The rule and exercises of holy living. In which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every vertue, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations. Together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion fitted to all occasions, and furnish'd for all necessities.

The Means and Instruments to obtain Faith, are

1. An humble, willing, and docible minde, or desire to be instructed in the way of God: For persuasion enters like a sun-beam, gently, and without violence: and open but the win∣dow, and draw the curtain and the Sun of righ∣teousnesse will enlighten your darknesse.

2. Remove all prejudice and love to every thing which may be contradicted by Faith: How can ye believe (said Christ) that receive praise one of another? An unchast man cannot easily be brought to believe that without pu∣rity he shall never see God. He that loves riches can hardly believe the doctrine of po∣verty and renuntiation of the world: and alms and Martyrdom, and the doctrine of the crosse is folly to him that loves his ease and pleasures. He that hath within him any principle contrary to the doctrines of Faith, cannot easily become a Disciple.

3. Prayer which is instrumental to every thing hath a particular promise in this thing. He that lacks wisdom let him ask it of God: and, if you give good things to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask him.

4. The consideration of the Divine Omni∣potence, and infinite wisdom,* 1.1 and our own ignorance, are great instruments of curing all doubting, and silencing the murmures of in∣fidelity.

5. Avoid all curiosity of inquiry into parti∣culars, and circumstances and mysteries: for true faith is full of ingenuity, and hearty sim∣plicity, free from suspicion, wise and confi∣dent, trusting upon generals without watching and prying into unnecessary or undiscernable particulars. No Man carries his bed into his field to watch how his corn grows; but be∣lieves upon the general order of Providence and Nature; and at Harvest findes himself not deceived.

6. In time of temptation be not busie to dispute, but relye upon the conclusion, and throw your self upon God, and contend not with him, but in prayer, and in the presence, and with the help of a prudent untempted guide: and be sure to esteem all changes of belief which offer themselves in the time of your greatest weaknesse (contrary to the per∣swasions of your best understanding) to bee temptations, and reject them accordingly.

7. It is a prudent course that in our health and best advantages we lay up particular argu∣ments and instruments of perswasion and con∣fidence, to be brought forth and used in the great day of expence; and that especially in such things in which we use to be most temp∣ted, and in which we are least confident, and which are most necessary, and which common∣ly the Devil uses to assault us withal in the days of our visitation.

8. The wisdom of the Church of God is

very remarkable in appointing Festivals or Holidayes, whose solemnity and Offices have no other special businesse but to record the Article of the day; such as, Trinity Sunday, Ascension, Easter, Christmas day: and to those persons who can onely believe, not prove or dispute, there is no better instrument to cause the remembrance, and plain noti∣on, and to endear the affection and hear∣ty assent to the Article, then the proclaim∣ing and recommending it by the festivity and joy of a Holy day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In ••ebus mirit summa ••reden••i ••itio es 〈…〉〈…〉 S. Aug.