The Rules of a Holy Life, Table of contents
The Contents of the whole Booke.
Chapter 1. page 1. to the 12.
THE Scope of the whole Booke is, to shew briefly the choysest Rules 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 Direction.
Cha. 2. p. 12. to 48.
THe Rules are either generall or particular.
The generall Rules concerne, either the helpes to a holy life, or the manner of weldoing.
He that would prepare himselfe to an holy course of life, must do diuers things, and auoide diuers things.
The things hee must doe are these:
1. Hee must be sure he hath repented, & doth beleeue.
2. Hee must get knowledge how to do well, and that he may attaine knowledge:
1. Hee must esteeme it.
2. Hee must not consult with flesh and bloud.
3. He must redeem the time.
4. Hee must be wise for himselfe.
5. He must be swift to heare.
6. He must study onelyonly profitable things.
7. Hee must striue to increase in knowledge.
8. Hee must propound his doubts.
9. Hee must be rightly ordered toward his Pastor, to pray for him, and obey him, and not discourage him.
3. He must auoid ill company.
4. He must resolue to practise these Rules.
5. He must order his outward calling so, as hee bee freed from all needlesse incumbrances.
6. Hee must keepe company with such as doe liue well.
7. Hee must not be a seruant of man.
8. Hee must accustome himselfe to the thoughts of the comming of Christ.
9. He must not regard what the multitude doth.
10. Hee must carefully remember to be in all things thankfull to God.
11. He must study to be quiet.
12. Hee must bee carefull to go on in a direct course.
13. He must reade the Scriptures daily.
14. Hee must bee carefull to preserue his first louelove.
15. He must especially striue for such good things as would make him most excell in his Place and Calling.
16. Hee must be often in the duties of mortification.
17. Hee must obserue the opportunities of well doing.
18. Hee must bee 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. 48. to 56.
THus of what he must do, what hee must auoide followes; and so hee must take heed,
1. Of carelesenesse.
2. Of rashnesse.
3. Of carnall confidence.
4. Of hasting to be rich.
5. Of distrustfull feares.
6. Of adding to, or taking from the Word of God.
7. Of contempt of reproofe.
8. Of beholding of vanity.
9. Of the beginnings of sin.
Chap. 4. p. 56. to 81.
NIne things to be euer in our minds, that in general concerne the manner of all well-doing, for in all good workes wee must shew:
1—1. Zeale.
2—2. Sincerity, which hath in it:
Truth,
Respect to all Gods commandements,
A right end,
Obedience, without obiecting,
Obedience in all companies.
3. Constancy, whē we do good,
Without wearinesse.
Without discouragement.
Without resistance.
Without wauering.
Without declining.
4. Feare.
5. Simplicity, 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 bee meeke and lowlyminded.
So to feare God, as not to enuy 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,
Auoiding 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. 81. to 95.
THVS of the generall Rules; the particular Rules concerne either God, or other men, or our selues.
Our whole duty 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. Wee must striue to conceiue of him according to his speciall prayses in his Word.
3. We must bring with vsus the faith of the Trinity.
4. We may helpe our selues by thinking of the Godhead in the Humane Nature of Christ.
5. Wee must get cure for Atheisticall thoughts,
That we may be acquainted with God.
1. We must prepare our harts.
2. Wee must begge acquaintance by prayer, praying with all our hearts, and earely and constantly.
3. We must giuegive our selues to God.
Chap. 6. p. 95. to 121.
THVS 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.
Wee manifest our louelove to God:
1. By auouching him to be 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 wee 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 honoring such as feare him.
By hating his enemies.
By speaking of his Truth with all reuerence.
By free-will-offerings.
By praysing him: where diuers Rules.
6. By trusting in him: and this trust in God we shew:
By relying vponupon his mercy 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 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, we must doe it,
1. With feruency.
2. With feare: and our feare of God we shew,
By awful thoughts of God.
By departing from euill.
By all reuerence of minde.
By not fearing men.
By remembring his presence.
By trembling at his iudgments.
By humility in the vse of his Ordinances.
By the reuerend vse of his very Titles.
Chap. 7. p. 121.
THus of the manifestation of our louelove to God, for the preseruation of our louelove to God.
1. Wee must separate our selues from all others to be his.
2. Wee 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. We must seek his speciall presence in his Ordinances.
7. We must preserue the Truth hee hath deliuered to vsus.
8. Wee must study his prayses.
9. Wee must study to reioyce in God, which containes in it 4. things: where eight rules to obtaine this ioying in God.
Cha. 8. p. 121. to 138.
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, are either general to all parts, or speciall.
Nine things to bee remembred in all parts of Gods worship:
1. Preparation.
2. Godly feare.
3. Penitency.
4. Griefe that others serue not God.
5. That all be done in the name of Christ.
6. Precedency before other businesses.
7. That we serue with all our hearts.
8. Desire to please him.
9. Detestation of what might draw vsus from his seruice.
Chap. 9. p. 138. to 147.
THe speciall Rules concerne either his publique seruice, or the particular parts of his seruice: VntoUnto the publique seruice,
All must come,
With speciall reuerence
And zeale: and this zeale to be shewed six waies.
And with our consent,
With speciall gladnesse before God,
And trust in his mercy,
And thankefulnes for all successes.
Chap. 10. p. 147. to 156.
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 meek 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. 156. to 166.
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 temptatiō to sin, where our Baptisme serues for vse three waies:
In the case of doubting of our perseuerance.
3. About others, to acknowledge the Baptized.
Chap. 12. p. 166. to 171.
COncerning the Lords Supper wee are charged with,
1. Examination.
2. The discerning of the Lords Bodie.
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. 171. to 178.
3. PRayer, about which the Rules are,
1. Thy words must bee few.
2. Thy heart must bee lifted vp, which hath three things in it; vnderstanding, freedom from distractions, and feruency.
3. Thou must vse all manner of prayer.
4. Thou must perseuer in prayer.
5. Thou must be instant without fainting or discouragement.
6. With supplications for all sorts.
7. In all things thou must giuegive thankes.
Cha. 14. p. 178. to 184.
4. REading the Scripture, the Rules are:
1. Reade daily.
2. Meditate of what thou readest
3. Conferre vponupon it.
4. Resolue to obey.
Chap. 15. pa. 184. to 186.
5. SInging of P…lmes, 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. 186. to 190.
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. 190. to 193.
8. FAsting, rules concerne
1. The strictnesse of the abstinen…
2. The humbling of the soule.
Chap. 18. p. 193. to 204.
HItherto of the parts of Gods worship: the time followes, which chiefly is the Sabbath, and the rules about the Sabbath concern…
1. The preparation to it:
End thy worke.
Auoid domestical 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. Sincerity to bee shewed:
By doing Gods works with as much care as our owne.
By obseruing the whole day.
By auoiding the lesser violations of the Sabbath.
5. Faith, by trusting vponupon his blessing.
6. Discretion.
Chap. 19. p. 204. to 209.
HItherto of the rules that concerne 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 righteousnesie, either order in company, or out of company.
In company we must be ordered, either in respect of Religion, or the sin of others, or the way how to carry our selues inoffensiuely:
For matter of Religion look to it:
1. That thou take not vp the name of God in vaine.
2. That thou auoide 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 be yea, yea, and nay, nay.
Chap. 20. p. 209. to 216.
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 meere frailties.
6. GiueGive soft answeres.
Chap. 21. p. 216. to 229.
THat thou maist conuerse inoffensiuely, thou must look to three things, humility, discretion, and purity.
VntoUnto the humility of thy conuersation belong these rules.
1. Be soft, shew all meekenesse to all men.
2. Hearken 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. Auoide those that cause diuisions.
3. Make no friendship with the angry man.
4. In the euill time bee silent.
5. And communicate not thy secrets.
6. Withdraw thy foote from thy neighbours house.
7. Restraine thy passions.
8. Blesse not thy friend with a loud voyce.
VntoUnto the purity of thy conuersation belong these rules:
1. Refraine thy tongue from euill.
2. Especially auoide filthy speaking, foolish talking and iesting,
3. Auoide reuelling and drinking.
Chap. 22. pa. 229. to 233.
OVT of company:
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. pa. 233. to 245.
THus of righteousnesse: mercy followeth; and vntounto mercy is requisite,
1. Willingnesse,
2. Labour.
3. Liberality.
4. Humility to be shewed fiue waies.
5. Faith, in two respects
6. Discretion in foure respects.
7. Sympathy.
8. Sincerity in fiue things.
Chap. 24. pa. 245. to 260.
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 society with them.
2. When thou must needes come into their company, carry thy selfe wisely, that thou maist, if it be possible, win them: and to this end shew
1. Thy mortification.
2. Reuerend speech in matter of God and Religion.
3. Meekenesse of wisedome.
4. Reseruednesse in 8. things.
5. Mercy.
6. Vndauntednesse in a good cause.
7. Patience.
8. LoueLove to thy enemies.
Chap. 25. p. 260. to 271.
THus of our carriage towards wicked men: In our carriage towards the godly, the sum 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 thē.
Six 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 imploying our gifts for their good.
Chap. 26. pa. 271. to 279.
FOR the preseruation of our louelove to the godly, some things are to be done, and 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. pag. 279. to 288.
TEN things to be auoyded.
1. Suits in Law.
2. Dissimulation.
3. Conceitednesse.
4. Reioycing in iniquity.
5. The minding of our owne things.
6. Ficklenesse.
7. Vaine-glory.
8. Iudging.
9. Euill words, and complaining.
10. The forsaking of their fellowship.
Chap. 28. p. 288. to 294.
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 kuit vntounto vsus in friendship.
1. Those that are falne, are either falne from God, or from thee: from God, either grosly or by infirmity; and so are guilty of foule vices, or extreme omissions.
1. Warne them, and reproue them.
2. If they mend not, auoide them.
3. If they repent, forgiue them.
Toward such as are falne frō thee, by trespassing against thee, obserue these rules:
1. Either speake not of it, or so, as thou vex not at it.
2. In great wrongs two things are to bee done:
First, when the trespasse is secret, reprooue him priuatly: if he mend not, reprooue him before witnesse: if hee yet mend not, make the Church acquainted with it: if he will not then amend, hold him as a Heathen, or a Publican.
Secondly, if he repent, forgiue him, as often as he saith, It repenteth him.
Chap. 29. pa. 294. to 298.
2. TOwards such as are weake,
1. We must not intangle them with doubtfull disputations concerning Ceremonies, or things indifferent.
2. Wee must beare with their weakenesses.
3. Wee must not offend them.
4. Wee must incourage and comfort them.
5. In things indifferent, we must suffer a little restraint of our owne liberty to please them.
3. Towards strong Christians:
First, we must acknowledge them.
Secondly, wee must set their practice before vsus, as examples of imitation.
Thirdly, we must submitour selues to them, to hauehave their iudgements in all doubtfull things.
Fourthly, how we must carry our selues towards our speciall friend.
1. Neuer forsake him.
2. GiueGive him hearty 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 looketh not for bribes.
Fourthly, it must bee such a louelove as will reach to his posterity, if need be.
Chap. 30. p. 298. to 308.
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, we 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 vse, and that concernes the Catalogue of present sinnes, mentioned in the first Treatise.
3. Concerning our Hope, 4 things:
1. We must pray earnestly, for the knowledg of the great glory is prouided for vsus.
2. We must vse all diligence to perfect our assurance of Heauen, when we die.
3. We must accustome our thoughts to the daily contemplation of heauen, that our conuersation may be in heauen.
4. We must striue to inable our selues for the expectation of the comming of Iesus Christ, and to be able to waite for his comming.
Chap. 31. pa. 308. to 317.
SEuen things to be 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. pa. 317. to 323.
HOw we must cary our selues in afflictiō 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. Carelessenesse of thy wayes.
Fiue things to be done in the time of affliction:
1. We must pray, and call vponupon the Name of the Lord.
2. We must beare our crosse with patiience and contentation.
3. We must vse all good meanes for our deliuerance.
4. We must be sure to shew our trust in God, & cast our burthen on the Lord
5. We must shew our obedience to God. foure waies:
First, by submitting our selues to Gods will.
Secondly, if we iudge our selues, and acknowledge our sinnes to God.
Thirdly, if wee bee constant in the good wayes of godlinesse.
Fourthly, if we learne more righteousnes, and are made by our crosses to do holy duties with better affections.