The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 4
§. IIII. Of the manner of wel-doing.
THe third generall concernes3 The enl…uing qualities of all holy duties. the manner of wel doing, that the good thing we doe, may be done well, and acceptably: theſe are to be receiued with all poſſible obſeruation, for they doe not onelyonly apparell all our works of godlineſſe in the ſight of men, but giuegive the inward forme, and inliuing quality to the whole body of thoſe duties in the ſight of God, and are the characteriſticall differences to diſtinguiſh the godly from the wicked in theſe workes, who may alſo doe many of them for the matter: that you may not therefore preſent to God, the carcaſe of a duty, without the ſoule, let all be done in this manner.
In all duties, ſee
In generall, that thou offer vp ſoule and body to God, a whole burnt offering, and yeeld thy ſelfe vntounto him, as one aliue from the dead; and thy members, weapons of righteouſneſſe to holineſſe; conſecrating thy ſelfe as a couenant ſeruant to righteouſneſſe, euen as euer thou didſt, or any man doth yeeld himſelfe, and his members, as …eruants to vncleanneſſe, and to inquity vntounto iniquity; ſo ſhalt thou hauehave thy fruit vntounto holineſſe, Rom. 12. 1. and 6. 13. 19. 22.
In ſpeciall: Looke you doe all
1 With vprightneſſe, Pſal. 18. 22. Euen with a perfect heart, 1 Chro. 28. 9. which is expreſſed,
1 In the ſincerity and truth of the heart: this is that vnleauened bread, wherewith we muſt all our daies, keepe our Chriſtian Paſſeouer, 1 Cor. 5. 8. The contrary to this, is hypocriſie, and guile of ſpirit, when men aduance a profeſſion of religion for … nall ends, that they might ſeeme onelyonly: but God hates a powerleſſe ſhew; let thy holineſſe, bee holineſſe of truth. Epheſ. 4. 24.
2 In giuing the whole of the heart, without diuiſion, entirely cleauing to all the workes of righteouſneſſe, without halting, without expoſtulating.
3 In doing all to the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10. 31.
4 In vniuerſall obedience To all Gods commandements, not putting any of his ſtatutes from vsus, nor hiding our eyes from them. Say not in the words of Lot, is it not a little one? nor in the words of Naaman the Syrian, onelyonly in this, the Lord be mercifull vntounto mee: but without ifs, and ands, reſeruations, and exceptions, giuegive thy ſelfe with Dauid, to doe all the wils of God, and reſolueAct. 3. 22. vponupon the forſaking of all ſinne.
At all times, in aduerſity, as well as proſperity.
In all places, obeying abſent from their Miniſters, as well as preſent.
In eueryevery company, as well as in any company, Phil. 2. 12.
2 With ioy and cheerefulneſſe, accounting ourſelues happy, when the Lord openeth a dore, and giueth any ſtrength for holy duties: louing to be his ſeruants, Eſa. 56. 6. Lex voluntarios quaerit, Ambroſ. in Pſal. 1. Gods people are all voluntaries, they caſt off thoſe foule vices of procraſtination and ſecurity.
3 With feruency, not ſlothfull in buſineſſe, but glowing in ſpirit, ſeruing the Lord, Rom. 12. 11. doing all we put our hands vntounto, with all our might, Eccleſ. 9. 10. with all diligence, 2 Cor. 8. 7. We muſt be all zealots, for curſed is hee that doth the Lords worke negligently, Ier. 48. 10.
4 With feare, 1 Pet. 1. 17. Bleſſed is the man that feareth alway, Pro. 28. 14. There is a feare to be expreſſed in all parts of holy life, and it is that reuerence, tenderneſſe, modeſty, and carefulneſſe, ſhould be in all our waies, fearing Gods preſence, who ſhould be euer ſet before vsus, be… ring reuerence to the Angels, to Gods Miniſt…rs; fearing our deceitfull hearts, and the off…nce of the godly, the infection of the wicked, and the ruine of thoſe whom we might helpe, fearing leſt the day of Chriſt ſhould come vponupon vsus before we are prepared: and thus working out our ſaluation with feare and trembling; all wretchleſneſſe, rudeneſſe, raſhneſſe, precipitation, conceitedneſſe and pride laid aſide, with all hardning of the heart in euil; no, no, feare, and depart from euill.
5 With faith, for what ſo is not of faith, is ſinne, Rom. 14. This takes Gods will for the warrant of our actions, raiſeth vp the heart to beleeue Gods aſſiſtance, truſts God for the ſucce…e, reſts on the promiſe for acceptation, makes vsus neglect the ſcornes and oppoſitions of the world, keepes vsus from being iuſt ouermuch conceiting too highly of our ſelues for what wee doe, or wicked ouer much, in thinking too vilely of Gods worke in vsus, Eccleſ. 7. This cuts off all carnall feares, as the feare of men and the ſuperſtitious feare of Gods diſpleaſure for breaking mens traditions: or the commandements of our owne hearts.
6 With ſimplicity and godly pureneſſe, 2 Cor. 1. 12. & 11. 3. expreſſed in theſe things.
1 A faithfull retaining of the pure word of God without mixtures, looking onelyonly thereto for the formes of holineſſe and happineſſe; no way lending eare to falſe teachers, that would impoſe more vponupon vsus, then God requires: as doe the Papiſts.
2 An ignorance of the depths of Sathan: ſimple concerning euill, Rom. 16. 19. not skilled in wily diſtinctions & excuſes, to maintaine ſinne.
3 Godly integrity oppoſed to fleſhly wiſedome and fraud, which is, when in plaineneſſe of heart wee deſire to doe what God requires, though it bee neuer ſo much derided in the world:Ambroſ. in locum. without man-pleaſing, or reſpect to our owne lucre.
4 The louelove of holineſſe, for it ſelfe, and the hatred of ſinne as it is ſinne.
5 The deſire to be what euer wee are, in the ſight of God, makingCaluin in locum. his allowance our glory.
7 Preciſeneſſe circumſpectneſſe, accurateneſſe, Eph. 5. 15. foreign Making conſcience of leſſer ſinnes, as well as greater, auoiding the appearance of euill, and the occaſions, as well as the euill it ſelf, obſeruing the circumſtances of time, …ace, and perſons, in doing duty.
8 Meekeneſſe of wiſedome, Iam. 3. 13. which conſiſteth in theſe particulars.
1 A calmeneſſe of heart, from turbulent and violent paſſions; out of which ſprings gentleneſſe of carriage, ſo th…t a man is not eaſily prouoked.
2 A ſenſe of our owne vileneſſe, which maketh vsus not wiſe in our ſelues, and to doe good in the deepe apprehenſion of our vnworthineſſe to doe any ſeruice to God …r man, and to auoid bit… ſ…ifes, and enuyings, Iam. 3.
3 Eaſineſſ… to be intreated, Iam. 3. 17.
4 Corrigibleneſſe & teachableneſſe.
9 A Conuerſation in heauen, which is ſo to be in the world, as to let our hearts runne ſtill vponupon God, and his kingdome and righteouſneſſe: hauing God in all our thoughts and waies, and directing all our actions, ſome way to further our holineſſe here, and hope of happineſſe to come, Phil. 3. 20. Earthly men may hauehave earthly minds, but heauenly mindedneſſe beſeemes Chriſtian men, whoſe God, Sauiour, and happineſſe, is aboue.
10 Patient continuance, and perſeuerance in wel-doing.
Abounding in good workes, filled with the fruit of all righteouſneſſe.
Perfecting holineſſe, and hauing our works full before God.
Increaſing ſo, that our laſt workes may be better then our firſt.
Doing all without wearineſſe, Gal. 69.
Without diſmayedneſſe and faintings, Heb. 12. 12. 13.
Notwithſtanding all impediments.
That ſo we may eſcape fearefull Apoſtacie, both inward, that our hearts caſt not off the care of godlineſſe, the feare to offend, nor reſtraine prayer.
Outward, that we relapſe not to the violent co…rſes of the world, nor liue in groſſe ſinne.
Both totall, in falling from all godlineſſe; partiall, in falling from ſome ordinances of God, or to ſome tranſgreſſions.
Such are the generall precepts of an holy life.