The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 22
§. XXII. Of the innocency of the hands.
The ordering of thy actions.HAuing thus cured and cared for the vices and vertues of ſpeech, looke next to thy actions, the innocency of thy hands, that thy righteous carriage may adorne thy Chriſtian profeſſion: and hereunto God hath directed by theſe rules.
1 GiueGive no euill example, but let the light of thy good workes ſhine before men: C…riſtians ought to be as lights in the world, harmeleſſe and blameleſſe, the ſonnes of God without …ebuke in the midſt of a crooked and peruerſe nation. Phil. 2. 15.
2 Be clothed with humility, 1 Pet. 5. 5. this wil hide your nakednes & ſhame from others: expreſſe it thus. 1. In giuing honor go one before another, not in taking honor: Rom: 12. 10. 2 Do nothing through ſtrife or vaine glory, but in lowlineſſe of mind let each eſteeme other better then himſelf, Phi. 2. 3. … Do all without murmurings and diſputings, not grudging at the eſta…es▪ conditio…s, wealth or o… our ſuperiors, equalls or inferiors: not ſnarl…ng, rawling▪ behauing our ſelues fr…wardly▪ to any Phil. 2. 14. but all patience gentleneſſe, curteſie, ſhewed to all and in all things. 4 Put not forth thy ſelf to ſtand in the place of great men, Pro. 25. 6. 3 Bow down thine eares and heare the words of the wiſe, Pro. 23. …7. Be ſwift to Numb 12. 3. yet was Moſes no ſheepe when the Glory of God l…y at the ſtake.heare, Iam. 1. 19.
4 Reſtraine and bridle thy paſſions in conuerſing, as the expreſſions of immoderate anger, feare, griefe, ioy; which ſhew the weakeneſſe of our diſpoſition. and lay vsus op…n to contempt A wiſe man couereth ſhame, when a foole is preſently knowen, meekeneſſe ſhould be ſought Zech. 2. 3. without which righteouſneſſe will hardly be found. This was Moſes his praiſe, the meek…ſt man vponupon the face of the earth.
5 Auoide all ſcornefull luſtiul & rudegeſtures, put not off Modeſty, and graui…y: …hey m…y be loſt in glances of the eye, nods of the head, teachings of the feet, touches of the hands kiſſes of the lips, embraces of the a…mes, dancings, ſtage playes▪ ſongs, talke, a…tire and geſture of the body, a ſtretched out necke, a mincing gate, and tinckling of the feet.
6 And that thou maieſt walke honeſtly as in the day; ſhun, as the proper workes of darkeneſſe 3 couple of Sinnes.
Rioting and Drunkenneſſe
Chambering and Wantonneſſe
Strife & Enuying. Rom. 13. 13
7 Looke to fidelity, not deceiuing the truſt of any committed to thee, the worthy praiſe of Gaius. Beloued thou doeſt faithfully whatſoeuer thou doest, to the brethren and to ſtrangers. 3 Iohn 5.
8 Seeke contentment with thy condition and ioy at thy neighbours proſperity aſmuch as at thine owne, as the top and perfection of thy duty towards thy neighbour, and in ſome kind the perfection of piety …owa…ds God 1 Tim. 6. 6. Rom 12. 15 This is a thing moſt vnknowne to our nature, to will and d…ſire whateuer we do deſire, with the good of others.
9 See that thou lawfully come by, and lawfully keepe thy goods and poſſeſſions: a right title is, or t…e firſt finding of things not poſſeſſed by any, nor that any hauehave right vntounto: or inheritance, or gift, or reward for labor, or Gods bleſſing on our labour, or bargaining without defrauding, a lawfull keeping is by thriftineſſe without couetouſneſſe: and by ſpending in neceſſaries without prodigalitie.
Thus of righteouſneſſe.