The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Table of contents 4
THE Contents of the whole Booke.
Chapter 1. page 441. to the 448.
THe Scope of the whole Booke, is, to shew briefly the choysest Ru…s of life of all sorts.
Some obiections against this course answered, and the warrant and profit of it shewed.
The easinesse of the course, with some generall Directions.
Chap. 2. p. 448. to 470.
THe Rules are either generall or particular.
The generall Rules concerne either the help…s to an holy life, or the manner of well-doing.
Hee that would prepare himselfe to an holy course of life, must doe diuers things, and auoide diuers things.
The things he must doe are these:
1. He must bee sure hee hath repeuted, and doth beleeue.
2. He must get knowledge how to doe well: and that he may attaine knowledge:
1. He must esteeme it.
2. He must not consult with flesh and blood.
3. He must redeeme the time.
4. Hee must bee wise for himselfe.
5. He must be swift to heare.
6. He must study onelyonly profitable things.
7. He must striue to increase in knowledge.
8. Hee must propound h… doubts.
9. He must be rightly ordered towards his Pastor, to pray for him, and obey him, and not discourage him.
3. Hee must auoid ill companie.
4. Hee must resolue to practise these rules.
5. Hee must order his outward calling so, as he be freed from all needlesse incumbrances.
6. He must keepe companie with such as doe liue well.
7. He must not be a seruant of man.
8. He must accustome himselfe to the thoughts of the comming of Christ.
9. He must not regard what the multitude doth.
10. He must carefully remember, to be in all things thankefull to God.
11. He must studie to be quiet.
12. He must be carefull to go on in a direct course.
13. He must reade the Scriptures dayly.
14. He must be carefull to preserue his first louelove.
15. He must especially striue for such good things as would make him more excellent in his place and calling.
16. He must be often in the duties of mortification.
17. He must obserue the opportunities of well-doing.
18. He must be carefull of keeping the Sabbath.
19. He must often meditate of the examples of the godly that excell in holinesse.
20. He must daily pray God to direct him.
Chap. 3. p. 470. to 475.
THus of what ee must doe: what he must auoid followes: and so he must take heed,
1. Of ….
2. Of rashnesse.
3. Of carnall confidence.
4. Of …asting to be rich.
5. Of distrustfull f…ares.
6. Of adding to, or taking from the Word of God.
7. Of contempt of reproofe.
8. Of beholding of vanitie.
9. Of the beginnings of sinne.
Chap. 4. p. 475. to 491.
NIne things to bee euer in our minds, that in generall concerne the manner of well-doing: for in all good workes wee must shew:
1—1. Zeale.
2—2. Sinceritie, which hath in it:
Truth,
Respect to all Gods commandements.
A right end,
Obedience without obi…cting,
Obedience in all companies.
3. Constancie, when wee doe good.
Without wearinesse.
Without discouragement.
Without resistance.
Without wauering.
Without declining.
4. Feare.
5. Simplicitie: which is,
To rest vponupon the word for the forme of holinesse and happinesse.
To be harmelesse.
To be simple concerning euill.
To louelove goodnesse for it selfe.
To be meeke and lowly minded.
So to feare God, as not to enuie the wicked.
6. Circumspection, which hath in it,
A respect of lesser commandements,
Abstaining from appearance of euill,
Obseruation of the circumstances of things,
Vnrebukeablenesse,
Auoyding euill when good might come of it.
7. Growth, which hath in it,
Abounding in goodnesse.
Finishing of holinesse.
Progresse.
8. Moderation, to bee neither iust nor wicked ouermuch, which is expounded at large.
Chap. 5. p. 491. to 499.
THus of the generall Rule: the particular rules concerne either God, or other men, or our selues.
Our whole dutie to God, concernes either his louelove, or his seruice.
The louelove of God must be considered either in the foundation of it, or in the exercise of it.
The foundation of the louelove of God, is the knowledge of God.
The Rules about the knowledge of God, concerne either the right conceiuing of his Nature, or our acquaintance with God.
That we may conceiue aright of the Nature of God:
1. Wee must cast out all likenesses.
2. We must striue to conceiue of him according to his speciall praises in his Word.
3. Wee must bring with vsus the faith of the Trinity.
4. Wee may helpe our selues by the thinking of the Godhead in the humane Nature of Christ.
5. We must get cure for Atheisticall thoughts.
That we may be acquainted with God.
1. Wee must prepare our hearts.
2. We must begge acquaintance by prayer, praying with all our hearts, and early, and constantly.
3. Wee must giuegive our selues to God.
Chap. 6. p. 499. to 515.
THus of the foundation of the louelove of God: the Rules that concerne the exercise of our louelove to God, either shew vsus how to manifest our louelove to God: or how to preserue it.
We manifest our louelove to God,
1. By auouching him to bee our God.
2. By prouiding him a place to dwell with vsus.
3. By louing Iesus Christ.
4. By walking with him, which hath fiue things in it.
5. By honouring God: and we honour him,
By seeking his kingdome first.
By open profession of his Truth.
By grieuing for his dishonour.
By directing all our actions to his glory.
By suffering for his sake.
By honouring such as feare him.
By hating his enemies.
By speaking of his truth with all reuerence.
By free-will offerings.
By praising him: where diuers Rules.
6. By trusting in him: and this trust in God we shew:
By relying vponupon his merciemercy for our saluation.
By committing all our workes to his blessing.
By beleeuing what he saith.
By staying vponupon him in all distresses, praying to him, and casting our care vponupon him, and relying vponupon his helpe,
Without leaning to our owne vnderstanding,
Without murmuring,
Without feare,
Without care,
Without vsing ill meanes.
7. By obeying him.
In the manner also of our manifesting our louelove to God, wee must doo it,
1. With feruencie.
2. With feare: and our feare of God we shew,
By awfull thoughts of God.
By departing from euill.
By all reuerence of minde.
By not fearing men.
By remembring his presence.
By trembling at his iudgements.
By humilitie in the vse of his Ordinances.
By the reuerend vse of his very Titles.
Chap. 7. p. 515. to 522.
THus of the manifestation of our louelove to God: for the preseruation of our louelove to God.
1. We must separate our selues from all others to be his.
2. We must beware that we forget not God.
3. Wee must edifie our selues in our holy faith.
4. Wee must pray in the holy Ghost.
5. We must waite for the comming of Christ.
6. Wee must seeke his speciall presence in his Ordinances.
7. We must preserue the Truth, he hath deliuered to vsus.
8. Wee must studie his praises.
9. Wee must study to reioyce in God, which containes in it 4. things: where eight rules to obtaine this ioying in God.
Chap. 8. p. 522. to 525.
THus of our louelove to God: his seruice followes, and the rules about the seruice of God, concerne either the parts of his seruice, or the time of it.
The rules that concerne the parts of Gods worship, and either generall to all parts, or speciall.
Nine things to be remembred in all parts of Gods worship:
1. Preparation.
2. Godly feare.
3. Penitencie.
4. Griefe that others serue not God.
5. That all be done in the name of Christ.
6. Precedencie before other businesses.
7. That wee serue him with all our hearts.
8. Desire to please him.
9. Detestation of what might draw vsus from his seruice.
Chap. 9. p. 525, to 531.
THe speciall Rules concerne either his publike seruice or the particular parts of his seruice: VntoUnto the publike seruice,
All must come,
With speciall reuerence,
And zeale: and this zeale to be shewed sixe wayes.
And with our consent.
With speciall gladnesse before God,
And trusting in his merciemercy,
And thankefulnesse for all successes.
Chap. 10 p. 531. to 536.
THe speciall parts of Gods worship, are,
1. Hearing: where the rules concerne vsus.
1. Before hearing.
A resolution to deny our owne wits and affections.
A meeke and humble spirit.
2. In the time of hearing:
Speciall attention.
Prouing of the doctrine.
3. After hearing:
1. Meditation.
2. Practice.
Chap. 11. p. 536. to 543.
2. THe Sacraments, which are, either Baptisme or the Lords Supper.
Concerning Baptisme wee hauehave diuers things to doe:
1. About our children to present them to Baptisme,
In due time.
In faith.
With thankefulnesse.
2. About our selues, to make vse of our owne Baptisme.
In case of doubting.
In the case of temptation to sinne, where our Baptisme serues for vse three wayes:
In the case of doubting of our perseuerance.
3. About others to acknowledge the Baptized.
Chap. 12. p. 543. to 546.
COncerning the Lords Supper, we are charged with,
1. Examination.
2. The discerning of the Lords Body.
3. The shewing forth of the death of Christ.
4. The vowes of louing the godly.
5. Reconciliation.
6. Vowes of holy life.
Chap. 13. p. 547. to 550.
3. PRayer: about which the Rules are,
1. Thy words must be few.
2. Thy heart must be lifted vp: which hath three things in it: vnderstanding, freedome from distractions, and feruencie.
3. Thou must vse all manner of prayer.
4. Thou must perseuere in prayer.
5. Thou must be instant, without f…inting or discouragement.
6. With supplications for all sorts.
7. In all things thou must giuegive thankes.
Chap. 14. p. 550. to 554.
4. REading the Scriptures: the rules are:
1. Reade daily.
2. Meditate of what thou readest.
3. Conferre vponupon it.
4. Resolue to obey.
Chap. 15. p. 554. 555.
5. Singing of Psalmes: the rules are,
1. Teach one another by Psalmes.
2. Sing with the heart.
3. Sing with grace.
4. Make melody to the Lord.
Chap. 16. p. 555. to 558.
6. VOwes: the rules are,
1. Before thou vow, consider.
2. When thou hast vowed defer not to pay.
7. Swearing: the rules are,
1. Sweare not by any thing which is not God.
2. Sweare in truth.
3. Sweare in iudgement.
4. Sweare in righteousnesse.
Chap. 17. p. 558. to 560.
8. FAsting: the rules concerne,
1. The strictnesse of the abstinence.
2. The humbling of the soule.
Chap. 18. p. 560. to 566.
HItherto of the parts of Gods worship. The time followes, which chiefly is the Sabbath: and the rules about the Sabbath, concerne,
1. The preparation to it:
End thy worke.
Auoide domesticall vnquietnes.
Cleanse thy selfe.
2. The celebration of it, where is prescribed,
1. Rest from all worke.
2. Readinesse and delight.
3. Care and watchfulnesse.
4. Sinceritie to be shewed.
By doing Gods workes with as much care as our owne.
By obseruing the whole day.
By ausiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath.
5. Faith, by trusting vponupon his blessing.
6. Discretion.
Chap. 19. p. 566. to 570.
HItherto of the Rules that concern our carriage towards God. Towards man followes: and so either towards all men, or towards some men.
The Rules that order vsus in our carriage towards all men, concerne either righteousnesse or mercy.
The Rules that concerne righteousnesse, either order vsus in company or out of company.
In company, we must be ordered, either in respect of Religion, or the sinne of others, or the way how to carry our selues inoffensiuely.
For matter of Religion, looke to it,
1 That thou take not vp the name of God in vaine.
2 That thou auoid vaine ianglings, about doubtfull disputations, or curious questions, or vnprofitable reasonings.
3 If thou be asked a reason of thy hope, answer with all reuerence and meekenesse.
4. Let thy communication bee yea, yea, and nay, nay.
Chap. 20. p. 570. to 574.
AS for the faults of others,
1. Iustifie not the wicked, nor condemne the righteous.
2. Conuerse without iudging.
3. Walke not about with tales.
4. Reprooue, but hate not.
5. Passe by frailties.
6. GiueGive soft answers.
Chap. 21. p. 574. to 582.
THat thou mayest conuerse inoffensiuely, thou must looke to three things, humilitie, discretion, and puritie.
VntoUnto the humilitie of thy conuersation, bel…ng these rules:
1. Be soft, shew all meekenesse to all men.
2. Harken to the words of those that are wise.
3. Stand not in the place of great men.
VntoUnto the discretion of thy conuersation, belong these rules.
1. Speake what is acceptable.
2. Auoid those that cause diuisions.
3. Make no friendship with the angry man.
4. In the euill time be silent.
5. And communicate not thy secrets.
6. Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours house.
7. Restraine thy passions.
8. Blesse not thy friend with a loud voyce.
VntoUnto the paritie of thy conuersation, belong these rules:
1. Refraine thy tongue from euill.
2. Especially auoid filthy speaking, foolish talking and iesting.
3. … re…elling and drinking.
Chap. 22. p. 582. to 584.
OVt of companie…
1. Conceiue louelove to all men.
2. Pray for all sorts of men.
3 Prouide to liue,
Honestly, without scandall.
Iustly, without deceit.
Peaceably, without strife.
Chap. 23. p. 584. to 592.
THus of righteousnesse. Mercy followeth: and vntounto Mercy is requisite,
1 Willingnesse.
2 Labour.
3 Laberalitie.
4 Humilitie to be shewed fiue wayes.
5 Faith, in two respects.
6 Discretion, in foure respects.
7 Sympathie.
8 Sinceritie, in fi…e things.
Chap. 24. p. 592. to 601.
THus of the Rules that order our carriage towards all men. Towards some men, followes: as they are either wicked, or godly.
As for the wicked.
1. Hold no needlesse societie with them.
2. When thou must needs come into their companie, carry thy selfe wisely, that thou mayst, if it be possible, win them: and to this end shew,
1. Thy mortification.
2. Reuerend speech in matters of God and Religion.
3. Meekenesse of wisedome.
4. Reseruednesse, in eight things.
5. MercieMercy.
6. Vndauntednes in a good cause.
7. Patience.
8. LoueLove to thy enemies.
Chap. 25. p. 601. to 608.
THus of our carriage towards wicked men. In our carriage towards the godly, the summe of all is, Walke in louelove: and the particular Rules concerne either the manifestation of our louelove vntounto them, or the preseruation of louelove to them.
Sixe wayes to manifest our louelove to the godly.
1. By courtesie.
2. By receiuing them.
3. By bearing their burthens.
4. By prouoking them to good duties.
5. By faithfulnesse in their businesse.
6. By employing our gifts for their good.
Chap. 26. p. 608 to 613.
FOr the preseruation of our louelove to the godly, some things are to be done, & other things to be auoided.
The things to be done, are,
1. Labour to be like minded.
2. Follow peace.
3. Couer their nakednesses.
4. Confesse your faults one to another.
Chap. 27. p. 613. to 618.
TEn things to be auoided:
1. Suites in Law.
2. Dissimulation.
3. Conceitednesse.
4 Reioycing in iniquitie.
5 The minding of our owne thigns.
6 Ficklenesse.
7 Vaine-glorie.
8 Iudging.
9 Euill words & complaining.
10 The forsaking of their fellowship.
Chap. 28. p. 618. to 622.
OTher Rules which concerne onelyonly some of the godly.
1 Such as are falne.
2 Such as are weake.
3 Such as are strong.
4 Such as are especially knit to vsus in friendship.
1 Those that are falne, are either falne from God, or from thee; from God, either grosly or by infirmitie; and so are guiltie of foule vices, or extreme omissions.
1 Warne them, and reprooue them.
2 If they mend not, auoid them.
3 If they repent, for giuegive them.
Toward such as are falne from thee, by trespassing against thee, obserue these rules:
1 Either speake not of it; or so, as thou vexe not as it.
2 In great wrongs, two things are to be done:
First, When the trespas is secret, reproue him priuately: If he mend not, reproue him before witnesse: If he yet mend not, make the Church acquainted with it: If he will not then a…nend, hold him as an Heathen or a Publican.
Secondly, If hee repent, forgiue him, as often as he saith, it repenteth him.
Chap. 29. p. 622. to 625.
2 TOwards such as are weake.
1 Wee must not intangle them with doubtfull Disputations concerning Ceremonies, or things indifferent.
2 Wee must beare with their weakenesses.
3 We must not offend them.
4 We must encourage and comfort them.
5 In things indifferent, we must suffer a little restraint of our owne libertie to please them.
6 Towards strong Christians.
First, We must acknowledge them.
Secondly, We must set their practise before vsus as examples of imitation.
Thirdly, We must submit our selues to them to hauehave their iudgements in all doubtfull thing,
Fourthly, How we may carrie our selues towards our speciall friend.
1 Neuer forsake him.
2 GiueGive him heartie counsell.
3 Be friendly to him.
4 Communicate thy secrets to him.
5 LoueLove him with a speciall louelove.
First, As thine owne soule.
Secondly, At all times.
Thirdly, It must be a sincere louelove that lookes not for bribes.
Fourthly, It must be such a louelove as will reach to his posterity, if need be.
Chap. 30. p. 625. to 631.
RVles that concerne our selues, are of two sorts.
1 Either our generall, or particular calling.
Concerning our generall calling.
1 Our Faith.
2 Our Repentance.
3 Our Hope.
1 Concerning our Faith, wee must be expert in the Catalogue of Promises, that concerne infirmities, mentioned in the third Treatise. Our iudgement must be established particularly in the Doctrine of the Principles expressed in the fifth Treatise.
2 Concerning our Repentance, one Rule is of singular use, and that concernes the Catalogue of present sins, mentioned in the first Treatise.
3 Concerning our Hope, foure things:
1 Wee must pray earnestly for the knowledge of the great glorie is prouided for vsus.
2 We must vse all diligence to perfect our assurance of Heauen when we dye.
3 Wee must accustome our thoughts to the daily contemplation of Heauen, that our con…ersation may be in Heauen.
4 Wee must striue to enable our selues for the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ, and to be able to wait for his comming.
Chap. 31. p. 631. to 6. 6.
SEuen things to bee auoided in our particular calling.
1 Slothfulnesse.
2 Vnfaithfulnesse.
3 Rashnesse.
4 Passion or perturbation.
5 The temptations of our calling.
6 Worldlinesse.
7 Prophanenesse.
Chap. 32. p. 636. to 640.
HOw wee must carry our selues in affliction.
Eight things to be auoided:
1 Dissembling.
2 Shame.
3 Impatience.
4 Discouragement.
5 Trust in carnall friends.
6 Perplexed cares.
7 Sudden feares.
8 Carelesnesse of thy wayes.
Fiue things to be done in the time of affliction.
1 Wee must pray, and call vponupon the Name of the Lord.
2 Wee must beare our crosse with patience and contentation.
3 Wee must vse all good mean…s for our deliuerance.
4 Wee must be sure to shew our trust in God, and cast our burthen on the Lord.
5 Wee must shew our obedience to God foure wayes.
First, By submitting our selues to Gods will.
Secondly, If wee iudge our selues, and acknowledge our sins to God.
Thirdly, If we be constant in the good wayes of godlinesse.
Fourthly, If we learne more righteousnesse, and are made by our crosses to doe holy duties with better affections.