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.…

3. The third rule is, to take heed of solitariness; I mean not only the inward solitariness, or emptiness of the mind; but the very outward retiring from company without cause or calling. The Devil set upon Eve when she was alone,¹ and Christ was led aside into the wilderness to be tempted.

3. The third rule is, to take heed of solitarinesse; I meane not onely the inward solitarinesse, or emptinesse of the minde; but the very outward retyring from company without cause or calling. The Devill set upon Eve when shee was alone,¹ and Christ was led aside into the wildernesse to be tempted.

1. 1Gen. 3. Mat. 4.

4. The fourth rule is, to be diligent and faithful in our particular calling. It is almost impossible, that a life full of idleness should not be also full of temptations: this was noted to be the door of Davids tentations: whereas contrariwise faithful employment bars out tentation. It is exceeding good not to be at leisure to attend tentations. Labour is a great preservative from a world of inward evils.

4. The fourth rule is, to be diligent and faithfull in our particular calling. It is almost impossible, that a life full of idlenesse should not be also full of temptations: this was noted to be the doore of Davids tentations: whereas contrariwise faithfull employment barres out tentation. It is exceeding good not to be at leysure to attend tentations. Labour is a great preservative from a world of inward evils.

5. The fifth rule is, to be careful to walk uprightly, and to keep our righteousness: For he that walketh uprightly, walks boldly and safely; not only in respect of evil men, but of evil Angels also. Righteousness is an excellent breast plate to preserve the heart of a man; and usually outrageous tentations get in by the love of some presumptuous sin. But to hold this rule, that we would not allow our selves in any sin (which is true uprightness) is a sure course, and seldom fails, and it preserves against all fierce tentations.

5. The fift rule is, to be carefull to walk uprightly, and to keep our righteousnesse: For he that walketh uprightly, walks boldly and safely; not onely in respect of evill men, but of evill Angels also. Righteousnesse is an excellent brest plate to preserve the heart of a man; and usually outragious tentations get in by the love of some presumptuous sinne. But to hold this rule, that wee would not allow our selves in any sinne (which is true uprightnesse) is a sure course, and seldome failes, and it preserves against all fierce tentations.

7. The seventh rule is, that we must not complain only, as many do, but we must resist also; we must do our best to oppose tentation; neither must we think this a slender help, for it hath a clear promise, that the Devil shall flee from us.¹

7. The seventh rule is, that we must not complain only, as many doe, but we must resist also; we must doe our best to oppose tentation; neither must we think this a slender help, for it hath a cleare promise, that the Devill shall flee from us.¹

1. 1Jam. 4.8.Iam. 4.8.

8. Eighthly prayer is a tried medicine: This Paul used when he was tempted, 2 Cor. 12. and certainly it is powerful either to remove the temptation, or to procure an answer, or strength to bear it.

8. Eighthly prayer is a tryed medicine: This Paul used when hee was tempted, 2 Cor. 12. and certainly it is powerfull either to remove the temptation, or to procure an answer, or strength to beare it.

9. The ninth rule is, we must specially remember to run to the brazen ⟨p. 62⟩serpent. It is without all question, that the sight of Christ is as available to help us against the stings of the old serpent, as ever the sight of the brazen serpent was to cure them that were stung by the fiery serpents.

9. The ninth rule is, wee must specially remember to runne to the brasen ⟨p. 62⟩serpent. It is without all question, that the sight of Christ is as availeable to help us against the stings of the old serpent, as ever the sight of the brasen serpent was to cure them that were stung by the fiery serpents.

10. The tenth: we must labour for a persuasion, that tentations shall never separate us from God: ¹unbelief gives them head, and sometimes ere the more they are mistrusted, the more they grow infectious; whereas faith quencheth them,² though they were fiery darts.

10. The tenth: we must labour for a perswasion, that tentations shall never separate us from God: ¹unbeliefe gives them head, and sometimes ere the more they are mistrusted, the more they grow infectious; whereas faith quencheth them,² though they were fiery darts.

1. 1R•m. •. ult.
2. 2Eph. 6.16.

11. The eleventh: If we find the devil practicing upon the flesh, the way is not to revile the devil, but to beat the flesh: Mortification, and the crucifying of the flesh with the lusts of it, ¹will expel the devil.

11. The eleventh: If we find the devill practicing upon the flesh, the way is not to revile the devill, but to beat the flesh: Mortification, and the crucifying of the flesh with the lusts of it, ¹will expell the devill.

1. 1G•l. 5.24.

12. The last rule is to be thankful for all mercies we find in temptations, and it is a great means to help us: whereas unthankfulness doth wonderfully strengthen the temptation.

12. The last rule is to be thankfull for all mercies we find in temptations, and it is a great means to help us: whereas unthankfulnesse doth wonderfully strengthen the temptation.

And thus much of the sixth verse.

And thus much of the sixt verse.

Verse 7. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than the gold that perisheth (though it be tried by fire) might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Verse 7. That the tryall of your faith being much more precious than the gold that perisheth (though it be tryed by fire) might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ.

This Verse containeth the fourth reason, why afflictions and temptations should not darken the sense of our happiness, and that is taken from the effect of afflictions and tentations, which is in this Verse both propounded and amplified: It is propounded in these words, the trial of your faith; and it is amplified two ways: First, by comparison with gold tried in the furnace: And secondly, by consideration of the event; it will be found to praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. First of the effect, as it is briefly propounded.

THis Verse containeth the fourth reason, why afflictions and temptations should not darken the sense of our happinesse, and that is taken from the effect of afflictions and tentations, which is in this Verse both propounded and amplified: It is propounded in these words, the tryall of your faith; and it is amplified two waies: First, by comparison with gold tryed in the furnace: And secondly, by consideration of the event; it will be found to praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Iesus Christ. First of the effect, as it is briefly propounded.

The trial of your saith.]

The tryall of your saith.]

Two things I would note here. 1. In general, that God will try men. 2. In special, what God tries in men, viz. their faith.

Two things I would note here. 1. In generall, that God will try men. 2. In speciall, what God tries in men, viz. their faith.

¹For the first: It is certain that the Lord hath his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem, and he will melt man. For what else should he do to his people?

¹For the first: It is certaine that the Lord hath his fire in Sion, and his furnace in Ierusalem, and he will melt man. For what else should hee doe to his people?

1. 1Jer. 9 7. Isaiah 31. cult.Ier. 9 7. Esay 31. •ult.