Christianity in Short, Text 3
The heads of the Chriſtian's Duty.
IF any man would be ſaved, he muſt firſt be born again of the Holy Spirit, be converted, and become a new creature, Holy in Heart and Life; otherwiſe he cannot enter in the Kingdom of God.
The grace of God hath appeared, teaching us that denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly and Righteouſly, and Godly in this preſent World.
I muſt not think my ſelf to be my own, ſo that I may live as I liſt; but muſt humbly acknowledge there is a God above me, whoſe I am, and whom I am bound to ſerve all the dayes of my Life.
I muſt take the true God alone for my God, even the Father, Son and Holy Ghoſt, and worſhip him as my Maker, Redeemer and Sanctifier.
I muſt by a daily diligent reading, ſtudying and meditating on his word, and conſidering of his works labour, get a true knowledge of God, and not content my ſelf in ignorance of him.
I muſt worſhip God in Spirit and in Truth, with the heart and ſoul ſincerely.
I muſt ſtedfaſtly believe the whole Word of God, the Hiſtory for my inſtruction, the Precepts for my direction, the Promiſes for my encouragement, the threatnings to affright me from ſin, bewaring of all temptations to unbelief or a falſe Faith.
I muſt live in a patient expectation, and hope of what God hath promiſed, neither deſpairing of mercy if I repent, nor preſuming of Mercy, if I repent not.
I muſt love God as the chief good, with the higheſt love, chuſing him for my only portion, delighting in him as my only comfort, willing to part with Life it ſelf to enjoy him, and making light of all things, ſo I may pleaſe him, loving his Image as far as I ſee it in every man, eſpecially in Jeſus Chriſt my Saviour.
It is my duty to ſtand in awe of God's threatnings and judgments, and to be very cautious and circumſpect in all my wayes, watching over my thoughts, words and actions, fearing to offend him in any thing; neither fearing nor loving any thing elſe ſo much, as to venture upon the least ſin.
I muſt intirely truſt and confide in God, both in all wants and dangers, whether of Soul or Body; Conſcientiouſly uſing ſuch means as he alloweth: Praying devoutly unto him for his Bleſſing, and caſting all my care for the ſucceſs upon him, not doubting of his never failing power and goodneſs:
I muſt walk humbly before God, thinking meanly of my ſelf; renouncing all my own worth or merits, acknowledging all that I am, have or hope for to be of his gift, taking patiently and thankfully all his chaſtiſements, and labouring to profit by them, and confeſſing that he doth all things wiſely and well.
I muſt behave my ſelf uprightly and ſincerely, as in his preſence; and do all I do as unto him, with a pure heart; avoiding all guile, diſſimulation and hypocriſie; not indulging the leaſt evil thought, inclination or deſire; keeping up high and honourable thoughts of him, and preſerving my Conſcience tender, and my heart ſoft and eaſie to take the impreſſions of his word and ſpirit.
I muſt ſhun all groſs repreſentations of God, or likening him ſo much as in my thoughts to any creature. I am not to worſhip him after my own conceit or fancy, but according to the rules he hath given in his word; not with a formal, but a ſpiritual worſhip; drawing near unto him in Prayer and praiſe, and all his Ordinances with my heart and affections.
I muſt uſe the ſacred name of God with all due reverence, not profaning it by blaſphemous, idle or impertinent talk; or by falſe, common or needleſs ſwearing; or by breaking my Holy Vows and Covenants; nor any way giving occaſion by my inſincere profeſſion of his name unto others, to blaſpheme or profane it.
I muſt honour the Lord in his day, by ſpending it in his Worſhip, meditating on, and praiſing him for his wonderful works of Creation and Redemption. Eſpecially in the Publick Aſſemblies, bearing my part devoutly in the Prayers of his Church, attending to his word Preached and Read, and Communicating in his Sacraments.
I muſt not think too highly of my ſelf, nor be proud of any thing I am, have or can do, ſeeing all is the undeſerved gift of God.
I muſt not humour my paſſions, but labour to be of a meek, and quiet, and docible Spirit.
I muſt make uſe of my reaſon, in conſidering what I am, and whence I came, and whither I muſt go; why I live, and how I muſt dye, and what ſhall become of me after death; what I owe to God, and men, and my ſelf, and how I pay it. I muſt often examine the ſtate of my Soul, and whether I be converted from the ſtate of ſin, into the ſtate of grace, and all my thoughts, words and actions, whether they be conformable to the will of God. I ſhould often think of the vanity of this World, and ſinful pleaſures, the certainty of death, the impartiality of judgment, the glories of Heaven, the terrors of Hell, the comforts of a good Conſcience, and what I muſt do to be ſaved, with the neceſſity of a Godly Life.
I muſt be heartily contented with my preſent lot and portion; not murmuring or repining at God's dealings, not ambitiouſly ſeeking a more high or plentiful condition, not fretting at my wants or ſufferings, nor vexing my Soul with Worldly cares, nor envying the more flouriſhing condition of others, but conclude that beſt which God chuſeth for me.
I muſt be a good husband of my time, induſtriouſly improving it to the good of my ſelf and others; not waſting it unprofitably in idleneſs, ſports and vanities, but labouring in an honeſt calling.
I muſt be chaſt and clean in Mind and Body, entertaining no wanton thought or deſire, or look, or dreſs, ſhunning all laſciviouſneſs and obſcene diſcourſe, books, geſtures, and enticements to luſt and uncleanneſs.
I muſt be temperate and moderate in eating, drinking, ſleeping, recreations and apparel; not pleaſing my Appetite, or waſting my Eſtate, or looſing my time in any of them, but uſing them onelyonly in ſuch a meaſure as may beſt preſerve my bodily health, to ſerve my Soul in ſerving God.
I muſt love my Neighbour as my ſelf, and do to all men, as I would they ſhould do to me, that is, all the good I can, rendering to every man his due.
Eſpecially I muſt love, and do good to thoſe that are of the Houſhould of Faith, and love every man the more, by how much I ſee more of God's image upon him.
Above all, I muſt labour to do good to mens Souls, by teaching, reproving, exhorting, comforting and Praying for them; Not hurting, grieving, ſcanda…izing or tempting them to evil, by advice, countenance or example.
Parents muſt dedicate their children to God, inſtruct and educate them in the knowledge and fear of God, correct all vice in them, and give them good example, maintaining them, and providing honeſt callings for them, as they are able.
Children muſt love, honour, obey, ſerve, and as there is need relieve their Parents with all thankfulneſs.
Husbands and Wives muſt live in an holy, mutual, conjugal love to each other; helping one another in ſerving God, Educating their Children well, Ruling their Servants, and managing their neceſſary Affairs; the Wife living in a quiet ſubjection to her Husband.
Maſters muſt be kind and juſt to their ſervants; inſtructing them in God's ſervice, as well as in their own; and ſervants muſt obey, and be faithful to their Maſters.
All Superiors are to rule in Juſtice and Holineſs, ſeeking God's Glory, and the publick good: and all inferiors are to be ſubject to the higher powers, paying tribute, and obeying their juſt Lawes for Conſcience ſake, not reſiſting, but to taking it Patiently, though they ſuffer wrongfully.
Miniſters muſt fced and rule, and watch over the Souls of their flocks, and their flocks muſt freely contribute to their maintenance, honour them in love, and be obedient to them.
I muſt not take away anothers Life, nor hurt his Body, nor ſo much as be angry with him without a cauſe; but muſt preſerve, as much as in me lyeth, his bodily welfare, even as my own.
I muſt not defile another's Wife, nor be guilty of Fornication, nor ſo much as look on any woman to luſt after her; but do all I can to preſerve the chaſtity of all.
I muſt not wrong another of any part of his Eſtate, by theft, robbery, fraud or deceit of any kind, but muſt ſecure his right, as much as my own, pay my debts duely, bargain honeſtly, and make reſtitution and amends for every wrong.
I muſt not wrong another's good name or credit, by falſe-witneſs, ſlandering, falſe-accuſing, tale-bearing, reproaching, back-biting; but I muſt vindicate it as far as with truth I can; acknowledging all the good I ſee in every man, groundleſly ſuſpecting no man. I muſt not make or ſpeak any lye, but ſpeak the truth plainly.
I muſt utterly caſt off all ſelfiſhneſs, and not be tempted by any deſire of pleaſing my ſelf, to covet any thing that is another mans.
I muſt love, pray for, and do good to my enemies; not rendring evil for evil, or ſeeking revenge, but forgiving, as God for Chriſt his ſake hath forgiven me.