Christ healing the sick the flight into Egypt Certain Godly Rules Concerning Christian Practice, Fit to be observed daily in the lives of all those that would be saved. Gathered out of the holy Scriptures, for the good of all those which have a purpose within themselves to lead a godly life. LONDON Printed by T. W. for Thomas Knight 1647. Certain GODLY RULES Concerning Christian Practice. 1 EVery morning so soon as thou awakest, Psal. 63.45.6. remember the Lord early in thy bed, & let thy Soul send by the wing of Faith, a thanksgiving as the first fruit of the morning: let this be done upon the instant of thy waking, Pal. 50.23. 1 Sam. 2.30. before thy soul be stained with sin: See therefore thou observe and do this: For them that honour me, I wi●●●onour saith the Lord. 2 Being now risen out of thy bed, make haste to offer unto God thy morning sacrifice of Prayer, and thanksgiving (with this care that no one of thy family be wanting.) In which Sacrifice remember thou give hearty thanks to God for all his mercies and benefits bestowed on thee, 1 Thes. 5. whether Spiritual or Temporal, and forget not to be thankful for thy late preservation this night past: and making an humble confession of all thy sins, see thou sorrow for them: and if thou canst not sorrow, be troubled then in spirit with grief, because thou canst not mourn. Heb. 10.22. And after an earnest desire of pardon, ask those necessaries fervently, which are requisite either for thy soul or body; as also desire a blessing upon thy labours the day following. And having made an end of this thy duty, see thou rise up in the assurance of Faith, that God for his Christ's sake hath a●●●pted of thy sacrifices, and hath put away all thine offences: stand then, and hold thee still by Faith, For without Faith, Heb. 11.6. it is impossible to please God. ☞ 3 In what place soever thou art, be fully persuaded in thy mind, jer. 23.24 Pro. 15.3. 2 Cor. 2.17. that thou art in the presence of the living God: let the remembrance hereof work in thee reverence to his Majesty, love to his Children, Act. 13.33 and fear of offending. 4 Make conscience of idle, vain, Deut. 4.12 jer. 4.14. Mar. 7.21.22.23. unhonest, and ungodly thoughts: for these are the roots whence sin hath its first being, for which cause suffer not these to grow in the garden of thy soul's Paradise, but speedily pluck them forth, that so God may delight to rest and walk in thee not only at Eventide, Gen. 6.5.6.7 but all the days of thy life: See therefore no care be lacking to prevent sin before it come to action: for wicked thoughts were a cause, that the wrath of God came upon the children of disobedience. 5 Be fully persuaded in mind that thy present estate is best for thee, Luk. 12.22.23.24. whether prosperity or adversity whether poor or rich, because it is of the good providence of God, and without his will nothing befalleth his children, let this be the staff of thy soul, lean thou still on the Lord by Faith. Mat. 10.29.30.31. Heb. 13.5, 6. For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ☞ 6 put away jesting, Eph. 5.4. with foolish talking, remembering this thou keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips, Psal. 34.12.13. Prov. 10.19. and 17.27. & 18.21. james 3. that they speak no guile, for in many words there cannot want sin; therefore to refrain is discretion: and when thou speakest, to speak the truth is wisdom, for death and life are in the power of the tongue▪ and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof; Matt. 12.36. for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. ☞ 7 Endeavour to have fervent love▪ for the gift thereof is sweet, 1 Pet. 4.8. 1 john 4.7.8. it covereth a multitude of sins: for this cause love thine enemy, Mat. 5.43.44.45. R●m. 12.14.17.18.19.20.21. for so thou art commanded, and if he worng thee, wrong not thyself by revenging, (for it is written, Vengeance is mine, and I will repay saith the Lord: learn therefore and observe that to hurt thive enemy is to do him good, and in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head: Be not therefore overcome of evil, but overcome evil with goodness. 8 Take head of Anger, Eccle. 28.12. for if ●auseth strife: a soft answer appeaseth wrath: For as a fire (man's nature if thou blow it it will kindle, Prov. 14.29. but if thou spit on it, it shall be quenched: but if patien●●● … anting, this fire will ●●a … 〈◊〉 ●eek peace then with all men, if possibly thou canst for change of words gendereth strife: therefore silence as water) is fittest for this heat: for note the wrath of man doth not accomplish the righteousness of God, 9 To do good and to distribute forget not, Heb. 13.16. for with such sacrifice God is well pleased. Wherefore stop not thine ear at the cry of the poor, Rom. 12.13. lest thou likewise cry, and God will not hear, and when thou dost good remember this, Pro. 21.13. Pro. 17.5. use no uncomfortable words, neither railing speeches (as the manner of some is:) for judge ye, is not a good word more acceptable than a great gist? Eccle. 18.14.16.17. and a gracious man giveth them both, but a fool reproveth charlishly forgetting this whatsoever you would that men should do to you, even so do ye to them, for this, is the Law ●nd the Prophets. Mat. 7.12. ☞ 10 Se●●●●t in word and convarsation of life thou become a precedent for others to imitate; Pro. 15.16 let this be done without hypocrisy, and forget not in all things to keep a good conscience, Psal. 3.37 for this will bring a man peace at the last. 11 Practice in thy life true humility, 1 Pet. 5.5. for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. jam. 1.16.17. For what have we which we have not received? Oh what is dust that we should be proud? Learn therefore meekness by the example of our Saviour Christ, Phil. 2.7.8. Mar. 11 29. who though he were God, yet took he upon him the shape of a Servant, in which form he said learn ye of me that I am meek and lowly in heart. 12 If at any time a good motion do rise in thy mind suffer it not to go forth unblowed, Rev. 3.20. Cant. 5.4.5.9. 2 Cor. 3.5. 1 Thes. 5.19. but cherish it either by reading meditating or praying, for this is a spark of God's grace now the means to make this spark become a fire, is chief Prayer. 13 Whensoever thou fallest into a sin, Eph. 4.26.27. Heb. 3.12.13.14. speedily recover thyself again by repentance, and lie not therein with the dead, but rise again by Faith in Christ as being alive to God. ☞ 14 Whatsoever thou takest in hand remember thine end so shalt thou never do amiss, Eccle. 7.36. Deut. 32.29. if at all times thou esteem the day of thy life, as the day of thy death: for there is nothing so certain as it, Psal. 39.4. and there is nothing so uncertain as the time of it: Mar. 13.35.36. be therefore sober and watching, that Christ at his coming may find thee waking: and for thy better watch let this sound be always in thine ears: Arise ye dead, and come forth to judgement. ☞ 15 So spend the Sabbath all thy life, Exod. 20.8. and 31.14.15.16.17. & 35.2.3. that thy soul at death may rest in bliss: no work therein see thou do save works of honour approved by that day as to feed the hungry, Mat. 25.34.35.36. jer. 4.14. cloth the naked, visit the sick, comfort the afflicted: do this, and thy Soul shall live. Have a care thou taste from sin, for holiness becometh the Day, as well in thoughts as in word, as well in word as in action, jer. 17.21 22.23. and think it not enough that yourself can do thus, but also have a care that your Family be like minded, Neh. 13.15.16.17.18.19. together hear the word with reverence, pray publicly and privately, spend the day in holy conference: and let thy soul swim in heavenly meditations; so shalt thou never be alone, for God is with thee 16 The night being come, Prov. 28.13.14. call thyself to an account, how thou hast spent the day past, thy misdoing repent with this resolution in thyself to spend the ramainder of thy life after a better manner, and with a better conscience) then heretofore thou hast done: let this be the whole course of thy life, and forget not to be thankful to God for those good duties, which by his assistance thou hast performed the day past. ☞ 17 Sleep not at night, before thou hast commended thyself (and thy whole Family) by prayer into the hands of God, and that not lazily upon thy bed, (as the manner of some is:) But humble thou thy Soul before the Lord, kneeling meekly on thy knees, having our Saviour Christ for an example, Mat. 26.39. that not only in this, but in all things else we may be found followers of him) for what knowest thou (if being fallen asleep) whether ever thou shalt rise again to life or not? Eccle. 11.3.9. and 12.14.14. take heed therefore, for as the tree falleth, so it lieth; as death leads thee, so shall judgement find thee. ☞ 18 Walk as the Children of light, Eph. 5.8. and pass the time of your dwelling here in fear, 1 Pet. 1.17. 2 Pet. 3.10.11. knowing that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a noise, and the Element shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works therein, shall be burnt up. Mar. 24.42. Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in holy conversation and godliness? Mar. 13.33. For we know not the time neither the hour when our Lord will come: be ye therefore sober: Watch and pray, (and blessed is that Servant whom his Master at his coming, Mar. 24.46. and 13 47. shall find so doing) now those things that I say unto you, I say unto all men, Watch. I. D. FINIS. adoration of the Magi