The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.

CHAP. IIII. (Book 4)

Containing the generall Rules to be remembred in the manner of doing all good duties.

HItherto of the first sort of generall Rules. The second sort concernes the manner of well∣doing. There are diuers things in the generall, which are to be ob∣serued of the godly Christian in all good duties, which he ought * 1.1 to haue perfect in his memorie, and such as he might bring with him at all times to form his heart in respect of them, to beget in him that holy m•…•…ner of carrying himselfe, which is requisite vnto the acceptation of the good things he employeth himself in: and the rather should he be mo∣ued to the care of learning and expressing of these things, be∣cause the matter of good duties may be done by wicked men, as

they were by the Pharises, and yet all abomination to the Lord. That therfeore hee may not lose that he worketh, hee must striue in euery good action to expresse these nine things following in the manner of his behauiour.

The first thing required in the * 1.2 manner of euery holy duty, is, Zeale. It is not enough that hee doe the duty, but he must doe it affectionately, bringing with him the stirring of the desires of his heart, answerable and agree∣able to the duty hee would per∣forme. Zeale hath in it two di∣stinct things, willingnesse and fer∣uencie. It must not seeme euill to him to doe Gods worke; and in doing it, he must lift vp his heart, so as hee performe it with all his might, and with all his soule: and this hee doth, when either he brings an heart delighting in good workes, or when he iudg∣eth himselfe for what deadnesse, or distraction, or vnwillingnesse

he findes in himselfe: he is ac∣counted zealous, when he striue•…•… for it, and lifts vp his soule a∣gainst the impediments which burthen him. This zeale is n•…•…ces∣sary; Christ died to redeeme a peo∣ple vnto himselfe, not onely that would do good workes, but that would bee zealous of good workes, Tit. 2. 14.

2. The second thing required * 1.3 in the manner of good duties, is sinceritie; all his actions must be done in the sincerity of his hart. The life of a Christian is like a continuall Passe-ouer: Now this Feast, hee must keepe alwaies with the vnleauened bread of sincerity, 1. Cor. 5. 8.

Now this sinceritie hee must shew diuers wayes, as,

1. By the truth of his heart, as * 1.4 it stands opposed to hypocrisie: he must not talke of well-doing, or seeme to doe it, but he must doe it indeed.

2. By his respect to all Gods * 1.5

commandements; when he can say * 1.6 with Dauid, I esteeme all thy pre∣cepts, concerning all things, to bee right, and I hate euery false way. He that is truly sincere, accoun∣teth that euery word of God is good, & desires to yeeld obedience in all things. He hath not his reser∣uation, or exception. He doth not with Herod giue himselfe li∣berty to lie in the wilfull breach of one commandement, resting sa∣tisfied to haue reformed himself in other things. And he would haue God to forgiue him all his sinnes, so his heart desires to forsake sinne, and so hee desires also to doe euery part of Gods worke.

3. By propounding the glory of * 1.7 God, as the chiefe end of all his actions: His praise must not bee of men; nor must he do good duties for carnall ends, 1. Cor. 10. 31.

4. By obeying without expostu∣lating, * 1.8 though God giue no ap∣parent reason of his commande∣ment.

Thus Abraham shewed his sincerity, when God bade him goe out of his owne coun∣trey, though he knew not whi∣ther he should goe, Heb. 11. 8. This is to obey simply, because God hath commanded it.

5. By obeying absent as well as * 1.9 present, in all companies as well as one. This praised the sinceritie of the obedience of the Philippi∣ans, Phil. 2. 12.

Thus of sinceritie, which is the second thing required in the manner of wel-doing.

3. The third thing is constancy: He is blessed that doth righteousnes * 1.10 alwaies. Doing righteousnesse will not serue the turne, but it must be at all times, Psal. 106. 3. Our righteousnesse must not bee like the morning dew. It is not suf∣ficient to do good by fits; we are no day-labourers, but Gods hi∣red seruants. He that is righteous, must be righteous still, Rom. 6. 19. Reuel. 22. 11. There must be con∣tinuance

in welldoing, Rom. 2. 7, 8.

Now to bee constant in well-doing, * 1.11 it is to doe good duties.

1. Without wearinesse. It is re∣quired as a thing necessarie to the manner of well-doing, that we be not wearie of it, and that wee faint not, Gal. 6. 9. This we must striue for by prayer.

2. Without discouragement; we * 1.12 must lift vp the hands that hang downe, and the feeble knees, and make straight steppes to our feete. How much hinderance to well-doing, discouragement is, may appeare by this similitude: Feeble knees will dispatch but a little space of the iourney, and hands that hang downe, are not fit for worke: great is the hinderance comes to many by their discou∣ragements and aptnesse thereun∣to, which ariseth vsually from pride, and the dregs of worldly sorrow, and ought much to bee resisted by true Christians, Heb. 12. 12, 13. Iosh. 1. 6, 7.

3. Without impediment: that is' notwithstanding all the impedi∣ments * 1.13 may be cast in the way: iudgement should runne downe as waters, and righteousnesse as astowing streame; we should ouer∣come all difficulties. You cannot stop the flowing streame, though you cast in great logs or stones, yea though you would goe about to dam it vp; and such should be the resolution of a godly Chri∣stian, Amos. 5. 24.

4. Without wauering or vncer∣tainetie. * 1.14 It is vncertaine running the Apostle impliedly forbids, 1. Cor. 9. 26. Our life is like a race: Now in a race it is not e∣nough that a man runne now & then, though he run fiercely for the time; hee must not trifle and looke behinde, and stand still at his pleasure, and then run againe, but he must be alwaies running: so ought it to bee with vs in the race of godlinesse. It will not serue the turne to bee good by

fits, and to be forward in good things onely at sometimes, and then bee carelesse, and off the hookes, as wee say, at other times.

5. Without declining or going backe. Iob comforts himselfe a∣gainst * 1.15 the aspersion of hypocri∣sie, by this, that his foote had held on his steps, and Gods wayes he had kept, and not declined, nor had hee gone backe from Gods commande∣ments, Iob 23. 11, 12. Though he had not made such progresse as he desired, yet this was his com∣fort, he had not backe slided by Apostasie.

And thus of the third thing also required in the manner of well-doing, which is Constan∣cie.

4. The fourth thing required, is feare: thus Prou. 28. 14. The * 1.16 man is blessed that feareth alwaies. And 1. Pet. 1. 17. & 3. 2. Our con∣uersation must be with feare. This feare excludes rudenes, careles∣nesse,

conceitednesse, pride, and the like, and includes reuerence, lawful regard of Gods holines, or holy presence, (whom wee should set alwaies before vs) and the feare of the deceitfulnesse of sinne, and our owne corrupt dis∣positions, and the care to auoid all occasions of offending God or men.

The fifth thing is Simplicitie. * 1.17 This is so necessary, as the Apo∣stle mistrusted most the subtiltie of the diuell, in beguiling Chri∣stians of this simplicitie which they had in Iesus Christ, 2. Corinth. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Now this simplicity con∣taines in it distinctly diuers things.

1. A resting in those formes of holinesse and happinesse which * 1.18 God hath prescribed, when a man desires no more to make him happy, then what God hath offe∣red and giuen in Iesus Christ, 2. Corinth. 11. 3. and when hee

accounts nothing to defile him, but what God hath forbidden, and nothing needfull to be done by him, what God hath in his word required.

2. A Doue-like innocencie, and * 1.19 harmlesnes, when the Christian shewes a desire to be iniurious to no man, but rather to seeke the good of others, as well as his owne, 1. Cor. 10. 24.

3. An ignorance of the depths * 1.20 of Satan, and the methods of sin, when hee is not cunning in sin∣ning, but simple concerning euili, no way desirous to get subtil ex∣cuses, or arguments to defend himselfe in euill, Romanes 16. 19.

4. A loue of Godlinesse for it * 1.21 selfe, and hatred of sinne, as it is sinne.

5. Meekenesse of Wisedome, * 1.22 •…•…mes. 3. 13. which is shewed three wayes. First by lowlines•…•…e of mind, when a man is not concei∣ted, or wise in himselfe, but re∣taines

a sense of his owne vnfit∣nesse; and vnworthinesse, Iob 37. 24. Secondly, by silence from his owne praises, Prou. 27. 2. Thirdly, by auoiding vaine iang∣lings, which arise out of enuy, or contempt of others.

6. The preseruing of himselfe * 1.23 in the feare of God, notwithstan∣ding the prosperitie of euill do∣ers, not enuying the wicked, that hath successe in his way, Prou. 23. 17.

The sixt thing required in the * 1.24 manner of well-doing, is Cir∣cumspection, Ephes. 5. 15.

Now he walketh circumspect∣ly or exactly:

1. That makes conscience to obserue the lesser commande∣ments as well as the greater, Math. 5. 19.

2. That abstaines from the very appearance of euill, 1. Thess. 5. 22.

3. That with discretion lookes to the circumstances of things

to be done, as time, place, per∣sons, order, and the like: that doth not onely doe good, but is wise to doe good, Romanes 16. 19.

4. That liues without rebuke, and is vnspotted of the world, Phil. 2. 15. Iames 1. vlt. that is not guilty of any scandall, and giues no iust cause to the wicked to blaspheme, but prouides for things honest in the sight of all men, 2. Cor. 8. 21.

5. That will not doe euill, though good might come of it, Rom. 2. 8.

The seuenth thing required in the manner of well-doing, is * 1.25 growth and increase: Wee must not onely get grace and know∣ledge, and do good, but we must grow in the grace and knowledge of * 1.26 Iesus Christ, 2. Pet. 3. 18. and this growth should haue in it di∣stinctly three things. * 1.27

1. Abounding in good workes, or a more frequent practice of al

sorts of duties, that we haue op∣portunitie and power to pra∣ctise, 1. Corinth. 15. 58. Coloss. 1. 10.

2. The perfecting of holinesse, * 1.28 2. Cor. 7. 1. or the ripening of our gifts, and finishing of the good things we begin, not lea∣uing off till wee haue accom∣plished them in some good mea∣sure and manner.

3. Progresse, so as our * 1.29 workes bee more at last then at first.

And all this we should striue for, both that so our profiting might appeare, 1. Tim. 4. 15. and we may be fit to be an example to * 1.30 others, 1. Thess. 1. 7.

The eighth thing required in the manner of well-doing, is Faith: wee must walke by faith in all our actions, 2. Cor. 5. 7. Now * 1.31 faith is employed partly in ta∣king notice of Gods will, as the warrant of our actions, and partly in ouercomming the diffi∣culties

of well-doing, making vs hold out, though we be scorned, or disgraced, or opposed in the world, and raising vp our hearts to beleeue Gods assistance, not∣withstanding our owne weake∣nesses, and partly in trusting God for the successe, beleeuing Gods promises.

The ninth and last thing re∣quired * 1.32 in the manner of well-doing, is Moderation. This rule is expressed in these words, Ec∣cles. 7. 16. Be not iust ouer much, * 1.33 neither be thou wicked ouer much. Now for the sence of these words, we must know in the ne∣gatiue, that this place is most prophanely alleaged by such as produce it as a reproof of strict∣nesse of life, and the refusall of the excesses of the time.

There are many things said to giue a sence of those words.

1. Some referre these words to Iustice, either Distributiue, or Commutatiue, and that either

in the case of a priuat person, or of a Magistrate. A priuate man must neither stand too much vp∣on his right, nor yet suffer his innocencie to bee too much wronged. A Magistrate must not be too seuere in a selfe-con∣ceited iustice, not yet too remisse in sparing or fauouring wicked∣nesse.

2. Some thinke it restraines cu∣riositie and carelesnesse, as if the sense were, Bee not curious to pry or search into secret things, that are not reuealed: for he that will be searching into Gods ma∣iestie, may bee oppressed by his glorie: nor yet be so carelesse, as not to take notice of the truth reuealed.

3. Some thus: Exceede not by too much precisenesse on the right hand, or by too much pro∣phanenesse on the left hand. On the right hand they goe out, that bring in workes of supereroga∣tion, and such as worship God

after the precepts of men, & such as tye mens consciences to ob∣serue or auoide things without warrant of Scripture, and such as say they haue no sinne, and neede not the grace of God.

4. Lastly, the fittest interpre∣tation is theirs, that expound the words in this sense, Bee not iust ouer-much, that is, thinke not too highly of thy selfe in any thing thou doest well, nor yet be wicked ouer-much, that is, ac∣count not too vilely of thy selfe, denying Gods gifts in thee, and refusing the iust comforts thou shouldest take to thy selfe; ag∣grauate not against thine owne soule thy weakenesse aboue rea∣son and measure.

Notes

• * 1.1

  There are 5 things to be still re∣membred, which con∣cerne the manner of wel-doing.
• * 1.2

  Zeale with con∣tinual wil∣lingnes and feruen cie.
• * 1.3

  1. Sinceritie which hath in it fiue things.
• * 1.4

  1 Truth.
• * 1.5

  2 Respect to al Gods
• * 1.6

  comman∣dements.
• * 1.7

  3 Right end.
• * 1.8

  4. Obedi∣ence with out expo∣stulation.
• * 1.9

  5. Obedi∣ence in all places.
• * 1.10

  The third thing re∣quired in the maner of well∣doing, is constancie.
• * 1.11

  And hee is constant, that doth good du∣ties.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 With∣out dis∣courage∣ment.
• * 1.13

  3. Not∣withstan∣ding impe∣diments.
• * 1.14

  4 With∣out waue∣ring.
• * 1.15

  5. Without declining.
• * 1.16

  4. Feare.
• * 1.17

  Simplicitie which is,
• * 1.18

  1 To rest vpon the Word for the formes of holines and happi∣nes.
• * 1.19

  2 To bee harmelesse
• * 1.20

  3 To bee simple concer∣ning euill.
• * 1.21

  4 To loue goodnesse for it selfe.
• * 1.22

  5. To 〈◊◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊◊〉.
• * 1.23

  6. Feare God, and not enuie the wicked
• * 1.24

  The sixth is circum∣spection, which hath fiue things in it.
• * 1.25

  The 7 is growth or increase.
• * 1.26

  Which hath three things in it.
• * 1.27

  1 Aboun¦ding in good∣nes.
• * 1.28

  2. Perfe∣cting of holinesse.
• * 1.29

  3. Pro∣gresse
• * 1.30

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 T•…•…m. 4. 2. 1
• * 1.31

  8. Faith.
• * 1.32

  The last is modera∣tion.
• * 1.33

  The place in, Eccles. 7. 16. ex∣pounded.