Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, 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 occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

The Means and Instruments to obtain Faith, are

1. An humble, willing, and docible minde, or desire t•• be instructed in the way of God: for perswasion enters like a sun-beam, gent∣ly, and without violence, and open but the window, and draw the curtain, and the Sun of righteousness will enlighten your darkness.

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 uncha••te man can∣not easily be brought to believe that without purity he shall never see God. He that loves riches can hardly believe the doctrine of po∣verty & renunciation of the world: and alms & Martyrdom, and the doctrine of the cross is folly to him that loves his ease and plea∣sures. 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 wisdome 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, 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 par∣ticulars,* 1.1 and circumstances and myste••i••s: for true faith is full 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ing••nuity, and ••e••rty sim∣plicity, free from suspicion, wise and confi∣dent, trusting upon generals without watch∣ing and pry••ng into unnecessary or undi••cer∣nible particulars. No Man carries his bed in∣to his fi••ld to watch how his corn grows; but believes upon the general order of Pro∣vidence and Nature; and at Harvest findes himself not deceived.

6. In time of temptation be not busie to dispute, but relic upon the conclusion, and throw your self upon God, and contend nor 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 weakness (contrary to the per∣swasions of your best understanding) to be temptations, and reject them accordingly.

7. It is a prudent course that in our health and best advantages we lay up particular ar∣guments and instruments of perswasion and confidence, 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 tempted, and in which we are least confi∣dent, and which are most necessary, and which commonly the Devil uses to assault us withall in the daies of our visitation.

8. The wisdom of the Church of God is very remarkable in appointing Festivals or Holidaies, whose solemnity and Offices have no other special business but to record the Article of the day; such as, Trinity Sunday, Ascension, Easter, Christmas-day: and to those persons who can only believe, not prove or dispute, there is no better instru∣ment to cause the remembrance, and plain notion, and to endear the affection and hear∣ty assent to the Article, then the proclaiming and recommending it by the festivity and joy of a Holy-day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In rebus mi∣ris summa •• ••dendi ra∣tio est omni∣potentia crea∣to••is S. Aug.