Seven Treatises, Treatise 4 · Chapter 11
CHAP. 11. Of the benefite and commendation of the Direction.
NOw I will proceed to the third point, namely,The third part of this fourth treatiſe. of the neceſſity, profit and comfort of the daily direction: and then more largely ſpeake of theſe nine duties, ſeeing a Chriſtian ſhall find ſo great vſe of them, that he may be in ſome ſort helped thereby daily. Of this third part I ſhall not neede to ſay much, if that be well marked and conſidered, which I hauehave ſet downe of the two former. For if it be graunted, that God directeth vsus daily how to go through the whole courſe of our liues,Note. and that he teacheth vsus what manner of guiding vsus this daily direction is (both which hauehave bene proued vntounto vsus:) who can doubt,The daily directing of our ſelues, a great gaine to vsus. but that it muſt needs be a thing of great account and reckoning, and of ſingular vſe, and gainefull? eſpecially to all ſuch as being of an vpright heart, are yet not ſo exerciſed in the Scriptures, nor ſo experienced (by meanes of the darkneſſe and blindneſſe that yet is in them, and of ſundry other lets and diſcouragements) that they are able by their owne priuate helpe to draw out of all their readings, hearings and knowledge which they hauehave gotten, any indifferent forme or direction to gouerne themſelues.
Beſides, many ſuch inioy not the miniſtery of the Goſpell ordinarily, but as they get it by their painefull trauell abroad; and many (the more is the pity) do not tye themſelues conſcionably to preach the moſt neceſſary doctrine to their people, yea (I may ſay with griefe) are altogether vnfit to do it: and the diligenteſt Preachers and beſt able (for the moſt part) tarie not long to ſeaſon the hearers throughly with ſuch matter; but by death,Many things to hinder from daily direction. or other occaſions, are quickly remoued, or ſo mightily diſcouraged by their people and the diuerſe kinds of crabbed, teachy, ſcornefull, hollow, proud, prophane, and the like ill qualities of them, or ſome other wayes, that rarely it may be found, (what an admirable and lamentable thing do I vtter in this golden time of 44. yeares peace, ſcarſely to be hoped for halfe ſo long againe!) yea rarely (I ſay) it may be found, that in all this time there are growne many able to guide themſelues with ſweete peace, through their troubleſome liues. And we who know, that men without direction by Gods word, wander and walke in vncomfortable darkneſſe, what can we better do for the eaſing and helping of them to their hearts deſire, and ſatisfying of their neceſſities, then ſhew them the eaſieſt and plaineſt way to eſcape and come out of it,1. Cor. 11.17. as God hath ſhewed vsus?
And therefore for mine owne part, I hauehave endeuoured in this worke to do the ſame: and although neither fully nor perfitly to ſet downe in a litle roome that will of God which is diſperſed throughout the canonicall Scriptures; yet, ſo farre as God hath reuealed vntounto me, that, which I count the beſt treaſure and commodity, that God hath beſtowed vponupon me in this tranſitory life; and that which how ſmall ſoeuer it may ſeeme in the eyes of any, yet of whomſoeuer it be imbraced and eſteemed, ſhall be no leſſe then I hauehave ſayd, that is, neceſſarie, gainefull and comfortable.
The reaſon is great: for that, whiles we walked before without ſome certaine direction, we were neuer long ſetled, eſpecially with religious minds, how to beſtow the day nor the parts of it, in the actions of our liues, neither how to begin, nor how to end it; and therefore were much wearied and diſtracted with forgetfulneſſe and raſhneſſe (I ſpeake of good people) vnſetled oft, and yet knew not how, neither how to returne againe. But ſince we hauehave bene guided more clearly and particularly,VVhat benefit it bringeth. we hauehave ſeene much better how one thing commeth to be done after another, and one duty not neglected for another, and ſo hauehave bene deliuered from much toile and tediouſneſſe: by it we learne how to riſe out of fals, and to keepe well whiles we are well. It is profitable for all ſorts, in what lawfull trade of life ſoeuer they liue, hauing already begun to change their liues, and thereby being fit and meete to practiſe it. And ſuch are all that by faith in the Sonne of God are ſet free from their ſinne, and aſſured of his fauour.
No other can well ſet themſelues about it, but ſhake it off, as they do al other good things:VVho are fit to vſe it. which I thought meete to put the reader in mind of, that although he ſhall not ſee this doctrine commonly practiſed in the world, yet he may not thinke it for all that, any nouelty which Gods word doth not warrant, or therefore needleſſe for himſelfe to go about. For ſome (no doubt) will be ready to count it ouer-ſtrict and more then needeth, to be tied to any ſuch thing, and to perſwade themſelues, that they may with ſome few duties doing, pleaſe God as well as they, who ſpend their whole life in ſearching out infinite points of Gods will to practiſe the ſame: and they count that an eaſie way to heauen in compariſon of the other, which they thinke long and tedious.
But let ſuch vnderſtand that they are not fit to make their vſe of it. They muſt be other maner of perſons whom I ſpeake to, or go about to perſwade: for they who will weigh things aduiſedly, ſhall conſent (I doubt not) to that which I ſay; and ſhall ſee further the daunger of theſe men, who content themſelues to ſtand at a ſtay, rather then to be led ſtill forward in a fruitfull and holy courſe: and ſo being much idle and vnprofitable, imagine and conclude by and by, that it can be no otherwiſe with men, whiles they here on earth be abſent from God; and ſo likewiſe that the chriſtian life is not ſuch, or ſo pleaſant as the Scripture eueryevery where affirmeth it to be; which is nothing elſe then to charge it with falſhood and lies: but many of Gods deare ſeruants do know it, and find by experience, that this Chriſtian life hath no match, abounding in delights; yea, and thoſe moſt ſound, permanent and vnſpeakeable.
To returne therefore to them whom God in mercy hath called to aſſurance of their ſaluation, for they by ſuch direction as I ſpeake of, ſhall ſee the Chriſtian life more eaſie by many degrees, then euer they found it whiles they walked after no certaine direction before:Particular vſe and benefit of it. ſuch (I ſay) both poore and rich, Miniſter and people, one and another, may learne, and that eueryevery day through their life, how to keepe company, how to be ſolitarie, how to be occupied in their labours, how to ceaſe from them, how to riſe and how to lye downe, and how to beſtow the other times of the day; not diſcouraged at night though they did not all duties, (which in one day cannot be) but quiet and chearfull, ſeeing they did thoſe which by good direction they ſaw moſt neceſſary. For they ſhall be taught by it to keepe a certaine proportion and agreement in their actions, that as one ſauoreth of Religion, and a godly mind, ſo may the other alſo: and as they ſpeake and heare the word well, ſo they may hauehave their thoughts good alſo, & their harts purged from whence both theſe do come: and as in their prayers to be holily affected, ſo in their husbandry, houſwifery, feaſting, iourneying, buying, eating and other dealing: that ſo eueryevery part of the day in the diuerſe actions of it, may hauehave the proper due thereof; which if it may be obtained, is not meanly to be accounted of, if we conſider how many thouſands, neuer taſt of this dainty through the yeare (which we may inioy eueryevery day:) yea, and for the want of it, hauehave a wofull and a deceiueable paſſing of the time, and for the moſt part weariſome and tedious.
Beſides,Other benefit of it. we may by the benefit of it ſo be occupied in our earthly and common buſineſſe, as from the ſame we may come readily and willingly to heauenly exerciſes (whereas the moſt come vntowardly:) and alſo in the ſame buſineſſe we may hauehave our minds heauenly, and therefore our actions which are done thereby to be there after.
And whereas many euen of good hope are wont to complaine and ſay, that longer then they be in praying, reading or ſuch like exerciſes, they cannot keepe in any well ordered courſe, any long time in the day together, but are diſtracted like others of the world which vſe neither reading, nor prayer: yet we by the helpe which God giueth vsus hereby, when we neceſſarily intermit them, and ceaſe from them for a time (being occupied in our calling or other profitable duties) we (I ſay) may hold a good and well ordered courſe in our other actions and buſineſſe in and through the day notwithſtanding.A third particular vſe and benefit of it. And more then this, when we can bring our hearts to looke carefully to this as to our harueſt, we ſhall get ſuch a diſtaſt in euill, in reſpect of that which we had ſometime, that we ſhall hauehave great liberty to forſake and contemne it.
And here for the better incouragement of the reader to looke more carefully into this matter, and not to be diſmayed by the ſtrangeneſſe and vnaccuſtomedneſſe of the thing to the which I perſwade,An example of ſome vvho imbraced this doctrine, hovv they profited by it. I will faithfully report vntounto him the ſpeech of ſundry Chriſtians, long taught, and of the beſt ſort of ſuch as had profited by the preaching of the Goſpell (as farre as I could iudge) in thoſe parts. When they firſt heard of any forme of daily directing them, whereby men are taught to be eueryevery day kept in the ſame holy compaſſe, that they ſhould be any day: ſome conceiued it not at the firſt hearing, ſeeing they had not bene acquainted with it: ſecondly, ſome ſmiled at it, as thinking it impoſſible to be brought into practiſe: thirdly, ſome confeſſed that their hearts did riſe againſt it, as perceiuing, that it was a certaine rebuking in great part of their former liues, which was a thing vnwelcome to fleſh.
But it appeared to be a fault in all three ſorts, by this that they did afterward correct themſelues. For when they ſaw further into it, and weighed the benefit of it more deeply, they were of another iudgement, and ſayd as a fourth ſort did ſay when it came firſt to their hands; that they did highly approue of it, and that it ought to be ſo, and that for want of ſuch helpe and direction, they had bene much confounded and troubled in their courſe, and that they would hauehave thought themſelues happy if they could poſſibly hauehave attained to the practiſe of it; wiſhing that they had bene acquainted with it long before. For they ſaw in peruſing the parts of this daily direction, which I hauehave here ſet downe, that their hearts and liues ſhould be freed from many incumberances hereby, wherewith they were before annoyed: and that they ſhould ſerue God and liue with men, much more chearfully then they did before. And this is the ſumme of their firſt ſpeech, which diuerſe honeſt and well diſpoſed Chriſtians vſed: which I report for the further incouraging and perſwading of the Reader to a more free and willing receiuing of this courſe, which I offer and ſet before him.
After this, they were aduiſed, and exhorted to go about the practiſing of it according to the ſeuerall points thereof,Hovv to deale about the direction to make it profitable. after the right and cleare vnderſtanding and due conſidering of it; and to ſhew faithfully, how they felt it to helpe them forward in well paſſing the day, more then when they walked without it in the world: and which points of it, they found hard to be obſerued: and how they were letted, or what liberty they found more by it, in the gouerning of their liues, then when they looked not after it. Thus they were counſelled to make triall of it by the monethmonth, and ſo by the quarter of the yeare, and to ſignifie, whether any ſuch daily courſe might poſſibly be faſtened vponupon Chriſtians, and with fruit, which (doubtleſſe) few are acquainted with. And after triall made priuatly by themſelues, they inioying alſo the publike Miniſtery to the further inlightning of them about the ſame, they confeſſed freely, to the praiſe of God, that they found and obtained more vſe of their knowledge, more conſtancy in their courſe, and ſweete delight in ſeruing of God then they euer looked for, or once could hauehave asked of God, before they did in ſuch particular maner looke to their waies, though they had ſet their hearts to ſeeke the Lord ſome while before. For they ſayd, when they did conſider, that God ought as well one day hauehave his due at our hands as another (which they had not thought vponupon ſo throughly; but now by the helpe of this, they began to ſee more clearly: and that it was nothing beſeeming the greatneſſe and goodneſſe of God, that he ſhould be ſerued by fits, and vncertainly; ſome day a litle, ſome day nothing at all) they confeſſed, that they framed their minds of conſcience, to looke to their wayes more conſtantly and carefully, and that in one part of the day as another: and more eſpecially, that they did vſually conſider of, and call to mind Gods louelove and kindneſſe in his many mercies much more often, then in times paſt when they thought of them but ſeldome. And hereby, they ſaw ſuch bleſſing of God vponupon their labours and indeuors,VVhat fruite theſe men reaped by the helpe of direction. that they were able with chearfulnes and without tediouſneſſe to paſſe the day in their calling, and in the performance of other neceſſarie duties either at home or abroad as occaſion was offered, which they could neuer do before, for any long time together: they were not vnſetled by matters about family, nor ſo eaſily and readily paſſing their bounds, and ouer-ſhooting themſelues, in dealing about their worldly affaires: they were not ſo ſoone prouoked to vnquietneſſe by loſſes or other of Gods chaſtiſements, nor to breake out into heart-burning, fretting and vncharitableneſſe againſt ſuch as offered them hard meaſure in ſpeech or otherwiſe: they did now more narrowly view their deſires & affections, which way they caried them, and what deceitfulneſſe was in them; which yet for many of them, they had not before ſuſpected, or at leaſt, litle laboured againſt them: and how oft they had ſmarted by them, when they had not this regard daily. They ſaw they could willingly do one good thing or other in the day, for the moſt part, or at leaſt keepe themſelues from euill, and were not maiſtered of idleneſſe, or buſying themſelues needleſly in other mens matters: they were not vſually ſo vntoward when they went to prayer, nor walked in many of their actions ſo looſely, as they well remembred they had done before: they now could find matter to ioy in, and make their ſongs of, (euen the many kindneſſes of God, which hauehave no end) whereas their ioy was wont to be in thinking of that which they had, or deſiring that which was other mens, or dreaming of long life, &c.
And aboue the reſt, this did exceedingly comfort them, that whereas they had oft times before that, bene much ſhaken with feare, that they ſhould not with any peace perſeuer to the end: now their experience in ſubduing their vnruly affections, and ſetting themſelues to frame their liues to Gods will as they were able, and that for ſome continuance one day as another, did giuegive them ſtrong hope, that they ſhould much more eaſily do the ſame hereafter: yea and were perſwaded, that if the Lord ſhould exerciſe them with harder afflictions, then they had as yet ſuſtained, that he would alſo vphold them euen therein; and that as they ſhould increaſe, ſo ſhould their comfort increaſe, 2. Cor. 1.12.whereby they ſhould be made able to beare them. So that this daily tying of themſelues to record and thinke vponupon Gods kindneſſes towards them, in that he had made them happie, both here, had giuen them ſure hope of happineſſe for hereafter, and the ſubmitting themſelues to be guided daily, did greatly amend them (as we ſee by their owne confeſſion) in their whole courſe. And what maruell though it was thus with them?Great differēc… betwixt a daily guiding of vsus, and an vncertaine. For is there not (thinke we) a great difference betwixt a daily, and a ſeldome or vncertaine view of our eſtate? betwixt a particular obſeruing our waies, and a generall courſe in Chriſtianitie? For although men may hauehave without ſuch like helpe and direction, oftentimes their hearts well affected, yet will it be nothing like with thē, as when they do with a reſolute and conſtant purpoſe aboue all other things looke to this one, and not to be remoued from it, ſeeing it is the beſt of all,1. Cor. 10 3. daily and through the day to hold fast the profeſsion of their hope with ioy, and to be careful to pleaſe God in one thing as in an other. For then doth Chriſts commendation of Marie reach alſo to them, that they count one thing needefull; and they hauehave choſen the good part, and it ſhall not be taken from them: when they can teſtifie to their owne conſciences, that in their weightie buſineſſes and dealings, and in their matters of pleaſure and profite, they be thus indifferently caried about them; that this one thing is ſtill counted needfull, that is, by faith to reſt in God, and ſtill to be ruled by his word.
But to end my report of theſe Chriſtians, for proofe of that which they ſay of the benefite of the daily direction faithfully obſerued: they alleadge that it was not wont to be thus with them, no not ſince they had embraced the Goſpell, had hope of ſaluation thereby; nay, and that they were wont, as ſoone as they had bene out of their beds, by and by to hauehave their hearts ſet vponupon ſome light and fooliſh matter, or to hauehave falne into iarres and brawles, or to be caried into the world, and ſo earneſtly ſet vponupon the ſame one way or other, as that all goodneſſe was forgotten: yea, and this alſo euen ſince they had receiued ſome care to pleaſe God, and that prayer a ſpirituall dutie of all other moſt vſually intended to be frequented of them, yet by the leaſt occaſion was put by and omitted. And when the morning (which being the firſt part of the day, ſhould be conſecrated to the ſeruice of God, if in any conuenience it may be) hath bene thus prophanely ſpent and taken vp, the whole day after (we may be ſure) hath bene ſutable for the moſt part and anſwerable. So that they hauehave not felt that ſweetneſſe in their liues, which by teaching they had heard to be graunted of God to his people to enioy: but contrarily, they felt much weariſome paſſing of the day, and clogging of their hearts with their corruptions; which ſince they tooke this order, hath bene farre otherwiſe with them, yea euen in the new entrance into it (which we all know to be then weakeſt) much trifling out the time in companie by talking needleſly of other mē, or of their dealings, was wont to be cōmon with them; and in ſolitarineſſe a ſpending of their thoughts and deſires after the like manner vainely, vntill they were able more wiſely to diſcerne how to giuegive eueryevery dutie in the day his time, and how to occupie both the one and the other throughout the day. But they hauehave with heartie thankes to God proteſted, that after they had attained to this, they ſaw farre more clearely into the practiſe of Chriſtianitie, then euer before they did, and found the Lords yoke farre more eaſie to them, and themſelues ſetled with more ſound peace in the leading of their liues. This report of ſome Chriſtians, whom I know well, I hauehave ſet downe (where by this little, the reſt may be coniectured) for the better encouraging of the reader to be acquainted with a daily direction for the courſe of his life, and that he ſhould not reſt in a generall and vncertaine obedience to God. And let nothing that I hauehave ſaid of them, be thought needleſſe or vnmeete for vsus, as long as we can ſee good reaſon for this which they did.
But know wee, that this kind of ſeruing God, both may bee, and is, and hath bene (God be thanked) vſed of many of Gods ſeruants, though I will not ſay in a like maner, and ought to be of the reſt, as eueryevery one ſhall be able to ſee into it. And therefore I purpoſe to thruſt no fancie nor conceit vponupon any, but that which all well aduiſed perſons muſt iuſtifie, to be the commaundement of God: and which bewrayeth too plainely, that many profeſſors of the Goſpell hauehave not ſo much ſought for the ſound practiſe of a godly life, by reading the ſtories of holy men in the word of God, as to report generally that they hauehave bene holy; neither hauehave reaped that benefit by the Scripture, in enioying a ſweet life aboue other men, as the Lord in much merciemercy hath affoorded them.
For though the ſect of the Family of louelove, the Church of Rome, and ſundrie other lying ſpirits do fancie a courſe which the Scripture knoweth not, and ſome of them alſo fantaſtically hauehave for eueryevery day in the weeke, deuiſed an order to be followed, as the reading of certaine taskes, nothing leſſe then proper to direct their liues: yet in this, which I here propound, namely, that we ſhould be daily directed in our whole courſe, I hauehave followed no fancie and dreame of man; but hauehave in all good conſcience ſpoken from God, and drawne it from the Scripture both for the learned and ſimple, high and low, one and other, and is neuer in vaine to the right vſer of it: although I deny not, but that a skilfuller handler of it, might hauehave ſet it downe farre more exquiſitely.
But from whence is the difficultie that it is no more in practiſe, being a treaſure of ſo infinite value, and that ſo many pray, and ſome of them often, to leade a godly life; yet when and where they ſhould not, there they fauour themſelues, and ſay, they are weake and vnable? From whence I ſay is this,VVhat is a ſpeciall hinderance from vſing daily direction. but from hence, that they will put no diligence thereunto, to obſerue their waies in which they proſper, and contrariwiſe? alſo there is no aunſwerable trauell, nor labour for skill and experience in this Chriſtian courſe, to that which is in all other; but eueryevery litle is tedious to them and weariſome. They are ſeuen yeares at other trades to learne them, though they be apt to them, and forward in them, before they are thought fit to occupie by themſelues.
But yet without ſeuen yeares or ſeuen moneths diligent exerciſing of the rules of chriſtian life, (for before they be conuerted to the obedience of God, what reckoning is to be made of their profeſſing?) they will be thought fit to do as the beſt in this trade of chriſtian liuing, although it be cleane againſt their nature. Nay I ſay more, he is a rare man,Note. who can be perſwaded to be guided by religion and the rules thereof, but ſeuen weekes conſtantly, I may truly ſay ſeuen dayes: for if he who would but ſo long giuegive ouer himſelfe to liue by faith, and walke with God, he would neuer ſeeke to be looſened, and ſet at libertie againe to his old life, but would renounce it vtterly, ſo great ſhould his aduantage be in this courſe and trade.
And as I know, that this is the maine and greateſt cauſe, why ſo fewe are lights and examples to others, ſo when people are taught the truth clearely concerning this matter, (for I am ſure that it is neglected of many through ignorance) let them either reſolue to be gouerned through the day, and from day to day, or let them looke to find ſmall reioycing in the chriſtian life with much vncomfortableneſſe, which otherwiſe need not to be. And therefore in the feare of God, let men thinke and iudge of themſelues as Gods word teacheth them: yea, let them profeſſe as they be, or let them looke to find as they be, and not as they profeſſe. But as the moſt do handle the matter,Note. they ſhall find it harder to practiſe a chriſtian life after ſeuen yeares twiſe told, then the hardeſt trade after halfe ſeuen. And as it is with many of them who neuer learned their occupation well, that they are neuer skilfull in it, nor thriue by it as others do: ſo one eſpeciall cauſe why many neuer practiſe godlineſſe to the welfare of their ſoules, neither proſper nor be well liking therein, is: becauſe they neuer ſoundly learned how to liue godly for continuance, and conſtantly one day as an other;Note. but peeced and patched vp the ſame with here a good deede, and there another, and in being ſometime deuout and zealous, the moſt of their actions being vnregarded: and of many of them it may truly be ſaid, the power of godlineſſe was neuer throughly rooted and ſetled in their hearts.
Theſe rules and the like for the daily directing of a Chriſtian, are to be well conceiued and approued in our conſcience to be ſuch as are very fit and profitable to guide vsus, (the which, whoſoeuer hath the ſpirit of God, doth or may diſcerne) becauſe they are according to the word of God, and practiſe of his children, and ſo he yeeldeth to them: and of eueryevery ſuch they are duely and daily to be regarded, ſo farre as God giueth him to conceiue of, and ſee into them: this indeuouring to practiſe them will bring a man increaſe daily of ſound libertie and freedome from bondage to his boiſterous paſſions and vnruly life, and recompence an hundred fold in ſweet peace all his loſſe in earthly and vaine delights, which he was wont to make the flower of his garland.
And ſeeing they will worke vponupon the ſimpleſt whoſe heart is vpright, and which the Lord hath opened to conceiue them, therefore when thou ſeeſt that thou art ſuch a one, and that thou haſt felt them, (theſe rules of directiō I meane) to perſwade and draw thee on to follow them,An exhortatiō to vſe it, and againſt the making of it common. forgo not this libertie, neither fall from this holy beginning, neither quench thou this flame of grace: but cheriſh it in thee daily, and truſt not the fleſhly wiſedome of thine heart, (whereby thou mighteſt be diſcouraged) ſeeing thou haſt often proued and found it deceitfull: but inquire into it ſtill eueryevery day, leſt ſome poiſon ſhould lurke ſecretly in any corner of it, to waite thee a miſchiefe, and to giuegive oportunitie to thine enemie to make thy hurt yet greater, and therefore caſt it vp as vomite: and if, after thou haſt had ſome good vſe of this or ſuch like direction, thou ſhalt feele it to waxe common, and vnſauourie to thee, (vnleſſe thou art ſure, that thou chaungeſt for the better) take courage vntounto thy ſelfe, and caſt out that diuell by faſting and prayer. Prouide that thou mayeſt continue it, and happie ſhalt thou be both here and hereafter: and if thou thinke this be litle that I ſay, tell me how thou ſhalt ſpeede better any other way.
Thinke not vponupon the many yeares in the which thou art to continue it, to diſcourage thy ſelfe thereby, as though thou tookeſt in hand a thing vnpoſſible, or toileſome, for the beginning is the hardeſt: and as young children are to be led here a ſteppe and there another, till they can go alone; ſo go thou about it firſt by weekes, and ſo by moneths, till thou haſt gotten experience for a whole yeare or more: after which time, thy difficultie will be well ouer; and thou ſhalt find it a more eaſie yoke and light burden to thee by many degrees, then thou wert wont. And while I exhort thee to the diligent regarding of this daily direction, I do not call thee either from ſeeking knowledge, or from the practiſing of any neceſſarie dutie which might be required at thy hand: but I encourage thee to both; as that thou ſhouldeſt ſo ſtore and ſtuffe thy ſelfe by all meanes as thou canſt, that out of this ſtore and treaſurie thou maiſt fetch matter daily to furniſh thy life withall, and be made fit vntounto eueryevery good worke in the day.
This is ſuch a guide as is able to carrie thee ſafely, as I hauehave ſaid: howbeit, if it ſhall pleaſe God to bring to light a plainer and ſounder, be readie to embrace it; but reſt thankefull to God in the meane ſeaſon for the helpe thou maiſt hauehave by this. But for my weake brethrens ſake, whom (while I goe about to helpe and ſet forward,) I would be loath to hinder and diſcourage, this I thinke good to adde: that they who cannot yet apprehend the whole, neither ſee it poſſible to be guided by eueryevery of theſe rules which I hauehave ſet downe, let them be readie to do better then they hauehave done, as they ſhall be taught; let them be willing to adde ſomewhat to their hearing, reading, and prayers both in time to do them ofter, and in feruencie, to quicken them to indeuour more carefully to practiſe that which they ſhall be able. I know all cannot be partakers of the ſame meaſure of grace, and yet one and the ſame direction is fit for the ſtrong, and the weake; and he is in good way, who is willing to be directed: onelyonly, this is the caueat which I giuegive to my brethren:Note. Let not that be deſpiſed in a ſcornefull manner, which men well vnderſtand not; nor vponupon ſtomacke refuſed or miſliked, which they ſufficiently weigh not, and all becauſe it cutteth off many parts of bad behauiour, which they cannot readily caſt off, & depriueth of vaine liberties, which they were wont to vſe when they knew no better. He that frameth himſelf faithfully to be led by any one of the fore-mentioned rules conſtantly, will deſire and ſhall obtaine a part in the reſt as I hauehave ſaid: although there be not preſent ſtrength to accompliſh that which he deſireth, ſeeing faith in him is weake, whereby he ſhould come by and attaine it. And to ſuch I ſpeak, not doubting to aſſure euen them, that God will giuegive them a bleſſed fruite of this trauell, how farre ſoeuer they feele themſelues off from poſſibilitie of taking good by the ſame.
And as I deſire to helpe theſe, ſo I would be glad to ſatisfie others, as much as I can, though they be as yet further off from eternall life then they.Obiection. And therefore if any ſuch ſhall demaund (when they hauehave ſeene and conſidered theſe rules for their daily direction:) What ſhall men do through the day beſides the looking to their waies and hearts, as is before ſet downe? for nothing (they will perhaps alleadge) hath bene ſaid of the ſundrie actions and the particular kinds of the dealings of men, which go through their hands in the day, which are things indifferent, and may either be done, or left vndone: & it would be looked for (ſay they) that in a direction for the day it ſhould be preſcribed, how eueryevery thing, yea the doubtfulleſt actions ſhould be done, and ſomewhat ſaid thereof, that men may ſee what to go forward with, and what to lay aſide.
To ſuch as would aske this queſtion,Anſwer. not much differing from another before propounded, I aunſwer: that none may imagine, that I go about any ſuch thing as to preſcribe what particular actions, cōpanies, or dealings eueryevery Chriſtian ſhould vſe and be conuerſant in eueryevery day, (that were no leſſe abſurd then vnpoſſible to dreame of) or of things indifferent, which of them he ſhould do, and which are to be vndone: but this I ſay, whatſoeuer behauior, actions, words or companie will not ſtand throughout the day with theſe, (I meane with the rule of Chriſtianitie in the Epiſtle to Titus. 2.11. namely,Tit. 2.11. to liue ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly) let them auoide them: and whatſoeuer going about them, or manner of doing them, will not ſuffer them to deny vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts of all ſorts through the day, let it be farre off from them; as in their talke, ieaſting, ſcoffing, quarrelling, idle words, and all other vnbridledneſſe of the tongue. In their behauiour, lightneſſe, looſenes, ſawcineſſe, ſowerneſſe, loftineſſe, ſtubbornneſſe, and all vnrighteouſneſſe, let thē be ſtraungers vntounto them; and whatſoeuer elſe is of ill report, let them hauehave nothing to do with it any day.
Which, they who are carefull to liue vnderunder an ordinarie miniſterie, ſhall in time more particularly be acquainted with: ſo ſhall they find moſt ſweet and ſound peace to their ſoule, and hauehave their life multiplyed with true comfort. And if they thinke this hard, as though they ſhould ſuſtaine ſome great loſſe hereby, what do they looſe but that which they are well ridde of, (although no other gaine were to be gotten hereby) euen that which only troubled thē, namely,1. Ioh. 2.16. 1. Pet. 2.11. the lust of the heart, the luſt of the eye, and the pride of life. All which fight against their ſoule, and after their fill in them, will bring them to deſtruction. And this for the ſatisfying of all reaſonable perſons, who yet through ignorance may thinke it much to be tyed to any rules, whereby their liues ſhould be guided daily.