Some general directions for a comfortable walking with God delivered in the lecture at…Some generall directions for a comfortable walking with God deliuered in the lecture at…

6. Thou must shortly be strictly accountable at the just Tribunal of God, for the use and employment of all the good things he hath given unto thee; of thy life and every moment of it; of thy goods and every farthing of them; of every word thou ever spokest; of every thought that ever sprung out of thy heart; of every Sermon thou ever heardst; of every Sabbath thou hast solemnized; of every line thou hast writ; of every glance of thine eye; of every journey thou hast made, &c. of thy wit, memory, learning; of thy strength, courage, credit; of thine honour, power, and high place▪ In a word, of every benefit or any good thing in any kind thou ever receivedst from the bountiful and blessed hand of Almighty God. And the moe and more excellent and extraordinary endowments, and gracious indulgences have been vouchsafed thee from the ever-springing Fountain of all good; the more exactly must thou be answerable, and in proportion accountable for more. Wherefore, sith the graces of salvation incomparably excel and outshine all other humane abilities; all excellencies of nature, art, policy, learning, or what else can be named admirable in the eyes of men; God looks that we should keep those heavenly Jewels especially, orient, bright and shining; communicate them most frankly and abundantly to our brethren; and with all watchfulness and wisdom upon all opportunities, employ them to our Masters greatest and most glorious advantage. Now there is nothing more hinders the fruitful improvement of them then Pride: Nothing makes them more passable and profitable then Humility. A proud man puffed up with an opinion of his good parts, doth ordinarily, out of an itching ambitious humour, single out such seasons for discovery of himself, and ostentation of his gifts; when he may win most applause from men, and show himself ⟨p. 347⟩vain-gloriously; and thereupon is more rare, dainty, and reserved in exercising his talent. But a downright humble Christian is in this kind unreservedly and indifferently for all places, times, and persons; where, and when he may bring glory unto God, good unto others, comfort to his own soul in discharging a good conscience.

6. Thou must shortly bee strictly accountable at the iust Tribunall of God, for the vse and imployment of all the good things hee hath giuen vnto thee; of thy life and euery moment of it; of thy goods and euery farthing of them; of euery word thou euer spokest; of euery thought that euer sprung out of thy heart; of euery Sermon thou euer heardst; of euery Sabbath thou hast solemnized; of euery line thou hast writ; of euery glance of thine eye; of euery iourney thou hast made, &c. of thy wit, memory, learning; of thy strength, courage, credit; of thine honour, power, and high place In a word, of euery benefit or any good thing in any kinde thou euer receiuedst from the bountifull and blessed hand of Almightie God. And the moe and more excellent and extraordinary endowments, and gracious indulgences haue beene vouchsafed thee from the euer-springing Fountaine of all good; the more exactly must thou bee answerable, and in proportion accountable for more. Wherefore, sith the graces of saluation incomparably excell and outshine all other humane abilities; all excellencies of nature, art, policie, learning, or what else can bee named admirable in the eyes of men; God lookes that wee should keepe those heauenly Iewels especially, orient, bright and shining; communicate them most frankely and abundantly to our brethren; and with all watchfulnesse and wisdome vpon all opportunities, imploy them to our Masters greatest and most glorious aduantage. Now there is nothing more hinders the fruitfull improouement of them then Pride: Nothing makes them more passable and profitable then Humility. A proud man puft vp with an opinion of his good parts, doth ordinarily, out of an itching ambitious humour, single out such seasons for discouerie of himselfe, and ostentation of his gifts; when hee may winne most applause from men, and shew himselfe