duties: but more particularly, they muſt not looke that there can be any certaine direction giuen of the outward parts of our liues, which of them ſhold be done eueryevery day:No rule is nor can be giuen, what outward vvorkes are to be done daily, ſeeing they are variable and infinite. becauſe the actions of our liues are variable for the moſt part and innumerable, as all do know; and therefore cannot all be done vponupon any one day: and men are conſtrained by ſundrie occaſions to do ſome duties one day, & ſome on another: and oft it falleth out, that ſuch as they muſt of neceſſitie do on ſome one day, or elſe they ſhall ſinne; (as following their callings painefully and diligently) they cannot do on ſome other, but they ſhall ſinne; as to viſite their parents on their death bed, or make peace betwixt men, when it is required at their hands.
But further, and to the more full ſatisfying of ſuch as would deſire it, this I ſay; that although there can be no certaine and perpetuall rules giuen more particularly, which are as neceſſarie one day as any, (except we would lay burthens on Gods people which he himſelfe hath not done) and thoſe concerne the heart inwardly, not the outward conuerſation: yet there are certaine duties of the life perfourmed in the ſight of men more commonly and vſually, then ſome other; and they are ſuch as do concerne all true people of God, and for the moſt part, fall out eueryevery day at leaſt one or other of them, if not al. Theſe therefore which ſhall be of ſo great vſe among Gods ſeruants, I thinke not amiſſe to ſet downe, and ſo to ſatisfie their demaund ſo farre as Gods word giueth leaue: not of neceſſitie to tye any to the practiſing of them eueryevery day, (which I would hauehave well to be marked) but as eueryevery one ſeeth that he is bound: yet ſome one or other of them muſt be done eueryevery day, as we ſhall ſee afterwards. And for the other which do not bind the conſcience eueryevery day, (which I do ſet downe now immediatly following) and yet are profitable, and helpfull to liue well and happily: let a Chriſtian vſe them, and ſo many, and as oft as he may, and as he hath occaſion offered him, and as he gaineth thereby in godlineſſe, and winneth peace to his heart, and knoweth not how to do better, ſeeing it is an hard thing for the moſt Chriſtians to ſee particularly, how to paſſe the day in the particular parts of it from one houre to another, (eſpecially when they muſt intermit the workes of their calling) but it ſhall be in an idle & very vnprofitable maner, without ſome ſuch helpe and furtherance. A briefe ſumme therefore of theſe I will ſet downe, with ſome ſhort explication, and vtter my mind more fully of them afterwards. And they are neuer done aright nor in their kind, except they proceed from the heart well ordered, as I hauehave ſaid before. And they are in number nine: the firſt whereof is this: