The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 3
§. III. Of the helpes of an holy life.2 The gates of righteouſneſſe.
THere are certaine helpes to an holy life, which are as the very Gates and doores of righteouſneſſe: they lead or open fully vponupon the way euerlaſting, come and ſee: make entrance and know it, theſe are they;
1 To redeeme the time, a precious1 Redemption of time. commodity eſteemed ſo by the wiſe marchant. Epheſ. 5. 16. ſometimes thou muſt buy it out:1 Cor. 7 35 2 Tim. 2 4. from thy ſinful works euer more, from thy recreations and pleaſurable works moſt an end, and from the workes of thy calling, both abſtaining from the thing… that may intangle and interrupt thee, and ſettling and ordering ſo thy outward eſtate that ſom time be gained for the ſeruice of God ſometimes thou muſt exchange Neuer ſeeke to ſell it.time with thy worldly imployments as the occaſions of proſpering thy ſpirituall eſtate are …ff red, deſiring to know, obſerue and ſerue the ſeaſons ofEſa. 55. 6. Amos 5. 14 grace, and the opportunities of weldoing, ſometimes thou muſt contract with the preſent time for recouery of loſt time that is paſt, alwaies thou muſt vſe it well and fill it with profitable imployment:Pro. 6. 6. this is to ſeeke good: this is to haſte to righteouſneſſe. This is to prouide for a winter: this is to prepare to ſerue the Lord without distraction. All ye of this laſt age, heare this, for the dayes are euill.
2 To learne the knowledge of 2 The knowledge of the holy. Eph. 5. 15. 17. Pro. 10. 14 Iob 11. 12. Eſa. 1. 3.the holy, to vnderſtand what the will of the Lord is concerning him. Epheſ 5. 17. This eueryevery man muſt hauehave, & lay vp if he would walke as a wiſe man, elſe, a… he is borne like the wilde aſſe colt; So he may become more bruitiſh then oxe or aſſe, that thou maiſt thriue in knowledge how to do well: thou muſt
1 Search the Scriptures daily, muſing and meditating vponupon them Pſal. 1. 2. that they may dwell richly in thee Col. 3. 16. Which word alone giueth light to our feet Eſa. 8. 20. Pſal. 119. Life to our dead h…rts, and power to aſſiſt vsus to walke.
2 Be ſwift to heare Iam. 1. 19. not neglecting opportunities, nor careleſſe in the duety, while thou attendeſt on the publike miniſtery, eſpecially on the Lords day, the day which God hath Hallowed to thy good, thy market-day for thy ſoule.
3 In both, be wiſe for thy ſelfe Pro. 9. 12. take hold of thoſe things that fit thine owne particular. For when we heare what we are to doe, wee ſhall finde ſomethings abutt full vponupon our ſelues, ſomethings we are extreame faulty in, ſomethings would maruailouſly encourage vsus in righteouſneſſe, now let thy wiſedome appeare in marking thoſe things chiefely, retaine them though all the reſt runne out.
4 Auoide vaine iangling andPro. 4. 26. Ier. 31. 32. keepe cloſe to profitable knowledge Tit. 3. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 23. 1. Tim. 6. 20. Let thine eyes looke right on, and let thine eye lids looke ſtreight before thee. Beware of going about, leſt thou heare from God, the terme of Backſlider.
5 Goe vntounto the wiſe and aske the way to Sion with thy face thitherward. Pro. 15. 12. Ier. 50. 5. Stifle not but propound thy doubts. Gods people are an inquiſitiue people.
6 Pray, teach me thy way O Lord. Pſal. 27. 11. with a ſpeciall lifting vp of heart, ſeeke this way of him. Hee is the God which teacheth thee to profit, and leadeth thee by the way that thou ſhouldeſt goe. Pſal. 143. 10. Eſa. 48. 17.3 The ſociety of the righteous.
3 To abandon the needleſſe ſociety of wicked and prophane perſons, and get into the way and company of good men, that make conſcience of their waies; a rule of ſpeciall note. Away from me ye wicked, for I will keepe the commandements of my God. Pſal. 119. 115. Pro. 4. 14. Pſal. 1. 1. Rowles of ſuch whoſe familiarity thou muſt eſchew are giuen in 1 Cor. 5. 10. 11. 2 Tim. 3. 1. 2. 4. 5 Pro. 23. 19. 20. 21. be enwrapped in their ſociety, thou ſhalt be infected with their euill; and then what winding out of their deſtruction? But to ſort thy ſelfe with diſcreet and ſincere Chriſtians, hath in it vnknown gaine. Pro. 2. 20. their path is as the ſhining light, that ſhineth more and more vntounto the perfect day. Pro. 4. 18.
4 To ſhunne the falſe and4 True guides. take to true guides and rules. Theſe are falſe guides of liuing. 1. the example of the multitude. Exod. 23. entertaine Ioſhuahs reſolution,Ioſh. 24. 15: 1 Cor. 9. 24. I and my houſe will ſerue the Lord, runne as if thou wert alone to obtaine, runne, though thou runne alone. 2. Great and learned men, if thou be a ſeruant forget not that thou art Chriſts freeman. Let no mans humor be thy guide in religion 1 Cor. 7. 23. 3 Fleſh and bloud, carnall reaſon, ſenſe, or carnall friends are not competent Iudges in diuine things, with them conſult thou not. Gal. 1. 16. 4 A falſe faith as the Turkes their Alcoran, the Papiſts, Popes Decrees. 5. Thy luſts, which hauehave a three fold fronte, the luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the eye, the pride of life. 1 Ioh. 2. 16.
Theſe are true guides and rules. 1 Gods word Gal. 6. Pſal. 119. 9. 2 The Holy example of the Godly Heb. 12. 1. Which will be like that cloud of the Lord to the trauellers in the Wilderneſſe of this world that walke in the day light of the holy precepts, the way of Gods people is diligently to be ſought. Ier. 12. 16. 3 A ſetled miniſtery, they a…e Starres in Chriſts right hand, they are the light of the world, the ſalt of the earth, obedience is charged vponupon vsus to thoſe that watch for our ſoules, their Directions in the Lord muſt be followed Heb. 13. 17. and their holy conuerſation is a Patterne giuen of God. Phil. 4 9.
5 To keepe the heart withall 5 The guard of the heart.diligence both in reſpect of ſecret hypocriſie & of the beginnings of ſinne. Pro. 4. 23. the iſſues of life come therout, if they be defiled with ſin or tainted with hypocriſie, ſuch muſt al the ſtreams be of neceſſity. Eye, eare, hand, and tongue, ſhall be ouerflowne with that polluted ſpring: abo… all keepings, keepe the fountaine cleare.
6 To repaire daily to the6 Triall of all our deeds. light of Gods word to ſee whether our deeds be wrought in God, or no, Ioh. 3. 21. O excellent rule, worthy the Sauiour, the light of the world.
7 To obſerue our owne defects,7 The obſeruation of our defects. and thinke on, with holy & earneſt couering, all thoſe gifts that are more excellent, 1 Cor. 12. vlt. He that would euer grow and goe forwards, (now not to goe forwards, is to goe backwards) muſt obſerue what is wanting, what is weake, what is out of the way, what is crooked, what corruptions preuaile, where Sathan gets moſt aduantage; that thoſe things may bee ſupplied, ſtrengthened, ſtraitened, ſubdued, preuented, and ſo the whole recouered, and wee preſſing on ſtill for the price of our high calling, to the marke, Phil. 3: 12. & 4. 8 9. Is there any thing true, honeſt, praiſe-worthy, of good report, louely, let that be thought of.
8 To keepe aliue the affections8 The preſeruation of our firſt louelove. of godlineſſe, leſt wee loſe our firſt louelove; bee daily mortifying thy corruptions, plowing vp thy fallow ground, circumciſing thine heart, that thou maiſt keep it euer low, tender, and thankefull in all things.
9 To auoid the ſnares which9 The auoidance of ſnares. catch moſt of Adams ſonnes, and fold them in a heap of euils, and weaken, if not deſtroy their vigor. VponUpon the bare diſcouery of them, your hearts ſhall acknowledge it.
1 Medling with others buſineſſe, 1 Theſ. 4. 11.
2 Deſire of ſuperfluities, as to haſte to be rich, 1 Tim. 6. 9. 10. Pro. 23. 4. & 28. 20.
3 The beholding of vanitie, Pſal. 119. 37.
4 The ſinnes of the time, which the world accounts but ſpots, Iam. 1. 27.
5 Carnall confidence, relying vponupon our wit, memory, praiſeworthy parts, dignity, vertues, and the like.
As if either power to doe good, or reaſon why God ſhould accept vsus, were found in any of theſe carnall things; whereas in this new-created world of regenerate men, Chriſt is all, and in all, Col. 3. 11.
6 Carnall feares which mightily beſlaue: The heart is no ſooner ſet within, to the deſires after wel-doing, but many a feare befals it: that he ſhall neu…r bee able to doe this duty, that God will not accept him and his worke. Such a man will deride, ſuch friends will frowne vponupon him: there is alſo a meere counterfeit of humility, which ſome delight in, becauſe it fauours much their lazy fleſh: preſſe to any duty, and they plead their deſires, and their louelove to it, and now they wiſh they could ſo doe, and what griefe it is to them, they faile therein, but they are fleſh and bloud, they dare not be ſo confident of their ſtrength, or, and in very deed, all is to ſaue their labour, and keepe their old ſinfull courſe, or at leaſt their former eaſie pace: yea, theſe feares are accompanied with vile miſtruſt of God, and ſtrange pleaes, that he is not ſo good to them, as to giuegive them that meaſure of grace, that power of reſolution, and thus ſticke not to charge God fooliſhly, yet he giueth to him that asketh, liberally, and reproacheth no man.
7 The worlds flatteries, commending thee in thy vanitie or exceſſe, chiefly if thou abound in this worlds goods, which will bring thee to two errors of the wicked.
1 Contempt of reproofe: 2 Deſpiſing of thine owne waies; auoid them, or thou ſhalt dye.
10 To retaine theſe Chriſtian10 The light of principles for practiſe. paradoxes to be held for practiſe, and to exclude all falſe principles, there is nothing found in the life, which is not according to ſome principle true or falſe in the vnderſtanding: expell the falſe by the light of the true, and then a ſingle eye will make thy body full of light. Take in therefore theſe lightſome truths.
1 A Chriſtian is neither1 Cor. 11. borne, nor borne-againe for himſelfe.
2 There is no ſinne ſo little,Mat. 5. 19. as not worthy the auoiding, euen as we woud be ſaued.
3 Imployment is a greater fauour from God, then wealth or high place without it.
4 The firſt place in dignityMat. 9. 34. ouer any, is the greateſt place of ſeruice vntounto all.
5 To ſuffer for Chriſts ſake,Heb. 11. 26 is greater riches, then all worldly wealth.
6 Affliction, yea, death is toIob 36. 21 be choſen before iniquity.
7 Death ought to be prouidedMat. 6. 32. for, before life: Chriſts kingdome and righteouſneſſe, before the neceſſaries of life; yea, this is the way to thriue with a bleſſing.
8 EueryEvery godly endeauour receiuethEph. 3. 20. ſome bleſſing, and bringeth forth ſome fruit, greater then man can hope for.
9 When any ſtorme of Gods wrath ariſeth, it is the onelyonly ſafe way to runne to the place whence the ſtorme commeth, euen to God for ſhelter; nature teacheth a man to flee from the tempeſt.
10 It is oſt times good, that it goe well with the euill, and ill with the good in this life.
11 A wicked man neuer goethEſa. 57. 21. vnpuniſhed, there is no peace to the wicked.
12 None ſhall euer pleaſeMat. 5. 47. Act. …6. 24. 2 Cor. 5. 13 Chriſt, till they appeare odde, ſingular, and ſtrange to the common ſort. A Chriſtian is not right, till he ſeeme to the world to be beſide himſelfe, foreign. What ſingular thing doe yee?
13 Spirituall motions may …e violent, and perpetuall.
14 The foundation of all eternallIer. 31. …8. 19. 20. ioyes, is laid in godly ſorrow for ſinne.Ioh. 16. 20. Mat. 5. 4. Pſal. 126. 5. 6.
15 The vniuſt death of Godly perſons, hath more comfort in it, then the iolly life of wicked men.
16 The righteous liueth not,Hab. 2. 4. where his faith giueth him not life:
17 What God can doe, that faith can doe: to the beleeuing, all things are poſſible.
18 A poyſonfull curſe is proſperityPſal. 69. 22 in wicked wayes.
19 That's thy good, which doth thee good.
20 It is holy wiſedome to feare, and not to deſire abundance.
21 We ſhould ſtudy more toMat. 26. 29 giuegive an account of our little, then how to make it more: for the improuing of what we hauehave, is the way to hauehave more giuen.
22 Sinne, and not affliction, argueth Gods abſence, and hindereth vsus in our way to heauen.
23 The infection of euill is much worſe then the act.
24 It is a madneſſe to runne away from puniſhment, and not from ſinne.
25 Pride and infidelity, hardenHeb. 11. 33. 4. and make men feareleſſe; onelyonly faith, truely valiant.
26 All houres are loſt, wherin we enioy not God.
27 Wee are guilty of all the euill we might hauehave hindred.
28 We muſt be as well, ready to ſuffer ill, as to doe good.
29 Remember the word of our Sauiour, it is better to giuegive, then to receiue.
30 Folly and wickedneſſe are inſeparable companions.
31 A wicked man deſerues ill of thoſe he neuer liued to ſee.
32 Good is not therefore good, becauſe it proſpers, but becauſe it is commanded. Euill is not therefore euill, becauſe it is puniſhed, but becauſe it is forbidden.
33 In good waies we cannot be too exact, too zealous, Mediocrity is not the forme of vertue, but conformity to the rule of Gods word, which ſaith it is good alwaies to be zealous in a good thing; and Iukewarmeneſſe is a loathſome temper, Gal. 4. 18. Reuel. 3. 18. And Chriſtians ſhould indeauour to abound more & more.
34 An euill intent alwaies makes the action euill.
Caſt out all falſe principles, ſuch as theſe.
1 A good meaning makes the action good; nay, then perſecutors had bin Saints, Ioh. 16. 2.
2 Religion is but a policy to keepe men in awe; nay▪ it brings life and immortality to light, 2 Tim. 1. 10.
3 Wee may repent time enough when age comme…h; nay, to day if you will heare his voyce, barden not your hearts, Heb. 3. 7.
4 That is good which is profitable;Gen. 37 26. 27. nay, then Iudas counſelled well to ſell Ioſeph, and Iudas the traitor did well to ſell Chriſt.
5 That which pleaſeth a man is lawfull; nay, to doe our pleaſure, makes all duties of deuotion, abhominable, Eſa. 66. 2. 3.
6 Doe what euer thou art able; nay, how can I doe this wickedneſſe, and ſinne against God? Gen▪ 39. 9.
7 It is lawfull to make thePro. 3. 27. beſt of our owne; nay, goods in thy hand are others due, when thy ability, and their neceſſity meet.
8 EueryEvery man for himſelfe, and God for vsus all; nav, Diues for himſelfe, and the Deuill for him, Luc. 16 19.
9 Thou canſt doe no iniury to him that is willing; nay, thy poore brother may ſue to thee carneſtly to borrow of thee vponupon vſe, yet maiſt thou not be to him as an Vſurer, Exod. 22. 25.
10 Thoughts are free; nay, waſh thine heart from wickedneſſe; how long ſhall thy euill thoughts lodge within thee? …er. 4. 14.
11 It is enough to hauehave a good heart to God; nay, thou muſt glorifie him in thy body, 1 Cor. 6. 20.
12 A yong Saint, an old Deuill; nay, a yong Saint, with Ioſeph, and a Father to Pharaoh, in age; a yong Saint with Moſes, and a God to Pharaoh, ere he dye, Gen. 37. 2. & 45. 8.
Thus hauehave I opened the gates of righteouſneſſe.