Circumspect Walking, Chapter 1 – Chapter 3
EPHES. 5. 15.
Take heed therfore that ye walke circumspectly, not as fooles, but as wise.
CHAP. I.
The ground of the ensuing Treatise.
THE APOSTLE in the former words, had vnderunder a comparison of light and darkenesse, excited the Ephesians to holy conuersation, and to hate such obscene and filthy courses, as were found with the workers of darknesse. Now he speaks in plaine termes, that which before hee infolded in comparisons: Seeing yee are light, and in the light, wherein all things are manifest, see yee walke circumspectly, &c. In which words are,
First, a duty propounded, Circumspect walking, which in the first word foreign, is straightly charged vponupon eueryevery Christian.
Secondly, the expounding of that duty, not as fooles, but as wise.
And the words run, as if the holy Apostle had in other termes said thus; You that are beleeuers, sonnes of the light, ought as by your light, to checke and …ontroule, yea, and disco…er other mens sinnes and …orruptions: so also to be …s vnblameable, yea, and …ightsome in your selues, …s possibly may bee:Strict and accurate walking, not wartanted only, but necessarily enforced in the Scriptures▪ and …herfore take heed of your …wne walking, and see it be …ircumspect. Briefly thus;
EueryEvery Christian man must walke warily, and circumspectly: or, The course of Christianity must be a circumspect walking. For so the word foreign signifies, an accurate, and a strict walking; or an exquisite course. So it is vsed, Luk. 1. 3. It seemed good to me, when I had accurately searched all things: and, Mat. 2. 8. Herod charged the wise men thus, foreign search exquisitiuely and most diligently of the babe: and, Act. 22. v. 3. Paul professeth he was brought vp, foreign, according to the exact manner of the Law.
CHAP. II.
What circumspect walking is, and wherein it consisteth.
OVt of which so substantiall a ground, it shall be worth our labour to enquire what this circumspect walking is:Christian circumspection what it is not. for we may not conceiue it as any carnall craft and policie, by which a man is wary to saue his goods, and outward estate: as many crafty heads and worldlings …ast about, and continualy contriue with all wari…esse to saue themselues, …nd their profits: and hee …ust rise early that can get he better of them in any …argaine. Neither is this …rcumspection any such po…cie and warinesse in maters of religion, as relin…uisheth any good duty to which it hath calling; or a…y practice of holinesse, or outward profits and …ommodity; or to preserue …utward peace and plea…ures; as many crafty and …eceitfull Protestants, that …re so circumspect, as they will professe a religion which shall cost them no…hing. Neither is this circumspection in any thing … contrary, or crosse to tha… done-like simplicity, and Christian innocencie … which is the ornament o… holy profession. But is … carefull and exact proceeding in the wayes of God, What it isaccording to the rules of God: euen a… a worke-man most exactly fitteth his worke by the l… uell and rule, and depart not from it.
Now to this circumspection, And in what.are foure things required:
1. A knowledge of th… right way,To circumspect walking foure things required. which is as th… light, guiding him to set eueryevery foot safely. For let …man bee neuer so circumspect and wary, if he be … the night without a light… and without a guide, hee can neuer walke securely and safe. The word is the lanthorne: and, the Commandement is the light. And, when wisdome enters into the heart, and knowledge delighteth the soule, then shall counsell preserue thee, and vnderstanding shall keepe thee, and deliuer thee from the euill way, Prou. 2. 11, 12.
2. A diligent watch and care to keep from all extremities, to turne neither to the right hand, nor to the left. For it is hard to keepe a meane, wee being very propense to extremes. Satan cares not so hee can conquer vsus, whether it be by curiosity, or by carelesnesse: whether he can keep vsus out of the Church, or cast vsus out by our owne conceits: whether he can keep vsus so cold, as no good thing greatly affects vsus, or whether hee can make vsus boyle ouer with vnbridled zeale, that because we cannot hauehave all the good wee would, wee will refuse a great deale of good wee might hauehave. A circumspect Christian will distinguish good from euill, and not refuse good for euill; for that is an extremity.
3. An holy iealousie and suspition, lest the heart bee deceiued through the deceitfulnesse of sinne. The most simple-hearted Christian is a most wary man, that is, of his owne hearts slipperinesse, suspecting himselfe in all things, fearing in all things lest hee may not offend God. Hee knoweth sinne lies in ambush, and suspects the insinuations of it. As hee that is very circumspect for the world, is most suspitious of others, lest they ouer-reach and beguile him: so one that is most circumspect for heauen, doth more suspect himselfe than any other.
4. A prouident walking, by which a man is able to foresee future danger and euils, to preuent them, and prouide for such things as may best bestead him in the way. Thus Salomon speakes of the circumspect and prudent Christian, that hee foresees the plague and hides himselfe: and learnes of the emmet to prouide in summer for winter. This property of circumspection we see in the wise Virgins, that prepared oile in time. All these are inseparable properties of a prouident and circumspect walking.
Which is inioyned vsus in sundry other places of Scripture: as, Prov. 4. 26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy wayes be ordered aright. Matth. 10. 16. Be wise as serpents. This serpentine wisdome is nothing else but Christian circumspection. Heb. 12. 13. Make right steps vntounto your feet, as good runners, who not only speed themselues in the way, but are wary to keepe the right way, which they know is the shortest, and so carefully obserue eueryevery step and eueryevery aduantage.
CHAP. III.
Of the next words of the Apostle, further explaining circumspect walking. Not as vnwise, but as wise.]
THe Apostle here expoundeth what hee meaneth by circumspect walking; namely, a wise ordring of a mans selfe according to the rules of Christian prudence. For wisdome is two-fold; either worldly and carnal, or else heauenly and spirituall.
This distinction is the holy Ghosts owne, in Iam. 3. 15. 17. where both of them are at large described. Our text speaketh of spirituall and heauenly wisdome: which is such a gift of God, as both directeth and effecteth,True wisedom, what it is. or causeth a man to doe that which is acceptable and pleasing vntounto God. Wherin it is much distinguished from humane wisdome, which is meerely contemplatiue knowledge; but this is an actiue knowledge, giuing rules and guidance in practice and action: Eccl. 10. 10. The excellency to direct a thing is wisdome. As a Coachman in a coach, so spirituall wisdome in the heart, orders the whole motion of a Christian in al his waies.
The connexion implies, that Those bee the wisest men, They are wisest men that walke most strictly.that walke most exactly. Prou. 14. 8. The wisdome of the prudent is to vnderstand his way. Deut. 4. 6. Keepe them, and doe them: for this is your wisdome, and your vnderstanding in the sight of the people:—OnelyOnly this is a wise people, and vnderstanding. Pro. 23. 19. O thou my sonne, heare and bee wise, and guide thy heart in the way.