The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 31 – Chapter 1
CHAP. XXXI.
Rules that order vsus in our particular calling.
THus of the rules that concerne 7. Things to be auoi ded in our particular calling.thy generall calling: In thy particular calling there are seuen things to bee auoided.
The first is slothfulnesse, and thou art guilty of this sinne, both when thou doest not the labours of thy calling, and when thou obseruest not the reasons, and opportunities of thy calling, Prou. 10. 4, 5. And that thou maiest be free from this sinne, thou must auoide together with it the occasions of it: And so thou must auoide, 1. The louelove of sleepe, Prou. 20. 13. 2. Good fellowship, and haunting of Alehouses, and Tauernes, and keepi…g company with dissolute persons, Prou. 21. 17. 3. Wandring from thine owne house, euen that vnnecessary going from house to house, though it be not to places of ill fame. Fourthly, thou must take heede of pertinacious entertainment of doubts and obiections about thy calling: thou shouldest be afraid of excuses for idlenesse, especially to be so selfewilled, as to be glad of any thing may seem to patronize thy slothfulnes, Pro. 20. 4. & 15. 19. & 26. 16. And therefore to conclude this rule, when thou art about thy calling, what thou dost, do with all thy power, Eccl. 9. 10. & rest not in words or pratling. He is not diligent, that brags much of what worke he can or will doe, but he that doth it indeed, Pro. 14. 23.
The second sin to be auoided …. Vnfaithfuln…sse.in thy particular calling, is vnfaithfulnesse, Pro. 20 6. and so thou must take heed of breach of thy promise in thy dealings with men, Psa. 15. 4. and also thou must take heed of all deceitfull courses, all waies of fraud and coozenage. It is an hatefull thing in men, when they are such as canot be trusted, either because they make not cō science of keeping their words, or because they will vse so much cunning & deceit, and dissimulation and lying in their dealings.
The third sin to bee auoided, 3. Rashnes.is Precipitation, hastines, and vnaduised rashnes, rising out of the leuity of mens minds, or their wilfulnes. Prouidence and wise diligence is wonderfull requisite vntounto a right ordering of our selues in our callings, Pro. 21. 5.
The fourth sinne to be auoyded, is Passion, or perturbation; 4 Passion.and that hath in it both vncheerfulnesse and vnquietnesse. Vnch…erfulnesse, when men are not content with their callings, or gifts, or estates, 1. Cor. 7. 17. Vnquietnesse, when men are froward, and carrie themselues peeuishly, or cholerickly with those that are about them. This sinne of frowardnes is vehemently censured and condemned in Scripture, Pro. 11. 29. Psa. 37. 8. Pro. 16. 32. & 19. 11. & 25. 28. whereas God requires a quiet, contented and merrie heart, Pro. 17. 22. Eccl. 9. 7, 8.
The fifth thing to be auoided and shunned, is the Temptations 5. The temptations of thy calling.of thy calling; eueryevery calling in the world is assaulted with certaine temptations, & they are vsually of two sorts; For first, in all callings there are certaine vnlawfull courses held for gaine by wicked men, which we call the sins of such a calling. These vniust courses thou must learn to auoid and abhorre, and so exercise thy calling, as thou shun those sinfull courses vsed by wicked men in that calling. Secondly, eueryevery calling is assaulted with crosses and afflictions: now in these afflictions the diuell is wont to tender ill counsell, to perswade to sinne, or the vse of vnlawfull meanes, or other sins of distrust in God: all these thou must auoid.
Sixtly, thou must take heede of worldines, or setting thy heart vponupon those earthly things thou art to deale with in thy calling. Thou must euer be ready to confesse, and shew it by thy practice, that thou accountest thy selfe to be but a stranger and Pilgrim in this world, Heb. 11. 13. and if riches increase, thou must looke to it, that thou set not thy heart vponupon them, Psal. 62. 10. Thou must vse the world, but not louelove the world, 1. Ioh. 2. 15. Thou maist & oughtest to be carefull to doe the duties of thy calling; but thou must in nothing bee carefull about the successe, but submit thy selfe in all things to God, Math. 6. 1. Cor. 7. 32. Thou must behaue thy selfe like a weaned child, Psal. 131. 1, 2. Take heed of eating too much hony, Pro. 25. 16, & 27. 1, 2.
The seuenth, and last thing 7 Profanenesse.thou must auoid, is profanenesse, which is to vse the workes of thy calling without exercising thy selfe in the Word of God, and daily prayer for Gods blessing vponupon thy labours, and the creatures thou art to vse, Psal. 90. 1. Tim. 4. 3, 4. Gen. 24. 11, 12, 26, 27.
CHAP. XXXII.
How wee should carrie our selues in the time of affliction.
THus of the Rules of carriage which concerne thy selfe at all times: Now follow the How wee must carry our selues in a…liction. 8. Things to be auoided.Rules that shew thee how to behaue our selues in time of affliction and aduersitie. When thou art in affliction, thou must consider what thou must auoid, and what thou must doe.
Thou must auoid eight things.
First, Dissembling: Make not 1 Dissembling.thy selfe poore, when thou ar…rich; nor sicke, when thou art well, Prou. 13. 7.
Secondly, Shame. Be not ashamed 2. Shame.of that condition God brings thee into: beare thy crosses with spirituall magnanimity; account not thy selfe dishonored by Gods hand, who doth all for the best, 1. Pet. 4. 16.
Thirdly, Impatience: grieue not 3. Impatience.at Gods works: sorrow not after the world: Fret not at God or man; Refuse not Gods chastening, but with patience beare what is laid vponupon thee: It is the Lord, let him do whatsoeuer he will with thee, Prou. 3. 11.
Fourthly, Fainting, or discouragement 4 Discouragement.of heart: Liue by faith; call not Gods louelove into question: keepe thee in the good way, Pro. 24. 10.
Fifthly, Trust not vponupon carnall friends: Relye not vponupon man, 5 Trust not in carnall friends.but vponupon God: Trust not in the arme of flesh, Prou. 27. 10.
Sixthly, Too much Carefulnes 6 Perplexed cares.for the meanes how to get out of affliction: Commit thy way to God, and put thy trust in him; vse all lawfull meanes, but distresse not thy heart with bootlesse cares: Cast thy care vponupon God, for he careth for thee, Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7.
Seuenthly, Sudden feares. Be not so amazed with the first tydings, 7. Sudden feares.or beginnings of any affliction, discouer not such want of faith, as to be guiltie of those violent passions of feare; Gods louelove is vnchangeable; & though heauen and earth should goe together, yet God will bee with thee; Hee will not leaue thee, nor forsake thee, Prou. 3. 25.
Eighthly and lastly, carelesnesse 8. Carelesnesse of thy watesof thy wayes. Be not secure in sinning, but let thy crosses melt off some of thy drosse, and draw thee neere to God: Goe not on boldly to sinne without regard; if the Lord hauehave any quarrell against thee, humble thy selfe and depart from iniquitie, Pro. 14. 16.
The things then thou must do 5 Thi…gs to be done in the time of affliction.on the contrary side, are these: When thou art in affliction, thou must do these things:
First, thou must pray, and call vponupon the name of the Lord; as these expresse Scriptures require, Iam. 5. 13. Psal. 50. 15. 1. Cor. 4. 12, 13.
Secondly, thou must beare thy crosses with patience, and contentation, lam 1. 4. 1. Pet. 3. 15. Esay 5. Phil. 4. 5, 6. 2. Cor. 6. 8. Pro. 12. 9.
Thirdly, thou must labour for wisedome, to know how to carry thy selfe discreetly, and to vse all good meanes for thy deliuerance, Iam. 1. 5.
Fourthly, thou must be sure to shew thy trust in God, and cast thy burthen on the Lord, Iam. 5. 7, 8. Nahum 1. 7. Psal. 27. vlt. & 37. 7. & 55. 22.
Fiftly, thou must shew thy obedience to God; & that thou dost,
1. If thou submit thy selfe to Gods will, Heb. 5. 8.
2. If thou iudge thy selfe, and acknowledge thy sins to God, Hosh. 5. vlt. Iob 36. 8, 9.
3. If thou be constant in the good wayes of godlinesse, Psal. 37. …4.
4. If thou learne more righteousnesse, and art made by thy crosses to do holy duties with better affections, Esay 26. 10.
FINIS.
An Aduertisement to the READER.
REligious Reader, be pleased to take notice of the purpose and intention of the reuerend Author of these Treatises, which he hath more fully expressed in the beginning of this Booke, and in the sixt page directeth to the vse of his Treatise of the Principles of Religion; a Worke well approoued, and acceptable with good men: Which Booke should in order follow next after the Rules of a holy Life. But the Authors purpose hath beene hitherto disappointed, by reason the right of Printing these Treatises did belong to seuerall men. Which inconuenience is now prouided for; all the whole sixe Treatises being to be had entire in one Volume, if thou be not wanting to thy selfe.
Thine in the Lord, Adoniram Bifield.
THE PRINCIPLES, OR, THE PATERNE OF wholesome Words:
Containing a Collection of such Truths as are of necessity to be beleeued vntounto Saluation, separated out of the Body of all THEOLOGIE, Made euident by infallible and plaine proofes of Scriptures.
And withall, The seuerall vses such Principles should be put to, are abundantly shewed.
A proiect much desired, and of singular vse for all sorts of Christians.
By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in MIDDLESEX.
The fourth Edition, corrected and amended.
LONDON, Printed by Iohn Legatt, for Robert Allot, at the signe of the Beare in Pauls Church-yard.
1630.
This is the Title of the Treatise mentioned in the Aduertisement: The Treatise it selfe ought to follow in this place.
THE CVRE OF THE FEARE OF DEATH.
Shewing the course Christians may take, to bee deliuered from those Feares about Death, which are found in the hearts of the most.
A Treatise of singular vse for all sorts.
By N. BIFIELD late Preacher of Gods Word at isleworth in MIDDLESEX.
HEB. 2. 15.
He died, that he might deliuer them, who through the feare of death, were all their life time subiect to bondage.
LONDON, Printed by Iohn Legatt, and are to bee sold by P. Stophens, and C. Meredith, at the golden Lyon in Pauls Church-yard.
1630.
TO THE RIGHT Honorable and Noble Lady, the Lady Anne Harrington: Grace and comfort from God the Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ, be multiplied.
MADAM,
VVHen I had seriously bethought my selfe, in what Doctrine especially to imploy my Ministerie, in the place in which the Lord had by so strong and strange a prouidence settled mee: Amongst other things, I was vehemently inclined to study the Cure of the Feare of Death; both because it may be vsually obserued, that the most men are in bondage, by reason of these Feares; as also because I am assured, that our liues will become: more sweet, yea, and more holy too, when the feare of death is remooued. And the rather was I incited hereunto, because I hauehave obserued some defect about this Point, in the most that hauehave written about Death. I am not ignorant of the censure which many may giuegive of this proiect, as accounting it an impossible thing to bee effected: but my trust is, that godly and discreete Christians will restraine censure, when they hauehave throughly viewed my reasons.
My vnfained desire to doe seruice vntounto Gods Church, in relieuing such Christians herein, as are not furnished with better helpes, hath emboldened me to offer this Treatise also to the publike view. I hauehave presumed in your Honors absence to thrust forth this Treatise vnderunder the protection of your Honors name: and withall, I desire heartily to testifie my thankefulnes for the many fauors shewed vntounto me & mine, while your Honor was pleased to be my hearer. I should also much reioyce, if my testim my (concerning the singular graces God hath bestowed vponupon you, & the many good workes in which you hauehave abounded in the places of your abode) might adde any thing either vntounto your Honours prayses in the Churches of Christ, or vntounto the establishment of the comfort of your owne heart in God, and his Sonne Iesus Christ.
I hauehave not made choyse of your Honour in this Dedication, for any speciall fitnesse in this Treatise for your Honours condition, in respect of your age, or absence in a place so far remote; for my earnest trust is, that God will adde yet many yeres to your happy life on earth: and besides, I hauehave had heretofore occasion to know how little you were afraid to dye, when the Lord did seeme to summon you by sicknes.
That GOD, which hath ennobled your heart with heauenly gifts, and so made you an instrument of so much good and contentment vntounto that most excellent Princesse with whom you now liue; and towards whom, you hauehave shewed so much faithfull obseruance, and dearenesse of affection, and carefulnesse of attendance; euen the Father of merciemercy, and God of all consolations, encrease in you all spirituall blessings, and multiply the ioy of your heart, and make you still to grow in acceptation, and all well-doing.
Humbly crauing pardon for my boldnesse herein, I commit your Honor to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which will build you vp to eternall life: resting
Your Honors in all humble obseruance, N. BIFIELD, Isleworth, July 14. 1618.
The chiefe Contents of this Booke.
THE drift is, to shew how wee may be freed from the feare of Death. pag. 6. 35
First, it is prooued by eight apparent Arguments, that it may be attained to. pag. 655. to 660
Secondly, it is shewed by fifteene Considerations, how shamefull and vncomely a thing it is for a Christian to be afraid to die, pag. 660. to 670.
Thirdly, the way how this feare may be remooued, is shewed: where may be noted,
An exhortation to regard the directions. p. 670, 671
Two wayes of Cure: the one, by Meditation; the other, by Practice. p. 671.
1. The Contemplations either serue to make vsus to like Death, or else to bee lesse in louelove with life, pag. 672.
Seuenteene Priuiledges of a Christian in death, pag. 670. to 685.
The contemplations that shew vsus the misery of life, are of two sorts: for either they shew vsus the miseries of the life of nature; or else, the miseries that doe vnauoidably accompanie the very life of grace, p. 685. &c.
The miseries of the life of nature, from p. 8…. to 693.
The mi…eries of a godly mans life are two-fold: which appeares both in the things he wants, and in the things hee hath while he lives, pag. 693. &c.
Sixe things which eueryevery godly man wants while he liues, p. 694. to 698.
What should make a godly man wearie of life, in respect of God, pag. 698. to 704.
And what in respect of euill angels. p. 704. &c.
And what in respect of the World, p. 706. &c.
And what in respect of himselfe. p. 721. &c.
Eight aggrauations of Gods corrections in this life. p. 702.
Eight apparent miseries from the world. p. 706. &c.
Fifteene manifest defects and blemishes in the greatest seeming felicities of the world. p. 712. to 721.
Many aggrauations of our miserie, in respect of corruption of nature in this life. p. 721. &c.
The remainders of the first punishments yet vponupon vsus. p. 725.
The remoouall of the Obiections men make about death, from whence their feare ariseth, and these Obiections are answered. p. 7…7.
1. About the paine of dying, where are ten answers. p. 721. &c.
2. About the condition of the body in death. p. 733.
3. About the desire to liue longer yet. p. 736.
4. About the pretence of desire to liue long to doe good. p. 740.
5. About casting away of ones selfe. p. 472.
6. About parting with friends. p. 745. &c.
7. About parting with wife and children. p. 747.
8. About leauing the pleasures of life. p. 748.
9. About leauing their honours of life. p. 750.
10. About leauing their riches. p. 753. &c.
11. About the kind of death. p. 756.
The second way of curing the feare of death, is by practice, where seuen directions are giuen: from p. 757. to the end.
THE CVRE OF THE FEARE OF DEATH.
CHAP. I.
Shewing the Scope and parts of this Treatise.
THat which I intend in this The drift of the whole Treatise.Treatise, is to shew how a godly man might order himselfe against the feare of Death; or what course hee should take to liue so, as not to be afraid to die. This is a maine point, and exceeding necessary. Life is throughly sweet, when death is not feared: The pr… followin… these dir… ctions.A mans heart is then like Mount Sion, that cannot be moued. He can feare no enemie, that doth not feare death. As death is the last enemy, so it workes the longest and last feares: and to dye happily, is to dye willingly. The maine worke of preparation is effected, when our hearts are perswaded to be willing to dye.
Now in the explication of this The parts of the treatise.point, I would distinctly handle three things.
First, I will proue, that to liue without feare of death, is a thing may bee obtained; one may be deliuered from it as certainly, as a sicke man may be cured of an ordinary disease.
S…condly, I will shew, how vncomely a thing it is for a Christian to be afraid of death: that so wee may be stirred vp the more to seeke the cure for this disease.
Thirdly, I will shew by what m…anes wee may bee deliuered from the feare of death, if we vse them. Of the two first more briefly, and of the last at large.