The whole duty of a Christian, or, The character of a true beleever, that walks in some measure answerable to the Gospel, his Christian profession, and the millions of mercies he hath received ... by R.Y. of Roxwell in Essex.

CHAP. I. (Book 1)

GOod works, and good instructions, are the generative acts of the soul; out of which spring new posterity to the Church and Gospel. And it is both a happy and pleasing harmony. when saying and doing go both together. But examples are more prevalent for the most part then precepts, and acts are better expressions then words. Precepts shew us what we should do, but examples shew us how we may do it; and that what is in∣joyned may be done of us, because they have been done of others like our selves. Example is a living and efficacious Sermon; easily perswading what we intend, while it proves what we perswade to be feasible. Besides, Examples give a quicker and deeper impression upon mens spirits then ar∣guments. And he perswades unto virtue most, who liveth best. Yea cer∣••ainly a speechlesse life hath more force in it, then a lifelesse speech▪ For a

Christian conversation, is of the Scriptures, the best, truest, and plainest Com∣ment or Exposition.

§ 2. Or should it be questionable in some cases, yet deeds are ever of more power then words, and practice more prevalent then precepts with the multitude: who as they are more taken with, so they are better able to judge by the sight of the eye then by the hearing of the ear. When the Or∣thodox and Arian Bishops contended about the faith, Iovinian could say, Of your learning I cannot so well judge, or of your subtill disputations; but I can observe which of you have the better behaviours. Good works are un∣answerable Syllogismes, invincible demonstrations: And it is naturall for men to follow the Law of fact, before the Law of faith; a visible pattern rather then a meer audible doctrine. Men are readier to live by sense and ••ight then by faith only: Yea the want of sight, causes not seldom the want of faith, as we finde it fared with Thomas, Joh. 20. 25.

§ 3. Men are apt to carp against what the Minister speaks, though he bring the Word for his warrant; but the Beauty of Holinesse hath often stolen away the hearts of the gainsayers, and won their affections even against their wills. Religion hath a truth and a power in it: people will never beleeve the truth of a doctrine in our mouthes, where they see not the power thereof in our lives. Nor can it be denied, but that words are of more efficacy and authority when deeds follow. But take some instances whereof we have ample experience. And first observe how it fares be∣tween Pastors and their people; for from the Pastors example they all take fire, as one torch lights many.

Pastors are the glasse, the scool, the book, Where peoples eyes do learn, do read, do look.

Every private Christian ought to be a common line in Christianity; but the Minister is or should be as a set copy of sanctification to the rest.

The learned Preachers words, though plain, To plain men truth may preach: But Pastors pious practice doth, A holy life them teach.

§ 4. And so on the contrary: All men like sheep are prone to go astray. but if the bellweather or leading sheep takes a vagary, all the flock will fol∣low him. We are apt to be led by precepts, but are easily overled by evil presidents, even following our guides untill we have lost our selves: which occasions the holy Ghost to use that Proverb; Like Priest, like people, Hose. 4. 9. Isa. 24. 2.

That doctrine is divine indeed; That by good works proves words: More harm do ill examples breed; Then good words, good affords.

§ 5. And the like of Governours: the facts of eminent persons become examples; those ex••mples Laws:

Vnto the ex••mple of the King; The world does frame in every thing.

Augustus a learned Prince, filled Rome with scholars, Tyberius filled it with diss••mblers, Constantine with Christians, Iulian with atheists: Let Ieroboam only set up Calves in Dan and Bethel, the poople are presently down on their knees; yea every one like beasts in heards will go a lowing after them: Yea if Saul do even kill himself, his Armour-bearer will do the like: The Leaders example is a Law to the followers. Whence it hath ever been the dangerous policy of Satan, to assault principall men both in Church and Commonwealth, knowing the multitude (as we say of Bees) will follow their master.

§ 6. And the same might be shewn of Parents and Masters: We are led by whom we are fed, without any respect to him that feeds both them and us. A sick head makes a distempered body; a blinde eye endangers all the other members, &c. whereas piety in a Parent or Master, like Aarons oyntment, runs down to the skirts of his family, Psal. 133. 2. Whence that usuall phrase of the holy Ghost, The man beleeved with all his houshold, Joh. 4. 53. Acts 16, 33, 34.

§ 7. But that those whom precepts do not so effectually move, are not seldom induced by examples; will best appear by the induction of par∣ticular instances. We reade, that more infidels were won to the Christian faith, by the vertuous and holy lives of the primitive Christians, then by the doctrine which they taug••t: they made the world to reade in their lives, that they did beleeve in their hearts: and caused the Heathen to say, This is a good God, whose servants are so good. Yea as ••ozomen observes, the devou•• life of one poor captive Christian maid, made a King and all his family imbrace the Christian faith. Cicilia likewise a poor virgin, by her vertuous life and gracious behaviour in her martyrdom, was the means of converting four hundred to Christ And we reade that S^t Albon receiving a poor persecuted Christian into his house; by only observing his holy de∣votion and unblameable life, was so much affected therewith, that he became both an earnest professor of the faith, and in the end a glorious Martyr for the faith, All which considered, namely 〈…〉〈…〉 never shine so much, as when they are lively engraven or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in some eminent person: I have thought good to reduce 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or almost all the Evangelicall Precepts, into a particular and familiar example, that so it may serve not only for a set copy of sanctification, but as a fit person or pat∣tern for each mans imitation and incitation. You may suppose him another Nathaniel, in whose heart there is no guile, Joh. 1. 47. Or another Samuel, who was able to acquit his sincerity before God and man, 1 Sam. 12. 3. Or another Iob, an upright and just man, Job 1. 1. Or another Iona∣than, 1 Sam. 23. 16, 17. Or Eli••zer, Gen. 15. 2. who could rejoice in others welfare, by whom themselves were deprived of great honour and reve••ues: Or one that does unto all others, as he would have others do unto him, Matth. 7. 12.