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Hitherto of the directions that concerne the attaine∣ment of the sacred gifts of the minde: now it fol∣loweth to shew, what thou must doe that in all thy waies thou mightst walke vprightly, and attain vn∣to sound sinceritie of heart and life.
HEE that would walke vprightly, or take a
sound course to continue in his vprightnesse, must earnestly looke to these Rules:
1. If thou haue bin guil∣ty of any grosse sin, know it is vnpossible, thy heart should be vpright, till thou haue with speciall repen∣tance humbled thy selfe, before God for that sinne, and that also by conscio∣nable practice thou keepe thy selfe from the great transgression: Psal. 19. 13.
2. Thou must in a spe∣ciall manner ••a••ch, and striue against Hypocrisie, and that in two things chiefely: First, that in thy
setting out into Religion, thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace. 2. Secondly, that in Gods seruice thou by all meanes auoide di∣stractions, and so resist and check thy pronenesse of heart thereunto, iudging thy selfe seuerely, when thou so offendest, till thou be able in some happy de∣gree to serue God with thy spirit as wel as with thy bo∣dy: The habite of dissem∣bling with GOD is ex∣tremely dangerous.
3. In thy conuersation take heede of that fearefull carelesnesse of the most
men, shewed in the known and wilfull practice of sin, vpon pretence that it is but a small offence, or secret: Take heed of the sinnes of deceit, how gainefull soe∣uer they might be to thee: thou maist together with vprightnesse lose the King∣dome of heauen, for da∣ring so wilfully to breake one of those little cōman∣dements, Math. 5. 19. Take heed in generall of a stiffe and wilfull heart: They are seldome vpright, that are heady and peremptorie, and hard to be perswaded, Iam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29. Hab. 2. 4.
4. As much as may be, accustome thy heart to the obseruing of Gods pre∣sence, walk, as before him, Gen. 17. 2.
5: Yeeld thy selfe ouer to bee wholly guided by Gods Word; Without knowledge the minde cannot bee good, Prou. 19. 2. and he, that walketh according to this rule, shall haue peace in his heart and conscience, Gal. 6. 16. Let Gods Law bee the light for thy feete, and the lanthorne for thy pathes, Psal. 119. Labour therefore to get a particular warrant for the lawfulnesse of thy practice in the occasions
of thy Calling, either ge∣nerall or particular, where thou doubtest enquire, so shalt thou walke in a sure way, and delight thy selfe in much peace.
6. Take heed of idle∣nesse, and prouide to walke faithfully and diligently in some honest calling of life.
7. Bee sure thou hold a constant course of confes∣sion of thy sins to God, & doe it without hiding, or extenuating; iudging thy selfe for euery knowne sin and especially praying a∣gainst, and resisting the sin thou art most prone vnto.
8. Be not well pleased
with thy selfe, till thou canst approue thy care to bee good at home, as well as abroad; looke to this Rule, and take heed of fro∣wardnesse, and peruerse behauiour in thy Family; Thou wilt hardly get any cōfortable euidence, that thou art sound at heart, if the vsuall Family sinnes raigne in thee.
9. Thou mightst won∣derfully aduance, and esta∣blish vprightnesse of heart in thee, if thou wouldst carefully but acknowledge this honour to God in his VVord, that whensoeuer thou didst feele thy con∣science
wounded, or smit∣ten for any particular of∣fence, by the VVord of God, that then without de∣lay thou wouldst in secret go to God, and humble thy selfe by confession, and from that time forward re∣member to striue against that sinne: And so likewise when God with some spe∣ciall glory of his truth doth affect thee in the hea∣ring of some needfull du∣ty to bee done, not to dare to delay, but haste to the obedience of that good Word of God.
How soūd sincerity of con∣uersation may bee formed in thee.