A Guide to Godliness, Book 3 · Chapter 2
CAP. II.
Of ſome ſpeciall duties of a godly life, which are to bee performed in our daily exerciſe: And firſt, of the renewing of our repentance.
§. Sect. 1 Of the daily renewing of our couenant with God, by the renewing of our faith and repentance.
BY the teſtimonies and reaſons before alledged, wee hauehave made it euident, that it is not ſufficient to ſerue God by fits and at ſometimes, neglecting his ſeruice, and ſeruing the world and our owne luſts at another; but that the daily exerciſe of a godly life, in the continuall performance of all Chriſtian duties, is moſt profitable and neceſſary. And now it remaineth that we giuegive ſome directions, for the well-performing of this daily exerciſe. To which end, wee are to know that theſe duties, wherein wee are daily to be exerciſed, are of two ſorts. Firſt, generall, which are not onelyonly eueryevery day neceſſarily to be in ſome degree and meaſure performed, but alſo to be obſerued in eueryevery part of the day, and in all the particular acts and exerciſes of it, as occaſion ſerueth. The ſecond more ſpeciall, and belonging more principally and properly vntounto the diuers parts and ſeuerall occaſions of eueryevery day. The former are more internall and ſpirituall betweene God and vsus, ſeruing to ſet our hearts in due frame, and to make them conſtant and reſolute to conſecrate our ſelues wholly to Gods ſeruice, and in all things to pleaſe him. The latter more externall for the moſt part, and viſible, which are the outward exerciſes proceeding from the other, and (as it were) the pleaſant fruits which ſpring from thoſe inward and hidden rootes. The firſt mayne duty, which ought to be of eueryevery Chriſtian daily and duly performed, is to confirme, and in ſome ſort to renew the Couenant of grace betweene God and vsus in Ieſus Chriſt, wherein God for his part doth of his free grace promiſe the remiſſion of all our ſinnes, his ſpirituall graces, his fauour and reconciliation, iuſtification and adoption, his holy Spirit with all ſpirituall and temporall gifts and graces in this world, and euerlaſting life and ſaluation in the world to come, in and for his Sonne Chriſt. And we for our part doe promiſe and couenant, that we will receiue and imbrace Chriſt with all theſe benefits by a liuely faith, and bring foorth the fruits thereof in hearty repentance and new obedience. The which Couenant, is the maine ground and foundation of all the good things we receiue from God in this life, and of all the ioy and comfort which wee take in them; and of our future hopes and happineſſe in the life to come. And therefore as Citizens doe chiefly looke to the preſeruation and eſtabliſhment of the grand Charter, that containeth all their priuiledges: And as Souldiers in time of a ſiege, doe eueryevery day looke vntounto their mayne fortifications and bulwarkes, and if they be any way ſhattered and ſhaken in the laſt aſſaults, doe with all care and diligence repaire and ſtrengthen them: So muſt wee who profeſſe our ſelues Citizens of the ſpirituall Sion and heauenly Ieruſalem, vſe all good meanes to ratifie this Charter, which is the chiefe aſſurance of all the good which we either now can hauehave, or heereafter expect; and ſeeing in the time of our ſpirituall warfare, Satan with his aſſiſtants ſeeke to ſhake and weaken this chiefe Tower of our ſtrength, with the engines and Canon ſhot of their tentations; therefore we muſt daily hauehave a ſpeciall eye to this our principall Bulwarke, and vſe continually all good meanes, whereby the breaches may be repaired and ſtrengthened againſt the next aſſault. And howſoeuer we are after a more principall manner to renew and confirme our Couenant with God at ſet and ſolemne times, as generally before wee come to the Lords Table, and ſpecially in the time of thankſgiuing, for ſome ſingular and extraordinary benefits, or of extraordinary humiliation in reſpect of ſome ſinnes, into which, after our conuerſion we hauehave relapſed; or ſome grieuous afflictions, from which wee deſire to be deliuered; or ſome dangerous ſickneſſe, the vſuall fore-runner of death and Iudgement, as wee ſhall more fully ſhew heereafter: yet ſeeing wee muſt daily and hourely liue by faith; and ſeeing faith hath no other ground to reſt vponupon, for the applying and appropriating of any of Gods benefits, but the Couenant of grace which hee hath made with vsus, the which, though on Gods part it be more immooueable then the rockes Eſa. 54. 10.and mountaines, yet is often ſhaken in reſpect of our weake apprehenſion, euen as a rocke may ſeeme to mooue, when it is lightly touched with a trembling hand, & a mountaine to ſhake, when as it is beheld with a weak and quiuering eye; who ſeeth not how neceſſary it is to vſe daily all good meanes, whereby wee may make this couenant which is ſo ſtrong in it ſelfe, to be alſo ſtrong vntounto vsus, and a firme foundation whereupon we may build our ioy and comfort?
§. Sect. 2 Of the daily renewing of our repentance. Firſt, by recalling our ſinnes to remembrance; And ſecondly, by humbling our ſelues before God in the ſight and ſenſe of them.
Now the principall meanes of renewing and confirming this couenant of grace, is, daily to renew the condition on our part, which is a liuely faith, approued by the fruits of it in vnfained repentance. The which latter, becauſe it is the infallible ſigne and touch ſtone of the former, and the outward and ſenſible fruit, which aſſureth vsus of the hidden roote, that it liueth and groweth, I will in the firſt place ſpeake of our daily exerciſe in renewing of our repentance; vntounto which is required, firſt, that we call to our remembrance our former ſinnes, together with the curſed roote of originall corruption from which they ſpring; but eſpecially the ſinnes, frailties and falls, which hauehave ouertaken vsus ſince the laſt time that wee performed this exerciſe, to which purpoſe it behoueth vsus to keepe a ſtrict and narrow watch ouer all our thoughts, words and workes, that theſe ſpirituall enemies of our ſoules may not ſlily paſſe by, or ſecretly lurke in vsus vneſpied, and conſequently vnrepented of; and alſo to take ſpeciall marke of them, that they doe not ſlip out of our minde and memory. For which end we muſt looke our ſelues often in the glaſſe of Gods Law, & examine our liues by this rule, that ſo we may take notice of our ſpirituall ſpots and deformities, of our errours and auerſenes to good, & proneneſſe to euill, and ſo bring them into the Court of conſcience, that being thereby, in the preſence of God our ſupreme Iudge, accuſed & condemned, our hearts may bee ſmitten with godly ſorrow in the ſight and ſence of them, and affected with a loathing and miſlike of our former euill proceedings; according to the practice of the faithfull, foretold by the Prophet: Then Ezech. 36. 31.ſhall ye (ſaith he) remember your former euill wayes, and your doings that were not good, and ſhall loath your ſelues in your owne ſight, for your iniquities, and for your abominations. The neglect of which duty is reproued and condemned in the people of the Iewes: I hearkened and heard, but they ſpake not aright, Ier. 8. 6.no man repented him of his wickedneſſe, ſaying, What hauehave I done? eueryevery one turned to his courſe, as the Horſe ruſheth into the battell. Secondly, Humiliation is here alſo required, in which, diuers things ought to concurre; firſt, when we hauehave called our ſinnes to our remembrance, and ſet them in order before vsus, we muſt in the ſight and ſence of them hauehave melting, relenting, broken, and contrite hearts and ſpirits, which will truely mourne with bitter griefe, becauſe by our ſinnes wee hauehave diſpleaſed ſo gracious and good a God, who hath multiplied vponupon vsus ſo innumerable benefits and bleſſings, both in temporall and ſpirituall things, eſpecially in giuing his only Sonne to the death for vsus, when as we were ſtrangers and enemies vntounto him. VponUpon which conſideration we muſt, looking vponupon him whom wee Zach. 10. 12.hauehave pearced, mourne for him, as a man mourneth for his onelyonly ſonne, and be in bitterneſſe for him, as one that is in bitterneſſe for his first borne. We muſt not ſlight ouer our ſorrow, but labour with Peter to weepe bitterly, and Mat. 26 75. 1. Sam. 7. 6.with the Iſraelites, to powre forth our melting ſoules before God, like water drawne out of a well; and finally, with Dauid we muſt labour to bring our mourning for ſinne into daily practice; EueryEvery night (ſaith hee) Pſal. 6. 6. Lam. 2. 18, 19.make I my bedde to ſwimme, and I water my couch with my teares. And if through the hardneſſe of our hearts, we cannot thus ſorrow for our ſinnes, wee muſt bee grieued, becauſe we can be no more grieued, and lament the hardneſſe of our hearts, becauſe we can no more hartily bewaile them. Which if it be vnfained, then will it moue vsus to vſe carefully the meanes whereby our griefe for ſinne may bee increaſed; as to meditate on the innumerable multitude, and the grieuous hainouſneſſe of our ſins, the manifold imperfections and corruptions of our beſt actions, the maieſty, power and greatneſſe, the infinite goodneſſe and graciouſneſſe of God towards vsus, againſt whom we hauehave committed them, our owne baſeneſſe and vileneſſe, who hauehave prouoked to wrath ſo infinite a maieſty, the ſmall and contemptible inducements which hauehave allured and inticed vsus to offend ſo mercifull a Father, euen the baſe baites of worldly vanities; our continuing in theſe ſinnes without repentance, notwithſtanding that the Lord hath giuen vsus ſo manifold and effectuall meanes of reformation and amendment, as the preaching of the Goſpell, admonitions, inſtructions, reprehenſions, the good motions of his Spirit checking vsus for our ſinnes, and inciting vsus to holy duties; his promiſes alluring vsus to ſerue him; his threatnings terrifying vsus that we may not offend him; his mercies and benefits incouraging vsus to all good; his chaſtiſements and fatherly corrections diſcouraging and ſtopping vsus in our euill courſes: notwithſtanding all which helpes and meanes, we hauehave impenitently continued in our ſinnes, without any reformation; our diſhonouring of God hereby, who hath beene ſo gracious and bountifull vntounto vsus, and abuſing of his mercies, patience and long ſuffering, which ſhould hauehave led vsus to Rom. 2. 5.repentance; our pearcings, wounding, and as it were, crucifying afreſh the Lord of life, our bleſſed Sauiour and Redeemer; and our vexing and greeuing of the good Spirit of God, whereby wee are ſanctified; by Ephe. 4. 30. 1. Theſ. 5. 19.quenching the good motions which he hath ſuggeſted vntounto vsus, and by dulling and deadding his gifts and graces in vsus. Secondly, we muſt bee much diſpleaſed with our ſelues, becauſe we hauehave ſo many waies diſpleaſed God by our ſinnes, and be inflamed with a godly anger againſt our fleſh and ſinful luſts, which hauehave cauſed vsus to breake out into al theſe impieties, the which muſt ſhew it ſelfe in our readineſſe to be reuenged of them, by vſing all good meanes whereby they may be mortified and crucified. Thirdly, we muſt hauehave our hearts affected with confuſion and aſtoniſhment, and our faces filled and diſcoloured with ſhame and bluſhing, that we hauehave thus many waies ſhewed our ſelues ſo vnkinde and vngratefull to ſo good a God; and when we ſee that God remembreth his couenant, to eſtabliſh and make it good to ſuch vnworthy wretches, we, with the Church of the Iewes, repenting of our ſinnes, muſt remember our former Ezech. 16. 61. Ier. 6. 15.wicked waies, and be aſhamed and confounded, in the fight and ſence of our vnworthineſſe. Finally, we muſt in the former conſiderations caſt away all pride, carnall louelove and ſelfe-conceitedneſſe of our owne worth and excellencie, and be humbled and caſt downe in the apprehenſion and feeling of our owne baſeneſſe and vileneſſe; confeſſing that we are but duſt and aſhes; Gen. 18. 27. Pſal. 22. 6. Iob 17. 41. Iob 42. 6. Pſal. 51. 17.with Dauid, that we are wormes, and no men; and ſaying with Iob vntounto corruption, Thou art my father, and to the worme, Thou art my mother and my ſiſter; yea with him, we muſt abhorre our ſelues, and vnfainedly repent in duſt and aſhes. The fruits of which humiliation we ſhall finde ineſtimable. For we ſhall hereby offer vntounto God a ſacrifice which he moſt delighteth in, and make him hereby propitious and gracious; yea to dwell with vsus, and to repleniſh and cheare our hearts with our ſweete communion and fellowſhip with him in the gracious comforts of his holy Spirit, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, The Lord is nigh vntounto them that are of a broken heart, and ſaueth Pſal. 34. 18.ſuch as be of a contrite Spirit; And the Lords owne ſpeech by his Prophet, Thus ſaith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, whoſe name is Holy; Eſa. 57. 15. & 6. 2.I dwell in the high and holy place; with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble ſpirit, to reuiue the ſpirit of the humble, and the heart of contrite ones. We ſhall bring our ſelues within the compaſſe of Chriſts call, and intereſſe our ſelues vntounto his gracious promiſes of eaſing vsus of the vnſupportable burthen of our ſinnes, and curing vsus of all our ſpirituall ſickneſſes and ſores of ſinnes: for he came to bee the Phiſicion, not of the whole, but of the Mat. 11. 28. & 9. 13.ſicke, and to call, not thoſe who hauehave no ſence and feeling of their ſinnes, but ſuch as labour and are heauie laden, not the righteous in their owne opinion and conceite, but ſinners to repentance. We ſhall make our ſelues fit hearers of the glad tidings of the Goſpell, and intitle our ſelues to all the gracious comforts of Gods holy Spirit, according to that of the Prophet, cited & applied by our Sauiour; The Spirit of the Lord is vponupon me, becauſe he Eſa. 61. 1, 2, 3: Luke 4. 18.hath anointed me: to preach the Goſpell to the poore and meeke, he hath ſent me to binde vp and heale the broken-hearted, to preach liberty and deliuerance to captiues, and recouering of ſight to the blinde, to ſet at liberty them that are bruized, to comfort them that mourne; giuing vntounto them beautie for aſhes, and the oyle of ioy for mourning, and the garment of praiſe, for the ſpirit of heauineſſe. Moreouer, by this humiliation wee may come to the aſſurance of the remiſſion of our ſinnes; for if we humble our ſelues and pray, ſeeke Gods 2. Chro. 7. 14.face and turne from our wicked waies; then will the Lord heare from heauen, and will forgiue vsus our ſinnes, and heale our plagues; as wee ſee in the example of Manaſſes, one of the greateſt ſinners that euer liued, who humbling himſelfe greatly before the God of his Father, and ſeeking 2. Chro. 33. 12.and ſuing vntounto him for pardon, the Lord was intreated of him, and heard his ſupplication. Finally, if wee thus dayly humble our ſelues, the Lord hath promiſed to lift vsus vp and exalt vsus, to furniſh vsus with all Jam. 4. 6. 1. Pet. 5. 5, 6. Luke 1. 53. Matth. 5. 3, 4.ſauing graces, to fill and repleniſh our emptie ſoules with all good things, to cheare vsus in our mourning with the comforts of his Spirit, and to make vsus bleſſed in the eternall fruition of his heauenly Kingdome.
§. Sect. 5 Of the daily confeſſion of our ſinnes, and iudging our ſelues for them
Thirdly, vntounto this daily renewing of our repentance, is required an humble confeſſion of our ſinnes, which muſt be of vnknowne ſinnes generally, Pſal. 19. 13. Pſal. 51. 4, 5.of knowne ſinnes particularly, with the aggrauation of them by their ſeuerall circumſtances. Eſpecially wee muſt acknowledge and lay opne the roote and fountaine of them, our originall corruption, from which they hauehave ſprung and flowed, and then the curſed fruits and filthy ſtreames that hauehave iſſued from them; but aboue all, we muſt not forget in this our confeſſion, thoſe ſpeciall ſinnes, vntounto which we are moſt enclined, and wherewith we hauehave moſt offended and diſhonoured God; nor thoſe ſinnes which we hauehave committed lately, and ſince the laſt time of renewing our repentance. And withall we muſt iudge and condemne our ſelues Gen. 32. 10. Ezra. 9. 6, 7. Dan. 9. 4, 5.as vnworthy, by reaſon of our ſinnes, the leaſt of Gods mercies, and moſt worthy of the greateſt of his iudgements and puniſhments, comming into Gods preſence as Benhadads followers before Ahab, and acknowledging, that if wee had our deſert, death and condemnation were due vntounto vsus. 1. King. 20. 31. Pſal. 51. 4. 1. Cor. 11. 32.And this we muſt doe, to iuſtifie the Lord when he iudgeth, and to glorifie his name, in giuing vntounto him the praiſe of mercy and forgiueneſſe; and that thus iudging our ſelues, we may not be condemned of the Lord. Neither are we to ſtay here vnderunder the ſentence of the Law, but to flee vntounto the throne of grace, begging mercy and forgiueneſſe at the hands of God, for his owne names ſake, for his truth ſake in his couenant and gracious promiſes, and for his Chriſts ſake, his merits, ſatisfaction and obedience performed for vsus. The fruit and benefit of which humble confeſſion, is the full aſſurance of the remiſſion of all our ſinnes, grounded vponupon the truth of Gods promiſes; For, If we confeſſe our ſinnes, hee is faithfull and iuſt 1. Iohn. 1. 9to forgiue vsus our ſinnes, and to cleanſe vsus from all vnrighteouſneſſe. And againe, Hee that hideth his ſinnes, ſhall not proſper: but hee that confeſſeth Pro. 28. 13.and forſaketh them, ſhall hauehave mercy. Both which wee ſee verified in the example of Dauid, who whilſt he concealed his ſinne, found the hand of God Pſal. 32. 3, 4, 5. 2 Sam. 12. 13.heauie vponupon him, which vexed his very bones, and made him roare in ſence of paine. But when hee confeſſed and acknowledged his ſinne, the Lord forgaue him all his iniquities.
§. Sect. 4 Of our deteſtation and hatred of ſinne.
Fourthly, there is required heereunto an hearty hatred and deteſtation of all ſinne. To which end we muſt conſider, that it is an offence againſt Gods infinite Maieſty, and ſupreme Iuſtice, and that nothing in the world is ſo contrary vntounto his moſt pure and holy nature; nothing ſo odious and lothſome vntounto him, as appeareth by his moſt iuſt ſeuerity, in puniſhing of it with moſt ſharpe and grieuous puniſhments. For though our firſt parents in the ſtate of innocency, were his moſt excellent and beſt beloued creatures, yet for one tranſgreſſion he reiected them, and puniſhed not onelyonly them, but alſo all their poſterity with temporall puniſhments of all kinds, and euerlaſting death and condemnation both of body and ſoule. Though the world and the creatures therein were his excellent workemanſhip, yet when it was defiled with the ſinne of man, it was with all its inhabitants (ſauing thoſe which were reſerued in the Arke) deſtroyed with an vniuerſall deluge. For ſinne hee conſumed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimſtone from heauen, and reiected the whole nation of his beloued Iſrael from being his people. Yea, when our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, the Sonne of his louelove, bore our ſinnes as our ſurety, he ſpared him not, but cauſed him in his body to ſuffer moſt grieuous puniſhments, and in his ſoule to beare the full viols of his wrath, till his Iuſtice, by his all-ſufficient ſufferings, was fully ſatisfied. The which conſiderations muſt make vsus daily to renew our hatred againſt all our ſinnes, which God ſo mortally hateth, and eſpecially thoſe which cleaue faſteſt to our corrupt nature, and vntounto which we are moſt inclined, becauſe by them wee doe moſt often diſpleaſe and diſhonour our gracious God and louing Father: And to proclaime continuall warre againſt them, that we may vanquiſh and ſubdue, mortifie and crucifie them; and ſeriouſly to reſolue with our ſelues, that we will vponupon no conditions liue any longer in them, but renounce and forſake them with our vttermoſt indeuour, how pleaſant and profitable ſoeuer they hauehave formerly ſeemed to our carnall appetite.
§. Sect. 5 Of our feare and care that we be not circumuented with ſinne.
Fifthly, in conſideration of our owne frailty and infirmity, and the malice and ſubtilty of our ſpirituall enemies, we muſt daily and continually feare that we be not ouertaken with the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne, nor Pro. 28. 13. 1. Cor. 10. 12. Rom. 11. 20.caught in theſe ſnares of the deuill, which ought iuſtly to bee ſo odious and lothſome vntounto vsus; and hauehave our hearts taken vp with feruent and zealous deſires, to preſerue our ſoules and bodies in purity and honour, free from the pollution of any ſinne. To which end, wee muſt daily with all conſcionable care, keepe a diligent and ſtraight watch ouer all our workes and wayes, but eſpecially ouer our hearts, that they be not ouertaken with Pro. 4. 23.any louelove or liking of ſinne, but conſtantly repell the firſt motions and allurements of it, when they preſent themſelues vntounto vsus; eſpecially we muſt hauehave an eye to our naturall infirmities, and thoſe ſinnes, vntounto which being Heb. 12. 1, 4.moſt prone, we are moſt eaſily ouertaken of them. Yea, wee muſt in this watch carefully auoide, not onelyonly the ſinnes themſelues, but alſo all the occaſions and meanes which may draw vsus to the committing of them; eſpecially the familiar ſociety of wicked men, who are moſt apt to corrupt and infect vsus with their perſwaſions and euill examples. Finally, wee muſt daily reſolue and indeuour, not onelyonly to leaue and forſake all ſinne, but alſo to ſerue the Lord, in performing all the contrary duties of holineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and ſobriety, according to all good occaſions and opportunities, which in the whole day, or any part thereof ſhall be offred vntounto vsus, and in all our thoughts, words, and deeds, to pleaſe the Lord, by yeelding cheerefull obedience vntounto his holy will. Eſpecially, our care and indeuour muſt be to perfect thoſe graces, in which wee finde our ſelues moſt defectiue, and with extraordinary diligence to practiſe thoſe duties towards God, our neighbours, and our ſelues, which our conſciences tell vsus we hauehave formerly moſt neglected, and vntounto which we feele our corrupt natures to bee moſt backward and auerſe; that ſo we may daily aſpire to a greater growth in godlineſſe, and bring forth, the longer we liue, the more and better fruits of new obedience.
§. Sect. 6 The benefits which would ariſe of this exerciſe of renewing our repentance.
And if wee would thus daily renew our repentance, the benefits ariſing vntounto vsus from this holy exerciſe would be ineſtimable. For firſt, we ſhould preuent innumerable ſinnes, into which, through the neglect of this duty, we fall daily, vnaduiſedly, and at vnawares; but eſpecially wee ſhould bee armed heereby againſt all ſinnes committed againſt knowledge and conſcience. Secondly, if at any time through frailty we be ouertaken with any ſinne, we ſhould not lye in it, but riſe againe by vnfained repentance; and ſo heale the ſores of ſinne, whileſt the wound is greene, with much greater eaſe, and not ſuffer them to feſter and rankle, to our greater paine and danger. Thirdly, wee ſhould much abate the violence of our fleſhly luſts, when as though they with much labour put vsus to a foyle, yet they ſhall not bee able, no not for one day, to keepe their hold and rule ouer vsus; and who will take any great paines to ſo little purpoſe? or ſwallow downe that potion with any pleaſure, which he muſt be forced to caſt vp ſo quickly with much griefe? or imbrace that ſinne vvith any great delight, which within a few houres ſhall be plucked from him with an holy violence and indignation? or offend ſo good a God, or hazard a precious ſoule, or diſturbe the ſweete peace of a good conſcience, for the fruition of a ſinfull pleaſure ſo vaine, ſo momentany? Fourthly, though through infirmity we ſometimes fall, yet ſhall wee hereby be preſerued from ſleeping in carnall ſecurity, and from being hardned through the deceitfulneſſe of ſinne, and though through weakeneſſe of the fleſh, we ſlumber Heb. 3. 13.with the Spouſe in the Canticles, yet ſhall we not fall into a dead ſleepe, but ſay with her, I ſleepe, but my heart waketh. Fifthly, we ſhall heereby preſerue Cant. 5. 3.our conſciences tender, ſo as they will giuegive vsus warning when ſinne maketh the leaſt appearance, and our hearts pure and ſoft, ſo as they will eaſily relent with the leaſt touch. Sixthly, we ſhall make the practice of a godly life, eaſie and familiar, and Chriſts yoke light, when as we are accuſtomed to beare it eueryevery day. Seuenthly, wee ſhall either altogether keepe it from entring into our hearts, or at leaſt from holding poſſeſſion by pleading cuſtome and preſcription. Eighthly, we ſhall preſerue peace with God, and an holy communion with him; and the peace alſo of a good conſcience; or if there be any cauſe of inward iarres, we ſhall compound and take them vp before we ſleepe. Ninthly, we ſhall goe to reſt ſecurely, when as we goe to bed with our quietus eſt, and ſleepe quietly, Pſal. 4. 8.when we hauehave our pardon vnderunder our pillow. Finally, we ſhall alwayes be prepared for the approach of death and Iudgement, when as we keepe alwayes our accounts ready made; and though with the fiue wiſe Virgins, we ſometimes ſlumber and ſleepe, as well as the fooliſh, yet hauing our oyle in our lampes, we ſhall be ready to riſe at the firſt call, to enter with our Bridegroome into the marriage chamber, and communicate with him in all ioy and happineſſe.