A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

1. For what men must be thus prepared and made ready. 2. What are the garments of the mind, or inward lets. 3. Why must they be girded up. 4. How must they be girded or restrained. 5. It is to be noted, that he saith, gird up, not cast off. 6. The Uses.

For the first, this metaphor in the letter was used in those countries upon four occasions. 1. When they were to go a journey, 1 King. 4.29. & 9.1. 2. When they were to run a race. 1 King. 18.46. 3. When they were to fight a battle, 1 King. 2.1. 4. When they went to labour, Prov. 31.17. In all four senses spiritually we must have our minds girded and resolved against impediments; we are travellers, runners, labourers, fighters, and in all these respects we must be girded and addressed to them: we can never run the race of godliness, we can never do the works of godliness, we can never abide the hard strife, and fight of godliness and faith; we can never hold out in our journey to heaven, unless we daily strive against the hinderances that, will be cast in our way, I say daily, and inwardly.

For the first, this metaphor in the letter was used in those countries upon foure occasions. 1. When they were to goe a journey, 1 King. 4.29. & 9.1. 2. When they were to run a race. 1 King. 18.46. 3. When they were to fight a battaile, 1 King. 2.1. 4. When they went to labour, Prov. 31.17. In all foure senses spiritually we must haue our minds girded and resolved against impediments; we are travellers, runners, labourers, fighters, and in all these respects we must be girded and addressed to them: we can never runne the race of godlinesse, we can never doe the works of godlinesse, we can never abide the hard strife, and fight of godlinesse and faith; we can never hold out in our journey to heaven, unlesse we daily strive against the hinderances that, will be cast in our way, I say daily, and inwardly.

For the second: there are 14. internal lets of godliness: 12. of them implied in the comparison of long garments,¹ and 2. of them in the similitude of loins.

For the second: there are 14. internall letts of godlinesse: 12. of them implyed in the comparison of long garments,¹ and 2. of them in the similitude of loynes.

1. 114 […].14 〈…〉.

And when he saith not barely, gird up your minds, but the loins of the mind, it importeth two things. For the loins in the mind signify 1. heaviness, dullness: so the word used 2 Chron. 10.10. 2. concupiscence: these must especially be girded hard; yea all the rest must be girded upon these.

And when hee saith not barely, gird up your minds, but the loines of the minde, it importeth two things. For the loines in the minde signifie 1. heavinesse, dulnesse: so the word used 2 Chron. 10.10. 2. concupiscence: these must especially be girded hard; yea all the rest must be girded upon these.

Thirdly, we should gird up our minds for divers reasons.§3 1. Because the mind not attended will else run into a secret frame of evil cogitations, or stand still in emptiness being not wound up.¹ 2. Because that which is halting may be turned out of the way, Heb. 12.13. 3. Because the mind in pollution, as it is most secret, so it is most loathsome, Tit. 1.15. Eph. 2.3. 4. Because else through custom we may come to a reprobate mind, Rom. 1. 5. Lastly, because the keeping of our minds is the keeping of our souls, Prov. 9.8.

Thirdly, we should gird up our minds for divers reasons.§3 1. Because the mind not attended will else run into a secret frame of evill cogitations, or stand still in emptinesse being not woond up.¹ 2. Because that which is halting may be turned out of the way, Heb. 12.13. 3. Because the minde in pollution, as it is most secret, so it is most loathsome, Tit. 1.15. Eph. 2.3. 4. Because else through custome wee may come to a reprobate minde, Rom. 1. 5. Lastly, because the keeping of our mindes is the keeping of our soules, Prov. 9.8.

1. 1

For the fourth, there are divers rules to be observed for the girding up of our minds: we may gird up our minds divers ways.¹

For the fourth, there are divers rules to be observed for the girding up of our minds: we may gird up our minds divers waies.¹

1. 18 rules for girding up of the […].8 rules for girding up of the 〈…〉.

1. By confessing and complaining of them (I mean of these secret impediments) unto God; one way to restrain them is to confess them.

1. By confessing and complaining of them (I meane of these secret impediments) unto God; one way to restraine them is to confesse them.

2. By inflaming the love of God in our minds. For if we could love God with all our minds, we were safe from all impediments.

2. By inflaming the love of God in our minds. For if wee could love God with all our minds, we were safe from all impediments.

3. We must be sure we be renewed in our minds. For the old mind will never be girded up; we must be renewed in the spirit of our minds, that is, in our carnal reason: for that like an old beldam is the mother and nurse of all the rest, Eph. 4.23.

3. We must be sure we be renewed in our minds. For the old minde will never be girded up; we must be renewed in the spirit of our minds, that is, in our carnall reason: for that like an old belldam is the mother and nurse of all the rest, Eph. 4.23.

4. We must speak often with our minds, as the Hebrew phrase is, that is, we must observe, check, inform, consider, and direct our minds.

4. We must speak often with our minds, as the Hebrew phrase is, that is, we must observe, check, informe, consider, and direct our mindes.

5. We must get the word of God written in our minds, and obey the motions of the Spirit, that law of our minds.

6. We must converse much with the godly, and wise, that they may stir up our minds, especially labouring to be of the same mind with them.

7. We must carefully put on that girdle of truth, mentioned Eph. 6. which is inward sincerity, which is a care speedily to strive against those inward corruptions daily, and with strength of resolution.

8. Lastly, in this text two things are exceedingly available: viz. 1. sobriety in the use of earthly things: 2. and perfect assurance of Gods favour and glory to come. It is want of settled assurance, and the love of earthly things, that so much entangles men with the hurt of all sorts of impediments.

8. Lastly, in this text two things are exceedingly availeable: viz. 1. sobriety in the use of earthly things: 2. and perfect assurance of Gods favour and glory to come. It is want of setled assurance, and the love of earthly things, that so much entangles men with the hurt of all sorts of impediments.

The fifth thing to be observed is, that he saith, gird up, and not cast off, importing, that in this life, even in the godly,§5 there is not a perfect deliverance from the inward strife with hinderances that arise from our corrupt nature: Those garments they have still, but they are girded up, which is true of the most of the impediments mentioned before.

The fift thing to be observed is, that he saith, gird up, and not cast off, importing, that in this life, even in the godly,§5 there is not a perfect deliverance from the inward strife with hinderances that arise from our corrupt nature: Those garments they have still, but they are girded up, which is true of the most of the impediments mentioned before.