Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…

And for some plain and certain direction herein, we may consider the things which we are occupied about in solitariness.¹ Now we know that all matters which go through our hands or heads while we are out of company, §Dare either simply holy, or unholy, or things indifferent: now our own necessity, and Christian wisdom will teach about which of all these we have most cause to be occupied; and let us not be slack and negligent to mark and observe that, but let our circumspect care and watchfulness (which must always accompany us) ever foresee that: for without it, we shall do nothing well. And therefore if in journeying, walking, sitting still, or lying in our beds, &c. we shall remember, that we are held down with any sin or infirmity, let us muse upon the occasion of it, upon the vileness,² shame and danger of it, how hard it is to renounce it, how God is provoked thereby, and therefore how to be abased under it; and so in confidence crave §Epardon of it, and grace to weaken it. If we have need and cause to take order for some earthly business, which otherwise will turn us to great trouble,³ let us with good advice think with our selves how to dispose of it to our peace. If neither of both these give us occasion to be occupied, then let us watch such good opportunity of being alone to make benefit of the time, by setting our selves to muse upon some holy things, (as the love of God, our mortality,⁴ &c.) or enjoy the liberty of talking with our God by prayer, thanksgiving, ⟨p. 378⟩reading, rejoicing in him, &c. or, if we have any other necessary duty to be §Fdone, (as we shall be able when we be from our calling) let that be gone about. And if it be objected, that it is an hard matter thus to do: I must needs say, it will be hard to have our hearts thus at commandment when we are by our selves, especially for such as cannot read; but yet let us consider again, that we cannot be better occupied: what did I say? better? nay we can hardly be otherwise occupied without sin. And this advice for the redeeming of the time when we are alone, as long as it is the counsel of the Lord that we should thus gain it from evil, I am not moved what they say against it, who neither use their solitariness thus, but as though thought were free, give their hearts liberty to rove and range any where. Sure I am, we