Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

Chap. í about Ctrcionfpe6ion, and circurn(peint walking. 3z7 e4 f.That we donot, to pleafe our pallat,ufe fuch excels in our diet, as will difenable us to Chriftian,dunes : knowing chat the end,ofour eatingis to refrefh and ftrengthen our bodies that they maybe fit for Gods fervice , that bath fed, them, andnot the pampering of the fief}, with fenfual delight : To,give way to our appetite, is to bring innumerable evils upon our felves : As upon our bodies ficknefs, anddeath :. upon our foules,and.bodiesboth, Hoch and idlenefs, unfit- nefs to anygood aetion, drowfipefs, or vainmirth,, fhortnefs pf memory,, dui . nefs ofunderfianding , wanton dalliance, andintimation of our hearts withun- lawful tufts. , Queft. How ,n,sif wè watch overottrfence oftouching ? 1lnfw. Thattopleafe it, we donot enflave our tellies to effeminate daintinefs, thinkingour felves undone, if we cannot rowleour felves upon our beds of down, and go infoft raiment , and, Dives-like, be cloathedin,purple, and fine linnen every day : But we fhould fo inure our fèlves , that we may not think it finite and intollerable toElie hardly , and go hardly; if Chrift who fur Bred fo much for . us; call us to fuffer a little for the teftimony of his truth : Much more muff we reftraine this fence from unlawful objeas ; as unchafl' ki(fes , lafcivious imbraces ,andwantondalianees, which tend CO the inflaming, of our, hearts with uncleanlufts, anddefiling our bodies , which fhould be the Temples of the HolyGhoft. Queft. How muff we watch òver our tongues? Anfw. Wemutt refolve with David, Pfal.39.r. Iwill take heed to my wayes,' that 1finnot withmy tongue. For the well ordering thereof is a matter of great moment,for furthering, or hinderingus in our Chriftian converfation. Prov. t 5; 4. Awholfame tongue is a tree of life,c.7c. If weufe it well, it will be our glory, st being a notable inftrutnent of glorifying Ciod,by fpeaking to his praife : and then ifwe honour God, he will honour us, 1Sam.z.3o. but ifwe allure it to fin, it will becomeour flume, feeing therebywedifhonour God, who bath given it us, and all. good things. Herebywe may edifieour brethren, `Prov. i 5,7, and 25. 11. But if we vent froth,and filthinefs,we (hail corrupt them,' Cor.15.3 t . By the well uing of it we (hall have comfort, Prov.r 5. a3. and 18. zo. It evidenceth that we are upright in Gods fight, Pf4.37. 30: Perfect men, lam. 3.2. but the contrary is alignofa rotten, and wickedheart, c...11atth. a z. 34, 35. Life and death are in thepower of it, Prov.l8.2t. Match.' 2.37. By our words we Pall be juíbified, orcondemned,therefore let us refolve with David, Pfal.71.24 that our tongues'hallfpeakof righteoufnefs all the day long , c c, Yet we muff moderate our toh ues by feafonable Glance, that they benor too full of talk. For Prov. 10.19. to many words there is muchfin. Sq"Prov.57. 27"sz8. arid 21.23. Écclef to. 14. ,fob 13.5. Iam.1.19. el. How fhouldwe watch over our worksandaílions ? Zfw. That they may in all things beconformable to the word, and will of God, whil,ll wedoe what he commands , andabflain from what he hath forbid- den. Thuswe are exhorted, Prov.4. z6. Ponder thepath of thy feet,'cic. and its made themarkof a trulywife man, Prov.r4.15,s 6. Aprudent man looks well co hiegoing,.&c. for we tread upon fl¡ppery placeswhilft we are'managing our worldlyaffairs. For this end . s. We mufl.fpendnone of ourprecious time in(loth, and idlenefs, ( for by doing nothing, we (hall quickly learn to do that which is it )but that we k always, exetcifed in fore good iinpolyment that refpetts Gods glory, our own , or ourneighboursgoon , . . ... , z. That with all care, and çircumfpe&ion we keep our felves from all finfull néîions,and iffinbegin to arife in ourhearts,prefently to (lime it, that it bringnot forth fruit untodeath. . , 3. We mullwatch over them, that we maynot only Ibun evil, but o good, whereby

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