The Parable of the Prodigal, Part 10
And ſhoes on his Feet.
This is the third Favour which is beſtowed upon the repenting Prodigal; his Lips were kiſſed, his Back was clothed, his Hand was adorned, and now his Feet are ſhod; the penitent perſon is onelyonly the compleat perſon. But what theſe What is meant by ſhoes on his feet.Feet are, and what the Shoes which are put-on them, is a point differently conjectured of by Interpreters. Sol. Not to waſte time, both the Words are Metaphorically to be underſtood for ſome things which do in ſome reſpects anſwer to Feet, and Shoes. Feeet are taken ſometimes, 1. for the ſprings of our actions and courſes; as for our Will and Affections, ſo Eccleſ. 5. 1. 2. For the actions and courſes themſelves, which Solomon calls the path of our feet, Prov. 4. 26. And in this ſenſe David ſaith, Wilt thou not keep my feet from falling? Pſal. 56. 13. and God is ſaid to guide the feet of his People, and to preſerve the feet of his Saints, 1 Sam. 2. 9. And Shoes on the feet, are alſo diverſly taken in a metaphorical ſenſe: 1. Sometimes for a mortified diſpoſition to the world, as the ſhoes keep the feet at a diſtance from the earth, and with them we trample upon the earth. 2. Sometimes for ſtrength againſt paſſive injuries and evils; as feet ſhod can paſs upon ſharp thorns and ſtones; this is called, Feet ſhod with the preparation of the Goſpel of Chriſt, Epheſ. 6. 3. Sometimes for a …it ability in all walking; for the ſhoes do not onelyonly adorn the feet, but ſtrengthen them in and unto motion: From all which we may, I think, obſerve this Propoſition.
That God doth enable a penitent perſon with grace and ſtrength Doct. God doth enable a penitent perſon with grace and ſtrength for a ſingular walking.for a better and ſingular walking or courſe of Life and Obedience. The Prodigal before his Converſion walked with naked feet, wildly, looſely, diſgracefully, dangerouſly; but upon his repentance, he hath ſhoes put on his feet; not onelyonly his Heart is altered, but his Life; not onelyonly his diſpoſition, but condition; not onelyonly his condition, but his converſation: He was another man, and now walks as another man. The ſame you ſee in Paul, before his Converſion, and after it: Before his Converſion, his feet were ſwift to ſhed bloud, he perſecuted the Saints and Members of Chriſt to the death; but after his Converſion, he exalts Jeſus Chriſt, and is endeared in higheſt affection unto him and his ſervants, prizeth Chriſt above all, loves Chriſt above all, ſtrives for the propagation and for the obedience of the Goſpel above all, and his feet carry him to moſt places and perſons for the ſervice of Chriſt: And this alteration in the courſe of life, Paul expreſſeth to be in all that are effectually called and converted, that they do not now walk as other Gentiles, Epheſ. 4. 17. nor as they themſelves once did, in darkneſs and voluptuouſneſs, but do put off their old Converſation, Epheſ. 4. 22. and walk as children of the light, Epheſ. 5. 8. and become ſervants of righteouſne…, Rom. 6. 18. and have their fruits unto …olineſs. v. 22.What this ſingular walking is.
But the Queſtion may be, What that ſingular courſe of living or walking is, unto which God doth enable penitent perſons? Sol. I conjecture of it thus. 1. It is an heavenly and ſpiritual A heavenly and ſpiritual walking.walking. In Abraham this is called, a walking before God; and in Noah, a walking with God; in the Galatians, a walking in the Spirit; in others, a walking in Chriſt; in the Phillippians, a converſation in heaven. Before our converſion, we mind nothing, and endeavour after nothing, and imploy our ſelves in nothing but ſinfull, ſenſual, vain things and courſes: But when the ſoul is truly made penitential, now our hearts mind a God, and his Word, and his Glory; now they meditate on his Will and Laws, now they crave after Grace and heavenly ſtrength, now they buſie and endeavour, What ſhall we do to be ſaved? Now our feet can bring us to the Courts of God, and now we can conſcionably prize and uſe communion with God; we take more delight a thouſand times to read his Word, than all Play-books, and merry Hiſtories; to hear the voice of Chriſt, to be reforming of what is evil, to be much in Prayer, and all the works of holy Obedience, than in any wicked or vain way whatſoever.
2. It is a regular courſe of life: The feet, when ſhoes are on them, are then reſtrained, as it were, and confined; they are A regular courſe of life.kept to a ſize, and do not …qu…nder and expatiate: So is it with the courſe of a man who is made a true Penitent; it is not now looſe and wild, guided by the ſeaſon of every company, nor by the examples of every man, nor by the courſe of the world, nor by the luſts of his own heart; what others do, is no rule to him; and what others applaud, is no rule to him; and what others decide, is no rule to him; and what his own heart ſuggeſts, is no rule to him: But he hath a ſure rule unto which he takes heed, and according to which he orders his converſation, and walks. If the Word of God ſaith, Go, he goeth; if that ſay, Come, he cometh: If that, like the Cloud before the Iſraelites, moves by Precept, he riſeth up, and endeavours to follow it; if that, like the ſame Cloud, doth reſt and forbid, he ſits down, and dares not do it: He doth not do what he will, but what he may; live after an Humour, but after a Law; he would have every action, not bad, but good; and that it may be ſo, firſt conſults with the Word, Is it lawfull? and then reſolves to practiſe it, becauſe it is ſo.
3. It is an even and upright courſe of life; as the ſhoes keep An even and upright courſe of life.the feet up on either ſide. Such feet doth God beſtow upon penitent people, as the living creatures had, their feet were ſtraight feet, Ezek. 1. 7. not like the Images feet in Daniel 2. 33. which were part of Iron, and part of Clay. A converſation that is like the Prophets cake, which was not turned, Hoſ. 7. 8. Doughbaked bread on the one ſide, and dough on the other; ſo P…ous in one part, and Impious in another; publickly Religious, and ſecretly Prophane; in one ſociety Angelical, in another Diabolical; in one place a Doctrine, and in an other an Uſe of Confutation: like a Fiſh, to give a frisk into the Aire, and then to plunge into the Ocean of Luſts. Such a Leopard-like life, ſpotted courſe is ignoble; when the Chriſtian runs, like that Beaſt with two feet of different length, with a general unevenneſs in his wayes; but ſtrait feet are thoſe which the Penitent walks withal: as he hath not an heart and an heart, ſo he hath not a foot and a foot: Tis granted, he may be ſometimes lam… and trip; frailties and infirmities befal the beſt, but an even, equal tenour is yet to be found in the main bulk of his paths. He hath no Artificial ſhoes, wider and leſſer, made on purpoſe, but in the bent of his heart and endeavours, deſires to have a good conſcience in all things, void of offence to God and man. The Philoſopher doth diſtinguiſh twixt a Complexion which ariſeth from Paſſion, and that which buds out from an Habitual temper; when a perſon occaſionally bluſheth, though he be of a pale Complexion, yet colour ariſeth in his face; but the Sanguine temper is ſtill of a ruddy face: Paſſionate actions are rare and unequal, but natural are frequent and even. The penitent, in the whole courſe of his converſation, is homo quadratus, ſquare, and uniform, and beautiful, and comely in the expreſſion of holineſs.
4. It is Ingenious and ſingle: His life moves not by ſeveral Ingenious and ſingle.Rules, nor yet runs by ſeveral Principles, nor yet is carryed unto oppoſite Ends. The Mariner he ſpends his life at Sea for Profit, and the Scholar he ſpends his life in Study for Knowledg, and the Ambitious man he follows the Court for Honour, and the Hypodrite he trades in Duty for applauſe: but the true Penitent, he is careful, and watchful, and diligent over all his wayes, and in all the duties of piety, for Divine glory. Gregory Nazianzen diſtinguiſheth of three ſorts of men; ſome are Mercenaries, who work to get a good reward; others are Servants, who work to avoid puniſhment; others are Sons, and theſe labour for the higheſt good, to enjoy God, and to ſet out his Glory: Whether we live, we live unto the Lord, ſaith the Apoſtle. The Chriſtian lives by the Lord; By the Grace of God, I am that I am, ſaid Paul. And he lives upon the Lord, The life that I now live, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, ſaith S. Paul again. And he lives unto the Lord, both to his approbation and to his honour, So that Chriſt may be magnified, ſaith Paul yet again: his intentions are ſuch as have the glory of God moſt principally in them; ſo that if you could unbowel the wayes of a Chriſtian to diſcern their ſcope, you ſhould find in them this Inſcription, To the Glory of God. And the actions themſelves (for the courſe of them) are ſuch as reſpect the glory of God, they are all of them Holineſs to the Lord, God is magnified by them.
5. It is a profitable Walking: The impenitent man is a dead A profitable walking.man, and his life is a deadly life, like the Plague, which is an infecting diſeaſe; like the Prophets girdle, rotten, and good for nothing. Either he is a dead letter, barren to any good, or he is a killing letter, doing much evil; either he is a rotten ſtick, good for nothing, or elſe he is a fire-brand, cauſing much wickedneſs. But… when a perſon becomes penitent, now his heart is made go…d, and his life becomes profitable. As Paul wrote of Oneſimus to Philemon, That in time paſt he was unprofitable to him, but now, ſaith he, profitable to thee and me. There is good to be got by him that is made good; blood runs through all the veins of his Converſation; one may get heat at his fire, and light at his candle, and refreſhing at his ſtreams, and clothing by his fleece; one may melt by his tears, go by his light, learn to truſt by his faith, to fear by his tenderneſs, to live by his obedience. Oh how he ſtrives to convert others, with S. Auſtin; to give knowledg to others, with S. Paul; to warn and beſeech others, with Lot; to profit theſouls of others, and help the bodies of others. In his general calling he is diligent, and in his particular he is active; his counſels are ſavoury, and his walkings are heavenly, ſuch as may ſave himſelf and thoſe about him, if they be ſo humble and wiſe as to apprehend and learn.
6. Laſtly, It is a comely walking; how beautiful are thy feet withſhoes, ſaith Chriſt of the Church, Ca…t. 7. 1. (Congruous to It is a comely walking.the condition of his place, of Grace;) the walkings of a penitent are beautiful walkings, ſuch as adorn his profeſſion, ſuch as become the Goſpel of Chriſt, ſuch as ſet out the tru…h of Grace, which he hath received, and the hope of glory which he expects, like ſo many Stars which are the glory of heaven: ſo are his particular actions inamelled with that Ornament of Me…kneſs, with that Crown of Wiſdome, with that Tenderneſs of Cireumſpection, with that Sweetneſs of Charity, with that Gracefulneſs of Piety, that no only the mouths of ſome are ſtopped, but likewiſe the mouths of others are opened, by beholding the uniform light of his new Converſation, to glori…ie our father which is in heaven.
2. Queſt. Thus you ſee what that better and ſingular courſe of life is, unto which God enables penitent perſons: Now let us conſider the Reaſons why God doth enable them thus to walk.Reaſons of it.
It cannot but be thus, if you conſider 1. The principle which is From the principle which is implanted in them.implanted in them: As things are in being, ſo they are in working; that nature which is moſt predominant in any, hath ſtill the command of the actions in him. Doth the penitent now live an heavenly life? Why, God hath given unto him a ſpiritual, and heavenly nature; He is made pertaker of the Divine Nature, which of all others is moſt holy, and ſpiritual, and heavenly. Doth he order his life by the rule of the Word? Why, the Word of God is ingraffed in him, and abides in him in the virtues and efficacies of it, ſo that he was converted by it, and will now be guided by it. Doth he lead an upright life? Why, the Lord hath taken from him the ſpirit of guile and deceitfulneſs, and hath given unto him an One heart, a plain, ſincere, perfect, or upright heart; a right heart which cannot abide doubling, and dividing, and hollowneſs, but it is of the truth; there is truth in the inward parts, and therefore there is truth in the outward acts. Doth he lead a ſingle life for Divine Glory? Why, he hath received real grace from God, which will work only for God; the Waters which come from the Sea, will run into the Sea again. Doth he live a profitable life? Why, it is the nature of true grace, and true repentance to make us as active in a good way, as we were violent in a bad; the nature of Good is to be diffuſive, as the nature of fire is to heat, and of the Sun is to give light: The love of Chriſt conſtraineth me (ſaith Paul.) Doth he adorn his holy profeſſion with an anſwerable converſation? Why! how can it be otherwiſe, but that gracious habits, ſhould breed gracious acts; and glorious qualities, ſhould breed glorious effects? It is the nature of a Star to ſhine, as it is the nature of dirt to defile; and it is the nature of a Diamond to ſparkle, as it is of the earth to be b…ack, &c.
2. The peculiar diſpoſition of Repentance. Repentance in From the peculiar diſpoſition of Repentance.the proper nature produceth two effects. 1. One in newneſs of life: It is againſt the truth of Repentance for a man to live the ſame life, to keep on the ſame courſe, for this is impenitency; not converſion, but continuation; not a regreſs, but a progreſs; not a change of life, but a courſe of the ſame life: But when Repentance comes, change comes; for what is repentance but the new purpoſe for a new life? A man muſt be what he was not, and do that which he never did, and run an other courſe quite contrary to what he did; put off the old converſation, and put on a new; Ceaſe to do evil, and learn to do well; put off the ſervice of unrighteouſneſs, and become the ſervant of holineſs: this is to be a penitent. 2. Another is revenge: you know the Apoſtle makes this one of the fruits of godly ſorrow and repentance; yea what revenge? 2. Cor. 7. Now this revenge, as it conſiſts in many other things, ſo in this eſpecially; that as we have imployed our ſoules and bodies in wicked acts to ſerve againſt the Lord to his diſhonor, ſo now we imploy and improve them in holy ſervices to the proper glory of God; now we buſy them, to know him, to love him, to obey him, to honour him: The penitent perſon is ſo ſenſible of the infinite diſhonour which God hath had by his ſinful life, that if he had now a thouſand ſouls and bodies, and ten thouſand lives, all were little enough in all holineſs of Converſation to redeem thoſe diſhonours, and repair them.
3. The peculiar intentions which God hath towards penitent perſons. The peculiar Intentions of God towards Penitent ſinners. He intends much Glory by them.1 He doth intend much glory to himſelf by them: for theſe are the people whom he doth form for his glory, and raiſe up to declare his praiſe, as is evident in Paul, and all other ſingular penitents, they have been the great inſtruments of his glory; but they cannot bring him glory unleſs they be enabled to live better lives then before. If they be alienated from the life of God, they neceſſarily are alienated from the glory of God. Right believing, and right living, theſe are our methods to diſplay the glory of God. 2. He doth intend much peace and joy And much pea…e and joy unto them.unto their Conſciences; a peace which paſſeth all underſtanding, and a joy which paſſeth all expreſſion; even that which ſprings from his gracious favour and reconciliation with them in Chriſt, which both pacifies the conſcience, and alſo quickens and revives it. But this could not be, unleſs he enabled them to new and better lives; the life of holineſs is the only path of peace, that of wickedneſs is a way which knows not peace; there is no peace unto wicked men, nor unto wicked wayes. And for Joy, that only breeds joy in conſcience, which makes the conſcience not to accuſe, but excuſe; not to torment, but comfort; only the new life is the properly joyful and comfortable life; there are no ſpirits in the life which is not ſpiritual. 3. He doth intend much outward mercy to them: See how full the field of bleſſings is to the penitent; but it And much outward mercy to them.is upon this condition, If his life be obedient; as it were upon his good behaviour, If ye conſent and obey ye ſhall eat the good of the Land. 4. He doth intend them Glory before men, and Glory And Glory before men, and with himſelf in Heaven.with himſelf in heaven: For the penitent he makes to be the excellent on earth; his refined pieces of gold, a choice people whom Nations ſhall honour, and the people ſhall call bleſſed. When a man leaves a ſordid and ignominious courſe of ſinning, he then becomes honourable in the eyes of God, and reputable in the eyes of men. Now the ſpots of Leproſie fall off from Naoman, and his fleſh grows clear and fair; but how ſhould this Sun break out, if the clouds ſtill remaine? Of neceſſity the life muſt alter, if we would have the opinions of men to alter; yea, and to what purpoſe is it to imagine an eternal life hereafter, unleſs we here firſt live an holy life, without which no man ſhall ſee God?
Doth God inable the true penitent to a new and better life or Ʋſe 1,walking? then let us reflect on our wayes and lives. How do we live? What kind of life do…ſt thou live. D…ceive not thy ſelf with the goodneſs of thy heart, if thy▪ life be bad.What kind of life is that which we do now live? Is it the life of a penitent or no? Never talk that thy heart is as good to God-ward as any mans though thy life be vile; thou deludeſt thy ſelf; if thy life be evil, aſſuredly thy heart is not good: The Tree, ſayes our Saviour, is known by his fruits; for a perſon to talk of a penitent heart, and what terror he hath had for ſin, and in ſome particulars to mak… a little ſemblance of godlineſs, when yet all this while he goes on in a courſe of drunkenneſs, or of uncleanneſs, of riotouſneſs, or of lying, or of pride, or of covetouſneſs, or of injuſtice, or of ſcoffing, &c. What a monſtrous and wilful deceit is this of a mans ſoul? Thou a penitent, who art ſtill a ſervant of Luſt! Thou a penitent, who ſtill walkeſt in darkneſs! Thou a penitent whoſe very courſe of life is nothing but a confutation of repentance, a trade in ſin! Knoweſt thou not, O ſinner, that where the heart is changed, the life will change? If thou haſt once put off thy corrupt nature, thou wilt eaſily put off thy corrupt converſation. Who doth as he did, if he be not as he was? No, real repentance turns us, and that is, from the love of ſin in the heart, and from the courſe of ſin in the life; as it ſuffers thee not to be an hypocrite, ſo it abhors that thou ſhouldſt be profane; if thy life be bad, queſtion it not, thy heart is bad; that filthy ſpeech comes from thy filthy Nature, that haughty look from thy proud Nature, that griping hand from thy cruel Nature, that fraudulent tongue from thy couſening Nature. 2. As much are they deceived who go on gently and gravely in their old, Nor with a cold, formal, negative Repentance.formal, cold, negative way of repentance; deeming themſelves no leſs then Penitentiaries, who have this only to plead, They never in all their lives did wrong or harm, &c. But remember, O ſelf-deceiver, if ever God gives to thee repentance indeed, thou wilt find other ſinful courſes to be left beſides thoſe of Commiſſion; thou wilt find thine Omiſſions to be a highly guilty courſe of ſin, that thou frequently omits calling upon God, hearing of his Word, reading of his Word, examining of thy heart, humbling of thy ſoul, walking in an holy, and heavenly, and exact manner, &c. Thou often crieſt out, What bad courſe am I in? I demand of thee, what holy courſe art thou in? what other courſe of life leadeſt thou then ever, &c. Well, I will ſay no more but this; but if other and better lives be the arguments of true Repentance, the Lord be merciful to us, there are then but very few penitents; the ſame oaths, the ſame curſings, the ſame worldlineſs, the ſame pride, the ſame drunkenneſs, the ſame uncleanneſs, the ſame neglects of God and ſpiritual duties; we are Ʋſe 2. Let us ſhew our Repentance by our Converſation.not others then we were, we live not otherwiſe then we have done.
But ſecondly, If any of you take your ſelves to be penitents, I beſeech you then, let us carefully ſhew it by our lives and converſations. Conſider to this purpoſe, 1. If there be truth of If there be true Repentance there will be newneſs of converſation.Repentance, there will be newneſs of Converſation: A monſtrous taing to ſee a man ſtart up and walk with his Coffin and Gravecloaths. If it be light it will ſhine, and if it be fire it will heat, and if it be ſalt it will ſeaſon; if thy heart be purged indeed, thy life will alſo be reformed indeed. If ye have been taught as the Epheſ. 4. 21.truth is in Jeſus: put off, concerning the former converſation, the old man. 2. The Lord …eſus hath purchaſed thy Life as well as thy Soul, and redeemed thy Converſation as well as thy Nature; Chriſt hath purchaſed thy life as well as thy ſoul.He did dye not only to recover thy inward Man, but alſo to cure thy outward Man; that as thy Heart ſhould not be profane, ſo thy Converſation ſhould not be vain: Chriſt hath ſuffered for us in the fleſh, that we ſhould no longer live the reſt of our time in the fleſh, 1 Pet. 4. 1, 2. Chriſt hath dyed for thee, that now thou ſhouldſt live unto him. 3. The honour of Religion lyes upon thy The honour of Religion lies upon thy life.Life: Thy heart may be a ſecret, a cloſet of much good or evil, we leave it to the Searcher of hearts; but thy life is a publick Letter, an audible Voice, a common Object: The profeſſion of truth and holineſs is an honourable thing in it ſelf, but a good and anſwerable Converſation adds and reflects a greater honour to it. As the Heaven is a beautiful Creature, but it is the more beautified by the ſhining of the Stars: So is it with Religion, it is an Excellency in it ſelf, and is made the more excellent by an excellent Converſation. But a lewd, rude, fooliſh, boyſtrous, incongruous, fowl, uneven, evil life, makes Religion to look like Gold in the dirt, or like a Jewel in a Swines ſnout, or like Beauty in a Whore. It is the very ſcandal of Religion, and as a death verſe upon an holy profeſſion: What is it, that thou now and then filleſt the eyes of men with a little gravity, and the ears of men with a little piety, when ſtill thou, by thy wicked life, armes the hearts of men to ſcorn, and the tongues of men to blaſphe… the Name of God and Profeſſors? The more pretence thou haſt to repentance, the more odious art thou, by thy impenitent life, to the profeſſion thereof. The ſtricteſt eyes are upon the ſtricteſt profeſſors, and no miſcarriages take ſo ſoon with men, or damp Religion more▪ 4. The ſouls of men lie much upon their life: What Greg. Nazianz. The ſouls of men lie much upon their life.ſaid of the Painter, That he teacheth not by his language, but by his hand; and Chryſoſtom of the Miniſter, That his firſt part is to Live well, and then to Teach well; that is true of every penitent Chriſtian, for his inward affections come not ſo into our ſcales as his outword actions: We judge of him, and imitate him not by what lies hid in his heart, but by what appears in his life; and of all men we are moſt confident to imitate the actions of thoſe who pretend moſt againſt ſin. Now then, if thou who pretendeſt to repent of all ſin, by thy ſinful life ſhould…t multiply ſinners amongſt men, or ſtrengthen the hearts of ſinners from returning, O how bitter, O how diſmal, how fearful, how an amazing account, that thou even under a forme of Repentance, ſhouldſt keep men in an eſtate of impenitency, to damn their ſouls by thy continual ſinnings? Sins in converſation are alwayes of more publick danger then thoſe of diſpoſition, as a Feavor or a Plague▪ 5. The comfort and peace of thy Conſcience lies much in it: The comfort and peace of thy Conſcience lies much in it.A good Life is the beſt Commentary of an upright heart, and uprightneſs is a comfort: A good Life is the beſt Star to clear up Gods glory; and to bring him glory, is to bring our ſelves comfort. Conſcience will judge thee more for evil in life, as more perfected, more hurtful, than for that within. A good life is the only Plaiſter, by which we heal others; the only Pilot by which we direct others; the only Hand, by which we hold up others: We may think good, but this circumſcribes it ſelf with our ſelves; we may deſire good, but this alſo con…ines it ſelf with our ſelves. The good life is the life only which doth good to others; and the more good we do, the more comfort ſtill we have▪ 6. The reward will be great to the life that is good: Its true, The Reward will be great to the good life.that God in his future retribution hath reſpect to the inward graces and diſpoſitions, but he takes publick notice of the operations of them in our lives, as for acting themſelves, and therefore pronounceth the reward to the doer, and the kingdom unto him that cloaths, and feeds, and viſits, &c. What! an eternal life for a good life! 7. But laſtly, Look on all who are truly penitent, or have All that are truly penitent have been very circumſpect of their lives.been ſo, how tender and circumſpect they have been of their lives and walkings: How extremely circumſpect was David of his tongue, Pſa. 39. and as exceedingly penſive for any unbeſeeming word or fact, much more for any ſcandalous evo…; ſuch a fool, ſuch a beaſt was I, Pſa. 51. So the Apoſtles, both in their wayes and in their directions unto all the Saints, preſſing earneſtly, and that by the Lord Jeſus, that they live and walk as becometh Saints, and as becometh the Goſpel, and that the Name of Chriſt be not blaſphemed; and as as who hath called them is holy, ſo ſhould they be holy in all manner of converſation.
Queſt. But how ſhould our lives be ſo led, that it may appear The manner …f a P…nitents life.we are Penitents indeed? Sol. For the manner of life which the truly Penitent ſhould lead, either it reſpects, 1. God, in duties of Piety. And here theſe adjuncts of Life are neceſſary: As it reſpects Go… in du…ies of Pie…y.1. Solid, and not formal performances of Religious Services; in the main Duties; not an empty cloud, a naked vizard, a life without life. 2. Adequate, and not partial ways of obedience, like and diſlike. 3. Conſtant, and not light and changeable exerciſes of holy acts; without wavering and unſetledneſs. Secondly, Men: And here the walking or converſation muſt be, As it reſpects Men.1. Wiſe, and not ridiculous; 2. Meek and gentle, and not turbulent; 3. Pro…itable, and not vain or evil; 4. Mercifull, and not cruel; 5. Humble, and not cenſorious; 6. Juſt, and not ſcandalous and injurious; 7. In all things circumſpect without offence. Thirdly, Thoſe in relation to us: And here the life muſt be an Obſervance, without contempt and ſlighting of thoſe to whom honour is due; 2. Affection with love and pity, without ſcorn or rigour; 3. A Care, with furtherance of their ſouls, without neglect and wearineſs.