The Christians Daily Monitor, Part 11
§. 11. The order a Chriſtian is to obſerve in his walking every day: with an anſwer to objections, and encouragement to ſet about it.
1. In the morning awake with God, Pſal. 139.18. (i. e.) ſeaſon thy mind with awful and thankful thoughts of Gods morning and evening mercies, and lift up thy heart in ſome ſhort mental prayer to God, that he would help thee to renew thy reſolution to walk with him.
2. When thou art up, as ſoon as conveniently thou canſt betake thy ſelf to prayer. Private prayer ſhould be the firſt thing we do. The firſt hour is the Golden hour, and by ſo doing thou mayeſt open thy heart to God, and ſhut it againſt all ſin. For family prayer, that is the fitteſt hour, when all the family, or the greateſt part, can moſt conveniently meet together; and if thou art a ſervant, take heed of voluntary neglecting family prayer: Let it be ſome urgent occaſion that hinders thee, an… when thou canſt not be there with thy bodily preſence, yet be ſure thy affection be with them.
3. After prayer, and other religiou… duties performed, Go to thy calling, an… follow the works thereof, (as that ſtatio… God hath ſet thee in) with diligence, conſcience and chearfulneſs, and be contented with thy calling though mean. Be not like worldlings, who do all with a greedy mind of getting: But remember a Chriſtian hath two Callings, one general, the other particular; and he is a happy and wiſe ſervant that ſo minds his general, as not to neglect his particular, and ſo follows his particular Calling, as he doth not neglect his general: Uſually the former have ſome tincture of hypocriſie, and the latter are too much over-grown with covetouſneſs. Labour therefore to keep thy eye upon thy heart, and upon the rule. Do all in thy particular Calling with uprightneſs and faithfulneſs, in wiſdom and order, referring the ſucceſs to Gods bleſſing, and labour to be armed with patience againſt croſſes and loſſes. In buying and ſelling, take heed of lying and diſſimulation, covetouſneſs and frowardneſs, of multiplying words careleſly, and of over-praiſing thy own wares when thou ſelleſt, and ſaying it is naught when thou buyeſt.
4. When thou art alone look to thy heart, and ſay, Heart, where art thou? what art thou doing? where haſt thou been? whither art thou going? keep thy heart with all diligence; Prov. 4.23. Keep it as a Guardian would do a rich Heir, that hath many Suitors, or as a General would do a Caſtle that was a key or in-let to the whole Country; and in order to this remember five things.
1. Obſerve the motions of it; thy mind is thy ſelf. Be not a ſtranger to thy ſelf; God looks at the heart, 1 Sam. 16.7. he delights in truth in the inward man, Pſal. 1.6.
2. When any good thoughts and holy motions come into thy ſoul (as thoſe that are truly good ſhall not find themſelves long without them) cheriſh and entertain them; ſay as the Spouſe, It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh; ſay, Come in thou bleſſed of the Lord, why ſtandeſt thou without? but i… evil motions ariſe, let them not lodge with thee, but chaſe them from thee.
3. Employ thy heart, and ſet it t… work. The mind is a reſtleſs mill, alwayes in motion. Calvin prayed every day, the devil might never find him idle If our hearts be doing nothing, they will be doing evil; like a garden, if yo… do not ſow good ſeeds, will ſoon b… overun with weeds. Remember, Go… and Nature abhor idleneſs, and the Devil watches for the idle hour.
4. Limit the workings of thy ſoul that the world may have no more o… thy thoughts and time then needs muſt▪
5. Spiritualize the operations of thy mind, and extract heavenly and divin… meditations out of thy employments, out of fit objects.
5. Look carefully to thy ſenſes, eſpecially make a Covenant with thy eyes, as Job did Chap. 31.1. and pray with David, that God would turn away thy eyes from beholding vanity, Pſal. 119.37. There is a quick paſſage from the eye to the heart. A Chriſtian ſhould not let his eyes fly at random. Conſider:
1. The eye is a ſenſe of the greateſt extent and latitude; it beholds all on earth, and reaches even to heaven.
2. It is a ſenſe above all others moſt frequently and conſtantly exerciſed.
3. It works more immediately and ſtrongly upon the heart and fancy.
4. It is a ſenſe above all others moſt eaſily induced to ſin, to wantonneſs and vanity, to injuſtice and oppreſſion, to covetouſneſs and idolatry: Pride and Envy dwell in the eye, Ezek. 23.16. Prov. 6.17. Prov. 23.33. Jer. 22.17. Joſh. 7.21. Ezek. 6.9. Ch. 20.24.
5. It is a moſt noble Senſe, God hath provided noble objects for it; and therefore O Chriſtian, young or old, look t… thy eyes every day, give not indulgenc… and liberty to them. There is a promiſ… made to this, Iſa. 33.15. he that ſhut his eyes from ſeeing evil ſhall not dwe… with everlaſting burning. Remembe… Gods eye is alwayes upon thee; and h… that rules his heart, will eaſily rule hi… eys; & he that doth not look to his eye… it is a great ſign he never looked well t… his heart. Heaven it ſelf is reſerved fo… the eye; hearing is ſuited to faith, bu… the eye is ſuited for viſion.
6. If thou art in company take heed t… thy ſelf, that if thou canſt do no good nor get no good, thou mayſt do no har… nor get no harm. If thou at any tim… falleſt into ſuch company, as there is n… likelihood to do or receive good, th… buſineſs being diſpatched, and civilit… obſerved, get out of that company, fo… he cannot be a Chriſtian indeed that i… not curious of his company. When tho… haſt conference with others, ſpeak neither falſly, raſhly, nor vainly, let thy words be few, true, ſpiritual; let no filthy communication come out of your mouth: Let thy ſpeech be alwayes gracious, ſeaſoned with ſalt, ſuch as may miniſter grace to the hearers. Speak of God, his Word, Works, Ordinances with holy reverence. Speak of thy ſelf modeſtly and humbly, of others charitably; of the gifts and graces of another, with joy and thankfulneſs; of the infirmities and failings of good men ſpeak ſparingly, and with a due reſpect to their good name: Of the ſins of wicked men, ſpeak not but with grief and deteſtation, and admiration of the grace of God to thee, ſince what is in their practiſe, is in thy nature, and who is it O man makes thee to differ? It may be uſefull and neceſſary to ſpeak of the world and civil things: But let not theſe things take up all thy talk. If thou enquireſt after news, let it be to underſtand how it goes with Gods Church, that thou mayeſt the better direct thy prayers for them if afflicted, o… thy praiſes if they proſper: Specially take heed of the ſins of theſe times much ſpeaking, raſh cenſuring, prou… boaſting, ſlandering and backbiting, ſpeaking evil of dignities, ſpreading falſe reports, which are too much the ſins of profeſſors; as prophane ſwearing, horrible imprecations and curſings, ſordid flattery, obſcene talking, ſcoffing and mocking at Piety are the ſins of Hectors and Ranters.
7. Wherever thou art, at home or abroad, give good examples, that thou mayſt not leave any ſtinking ſavour behind thee, to open the mouths of the malicious, to harden them in their ſins, and make the weak to ſtumble, or to ſad the hearts of the Godly. We may be innocently chearful in company, and in a journey, to paſs over the weariſomneſs of the way: but let thy moderation be known to all, be not prophane, idle, vain, eſpecially take heed to thy words and actions before Children. For the heathen could ſay, there is a great reverence due to them; the ſeeds of goodneſs are ſoon quenched, and vitious inclinations are more corroborated. Let it be then thy great care in all thy wayes and actions, to ſhew thy ſelf a pattern of goodneſs, labouring to adorn the Goſpel of Chriſt, holding forth the word of life in a good converſation; to which purpoſe make it thy care to walk in the exerciſe of four things;
1. To ſhew all fidelity and honeſty in thy dealings. The Apoſtle Peter would have us to have our converſation honeſt among the Gentiles, 1 Pet. 2.12. It is a vain thing to pretend to be religious if we be not honeſt. The Apoſtle Paul would have poor Servants, to ſhew all good fidelity, that they may adorn the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus, 2 Tit. 10. It is a wofull time, when we know not where to find a faithfull man. God forbid it ſhould be ſaid, that Turks, and ſome Papiſts, and Quakers, and common Proteſtants have more uprightneſs, truth and faithfulneſs in their words and dealings, the… thoſe that make the higheſt profeſſio… in Religion. By theſe ſins God ſuffers i… his honour, Jeſus Chriſt ſuffers, and th… Goſpel ſuffers, and the Godly ſuffer. By being faithful in your dealings, you will beat the enemies of Chriſtianity with their own weapons; all the Glory they have is their juſtice and fidelity, that they wrong no man, that they will not circumvent and work upon their neighbours neceſſity or ignorance. Now when a Chriſtian ſhews ſuch fidelity, he overcomes them in that which they themſelves confeſs to be good; and all men ſee, that if there be any thing in them praiſe-worthy, it is to be found among true Chriſtians with more advantage and luſtre.
2. Labour to evidence an humble ſubjection to thoſe in Authority over us. This is the Herculean Argument the Papiſts and other wicked men uſe in all ages againſt the Godly, That they are enemies to Kings, ſtubborn, diſobedient, turning all things upſide down. It becomes then all that profeſs the name of Chriſt, as far as they can to obey all the commands of Magiſtrates; for this is the will of God, Tit. 3.1. and to give …ll lawfull demonſtrations, that we are not ſtubborn, refractory perſons; That if any do maliciouſly accuſe us, we may be able to ſay with Daniel, that innocency is found in us before God, and that to the King we have done no hurt, Dan. 6.22.
3. Thou muſt labour for a peaceable converſation, avoiding as much as you can all contentions and quarrels, ſtudy…ng to be quiet, and minding your own buſineſs, 1 Theſ. 4.11. remembring the Apoſtles rules, Heb. 12.14. follow peace with all men, and holineſs, &c. As much in you lyes live peaceably with …ll men, Rom. 12.18. (have peace, keep peace, love peace, make peace, ſeek peace; that phraſe, live peaceably, includes all.) That ſo the wicked may ſay of us, as the Shechemites of Jacob… Sons, Theſe men are peaceable with us therefore let them dwell in the land, Gen. 34.21. It is a queſtion yet unreſolved, whether the perſecutions o… enemies, or the diviſions of brethren have done the Church of God mo… harm.
4. Thou muſt walk charitably: labour after a beneficialneſs in thy converſation, to be profitable to men, to b… publick ſpirited, open handed to th… poor, to be as Job was, eyes to the blind to cloath the naked, viſit the ſick, defend the fatherleſs and widow. This i… well pleaſing to God; theſe things ar… good and profitable to men.
This is the way to adorn thy Converſation, and to be a pattern of goo… works; and without ſuch things as theſe thy profeſſion and religious performances will have no great luſtre no… beauty.
8. If God give thee proſperity, and riches increaſe, be not overjoyed with it. Truſt not in uncertain riches, do not bleſs thy ſelf in abundance, as if thy happineſs did ſtand in poſſeſſing, or thou wert ſure to have theſe things continued. If we rejoyce exceedingly in the day of proſperity, we ſhall grieve immoderately when the time of parting comes.
9. Therefore prepare for adverſity. Thy Saviour hath commanded thee to take up thy Croſs daily, in preparation and expectation; And Solomon hath told us, We know not what a day may bring forth. If adverſity comes, be not impatient; murmur not againſt God, if he cut ſhort thy Eſtate, but ſay with holy Job, Shall I receive good things at Gods hand and not evil? The Lord gives, and the Lord takes, bleſſed be his holy Name, Job 1.21. c. 2.10.
10. In Recreations which the neceſſity of Nature calls for, and Religion doth not deny: Look to thy ſelf, for it is eaſie duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page ſtepping out of the uſe into the abuſe of them; See therefore,
1. To the kind of them, that they be lawful, innocent, and of good report, as alſo that thy recreations be in offenſive: That which is in it ſelf lawfu… may be in expedient. Uſe no recreation that hath got an univerſal evi… report among Sober, Godly, Wiſe grave perſons.
2. To the time. We ſhould abridge ou… ſelves Recreations in times of Common Calamity to our Country, or th… Church of God. See alſo that it b… not on the Lords day, which is to b… employed in Heavenly exerciſe. W… muſt not ſuffer them to thruſt out Family duties, or croud them up in … narrow compaſs: And finally, ſe… that they take thee not off from the important works of thy Calling.
3. To the place, that it be not too publick and open to draw others to ſe… us, who notwithſtanding thy libert… may be offended; or that it be not place of guſling and drinking, where we may be drawn to exceſs.
4. To thy Company, that we ſort our our ſelves as much as we can with Godly, wiſe Chriſtians.
5. In the continuance of them. Recreations as they ſhould not be over frequent, ſo they ſhould not be overlong. Make not thy by-work, thy work; Uſe them as ſauce, a little here is enough, and enough may be too much; and as the Proverb ſaith, Too much of one thing is good for nothing.
6. To the end of them, which muſt be to refreſh the outward man, to benefit the inward man. We muſt not play to play. No man uſes a whetſtone, but to put a keenneſs upon an Inſtrument. Imitate the Primitive Chriſtians, of whom Tertullian gives this account: We ſit not down to eat, till we have firſt prayed to God; we eat ſo as to ſatisfie hunger; we drink ſo as not to enflame luſt; we feaſt ſo, as to remember we muſt go to prayer, and come away as if we had been at … watch, rather then a feaſt.
11. Be ready to every good work, and conſtantly perform ſuch holy dutie as God calls thee to, and do not willingly omit them. If God calls thee to hear his word, and pray to him, go to it that not out of form, but out of a conſcience of thy duty, and a ſenſe of thy wants; get ſome time every day fo… Meditation of Gods Word and Works and if thou art ſo barren, thou canſt no… find matter, meditate of thy barrenneſs, and humble thy ſoul for it.
12. And now in the Evening, take … view of the former particulars, and examine all; how thou haſt prayed, how thou haſt performed the works of thy Calling, what hath come into thy thoughts, what hath gone out of thy mouth, how thou doſt find thy ſelf in proſperity and adverſity, how it hath been with thee at home, and abroad, alone, and in company, in recreations, and in religious duties: And herein deal faithfully with thy own ſoul. If thou haſt upon due enquiry into thy ſelf found, that thou haſt kept this order in ſome good manner, give God the praiſe and Glory: If thou be conſcious to thy ſelf of any diſorder, blame and ſhame thy ſelf, beg pardon of God, fly to the merits of Chriſt, renew thy reſolutions to walk with more watchfulneſs. And as thou didſt riſe with God in the morning, ſo cloſe the day with him, making thy peace with him, that thou mayſt reſt in the arms of thy beloved, and have good hope thou ſhalt go to heaven, if thou ſhould'ſt dye before the morning.
Objections againſt this daily order in our Converſation.
Obj. 1. O but ſaith the fleſh, this is more then needs, more then God requires.
Anſ. But go and learn what that means, to love the Lord with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy ſtrength, and then thou wilt not ſay it is more then needs, except thou thinkeſt there is no need to pleaſe God.
Obj. 2. But this will ſpoil all mirth to obſerve this order.
Anſ. It is nothing ſo, theſe Rules obſerved will keep from nothing that is lawful, delightful, profitable, thou mayeſt eat, drink, buy, ſell, keep company, recreate thy ſelf, onelyonly it teaches thee to do theſe things without ſin. If there be no mirth but in ſin, then the Devil is the merrieſt creature in the world, for he doth nothing but ſin.
Obj. 3. But it is impoſſible to do this alwayes, and this makes Religion a bondage.
Anſ. The love of God makes his Commandments not to be grievous when we firſt enter on it, it ſeems harſh and hard, not that it is ſo, but it ſeems ſo, becauſe we have uſed our ſelves to ſo much liberty; as a new garment is ſtrait at the firſt putting on, but after a little wearing it is eaſie. Do not ſay Chriſts yoke is heavy and ſtrait, when he ſaith, it is eaſie. If God give thee a new heart, thou wilt never complain of the difficulty of a new life.
The encouragements to obſerve this Order are theſe five:
1. This will keep out many ſins that overtake us for want of it. The reſolving againſt ſin in the morning, and prayer to God to ſtrengthen that reſolution, are excellent helps to keep us from ſin.
2. It will preſerve us from many troubles and ſorrows, which it doth by keeping us from ſin, for Sorrow follows ſin, as the ſhadow doth the body.
3. It preſerves from lying and continuing in ſin; he that obſerves this order, if he falls in the day through infirmity, he riſes the ſame day by repentance, and evens his recknings with God through the mediation of Jeſus Chriſt.
4. It will keep us from foul and heynous ſins, from conſcience-waſting ſins, which a man falls not ordinarily into, but by degrees leſſening his care, and remitting in his duty, as we ſee in David and Solomon. The obſerving this daily order, ſtops the diſeaſe in the beginning, quenches the fire in the ſpark, kills the Serpent in the Egg.
5. It makes a mans life very comfortable and joyfull. The more carefully and conſtantly a man walks with God, the more peace and joy he will find and retain. By this means we ſhall be more fit for holy duties, and to perform them in a right manner; hereby we ſhal the more eaſily prepare our ſelves for a holy Communion. By this way alſo we ſhall with more ſucceſs manage our ſpiritual Conflict, even to triumph over Satan. Hereby we ſhall realize the profeſſion of Religion we have been ſo ſolemnly dedicated to in our baptiſm. Laſtly, hereby we are fit to live in all times, and thus living we ſhall be fit to dye. What need he that hath thus orderly walked with God fear Death, ſince he knows he goes to that God with whom he is at peace?