Watchfulnesse.
THE second point of my preparati∣on, is, to bee watchfull, and that for three especiall causes.
The first, for that I haue * an Aduersarie, who is ma∣liciously watchfull, there∣fore ought I to be religi∣ously watchfull.
The second, because * death will steale suddenly vpon me as a Thiefe.
The third, because of * my generall account, to which, I know, I shall be called, as soone as my soule is gone from my bo∣die: if then I bee not able Page 76 to yeeld a •ust reason, how I haue spent the time of my life here, I shall be cast into prison, neuer to bee redeemed.
First then, to apply my watchfulnes, to the watch∣fulnesse of mine enemie, it behoueth me euer to haue an eye vnto the thoughts, * motions, and affections of my corrupt heart; for, from my heart proceed all the euils, that by any part or member of my bodie, are actually committed: and all the thoughts of my heart are euill euermore, * yet thence is my tongue moued to speake, how then can my words be ho¦ly, proceeding from so pol∣luted a fountayne?
Page 77 I am often violently car∣ried, whither the thoughts of my heart doe moue me, and am often incited to commit those things, how∣soeuer euill, which my cor∣rupt heart hath conceiued. And mine enemie Sathan, * that thirsteth for my con∣fusion, takes aduantage by the inclination of my heart, manifested by mine accustomed actions, to frame his bayts according to my corrupt appetite, co∣ueting euer to draw actu∣al euils out of the polluted puddle of sinne conceiued in my heart.
This do I find by the ex∣perience of his long prac∣tice and infer•all strata∣gems: for vpon my com∣mitting Page 78 of some sinne, and * hartily repenting the same with a resolution neuer to commit the like. I haue, as it were, sensibly felt and plainly obserued, how by little and little, he hath en∣deuoured to lay snares to draw me to the same euil, not as with a violent hand, but as it were stealing vp∣on me, like a flattering, and deceitefull Theefe, whose policies I haue no power to preuent, but on∣ly by that promise, which GOD made vnto Paul, that his grace is sufficient for mee, yet doth it much be∣hooue me to take continu∣all heede vnto my waies: yea to the very motions of my corrupt heart: for Page 79 mine inward desires are not long hid from him, who will neuer let slip the least shew of whatsoeuer euill and prophane incli∣nation: But as the fire is a little inkindled in and by mine owne nature: So is he readie with a thousand ministers, and impious meanes, to blow it, and to bring it to an vnquench∣able flame of sinfull acti∣ons.
Therefore, my heartie * desire is, for the withstan∣ding of his temptations, to practise whatsoeuer things * are true, whatsoeuer things are honest, whatsoeuer things are iust, whatsoeuer things are pure, whatsoeuer things are worthy loue, whatsoeuer Page 80 things are of good report, the practice of which things is true watchfulnes, most irksome and most of∣fensiue to al mine enemies. Things true, Satan, the fa∣ther of lyes, hates deadly; things honest, are contrarie to mine owne naturall and carnall inclination, which of it selfe delighteth in pleasure, in vanities, and all kinde of prophanenesse. Things of good report, the World indureth not, but rather backe-biting and slandering.
This capitall Aduersa∣rie, the Deuill, doth not as∣saile * me singly, nor alone: but commonly combines together with the World, and my corrupt nature: Page 81 then, as so many Captains, each of them with a band of infernall Souldiers, the Deuill with his angels pow∣ers, and principalities; the Flesh with a thousand con∣tagious cogitations, vn∣godly affections, and for∣bidden vanities; and the World with a million of vexations set vpon me.
A man hauing but one mortal enemie, wil watch∣fully beware of him, ei∣ther to flie him, or be pre∣pared with weapons suffi∣cient to incounter him, though hee seeke but to depriue the life of the bo∣die. How much more then behooueth it mee to bee watchful, hauing so many, and so mightie, & so mor∣tall Page 82 Aduersaries, that seeke not only my bodily death, but the confusion also of my soule? and if I be not armed with grace, the least of these will easily preuaile against me.
There is nothing more * aduātagious to these mine enemies, then mine owne corrupt inclination, the fruits whereof are as meat and drinke vnto mine Ad∣uersaries, which are the works of darknesse: there∣fore will I striue with an holy endeuour, to aban∣don and cast off the works * of darknesse, deare vnto mine enemies, and to put on * the armour of light, which is vnto them as death: I wil * set mine affections on things Page 83 that are aboue, and not on things that are on the earth: I will auoid euill, and cleau• * vnto that which is good.
Many venimous and vi∣perous * Serpents lurke in the way of this life: to e∣scape their poyson in pra∣ctice, I looke not, but to resist their power, I doubt not, for the Lord is my strength, to whom I will flie for succour.
