The Rules of a Holy Life, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Shewing the things that are to be auoyded by such as would order their conuersation aright.
NOw before I proceed vntounto the rules that concerne the manner of well-doing. I will adde vntounto the former directions, nine Cautions,Hee must auoid, or nine things which a Christian must take heede of in his practice of holy duties: As
1. First, hee must take heed of wretchlesnesse, 1. Carelesnesse.or a scornefull carelesnesse of his owne waies, he must not despise his waies: as if hee cared not how hee liued, or rested satisfied to be still, as hee was: This carelesnesse proues the bane of many a soule, whereas Hee that keepeth his soule, keepeth his way, Pro. 19. 16. & 21. 5.
2. Hee must take heed of precipitation, 2. Rashnesor rashnesse, or too much haste: this is the ground of much false zeale, and the cause of strange euils in the practice of some Christians: but the godly Christian must learne of Salomon, to prepare his work in the field, and then build his house: he must get sound knowledge of the warrant of his actions, and guide his affaires by aduice, and with serious preparation fit himselfe to the doing of what he is sure is good. He that hasteth with his feet, sinneth: what is done rashly, cannot he done well: Prou. 19. 2. As procrastination is a great vice; so praecipitation is no vertue, Prou. 24. 27▪ & 28. 2….
3 Hee must hauehave no confidence in the flesh, 3. Carnall cōfidence.hee must not relye vponupon his owne wit, memory, reason, desires, vertues, prayses, or power; but all his comfort and affiance must be in the merits, intercession, vertue, presence, and assistance of Iesus Christ his Sauiour, Phil. 3. 3.
4 He must not haste to be rich, 4. Haste to be rich.for the desire of money is the roote of all euill; and they cannot be at leasure for good duties, that are so eager to compasse great things in the world, Prou. 23. 4. & 28. 20.
5 He must take heed of the snares that arise from distrustfull feares: 5. Distrustfull feares.There is a snare in feare, Prou. 29. 25. There are many feares will assault a man, that resolues to liue well; As the feare that hee cannot doe good duties; The feare that God will not accept what hee doth; The feare left men should scorne him, or contemne him, or lest hee should lose the fauour of his friends, or such like. Now against all these must the godly minde bee armed, and take heed that those feares prooue not great hinderances to him; and especially take heed of that vnbeleefe, or counterfet humility, in disabling himselfe, or mistrusting God contrary to his nature and promises.
6 Hee must take heed of adding to, 6. Adding to, or taking from the word of God.or detracting from the Word of God: Hee must not imagine more sinnes, then God hath made; that is, not trouble himselfe with feare of offending in such things, as God hath not in his Word forbidden: and so likewise he must not impose vponupon his owne conscience, or other mens, the necessity of obseruing such rules of practice, as God neuer prescribed. This caution would case the hearts of many Christians, if it were discreetely obserued and applied, Prou. 30. 6.
7 Hee must take heed of hardening his necke against reproofs: 7. Contempt of reproofe.Pro. 29. 1. He must needs▪ run into headlong euils, that is so proud as not to heare aduice, or to reiect reproofes; and it will bee a singular furtherance to a holy life, to bee easie to be entreated to leaue his offences, and to mend his errours.
8 Hee must take heed of beholding vanity: 8. Beholding vanitie.Dauid prayes, that God wold turne away his eyes from beholding vanity: He that would forsake vanity, must auoide the presence of vaine persons, and the too much contemplation of vanity, shunning the reading and discourse of the inticements of others vntounto any sin, Psal. 119. 37.
9 And lastly,9. The beginning of sinne. hee must take heed of the beginning of euils in his owne heart: hee must keep his heart with all diligence, for thereout commeth life: His practice will be easie to him, if hee resist sinne in the beginning, and driue out Sathan from his holds within his soule, whereas hee cannot but be much intangled and encumbred, that allowes himselfe in the secret entertainment of contemplatiue wickednesse; he must watch his heart, and striue for inward purity, Prou. 4. 23.