A Golden Chain

thine heart and conscience may answer with a loud voice, I, even I, by reason of mine own sins: and again, if thou be demanded, what is the best thing in the world for thee? thy heart and conscience may answer again with a strong and loud cry, One drop of the blood of Christ to wash away my sins. 6 Show thy self to be a member of Christ, & a servant of God, not only •n the general calling of a Christian, but also in the particular calling in which thou art placed. It is not enough for a Magistrate to be a christian man, but he must also be a christian magistrate: it is not enough for a master of a family to be a christian man, or a christian in the church, but he must also be a christian in his family, & in the trade which he followeth daily. Not every one that is a common hearer of the word, and a frequenter of the Lords table, is therefore a good Christian, unless his conversation in his private house, & in his private affairs, and dealings be suitable. There is a man to be seen what he is. 7 Search the Scriptures, to see what is sin, & what is not sin in every action: this done, carry in thy heart a constant & a resolute purpose, not to sin in any thing: for faith and the purpose of sinning can never stand together. ⟨p. 1056⟩8 Let thine endeavour be suitable to thy purpose: & therefore exercise thy self to eschew every sin, and to obey God in every one of his commandments, that pertain either to the general calling of a Christian, or to thy particular calling. Thus did good Josiah, who turned unto God with all his heart, according to all the law of Moses, 1. King. 25.25. & thus did Zechariah & Elizabeth, that walked in all the commandments of God without reproof. Luk. 1.6. 9 If at any time, against thy purpose & resolution, thou be overtaken with any sin little or great, lie not in it, but speedily recover thy self by repentance, humble thy self, confessing thy offences, & by prayer entreating the Lord to pardon the same, and that earnestly, till such time as thou findest thy conscience truly pacified, and thy care to eschew the same sin increased. 10 Consider often of the right and proper end of thy life in this world, which is not to seek profit, honour, pleasure, but that in serving of men, we might serve god in our callings.

thine heart and conscience may answer with a loud voyce, I, euen I, by reason of mine own sinnes: and againe, if thou be demanded, what is the best thing in the world for thee? thy heart and conscience may answer againe with a strong and loude crie, One droppe of the blood of Christ to wash away my sinnes. 6 Shew thy selfe to be a member of Christ, & a seruant of God, not onely n the general calling of a Christian, but also in the particular calling in which thou art placed. It is not enough for a Magistrate to be a christiā man, but he must also be a christian magistrate: it is not enough for a master of a family to be a christian man, or a christian in the church, but he must also be a christian in his family, & in the trade which he followeth daily. Not euery one that is a cōmon hearer of the word, and a frequenter of the Lords table, is therefore a good Christian, vnles his conuersation in his priuate house, & in his priuate affaires, and dealings be sutable. There is a man to be seene what he is. 7 Search the Scriptures, to see what is sinne, & what is not sinne in euery action: this done, carrie in thy heart a constant & a resolute purpose, not to sin in any thing: for faith and the purpose of sinning can neuer stand together.