The Christian Mans Calling, Treatise · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. What it is for a man to make Religion his buſineſs, or to exerciſe himſelf to Godlineſs
I Proceed to the ſecond particular promiſed, is to ſhew what it is for a man to exerciſe himſelf to Godlineſs. It implyeth theſe three things.
Firſt, To give it the precedency in all our actions; that which a man maketh his buſineſs he will be ſure to minde, whatſoever he omits. A good Huſband will ſerve his ſhop before his ſports, and will ſometimes offer an handſom & warrantable kind of diſreſpect to his friends, that his calling may have his company; he will have ſome excuſe or other to avoid diverſions, and force his way to his trade through all oppoſition, and all becauſe he makes it his buſineſs: He that makes Religion his buſineſs, carrieth himſelf towards his general, as this man doth towards his particular calling: In his whole life he walks with God, and is ſo mannerly and dutiful as to give God the upper hand all the way. He knoweth that his God muſt be worſhipped, that his family muſt be ſerved, and that his calling muſt be followed (for Religion doth not nullifie, onelyonly rectifie his carriage towards his earthly vocation) but each in their order, that which is firſt in regard of excellency, is firſt in regard of his induſtry. He is not ſo unnatural as to ſerve his cattle before his children, nor ſo Atheiſtical as to ſerve his body and the world before his ſoul and his Saviour. He is ſo ſenſible of his infinite ingagements to the bleſſed God, that he allotteth ſome time every day for his religious duties, and he will be ſure to pay God home to the utmoſt of his ability whoſoever he compounds with or pays ſhort.
As he ſaile along through the tempeſtuous ſea of this world towards his eternal Haven of reſt, he hath many temporal affairs in his company, but he is ſpecially careful that they keep their diſtance, and ſtrike ſail through the whole voyage. If his worldly-buſineſſes offer, like Hagar, to juſtle or quarrel for preheminence with their ſuperior, Religion, he will if poſſible chide them, into ſubjection and cauſe them to ſubmit; but rather caſt them out, then ſuffer them to uſurp Authority over their Miſtris.
He that minds Religion by the by, will if other things intervene, put it back, and be glad of an excuſe to wave that company, to which he hath no love; nay he doth in the whole courſe of his life, prefer his Swine, as the Gadarens, before his ſoul; ſet the Servant on Horſe-back, and ſuffer the Maſter to go on foot. His voice to Religion is like the Jews to the poor man in vile Rayment; ſtand thou there, or fit thou here under my foot-ſtool; and his words to the World, are like theirs to the man in goodly apparel, Come up hither, or ſit thou here in a good place, James 2.2, 3. He doth like Jacob, lay the right hand of his care and diligence upon the youngeſt Son, the body; and the left hand upon the firſt born of the ſoul; That which was Eſaus curſe is eſteemed by him as a bleſſing, that the Elder ſerves the Tounger; He is ſo unwiſe as to eſteem lying vanities before real mercies; often ſo unworthy, as to forget God, whoſoever he remembreth; and ſo uncivil at beſt, as to give God the Worlds leavings, and to let the Almighty Creator Dance attendance till he pleaſeth to be at leaſure. If he be in the midſt of his devotion, he makes an end upon the ſmalleſt occaſion, Plut.and is like the Patriarch, who ran from the Altar when he was about his Office, to ſee a Fole new fallen from his beloved Mare.
But every Saint like Solomon firſt builds an houſe for God, and then for himſelf. Whoever be diſpleaſed, or whatever be neglected, he will take care that God be worſhipped; Abrahams Steward, when ſent to provide a Wife for Iſaak, though meat were ſet before him, refuſed to eat till he had done his errand, Gen. 24.33. Godlineſs is the errand about which man is ſent into the World, now as faithful ſervants we muſt prefer our Meſſage before our meat, and ſerve our Maſter before our ſelves.
He that makes godlineſs his buſineſs, gives it the firſt of the day, and the firſt place all the day. He gives it the firſt of the day; Jeſus Chriſt was at prayer, a great while before day, Mark 1.35. Abraham roſe up early in the morning to offer Sacrifice. Gen. 22.1. So did Job 1. and 5. David cryeth out O God, my God, early will I ſeek thee, Pſa. 63.1. In the morning will I direct my prayer to thee, and look up, Pſa. 5.3. The Philiſtines in the morning early offered to their God Dagon. The Perſian Magi Worſhipped the riſing Sun, with their early hymns, The Saint in the morning waits upon Heavens Majeſty. As ſoon as he awakes, he is with God, one of his firſt works when he riſeth, is to ask his Heavenly Father Bleſſing. Like the Lark he is up early, ſinging ſweetly the praiſe of his Maker, and often with the Nightingale late up, at the ſame pleaſant tune.
He finds the morning a greater friend to the Graces, then it can be to the Muſes. Naturaliſts tell us that the moſt orient pearles, are generated of the Morning dew. Sure I am, he hath ſweet communion with God in morning duties.
Reader, Let me tell thee, if Religion be thine occupation, thy buſineſs, God will hear from thee in the morning, one of the firſt things after thou art up will be to fall down and worſhip him. Thy mind will be moſt free in the morning, and thine affections moſt lively (as thoſe ſtrong waters are fulleſt of ſpirits which are firſt drawn) and ſurely thou canſt not think but that God who is the beſt and chiefeſt good, hath moſt right to them, and is moſt worthy of them.
As a godly man gives religion the precedency of the day, ſo he gives it the precedency in the day; The Jews (ſome ſay) divide their day into prayer, labour and repaſt, and they will not omit prayer, either for their meat or labour. Grace (as well as nature) teacheth a godly man not to neglect either his Family or body, but it teacheth him alſo to prefer his ſoul, and his God before them both. Seneca though an Heathen, could ſay, I am greater, and born to greater things then to be a drudge to, and the ſlave of my body. A Chriſtians Character, is that he is not carnal, or for his body, but ſpiritual, or for his ſoul, Rom. 8. It was a great praiſe which Ambroſe ſpeaks of Valentinian, Never man was a better ſervant to his Maſter, then Valentinians body was to his ſoul.
This is the godly mans duty, to make Heaven his Throne, and the Earth his foot-ſtool. Its the expoſition which one gives upon thoſe words, Subdue the Earth, Gen. 1.28. that is thy body, and all earthly things to thy ſoul. Our earthly callings muſt give way to our Heavenly, we muſt ſay to them as Chriſt to his Diſciples. Tarry you here while I go and pray yonder, and truely godlineſs muſt be firſt in our Prayers, Hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, before, give us this day our daily bread; and firſt in all our practices ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God, and the righteouſneſs thereof, and all other things ſhall be added to you. Mat. 6.33.
Secondly, to make Religion ones buſineſs, containeth to purſue it with induſtry, in our converſations. A man that makes his calling his buſineſs, is not lazy but laborious about it, what pains will he take? what ſtrength will he ſpend? how will he toil and moil at it early and late? The Tradeſman, the Husbandman, eat not the bread of Idleneſs, when they make their callings their buſineſs; if they be good Husbands, they are both provident to obſerve their ſeaſons, and diligent to improve them for their advantage, they do often even dip their food in their ſweat, and make it thereby the more ſweet. Their induſtry appears in working hard in their callings, and in improving all opportunities for the furtherance of their callings.
1. Thus he that makes Religion his buſineſs, is induſtrious and laborious in the work of the Lord. The heart of his ground, the ſtrength of his inward man, is ſpent about the good corn of Religion, not about the weeds of earthly occaſions. He makes haſt to keep Gods Commandements, knowing that the lingring lazy Snail is reckoned among unclean creatures, Levit. 11.30. and he is hot and lively in his devotion, knowing that a dull, Eo quòd pigrnns & tardum ani… … eſt. …ellarm.drou ſie Aſs (though fit enough to carry the image of Iſis yet) was no fit ſacrifice for the pureand active God, Exod. 13.13. He giveth God the top, the cheif, the cream of all his affections, as ſeeing him infinitely worthy of all acceptation: He is not ſlothful in buſineſs, but fervent in ſpirit, when he is ſerving the Lord, Rom. 12.11. He beleiveth that to fear God with a ſecondary fear, is Atheiſm; that to truſt God with a ſecondary truſt, is Treaſon; that to honour God with a ſecondary honour, is Idolatry; and to love God with a ſecondary love, is Adultery; therefore he loveth (and he feareth, and truſteth, and honoreth) the Lord his God, with all his heart, and with all his ſoul, and with all his ſtrength, Mat. 22.36, 37. His love to God is a labour of love, as ſtrong as death, the coals thereof are coals of Juniper, which do not onelyonly burn long (ſome ſay twelve moneths together.) but burn with the greateſt heat. His meaſure of loving God is without meaſure.
The Samſeans in Epiphanius were neither Jews, Gentiles nor Chriſtians, yet preſerved a fair correſpendency with all: An Hypocrite is indifferent to any, never ſervent in the true Religion.
It is reported of Redwald King of the Eaſt Saxons, Cambd Brittan.the firſt Prince of this Nation that was baptized, that in the ſame Church he had one Altar for the Chriſtian Religion, another for the Heatheniſh Sacrifices. The true Beleiver doth otherwiſe, he that makes Religion his work, gives God the whole of his heart without halting and without halving.
Set him about any duty, and he is diligent in it. In prayer, Innuit certamen & quaſi luctam cum deo ipſo. Epiſ. Dav. in loc.he laboureth in prayer, Col. 4.12. he cryeth to God, 1 Sam. 7.9. he cryeth mightily, Jonah 3.8. he poureth forth his ſoul, Lam. 2.19. he ſtrives in ſupplication with God, Rom. 15.30. ſtirs up himſelf to lay hold on God, Iſa. 27.5. and even wreſtleth with Omnipotency, Gen. 32.14. When the mill of his prayer is going, his fervent affections are the waters that drive it. There is fire taken from Gods own Altar (not the ordinary hearth of Nature) and put to his incenſe, whereby it becomes fragrant and grateful to God himſelf. His fervent prayer is his key to Gods Treaſury, and his endeavour is that it ruſt not for want of uſe. When he goeth to the Sacrament he is all in a flame of affection to the Author of that feaſt: With deſire he deſires to eat of the Paſsover. He longs exceedingly for the time, he loves the Table; but when he ſeeth the Bread and Wine, the wagons which the Lord Jeſus hath ſent for him, oh how his heart revives! When he ſeeth the Sacraments the Body and Blood of Chriſt in the elements, who can tell how ſoon he cents? how faſt this true Eagle flyeth to the heavenly carkaſs.
At hearing he is heedful, he flyeth to the ſaltſtone of the Word with ſwiftneſs and care, as Doves to their columbaries, Iſa. 60.8. As the new born babe, he deſires the ſincere milk of the Word, and when he is attending on it, he doth not dally nor trifle, but as the Bee the flower, and the childe the breaſt, ſuck with all his might for ſome ſpiritual milk, Iſa. 66.11. Deut. 28.1. he hearkneth diligently to the voyce of the Lord his God; let him be in company, taking notice of ſome abominable carriage, he will rebuke cuttingly, Tit. 1.13. If he gives his bitter pill in ſweet ſyrrup, you may ſee his exceeding anger againſt ſin, whilſt you behold his love to the ſinner; he is though a meek Lamb when himſelf, yet a Lion when God is diſhonoured; his anger waxeth hot when men affront the moſt High, Exod. 32.19. If he be counſelling his child or friend to minde God and godlineſs, how hard doth he woo to win the ſoul to Chriſt? how many baits doth he lay to catch the poor creature? you may perceive his bowels working by his very words: How fervent, how inſtant, how urgent, how earneſt is he to perſwade his relation or acquaintance to be happy? He provokes them to love and to good works.
Set him about what religious exerciſe you will, and he is, according to the Apoſtles words, zealous (or fiery fervent) of good works; like ſpring water, he hath a living principle, Plin. lib. 5. cap. 5.and thence is warm in winter, or like Debris in Cyrene is ſeething hot: As Auguſtus ſaid of the young Roman, Quicquid vult, valde vult; Whatſoever he goeth about, that concerns the glory of his Saviour and the good of his ſoul, he doth it to purpoſe. As Paul ſaith of himſelf, I follow after if that I may apprehend, Phil. 3.10. The word in the original is emphatical foreign, I proſecute it with all my ſtrength and power, that I may attain if it be poſſible. The word is either an alluſion to perſecutors, Matth. 5.10, 11, 12. for its uſed of them frequently, ſo Piſcator takes it. Or to Hunters, Eſt more vena tarum perſequi feram. Ar…t.according to Aretius; take either and the ſence is the ſame, and very full. As perſecutors are induſtrious and inceſſant in ſearching up and down for poor Chriſtians and hailing them to priſon; and as Huntſmen are up betimes at their ſport, follow it all day, and ſpare for no pains, even ſweating and tyring themſelves at this their pleaſure; ſo eager and earneſt, ſo indifatigable and induſtrious was Paul, and ſo ought every one of us to be (the command is delivered to us, in the ſame word, Heb. 12.14.) about godlineſs.
A man that minds godlineſs onelyonly by the by, looks ſometimes to the matter, ſeldom to the manner of his performances. Opus operatum the work done is a full diſcharge for him, how ſlightly or ſlovenly ſoever it be done. If he ſtumble ſometimes upon a good work, yet it is not his walk, and when he is in that way he cares not how many ſteps he treads awry. It may be ſaid of him as of Jehu, He takes no heed to walk in the way of the Lord God of Iſrael, with his heart, 2 King. 10.31. He makes an Idol of the bleſſed God, (he prays to him, and hears from him, as if he had eys and ſaw not, as if he had ears and heard not, as if he had hands and wrought not) and any thing will ſerve an Idol. How aptly and juſtly may God ſay to him after his duties, as Ceſar to the Citizen after Dinner (who having invited the Emperour to his Table, made but ſlight preparation and ſlender proviſion for him) I had thought that you and I had not been ſo familiar.
But he that exerciſeth himſelf to godlineſs hath a more awful and ſerious carriage towards God. 'Er foreign omnibus viribus vobementer, prolixe, toto animo. A Lapide. foreign dicitur quod in longum protenditur. …eza.The twelve Tribes ſerved God, inſtantly day and night, Acts 26.7. fervently, vehemently to the utmoſt of their power; the word implyeth both extenſion and intention, the very *Macro. Satur lib. cap. 4.heathen could ſay that the Gods muſt be worſhipped, foreign either to our utmoſt with all, or not at all.
2. The induſtry of a man about his calling, or whatſoever he makes his buſineſs, appeareth in his taking all advantages for the furtherance thereof. A Tradeſman that minds his employment, doth not onelyonly in his Shop, but alſo abroad, and when he is from Home, drive forward his Trade. Indeed, when he is in his Shop, his eyes are moſt about him, to ſee what is wanting, that it may be ſupplied, to take care that all his cuſtomers may be ſatisfied, and to order things ſo, that by his buying and ſelling, his ſtock may be increaſed; but if he walk from home, he doth not wholly leave his Trade behinde him If he viſit his friends or acquaintance, and there be any likelyhood of doing any good, you may obſerve him queſtioning the price of ſuch and ſuch commodities, enquiring at what Rates they are afforded in thoſe parts, and if they be cheap, poſſibly furniſhing himſelf from thence, if dear (it may be) putting off a conſiderable quantity of his own. Becauſe he makes it his buſineſs, his mind runs much upon it, that wherever he is, he will be ſpeaking ſomewhat of it, (if occaſion be offered) whereby he comes now and then to meet with ſuch bargains as tend much to his benefit; ſo the Chriſtian that makes Religion his buſineſs, is induſtrious to improve all opportunities for the furtherance of his general calling: as his time (for he is Gods ſervant) ſo his trade goeth forward every hour; He is David like as a ſparrow upon the houſe top looking on this ſide and that ſide to ſee where he may pick up ſome ſpiritual food. He doth not onelyonly in the Church and in his Cloſet, but alſo in all his converſes with men walk with his God. If God proſper him, as the ſhip mounts higher according to the increaſe of the Tide, ſo his heart is lifted up the nearer to God, as Gods hand is enlarged towards him. If God afflict him, as the nipping north wind purifies the air, ſo the beſom of affliction doth ſweep the duſt of ſin out of his heart. As his pulſe is ever beating, ſo his heavenly trade is ever going forward His viſits to his friends are out of conſcience as well as out of courteſie, & his endeavor is either by ſome ſavoury Scripture expreſſion, or ſome ſober action to advantage his company: He will watch for a fit ſeaſon to do his own and others ſouls ſervice, and catch at it as greedily, and improve it as diligently as Benhadads ſervants did Ahabs words.
If he be eating or drinking, the ſalt of grace is ever one diſh upon the table to ſeaſon all his diet: He will raiſe his heart from the daily bread, to the bread that came down from heaven; he eateth, is full, and bleſſeth the Lord: Before he begins he asketh God leave, while he feeds, he taſteth Gods love, and when he hath done he giveth God thanks.
If he be buying or felling, he is very willing that God ſhould be a witneſs to all his bargains, for he prayeth to God as if men heard him, and he tradeth with men as if God ſaw him; His ſhop as well as his Chappel, is holy ground.
If he be amongſt his Relations, he is both deſirous and diligent to further Religion. His endeavour is that thoſe that are nigh him in the fleſh may be nigh God in the ſpirit. He is careful that both by his precepts and pattern he may do ſomwhat for their profit. His houſe as well as his heart is conſecrated to God.
As Ceſars Image was ſtampt on a penny, as well as on a greater piece, Mat. 22.20. So godlineſs which is the Image of the King of Kings is imprinted not onelyonly on his greater and weightier, but alſo upon his leſſer and meaner practices.
Godlineſs is not his Phyſick which he onelyonly now and then (as at Spring and Fall) makes uſe of, but his food, which he daily dealeth about; beſides his ſet times for his ſet meals of Morning and Evening devotion, he hath many a good bait by the by, in the day time. Evening, Morning, and at Noon will I pray, and cry aloud, Pſa. 55.17. Oh how love I thy Law, it is my meditation, (not ſome part but) all the day. Whether the actions he be about be natural or civil, he makes them ſacred; whether the Company he be in be good or bad, he will mind his holy calling; whether he be riding or walking, whether he be at home or abroad, whether he be buying or ſelling, eating or drinking, whatſoever he be doing, or whereſoever he be going, ſtill he hath an eye to further godlineſs, Anima eſt tota in toto & tota in qualibet partebecauſe he makes that his buſineſs. What the Philoſopher ſaid of the ſoul in relation to the body, The ſoul is whole in the whole body, and whole in every part of it, is true of godlineſs, in reference to the life of a Chriſtian, godlineſs is whole in his whole converſation, and whole in every part of it. As the conſtitution of mans body is known by his pulſe, if it beat not at all he is dead, if it beat and keep a conſtant ſtroke, its a ſign the body is ſound: Godlineſs is the pulſe of the ſoul, if it beat not at all, the ſoul is void of ſpiritual life, if it beat equally and conſtantly, it ſpeaks the ſoul to be in an excellent plight.
It was the practice of our Saviour (who left us a bleſſed pattern therein) to be always furthering godlineſs; when bread was mentioned to him, upon it, he diſwaded his Diſciples from the leaven of the Phariſees, Mat. 16.5.6. When water was denyed him by the Samaritan woman, he forgets his thirſt and ſeeks to draw her to the Well-ſpring of happineſs, John 4.10. When people came to him for bodily cures, how conſtantly doth he mind the ſafety of their ſouls; Thou art made whole, go ſin no more, or thy ſins are forgiven thee. He went about doing good, in the day time working Miracles and Preaching, in the night time he often gave himſelf to meditation and prayer.
He that minds Religion by the by doth otherwiſe, he can (Proteus like) turn himſelf into any ſhape which is in faſhion. Purch. Pilgr. Vol. 1. p. 416.As the Carbuncle, a Beaſt amongſt the Blackamores, which is ſeen onelyonly by night, having a ſtone in his Fore-head, which ſhineth incredibly and giveth him light whereby to feed, but when he heareth the leaſt noiſe, he preſently lets fall over it a skin, which he hath as a natural covering, leaſt its ſplendor ſhould betray him; So the half Chriſtian ſhines with the light of holineſs by fits and ſtarts, every fright makes him hold in and hide it. The mark of Antichriſt was in his followers hands, which they can cover or diſcover at their pleaſure, but the mark of Chriſts Diſciples was in in their Foreheads, viſible at all times.
Thirdly, To exerciſe our ſelves to godlineſs, implyeth to perſevere in it with conſtancy to our diſſolution. Men follow their Trades, and open their Shops till death ſhut their eyes, and gives them a writ of eaſe; men purſue their earthly works, till death ſound a retreat, and command their appearance in the other World. Many a one hath breathed out his laſt in the midſt of his labour: His life and his labour have ended together. Let every man abide in the calling whereto he is called ſaith the Apoſtle. 1 Cor. 7.24.
They who make Religion their buſineſs, are conſtant, immoveable and do always abound in the work of the Lord. Their day of life is their day of labour, the ſun ariſeth and man goeth to his labour, until the Evening, Pſa. 104.23. Death onelyonly is their night of reſting, when they die in the Lord, then, and not till then they reſt from their labours. Saints are compared to Palm Trees, becauſe they flouriſh ſoon; to Cedars, becauſe they continue long; True Saints in youth always prove Angels in age. B. Hall med. ti. cent. ….they often ſet out with the firſt, but always hold on to the laſt. The Philoſopher being asked in his old age, why he did not give over his ſtudies; anſwered, When a man is to run a race of forty furlongs, he will not ſit down at the thirty ninth and loſe the price. The pious ſoul is faithful unto death, and injoyeth a Crown of life. As Ceſar he is always marching forward, and thinks nothing done whilſt any thing remains undone; Nil actumc edens ſi quid ſu per ſſet agend…m i…u…an.As they are fervent in their work, ſo they are conſtant at their work. The Church of Epheſus had Letters Teſtimonial from Heaven, for my names ſake thou haſt laboured, and haſt not fainted. Rev. 2.3.
Water in the Baths is always warm; As long as there is Water, there is heat; not ſo our ordinary water, though this may be warmed by the fire at preſent, yet if taken off, it returnes to its former coldneſs (nay it is colder then before, becauſe the ſpirits which kept it from the extremity of cold, are by the fire boyld out of it) The reaſon is plain, the heat of the Baths is from an inward principle, and therefore is permanent, the heat of the latter is from an external cauſe, and therefore is inconſtant.
That warmth of piety which proceeds from an inward principle of a purified conſcience, is accompanied with perſeverance; but that profeſſion which floweth from an outward motive (wheremen as Chamelions take their colour from that which ſtands next them, their Religion from thoſe they have their dependence upon,) is of ſhort duration.
A man that minds Religion by the by, is like Nebuchadnezzars Image, he hath an head of gold but feet of clay. His beginning may be like Nero's firſt five years, full of hope and encouragement, but afterwards as a carcaſs he is more filthy and unſavory every day then other. His inſincerity cauſeth his inconſtancy. Trees unſound at the root, will quickly ceaſe their putting forth of fruit. Such men if godlineſs enjoy a ſummer of proſperity may like a Serpent creep on the ground and ſtretch themſelves at length, to receive the warmth of the Sun, but if Winter come he will creep into ſome Ditch or Dunghil, leaſt he ſhould take cold.
Travellers that go to Sea, meerly to be Sea-ſick, or in ſport, if there ariſe a black cloud or ſtorm, their voyage is at an end, they haſten to the harbour; they came not to be Weather beaten, or to hazard themſelves amongſt the boiſtrous Billowes, but onelyonly for pleaſure: But the Merchant that is bound for a voyage, whoſe calling and buſineſs it is, is not daun…ed at every Wave and Wind, but drives through all with reſolution. He that onelyonly pretends towards Religion, if a ſtorm meet him in the way to Heaven, he leaves it and takes ſhelter in the earth; as a Snail, he puts out his head to ſee what Weather is abroad (what countenance Religion …ath at Court, whether great men do ſmile or frown upon the Ways of God) and if the Heavens be lowring he ſhrinks into his ſhell, eſteeming that his onelyonly ſafety. But they that make godlineſs their buſineſs, do not ſteer their courſe by ſuch cards, they follow their trade, though they meet with many trials; as reſolved travellers, whether the ways be fair or foul, whether the weather be clear or cloudy, they will go on towards their Heavenly Canaan, They go from ſtrength to ſtrength, till they appear before God in Sion, Pſa. 84.8.
When men follow godlineſs by the by, and in jeſt, they take it to farm and accept leaſes of it for a time, but if the times come to be ſuch, that in their blind judgments, it prove an hard pennyworth, they throw it up into their Land-Lords hands; Vadat Chriſtus (as he ſaid) cum ſuo Evangelio; but men that make Religion their buſineſs, take it as their free hold, as their fee ſimple which they enjoy (and eſteem it their priviledge ſo to do) for the whole term of their lives, I have choſen thy ſtatutes as my heritage for ever, I have enclined my heart to perform thy ſtatutes always unto the end. Pſa. 119.11, 12.
The godlineſs of an unſound profeſſour, is like the light of a Candle, fed with groſs and greaſie matter (as profit and honour and pleaſure) which continueth burning, till that tallowy ſubſtance be waſted, but then goeth out and leaves a ſtench behind it; the holineſs of a true Chriſtian is like the light of the Sun, which hath its original in heaven, and is fed from above, and thereby ſhines brighter and brighter to perfect day. Prov. 4.18.