Christian Directions, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Of Watchfulness over our Actions.
AS we must be watchful over our thoughts and words, so likewise over our actions.
For the more profitable pressing of this part of Christian watchfulness, I shall give you some helps to direct you therein.
I. Make Gods Word the rule of all thy actions. This direction the Apostle hinteth, in Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rul…, peace be on them, and mercy. Where the Apostle terms the Word of God the rule whereby we must walk, and square all our actions.
Quest. What is to be done in such cases, wherein we are doubtful, and uncertain of the will and mind of God, and what is most agreeable thereunto?
Ans. 1. In doub…ful cases, where the reasons on both sides seem to be equally ballanced, observe which side seems most to tend to the glory of God, the good of thy Neighbour, and thine own Spiritual welfare, and incline rather thereunto; and know, that when thou shalt propound these things as thine end, and aym, and make them thy Bias, God will then delight to make known his good pleasure to thee.
2 Seek advice from others whom thou conceivest to bee godly, and judicious; and amidst their counsels observe what it is thine own spirit doth best approve of, and most cloze with.
3 Prayer being the means sanctified by God for the obtaining of every good thing, bee earnest with God in Prayer, that hee would direct thee in the right way and course; that he would cause thee to hear a voyce behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk in it.
4 Having prayed unto God, and commended thy case unto him, hearken and wait for the return of thy prayer, diligently observing to what course thine heart is most inclined after prayer; and conclude that to be the way he would have thee to walk in.
II. Another help and direction is, to propound Gods glory as the chief end and aim of all thine actions; 1 Cor. 10. 31which direction the Apostle Paul giveth us in express terms, Whatsoever yee doe, doe all to the glory of God; i. e. that God may be thereby glorified. For,
1 Without this thy best actions, thy most religious exercises are neither acceptable nor pleasing unto God; let any action bee in it self never so specious and glorious, yet if Gods glory bee not the end of it, there is a woe to such works, instead of an Euge, or Well done.
2 This puts a value and price upon all our actions, the more they a…m at this end the better they be. As therefore thou desirest to have thine actions and services acceptable and pleasing unto God, let his glory be thy chief and principal aym therein, doing what thou dost in obedience to the Command of God, that hee thereby may be glorified.
I deny not but other ends may creep into thine heart, and steal into the performance of thy best actions, as thine own profit, applause, and the like; but know for thy comfort, that the Lord looketh more to the general bent of thine heart, and frame of thy spirit, in what thou dost, then upon any particular base and by end, which sometimes creepeth and stealeth into thine heart, and will reckon with thee according to the general purpose and aym of thine heart, and not according to some particular end and aym, which hath crept in unawares through the corruption of thine heart.
III. Another help and direction to Christian watchfulness over thine actions is, To commend all thine actions and businesses unto God by Prayer, not enterprising any thing without seeking direction, assistance, and a blessing from God; for as the Psalmist speaketh,Psal. 127. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, unless the Lord put to his helping hand, and come in with a blessing; which is obtained chiefly by prayer; farre be it therefore from thee to enterprise any thing without first commending it unto God by Prayer; for questionless one special reason▪ why many find not that success in their businesses which they desire, is, because they have not first commended them unto God by Prayer, they have not sought unto him for his direction, assistance, and blessing.
IV. Set God always before thee, and ever walk as in his sight and presence; In omnibus qu… agis, Deum praesentem cogites, Ber…. Med▪ Gen. 17. 1which direction the Lord himself giveth to Abraham, for the better ordering of the whole course of his life, saying, Walk before me, and be thou perfect; i. e. walk as in my sight and presence, setting me ever before thee; which will be a special means to keep and restrain thee from many sins; this we read kept Ioseph from yeelding to the wanton solicitations of his Mistris, though he had the opportunity of privacy,Gen. 39. 9 How can I, saith he, doe this great wickedness and sin against God? It was the apprehension of Gods …ll-seeing presence that preserved him from closing with the inordinate affection of his Mistris.