Divine considerations treating of those things which are most profitable, most necessary and most perfect in our Christian profession by John Valdesso.

CONSID. XC.

In what the Christian perfection•• the Duty, and De••orum do consist

I Have oft times said, that Christian perfection consists in this, that a man incorporated in Christ, in his death and in his resurrection, should live according to the Christian Duty, keeping the Christian decorum; understanding that so much shall a man get Christian perfecti∣on, inasmuch as he shall live according to Chri∣stian duty, keeping christian decorum. Now I say that then a man lives according to chri∣stian duty, and keeps christian decorum, when he imploys himself in those things, in which Christ would have imployed himself. And con∣sequently I say, that then a man departs from the christian duty, and leaves to observe chri∣stian

decorum, when he imployes himself in those things, wherein Christ would not have im∣ployed himself: in such manner, as to him who would obtain Christian perfection, and is desi∣rous to apprehend that dignity in which he is comprehended, it appertains to live in all things and altogether according to the Christian duty, and to observe the Christian decorum; setting before his eyes the whole life of Christ, constitu∣ting his duty and his decorum, in being in e∣very thing and altogether like, unto Christ, doing only that which Christ would do, and by no means doing what Christ would not do.

Passing on further I say, that men whilst they are, as the Scripture terms them, flesh and bloud can by no means attain to so great perfection as that which is known in Christ. So also, that to all them, who know and feel themselves incor∣porated in the death and resurrection of Christ, it appertains to fix their eyes upon this so high perfection, and to intend to obtain it, and in ef∣fect to procure it. For to this I understand the holy spirit moves, and conducts them, to whom Christ is communicated. Here I gain two things, the one, that from henceforth I shall attribute to weaknesse of my flesh, all that which I shall do, which Christ would not have done; and all that which I leave undone, which Christ would not have left undone: And I will attri∣bute

unto the force and efficacy of the Christi∣an spirit, all that which I shall do, which Christ would have done; and all that which I shall leave undone, which Christ would have left undone, not excusing my self in that which shall proceed from mine infirmity, and weaknesse, nor waxing proud for that which shall proceed from the force and efficacy of the Christian spirit. The other thing which I gain is, that from this day forward I shall not go examining what is lawfull; holding that to be a matter of servants and slaves: But I will go viewing, and reviewing what is ex∣pedient; holding that to be for sonnes. And I will hold it for a thing convenient and ex∣pedient for me to live according to Christian duty, and to observe Christian decorum, re∣garding this duty, and this decorum, as it were to say in the face of Christ, in all that which is written of him, and in all that which by the things which are written, and by that which I shall experiment in me, I shall be able to gather from his divine perfecti∣ons. In these two things I understand other two: the one, that they do not know the Christian dignity, who go procuring to co∣ver with pretence of Christian piety, those things which they do through weaknesse and in∣firmity of the flesh: and the other, that they do not know themselves for sons of God, who go

examining what is lawfull: (This being cer∣tain, that they who know the christian dignity, do with good will manifest, and confesse that which is of the weaknesse, and infirmity of their flesh, and that they who know themselves for sonnes of God, being ashamed to examine what is lawfull, go observing what is expe∣dient, attributing to their proper infirmity, and weaknesse all that which they do, and all that which they leave to do.) Attending to what is Lawfull, and going out of what is expedient; out of which they, who know them∣selves for sonnes of God, and know the christi∣an dignity, doe never procure to goe.

The weaknesse, and infirmity I understand we have it all of us in the body, and in the mind. To the weaknesse and infirmity of the body I understand appertain all those things in which we doe delicately, and with corporall delight, serve unto our corporall necessities. And to the infirmities, and weaknesses of the mind, I understand appertain all those things, in which we have intent to satisfie the eyes of the world; in such sort as I travelling on horse∣back doe delicately serve unto the necessities of my body, a thing which Christ did not ordina∣rily: And this is a weaknesse and infirmity of my body. And procuring that my riding on horse-back should be polite, and well furnished, I have intent to satisfie the eyes of the world:

and this is a weaknesse, and infirmity of my mind. This example may be extended to all other things, which we deal about in this pre∣sent life. Whereupon it is fit to advertise, that they who begin to conform their lives in out∣ward and corporall things with that of Christ, runne hazard of never getting the conformity in the inward, which is the essentiall; and to fall into vain glory, and presumption. And therefore it is needfull, that every person called of God to the grace of the Gospel, should be∣gin to conform himself to Christs living in the inward, that is, in obedience to God, in meek∣nesse, and humility of mind, and in charity; and afterwards attend to conform himself also with the living of Christ in the outward; but so much onely, as the outward shall help him, and serve him to grow in the inward: For this is that, which principally pleaseth God, and Jesus Christ our Lord.