The Signs of the Wicked Man, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Thus of the directions that concerne the firſt ſort of gifts, concerning the attainement of the other graces: the directions now follow.
ANd firſt, for the attainmentHow to get and increaſe ſauing knowledge. 1. He muſt be wiſe for himſelfe. of ſauing knowledge, and the increaſe of it, theſe directions are of excellent vſe.
1. Firſt, in hearing or reading the Scriptures he muſt bee wiſe for himſelfe, that is, marke diſtinctly what hee heareth or readeth, that may ſpecially concerne himſelfe, Prou. 9. 12.
2. He muſt ſtudy thoſe2. He muſt ſtudy only profitable things. things exactly, which moſt concerne him, auoiding vaine queſtions, and fruiteleſſe contemplations, and vaine ianglings, and controuerſies: he muſt eſpecially labour to know Gods Nature aright, and the diſtinct manner of Gods true Worſhip, how he may ſerue him: hee muſt ſtudy to know his owne particular offences, and Christ crucified as his Sauiour, with the benefits of his meditation, & the neceſſary things that concerne his owne Iuſtification, Sanctification, and finall Saluation.
3. Hee muſt redeeme the 3. He muſt redeeme the time.time, and by forecaſt, and order prouide ſo, that ſom time may be dayly allowed for holy ſtudies to recouer his former time loſt.
4. He muſt inquire and 4. He muſt propound his doubts.take counſell, hee muſt take heede of ſmothering his doubts, but muſt carefully ſeeke ſatisfaction to his conſcience, as occaſion ariſeth. There is more profit in this rule, then many5. He muſt not conſult with fleſh and bloud. Chriſtians are aware of.
5. Hee muſt take heede of conſulting with fleſh and bloud: He muſt not regard other mens opinions, or his owne carnall reaſon; but reſolue to giuegive the glory to Gods Word, ſo as to ſubmit himſelfe to what hee ſhall finde therein required to bee beleeued, or done, or auoided.
Other Rules he may find in the directions for the priuate reading of the Scriptures: as alſo in the Rules of life.
Thus of Sauing Knowledge.How the louelove of GOD may bee wrought in thee.
That thou maiſt inflame in thy heart the louelove of God:
1. Thou muſt auoide with ſpeciall care, theſe things.
Firſt, Forgetfulneſſe of 1. Thou muſt auoide forgetfulnes of God, & the louelove of the world.God; Thou muſt not dare to goe whole daies, or weekes, without communion with God, or remembring his holy preſence.
Secondly, the louelove of the world: Wee cannot louelove the Father, while our harts dote vponupon any earthly things: Of neceſſity, ſome degree of the contempt of the world muſt be bred in vsus, before wee can louelove God.
2. We muſt labour for2. Thou muſt ſtudy Gods prayſes. a diſtinct knowledge of the dreadfull praiſes of Gods Nature and Workes, as they are deſcribed in the Scriptures, or may be obſerued by experience: This is a needfull direction, and miſerably neglected.
3. Wee muſt frequent 3. Thou muſt frequent his houſe.his Houſe; eſpecially when his glory doth moſt ſhine in the power of his Ordinances in his Sanctuary.
4. Wee ſhould eſpecially4. Thou muſt ſtudy Gods mercies. ſtudie the mercies of God, and all the good things hee hath promiſed, or giuen vntounto vsus, that wee may after a ſolid manner cauſe our hearts to know, how infinitely wee ſtand bound to God.
5. We ſhould obſerue5. Thou muſt obſerue thy daily infirmities. carefully and daily, our owne ſinfulneſſe and vileneſſe, and vnworthineſſe: For vnleſſe we caſt out ſelf. louelove, we ſhall neuer get in the true louelove of God.
6. Wee ſhould pray6. Thou muſt pray much. much; for a holy courſe in prayer doth breed in men a wonderfull louelove of God, and admiration of that fellowſhip, which thereby they hauehave with God.
7. Wee ſhould reſort7. Thou muſt reſort to experienced Chriſtians often to ſuch, as vſe to ſpeake much of the praiſes of God, and marke the experience of Gods wonderfull prouidence, or the glory of his Word.
8. It will much further8. Thou muſt behaue thy ſelfe louingly towards the godly. the louelove of God, to get and increaſe in vsus a louing reſpect of, and behauiour towards ſuch, as feare God, and beare his Image.
Thus of the louelove of God.
Concerning the louelove of the brethren, two queſtions may bee demanded:What we muſt doe to get the louelove of the godly. The one what wee muſt doe to get a hearty louelove to the godly: And the other what wee muſt doe to preſerue it when it is gotten.
For the firſt, hee that would heartily be affected towards all the godly with a brotherly louelove, muſt obſerue theſe Rules:
1. He muſt not haunt1. Auoide the company of the wicked. with vicious perſons, nor goe with diſſemblers, nor hold needleſſe ſocietie with ſuch, as hate godlineſſe, and godly perſons, Pſal. 26. 4, 5.
2. Hee muſt much meditate2. Meditate much of Gods louelove to vsus. of Gods louelove to him, and of the great things were done by Ieſus Chriſt, and of thoſe rich mercies are offered him in Chriſt, and of the wonderfull louelove, that God and Chriſt doe beare to true Chriſtians, and how glorious they ſhall bee in the Kingdome of heauen.
The arguments taken from Gods louelove to vsus, or Chriſts ſuffering for vsus, are often vſed in the firſt Epiſtle of Iohn, to perſwade vsus to the louelove of the brethren, as 1. Ioh. 4. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Pſalm. 16. 2, 3.
3. He muſt take notice3. Conſider Gods commandement. of Gods peremptory commandement, who requireth this of him as one principall duty, that hee louelove the godly; with an vtter diſclaiming of him, if hee doe not louelove them,For the preſeruation of our louelove 3 things muſt bee looked to. 1. Ioh. 3. 10, 11, 12, 23.
For the ſecond, that hee would continue & increaſe and abound in louelove.
1. Hee muſt ſeeke, and hold, and not forſake the fellowſhip that hee hath with the godly in the Goſpell, but make them the conſtant companions of his life, Heb. 10. 25.
2. When hee finds his affections ſtirred vp, hee muſt make vſe of all opportunities, by his deeds to ſhew the fruites of his louelove vponupon all occaſions of mercy, and wel-doing, elſe affections will die in him. The fruits of righteouſneſſe muſt bee ſowed by practice, 1. Ioh. 3. 18. If affection be onelyonly in ſhew or in words, or in the corruptions of the hart, & be not expreſſed and made faſt by the engagements of practice, it will much decay, if not wholly bee loſt.
3. He muſt by all means take heed of diſcord with any of them, ſtriuing for a reſolution to take things in the beſt part, to beleeue all things, and endure all things, ſuffering long, without enuy, or reioycing in iniquity, doing all things without reaſonings or murmurings, or cenſuring, or complaining; auoiding vaine ianglings, and ſelfeconceitedneſſe, begging of God an abilitie to beare with the infirmities of others. See further directions about this point, in the Rules of life.