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.…

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.

The Use is for great reproof of our incredible slackness herein the most¹ ⟨p. 104⟩of us, who know not of any lets in our mind; never observe ignorance, carnal reason, security, love of earthly things, worldly sorrow, hypocrisy, precipitation, discouragement, dullness, and evil thoughts. Those of us that do discern them, how weak are our hearts? how do we trifle? we feel them not to be a burden: we resist them not in the beginning. How justly might God leave us to a very reprobate mind for our slackness herein even of knowledge? How justly might we be left to our selves, and so be turned out of the way, and there left either never to return, or not without unspeakable horror of conscience.

The Use is for great reproofe of our incredible slacknesse herein the most¹ ⟨p. 104⟩of us, who know not of any lets in our minde; never observe ignorance, carnall reason, security, love of earthly things, worldly sorrow, hypocrisie, precipitation, discouragement, dulnesse, and evill thoughts. Those of us that doe discerne them, how weak are our hearts? how doe we trifle? we feele them not to be a burthen: we resist them not in the beginning. How justly might God leave us to a very reprobate mind for our slacknesse herein even of knowledge? How justly might we be left to our selves, and so be turned out of the way, and there left either never to returne, or not without unspeakable horror of conscience.

1. 1Use.Vse.

Be sober.] There is a sixfold sobriety.

1. Sobriety in opinions, of which the Apostle saith, be wise to sobriety, Rom. 12.3. This hath in it,¹ 1. A fear to conceive of God or godliness, after any senseless or unwarranted course. 2. A repressing of that itching desire after the knowledge of Gods secrets, or hidden things, Deut. 29. ult. 3. Modesty in venting our opinions, or delivering our judgement. 4. A suspending in doubtful things. 5. A yielding upon implied dangers in things indifferent, as in reformation of such abuses as we see good men condemn, though we have not express Scripture: A singular waywardness in many, they will not leave their faults till direct Scripture be brought against it, as in vanity of apparel, &c.

1. Sobriety in opinions, of which the Apostle saith, be wise to sobriety, Rom. 12.3. This hath in it,¹ 1. A feare to conceive of God or godlinesse, after any senselesse or unwarranted course. 2. A repressing of that itching desire after the knowledge of Gods secrets, or hidden things, Deut. 29. ult. 3. Modesty in venting our opinions, or delivering our judgement. 4. A suspending in doubtfull things. 5. A yeelding upon implyed dangers in things indifferent, as in reformation of such abuses as we see good men condemne, though wee have not expresse Scripture: A singular waiwardnesse in many, they will not leave their faults till direct Scripture be brought against it, as in vanity of apparell, &c.

1. 1A sixfold sobriety.

2. Sobriety in prayer, 1 Pet. 4.7. and to be sober in prayer is, 1. to be advised and deliberate; desirous to pray according to Gods will. 2. It is not to be intemperate or peevish, as Jonah was. 3. It is to be stayed, and settled, and stablished in persuasion, not wavering, & unconstant, or tossed with doubts and causeless fears. 4. It is to pray with due respect of Gods Majesty, without trifling or vain babbling: it is to let our words be few, Eccles. 5.5. 5. It is to keep Gods counsel, not to be proud, or boast of success, or speak of the secret sweetness of Gods love without calling: it is to conceal the familiarity of God in secret.

2. Sobriety in prayer, 1 Pet. 4.7. and to be sober in prayer is, 1. to be advised and deliberate; desirous to pray according to Gods will. 2. It is not to be intemperate or peevish, as Ionah was. 3. It is to be stayed, and setled, and stablished in perswasion, not wavering, & unconstant, or tossed with doubts and causelesse feares. 4. It is to pray with due respect of Gods Majesty, without trifling or vaine babling: it is to let our words be few, Eccles. 5.5. 5. It is to keep Gods counsell, not to be proud, or boast of successe, or speak of the secret sweetnesse of Gods love without calling: it is to conceale the familiarity of God in secret.

3. Sobriety in the practice of godliness: in general this the Apostle calls holiness with sobriety, 1 Tim. 3.15. which stands, 1. in lowliness of mind, and sense of our own vileness: it is to be holy without vain-glorious boasting. 2. In keeping the bounds of the Word both for sins and duties: it is to take heed of fancies, or vain stretching out of our practice to avoid such things as any way the word condemns: so in duties. 3. In not meddling with the business of others: it is not to be a busy body, to spend our selves in prying, or censuring, or inquiring after others: It is a vile thing to s•ffer as a busy body, 1 Pet. 4. 4. In avoiding rash zeal and indiscretion in the circumstances of well-doing. The word is sometimes rendered discreet, as Tit. 2.5. and vigilant, ver. 2. 5. In not judging, Gal. 6.1, 2.

3. Sobriety in the practice of godlinesse: in generall this the Apostle calls holinesse with sobriety, 1 Tim. 3.15. which stands, 1. in lowlinesse of minde, and sense of our owne vilenesse: it is to be holy without vain-glorious boasting. 2. In keeping the bounds of the Word both for sins and duties: it is to take heed of fansies, or vaine stretching out of our practice to avoid such things as any way the word condemnes: so in duties. 3. In not medling with the businesse of others: it is not to be a busie body, to spend our selves in prying, or censuring, or inquiring after others: It is a vile thing to s•ffer as a busie body, 1 Pet. 4. 4. In avoiding rash zeale and indiscretion in the circumstances of well-doing. The word is sometimes rendred discreet, as Tit. 2.5. and vigilant, ver. 2. 5. In not judging, Gal. 6.1, 2.

4. Sobriety in respect of the pleasures and delights of this life: and to be sober in them is,¹1. To let the Word of God be our rule for the matter of them, not to delight in unlawful pleasures, as chambering and wantonness, or unlawful sports and games that are of ill fame. 2. To restrain our affections in the use of them: to use them as though we used them not, not suffering our hearts to be stolen away by them. 3. To restrain the excessive use of them, not to make a vocation of them, a special sin in the Gentry of this ⟨p. 105⟩land, and their followers. 4. To be well advised for the circumstances, the place, time, company, and such like; that we neither ensnare our selves, nor give occasion of offence. 5. To restrain the passions that use to break out about them, that they be not occasions of discord or contempt, as Envy, or any evil affection. 6. Not to make merchandise of them, as to use their sports as means of gaining from others. 7. To use our delights with consideration of our callings, as Ministers, children, women, servants, &c. that which may be comely in others, may not be so many times, and in many things, in these.

4. Sobriety in respect of the pleasures and delights of this life: and to be sober in them is,¹1. To let the Word of God be our rule for the matter of them, not to delight in unlawfull pleasures, as chambering and wantonnesse, or unlawfull sports and games that are of ill fame. 2. To restraine our affections in the use of them: to use them as though we used them not, not suffering our hearts to be stollen away by them. 3. To restraine the excessive use of them, not to make a vocation of them, a speciall sinne in the Gen•ry of this ⟨p. 105⟩land, and their followers. 4. To be well advised for the circumstances, the place, time, company, and such like; that we neither insnare our selves, nor give occasion of offence. 5. To restraine the passions that use to break out about them, that they be not occasions of discord or contempt, as Envie, or any evill affection. 6. Not to make merchandise of them, as to use their sports as meanes of gaining from others. 7. To use our delights with consideration of our callings, as Ministers, children, women, servants, &c. that which may be comely in others, may not be so many times, and in many things, in these.

5. There is sobriety in apparel, 1 Tim. 2.9, 10.¹ This sobriety hath in it four things: 1. Comeliness, which takes order for both extremes, that our apparel be neither rude to dishonour our body, nor strange for the unwontedness or unseemliness of it. 2. Shame fastness and modesty, which takes order 1. that our apparel be not the apparel of another sex, Deut. 22.5. 2. or of known dissolute persons: modest women may not go as whores go. 3. that it tend no way to provoke inordinate desires in our selves or others, as painting, perfuming, naked breasts, &c. The third thing is frugality, which hath respect, 1. to our degree, that we go not above it: 2. to our ability in that degree, as if we be in debt, or of less means then others of that degree. 3. to the rate of our expenses: for to spend as much as the foremost in our rank is no sobriety, though we observe the two former rules. It is sobriety not to be so costly or brave as others, as we by our degree might be. The fourth thing is piety: a Christian should in his very apparel proclaim his religion, not only by the moderation of it, but by a free willingness to do good to any, and by professing to know a greater comeliness, even the decking of the hid man of the heart, and the ornament of good works.

5. There is sobriety in apparell, 1 Tim. 2.9, 10.¹ This sobriety hath in it foure things: 1. Comelinesse, which takes order for both extreames, that our apparell be neither rude to dishonour our body, nor strange for the unwontednesse or unseemelinesse of it. 2. Shame fastnesse and modestie, which takes order 1. that our apparell be not the apparell of another sex, Deut. 22.5. 2. or of knowne dissolute persons: modest women may not goe as whores goe. 3. that it tend no way to provoke inordinate desires in our selves or others, as painting, perfuming, naked breasts, &c. The third thing is frugality, which hath respect, 1. to our degree, that we goe not above it: 2. to our ability in that degree, as if we be in debt, or of lesse meanes then others of that degree. 3. to the rate of our expences: for to spend as much as the formost in our rank is no sobriety, though we observe the two former rules. It is sobriety not to be so costly or brave as others, as wee by our degree might be. The fourth thing is piety: a Christian should in his very apparell proclaime his religion, not onely by the moderation of it, but by a free willingnesse to doe good to any, and by professing to know a greater comelinesse, even the decking of the hid man of the heart, and the ornament of good works.

For the clear understanding of this doctrine concerning apparel 4. rules are to be observed.

For the cleare understanding of this doctrine concerning apparell 4. rules are to be observed.

1. That whereas the Word of God doth not precisely tell what apparel we should wear: the judgment and example of the wisest and godliest men in the country where we live is to be followed.

1. That whereas the Word of God doth not precisely tell what apparell we should weare: the judgment and example of the wisest and godliest men in the country where we live is to be followed.

2. That the sin reacheth as well to men as to women. For whereas the Scripture for the most part reproveth or directeth women for their apparel, it was because men in those times did less exceed; but now that men are grown so effeminate, the censure lights upon them as well as women.

2. That the sinne reacheth as well to men as to women. For whereas the Scripture for the most part reproveth or directeth women for their apparell, it was because men in those times did lesse exceed; but now that men are growne so effeminate, the censure lights upon them as well as women.

3. That sin may be committed in the fashion, or putting on, as well as in the matter or cost, 1 Pet. 3.3. Rom. 12.2.

3. That sinne may be committed in the fashion, or putting on, as well as in the matter or cost, 1 Pet. 3.3. Rom. 12.2.

4. That the vanity of often changing into fashions is to be condemned also.

There are divers reasons why we should make conscience even of our apparel.¹

There are divers reasons why wee should make conscience even of our apparell.¹

1. 1Reasons against the vanity of apparel.Reasons against the vanity of apparell.