A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 1
CAP. I.
That the duties of a godly life ought daily and conſtantly to be performed, and not by fits and ſpurts onelyonly.
§. Sect. 1 That the duties contained in the former Booke, are to be performed daily and conſtantly vponupon eueryevery fit occaſion.
AND thus hauehave wee intreated of the duties which are to bee performed of all thoſe who deſire to leade a godly and Chriſtian life. Now we are to ſhew how all theſe duties of piety, righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety, are to be daily and continually exerciſed of vsus, ſo farre foorth as our callings and occaſions, meanes and opportunity will ſuffer and inable vsus. Neither is it poſſible that all theſe duties ſhould be performed by eueryevery man, ſeeing diuers of them are appropriate to diuers perſons, ſexes, and callings; in which reſpect, the ſubiect is not tied to performe the duties of the Prince, nor the Prince of the ſubiect; the husband of the wife, nor the wife of the husband, &c. nor yet that all duties, common to all Chriſtians, ſhould be performed eueryevery day, ſeeing many times we want fit obiects to exerciſe them vponupon, as alſo conuenient time and leaſure, ability and opportunity. But this is required of vsus, that at no time we commit any thing againſt the holy Law of God, or thinke that any time, company, or other circumſtance, can make ſinne ſeaſonable; nor yet omit any of the former duties, when God requireth them at our hands, giuing vsus fit obiects, occaſions, meanes, and ability to performe them: And that not onelyonly ſome ſpare time bee allotted to theſe Chriſtian duties, taking liberty to ſpend the remainder of our dayes after our owne ſinfull luſts, or in the vnlawfull and baſe ſeruice of the world, and the prince thereof, for the worthleſſe hire of earthly vanities; but we muſt bee wholly taken vp of them, and bee ſtill exerciſed in the practice of ſome one or other of them, as ſhall be moſt conuenient, and will beſt ſort with the aduancing of the glory of God, and the ſpirituall and temporall good of our ſelues and our neighbours, in reſpect of meanes and occaſions offered vntounto vsus. Neither muſt we thinke it ſufficient vntounto a godly life to reſerue his Sabbaths for Gods ſeruice, and ſpend the reſt of the weeke in the ſeruice of the world and our owne luſts; nor that we ſerue him in ſome things, and theſe in others; nor on ſome other dayes beſides the Sabbath, or ſome part onelyonly of eueryevery day, reſeruing the reſt to liue as we liſt. But wee muſt conſtantly and continually, in eueryevery thing, and at eueryevery time, performe ſeruice vntounto God in all our actions, and throughout our whole courſe and conuerſation; not onelyonly in abſtaining from all ſinne which he hath forbidden, but alſo in performing of ſome Chriſtian duty of holineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety, which he hath commanded, or in vſing the meanes whereby wee may be inabled vntounto them. Neither is God alone ſerued, when we performe ſome religious act, as praying, hearing the Word, ſinging Pſalmes, or ſome eminent workes of charity and ſobriety, but alſo in the meaneſt duties of the baſeſt calling, yea euen in our eating and drinking, lawfull ſports and recreations, when as wee doe them in faith, which not onelyonly aſſureth vsus that theſe actions are commanded 1. Cor. 10. 31.of God and warranted by his Word, but that we and our workes are accepted of him; and ſo inableth vsus to doe them with cheerefulneſſe and delight, as being not chiefly the ſeruice of men but of God. And alſo when in doing theſe our ordinary buſineſſes which belong to our callings, wee doe repoſe our truſt and affiance in God, that hee will bleſſe vsus in them, and giuegive them ſuch ſucceſſe, as ſhall be moſt for his glory and our good; and inioy the fruit and benefit of them, as bleſſings ſent from God with praiſe and thankeſgiuing. And when as in them we hauehave an eye and due reſpect to God, ſeeking in them chiefly his glory, and doing them in louelove and obedience to his Commandements; and not for neceſſity only, praiſe or profit, feare of puniſhment, or hope of reward, which though we may reſpect ſecondarily and in ſome degree, in the ordinary actions of our liues, yet not firſt and principally, if we would be accounted to doe God ſeruice in them. And in the next place, to our owne and our neighbours mutuall good, eſpecially the inriching of vsus with ſpirituall graces, and the euerlaſting ſaluation of their and our owne ſoules.
§. Sect. 2 That no time is exempted from Gods ſeruice, prooued firſt by teſtimonies of Scripture.
In which generall ſenſe if we take the ſeruice of God, and thus largely with theſe references, vnderſtand the Chriſtian duties of a godly life, then is there no day, houre, or minute, wherein we are not to bee exerciſed in ſome of them. And this appeareth both by teſtimonies of Scriptures and firme reaſons. The Scriptures require that our whole liues be ſpent in the ſeruice of God, and that we daily performe vntounto him the duties of holineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety. So the Apoſtle would hauehave vsus to walke daily, according as God hath directed vsus, and make his Word the rule of our conuerſation, from which we muſt neuer ſwarue, neither on the right Gal. 6. 16. Pſal. 119. 9. Ioſ. 1. 7.hand nor on the left; and to keepe a continuall watch ouer our ſelues, leſt there be at any time in any of vsus an euill heart of vnbeliefe, in departing from the Deut. 5. 32. Heb. 3. 12, 13.liuing God; and to exhort one another daily, whilſt it is called to day, leſt any of vsus ſhould be hardened through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne. The Apoſtle Peter perſwadeth vsus to paſſe the whole time of our ſoiourning heere in the 1. Pet. 1. 17. Pro. 28. 14.feare of God, and not ſome part of it onelyonly, which we can beſt ſpare, and that we liue no longer, the reſt of our time in the fleſh, according to the luſts of 1. Pet. 4. 2.men, but the will of God, ſeeing the time paſt of our liues may be enough, yea farre too much, to hauehave walked and wrought after the will of the Gentiles. The Tit. 2. 11, 12.grace of God appearing, hath taught vsus to deny all vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts, and to liue ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly, whileſt wee continue in this preſent world. And therefore hath the Lord redeemed vsus, that being deliuered out Luk. 1. 74, 75.of the hands of our enemies, we might ſerue him without feare, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him, all the dayes of our life. Of which, we hauehave alſo examples in the Scriptures, in the Saints and ſeruants of God, who after their conuerſion, paſſed their whole time in his feare, and ſpent their ſtrength, in doing vntounto him continuall ſeruice. So Enoch is ſaid to hauehave walked Gen. 5. 22.with God, that is, in the whole courſe of his pilgrimage to hauehave kept him in his ſight, and to hauehave carried himſelfe in all his actions as in his preſence, that he might be accepted of him. And Dauid, as he maketh it a marke of a bleſſed man, to meditate and exerciſe himſelfe in the Law of Pſal. 1. 1, 2.God day and night, ſo doth he in many places ſhew that it was his owne practice. My mouth (ſaith he) ſhall ſhew foorth thy righteouſneſſe and thy Pſal. 71. 15. Pſal. 55. 17. Pſa. 119. 97, 11…. & 145. 2. Act. 26. 7. & 2. 46.ſaluation all the day, for I know not the numbers thereof. Euening, and morning, and at noone, will I pray and cry aloud. O how louelove I thy Law! it is my meditation all the day. I hauehave inclined my heart to performe thy Statutes alway, euen vntounto the end. EueryEvery day will I bleſſe thee, and will praiſe thy name for euer and euer. So the Apoſtle ſaith of the whole Church of the Iewes, that they did inſtantly ſerue God day night: and particularly of himſelfe, that it was Act. 24. 16.his continuall exerciſe to hauehave alwayes a good conſcience, voide of offence towards God and towards men. But the beſt preſident of all for our imitation, is our Sauiour Chriſt, who ſpent his whole time in doing the workes of him that ſent him, in the day time preaching and doing miracles and workes of merciemercy, that he might bring ſaluation vntounto the loſt ſheepe of the houſe of Iſrael, and in the night ſequeſtring himſelfe for prayer & meditation in the mount of Oliues. Secondly, God hath giuen his Law, not that we ſhould ſometimes obſerue his Commandements, and ſometimes breake them, but that we might obſerue them daily and continually, in all things and at all times; and that it might ſerue as a rule and ſquire, according vntounto Pſal. 119. 9.which we are to frame our whole liues, and eueryevery particular action. For there he preſcribeth duties to be performed at all times; on his Sabbath, and on the ſixe dayes beſides, the generall duties which belong to all, and thoſe that reſpect vsus in our particular callings; the duties of piety, whereby we offer vntounto him immediate ſeruice; and of righteouſneſſe and ſobrietie, whereby we ſerue him mediately, in doing the duties which hee hath commanded towards our neighbours and our ſelues, becauſe in doing them, we obey him. Whereby it appeareth, that there ought to bee no time nor any action of our liues exempted from Gods ſeruice, ſeeing hee hath giuen vsus his Law, to ſerue for our direction at all times and in all things. Finally, the Word of God giueth vntounto vsus directions and rules, according to which wee are to frame our whole liues, both in reſpect of perſons and callings, as the duties of ſuperiours and inferiours, fathers and Ioſ. 1. 8. 1. Tim. 2. 1.children, magiſtrates and people, domeſticall and politicall, towards God, themſelues, and one another; and alſo in reſpect of eueryevery part of the day, for the well beginning, continuing, and ending of it, and of all ſtates and conditions, whether we be merry and cheerefull, or ſad and ſorrowfull, in ſickneſſe or in health, in poore or rich eſtate, proſperity or aduerſity; to Iam. 5. 13. 1. Theſ. 5. 16, 17, 18. 1. Cor. 10. 31. Iam. 1. 15. Luk. 9. 23. Deut. 4. 30. Pſal. 50. 15.ſhew vntounto vsus that there is no time or ſtate, wherein any man is left to his owne liberty to liue as he liſt, but that continually and in all conditions, eueryevery man is bound to conforme his life in eueryevery particular action, according to Gods reuealed will. To which end, wee are inioyned at all times to meditate and ſpeake of Gods Law and Commandements, to hauehave them in our hearts, to teach them vntounto our children, at home and abroad, at our lying downe, and at our riſing vp, and to binde them for a ſigne vponupon our Deut. 6. 8.hands, and as frontlets betweene our eyes. And ſo the Wiſeman commandeth, that we binde them continually vponupon our hearts, and tye them about Pro. 6. 21, 22.our neckes; becauſe when we goe, it ſhall leade vsus, when we ſleepe, it ſhall keepe vsus, and when we awake, it ſhall talke with vsus; the Law being ſuch a lampe and light, as is ſufficient to guide and direct vsus in all our wayes.Pſal. 119. 105.
§. Sect. 3 Diuers reaſons proouing the neceſſity of the daily exerciſe of a godly life.
Secondly, this daily practice of all Chriſtian duties, in the whole courſe of our liues, and in eueryevery particular action of them, may be inforced with theſe reaſons; firſt, becauſe the Lord hath created and redeemed, and doth continually preſerue vsus to this end, that we ſhould ſpend our whole liues in his ſeruice, by performing the duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe; and not ſome part onelyonly, reſeruing the reſt for the ſeruice of the world, and the ſatisfying of our carnall luſts. Secondly, he giueth vntounto vsus the continuall wages of his bleſſings and benefits for the preſent, and hath promiſed to giuegive vntounto vsus the euerlaſting reward of heauenly happineſſe in the life to come, not that we ſhould doe our owne wills and workes, much leſſe of his profeſſed enemies, but that wee approoue our ſelues and our ſeruice vntounto him in all things, who hath giuen vntounto vsus this rich wages; and chiefly reſpect his glory in whatſoeuer we doe, either in his immediate ſeruice, or in performing the duties which he hath commanded vsus towards our neighbours and our owne perſons; ſeeing wee are bought at an high 1. Cor. 6. 20. Rom. 12. 1.price, that we might no longer be our owne, but his, and glorifie him both in our ſoules and body, by offering vntounto him that ſeruice which he requireth. Thirdly, ſeeing it is the beſt wiſedome to imploy all and eueryevery of our actions to the beſt purpoſe, and no time is ſo well imployed as in Gods ſeruice, whether we reſpect God our chiefe Goodneſſe, to whoſe glory all Matth. 5. 16. 2. Pet. 1. 10.ſhould tend, as vntounto their ſupreme end, or our owne ſaluation, which by this and no other meanes can be aſſured vntounto vsus; and contrariwiſe, the greateſt folly to ſpend our liues or any part of them in vaine, to no purpoſe or profit, as all that time is, which is not taken vp in Gods ſeruice, by performing ſome duty of piety, righteouſneſſe, or ſobriety, ſeeing thoſe maine ends, at which we ought in all things to aime, namely, Gods glory in our owne ſaluation, are not hereby aduanced and furthered, but croſſed and hindred. Fourthly, to be daily exerciſed in Chriſtian duties, is the beſt meanes to keepe our ſoules in good plight and ſtate, by nouriſhing in them all ſauing graces; for as it is not enough to keepe our bodies in a good caſe and habitude, that we preſerue the vigour and ſtrength of them, by ſeaſonable and conuenient foode, vnleſſe wee alſo digeſt it, and confirme our ſtrength by fit exerciſe; ſo for the preſeruing of our ſoules in good ſtate, it is not ſufficient that we nouriſh Gods graces in vsus, by hearing the Word, and feeding on this ſpirituall Manna, vnleſſe wee daily exerciſe them in the performance of all Chriſtian duties. And as it is the beſt meanes to preſerue our ſoules in health, when they are well, ſo alſo to recouer them, when through ſurfets in ſinne, it declineth and is impaired; whereas if we hauehave onelyonly ſome generall purpoſes of liuing Chriſtianly, or performe theſe duties but by fits and ſtarts; wee ſhall eaſily fall into ſpirituall conſumptions of grace, and dangerous ſickneſſes of ſinne before we be aware, and when they hauehave by neglect and cuſtomable continuing in them taken faſt hold of vsus, wee ſhall either not recouer, or at leaſt, with great difficultie.
§. Sect. 4 The many and great dangers which follow the neglect of this daily exerciſe.
Fifthly, we may bee mooued to this daily and continuall exerciſe, by conſideration of the many and great dangers which doe accompany the neglect of it; firſt, becauſe we ſhall mooue the Lord to withdraw from vsus his graces, when as we are ſecure & ſlothfull in the exerciſe of them. For he giueth vntounto vsus theſe ſpirituall Talents, not that we ſhould waſtefully miſſpend them, or idlely tye them vp (as it were) in a napkin, and caſt them in a corner, where they doe no good; but that we ſhould by imploying, improoue them to the glory of our Maſter, and good of our ſelues and our fellow-ſeruants; which when we neglect to doe, he will take them from vsus, and giuegive them vntounto others, who will vſe them to more purpoſe and profit. And thus Dauid growing ſecure, and beginning through ſloth to 2. Sam. 11. 2.remit ſomething of his ſpirituall exerciſes, in which he had beene formerly zealous, was left vntounto himſelfe to fall into tentation, God withdrawing the aſſiſtance of his grace and holy Spirit, and ſo was ouertaken of foule and groſſe ſinnes. Secondly, without this daily exerciſe wee ſhall ſoone fall off from all power of godlineſſe, and grow by degrees from bad to worſe, till there be no prints of goodneſſe remaining in vsus. For our courſe and proceedings in piety is no naturall motion, but againſt the current and ſtreame, winde and tide of our corruption; and therefore we muſt at no time intermit our labour, for ſo we ſhall in ſhort time be carried further backe, then we can recouer in a great ſpace and with much labour; but we muſt be in continuall exerciſe, and (as it were) with vnwearied diligence ply the oare, vntill by death we arriue at the hauen of happineſſe. Our hearts, like the plummets of a clocke, draw vsus with the waight of their corruption downeward, till they pitch themſelues and reſt vponupon earthly vanities, vnleſſe eueryevery day, yea many times a day, we pull them vp, and giuegive ſpirituall motion vntounto them by theſe Chriſtian exerciſes. Thirdly, ſinne is ſo wily and deceitfull, that if we ceaſe from the duties of a Chriſtian life, and intermit the keeping of a ſtraight watch ouer our ſelues and actions, it will ſoone ſteale vponupon vsus, and fortifie it ſelfe againſt all vertue and goodneſſe. For though at the firſt it ſeemeth content, that we ſhould but for a little ſpace diſplace good duties, and giuegive but a little way for a ſmall while to the pleaſures of it, yet it will increaſe in ſtrength, comming to liue (as it were) in its old home and proper element, and hardly leaue its hold, or giuegive way to the re-entry of thoſe vertues and Chriſtian duties which it formerly expelled. In which regard we ſhall be bleſſed, if fearing Pro. 28. 14.alwayes, we ſtand continually vponupon our watch, and not onelyonly keepe our Matth. 26. 41. 2. Tim. 4. 5. Heb. 3. 13.ſoules ſtrongly manned with ſauing graces, but take care that they may be daily trained and exerciſed in all Chriſtian duties, that ſo we may not be beguiled and hardned through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne. Laſtly, there is no leſſe danger from outward enemies, the world and the deuill, if we neglect the daily exerciſe of a godly life. For the world, if it once finde our hearts Dina-like, ſtraying from God, will eaſily rauiſh and defile them with her filthy pleaſures; and when we hauehave beene at ſome time inticed to accompany her fauourites in the delights of ſinne, wee ſhall hardly get out of their imbracements, nor purge our ſelues from that pollution Iob 1. 7.wherewith they hauehave tainted vsus. The deuill alſo like a malicious enemy 1. Pet. 5 8.walketh about continually, and as a roaring Lyon ſeeketh to deuoure vsus; and if he finde vsus at any time cleane ſwept of Gods graces, and garniſhed Matth. 12. 44.with the helliſh ornaments of vices and ſinne, he will enter into vsus, and taking poſſeſſion, reſerue vsus for his owne vſe. And therefore it behoueth vsus with like diligence to preuent his wiles and malice, by keeping our ſoules continually furniſhed with Gods graces, and our ſelues exerciſed in all Chriſtian duties, that ſo we may neuer be at leaſure to admit of his tentations. And ſeeing this euill one is ready, euen whilſt we ſleepe, to ſow his tares of tentations in our hearts (a ground too fruitfull for ſuch a graine) Matth. 13. 25.our care muſt be with like diligence, to caſt out this helliſh ſeede, that it take no rooting, or if it hauehave, to weede them out as ſoone as they hauehave ſprouted vp, and doe outwardly appeare in our words or actions.
§. Sect. 5 Another reaſon taken from our calling and profeſſion.
The ſixth reaſon to mooue vsus to this daily exerciſe, is taken from our calling and profeſſion; for wee are Citizens of heauen, and pilgrims on Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 2.earth, and therefore though our bodies are here beneath, yet our conuerſation ſhould be in heauen, and our minds and affections ſhould be on things aboue; our ſpeeches ſhould bee of thoſe things that concerne our owne countrey, and in all our actions we muſt indeuour to further our iourney towards our heauenly home; neither muſt we one while goe forward, and another while backward, or idlely ſit ſtill; we muſt not one part of the day goe in the right way, and in another part erre and wander in the by-wayes of ſinne, but we muſt be ſtill going forward and holding the right roade, neuer turning out of it, till we come to our heauenly home. We are called to be Gods ſeruants, and therefore we muſt not deuide our ſeruice betweene him and the world, ſeeing it is fit wee doe onelyonly his worke from whom we receiue ſo liberall wages; neither can we ſerue God and Mammon which are of ſo contrary a diſpoſition: but whilſt wee incline to the Mat. 6. …4.one, we muſt of neceſſity neglect the other, as our Sauiour hath taught vsus. We are called to be his Souldiers, and therefore we muſt onelyonly fight his battels, and not ſpend ſome part of our life and ſtrength in his ſeruice, and ſome part in fighting on the deuils ſide, by quenching the good motions of Gods Spirit, and contrary to the light of our owne knowledge and conſciences, neglect holy duties, and runne on in ſuch courſes as are diſpleaſing vntounto God. We are called to be Gods labourers; and therefore we muſt intend our buſineſſe, that it may proſper in our hand, and not vndoe in one day, that which we hauehave done in another. We muſt not, like vnskilfull husbandmen, ſometimes plant, and ſoone after plucke them vp, one while ſow good ſeed, & another while tares; nor like fooliſh builders, pull down one day, what we hauehave ſet vp in another; nor like vnfaithful Watchmen, one while ſit in the watch Tower, and ſoone after ſlothfully ſleep, and giuegive ouer our charge; nor like careleſſe Pilots, guide the ſhip one day toward the wiſhed hauen, and the next, through ſloth and negligence, let it roame whither the winde and tide will carry it, till it run vponupon the ſands, & ſplit it ſelfe againſt the rocks: But we muſt in the whole & daily courſe of our liues, giuegive all diligence to make our calling and election ſure, by holding 2. Pet. 1. 10.a conſtant and continuall courſe, in the Chriſtian exerciſes of a godly life.
§. Sect. 6 The laſt reaſon taken from the vncertainty of our liues.
The laſt reaſon to mooue vsus vntounto the continuall and daily exerciſe of Chriſtian duties, is taken from the vncertainty of our liues, and Mat. 24. 46.when by death wee ſhall bee called to Iudgement; For ſeeing wee know not at what time our Maſter will come, it ſhall bee our wiſedome to keepe our accounts alwayes euen, that wee may be ready at all times without feare, to yeeld vp our reckonings; and to carry our ſelues continually, like wiſe and faithfull ſeruants, in the exerciſe of holy, righteous, and Chriſtian duties, that ſo we may bee bleſſed, when our Lord comming vponupon the ſudden, ſhall finde vsus ſo doing: and becauſe we are vncertaine when the Bridegroome will come; let vsus, like the fiue wiſe Virgins, Mat. 25. 1, 2.hauehave our lampes and oyle of faith, and lights of a godly life alwayes prepared, that ſo we may enter with him into the marriage Chamber of heauenly happineſſe, and there eternally ſolace our ſelues in the fruition of his louelove; leſt comming vponupon the ſudden, in an houre that wee thinke not, Mat. 24. 44.and taking vsus vnprouided, without the lampe of profeſſion, or the oyle of grace, or the light of an holy conuerſation; either hunting after worldly profits and preferments by vnlawfull meanes, or with immoderate deſires, or wallowing our ſelues in fleſhly delights, he ſhut vsus out of dores, and vtterly exclude vsus from hauing any communion, or intereſt with him in thoſe heauenly ioyes.