The Holy Life and Happy Death of John Bruen, Chapter 50
CHAP. L.
NOw we come to the ſecond, which is his converſation in the world.2 His converſation in the world. Cic. Tuſc. Quaest. lib. 5. in fol. p. 166.
When Socrates was demanded, what countreyman he was, he anſwered, that he wasforeign, a citizen of the world: and ſo he might well, knowing no other world, but this preſent evill world. But this Gentleman, although (by his naturall birth and condition) of the ſame city and ſociety with Socrates, yet (by his new birth and regeneration) being called out of the world,Ioh. 15.19. 1 Ioh. 5.4. and having by his faith overcome the world, though he were in the world, yet was he not of the world; and though he were amongſt the children of the world, a froward and a crooked generation,Luk. 16.8 Eph. 2.19 yet was he even then a citizen of the holy city, and of the houſhold of God, and a ſonne of the heavenly Ieruſalem, which is the mother of us all: And ſo beingforeign, he had hisforeign,Eph. 2.19. .i. his converſation in heaven, even while he was in earth, Phil. 3.20. So that, of all that ever we knew in theſe parts, he might have taken up the words of the Apoſtle with beſt warrant and moſt comfort, Our rejoycing is this, the teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdome, but by the grace of God, we have had our converſation in the world: For ſuch indeed was the courſe of his life, that he did deſire nothing more, than to walk worthy God,1 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12. endeavouring to expreſſe the very power of godlineſſe, in the fruits of righteouſneſſe, and holineſſe, to the praiſe of his glorious grace.Phil. 1.9, 10, 11. Phil. 2.15, 16. And that he might ſo hold forth the word of life in his lampe and lanterne, that he might both ſhine as a light in himſelfe, and be a light unto others alſo in this preſent world.
Now for the better clearing and manifeſting of this point, we will ſet downe certaine rules of direction which he much deſired to follow, partly as preparatives for a godly converſation in the world, and partly as preſervatives againſt the contagion and corruptions of the ſame.
1 As firſt,Reſolution againſt the world. God preſence. A holy reſolution, ſo to uſe the world, as neither abuſing it, nor being abuſed by it, but to keep himſelfe unſpotted from it.
2 The ſecond, A full purpoſe of heart, to keepe his heart alwayes in Gods preſence, knowing and beleeving that he heareth all his words, and beholdeth all his works.
3 The third,Striving againſt ſin. A conſtant and conſcionable ſtanding and ſtriving againſt all manner of ſinne, eſpecially the ſinnes of the time, and the common corruptions that are in the world through luſt.
4 The fourth,Deſire to doe good. A godly deſire in every company either to do good unto others, or to receive good from others.
5 The fifth,Iuſt dealing. A good intention to deale juſtly, honeſtly and uprightly with all men, doing no otherwiſe unto them, than we would have them to do unto us.
6 The ſixth,Take all to the beſt. An honeſt diſpoſition to take doubtfull things in the beſt ſenſe, and beſt part: ſo farre as well we may, without wound of conſcience in our ſelves, or offence giving unto others.
7 The ſeventh, A carefull watchfulneſſe over our heart and tongue, ſpirit and ſpeech, that our words being powdered with ſalt,Watchfulneſſe. may miniſter grace, not griefe, unto the hearers.
8 The eight,To bee ſparing in ſpeech. A great willingneſſe to be ſlow to ſpeake, and ſwift to heare, yea ſometimes to heare and ſee much, and to ſay little, unleſſe we have a good calling thereunto.
9 The ninth,Renouncing all worldly faſhions and humours. An utter renouncing of all the vaine conformities of the world, neither following the faſhions, nor ſerving the humours of vaine, or vile perſons, nor ſtaying longer than needs wee muſt amongſt them, if by occaſion we be in company with them.
10 The tenth,Peaceable. A good inclination to ſeeke and follow peace with all men, ſo farre as in us lieth, and ſo farre as it may be had, and held with holineſſe, cutting off all occaſions, and provocations to ſtrife and variance, with all ſpeed that may be.
11 The eleventh,Contentedneſſe in every eſtate. A contented minde, and good courage in every eſtate and condition of life, entertaining all croſſes with patience, and turning them to their beſt uſe, and embracing all comforts with thankſgiving, bearing and bringing forth the right and proper fruit of them.
12 The twelfth and laſt,To keep our peace with God. An unfained deſire and endeavour to nouriſh our peace with God, walking as Abraham did, humbly and uprightly before him, and referring all that ever we think, ſpeak or do, to the furtherance of our own reckoning, and to his farther praiſe and glory.
According to theſe and other the like rules of righteouſneſſe and holineſſe, he was taught of God to order his converſation aright in the feare of God.Iam. 3.13. And thus he attained unto ſome meaſure and degree of that wiſdome and grace which S. Iames commendeth ſo well and worthily in a found Chriſtian, Who is a wiſe man and indued with knowledge among you? Let him ſhew out of a good converſation, his works, with meekneſſe of wiſedome: For ſo did this Gentleman work and walk, even according to that wiſdome which is from above; the properties whereof are very precious: For, it is firſt pure, then peaceable, gentle, and eaſie to be intreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocriſie.