Works, Christian precepts
A Threefold Alphabet of Rules concerning CRISTIAN PRACTICE.
The Firſt Precept of every Letter concerning Duty towards God; The Second towards our Neighbours; The Third towards our Selves. Gathered at a Friends requeſt in this order for the helping of the Memory.
Firſt,
AWake with God in the morning, and before all things give him your firſt fruits and calves of your lips, in 1 Confeſſion of ſin: 2 Petition of neceſſaries for body and ſoul: 3 Thankfulneſs for mercies received, eſpecially your late preſervation, reſt, and protection of you and yours.
Joſh. 24.15. Pſa. 101.2 Gen. 14.14 & 18.19. Eſth. 4.15.2 Account it not enough that your ſelf ſerve God, unleſs that you ſee all in your charge do the ſame.
3 Arm your ſelf againſt whatſoever the day may bring forth: and upon all occaſions think on your happy redemption, with much thankfulneſs for ſo happy conjunction of Juſtice and mercy.
B
1 Beware of occaſions of ſin, and wiſely inure your ſelf in ſubduing the leaſt, that at length the greater may be foiled.
2 Beleeve all that God ſpeaketh unto you out of his word, but not all that man telleth you: 1 Sam. 10.16. Eccl. 3.7.nor tell to any other all that you hear, but only the truth, and that neither all, nor always.
3 Before you take in hand any thing, Luk. 2.19. 2 Sam. 2.1 1 Sam. 30.8.counſel with Gods word if it be lawful, and then perform it with prayer, that it may bee as ſucceſsful as lawful.
C
1 Carefully ſet your ſelf in Gods preſence all the day long, that ſetting him at your right hand you may not fall.
2 Carry your ſelf unto all as the weak may be won, 1 Cor. 1… 32. Col. 4.5.the ſtrong comforted, and the wicked aſhamed.
3 Conſider the dignity of your ſoul how beautiful it is to God and his Angels ſo long as you keep it unſpotted; Mat. 15.18. Eph. 4.…3 31. Col. 3.5.…that ſo you may cleanſe your heart from the firſt motions of ſinful thoughts, as luſt, anger, envy, pride, ambition covetouſneſs, fullenneſs: and the rather, becauſe the leaſt ſin deſerveth death.
D
1 Daily morning and evening, at leaſt ſolemnly on your knees make confeſſion and requeſts with thankſgiving: firſt preparing your heart to ſeek the Lord: in the morning think that that day may bee your laſt day, and when you go to bed, you know not whether you ſhall riſe unleſs it be to judgement. It is ſafeſt therefore to uſe prayer as a key to open the morning, and as a bar or lock to ſhut in the evening.
2 Delight to do all the good you can to Gods Children; Gal. 6.10and to receive all the good you can from them.
3 Diſtruſt not Gods providence in any matter, 2 Chr. 16.3.9.12. 2 Cor. 3.5 1 Cor. 3.7 Rom. 1.25although you ſee the means wanting, neither when you have them, let them bee relyed on more than God himſelf; but let him be prayed unto for the proſperous uſe of them.
E
1 Exerciſe your mind in meditating often on the works of God, Jer. 12.2 H…b. 1.13 Mat. 15.31as his creating and governing of the world, his proſpering and puniſhing the wicked, his bleſſing and correcting his children, his preparing of unſpeakable Joy for the one, and unutterable torment for the other; Exod. 10.8But eſpecially on the Sabbath, add to theſe meditations the holy exerciſes of prayer, Preaching, Sacraments, holy conference, and ſuch like.
2 Eſteem of every one better than your ſelf, Rom. 12.16.and the more you excel another, be ſo much the more humbled
Phil 2.3. Rom. 14.23. Prov. 6.14 Zac 8.17 Pſa. 49.33 Examine your thoughts well whether they tend, before you fulfil your own deſires; if you find them unprofitable, curious, vain, or ſuch as you cannot yeild a ſufficient reaſon to God or man for, kill them in the ſhel, let them not live or breathe longer in you.
F
Eccl. 12.13 Prov. 5.8 & 6.27, 281 Fear God and keep his Commandements: for this is the whole duty of man.
2 Fly and avoid places and perſons; infectious, wanton, idle, unthrifty and bad company, which are to the ſoul as poyſoned and infected air to the body.
Eccl. 1.13 Gen. 3.19 2 Theſ. 3.63 Follow with faithfulneſs and diligence your own buſineſs, in the lawful and particular calling wherein God hath placed you; only be careful in your earthly buſineſs to carry an heavenly mind.
G
1 Grow up daily in the practice of every commandement, and in the faith of every promiſe of God; ſeeing God would have the planted in his houſe thrive, Pſ. 92.13.14well liking and more fruitful in their age: he that is not beſt at laſt, may fear whether ever he were good.
1 Cor. 10.32. Rom. 14.132 Give no offence juſtly unto any man; whether within or without: for woe to them by whom offences come
3 Grieve for nothing in the world ſo much as for your own ſins, Rom. 7.18, 19, 24and in them for nothing ſo much as for offending ſo loving a God; and that not only in committing of evil, but alſo in omitting of good.
H
1 Cor. 11.31.1 Humble your ſelf for your ſins, that the Lord may raiſe you up; for he that judgeth himſelf aright, ſhall never be judged of the Lord,
2 Honour all men in their places, 1 Pet. 2.17but no man ſo much for his greatneſs as for his goodneſs: Act. 10.35and thus ſhall you imitate the Lord himſelf, who accepteth not perſons, but in every Nation accepteth him that feareth him.
3 Have ſpecial care to avoid the ſins which you have found your ſelf moſt inclined unto, and which have in times paſt moſt prevailed: for ſin is loath to be ſaid nay, and Satan ſeeketh re-entry.
I
1 Juſtifye Gods wiſdome in all his proceedings concerning your ſelf and others; his Power in ſuſtaining, his Providence in maintaining, his Juſtice in puniſhing, his Love in correcting, his Bounty in promiſing, his Faithfulneſs in performing, his Grace in giving, his Mercy in taking away: and in every thing ſay from the heart, Job 1.21Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord.
2 In every company receive ſome good, and do ſome alſo to your power: leave no ill ſavour behind you, neither do hurt by ſpeech, ſilence, countenance, or example: in your praiſes be diſcreet, in ſaluting courteous, in admoniſhing brotherly: and wiſe in moving and entertaining ſpeech or conference.
3 It is fearful to ſin, Pſal. 51.3 Epheſ. 4.26but much more to lye in it: and therefore regiſterall your ſins daily, bewail them at fit times, pray for pardon of them, and ſtrength againſt them: contemn none as counting it little, becauſe Gods law hath condemned it; and Chriſt hath dyed for it, or elſe muſt you eternally.
K
1 Know God in Chriſt, Job. 17.3which is life everlaſting, kiſs the Son of God leſt he be angry, Pſa. 2.12and know your ſelf to be a beleever, and that Chriſt is in you, and you in him.
2 Keep as your vows with God, Pſa. 15.4ſo your lawful promiſes with men: for faith and truth muſt kiſs each other in Chriſtian converſation.
3 Keep out wandring and worldly thoughts as much as poſſible may bee, prov. 4.23narrowly watching your heart; for, ſuch as you ſuffer that to bee, ſuch will be your words, deeds, and whole converſation.
L
1 Love all things for Gods ſake, and God onelyonly for his own; and look you make him your friend, whoſoever be your enemy for it: this you ſhall do, if as an obedient child, you live in the eye of your heavenly father.
2 Look upon the lives and behaviours of the wicked, to avoid them; of the godly, to imitate them; upon the Life and Death of them both, as alſo your own not far off, to make you loathe this world, & long after the life to come.
Luk 21.34. Rom 13 13. Deut. 28.58 Mat. 7.12.3 Let your meat, apparel, recreation be lawful, needful, and moderate.
M
1 Make not mention of God, or any word or work of his but with fear and reverence: nor of any man but with love and carefulneſs, uſing his name as you would have him to uſe yours.
2 Mark other mens profiting in religion, to provoke your ſelf, their ſlips to make your ſelf more wary, their riſings to be thankful to God for them.
3 Meditate often upon the four laſt things. 1 Death. 2 Judgement. 3 Heaven. 4 Hell.
N
1 Never make ſhew of more holineſs outwardly, than inwardly you have in your heart which God ſeeth, in which hee deſireth truth: Rom. 12nor pleaſe your ſelf with your unprofitableneſs, unfitneſs, or unwillingneſs to good.
2 No man is owner, but ſteward of that he hath, you muſt therefore impart of the bleſſings you have, to thoſe that ſtand in need, wiſely, heartily, and in due ſeaſon.
1 Cor. 11.28 Rom. 12.123 Note your own ſpecial corruptions whether they grow ſtronger or weaker, and how your ſelf can reſiſt them: and if any aſſault you more ſtrongly, pray, and make the matter known to God: The beſt way for a woman ſolicited to folly, to bee rid of the Tempter is, to tell her Husband.
O
Prov. 27.2 & 10.19.1 Often ſpeak to the praiſe of God, never of your ſelf. For other things, becauſe many words want not iniquity, ſpeak as few as you can, or rather none than unprofitable.
…am. 1.19.2 Open not your mouth to ſpeak of other mens infirmities, Pſal. 15eſpecially behind them: nor before them without grief and ſorrow.
3 Of every idle word account muſt be given, Mat. 12 36and much more of every wicked word, and therefore let your ſpeech be gracious, poudred with ſalt, Col. 4.…and tending to edification.
P
1 Praiſe the Lord for every new benefit beſtowed, 1 Theſ. … 18and then by it promote his glory, the Churches good, and your own ſalvation; eſteeming of graces given as ſpurres to godlineſs, and pledges of eternal life.
2 Prevent anger before it kindle; Eccl. 7.… Prov. 14 17it is wiſdome to quench the leaſt ſparkle of fire before it begin to flame. Conſider 1 the original of anger, being pride or ſelf-love. 2 The curſed fruits, by giving place to the Devil. 3 Gods patience. 4 Gods image in your brother. 5 Your own weakneſs in the ſame kind. 6 The wrong is not remedied by revenge, but inlarged; nor the wrong-door amended, but imitated.
3 Prepare your ſelf for death, 1 Cor. 1 56and pull out his …ing by 1 Bewailing ſins paſt. 2 Turning to God in time to come. 3 Purpoſing a new life. None can dye ill, that hath had a care to live well. Perſwade your ſelf, if you live well, you ſhall dye well; but if you dye well, doubt not but you ſhall do better.
Q
1 Quiet your heart, Pſal. 39 …and be ſtill under the correcting hand of God, becauſe 1 He doth it. 2 For your beſt. 3 Hee will moderate it. 4 Supply ſtrength. 5 Seaſonably deliver out of it.
2 Queſtion not whether others ſhould do you good, or you them firſt: Mat. 5.… Rom. 1.20.it is praiſe-worthy to bee firſt in well-doing: and if you do good to your enemies, your reward is with God.
3 Quench not the Spirit; 1 Theſ 19not ſuffer any good motion ariſing in your heart to paſs away, but feed it by reading, meditation, prayer, and practice.
R
1 Read daily ſomething of Gods book for the increaſe of knowledge and conſcience; Pſal. 1.… Deut. 6and add hereto meditation and prayer: for theſe three, ſaith Luther, make a Divine: all time thus ſpent is well redeemed. As for laſcivious and idle books, ſhun them as rocks.
2 Rejoyce in the good you know by another: praiſe God for it, pray for the increaſe of it. But if you know any evil by any, mourn for it, and if you can, by brotherly admonition amend it.
…ob 31.1 …ſal …59.…7.3 Retrain your ears, eyes, mouth, and hands, from hearing, ſeeing, ſpeaking or performing any wicked and vain thing; knowing that death often entereth in at the windows.
S
…am. 1.21 Stick to God, as well in adverſity as proſperity; the one being as neceſſary as the other. If you want neceſſaries, humble your ſelf for them: if you have them, bee humble with them; and uſe them well, leſt you forfeit them.
…at. 5.23 …ſal. 35.142 Seek Reconciliation with your Neighbour, freely forgiving thoſe that have offended you, and earneſtly deſiring to be forgiven of all that have been offended by you.
…at. 23.25 ….7.9, 103 Study to approve both your heart to God, and your Life to Gods Children in your particular calling, and eſpecially to ſuch, …heſ. 5 …. & 6.…as to whom God hath joyned you: as, if a ſervant in obeying, if a Maſter in ruling, if an husband in loving, if a wife in reverence; for a good conſcience, a good name, and good manners muſt go together.
T
…b. 3.12. …. 1.11 …. 15 …. m. 1. …. & 12.1 Take heed of performing holy duties for faſhions ſake, or without feeling, and profit: for this is hypocriſy or prophaneneſs.
2 Thankfully requite, at leaſt with 1 Acknowledgement, 2 Hearty affection, 3 Prayer, the good you get by any man: for there is no member in the body but ſtandeth in need of others mens gifts
Cor. 11.….263 Think it the greateſt work in the world to dye well: which to do, you muſt inure your ſelf to dye before hand, 1 by dying to your ſins. 2 Leaving the world in affection, before it actually leave you. 2 In your laſt leaving of it, do it willingly, yea Joyfully, whenſoever, whereſoever, or howſoever God ſhall call you.
V
1 Vow to God and keep it: Eccl. 5.34 Pſal. 16.14eſpecially ſtrive in performing the ſolemn vow of your baptiſm, and the covenant which you renew in the Lords Supper.
2 Vatiance and diſcord with men will not ſtand with your peace with God. If you love God, 1 Joh. 4, 20you will love men alſo, for Gods image; or elſe for his Commandements ſake.
3 Uſe the World as not uſing it, and your proſperity and liberty to be bettered by them. That is not gained, 1 Cor. 7.31 Mat. 16.26which is gotten with the loſs of your ſoul, and then is the ſoul exchanged with an handful of the world, when it is not gotten and held, 1 In Chriſt reſtoring it. 2 With Chriſt the chief gain. 3 For Chriſt the Lord of it.
W
2 Wait upon the Lord, and he will direct your way, becom his ſervant, Pſal 37.7.for this is the way to attain your trueſt liberty.
2 Weep with them that weep, Rom. 12.15 Jer. 13.17 Pſal. 69.9.and fellow-feel the afflictions of the brethren that are in the world; Chriſt in Heaven accounteth the ſufferings of his Saints his own, and wee his members upon earth muſt do the ſame; Religion and mercy are well matched by God, and muſt not by man be divorced; Ezek. 9.4as for the miſeries and ſins of the age wherein you live, mourn alſo for them, and pray to God for remedy.
3 Wiſh not a long life ſo much as a good life: he hath lived long who hath lived well. A ſhort life in grace ſetteth into the everlaſting life of glory.
The Analyſis of Chriſts Temptations.
In Chriſts Temptations conſider,
1 The preparation: parts three.
1 Chriſts entring the liſts: here,
1 Time: Then.
1 When he had been baptized.
2 When he undertook his high office.
3 When the Spirit had deſcended upon him.
The Sonne of God.
The Teacher of the Church.
4 When hee had received teſtimony from heaven that hee was
2 Perſon: Jeſus.
3 Guide of his way: was lead of the Spirit: Here,
1 The Guide: The Spirit.
2 The manner: was lead.
4 Place: into the wilderneſs.
5 End: To bee tempted of the Devil: Here,
1 Author: The Devil.
2 End it ſelf: To be tempted.
2 His expectance of the enemy: Here three things.
1 How he was furniſhed: Hee was filled with the Holy Ghoſt, Luk. 4.1.
2 His Company: He was with the wilde beaſts, Mar. 1.13.
3 His imployment:
1 He was tempted within that time, Luk. 4.2. with lighter on-ſets.
2 He faſted: in his faſt,
1 time: forty days & forty nights.
2 effect: he was afterwards hungry
3 Entrance of the adverſary: where,
1 The time, Then, when Chriſt had faſted, and was hungry.
2 The name of the adverſary, The Tempter.
3 The manner of his entrance, he came: in an aſſumed ſhape, externally.
2 The Combate it ſelf in three fierce on-ſets.
Firſt conſiſt of an
1 Aſſault: in it
1 The ground: If thou be the Son of God.
2 The inference: Command theſe stones to bee made bread: Here,
1 Facility: Command.
2 Readineſs of object, theſe ſtones.
3 Utility, to be made bread.
2 Repulſe: in it
1 The manner: it was 1 reaſonable, 2 meek, 3 modeſt.
2 The affection, negative; But: conjunction diſcretive.
3 The matter a teſtimony of Scripture, It is written.
4 Parts of the teſtimony:
1 Negative, Man liveth not by bread only.
2 Affirmative, but by every word which proceedeth, &c.
Second conſiſts of
1 Preparation: here
1 The time: then.
2 The place, ſet down,
1 In general, the holy City: Luke expreſſeth it to be Jeruſalem.
2 In ſpecial, a pinacle of the Temple.
3 The manner how Chriſt was conveyed thither, in 2 things,
1 Hee took him up.
2 He ſet him on the Pinacle.
2 Temptation: in it,
1 Aſſault: in it,
1 The ground, If thou be the Son of God.
2 The matter, caſt thy ſelf down: Here,
1 The action, Caſt down.
2 The agent, thy ſelf.
3 The place whence, from hence, ſaith Luke; where means of ſafety were.
3 The argument to perſwade him, a teſtimony of Scripture, in which
1 General conſideration, It is written.
2 Special matter:
1 As abuſed by Satan.
2 In his right uſe: here,
1 Angels miniſtery, keep thee.
2 Who ſeals their commiſſion, Hee ſhall give his Angels charge.
3 The limitation, in all thy waies.
4 The manner, they ſhall bear thee in their hands, &c.
2 Repulſe: in it,
1 Reſiſtance: Jeſus ſaid unto him.
2 Reaſon.
1 Scripture alledged: for it is written to the contrary.
2 in the allegation,
1 who muſt not tempt, thou,
2 who muſt not be tempted,
The Lord.
Thy God.
3 action of tempting.
Third: in it
1 Aſſault: in it
1 preparation; in it.
1 choice of a fit place: Here,
1 what place it was: the top of an exceeding high mountain.
2 How Chriſt came thither: the Devil took him into, &c.
3 Why he choſe that place.
2 a viſion repreſented: here
1 What it was, All the kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them.
2 How he repreſented them, Hee ſhewed him.
3 How long the ſight laſted, in a moment, ſaith Luke.
2 Dart it ſelf: in it.
1 A profer: All theſe will I give thee.
2 A reaſon: for they are mine, and to whom I will, I give them: in Luke.
3 The condition: in it
1 the matter, worſhip mee.
2 the manner, fall down: if it be but externally.
2 Repulſe: in it,
1 The denial; But Jeſus anſwered.
2 The manner; Avoid Satan: ſharp in the
Title Satan.
Commandement, Avoid.
3 the reaſon: from a teſtimony of Scripture: in it,
1 Allegation: It is written.
2 precept: in it
1 Perſon to whom, Thou,
every man.
the whole man, in
Soul.
Body.
2 matter: ſhalt worſhip & ſerve, i. divine worſhip.
3 object: the Lord thy God, and him only.
3 The iſſue.
1 Chriſts victory:
1 The time; when the Devil left him: Then.
1 When Chriſt had ſtoutly reſiſted.
2 When all the temptations were ended: in Luke.
3 When Chriſt had ſaid, Avoid Satan.
2 The manner: Hee departed from him.
3 How long: for a ſeaſon, ſaith Luke.
2 His triumph
1 A note of attention ſet as a ſtar before it: And behold.
2 What we muſt behold,
1 the coming of the Angels unto Chriſt: here
1 When they come.
2 To whom they come.
3 Manner of their comming.
2 Their miniſtery unto him; where
1 How they miniſtred unto him, by
Adoring him as Conquerour.
comforting his
ſoul vexed with temptation.
body pined with faſting.
2 why they did ſo,
Not for neceſſity on Chriſts part;
But their own duty, as to
Their Lord.
The head of the Church.