Seven Treatises, Treatise 4 · Chapter 10
CHAP. 10. Of outward duties of life, moſt commonly to be done daily, but not of neceſsitie.
THE firſt, that we awake with God.The firſt outward dutie: To awake with God.
That is to ſay, that as ſoone as we hauehave broken off our ſleepe eueryevery morning, we bend and reſolue with our ſelues to giuegive vntounto the Lord the firſt fruites of the day:The ſame more fully. and that either directly, by thankeſgiuing, confeſſion of our ſinnes, and requeſt making for our ſelues and Gods people, we lift vp our hearts to God in a briefe manner: or indirectly, that is, though we tye not our ſelues to this manner and forme, yet that we make it our firſt worke after our awaking, to common with, and looke vp to God, drawing our hearts to the louelove of and reioycing in him; that he being firſt in account with vsus, may be alſo throughout the day chiefe with vsus, and preſent to guide, bleſſe and comfort vsus: and that we do this, till in a more ſolemne maner we ſee our ſelues apart from other things to prayer.
The ſecond, that we prouide (if it may be) ſolemnely and vponupon our knees,The ſecond outward dutie. Morning prayer. Hoſ. 14.2. to make profeſſion of our repentance by confeſſion of our ſinnes, requeſts made to God, with thankſgiuing, taking to vsus words, as Hoſea ſpeaketh, that is, with our mouths vttering them, preparing our ſelues by meditation hereunto.
That is, before we enter into the affaires and dealings in the world,The ſame more fully. (if it be poſſible) we make this our firſt worke of the day: and in our confeſſion, let our ſpeciall ſinnes be mentioned, by which we hauehave moſt diſpleaſed God:Hoſ. 14.4. Pſal. 111. & 116.1. in our thankes, let ſome particular fauours of God be remembred: in our requeſts, let vsus craue pardon of our ſinnes with faith to obtaine it, and all other neceſſaries; & namely, that we may well go through the day, and hauehave Gods bleſſing in all that we ſhall ſet our hand vntounto in the day. To proceed the better in all theſe, let vsus meditate either on ſome of Gods mercies, or our owne ſinnes, or on ſome other things profitable; that by meditation and prayer before we enter into our affaires, we may be the better prepared to paſſe the whole day after in much better ſort, then otherwiſe we might be like to do.
That (if it ſhall then be moſt expedient) we with our minds ſtill kept well ordered, betake our ſelues to our calling and vocation.The third: Our calling.
That is,The ſame. that we willingly and diligently ſet our ſelues to performe dutie in that worke or ſeruice, for the which we are fitted, and to the which we are called: and therein abide as we are able, except any waightier matter drawe vsus from it: aſſuring our ſelues, that we pleaſe God no leſſe therein, then in obeying his other commaundements. And that we be therefore chearefull therein, (it being the buſineſſe that God hath ſet vsus about) and confident, that we ſhall find good ſucceſſe, ſeeing we hauehave a promiſe of bleſſing from him; and ſo doing, that we take heede, that we mind not our profite in ſuch wiſe, that we coole any grace thereby, or quench holy affections in vsus: but that we be fit to go from it to ſuch other duties, as ſhall be meete, that ſo we may do our earthly buſineſſe with heauenly minds, which is an high point of godlineſſe, and make them and holy exerciſes, helpes one to the other.
The fourth: The right vſe of companie.That in all companies we behaue our ſelues, as we are taught of God, and as it becommeth vsus: eſpecially ſo, as we leaue no ill ſauour behind vsus.
The ſame.That is, ſeeing ſome part of the day is vſually beſtowed in companie: therfore in what cōpanie ſoeuer we ſhall be, either of our owne familie, or ſtrangers, ſuperiours or inferiours, and how oft ſoeuer, that we hauehave ſpeciall regard to be harmeleſſe, and free from giuing any ill example, carefully marking and ſhunning the occaſions thereof, and prouocations thereto. And that we be readie by all oportunities, to take any good that we may, either by example or communication from others: or do good our ſelues by offering both. And that in any of our dealings with men, about or in the things of this life, we neither hurt or do wrong to any, but rather ſuffer it, knowing how we are giuen to louelove our ſelues, and in matters of profit eſpecially, with the neglect of others: which among Chriſtians is a ſore blemiſh.
The fift: Solitarineſſe.That we do not ill ſpend the time in our ſolitarines, or when we be alone.
The ſame.I meane, that at ſuch times, as wherein we ſhall be free from companie, we hauehave the like care of our hearts and behauiour being alone, that we were taught to hauehave of them both, and of our talke in companie. For example: that in our behauiour we attempt or go about no euill, as ſtealing, whoring, or committing any vnlawfull thing, &c. and concerning our hearts, that we ſuffer them not to wander after needleſſe and vaine things, but hold them within this compaſſe, that either our thoughts be of thoſe things which are lawfull, as the well ordering of our buſines, and yet that alſo with moderatiō: or of things holy and ſpirituall, as the glorie of the life to come, Gods louelove to vsus, and care ouer vsus in this world, and ſuch like; conſidering and remembring, that we muſt redeeme the time to the beſt vſes we can, and in conſcience moſt approue of; or if our thoughts be at any time of things euill, that it be onelyonly to bring vsus into further hatred and deteſtation of them, and not to ingender and raiſe vp a liking thereof in our hearts, which Sathan euer intendeth, though we had no ſuch meaning, nay rather purpoſed againſt it, when we firſt entred into thought of them.
The ſixt: Proſperitie.That we vſe our proſperitie and all the lawfull liberties of this life, ſoberly, and ſo as we ſeeke to be the better by them.
The ſame.Foraſmuch as our merciful father beſtoweth vponupon vsus many great bleſſings euen here where we be ſtraungers, both in token that he can affoord vsus them; and to ſhew, that pietie and the feare of God are not without reward, no not in this life. 1. Tim. 4.8. Therefore it behooueth vsus to be circumſpect and warie, that we ſwell not, neither be inſolent, becauſe of our proſpering; neither idle and looſe in our liues, and ſo abuſe the ſame to carnall libertie: but to be more rich and fruitfull in all good duties both to God and men; becauſe we know, that he which hath receiued much, of him ſhall much be required, Amos 3.2.Amos. 3.2. And that herein is our heauenly father glorified, Iohn. 15.9.that we bring foorth much fruite, Iohn 15.9. And ſo we hauehave the right vſe of Gods benefits, which is a greater treaſure then the benefits themſelues, 1. Kings, 3.1. King. 3. as we may ſee by the fearefull ends of ſuch, as had many great bleſſings, but regarded not how to vſe them*Pſal. 37.36. Luk. 12.18.20..
That we be ready to receiue our afflictions meekly and patiently,The ſeuenth: Affl…ctions. and ſo be found indeed where we are tried with them, that our patient minds may be knowne to all.
Our liues are ſubiect to many calamities, and eueryevery day to ſundry: yet,The ſame. doth not the Lord chaſtiſe vsus, for that he taketh any pleaſure in our ſufferings, but of very louelove ſendeth them for our benefit, namely,Lam. 3.33. to weane vsus from the exceſſiue louelove of the world, and to purge out our droſſe thereby,1. Cor. 11.31. that we might not periſh with the world, but hauehave proofe of our faith and patience:Iam. 1.2. which cauſeth the greateſt ioy of all other. Therefore we muſt not fret and be impatient in them, but confeſſe, that they are neceſſary and meete, as oft as God ſendeth them, and therefore waite to ſee a good end of them;1. Pet. 1.6. that ſo we may hauehave experience of great good by them,Rom. 5.5. which may make vsus hope for the like after, and that without fainting.
That we conſtantly keepe and vſe the exerciſe of prayer and thankſgiuing in our families,The eighth: Family exerciſes. and ſuch other helpes to maintaine the knowledge and true worſhip of God, and of true happineſſe amongſt vsus.
For ſeeing we are forgetfull of our duties,The ſame. and eaſily drawne away by the world, we hauehave need to hauehave daily and oft acceſſe to God, and our ſeruants eſpecially, who hauehave litle other priuate helpe. Theſe exerciſes of Religion are, prayer, reading, chatechiſing and conference, with ſinging of Pſalmes, &c. and that theſe or ſuch of them as are common to the whole family, be vſed at the moſt conuenient times when the family may come together: and that we indeuor to do the ſame together twiſe in the day at leaſt, prouiding to performe the duty of it with chearfulneſſe and reuerence, knowing that we hauehave therein communion with our God, and moſt ſweet refreſhing of our ſoules thereby: alwayes remembring, that this ſhall not be ſo aukely gone about, nor ſo hard as many find it, if other duties before mentioned, be carefully looked to.
That before we lye downe at night,The ninth: A viewing of the day at our lying downe. we looke backe to the workes of the day, how we hauehave paſſed it, that where we hauehave had bleſſings, we may be thankfull, and proceede in the like courſe after: where we hauehave faulted and failed, we may reconcile our ſelues to God, and ſo lye downe in peace.
For ſeeing we hauehave ſome ſpeciall infirmities to make mention of,The ſame. and ſome particular benefits to giuegive thankes for, and to powre out our complaints in ſpeciall maner, it is meete (as we ſhall be able) that we ſhould thus view, and go through the ſeuerall acts of our life in the day, calling them to remembrance as we can: that where we ſhall ſee that we hauehave receiued helpe and ſtrength to liue well, and to keepe peace with God by the rules and duties preſcribed, otherwiſe then we were wont before we did ſo particularly obſerue our wayes, we may with praiſe to God, reioyce and take comfort in our gaine, and more conſtantly hold out in the ſame courſe; and where we hauehave failed, we may be willing to ſee and acknowledge our faults, laying hold of pardon, and looke better to our ſelues after: and ſo making agreement with the Lord, as being reconciled to him, and leauing no accuſations nor checkes to our conſciences, we may lye downe in peace, and fall aſleepe in that ſtate (euen as we awoke with it in the morning) ready to make our bed our graue,Heb. 11.13. and ſo ſhew our ſelues to be pilgrimes and ſtrangers as our fathers were.
And theſe are the duties of our liues, falling out ordinarily, and moſt commonly to be done eueryevery day, at leaſt ſome of them, and none more vſually then theſe, which I hauehave added: that thus, while theſe are well looked to, the daily direction, which doth (as we heard before) concerne the heart, may not want matter to occupy and ſet on worke the life, ſo as it may neither be idle nor vnprofitable: and alſo to the end that eueryevery Chriſtian may learne and ſee more clearly, what maner of thing a godly life is: for many are ignorant of it, and many who gladly would, for want of cleare vnderſtanding of Gods will herein, cannot tell how to go about it. Numbers thinke it to be a doing of ſome one or few duties, whatſoeuer the courſe of their liues be beſides: neither yet to be tied eueryevery day vntounto that. Some thinke it is but to go to Church on the Sabaoth: and one thinketh one thing, and another another.Againe the daily direction is deſcribed. To whom and to all other I ſay, that it is no leſſe then a daily, and carefull looking to our hearts and liues, as I hauehave ſet downe, (though it tye no man vponupon neceſſitie to any certaine outward worke or duty daily, as I hauehave ſayd) and a returning againe to this holy courſe, if by any occaſion we hauehave departed from it, yea though it hauehave bene but for a ſhort ſeaſon.
And becauſe we are not, neither can be, alwayes ſetled to abide at home in our owne houſes, where it were eaſier to keepe ſome euen and equall courſe in our liues, as we are directed by Gods word, yea and ſomtime we be forced to be taken vp both in the trauell of the mind and body, more ſpecially about ſome weighty matters, in which caſe we ſhal be ready much more eaſily to forget our ſelues, and ſo become vnſetled; therefore let this watchword be remembred and regarded: that if any ſuch thing fall out, as by haſty and long iourneys, attendance vponupon ſuites or great perſons, change of dwelling place, or change of our eſtate from ſingleneſſe to mariage, from pouerty to wealth,Note. or the contrary (as vnuſuall matters do more eaſily vnſettle) that in theſe, I ſay, and ſuch like, when any ſhall fall out, we be more carefull at ſuch times to be fenſed againſt all ſuch occaſions, then when we be voide of them: and that we do this, as we louelove our peace and communion with God.