T ILLINOIS Production Note Women Printers Digital Collection Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of lllinois Library at Urbana-Champaign 2024 Pr mo ipl Dn Prints (ſſfſilct an and hum f? for low >[f and tak mM.a1m1 vY1 Ma%?f\m 16: Ver- me 4 et documeu H COmMm a = V & m - A QIDIDRNG D VILLRDIDDS 2, 4 afser- me IN e ſiþſſ? his Cr L F. H.Van. Houe . PRECEPTS {i4 AN Practical Rulgs |Atruly Chaiſtian Life. " BEING 1 A Summary of Excellent Di- rections to follow the narrow | | Þ way to BLISS. In two PARTS. Writren 'Originally m Lacinſiſi " l : BY JO HN BONA4|}\| Engliſhed by ,. B. | | | EL LONDON:. ct Printed by 24, Clarb, for H. Brome, at the | - Gunin S, Pay7s Church-yard, * } MDCLXXVIIL W_ wnnen | ...\ | l ſi_w eCS mn e6 fi-' | | ſi } : 0 E » ſi ſiI O ' *% The Reverend Mr. Thomas Ken, PREBENDARY OF THE Churchof }/inton,&c. ESAzOU areknown to M 4 be a Perfon of a &23=D very Charitable Sand Generous. Spirit, ready zand defirous to oblige the Pubhcl yethad you been 3 aware. your commendati- $ON, ot this Book, would 2 haye 8 Ntf B dn l d 32 R YR 'ct-q.ſt Hn CNNN aatIe t'\f-"'m D 3N A - - "Araſng IN EaponSoatt e: ,. Þ io ln BNELS D E R 5 ” 4 p 61 , I v : 4 . - 6V.1 4 : G W - d The Epiſtle. have drawn upon you the trouble of this addreſs, it may well be doubred whe- ther you wonld. not have kept it fecrer to your ſelf, Without promoting its be- ing divulg'd in our vulgar : D congue, for the benefit of others. But Sir, that you- may not repent this good. deed, 1 will ſpare you as much as 1s potſible, and leave it fhill to publick fame to proclaim your- great worth-: only pray give me leaye- tooffer that fo.you, to which you had | moſt — — "r"\——- : 7*/56 Eſſ}zzſtle. moſt right. It will not only be an A& of jultice, bur a kindneſs alſo to them that love good Books : For they will be ſure this is one, when they ſhall know, {> Pious and ſo Learned 4 man, hath recommended it for ſuch. And I may well expect, this will pre- vail with others to read it gladly, when it was that made me undertake the oreater trouble of Tranfla- tlnoſi of it. i know not whether 1 ſhould deprecate for the s INOre K) ; Þ k- bz- - :;%- q S k ,t\ 6 The Spffl[e. more than nſnal libertyſſ I FY have in ſome places taken : bur Sir, either Icould not follow my Reader in his 'ſſ. roo lofty flight : or elſe I : thought plainneſs might be ; of a more general uſeful- nels : orit may be Tjudg'd k it COnvenient that ( peaking another language,he ſhould ſomewhar alter his ſenti- ments. It may be nodifh- cult matter to win a Janſe- mſt not now biaſ by worldly Conſiderations : and however *tis a go00d work to draw a good man l ' from ..... 0 £ m eDn aie R - eCSn edn eR Cm em eS. S 5 l e- er ns - --;4.3,..-2——_\_(;#.\. IE The S]JZ/ from a bad party. Sothat I am almolt.confident thar what I have done1n this, will not only have' your pardon, bur your approba- tion allo : and then I ſhall _ not need fear the cenſure of. any judicious Reader. Sir, I am well aflur'd, your name will more than an{wer all the objections that might be raiſed againft this Book on the account of its Author ; as for the mat- ter of it, 'tis moſt excellenc ; and it my Tranſlation be but tolerable, it cannot : A but @# 1 P SOO oninear9r F m mm e- —A C ſiWW D eR The Spſtle - | butdogood, and be accep- trabletoallgoodChriſtians, !, Iknow *twas your'delign .it. _ ” ſhould, and ] wiſhirt may : - and_ that-this Dedication may be looked upon asa M Tettimony of my great | reſpe&s for you, worthy. |, Sir, whom unknown I ho- [ nour, - as a Perſon well known - to. deferye-it, re- . ® maining S-I R, Towur himble Sepuant - D nqe em m em Pn THE Tranſlators Preface- R EADER. Know we bavegreat plenty of good Books already, but the - zumber of the bad ones in- creaſeth daily,and we muſt not ſuf- fer the tares to choak the good feed s for the new ones are read and enquired after, though for nothing but meerly Novelty. T know' likewiſe that ſor the beſt of modern Authors, we need not be beholden to ſtrangers, we have many of onun own, more excellent than - % - D : - 42 : ) 2 3 =4 C D b _ +>, 01 R 3 - A " - = 6 " | - i 5 0 z % : l 4 o ';l'.-\ : R y FY 'ſi.rfi': W. \*O..-'.__* M['- The Preface. f than any can come from* abroad : Wſſſiſiſiſict But why ſhould we be greedy of fach forein things as minifter to vanity,and negjed ſuch as advance true goodneſs 2 Why ſhould we teach Poets and Romancers to ſpeak the Enegliſh Tongue, and not acquaint Chriſtian Philoſophers ' with the graces of it: If I wanted Apologies for this Tranſlation, fuch as theſe would ſuffrciently plead forit : but indeed T rather wart words to ſet forth its due praiſe, for "tis very good in it ſelf, aud deſiened to a good end; T mean the inſtrutions of it, which if attended to, cannot but be very ſerviceable, in promoting Holineſs and true Religion. 1 know ſome will be ready to ask. z#ith Nathaniel, Jobn 1. 46. Can there any good thing come ; out " N ed aS eN IRS Taan ,. l CSN m : atks 3 3 x PR Þblle? : ;ſſ'\m. Was ct;(_;ctctfuſſ J D P # &) : ” RV ; L N eC naLs Hn S. corment, e- { 9 1 'ſſ]ſihe Preface. out of Nazareth ? But 1 Anſwer with St. Philip, Come - and ſee. Believe mnot my repork, but come and ſatisfie thy ſelf, and judge as thou ſhalt find cauſe. 'Tis true we may not go to-ſchool to the Dewil : but we may receive truth ' from whenceſoever it comes. T mean only that we ſhould not ſeek. to diſſenters, to learu from them thoſe things wherein we diſagreec but in thoſe things which we know tobe true, we maynſe their conn« ſel and their aſſiffance : and we are all agreed that unſeigned ho- lineſs and Chriſtian vertues are abſolutely requiſite to make us tru? Chriſtians, and to make us happy. We may therefore mſe all juch means 4s tend to this end, without inquiring whence they comes; liraclites may go down to the Phi- liſtines ſſThe Preface.. liſtines, to ſharpen their mrattocks, - ' their ſhares and their axes : aud where we know the right way, there zs n0 danger in being forwarded therein, by any ſtrangers help. "Tis not to be denied but that the Church of Rome maintains many DoGrines wery injurious to God, and deſtruGive of Holineſs and irne Piety : but withal,it muſt be granted that many of her mem- bers admit not of the direful con- ſequents, but ſtill believe and preſs the neceſſity of a good life, and obedience to the Goſpel-precepts : and were it not for this twould be impoſſeble for any good man to live in jo erroneous and ſo corrupt a ſociety. But however, fear ot to read and to follow the Chriftian Direfions contained in this Book « for it hath paſt throuzh R tnn enn The Preface.. through ſuch hands, as would not have madle it publick,, but for 2 publick advantage : and withal, it is not ſo much the Anthors compoſure, as his ColleFion fronm Ancienter and more Orthodox. Writers. But Blefjed God ! how differ- ent are the tempers and proce= dures of men © Not a few in the - Roman Church, are erieved for, and wery ſenſible of the corrupti= ons crept in, and eftabliſht as moneſt them; and yet they are - meck and peaceable, filent and ſub- l jef under their worſt Conſtifuti- L ons « and this pureſt of Charches, j the Church of England, againſt which nothing reaſonable can be l objeFed, is clamour d againſs, u torn ard diſtrated, even by jowe l that would be thought the beft of h. &- Proteſtants. D —__——_———— —— - CS EESI E andon The Pretace. Proteſtants. There they -1poſe ſſct? a keavy yoke, and teach things ' apparently deſign'd to gratifie their $ | Pride and their Ambition 5 and yet they are obeyd-s here the H Charch 7s indulgeent, and plainly aims at nothing, but the Salvation of Souls and' the Glory of God : and yet it is rebel'd againſt and |il perſecnted. And I profeſs, but [04 that the Goſpel it ſelf is ſlighted, ;ſſ and Heaven not cared for, I miiſt P eternally wonder, that the Church Lih of England 3s not lov'd and re- |ihj verenc'd, and moſt gladly follow'd, itny by all that have the happineſs to l live within the limits of her 1n-- : ſſſſſſſ:'}; cloſure. | j | But I ſay, this wonder mnuſk \ihy ceaſe, when we conſider that men &: canſtand out aſigſiz_z)}ſt the mer Cies Nutay of their Redemption, the infinite I ' Love ſi iþy F _— : # } AT , ,. 4 : = - K54 _ - LN F L ! i L [ *Þ n [*Y k PR The Preface. Love and Charity of the Bleſſed Jeſus, and the glorious rewards and promiſes offered toall that will be true Chriſtians. While men ſhall be ſo ſlupid as to negleF - theſe, *twill be no hard matter to impoſe upen them: and it muſt not ſeem ſtrange that the means are deſpijed, where the end it ſelf is difregarded. Until Chriſtians make it their firſt and chiefeſt buſineſs, to ſecure a bleſſed Eter- 71t, by living holy lives, it cannot be expefed they ſhould make wiſe and ſerious enquiries into thoſe truths which are more diſputable and leſs neceſſary. For the mixing ſecular intereſts with things of Keligion, firſt made, and ftill maintains the errors and breaches of the Chriſtian world : and the way to bring t0 an end many con- troverſies, y B S. V 2% m 2 - E-4 et » B ” C. = Tc 4 *"A B þ The Preface. troverſies, is wot ſo much to decide as to bury them 5 at leaſt to make them give place to thoſe things, whith are mich more plain, and wnch more requiſite and bene- ficaal. And here again, I might have a juſt occaſion to commend this Church we live in, for the beſs gnide of Souls: for either ſte meddles not with many diſputes, or-elſe fhe always ſtands-on- the- much ſurer {ide of the queſtion : holding that which even her- Ad- verſaries cannot but acknowledge or truth; and never amnſing ber Children with inmecefſary ſpeenta= tions, or unprofitable conteſts. But. as it #s ber great deſign to make ns obedient to the Gojpel of Ghriſt, and bring ws to a ſmcere praGice of all boly wertnes : jo T | ſhalt” 77777 The Preface. fhall conclide this Preface, with an Exhortation to the ſame pur- poſe. That thou wouldeſt ſeriouſly and often conſder, that thy life is ſhort andaucertain, and that the world paſſeth away, and all things here below : and that thou reſolve therenpon, not toloſe, not to wen- ture thy portion of good things a- bove, for any earthly enjoyment. That thou wouldeſi bear Eternity 7n mind, and weieh the impor- tance of theſe two words, which conoinde our Creed, Life Ever- laiting : and that afterwards thou reſolve carefully to- follow the way that leads toit ; the DoGrine and - Example of our Bleſjed Saviour, who hath purchaſt and promiſt it, to all that love and follow him. Live therefore as one that follows the - The Preface. the King of Eternity, to a bleſſed Eternity : and deſpiſe the world. Uſe diligently ſuch means as will make thee know thy duty, and in- conrage and aſſiſt thee in the diſ- charge of it : and amongſt theus good Books, which read with at- tention, and a deſign to make their goodneſs our own, are very uſeful inſtruments of Vertue and Religi- on. This 1 hope will ſomewhat conduce to their advancement 3 Nay, Iam ſure thou ſhalt be much better'd by it, if thou wilt tran- ſeribe it with thy Life, as T have with my Pen ; and make it thy hearty Endeavour, as I do my Prayer. | L.- B. D ——— THE Authors Dedication TO ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS. T Ith due Reverence,T offer \ ;\ ; this ſmall volume to you bleſſed Souls, veſſels of honour and mercy, ele& and noly, Children of God predeftinated © to glory before the foundation of the World: who being redeemed from death by the bloud of Chriſt, and from fin, by .the gift of grace, are. not aſham'd to own the deſpiſed Crofs of your -Redeemer. -For. to- you it is given to know the myſteries of the Kingdom of Heaven'z to'you /that are not born of bloud, nor of the will of the fleſh, nor of the will of man, but of God. You arc-call'd by the Father T. £@ The Anthors Dedication to a portion of the inheritance of the Saints in light, that ye might be holy and unreprovable in his.fight in loye: and' in; Chrift you- are choſen, according to the purpoſe and good pleaſure of God, not for your own works and.merits. For you.the Bleſ- ſed Feſus prayed, when- being; ready toleave the world and go to the Fa- ther,, he' faid, Þ have manifeſted' thy name, unto the men- mham-thou gaveſt me out of the-world.: thinethey,were-and thou gaveſt them mes. T pray for them, I pray not forthe-morld, but for them mbich thow - baſ# given:me, for they are thine: He prayednot for. the-world,. be- cauſe all thatis in- it,, the: luſk-off the fleſh, the luſt; of the eyes,. and the pride. oh life, are. not. of: the Father: And: therefore- they that: are of: the world- hear- not, orat; leaſt will: not regardi and: underſtand! the words- of eternal' life,. for- the: natural man- re= ceiveth not-the things ofr theSpiritiof God, And: though. Chrift. be: the true light which lightens every man that — - —A emn D eR _ 6 R edn r Ie DE. ea — - ./\r D — — — H T. EEESY ——_— - R nrnnnnt - _ to all. True. Chriftians. that comes.into the world, yet the world {ces him: not, nor knows him, ,. Neither can. it receive the ſpirit of 7" truth. Onthis-will.be: grounded:the un Juſt judgment of the wicked, This mill M bether condenmation; that light: came m ento the world and: men_loued darkneſs z rather. than light, becauſe: theiv deeds ;) were evil; and: every. one: that doth: evil l bateth the light, | 7 Now if Chriſt was a light- in-his wih life and dodrine; he: was. fo_ much aiim more- in; his ſufferings;. hedid ſhine # - on the Croſs:moſt glorjouſly to all the mm world, The tree of death to which he-wastyed;became-his pulpit whence 04 he: preached- his divinect Sermons, 1oiit teaching us. that great- lefſon. dying, mtt which he- ſet-while he. was alive:: He fas that: dath not tabe up my.Crofs and follows oftt mae, cannot hemy diſciple. - Therefore to jils take up. our Crofs: and: follow Feſrs, mkd 15: our-greateſt ſafety as- wellas duty, w# Our ſurcſttitle-toglory;; the- Croſe: ts pittl the higheſt picch of Chritian learning; he 8 #0.Know: Feſwes Chriſt and bing Crucified, I tit ” R M 4 EreoRte m eB el - DN 2 d L1. -ſi*ct'ct'?\ J The Authors Dedication I heartily wiſh that they that ſhall xead the enſuing Precepts and Practi- cal Rules may have ſantified affecti- ons and a clear underſtanding, that by the divine grace they may be ' brought to know and to follow the truth. And my prayer for them1s, that God would firengthen them by his good Spiritin the inner man, that love may abound in them more and - more, and that they may be fincere and unblameable, repleniſht with the fruits of righteouſneſs, pleafing to God in all things, without contentt- on and without offence. - 1 alſobeg for my ſelfof the divine goodneſs, that the glorious light of Chrifi may en- lighren and guide my mind, .and that his firength may be perfected in my weaknels, leſt after having preached to others, T my.ſelf ſhould become a caſt-away, by aGiing contrary to my own. inftrucions. And therefore I alſo beſcech : you, good friends of God, Blefſed Chriſtians, who are the ſheep of his Paſtuxe, remember me in your P: * to all True Chriſtians, 1 yourPrayers, that what I teach T may m fultil 5 that the precepts contained in "3 this Book may be my praGtice, by his : divine grace and afliftance, without \ W. whon we can do nothing, who with the mn Father and the Holy-Ghoſi, livethe and reigneth one ever glorious and adored God. Amen, ..... .... Zlmp:ſimamſ. Geo. Hooper. R.P.D. G1L. Ep. Cazt. 4 Sacris Dom, May 29. 1677» THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRSI PARKI. PART_L 88 Of the Chriftian Life, and of its end and offices. Pag. x CGHAPE, L F the diſtribution of all Chriftians into three ranks;, good, middle- fort, and bad. ſi ibid. CHAP. IL A further Deſcription of the Wicked and - their IWickedneſs, 4 ſſ (a 2) * CHAP* C WC2A 9 - - M F B _— - v _ R d + - >< B - CR \ 1 v v l Tbe Contents. CHAP. HEL | That Original Sinis the ſpring whence a Evil proceeds. D: GHAPTY, Of the Occaſion and Drift of #9is-Books 10: CHAP,V. The Cauſe why fl)ſioumny learn the Rules of Chriftianity and follow them not- 12 CHAP. VLI That the Rules of Evangelical Per- fettion are intended for all Chriſtians« I+ CHAP. VIL Of the Vſefulneſs of this Book, with an Exbort ationto follow after Perfedion. e0 09 - CHAP. | D D eD CR D EE AT D emn tein E Rn D The Contents. CHAP. VIILT. Of the Folly of them that negle& their lajt End, and how neceſiary it is to conſider it ſeriouſly. 19 CGHAF. 1 The Reaſons why all men are not- happy, being they all defire it. 23 CHAP. X. That with an upright intention we muſt #ſe all things, and refer atl our A&i- ons to God, 24. CHAP. XI: That men trifling about things Eternal, and veing ſo earneſt about the World, #s the cauſe why ſo many attain not their main end, 26 ) CHAP, TN Q3 WJ The Contents. © CHAP, XII. How men ſufferthemſelves to-be decetv” d bya fazr ont-ſide, and'falſe appearance of good, 29 CHAP. XHIL. How men ſpend themſelves and' theiv- time, and abuſe all things t0 their own Knin, | 3q CHAP. XIV4 Thet the right way to Heaven is, every one- to remain in the ſtation Providence- bath appointed bim, and' therein bear- the Croſſes which he meets mithal.. 33: CHAP: XV, Hew man's laſt end or ſupreme happineſs « qnalified, and how ſo many miſtake ctctd mgfi} Zto 2 z'ſſ: FThe Contents, CHAP. XVL , — Another Reafon why ſo many n}ij} of S their End', their living to0 much by Seflſhc 3 8 CHAP. XVILI., That we being the Children of God, ought to be guided by his Spirit and by the example of Chritt, AI CHAP. XVIII. The Fut Irveth by faith, not by the Jaws of fleſh and bloud, 43 CGHAP, XIX. That Faith works in a Chriftian felf<. denyal and contempt. of the Warld_ 46: (a4), EHAPT. The Contents, CHAP. XX. Of the deſperate follyof men, who willingly run to ruin, by their inconſideration. 48 CHAP. XXI. : The Charafter of a true Chriſtian. 50 CHAP. XXILK Several uſcful cantions how a Chriſtian Should wndertabe aid perfect bis works. 53 CHAP. XX1I1I1L That to diſcharge the Duties of quy faten 1 the beſt thing we can _do, 'Fhe Contents. CHAP: XXITV; How Chriftians are to live and to be fincere. | 57. CHAP, 3 X V. That a ,ſ)eſizrty affeFion is the life-of” good actionse 60 CHAPRNAVE Whence the ſſgooſſ! eſs. of our works Pm-—ſſ— ceeſid_-. 62: CHAP, XXVIE. How uſeful and comfſſoſſm ble i the con=- f }cſſſſſſſza/z of God Zzeuzg always pre- ct{ſſCflIſi- 61 (4.5). CHAP.. The Contents. Pears dz_'_jficult., Glery. A N N nt N EIE ; CHAP. XXXE which God hath-called us, T2 CHAP. XXXIE. How men naturally ſeek themſelves even_ in their beft works. 7 & CHAP: . Wby the Imitation of Gods Saimts aps. 66; How.weſhould in all things aim at Gods. 68. Self-Love 44 the Root,of all Evili 70; that. Self-Love #s that Bdb_ylg}ſſz out - of m The Contentsz. CHAP. XXXIT Things which every Chriftian is bound t0 - knowo in order to Obedience 77 CHAP. RNNIV. The difference betwixt the outward and ' the mward man. | 79. CHAP. XXXY, How dangerous it is to be governed by : Opinion and falſe apprelaenſ wn of things. 14 CHAP. XXXVL Three things very_profitabli-ard necq[ſſi'zry z9 -every Ghriſtian. l 84.. CHAP.. D R TN The Contents.. CHAP. XXXVIL That Kepez tance is neceflary ta all Chri>- 3s ftians, CHAP; XXXVIIE @f the figns and effefs of true Reþen-ſſ Zances CHAP: XXXIX. Remedies againft ordinary failings, and* greater ſins.. 90: CHAP; XE. C Zercty-nſſen have fome ſpecial obligati= ons, though all are-bound' to endeavout after, perfeon, 93 CGHAP: -XLL That Prayer is neceſſary to all, and what- diſpoſitions are requiſite to. makg it acceptable.. 96. C HAP:. R Cn C Cn erroeer neee LS The Contents. CHAP. XEI. FWhy many are not profited by Prayer, and” that we ſhould ftudy to Pray well and: frequently. I0Q. CHAP. XLIIE.. How to Pray, and-avoid diftraTions,. and' fix the intention. 103. CHAP:. XLIV. The great advantages of Prayer.. 106 THE OF THE SECOND PART: PaRmT FE Of the moderation o f* our' a fictictctſi ons, and the ſiudy and endea- vour after true Virtue, CHAP:E, That Voluptiouſneſs and Vanity ave to be avoided, and Truth -ſought for. an things Eternal, after. Chrift's Ex-. emple.. Pag, 1 CHAP, CONTENTS ( (n - k n aY þ HTT A R y WIS 6 wetS ” _—_ 2 - o _Y D { 4n ( R v The Contſſms. CHAP. II. "Tl)ctzt to attain Perfecion. nommg mult be- negleced. 4. CHAP. IIE That Self-denyal and the Groſs is abſo-- Iutely neceſſary to all Chriſtianss 7 CHAP. IV. That Self-denyal is the Charafer.and the- & principal duty of a Chriſtian.. 10: EHAP:: Y: Hiw we muſt fight our corrupt nature and - depraved affecions. - CHAP. VI. Of the right uſe and maderation- of our @W*Wolſ'd ]%)]ſhſoſi ] 6 X ſſ-ct\ſſſſſſſſſſſſj- , 'CHAR| The Contents. CHAP. VIL Of denying our Senſual. appetites efpect= #lly Intemperances I9 CHAP, VIHE Of Talkativeneſs and Silence, 22 CHAP.:I% Of true and falſe delights, and of ſelf- complacency in virtue, 25 CHAP.:X That we are led to6 mnch by Opinion. 27 CHAP. XL That the Doftrine of Salvation is mach ſlighted, even by ſome woho pretend to ZIQ 5 Fhe Contents. CHAP; XH—; That Self-will is agreat Evil'and muſt be renount'd.. 32: CHA P: XIME. Of the advantages of Solitarineſs and” Retirement.. 34 S. —_— PT ” PnN aunt'#, 1" HS ed EInt ny N D \uſifiſſ CHAP: XIV.. l 1 Of the Danger f | Riches, and*that tbe deſire of them ts to be mantified,. 36 CHAP. XV. Of the uſe of Riches, and hew to know- we love them not, 39 CHAP. XVL Of Poverty -in Spirit, and the contempt- of tbe World.. 41: CHAP: The Contents, CHAP, XVII Of the Neceſſity. and the Meaſures of Alms-giving. 44 CHAP' XVIIL Of Patience in Bearing and Forbearing.. AS. CHAP:; XIX, Adverſities are occafions of Virtue, an1 muſt be Patiently indur'd, - CHAP: XX; | That we. muft bear patiently the little Vexations that happen daily. 53. GHAP:XXE That we ſhould Rejoyce in Trmblcttzonrſſ " The Contents. CHAP; XXII Tb;zt DetraGions and Derifions mult be indur'd atid derided, 59-- CHAP, XXUI, P ODNWY TA C IAnz f emn R Remedies againſt Diſcontent and Anger for what abuſes we receive, 6'T N ICT K02 13" CH AP. XXIV. [ Remedies againſt Impatience. G6. | ECHAP. XXV. Of Humility the proper Vertue qf Chri- 69 ftians.. CHAP. XXVLI From God we turn'd away by Pride, to him. we muſt return by humility. 09 CHAP: The Contents. CHAP. XXVIL The CharaGer of a proud mant. _ 72 CHAP. XXVIIL Motives and Reaſons for Humility. 75 CHAP. XXIX. That the Humble man judgeth bimſelf and not others > with a CharaGer of bim. 79 CHAP. XXX, Of the Conformity of our Will -to Gods. 5 93 CHAP.”' XXXI. Of the Reſignation of onr filſſver to Goal in #ll tſifmgſiſſi 87 CHAP. The Contents. C N IEIIY S , B d d 7 D b CHAP. XXXIL 16 That the Hope of our Salvation miſt refſt ſ #pon God, 91 CHAP. XXXLII C tn D3te R That Love is the Spirit of Chriftian Re= w ligion. 93: S| CHAP. XXX]V. Of the right Placmſir and Ordering of - Love. 96 CHAP. XXXV. Of the Neceſſity and Meaſnres of Loving oE our N ezſſbbow CHAP. XXXVI. True Friendſhip and the true Offices of its IOT CHAP. 'n \\.\lu The Contents. CHAP. XXXVIL ty Of the ſeveral Ads of Charity to onr abtls Neighbours. 105 CH A P. XXXVIIL .., Charity is alſs due to our Enemies, 107 CHAP. XXXIX, That the Iave of the Supreme Good, com- _ . prebends all goodneſs. 109 -CHAP. XL. 3/ þerein CO)Zfiſt!ct' the Love Of God. : \ JI2 GHAP. XEL That there is more of Love in Pradi- cal Knowledge than in Speculation. Il5 CHAP, The Contents. CHAP. XIIL That by Love Holineſs is to be per- fefied. - I17 CHAP. XLHL That the Confideration of the fexoneſs of the Choſen, onght to make us very wary and diligent, 12@ PRECEPTS AND Practical Rules FOR A truly Chultian Life, PR - Of the Chriſtian Life, and of zs end and offices. CHAP: 1. Of the diſtribution of all Chriſtians into three ranks ; .good, middle-ſort, and bad, Fo Y N 7Heſin in my meditation as from a watch-tower, I confider the whole multitude of Chrj- ftians in the unjiverſal Church, with their manners and principles, they appear ta | B me. cOrargy . eR. 5 d G AOCREEE &) D dn ,N 2 Precepts and Praffical Rnles " me as divided into three diſtin& bands or \orders. The firſt contains them who fol- lowing the do&rin of Chriſt and his bleſ- ſed example with a fincere and hearty affe&ion, and daily reaching forward to- wards the .higheſt pitch of Evangelical perfe&ion, thereby approve chemſelves 70 be Chriſtians indeed 3 conſtantly ſerving God, and medirating in his Law , - they crucifie the fleſh with the affe&tons and luſts, and are not caft down by adyerfity, nor puft up by a proſperous fortune, Now among theſe, ſome are more eminent in - virtue than the reſt, and ſeem to be even more than men ; abſtaining from all de- ticious fare, and being temperate even to a perperual faſt z keeping themſelves pure and unſpotted even to the refuſing of law- ful pleaſures z exercifing themſelves in pa- rience, {o as to go manfully through fire and the worſi of pains 3 mortifying and denying themſelves,as being their own enemies 3 de- ſpiſing wealth and riches, fo as freely to beſtow in charity all that they poſleſs 3 Heing filled with the love of God, as much as is poſſible in this life; and poſleſſing .all virtues in the highelt degree, fo as r0 be the admiration rather than the eX atnple of others, who with ſhame acknow- ledge their own weaknefs, when they con- fider how far ſhort they fall of theſe He- :roick-Chriſtians. -But the number of theſe 15 for a truly Chriſtian Life, 3 15 not Sreat, and they are commontly un. known, being dead and crucfed to thenſulves and the world , theiy converſation being in Heaven, and theiv life hid with Chrift in God. 2. In the nextrank are they who reſtin the profeiſjon of the frue faith, and think that all Chriſtian duties ronfiſt in ourward atts ; they fear God, and yer retain and worthip their fecret Idols; they often come tothe Sacrament, but with fo much 1nPre- Paredneſs and indevotion, that their fre- Quent rEcelving profirs them, not 3 they ab- Rain from Srcat and crying fins, and ne- gledt lefler ; outward Adts of Religion they In the World, they are a&ed by Self-love and they are unacquaint- £d with the inwarg Peace and beauty of a Spiritual life they know not what it is to indeavour after Chriſtian perfe&ion ; the are, and will be ſtrangers to that Heaver- ly mindedneſs and renouncing of all things, Without which Chriſ declares none can be his Diſciple; and & ſadly deluded they are, 0 unhappily beſotted with inconfideration, that if you exhoxe them to a ſtriger and more holy life, they will biq you go and Preach to Monks and Hermits, and remain UNCOncern'd andthefame as before. 3- In thelaſt order come all ſuch as are called Chriſtians, onely becauſe born of B 2 Chriſtiaa : .L?ſi\;,\ ., opSont em C IN 4 Precepts and Pradiical Rules Chriſtian Parents and Baptized ; their Lives and :ARions being ſcandalous, and they themſelves wicked and abominable, worſe than infidels ; of theſe, the number 3s grear and innumerable. CHAP. Il. A further Deſcription of #be Wicked and their Wickedneſs. Is Heſe are they that confeſs God with rheir mouth and conſtantly deny him with their deeds, who ſo ſtudy to gra- rifie their appetires, and ſo reſolvedly live after the fleſh and the finful cuſtoms of the world, tharthe revelations and laws of the Goſpel can make no 1mpreiſion on them, chey being rather aſham'd and almoſt forry rhar they are Chriſtians, _They daily in- dulge to their Luſts, and their vilanies growing cuſtomary deprive them of all T-nſe of haman modeſty. They reliſh no- thing but the Earth z they take their ac- count of good and evil by carnal pleaſures, 2nd they fo order the courſe- of rheir lives thar like brutes they follow nothing but their bodily ſenſes. Riches they value at 4 mighty rate,.and right or wrong ſeek to .obtain them 5 they efteem nothing baſe and unwo rthy for a truly Chriftian Life. 5 unworthy that advanceth their profit or their preferment z and as one ſaid of ſome Greeks, they buzld as though they were never to die, and live as if they were weary of their life, 2, This they do, becauſe they believenor what our blefied Lord hath revea[d, and becaufe being unmindful of the uncertainty of our condition, they promiſe themſelves many years.to live. They reſt fatisfied with the injoyment of tranſitory things, which ſoon ſhall be poſſeft by others : and things that abide for ever they ſlight and neglea, becauſe they think not of Eterni- ry. They are tormented by ambirion, and weakned by luft, ſwePd with pride- and rack'd by Envy; Paſſions and unſatiable defires roſs them to and fro, and they are ſoaverſe to all righteonſneſs, that they nor only negle&, but even hate the juſt Iaws of God, Chrit pronouncerth them Bleſled thar are poor, and mourn, and ſuffer perſecu- r1on : they contrarywiſe eſteem them blef- ſed rhar are rich, great and proſperous, and penerally honoured - by men, Chri# declares that none can be his Diſciple, who 1s not ready chearfully to forſake all thar he hath for him - bur theſe men place their affe&ions on their wealth ; keep ir nigard- Iy, part with it forrowfully, and areever greedy of more, ever ready to invade others right, and to get what they can from them. B 3 3. Even þ A &d N SuobdgaS w\t-\qct_n*j\ K Promiſes, indeavour not! - of theſe more careful to o Precepts and PraGical Rules 3. Even ſome Profeſſors, that have cho- ſen Chri/2 for their portion, and pretend to be devoted to him, even ſome of theſe rhere be, who, unmindfill of their Sacred [ ing more than to increaſe thclr_ wealth, and oftentimes en- Joy greater riches under Cbriſt the great Exemplar of Poverty, than they could have cdone 18 4 civil Calling urider the greateſt Monarch. of this World. Neither are ſome _ 5ey than to Imi- rare, for 1rſtead of loving their Enemies, and rendring good for evil to them that hate them, as our Bleſſed Lord hath com- manded us, they return hatred for ill will, and are ever ready and defire to revenge the leaſt injuries. Whois there thar obeys Chr{7's counſel or injun&ion of turning the cheek ro him that ſmites us, and ſuffering him thar ftrives for our Coat to take our Cloak alſo? ar rather who is'there thar doth not ſlighr and deride it? Let who will take an exatt account of the Evangelical precepts, and of the obſervers of them, he ſhall find that they are very few that live by the Rules of the Goſpel, few that regard and eſteem it as they ſhould. Nay few there be that care to read or hear it; Fables Romances, and Idle Diſcourſes are generally Prefer'd to the Word of God ; whereby che' yain World make it appear, that they belong not to him whoſe yoice they care nc\z: : 0 for a truly Chriftian Life, to hear, rhat they hear not God's Words, bg- cauſe they are not of God, - 4. *T1s rhe Duty of every Chriſtan faith- fully to believe what God hath revealed, to follow h15 Counſels, and fſincerely obey his Commands, whence it clearly follows, thar he is no Chriftian- who negle&s. or ſcorns this Duty , for Faith without Works 1s dead, and except our converſation be ſujtable to our Proteſſion, the moſt gio- riovs Names and Titles ſhall availnothing. Life and imanners, as well as Faith, make a difference betwixt a Hearhen and a Be- hever z by Works the diſtin&1on is made betwixt the true Religion and the ialle, For what manrer of Faith 1s theirs, who ſo believe in God chat they deſpiſe and re- ze& his Commands? are rhey not like the Devil who believes and trembles? ofr ra- ther it were to be wifht that they were no worſe; for his Faich begers an awe and terror, but theſe boaſt of Faith, and yet. do not {o much as fear God, B 4 CHAP, 8 Precepts and Pradjical Rnles AR eP AB Nn Rn ern in Oreteoor em CHAP. III. That eriginal ſin is the ſpring whence all evel pmceedf. OW of the cauſe of all this wick- edneſs none can be jgnorant, thar hath but heard of the tranſgreſſion of our firſt Parents, - For by rheir fall original Rightcouſhezs being loft, human nature utterly depraved and ſhut up under con- demnation, their off-ſpring fell intoevils of all forts ſo great and ſo many, that they can be neither (Ypreſt nor numbred. Hence that deep and dreadful ignorance which like a black cloud darkens the mindand lies upon it; hence that brutiſh and untam- able Luft which like a heavy weight ſinks the ſoul to the ground and there keeps It faſt ; hence that averfion from God, and eonverſion to things . periſhing ; hence thoſe anxious cares and fooliſh joys, thoſe diſlenfions, quarrels and enmities, thoſe perverſe Her-ſiſ ies, greedy Sacrileges, and unſatiable Luſts; and hence the Erernal ruin and damnation of all Mankind. For this was the juſt vengeance of Man's impious Diſobedience and Rebellion, that God ſhould forſake him, who by Pride Tifr up- him- Her a traly Chriſtian Lifes” 9 himſelf againſt God z that hethar would not when he could, make a good uſe of his free will, ſhould be depriv'd of it, and be- come uncapable of doing what was infl- nitely his duty and his intereſt to_ per- form, - except he be prevented and aflilted by the divine grace and mercy. - 2. Thus Man left to himſelf 1n the ſtate of Nature, 1s by ſelf-love drawn to himſelf, ſeeks himſelf onely, and in his wretched {elf alone ſets his reſt and his farisfa&ion, This 1s a ſad truth, and *tis much to be wiſhe all Chriſtians did well confider and underſtand it, for if they were ſenfible of their weakneſs and 1mpotency, how un- capable they are of thermſelves to do any good, then 'tis like they would daily by fer- vent prayer beg his gracious help, thar works 1n us to will and to do; from whom comes all our light, our ſtrength, and our ſufficitency. Bur alas roo many in adeep : death-lize ſleep, reſt in carnal ſecurity, and unhappily abuſed by vain delufions, love their blindneſs and their diſeafe too, dreaming that they are fafe and ſound, be- cauſe they have no ſenſe of their dl«. ltemper. . CH A'P%ſiſſ 6Y K } k % : [ D s -n ,. TO Precepts and Prafical Rules ON TIS CHAP. IV. Of the occſizfion and drift of this Books I, ſſ*;\ctſiſi Hileſt T often thought of theſe- * * things, and in the birterneſs of- my Soul calF'd to mind'the loft years of my: life, I was griev'd and perplext both upon- the acconnr of the time which is paſt, and: . of that which ſhall follow hereafter. Look- ing backward on thoſe days which are gone, and examining ferioufly how Thave: ſpent them, I was ſeiz'd upon with horror at the fight of my many foul prevaricat!- ons againft the laws of my gracious God,. and my great unfaithulneſs to Chriſt my Sa- viour, 1n the breach of thoſe facred vows T. made when T gaveup my name to him, in- holy Bapriſm :: T was aſham'd and con-. founded to have thus requited my Gol, and: abuſed his Grace, And when T turn'd my- felf ro the future, to thoſe things that are- coming upon me, I could not hut-dread the- dreadful judgments. of my offended God, and tremble exceedingly at the greatneſs of my danger, and'the ancertainty of thar pardon I want, andam ſo much unworthy af.. In theſe ſtraights T reſolved by God's. help, firſt ro help my ſelf, and then others B are in the ſame caſe to preſcribe whar- M ghct.ſſſi - fſſſ"—ctſit CR -ſſ_4,,__'}-ſſ:;v;ſir R - for a truly Chriftian Life« 13 might eaſily be had, and yet be effecualz things ready at hand, which being often read and conſidered, might be rememhred and follow'd : that they thar ſeriouſly de« ſign to be happy and to take the ſafeſt way that leads to Heaven, might find it here, withcurt the trouble of a long and laborious ſearch. 2, Now becauſe Phyficians have their Apboriſms, and Philoſophers their Axioms or ſentences : and in all inquiries after truth, we muſt begin at certain principles, which are ſhort and comprehenſive, and as it were, the ſeed and marrow of the whole diſcipline 3 therefore I purpoſe in this little book, to. lay down briefly and clearly thoſe chiefeſt Rules and inftruR1- ons for to lead a holy and a religions life, which more at large are ſcattered in the ſacred books of Divine Scripture, and in the works of the Holy Fathers and other good Authors, For when all is done, this : 15 our firſtand our greareſt concern, that one neceſlary thing on which all depends, to know how to live well, to live like Chriſtians. For what ſhall a nnan be profited 3if he fhall gain the wha'e world and loſe his own ſoul ? and what ſhall a man give i#n exchange for his ſoul 2 Mat. 16. 26, Nothing more perverſe and unreaſonable can be imagined, than to own our ſclves Chriſt's diſciples, and. live quite contrary to the ; example 12 P('CCEPfF and Pradiical Rules example and the precepts of chriſt, The name of a Chriſtian will avail nothing, where the lije 3s Antichriflian. CHAP. V. The Cauſe why ſo many learn the Rules of Chriſtianity and follow them not. I, 1ſſ;\\iz\nyct without, difficulty - can read : and learn_ the Goſpel-preceprs, and even often think of them.: bur *tis. much to be lamented; that few-underſtand* well thejr force and their full importance. We eafily grant thar the only way to hea- ven lies through ſelf-denyal, faſting, warch- ing and. praying, keeping under the body, and going patiently through many tribula- tions : but when. it comes.to the proof of a&tion, we ſcem to be of another mind. We can readily ſay and affirm thar it'is 4: Chriſttan's duty chearfully to endure re- proaches and perſecutions, rorments, and' eren death it ſelf : but when theſe ey1s are at hand, and our life comes to be in ganger, then things appear not asthey did” before, we cannot fee that we are oblig'd to refignation and ſufferance; whart before. was a very clear caſe, 15 now at the beſt but very doubtful, We can be humble when, no, for #iruly Chriftian Lifes 13 m: body reviles us : and when wee meer with no vexation then we are parient. We aſſent to the doErine of Chrift, and his ſe- vereſt injun&ions, when we are not con- cern'd: burwhen they-come to regardus, and preſs upon us a preſent duty, then the inticements of luft, and worldly vanities alrer our reſolutions and diſturb our minds ; and by a corrupt gloſs or lazy interpreta- t1on we elude the unpleaſing precept. 2. Truth 1s as 1 were, wraprt up-in a clond, and men hate 1t, becauſe jt re.. proves them, their finful depraved nature cannot abide irs rigour and auſterity, They find 1n virtue ſomething rough and hbitrer, and 1n fin a mixture of ſweetneſs , that offends, and this- gratifies their diſtempe- red palat, and- they brutiſhly- follow the bait, run into all diflolution, and- fo reje& truth to 1mbrace a lie. If at anytime they give ear to an honeſt and plain monitor wholays the truth' open before them, and be fo far work'd upon, as to be ſenfible thar they are 1n darknefs, and to have fome de- fire after-light : yet Iike men that would fain awake, but are opprelt by a heavy flumber, and-ſo preſently fall to fleep a- gain ; they ſoen after cloſe their eyes, and exclude the lighs, to return to their beloyed: darkneſs. 3. No wonder therefore, if we pro- peund to;do many- things, and. effe& no- b rhing, M R e,. t e5 d N 14 Precepts and Praftical Rules tzing. For we not foreſeeing the dlffi culties which commonly occur in well- doing, when we come to meet with them, we preſently draw back, and our courage fails ; again, we truſtm our own fſtrengrh more than in the divine help and afliſtance : and when temptations grow ſtrong we loſe heart and are ſoon worſted, and learn by a ſad experience, that when we overcome, it is not by our own virtue, but by the power of God's grace, Laſtly, we give much to notion and ſpeculations, and take little care toaffe& our will and affe&ions the Chriſtian laws of well-lving we learn as a ſcience, rather than as a matter_of conſcience ; we ſtudy Divinity, not to. 0- bedience and conformiry to God's will, but to vain glory and oftentation. Now 'tzs alto- gether in vain ts learn wiſdom and yet live foolijhly. CHAP. VE That the-rules of Evangelical Perfedt;on are intended for all Chriſtians, \ }'Ary that have namind to perfect i / holznefs in the fear of God, by living according to the ſtri& precepts of our Sa- yiour Chr;/?, pretend that they belong nor tos for a truly Chriſtian Life. 15 to them, but only to Clergy-men or ſach as are fhut up and recluſe from the World ; this is their excuſe and their plea, but as I ſhall ſoon make ir appear, it js alto- gether void of truth and yain, For though 1t 15 to be acknowledg'd, that ſome by new vows and ingagements are more particu- larly devoted tro God, and under preater obligations to live Religiouſly and tend to- perfe&tion ; yert certain it 1s that all Chri- ſtiavs rend,to the ſame end, though their way may differ in ſome circumftances - and as to what regards the pra&ice of Chriſtian virtues, conrempr of the World, poverty in Spirit, andthe loving and bearing of the Croſs, they are all equally concern'd;; they have the fame Goſpel, and are equally oblig'd to obey its diftates. Charity which 1s the band of perfe&ion, comprehenfive of all other duties, God' requires of all Chriſtians alike - and luſt or ſelf-love which is the root of allevil, is likewiſe generally forbidden ; no exception of perſons ; no difference is made betwixt any, Our Bleſſed Saviour hath 1njon'd we ſhould ab- ſtain from idle words, of which an account ſhall be rendred- in the preat day, that we fhould not be angry with our Brother, nor covet what belongs to him ; he makes no diſtin&tion betwixt Clergy-menor Lay- men, or perſons of any rank or calling ; nor yet when he ſays, Woe unto you rhat Ictugg : and. 16 Precepts and Prafical Rules ©offs he teaches that we muſt always pray, that we mufſt forſake all and follow him, that we muſt hate our own life, deny. our.ſelves, ſuffer 1njuries parttently, and enter in at the ſtraight gate; in theſe conſiſts Chriſtian ed 2 0 k no man. 2, Saint Payl likewiſe writing toall Chri- ſttans, ſuch as.were cumbered with worldly affairs, and had the care of large families, gives them this ſtri& Aſcetick Rule, to be content with food and raiment, 1 Tim. 6. 8. Than which nothing more was ever re- quired of- any Hermits. Saint Peter alſo exhorts all beltevers, to be holy in all manner ofs converſation, as he that hath called them ss boly. 1 EP. 1. 15. So doth Saint 7ames 1. 4. to be perfett and intire, wanting nothing. And our Bleſſed. Saviour before them all, preach- 1ng to the multitude that followed him, 3e ye perfett, ſaith he, as your Father which is in Heaven 75 perſett, Mat.5. 48, Thereby re- commending the higheſt degree of holi- neſs, toall. that would be his Diſciples ; that as many as are reputed children of God, by grace and adoption, might live accord- atongg &5 +N perfe&on of their Heavenly Father. And ſo hath our Blefſed Lord laidupon all Chri- and bleſſed are ye that mourn : nor when ' perfection, and yet from theſe he cxcludes. ingly indeavouring after the example and_ ſtans Infinite obligations tolive holy lives, . to be {iri& and virtuous to the higheſt mea-. ſure : for a truly Chrijtian Life, 17 '- ſare and poſſibility, yvhich they. may not negle& without forfeiring his fayour, and excluding themſelves from his Heavenly Kingdom. P CHAP. VII. Of the uſefulneſs of this Book, with an exhortation to follow after perfectien. x, OW then let us deſpiſe and: for- fake all thoſe things, wherein worldings place their felicity, and make it our onely ſtudy to purſue after the prize of our high calling, the heighr of Chriſtian perfe&ion, in following the blefſed ſteps of our Bleſſed Redeemer.. This is the aim of rhis little yolume ; ro this purpoſe are de- fen'd all the inſtrucions here laid down, that 'we may overcome the remprations » and allurements of ſenſe, atratn to the knowledge of the truth, and fo return- 1n ſome manner to our primitive ſtation, that Paradiſe wherein we werecreated, to tri- umph over-fin, and ar laſt reign to Eter- nity, The children of this Werld would fain have it belijey'd, that rhar perfe&ion or ſinceriry which 'the Goſpel requires, 1s very hard- to come by, and hardly to be found in any man living, thereby endea- vouring 18 Precepts and PraGical Rules vouring ro make Chriſtians faint and remiſs, lorh to venture upon an attempt, which they would have them think 1s wholly im- potlible : whereas nothing is difficult ro him that 15 truly reſoly'd and willing, and what- ever ishard in it ſelf, is madeeafie by that grace of God, which 1is always ready to - afjiſt us, 2. The truth 1s, there is ſo much of de- lictous beauty in virtue and righteouſneſs, fo raviſhing a joy in a glimpſe of heavenly I:ght, fo glorious a brightneſs in the fight of God's eternal truth, that the enjoyment of theſe for one day, may juſtly be prefer*d to many apges of the . greateſt pleaſures. this . world can afford , for one day in thy Courts zs better tban a thouſand, as the Pfalmutſt faith, Pſal, 84. 10. 3. Now here would I caution my Rea- der, not to wonder, if perchance he firds the fame thing repeated more than once in this little book, for that cannot be avoided, there being ſo cloſe a connexion -n affinity berwixr the precepts of ſeveral vi.uues: and withal 1t may be an effed of the great power of truth, that the nearer we yiew it, the oftner weare drawn to reviewit, Likewite if fomething herein ſeems too Angelical and high, or more harſh and difficulr than the frajl nature of man can well bear, let him remetnher that the Kingdom of Hea- ven ſuffers violence, and that the ſuffcring? 0 [lm Nn l of for atruly Chriſtian Life. 19 of this -preſent time are not worthy tobe compared with the glory that ſhall be re- vealed in us. Our labour is but ſhort » but 0ur promiſed reward 1 infinite and eterzal, PENIr ttdenotsn Lnerr mn CHAP. VIIE. Of the folly of them that negledt their laſt end, and how neceſſary 2t #4 to conſider it ſeriouſly, I, IT 15 not to be thought nor expreſt how 1gnorant and careleſs many Chriſtians remain a bout their great and laſt end; if there were no Erternity, and if nothing after this life were to befear'd or hoped for, they could not live more looſely than they do. Few they are that feriouſly con- fider thar their great intereſt and their chiefeſt bufineſs which ſhould take place of all orher, is to atrain their proper end z that end which js defired. for it ſelf, and beyond which we ſhall with for nothing, of which S, Philip faith, 7oh. 14. 8. Lord ſhew us the Father and it ſuſficeth us : For this end, which is God, the beatifical vi- fion of him, will be al-ſufficient, becauſe thar it will have no end ; all other things are aF foe e,1 - 4n R = [ : : Z z : l p 20 Precepts and Pradtical Rules are meer- trifles, vanities and vexation.of ſpirit, 2, The very ſhape of our bodics doth admoniſh us of the end for which. we were born ; for God made us with our face up- wards, that looking up to heaven, we m1ght know thar thence 1s our origine, and that there 1is our reſt and countrey. And yet for all this, many like brutes look down and grovel upon the ground, and can reliſh nothing, nor. defire nothing, bur what 1s earthly ;. nay mare, like men- in a_deep lethargy, they can hardly be waked by the loudeſt clamours and the fear of a rage- ing appreaching fire and what is worſt of all, if they ſomewhar /lift- up- their head, and fpeak imperfe&ly two or. three words. of- ſenſe, they. ſoon fall' again into their ſlumber, and no longer will hear, or mind what concerns their life and ſafety. x 3. It 1s the counſel of our Blefled Savi- our, Mart. 6. 33. Seek ye firſt.the Kingdom of God and his Righteonſnſs, and a!l other things ſhall be added unto you £ bur we flighting and neglcaing that bleſied Kingdom, ſeek for mony, pleaſures, and preferments, and mind nothing elſe. Chriſt rells us, that oze thing # neceſſary, Luke 10, 42. but we cum- ber our ſelves about-many things, which for the moſ} partare only hindrances to our falvation, He commands us, Mat. 7. 12, To do that to others, which we would they ſhould for a truly Chriftian Life. . . 21 ſhould do unto us : But we generally do thoſe things to them, which we would think moit grievous toſuffer our ſelves, He forbids xs to judge, Mat. 7, 1, But weloveto cenſure others, and tocondemn them very ſevere- Iy; we take notice of motes in their eyes, and perceive not beams inour own-: and to ſum up all in this, he requires we would love him above all things, wzth all our heart and ſoul, Mart. 22. 37. But we dote on pelf -and riches ; we are lovers of pleaſures more than lovers of God; to him we prefer any thing thar gratifies our luſts and our finful affetions, Thus, in as much as 1n uslies, we make the preaching of the Croſs to be of - none effe&, the Incarnation of the Son of God to be to no purpole, and ſacraments to be vain and infignificant: becauſe we will live as if we had no knowledge of God, no thoughts of heaven nor hell, no remem- brance of our latter end. The life of eyery creature confiſteth in a&ing ſutable to its own narure; now that which we are to do, as men, wherein properly confiſts our duty and our dignity, is to know God, andto love him : therefore to be imployed in this, 15 our proper work, our life and hap- pineſs; to do any thing elſe, is vain and uſeleſs; and to do any thing contrary, is +nfinitely pernicious, CHAP, IN D aE e5 »- A " Þ 8 \ p l F % ) 22 Precepts and Pracfical Rules CHAP. IX. The reafons why all men are not happy, being they all defire it, 1. ]T1s the conſtant ſenſe and deſign of 1 all men that can uſe their reaſon, to aſpire after happineſs,; bur what that - is, there are and haye been many opinions and diſputes; and Philoſophers have ſpent much time and induſtry to find out the way to Bleſledneſs, the defire whereof is natural, and common to all, of whart parts or per- ſuaſtons ſoever, Yet Chriſtians alone know It, they being taught by the. do&rine of Faith, that God is the fountain of all felj- city, the fulfilling of all rational defires, that Szmmum Bonym of laſt end, which is to be prefer'd and lov'd, and ſought before all other things, as that wherein alone we can find perfed reſt and fatisfation. Not- withſtanding *cis to be confeſt and {adly be- wailed that multitudes of Chriftians are o wilfully blind and perverſe, that though they paſſionately with for happineſs, yet they do nothing whereby to obtain it, They are 10 grolly cheated by a falſe / appearance of-Bliſs,the deceit and 1Ilufions of things pre- fenr, that they aſpire to nothing above ſenſe, and therefore they would, and yet canno ; be Dn = == _ == = - == = z —= for a truly Ehriftian Life. 23 >— ” » be happy, becanſe they aim not at the right end ; their aQions and purſuirs have a ten- dency to miſery, and thither neceſlarily lead them, though it be much againft their will. S 2, Asinacircle, though never ſ{o ample, there is bur one center, which being alone in the middle, ſeems to have dominion » oyer all the lines that can be drawn from ** the circumference, and to be their proper ” place of reft : thus is God the one onely center and reft of our ſouls, and if they turn from him, they may wander eternally, other objets being finite and altogether ® unſatisfying. Therefore God requires only thar we ſhould ſeek after him, becauſe that alone 1s abſolutely required to our well- being. Whatever elſe 1s wanting, we may be well withour it ; life it ſelf 1s not neceſ- fary : and if not life, much lefs leſſer en- joyments., And fo he thar lives as he thould, aitming at his right end, mult live to God alone, to ſerve and to plorifie him. For this 1s the nature of man, anda law ap- pointed ro him which cannot be changed, that he that defires and purſues after that ſu- preme, eternal, uncreated good, thereby be- comes happy : whereas he that any ways turns from 1t, becomes neceſſarily my- .{erable, CHAP., C emn | - 8 CHAP: - That with an upright intention we muſt ziſe #ll things, and vefer all our afions t0 God, 1, I'N that we are pilgrims and trayellers going to our countrey, It 1s altogether neceſlary we ſhould always adyance thither- ward, and ſeriouſly inquire whether we follow the right way, whither we are going, what end we propound to our ſelyes inall our labours; and what it 1s we now aim- at by our preſent {tudies and endea- yours: for man underctakes nothing, bur to a.certain end and purpoſe, which the better itis, the better alſo is the -undertaking 5 it 15 a good intention that makes a good work, - and that good intention is that, which is dire&ed by the rule of faicth. Ir is'the voice of the wicked, Wiſd. 2. 6,. Come- 01 therefore, let usenjoy the good things. that are preſent. Whereas the beſt of creatures are only for uſe; and God alone for enjoyment. The Creatures are as ſo many ſteps, or rounds of a ladder whereby we might aſcend up to God ; thus at leaſt he intended K: but by our deprayation and folly, they became R Wy l ſte, K hh Kd 0 wh; l IJZ.ſl]'}' ,ctſ l o& Ninyt l 9 te l ON ws nh for a truly Chriſtian Life. 25 became obſtacles in our way to him, they rurnus from the path to life and happineſs, and as the Wiſeman faith, Wiſd, 14.11. The creatures of God become ſtumbling blocks to the ſouls of men,and a ſnare to the ſeet ofthe unwiſe.Of. the unwiſe, he ſajth,ſuch as will not take God for thelr guide, ſuch as turn their eyes from his glorious light, to enjoy the ſhade and obſcerity of creatures* thereby falling in loye with darkneſs, and ſo becoming un- capable of eyer abiding the divine faving light. | gz. Now if all creatures are created for - this, to be as helps and means whereby we may obtain our end, then are we to take off our affetions from them, to place them upon the Creator, whe is the end we ſhould aim at, For the end ſhould be loy'dand defir'd withour end, and without compe- titor, in goodneſs being independent, ſu- preme , and alone fatisfaftory: whereas means have no farther goodneſfs, than as rhey help to obtain the end, A Chriſtjan ſhould therefore refer to God all his thoughts, and words, and a&Rions, and thart, not lazily or verbally only : but with a ſtrong affe&ion, and with a pure heart: avoiding thereby the cheat men often puc upon themſelves, 1n being deceiv'd with their own formalities and ſpecious pre- tences, when even in Religion and ſpiritual exerciſes, they often ſeek and pleaſe them- G. - ſelyes 26 Precepts and PraGical Rules ſelyes, rather than God.. Upon this account the Scripture calls the way to life, ſtraighr and narrow, becauſe depraved man re- fers all-ro himſelf, and can hardly follow : the pure and dire& ways which God pre- {cribes,. being naturally averſe to an up- right intention. | But when this averſion 1s once overcome, by an aſliduous diligence- and delight in the. law of God, then .divine commandments are not grievous, the way to life is wide, andthe yoke of Cbrift is light and pleaſanc.. CHAP. XT. That men trifling about things Eternal " .and being earneſt about the World, is the cauſe why ſo many attain not their main end. 1. "" Hat the: number of-fools is paſt k number, was rightly affirmed by ->the Wiſe man: For indeed infinite multt- tudes of men trifle away their days fo fimp- 1y, a& fo childifhly; or rather ſo much like mad men, that: their intolerable follies cannor be ſufficiently -deplor'd. They ſet the: fleſh above the ſpirir; they prefer time to Eternity, and Earth to Heayen, t}ſiſi the for a truly Chriſtian Life. 27 the unhappy Comedy. of their finfal life ends in a ſadder Tragedy of death, and they go down to Hell in. a moment, If a ſuit ar law 1s'to he determin'd, or an eſtate gain'd, Oor A place of honour obtain' d, then they ſpare no coſt nor labour, no ſearch, no dili- gence, . no ſtudy; but if” Heaven is to be purchaſt, and eternal_ life and glory made fure, then'no man ftirs'; they are all aſſeep and unaQtiyve; no regard, no care is had of it. | 2. 'In things that touch and aMi& the body, as hunger and thirſt, heat and cold, pains and infirmiries; our ſenſes are quick, and can neyer.be deceiv'd : -and therefore with all 'our might and induſtry, we pre- ſently occur to thoſe evils, and endeavour to remove them, But if our ſoul ſuffers un- der the ſame orthe like ſpiritual evils, we are not fenfible, and we care no .more, tan if thatnobler part of us whereby we _ Hve, and are. rational and Iike to Angels, had-no being at All., And this, .becauſe the Heſh hath got the upper hand: and we : yalue this ſport, uncertain life, more than Tife eternal: and we make ir our firſtand ſole employment to reſcue that carcaſs from death, fora few moments, which certainly mult ſoon become jts prey, 3- One cauſe of cheſe prepoſtcrous do- ings, is the groſs and brutiſh ignorance, or Father 1nconfideration of too too many, F L 2 whe who will neither know nor confider, to what end man was created, what it is he fhould ſeek and defign in the whole courſe of his life, and what way he ſhould take that he may not miſs of his great aim, Jer. 12, 1Is The whole land is made deſolate becauſe n0 mas lays it to heart, 1. e. becauſe no man confiders: wiſely. Another cauſe of this miſchief, is the great number and power of thoſe Ene- mies that perpetually aſlault us, whoſe ſnares no man can poſſibly avoid, without -God breaks them, and delivers him: for we are -continually befieg'd by a frail fleſh, a flattering world, and legions of devils, who ſetk to dtvour us. 4-\ Laſtly, our folly and miſery proceeds partly from our blindneſs; the whole World being in darknefs, we want light to guide us, and yet will not beg it of God, and pray him deyoutly, he would lead us a- right, who alone is able and willing to do it and partly from our floth and inconſtancy 5 for we are vertuous in wiſh and not 1n effeR, becauſe we are lazy to work, and when it comes to the pra&ice, we find - difficulties, and being ſoon tir'd and diſ- heartned, haſtily give over, before we have effe&ed any thing. All Chriſtians no doubt would be glad to come art laſt to Chri/z, bur they have no heart to:come after him : they would be glad to enjoy him, but care not to 3mirate him - fain would they come to hi;n, ut aS2 2n A —=_=——= = = = = —>= I——_—_—} =2> for a truly Chriftian Life. 29 but not follow him. Mez would obtain riches without labour, and Crowns without fiebting 3 they likhe well of rewards, bit they would t aks no pains. GHAP. X 1 How men ſuffer themſelves to be deceiv'd by a fair out-ſide, and falſe appearance of good. 16 His World's felicity put all toge- » ther, with all thoſe things that are moſt efteem'd by the generality of man- kind, the wholeis but like a coarſe pi&ure which ſeems to have ſomething pleaſing and inviting, when you look upon't with a falſe light, or ina place ſomewhat obſcure, or with a ſmall blind candle, ſuch as is the dim and deceitful light of preſent time : bur if you bring forth the pi&ure, and view it before that glorious ſun that ſhines for ever, the radiant brightneſs of Eternity, there ir will appear deform and unfinifh'd, a dark and imperfe& ſhadow which repreſents- nothing, a confuſed heap of ſtrokes .and lines drawn without order or defign. For though the light of the Goſpel enlightens the- World, yet it remains in darkneſs; C3 men W. FENY y "-W',*ctſſct., LN GA GI0439 30 Precepts and Prafical Rules | -ſſſſſi men will not ſee_ the glorious_ diſcoveries which the Goſpel makes ; The 1ight foined 2n the darkneſs, but the aarkneſs comprehended not. 3- Yetrhat light it is, and none elſe, thar clearly ſhews the great difference betwixt good and cvil, btwixt vile and precious, be- rwixt cruth and appearances ; how we may | know and chuſe the one from the other. By | - this bleſſed light of Chriſtianicy which dwells in the heart and inſtruRs it, and abides for ever, by 1t we are taught not to cleave to the creatures becauſe of their attraRive- | fod beauty : but ſo to conſider their perfe&ions, | of as tO be by them led to the fountain whence ta they proceed, to the love and admiration F of. the glorious maker of all things. And' 5 the ſame divine light it is, makes me ſee b& that itis good for me to hold me faft by my , | God, and to pur in him alone my whole m confidence, and not in Princes or Friends, {ſiſ;ſiſſ or even Brothers : who as they. have all a ( diftin being, have alſo different ends, and 4 teck from us every one his own adyantage, 1 being ever ready to forſake us, as ſoon as &th they fhall think we are become uſeleſs to "wy them. This light therefore-we ought gladly K toreceive and follow, that appearances and 0 pleafing illnſions pur not a chear upon us,and. mly make ns ſeck for happinels in the crearures - |itah which are as if they were not, and have no l value, bur what che ignorant yulgar attri-; W bures for a truly Chriſtian Life« 31 butes to them : and make us forſake God, who remains for ever, who is the fountain of all being, and the author of all good things, out of whom there 15 no reſt, no peace, no felicity to be had. He that de- parts from the ſupreme bappineſs, thereby vecomes miſerable in the highsſt degree. _________________________________.__.__M CHAP. XIIL How men ſpend themſelves and their time, and abuſe all things to their own THINC. Lo HE Life of man runs round and ſpends it ſelf within this circle, they eat- and drink, they fſleep and wake, that they may return to the ſame again 3 they ſcrape together as much as they are able, and there-is no end of their acquilts ; they will live as merrily as they can, and die as late as -poſfible may. be ; - betwixt their baptiſm and the hour of death there lies a confuſed heap of a&s of fin and a&s of Religion, of penitent confeflions and wilful relapſes, of Sacramental vows and breaches of them. No day- paſſeth pyer withour they add to the number of their tranſgreſſions z andthey all go on-heedleſly C 4 withour 8 I &: .\ſi : "Z'Z — _ R P = - -3 20 5 " A 1 NLek -v'ſſ})** 32 Precepts and Prattical Rules ' \ without conſidering what will be the end of their courſe of life ; and they all run, when j | d PT but a few care, how. they come to the end of their race + becauſe they confider not what reward and glory 1s prepared in Heaven, to them that remain faithful. to | their Chriſtian engagements, overcoming |# the world and the ticſh, for to follow Chrift. k 2, God created the whole unjverſe,and in & it man to his zmage, giving him an under- ftanding to know his maker,a will to loveand | obey him, a memory to think of his laws, E faculties to ſerve him,and a tongue to praiſe f him : but then as he made man for him- | felf, ſo he created the wholſe world for man, that he might uſe all things for his own hap- « m pineſs, and for the pglory of God, the giver of all. Bur ungrateful man, un- n mindful of his duty, drawn by the deceitof voluptuouſneſs, minds only his ſenſual plea- | fure, uſeth or rather abuſeth his know- ſſ.]*] ledge and reaſon, his riches and honours, | his health and life and all other enjoyments, in to the diſpleaſure and diſhonour of God his ; gracious benefator , who freely granted him all thoſe things, that if he would make a good uſe of them, they might be inſtru- ments of his preſent caſe and well being, 4 6=00 & 1 p K6 ; £ k and of his future eternal happineſs, So great '$l #% the folly and perverſneſs of man, that be YN auuſedh that to his own ruint, which God in« ;f;ſſib tended, and gave him for bus greater good. ' CHAP, : k.*i E CHAP. XIV. That the right way to Heaven is, every one to remain in the ſtation Providence hath appointed him, and therein bear the croſſes which he meets withal, P Evſicry man that aims at the right end, muſt gnide his courſe thither by the meaſures of Eternity, and that in a way ſutable to the circumſtances of his con- dition. This neceſlary Rule 1s not ob=- ſerv'd by all, for many following their own fancies, unadviſedly forſake that way where- In Divine providence had' brought themy and take ſome other of their own chuſing. Like Naaman the- Syr3an: who, though he much longed' to be cur'd of his leprofie, yet refuſed? to ufe the eafie remedy pre- ſcrib'd by the Propher, and preferring what he himiclf hadfancied, had gone away 1n anger diſeaſed as he came,had 'not his wiſer ſervant hindred it. After this manner, many following their own heads, undertake many things which they-cannor perform,but which. only vex and diſtra& them : - being above : their abilities, or inconfiſtent wirh the ne-- ceſlary oecupations which they lie under ; C 5 {o- 34 Precepts and Praffical Rules fo. that they can neither aR, nor advance- rowards the defired.cnd, but ſpend them- ſelves in unprofitably wiſhing that things were otherwiſe than they are.: 2. But the ſhortand ready way to Bliſs, is that' which our Bleſſed Saviour hath ſhew'd us, faying, Let him- that will come after me, take up his Croſs and follow me. . His: Croſs, he faith, not that which was to be another man's 'burthen 3: the_Croſs which God lays upon him, and: hath fitted for things muſt therefore - carefully be heeded, is. the_right end at-which he fhopld ajm; the means, are tono purpoſe .;andſecondly. that knowing that. good end; .he: keeps his bearing: his - Croſs- chearfully, .as.the Lord Croſs, to diſcharge well: the duties of-his patiencly thoſe aRiRions which he daily pxovince, to. endeavour-after the hjgheſt him, | and given him-ſtrengrh-to-bear : not - that which -he fooliſhly ſhall take up, and' foon afrer poorly fank under, Theſe two- Arſt that a man- underſtand perfe&ly whar” withour this, all deliberations . concerning- mind. intent upon't, and'take that plain. path towards it, which lies before-him, and agrees withhis ſtate and condition, theremn- hath commanded., Now-this is;every. mair's place and of - his ſeveral; relations, to-bear - meets in his way, .and. conftantly, by doing- better and better that which belongs. to his. PerieRion. attainable thereia, Eycry.man ' Mas - == —= _———_ for a truly Chriſtian Life. - 35 | - In his proper ſtation, 7 -that calling where- 3n he zs called, may beft become. 4 gaod Chri- ftzan, -perfett bolineſs in the fear of God, and at laſt obtain happineſs. ed R CHABESY How man's laſt.end or ſupreme l]czſippinef}ſſ is qualified, and how ſo many miſtake and miſy it. S. Is THeſe be the inſeparable properties- of the laſt and higheſt end atwhich man ſhould aim, thart it be perfe&ly good, and perfe&ly fatisfaory, ſo thatbeing once obtain'd, nothing elſe is wanted, and no- thing elfe defir'd ; for whoever wants any thing, defires it alſo, and he that defires 1s not ſatisfied, js nor yet come to that laſt end beyond which his wiſhes:can go no further ; that is, 1s notpoſleſt of God, . who alone is infinitely good, and can alone repleniſh all our defires and capacities. 1 ſhall be fatisfied when thy glory appears, faith the Plalmiſt, or 7 ſhall be ſatisfied with thy lihe- neſs. Plal. 17. 15. that and.nothing elſe can perfecly do it, | 2, Yet ſuch 1s the perverſe and incurable tolly. of man, that he will haye rhat t(}; b\z E1E: eR EEen eR - » — ,ſſ.(*!ſict m __ n " — 36 Precepts and Prafiical Rules 'S beſt which he loves. beft; rhough by the { 8 r-Þ reſtimony of: others, and' the conyiRion.of | m W. his own.conſcience he knows it to: he evil. | B And therefore many, either ignoranely or _ 4 d = perverſly purſue after that which is good [ h only in appearance, and forſake that which. | Wdſil [ is good indeed. And they thereby become ® 7 diforderly,, wretched: and. criminal z ene- [HPW l mies to.God, lovers of the thorny pleaſures R of fin:z and lovers of thar fatali darkneſs pon which hides rheir ſorrews, the ſnares among j which rhey, walk, and covers their miſery f and danger, ſo thar they neither ſee nor i fear the dreadful tribunalof that juſt Judge, l who, will: condemn all. Apoſtates, that turn | from the right way. They walk, faith the: : Apoſtle, in the vanity. of their. mind, baving ) the underſtanding darkned, being alienated kt from the life of God, through the zgnorance that |{ # in them, becauſe of the. blindneſs of their ' t beort « being paſt feelsng, they bave given them- b; ſelves over to laſciviouſneſs, to work all un- W sleanneſs with greedineſs, Epheſ. 4, 17. They: lm count their life a market for gain, and ſay, we. ter wuft be getting every.way, though 3t be.by evil l means, Wild. 15, 12, And: then it ofcen bol happens by.a juſt judgment, thar their faith | comes to. be.as debauchr as their life ; that \| having long ſaid it by their wicked deeds, 2n they at laſt fay jt in their hearr, that there #s; thn 36.God, Tc D P IRCIT N CS —— P e Eg for atruly Chriſtian Life. 37 3- T have already, and cannor too.often note the cauſe of this evil ; that is Aday, who by his ſm, nor only loft the uprightneſs of his will, but alſo the true light of his un- derſtanding : fo that in him, who was the ſtock and root whence all men grow, we were depriv'd of both. And noy this cor- ruption of the will, inclines man to ſelf- love, vain glory, and an. imperſous pride to covetouſneſs, ſloth, ſenſuality and looſe- neſs : And in the darkneſs of the under- Ganding. expoſeth him ro ignorance, and falſe apprehenſion of things, to., doubts, errors and lies, and makes. him: have an ayerſion.to.good and ſerious. thoughts. Thus man is become earthly, weak, and diſtem- perd, unable to refift. the finful motzons of his. own heart, and unable to know or to attain true felicity : but rather, as-It is written, Hi ways are always: grievous, and God's judgments. are far above out of his ſight, Pfal. to. 5- And' he now being alienated from, God, to whom all things ſhould be refer'd, is alſo a ſtravnger to virtue, which confiſts in the intention, in being deſign'd to pleaſe God, rather than in the.a. Bur that Soul. which by the Grace of our Bleſled Zeſus, is redeem'd from this. poxwer of Sa- ran and flavery- to fin, is. alſo enabled to cleave ſtedfaſtly. ro God, in. whom it enjoys Peace and joy, and full arisfa&ion, all thar ean. make him intirely happy 3 for he zs an- reaſonable __MW-*"W,T"}'* M : - 4 e: Se raeE W-_ - Ga : = C Z. eR 33 Precepts and Practical Rules reaſonable and too unfatiable, to whom God is zot ſufſſucatnt; _ th! ve” - * - 5, K » | C HAP. XVI. - Another rea [bn 'w_b_y fo many miſs of their- | end their living too much by ſenſe. | 'Ts VV Hereas reaſon it ſelf teaches, and all- men freely confeſs that things to " come ſhould be prefer'd to things prefſent, heavenly things to things earthly, and things , eternal tothings thar laſt but for a ſhort timee- iG *tis hard to conceive why ſo many who'he- lieve and acknowledge this,yet by their a&i- ons ſtrongly deny ir. Th worldly matters,and' # h ſuch as concern this preſent life, they are 'very a&tive, very wite and yery laborjous ;- 10 others they ſeem to have neither ſenſe nor reaſon, If you ſpeak to them of God, of Holy-Living and Life Eternal, they un- derſtand you not, or they preſently forger what you ſaid. Things material and:periſh-- | ing are ſenſible, and therefore more regard-= w ed and fſet by; though oftentimes ex- [ perience wyll force them to know thar all- human concerns are flitting, uncertain, and yery deceitful, yet men follow ſenſe, and-: they foon return to- embrace thoſe things.. 4 ® which cuſtom and a familiar conyerſe hath | made dear to them, |0 As. Th@ct [\ Jern C D mn m D O GE E- for a truly Chriſtian Life.” 39 2. The fall(as I'faid ) of our. firft Pa- rents, .is the head-ſpring whence all this _miſchief flows; from tt proceed all tempta- tions, as alſo. the darkneſs and inconſtancy of our-minds - but the -more .1mmediate cauſe of ir, which I now confider. is the 1m- becillity., depravation and- weakneſs of the faculties of our ſouls, which have-no right apprehenfion of .the, things ofGod, and but an imperfe& confuſed .notion-.of the .amazing.. concerns of. Eternity. The lovelineſs of.virtue and the grear deformity of ſin, the terrors of death and- the dread of God's. righteous judgments, the joys: of Saints above, and thegrievous torments of the wicked.-in -hell :: theſe are but words which we hear, we have dark: and narrow conceptionsof: them, we underſtand nor of how . great an. importance they are, and therefore we are not fo.affe&ed with them, as to be made-wiſe unto ſalvation. Of things offer'd to our confſideration, we only mind that leaſt' outward part which falls under the :reach of ſenſe 2-.but we-attend not to that which-is leſs ſenſible, though more con- ſiderable and apt.effecually to work upon the -mind. Thus in fin, we look moſt of all ro what's temporal; we are More con- cern'd for the impairing of our fame and the diminution of our worth or ſelt- complacency, than for haying offended God, and made our ſelyes obnox1ous to an infinite R eB Rn C - SAn EEREES £ - $ R D l & Þ 5. N p.' CSB P IEL s 40 Precepts and Pradiical Rules infinite pain, Likewiſe in a dying man we moſt obſerve- what is in view, outward ſymptomes and accidents, little regarding the more eſſential adjun&s whictr concern the ſoul, and are of far greater moment, And- we conceive of the laſt judgment and the unquenchable flames of Hell, which are imperceptible to ſenſe, as of things which are nothing: to us, and which we have no. intereſt to mind. $. The ſame deception alſo extends ir- ſelf ro things preſent which gratifie our ap- petite 3 wetake notice only of that outſide- which pleaſeth us, and ſodeplorable is our fortiſh miſtake; that we count our ſelyes.- very happy to-enjoy that for a moment,. which muſt make us eternally miſerable. Every man knows his-Soul is-immortal, and. many Philoſophers have wrir great things upon that ſubje&': but where are they that are ſolicitous for its well-being after death 2 Do nor moſt men negle& their ſoul, and live as if it were to die with the body ? The miſchief is, that generally men live neither by faith nor by reaſon, they follow blindfold and brutiſhly juſt as. ſenſe leads them »- e@voiding carefully what is now troubleſom to the feeſh, as if nothing elſe were to he aone bere, and: nothing eiſe fear'd bereafter.. CS —_—_ ——_ —— —————— — —— ——. LS) for a truly Chriftian Lifee. CHAP. XVIE * That we being the Children of God, onght nn to be guided by his Spirit and by the example of Chriſt. £, T F a man ſhould rightly underſtand and ſeriouſly confider, that God by a gracious adoptiom owns him for his ſon, that he is redeem'd by the Bloud of Chrift, and born again by Holy Baptiſm into the hope of Eternal Life, he would doubtleſs eſfteem ir his nobleſt title and his greateſt lhonour, he would deſpiſe all.earthly advantages, and F:: mind and value nothing but what is Divine and Eternal, and pailionately defiring to come to his Father, he would do nothing unworthy of him, As he thar a&s the King on the ſiage, though it be but a vain ſhew ro delight vainer people, yet is careful to do and to ſpeak nothing but what befits 2 - King : ſo, and much more careful ſhould 2 Chriſtian be to do nothing unworthy of that " honourable name, which makes him a bro- ' ther and diſciple of 7:ſus, and an heir of his Heavenly Kingdom. And as a piqure- . drawer when he is upon a great defign, fixes his eyes and mind on. that. Original. ( which 42 Precepts and Pradtical Rules -which he means to copy: So ſhould a fol- lower of Chriſt in all his words and aRions Het before himſelf his Maſter's Life, as the moſt perfe& exemplar he is reſolv'd to 1mitate, and neverto ſwerve from. 2. Now he that profeſſeth Chriſt and re- mains #n him, ſhould walk as he walked, carefully obſerve and follow the ſteps of his new and better Lord, For as. whileſt we remain in-the ſtate of Nature and follow its inſtin&, we are Children of wrath, arid are ſlaves to.Satan and to our own luſts : ſo now we are redeem'd from that unhappy flavery by the bloud'of Chrift, his Grace muſt be the principle of all our a&jons,: we muſlt caretully follow him whoſe members We are. I Cor.1s, 47. The firſt man is of the Eafth, eartbly 3 the ſecond man is the Lord from Heaven: therefore as we have born the Image of the Earthy, we ſhould alſo bear the "Image of the Heavenly ; making that our. firſtand chiefeſt care, that we walk worthy 'of our high calling, as being led by his Spi- rit from whom we have our higheſt title, for if any man havs not the Spirit of Chriſt, be z non? of bis, faith the Apoltle, Row:. 8. 9. 3. Now healone hath the Spirit of Chr:/t whoſe outward and inward life ; thart is, Whoſe acjons and affe&ions are according to the Pattern of Chriſf's bleſſed example, who endeavours always ro ſpeak and aR, as Chriſt is Maſter did,” According as weare ___ exhorted. for a traly Chriſtian Life. 43 exhorted'not to walk after the fleſh, burt after the Spirit, being created anew in Feſus Chriſt unto good works. 7e jhould look unto the Roch whence we are hewn, not living after the methods of depraved man, bur walking in the ways of thatrighteous God, from whom we have our being : thar we being holy in all manner of converfation, may be own'd to be the children. of our Farher which 1s 1n Heaven, For þe certainly # 10 child of God, who is not- led and ſantt;- fied by the Spirit of Chriſt, CHAP. XVIIL The Tuft liveth by faith, not by the laws of fleſh and bloud. | - 1. J- Aith is to all virtues and to a Chri- ſtianlife, the ſame thing as the root isto-the. tree, the foundation to the builds ing, and the Spring to the fountain : for it 15 the firſt leſlon of Chriſtianity from whence we learn all the reſt, there we muſt firſt begin, and waithout it it i #mpoſſuble to pleaſe God, for the 5uſt lives by faith.The Com- mendation 7ob gives to wiſdom, Chap. 28. is juftly due to Faith, Faith being the prin- ciple of it : and likewiſe it 1s evident: and ſſ granted K wY OAMEPPE 44 Precepts and Praftical Rules Y9 granted by all wiſe men, that So/omor's high Encomium of Wiſdom doth but: ſer forth the Divine excellencies of Faith;. Wiſd. #. Gold 7n reſpect of her is as. little ſand, and felver ſhall be counted as clay before her, ſhe is: 2 treaſure unts-men, that never faileth, whith they that uſe, becoms the ſriends of God. She z the brightneſs of the everlaſting light, the anſported mirrour of the pawer of God, and the Inage of his goodneſs, The dodrine of Faith apprehended by Faith teacheth us all Truth, informs our-Souls what we ought to- love, what to ſhun and whar to purſue. Ir reacheth us that what the world counts good, 1s evil: And that worldly calamities are good, if indur'd patiently. Irt teacheth us to deſpiſe things viſible and temporal, and all that which is for no uſe bur to the materlal part of us. Ir teacheth us to know God and to know our ſelves, which is the true faving knowledge, and.the higheſt of our wifdome. And it frees us from the pernicious-errors of this fooliſh world, and. from 1ts wretched ſlavery, to make us wiſe unto ſalvation, and ſet us at perfe&t liberty, 2. There 1s a vaſt diſtance andgreat con- trariety betwixr the inſtru&jons of faith and the cuſtoms of this preſent world ; bur then, Chriſt' who delivers the firſt, being ever true and infallible, ir js clearly our duty and intereſtto live by faith and*not by: " ſenſe, for a truly Chriſtian Life. ſenſe, to follow the holy light of our holy faith, not the wicked example of this wicked world. And withal *is much to be obſerv'd, that depraved as we now arc, there is norhing in us, nothing 'in our na- ture but what is contrary to the prin- ciples of the Chriſtian Faith, and alto- gether defiru&ive of them, For *tis the conſtant di&ate and endeayour of fleſh and blond and natural reaſon, to pro- cure by all means poſſible, a well-being to our ſelves in this preſent world, withour - taking any further care of a better life, and a bleſſed Eternity. This evil men have from Adam, and from thoſe luſts which reign in their mortal bodies, and the beſt . of men have ſtill ſome cauſe to groan under the ſenſe of ir. Rom. 7. The good that T would, 1 do not, and the evil which 1 hate that Ido; O wretched man that I am, who ſhall de- lzver me from the body of this death ? St. Paul anſwers, the Grace of God through our ' Lord 7eſus Chrift will deliver us : For by Grace. weare ſay*d from our blindneſs and impotency, and enabled to ſee and chuſe that which is good, and to perform the fame: and the firſt and chiefeſt work of that grace is faith, whereby we are united 0 Cbr;ſt, and recelye a new life from him. CHAP, 46 Precepts and Pradtical Rules CHAP. X1X. That' Faith works in a-ſſ____Cl)hj/Ziazz ſelf- denyal and contempt of the Waorld.... _ ſi ' - : M I. Reat is the power and ſtrength of | l G Faith, for ir makes the 4aithiul I« Chriſtian to be as it ſelf is, unſhaken and. | unmoyable. - The true believer whoſe faith k 1s lively and a&ive, regards and ſeeks no- thing but God, and in him alone finds Iight and peace, 'delight and full farisfa&i. J) on: but 1n the world and in the ſons: of ſſ men, he finds neither reſt nox pleaſure.; for 4 in time of need there is no help in them. They are like all other things tmder the Syn periſhing and-unſtable, fo thathe thar relies on._ them muſt_ expe& the: ſame deſtiny : whereas . he that truſts-on God who 1s un- l moyeable, 1s eſtabliſhed for ever. As the at; Saints that ſee God as he js, become like i unto him : fo ſhould our life expreſs the holineſs of our belief, our a&tions ſhould:he a lively repreſentation_of 'whar- we ſee by \f& faith : and we ſhould glory: in nothing bur J) inthe Croſs of our Lord Jiſus Chrift, which v to the loyers of this preſent world, is are- proach and an offence, 2, The for a truly Chriſtian Life. 2. The firſt 'man indeed in the ſtate of his innocence might have come to Bliſs by a freeand lawful uſe of thoſe good creatures which God had prepar'd for him, in the delights of Paradiſe': but after he had re- bel'd againſt God and infe&ed his unborn poſterity with-ſin, the Divine Wiſdom ap- pointed another way to Bliſs; that is, the way of the Croſs and Self-denyal, through which Chri/t himſelf paſt, and appointed the ſametoall his followers, ſaying, Luke 9. 23. If any man will come after me, let him deny him- ſelf, and take up his Croſs daily and follow me. And again, Luke 14. 26, 33. If any man come to me, and bate uot his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and ſiſters, -yea, and his own life alſo, he cannot be my difci= ple, And whoſorver he be of you that forſaketh #ot alt that be bath, be cannot be my diſciple, 3. This is the ground-work and the true -inſtitution of a Chriſtian life, and this is thar - excellent knowledge of Chrift, which is difficult and unpleafant to natural men, and contrary to the Spirit of the World. This is the higheſt Philoſophy, which exceeds rhe capacity and knowledge of the wiſe men of this world ; and this is the higheft per- feAion, and the certain way to Bliſs, to know and to follow 7eſs Chrift and him crucified ; to hate ones ſelf and the world, with all its Pleaſures and vanities, and to love poyerty, -contempt, ſorrows and tribulations, But r0 43 Precepts and Pradiical Rales to underſtand well this plain lefſon, or firſt princtple,requires a great meaſure of Gracez and more yet to reliſh ir with pleaſure moſt-of all, to praRiſe it, tolive accordingly in the whole courſe of onr converſation. CHAP. X X Of the deſperate folly of men, who willingly TKn to ruin, bytheir inconfideration. Is ET—erna] rorments being prepar'd for none burt ſuch as will be miſerable, and by their free and wilful wickedneſs, chaſe Hell for their portion z on the other fide, Eternal joys above being offer'd to all that will partake of them : who would nor think the Priſons of darkneſs and ſorrow ſbould be wholly empty, and Heaven in- finitely full and throng'd? Who could 1magine any man ſhould be fo deſperarely mad, as to chuſe eternal miſery, when he could eafily be happy for ever? Yet ſoit is, tew there are that enter the Kingdom of Heaycs, and many thereare that go down to Hell ; inſomuch thar the firft, compared to theſe, are bur a ſmall numher, whom our Bleſled Saviour -calls the 1ittle flock. The folly of men is {o ſtrange and amazing, that the - ſuch as will enjoy the pleaſures of fin while for atruly Chriſtian Life, 49 the greater part of them prefer Erernal woe ro Blifs Eternal, though you ſhall nor find one how thirſty ſoever, thar would fip of thar-cup, he fhould ſuſpe& to be poiſon'd, yet many every where may be found, whe greedily commir thoſe fins, which, not doubts or opinions, but a certain faith af- ſures them, muſt be puniſhr with ever- burning flames, 2. This unheardof madneſs, many attri- bute to want of Faith, which though it may be true of ſome amongſt us, yet daily ex- perience and obfervation purs it beyond all doubt, that the greater part of them that periſh, periſh for want 'of confideration, For though they believe that there is a Hell, and that therein none ſhall ſuffer bur they lve, yet they ſoon forget this impor- tant truth ; their fancy and their affe&tons are fixt to this earth, rhey only pleaſe their appetites, and live (o fenſually, thar theic reafon can hardlylook beyond the preſent ; the notions of Eternity are kept out, and their underſtanding made uncapable and unwilling ro conſider wiſely, that rheir ſhore joys and delights will ſoon end into bitterneſs and endleſs ſforrows, and thar It 1s. very eafie for us whileſt we live, to avoid that dreadful miſery, and obtain Eter- nal happineſs. And would to'God, men. would ſeriouſly mind and obferye this z -O D that — CT D TC RN -Zo Precepts and Pradtical Rules 10 that they were wiſe, that they would un- " derſtand and'confider their latter end, and live accordingly. Ir is man's property and his privilege, to think and - meditate, and /" ſure his thoughts and medirations ſhould "" of themſelves run, firſt of all, to his chiet ” end, to that which is his own-greateſt in. rereſt, No. error or ignorance is fo per- Dicious, as to negle& ones own Salygan, tiot, - W # 4 |R þ ” - F b. : g - F [ CHAP. XXI. The Charafter of a true Chriſtian. Is E is a_Chriſtian_indeed that owns |j ' 4 the Faith of Chr;f, and obeys his. 4 precepts, and follows his Blefled Exam- ple ; for tothis we areoblig'd by our Chri-- |, ſhan Profefſion, to raiſe our ſelves abov# theſe earthly things, to live a Divine an- ,. Heavenly Life. Becauſe thar the Grag? #1. LY God. which bringeth Salvation bath appeat+d4 anto all man (faith the Apoſile, x T. 2, 11.) teaching us that denying ungodlineſs and - "worldly luſts, we. ſhauld lave in this preſent world Soberly, Righteouſly, and Godly : looking for that Bleſſed Hope and the glorious appearing. l ; . _ : 04 for a truly Chriſtian Life. $1 'oþ ' : . ; ' R the great God and our Savionr Jefus Chriſt, ll":&\" M phe gave himfelf for us, that he might redeem ; MiKNizas from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelf « " Meitas [peculzar Poople 28alows of good Works, There- us fore, as he cannot juſtly be called DoRor, % Dwho is not ſo much as. a Scholar ; as he " frity deferves not the name of Caprain, who un- * bbyderftands not Souldiery ; and as he is not % 0 88 Arciſt, that hath not the $kill of it : Ns Rae can he with truth be called z Chriſtian, | WE> 25 1not a trut follower of Chriſt. 2. They therefore only are truly Chri- {ftans, who having renounc'd the vanities ſ and ſinful defires of this World, love God h with all their hearr, and with all their ſtrength, and their neighbour alrogether in (hiy, - God and for God, preferring not them- " þ Telves to any orhers, becauſe that in our \, © fecond and hetrer birth weare all made -m equal : They that firialy obſerve the rules P of juſtice and ſobriety ; in all things be- *0 - taving themſelves fo innocently as nor to W. give a juſt cauſe of offence to any Perſon; 62 they thar vſe the crearures for neceflity, as M zick men do Phyfick, coveting nothing bur 02 war only which cannor be taken away from (19 them : they that ſeek not to pleaſe, 'and l fear not to difplcaſe any, bur God alone « 4 *they that hare rtheir own fleſh, in thar ir is 16 the body of ſin, and therefore daily chaſtize K4 and keep it under, lefl it grow petulant wye 2nd maſterieſs'; they ehar are eyer con- —_ — 0 ſtant & 82 Precejts and Pradjical Rules ſtant to their reſolutions, and being aboye the World cannot - he terrified by any threats or. perſecutions - they thar in proſ- perity and adyerſity are always the ſame, peaceableand even, able clearly to ſee and to. follow truth : they that Jonging after things Eternal, deſpiſe things preſent, and living upon Fatth, Hope and Chariry, be- heye therefore whar they ſee not,hope what* they have not, and love that which as yet they do not poſleſs - they that ſo love God, that for his ſake they refuſe no labour, and are always ready to expoſe themſelves to any-dangers, withour any other deſign but only to advance his glory - they that from the teftimony of a good.-conſcience, and their confidence in Gods mercy, «chearfully expe& Chriff's coming in his Heavenly Kingdom, and can joyfully ſay with the Apottle, 2 Tim. .4. 7. I have fought a good febt, 1 havefiniſhed my courſe, 1 have kept the faith, henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteonſneſs, which "the Lord' the Righteous Zudge ſhall give me at that day « They alone have a right to theTitle and the Bleſſedneſs of Chriſiians, thar do all theſe with fince- rity. );. Such men as theſe rejoyce when they are counted worrhy to ſuffer for the name of 7eſus, and they count that day loft, in which they have not done and endured ſomething upon his, account, They m};'lk_c 'xheir ſſ*}( F f Y for a truly Chriſtian Life: 53 their Glory, their Felicity, their Wiſdom, to-conſiſt 1n ſach things as the World ac-' counts Shame, Miſery and Folly. They deteſt the falſe Principles on which pro- ceeds carnal prudence, as that we muſt be Rich and Great, honour'd by the World, and above others : and they love and hear- rily. imbrace the Chriſtian- verity which teacheth us to deſpiſe riches, to deny our felves, and to glory in nothing, fave 1n the Croſs of our Lord 7eſ4s Chrift. In a word, their converſation is in Heaven, and they ſo live that all their a&1ons ſeem to ſpeak aloud, That thezr Kingadom 75 not of thes worlds Theſe things indeed are high and difficulc, but tbe Kzngdom of Heaven ſuffers vielence, and z only to be taben by force s and withall it well deſerves, all our labours, and uobleſk conten= £3075, CHAP. XXII. Several uſeful cantions how a Chriſtian Should undertake and perfed his workg.. 1.. A LL the aGions of a- Chriſtian ſhould be done in peace and meck- neſs,. and he ought to confider the circum- fiances of.time and place and perſons, and D3 eſpecially 94 Precepts and Praciical Rules eſpecially of the end of that he is about: but withall let him take care of being raſh and haſty, of following ſudden motions of na- rure rather than reaſon, Grace and Religion, Let not his mind be light and inconſtant, eatily wandring after vain proje&s : but ler him attend and be ready to entertain and to obey the illuminations and mo- tzons of the good Spirit : When he 15 about to begin any work, let not his mind be too buſie and diſtraed with other thoughtes, for then he moſt &x- peat to want his wits and fail in many things, whith afterwards will grieve him, when it will be too late, - When he firft enters upon any defign, let him humbly beg that God would guide and affift him, and let him ſerjouſly confider whar ſhare God hath in the bufineſs, and how muck of it is on his own account, In the carry- ing on of his work Jet not ſelf-complacency tarn him from the good end he propoſed : and 1n the finiſhing thereof let him be cau- r10us that all he hath done be not marr'd and ſpoil'd by ſelf-applauſe and vain-glory: above all, let him be ſeriouſly inrent upon rhys, thar he ſecks nor the praiſe of men, but the glory of God, keeping down proud thoughts, in the confideration of his being nothing. 2. He ſhould not meddle with any buſt nets, except God by his Providence ſiaſis rm for a truly Chriſtian Life« 55 him to it 3 and then he oughr to go through with ir chearfully and diligently ; and with noble defigns of charity to men, ſpecially to their ſouls : confidering that the bliſs or per- fe&ion of fthis preſent life, confiſterh not in the full enjoyment of God, burt in the con- formity of our will to his, in the doing and ſuffering his pleaſure. Except necellity compell him, ler hifm not undertake any thing that's above his ſtrength, rhat if 1tbe polſible he may loſe nothing of his peace nor of the freedom of his mind : fof to be too ihtent, and too much taket up with things without us, commonly quencheth tie Spirit of God, and deprives our Souls of tranquillity, Rather as the Angel which is faid to have accompanied. Tovzt, thoug!h it was always- ready to ferve hiff, yet never- theleſs attended to the will of God, and was always preſeat to him - ſo ſhould a good Chriſtian mind the neceſſary concertis of this life, and be_ outwardly troubted afd imployed abour them ; when yer his heart thou!ld be with God, and his foul ih Heaven, there to be free from_the diſtrattions atid all che affe&ions of the World. D4 CHAP, v6 Precepts and Practical Ryles CHAP. XXIII That to diſcharge the duties of our ftati- on 15 the beſt thing wecan do, X O do that which our place and |_ calling requires of us here, and that be faid tobe one and the ſame thing ; for no man more certainly works out his Salva- tton, than he that honeſtly, and diligently works 1n his proper ſphere. Thereforethe Devil commonly lays this ſnare in our way to Chriſtian perfe&ion, to make us aſpire of after the doing of great matters which are j no parts of our office, thereby to buſie and diſtract our mind, that we may not attend to our proper duty, which les before us, and the doing whercof is our greateſt vir- tuc, . 2, He therefore greatly deceives him- felf, that would fain change his condition, imagining he could better ſerye God if he were here or there, or ſo or ſo, after Provi- dence or 4 prudent choiſe haye otherwiſe determin'd it. It doth but make him lazy and negligent in doing what he fhould, whaleſt which will make us happy hereafter, may ſi == - »> £S D = "2». 5 ==_ - = =_ == L_ C em P Cn aUEnn H eRAT eD P el 26 z 5 - D - R — for a truly Chri_ſſiazz Life. 57 Whileſt he thinks of what belongs not to h-i__m ;/1t makes him to fit idle, and do no- thing in the place where he is, whileſt he Projetts to do great fears where he is not. Whereas the unblameable integrity or per- fe&ion at which a Chriſtian thould aim, depends upon parrticular a&ions, they thar are negligent and jncurious to do them . well, ſet rhemſelves backward and make no Progreſs ; for their heart being abſent, and their thoughts employ'd ſomewhere elſe, they do but little where they are, and yer, that little is done afrer a dreaming carele(s- way, Such men are always beginning, or: about to begin to live well; they. contrive-. many things, but bring nothing to perfeal- on ; they are all leaves and no fruit. Like Trees that are often remou'd, they.no where take firm rogt, and ſo temain every where uſeleſs. CHAP. XXIV.. How Chriſtians are to live and to be fncere. | E CHriſtians ſhould not indulge tethe : Lults of the lower belly or to the. pleaſures ofa nice or glutconous palar z they ſthould abſtain from all vanity . and unde=- Ds CEency. 53 Precepts and Prafical Rules cency 1n their Apparel, and from all jdle ſports that are too expenfive of time; and their life ſhoald- be free from floth and negligence, from ambition and pride, and from * covetonſneſs and defire of riches. Anger ought not tolodge in their breaft, and they ſhonld never do that-.to others which they would not have done to them- {elves. They ſhould do nothing carelefly, nor yet raſhly, leaſt of all deceitfully and hypocritically, Chriſtian datjes and a&s of virtue that are not done in Spirir and 'Eruth, with attention and a good inrenti- .on, are meer diſſembling and pageantry. In fome places where Religion is made a / Theatrical reprefenration, you ſhall oftent find men of wicked lives a& the higheſt virtues of the greateſt Saints; one the con- Ttancy of Marryrs, another the modeſty of the Bleſſed Virgin, or perhaps the heroick a&tons of Chrift and his Apoſtles : but the end of the play puts an end to their fine aiflembling 3 they no longer appear thoſe holy men they were, but preſentlyreturn to their nature, to their prophaneneſs and impurity, Juft ſo are they that have a fair ſpeczous our-ſide, appearing preciſe and godly, to beſecen and praiſed, or drivean intereſt; they are meer jugglers and ſtage- players, they pur a fajr vizard ovet an ugly- face, holneſs outwardly, inwardly unimort!- fied luſts afd peryerſe paſſions ; Their 7ves are A_ CLNNN C ETEN D ——— \ſſ__ſſſſ__ R P re eti D for 4 truly Chriftian Lifes 59 ave nothing but a Comedy, that will have 4 Tra” gical end. 2. For indeed, this 15 the cauſe why fo many are not ſo perfe& and holy, as their Chriſtian faith requires and would enable them to be, that they are not fincere, but want tfuth in the inward parts. The falſe opinions of the World, are 'of greater power with them, than the precepts and. the exatmples of Chrift ; and thoſe moral yirtues 'which nature 1t ſelf recommends, are commonily niade fin, or ſubſeryient to it, by the depraved judgmenis atid cuſtoms of men, We therefore that live 1n a cfooked and perverſe 5generation, among corrupt and deceived perſons, ought ſeriouſly afid - often to miake this inquity 3 whether we our ſelves do kfioww the right way; and Whe- ther we truly follow it? Now that way, which 1s the way of truth, is ohe"anid alto- gether unchangeable, and they that wall keep it without change z muſt not look to the World, but up to Heavent; ffiuft not follow the example of meri, but muſt dt- re&ly follow God, who alone z the way, the -#ruth, and the life, R D eonns reet mn A Mn The :__*-_Wfi_._ſſ_ſſ_ —_— n— 60 Precepts and Praftical Rules CHAP. XXV, That ahearty affedion is the life of good ACJIONS. F. W E muſt have a ſpecial care that the- ſenſitive part of us havenot the principal concern in our good works, and that we be not led by ſenſe in our aftions.: tor ſenſe 15 the great decejver, the fountain of error ; therefore *cis ſaid, that the mor- tification of ſenſe, is the life of truth. And hence it is that we cannot be- confident, ever to have done any thing perfe&ly good and without defe&, becauſe that- we bear a part 3n our beſt works, and as far as they proceed from us, they are ſtain'd with im- perfection, although they he done upon Gods account, and by the impulſe and af- fiſtance of divine Grace. Thus it was-ſaid to the Angel or. Biſhop of Sardis, Rev.3. 2. 1bavenot found thy works perfett- befare .God : and thus it mighrt be fajd to any other. For our Prayers, Faſtings, and Alms, and- fuch like good works, though they may ap- pear complete before men, who ſee no- #iing bur the outſide, yet before God who. {earcheth the heart, they are_ defeRive and- - m— —_ SI=_ = - - for.a traly Chriſtion Life, . 61 and cannot he acceptable in the leaſt, ex- cept they be done with a pure and fincere intention to pleaſe him. 2. Of ten Virgins mention'd 1n the Goſ- pel, five fooliſh were excluded from the. wedding z not but that they were Virging and had lamps, trhat- is, works : but be- cauſe they wanted the ojl of good in- . tentions and holy affe&ions. . This may well be the caſe of every one of us; our works will be dead* before God, and un- pleaſing ro him, except we breath life into them, by our inward ſan&ified ſpirir, and feryent love to: God. In outward a&s and appearance, al} Chriftians are almoſt alike :- but: as the hand of a. watch is mov'd by the hidden ſprings, and as the colour ofthe face depends on the ſecret conſtitu- tion of the body : fo the good are diſtin- guiſhr from the bad by their inward ſpirit, or the hidden nan of the heart ; for the King- dom of God 75 within us.. } 8 mn CS oxw_— lreRGg—... ed IN e-n CHAP. XXVL ceeds. Is S many thar eat much, yet are feeble and 1nfirm and lean, be- cauſe they overcharge their ſtomach, o. that their nouriſhment is not well con- coged : and as many that eat very mo- derately, yet becauſe they digeſt well, are ſtrong and healthy and long-liv'd : So likes wiſe ſome Chriſtzans there are that do ma- ny good things, and yet themſelves become little better, becaufe they go not the right way to work, They think that by doing much, they muſt become great proficients, though they doit remiſly and incurjonfly : Whereas to do our duty every day with grea- rer fervency andexactneſs, is the right way to perfeQion ; a few things well dong profit more, than heaps of works done negligently. 2, For fo, there are others that com- pared to theſe firſt do. but lirtle, and yer tncreaſe much in the love of God, becauſe they endeavour always to work with greater affe&ion, and a more upright intention : {o thatat the end of eyery good aQtion, they may Whence the goodneſs of our workg pro- W%_—_—___—._.———W_W—ſiſi — 'o : ſſM—T\_A )JMW D IErne— '[':q. ------ þS " for a truly Chriſtian Life, 63 may 1n fortie manner, ufe that expreffion of Chr:ſt on the Crols, Joh. 19.30, It # finiſhed ; I have itt this, as far as was poſſible, done what God required of me, as perfe&ly as my infirftity would allow, anid his free grace enabled me, who gives us to will and to do, atid without whom we cafi do nto- thing. They o ſpetid each day, that at night, »they can ſay, It zs fnifhed : and they ſo ſpetid their whole life that when *tis ended, they can fay wikh an holy afd humble confidenice, T have niow perfe&ed that work which God had appointed me todo. He that livesſo, lives like a Chriſftian, and he ſhall not fear in the evil day. CHAP. XXVII. How wſeful and comfortable 1 the con- fideration of God being always pre- fent. T. Othing will more preyail to make perfe& our works as much as 1s | )pofflble, than to confider that God 15 pre- ſent every whiere, and that from him and in him, all things have their being, power and motioti, This is the moſt preifing Ar- gametit why we ſhouldalwaysad with the greateſt 64 Precepts and Prafical Rules oreateſt circumſpe&ion, that God ſees the things zthar are in ſecret and we can never be hid from his eyes 3 that in him welive and move and have our being, and that he never forſakes us, till we forſake him to turn our affe&ions upon the creatures, For this is the unhappy effe& of our original corruption, that our ſenſes are ſo affeged and pleafed with material things preſent, that our mind is drawn from the contem- platjon. of Gods preſence and things as yet inviſible : whereas, if the love of this world did not bear too great a ſway in our hearr, we could ſee God 1n every place holy affe&ions would always ſee him who 5s rhe Author of all holineſs ; according to the ſaying of our Bleſſed Savjour, Mat. s. @. Bleſſed are the pure #n heart for they fhall ſee God. 2. For indeed *cis not to be expreſt, how ſweer and: comfortable is. the goodneſs of God which he hath laid up for chem that fear- him : bur laid up-it is; -none have a- ſenſe of it burt they. that love God 3 they alone taſte and ſee how gracious the Lord is. For *tis not.enough to have a treaſure, we. muſt know we have it, before we can be rich, and we muſt know the uſe and. the worth of it- Now ſuch a treaſure we haye within us, as is of an ineſtimable infinite value, and yet we ſeem- not to know it, for we run after motes and ſhadows, and - - catchr _— ——=— for a truly Chriftian Life. 65 catch at painted drops that cannot quench our thirſt, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, © ye ſons of men, how long will ye love vanities and ſeeb after lies ? Thus we are cheated and under- ſtand not our own happineſs, for God « pre- ſent to us every moment and' wt could always enjoy him z we are tich and we know it not. 3- We could if we would anticipate the joys of Heaven ; we could now have a taſte of the felicity of beatified Saints, but that we indulge Senſe to the prejudice of the Soul;, we ſhake off the thoughts and the comforts of Gods preſence, becauſe it puts a reſtraint upon our appetites : And when art any time Spiritual joys are denyed us, we preſently ſeek for Earthly pleafures z becauſe we opennot the eyes of our Faith to ſce God preſent, and we embrace him not with devout affe&ion, and:we care not to converſe with him. This is the way to Perfe&ion which God himſelf ſhewed: to Abraham, to have always a ſenſe of the'Di- vine preſence ; Gen. 17. 1. 1 am the Almighty God, walk before me, and be thou perfett : Holy David likewiſe made a great uſe of this, to be always mindful thar God is with us, Pfal. 16. 8, Thave ſet the Lord always before me, becauſe he 3s at-my Yight hand, 1 ſhall not-be moved. H can never but be happy, that dwells with the Author of all happineſs. ; CHAP. +HN f ” 8 - os 4 £ Y m d 2 Fz] 9 :',;({','V }'ct j Y | 65 Preceþta* and Practical Rules CHAP. XXVIII. Why the imitation of Gods Saints ap- pears difficult, P. \\DT E think it a matter of great diffi- culty to follow the exatnple of thoſe Chriſtian Wotthies thar have gorie be- fore us, becauſe we repreſerit them to our ſclves, as-being now of another nature, freed . from the body, inhabitants of the matiſions of blifs, whence anger, luſt, and all tempta- tions are for ever baniſh'd, and where they enjoy peace and joy and efernal felicities, Burt 1f we really defire to follow theit ſteps, and to conform our lives co theirs, theni are we to confider, that as we are fo were they, mortal men, cumbred with the uneafie bur- then of the fleſh, infe&ed with fin, tempted by finful affe&ions, and expoſed to fniſeries and dangers : but that by Faith they over- came all theſe, ſubdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteonſneſs, and by fighting ovtain'a the CrOWRs 2. Elias (faith St. Zamts g. 17. ) Was & man ſubjelt to the like paſſrons as we art, and be prayed earneſtly that it might not Yan « and # Rn = =_ - =_— = = —= Tt= = = = _—_— —_— = ——== 3 ——= D == =_ = : —> QSS for a truly Chriſtian Life. 67 zt #ained not 0n the Earth by the ſpace of three years and ſix months: and again he prayed, and the Heaven gave rain, and the Earth brought forth her fruit. The ſame may be ſajd of any other Saints, that have done the greateſt wonders ; they were like us, made of the ſame clay, and ſubje& to the fame paſſions and remptations, while they were - on Earth. They were only above us in this,that with great and affiduous pains,they conquered pride and luſt, and eſcaped the ſnares ofthe Devil, by diligent care and in- vincible reſolution, Why then do we draw back and make dcelays? to them that are truly refolved and willing, *tis not difficalt to become Saints, by the tmiration of thoſe that have gone before us; if ſhaking offour floth and lazineſs we would- ſerionſly en- deavour, we mipghr by the help of Divine Grace arrive tothe ſame height of SanAifi- cation and bliſs, as they have. For he hath proceeded far towards holineſs, that fancerely atfires to be holy, CHAP, N D D e—_ ——— — N ORnnn=. _:'Wſſ;\_*-*-ſi——oct.—'_-—ſſ __ - ON Y 2. C YLNEn S. 7'k _.-'.__* A'('*':ſi)ſil ” 55 57 » " LY F E OaRs ON CHAP: XXIA How we ſhouldiin all things aim at Gods Glery. ,. T T is the precept of. St, Payl, that God I ſhould be the end of all our works, that they may be good and acceprable. 1 Cor. 10, 31. Whethey ye eat or drinks or whatſoever ye do, do allto the Glory of God : and again, Col. 3. 17. Whatſozver ye do -n word of deed, ds all inthe name of the Lord Jeſus, giving thanks to God and the -Father by. hin. For agoo& work which 1s not-done. upon Gods account, doth become evil, it being the nature of: virtue to receive its form from-rhe end, rather than from rhe at, Andifwe cleavetothe creatures and love them for their own ſake without re- ference to- God, this is thar luft or finful love which Sainr 7ohz condemns,1Ep.2.15, E»mve not the world, yeither the things that are #nthe world; love them not foas toreſtin them. For here we are Pilgrims, Fravel- lers going home, toour Fathers-houſe, to our God : and fo what creatures.-we meet in. our way, we may ule them as conveniences to carry us forward, towards him : but we may ——— D E IENS h Cn D Cn onmm o—— —A" l em for a truly Chriftian Life, 69 may not dwell with them, as if we were at our Journeys end, God alone is to be loy'd for himſelf, he alone being infinitely good, and the laſt and beſt end we -can propound to our ſelves; in him alone our appetites Thall reft ſatisfied, our enjoyment fhall be ſecure, and our joys undiſturb'd 'for ever. Whoſoever knows not and purſues not this end, knows not why he lives, nor how to live well : but he that knows:it, knows whi. ther todire& his intentions, and whither to rend inall his a&1tons, 2, Ic is granted that fome natural a&i- 'ONs, as towalk, to eat, to fleep, and ſuch like,are of themſelves neither good nor evil: yetall Divines teach rhat they become fin , if we dothem not to ſome further and ber= 'ter end, that is, to live to ſerve God; whoſe glory ſhould be the ultimate defign of all Mens actions, becauſe as he is the beginning, ſo ſhould he be the end of all things. The teght of the Body 55 the Eye ( faithour Bleſſed Saviour, Mat. 6. 22.) if therefore thine Eye be ſengle, thine whole Body ſhall be full of light * but zf thine Eye be evil, thine whole Body ſhall be ull of darkneſs. This Eye is the intention of eyery man in his a&jons z if it be not good, they become works of darkneſs : and good-it-cannor be, except it be refer'd to God, the ſupreme goodneſs. Every good thing comes from God, and whatever returns not B hims e,. CHAP, 70 Precepts and Prafical Rules - CHAP. XXX. | 4f5a5fnſi;ſſd Self-love is the root of all evil. I. Fer our firſt Parent, by preferring A himſelf to God, commitred thar grievous tranſgreſfion, . whereby all man- | kind became obnoxious to deach ; luſt and | Ignorance: darkneſs and evil propenſfitics f {ciz'd upon our nature, man forſook God, xc\ and turn'd to ſeek himfelf, and having loſt Lf all ſenſe of ſpiritual comfort, ran, diffolute- l{l after carnal pleaſures, Hence, Self-love i\ſſ the greateſt Enemy to virtue, came to ' tyrannize over men, who to comply wih * | it, ſeek nothing now but wealth, honours, l*bf and ſenfual delights. And-now, - faich the | Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 7. The carnal mind is uot- l fubjeft to the law of God, neither indeed can be 3 far all its inſtinfts and impulſs hawe @ | rendency to ſin, and to fen only. l | 2. Andyetſelf-love which ſeeks fo much | l cur own eafe and fatisfation, is indecd its ſ | chiefeſt hinderance ; for God having crea- ſſſſ'ct i ted us for his glory, and. enjoyn'd us to de- uc | Hgn italways ; when by ſelf-love we ſeek ſſz only our ſelves and our own advantage, we ſſfU » 40 nothung whereby to obrain Gods fſiavouxi anc ſſ,n:ſih for @ truly Chriſtian Life. 71 and eternal life, but rather fall into a "— wretched ſtate of damnation; 77 are FYY l debtors, not to the fliſh, to live after the fleſh (faith Saint Paxl, Rom, 8.13.) For zfye live after the flejh, ye (hall die 5 but 3f ye through the ſparut do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye ſhall {zve. Now to this mortification, we are ſtrongly oblig'd by Chriſtian Religion ; its great deſfign 1s to bring us out of our ſelves to God, rhat as we yielded our members ſfervants touncleanneſs and to iniquity, even ſo now we ſhould yield thzm ſervants to righteouſne(s unto holineſs ; as It is writ- ten, Be ze holy, for 1 an holy, faith the Lord, Levs 11, 4% 3- Now as Chriftianity checks and re- ſtrains ſelf-love, ſo doth ſelf-love keep men from underftanding and approving the "Chriſtian dofrines ; for how can he that ſeeks and loves himlſelf, rightly apprehend that whatever the world dotes upon, is meer vanity : that Eftates and Honours bring great vexations and great ſlavery - that to forgive Enemies and do good to them thar hateus, 1s the part of a noble and generous mind : that *tis betrer to deſpiſe than to poſle(s riches : that *tis more honaurable to be ſubje& where God commands, than to . bear rule and to domineer : that for a man to reſtrain his appetite and conquer him- felf, 1s more glorious than to win battels and take fenced Ciiies ? Theſe are Para- doxes, Ge ———— __ F 0 _= _ - N L_—_= . - —— — — ———— — D e SEISFRSS - —— " ONN DCT 72 Precepts and Pradical Rules- doxes, hard and incredible fayings to the ſel-lover, whoſe fondneſs of himſelf ties him faſt to this earth, ro whatever can be uſeful and any ways pleafant to the fleſh; whereas the Children of God live to God, being not ledand govern'd by the fleth, but by theſpirit : they live inthe fleſh, bur nor after the fleſh ; ſome of their a&ions are natural, whnleſt they are in the body, yer they procced from a ſupernatural principle, and are deſigned toa nobler end ; for they continually de.y themſelves and mortifie all ſenſual unruly defires.Self-lovers hold,a great regard ſhould be had to the fleſh ; *tis true, bur ic muſt be ſuchas Chriſt hath taught us 3 to keep it under - otherwiſe Saint Pay! harh declard, thar to be carnally ninded 15 death, CHAP. XXXI, That Self-love 35 that Babylon out of which -God hath-called us. i,/ *OD at firſt placed 'man in Para- G diſe, bur 4dan, in whom we all finned, rranſported/us'into this world out- of Paradiſe, out'of 7ernſalem into Babylsn, out ofour freedom into ſlavery, our of integrity- into