§. Sect. 8 That all our duties must a∣rise from the fundamentall graces of a godly life.
The fourth rule is, that all the duties of a godly life, doe not only arise and spring from those inward and fundamentall graces, sauing know∣ledge, a liuely faith, purity of heart, a good conscience, and feruent loue, as I haue already shewed at large in the beginning of this Treatise, but al∣so that they be ioyned and accompanied with other Christian and inter∣nall vertues, and principally Christian prudence, zeale and humility, without which they cannot be acceptable vnto God. Christian prudence is most necessary to the well performing of all good duties, because it guideth and directeth vs in all particular actions, that they may bee done aright, both in respect of the matter, and the manner, the substance and circumstances, of which if we faile, or of any one of them, our workes, o∣therwise commendable, doe lose all their grace and excellency. For though they be neuer so good in the matter, yet if they be done in an ill manner, and though for their substance they seeme neuer so glorious, yet if we faile in the circumstances, not obseruing due time, place, or persons, that which is generally good in the Thesi and Theory, ceaseth to bee so in the Hypothesi, and in respect of the particular act, as it is done by vs; neither can we safely passe thorow all these narrow straits and difficult passages, vnlesse Christian prudence sit at the Helme, and direct vs in all our courses. Besides, this prudence is necessary for the guiding and tem∣pering of our zeale, which is a good Souldier in the Christian warfare, but an ill Commander, as being fit for execution, but not to giue directi∣ons; and if it be not vnder the conduct of prudence, it becommeth blind and preposterous, rash and wilfull, like a headstrong horse, full of courage, which being well backed, may doe good seruice, but if he be ill managed, carryeth his rider into headlong danger. But zeale, ioyned with prudence, is most necessary for our well proceeding in all vertuous actions, seeing (like the spirits in the body) it giueth to our soules liuely heat, wherby they are moued in the course of godlinesse, and are made actiue in all Chri∣stian duties, laboriously vsing all good meanes whereby they may bee furthered, and couragiously opposing and remouing all lets and impedi∣ments which crosse vs in our way. And therefore if we would deserue the name of true Christians, wee must take heed that wee incline not to that damnable errour of carnall worldlings, who make zeale and pru∣dence flat opposites, thinking those that are most feruent, most foolish, and with Iehu his companions, censuring them as mad fellowes, that with any zeale performe their duty; seeing holy Dauid, who in wisedome ex∣ceeded his teachers and ancients, was so zealous in Gods seruice, that scoffing Michol condemned him of folly: yea, our Sauiour Christ him∣selfe, who is the Wisdome of his Father, and in whom all the treasures of wisedome are hid, as the Apostle speaketh, as hee excelled all men in pru∣dence, so also in holy zeale, seeing he was not onely thorowly heated, but euen consumed in this diuine flame, as hee professeth. Neither can true prudence be more seuered from holy zeale, then zeale from prudence, be∣ing herein like the naturall heat and radicall moysture of the body, which preserue mutually one another, and both faint and faile, when either lan∣guisheth and decayeth. For prudence without the warmth of zeale (like frozen waters) loseth its motion in Christian duties, and (like the parts