Chap. 3 t about Circurnipe6fion, andcircunífpe61 walking. Thirdly, Chrihian circumfpeólion is an hard, and difficult work: Its an eafie matter to talk of others, to confidet of other dens wayes but to come home , and to look to a mans felt, is an hard taske that few-under- take. Quell. what is the Chriflian circumfpeflion, or wotchfulnefi ? . Anfw. Its an heedful obfervátion of our (elves in all things , and a ferious, and diligent circumfpeólion over all our ways, that we may please God bydo- ing his will, andneither commit.any fin that he hath forbidden , nor omit any dutywhichrhe hath commanded. This is required, Dent. 4.9, 23. cal?ar. 13.3 3, 34. Ephef. 5.54,15, 16. and 6./ 8. Co1.4.2. r Cora 5.34. and 16.53. i Tiref. 5.5, 6i7,8. 4t s 20.28,31. Quell. Wherein Both tins circumfpeftion confiß ? and in what is it to be ufed ? Anfw. Firfl in general,it is to be ufed in all things, 2 Tim. 4. S.. In all places,' at all times, upon all occafions : when wee are alone, of in company : abroad, or at home in the work ofour callings, general, or fpecial ; in our recreations : in our civil affairs,morall a&ions, religious duties, Luke 8. 18. for Satan laies his nets , and fnares to catch us in all thofe ; therefore we had need to look to every fief). Secondly,neither mufl.this watch,be kept over force ofour parts only,but over thewhole man, and that in all the powers, and parts of foule and body , that inour inward rsculties , and outward aflions, we may pleafe God by doing his his will. But efpecially we mull keep this watch over our foul, Dent. 4.9. over our reafon, and jud;ement, that it be not darkned with ignorance, Marth. 6. z3. nor corruptedwith Errors and Heíeries: Over ourin emories that they retain not vanity, and hn£ul imprefi'ions that rhould beblotted out, nor forget thofe things with whichGod bath betrufled them. Over our wills, that they go not before, but wait upon holy reafon, chufing that which it commendeth , and refuting that which it difalloweth : over our confciences , that they be pure andclean : not flack in doin., their duty, nor we ne:ligent in giving heed to their evidence : over our thoughts, which naturally are ouly evill, and that continual -. ly, &c. Thirdly, But above all our other internal parts, we mua keep this watch over our hearts, `Pray. 4.23. H4, 3. t2. For the heart is the treafury, ei- ther ofall good or evil, andfrom it the tongue fpeaks, and the hand works, and if this fountainbe corrupt, it will defile all. Now by heart we chiefly underfland the affe&ions, and delires, both concupifeible, and irafcible , all the paflìons of love, hatred, hope, defpaire, joy, forrow, anger, and fear : and by keeping them, we mean their holding in fubleelion nnto reafon, itfelf being fiat made fubje& to the word and will ofGod, we marl watchour hearts to keep out carnal con- cupifcencefrom entring, and mull fhut the door of our hearts again(l the firfl motions, and inclinations unto fin : and if-they be entredat unawares , we midi repel' themprefently upon our firfl difcovering ofthem : Itsgood to crufh this Cockatrice in the (hell. Fourthly, We mull take heed of nouriming in our hearts fuch corruptions as arc moli dangerous toOur fouls health : as I. Watch againíl thofe fins to which through our natural corruption we are moll inclined : andthat a'. Becaufe of all others, wee have moll caufe to abhor them , feting by themwe havemoil diflionoured, anddifpleafedGod. z. They have mofi oftenwounded our confciences, andgiven us the greateli foils. '4 3. They havé.moll diflurbed our inward peace, and deprivedus of fpiritu- al boy, in the affuranceofGods love. t 4. We 32'5 I. IJ, IV.
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