A17397:1274
The marrow of the oracles of God. Or, divers treatisesThe marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises
The marrow of the oracles of God. Or, divers treatises containing directions about six of the weightiest things can concern a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.The marrovv of the oracles of God. Or, diuers treatises containing directions about sixe of the waightiest things can concerne a Christian in this life. by N. Bifield, late preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.
London: printed by John Legatt, 1630
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. Thou must in a special manner watch and strive against hypocrisy, and that in two things chiefly: First, that in thy setting out into religion, thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace. Secondly, that in Gods service thou by all means avoid distractions, and so resist and check thy proneness of heart thereunto, judging thy self severely, when thou so offendest, till thou be able in some happy degree to serve God with thy spirit as well as with thy body. The habit of dissembling with God is extremely dangerous.
2. Thou must in a speciall manner watch and striue against hypocrisie, and that intwo things chiefly: First, that in thy setting out into religion, thou fashion not thy course more to get credit then grace. Secondly, that in Gods seruice thou by all meanes auoide distractions, and so resist and checke thy pronenesse of heart thereunto, iudging thy selfe seuercly, when thou so offendest, till thou bee able in some happie degree to serue God with thy spirit as well as with thy body. The habit of dissembling with God is extremely dangerous.
3. In thy conversation take heed of that fear full carelessness of the most […], showed in the known and wilful practice of sin, upon pretence that it is but a small offence, or secret. Take heed of the sins of deceit, how gain of all so ever they might be to thee: thou mayest together with uprightness lose the kingdom ⟨p. 268⟩of heaven, for daring so wilfully to break one of those little commandments, Math. 5. 19. Take heed in general of a stiff and wilful heart: they are seldom upright, that are heady and peremptory, and hard to bee persuaded, Jam. 3. 17. Prou. 21. 29.