A guide to the godly, or, The dayly meditations of Returne Hebdon Gentleman who for his conscience (through the tyrany of the Bishops) suffered many years imprisonment in the Kings-Bench and their remained till death : being very useful for instruction of all those that desire to walke in the paths of Jesus Christ.

The third day of the weeke. (Book 3)

1. FRom Ephes. 3.15. is apparant, that as a housholder is over his Family, so the hea∣venly Father is over his Family, which consisteth of all his Creation both in the Heavens, and up∣on the earth: Therefore his good servants are carefull, that Christ (of whom all this family is named) may dwell in our hearts by faith, look∣ing to his invisible presence, being rooted and grounded in love, both towards the Father and his Sonne, who is over the Family in immortali∣ty, and also towards each other, even as Christ loved us, when he for our instruction, became an houshold Servant, and learned obedience as a Servant, that by his example we might be armed with the same mind, so to love, and so to be obe∣dient, Ephes. 3.15—177. Phil. 2. and thus to keepe the unity of the spirit of Christ, for the increase of his body and Church to a perfect man, that then he may come and receive us unto himselfe in immortality, when we shall see him as he is, Ephes. 4.1 Iohn 3. but wo to the folly of such as will not acknowledge the Father nor the Sonne, as they are over their house, but suffer their own reprobate sence to dwell in their hearts, and that walk by sight of the world, and not by Faith,

and not only are disobedient themselves; but also compell others to rebel against the Mr. of the house: Let hot my soul touch with them that do thus despite the spirit of grace, and provoke the good man of the house against their own soules.

2. It is evident, that though a man do keepe all the Law and Commandements of God, yet he is unprofitable, Luke 17.10. wherefore there is some excellent thing required in Christ in the state of perfection, as Mat. 5.20. to 47.48. with Luke 6.20. to 32. &c.

3. It must be granted, that they which keepe the Commandements of God to the end, shall inherit life according to the promise in the Law∣yer in such a life God is not glorified in Christ his Sonne; for in this estate men are defective, and want that one necessary thing, without which they may fayle of the grace of God, namely, the perfect love of Christ wherein all worldly things are put away, with the love thereof, and that only for the love of Christ to follow him for the Kingdom of God, Luke 18 18.-22.-29. with Mat. 19.17. &c. Mark 10.