A17410:337
The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of…
The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our lives, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selves. With general rules of preparation, that concern either the helps, or the manner of a holy conversation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.The rules of a holy life. Or A treatise containing the holy order of our liues, prescribed in the Scripture concerning our carriage: towards God, towards men, towards our selues. With generall rules of preparation, that concerne either the helps, or the maner of a holy conuersation. By N. Bifield preacher of Gods Word at Isleworth in Middlesex.
London: printed by George for Ralph Rounthwaite, 1619
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
1. Thy words must be few, 1Eccles. 5. 1, 2. and the ⟨p. 172⟩reason is, because God is in heaven, and thou art in earth: He is full of Majesty and Wisdom, and thou art an infirm and sinful creature: Length of it self doth not commend prayer; we must speak as becomes the Majesty of God, without vain repetitions and babblings, pattering over of the same things is not pleasing to God: As affectation is ill in any thing, so much more ill in prayer. This Rule may be unsavoury in the taste of some that are transported with rash zeal: But let them take heed of ⟨p. 173⟩will-worship: the words are so plain in the Text, as they must inform themselves about them: The Lord knew what was fittest for us, when he gave us this charge.
1. Thy words must bee few, 1Eccles. 5. 1, 2. and the ⟨p. 172⟩reason is, because God is in heauen, and thou art in earth: Hee is full of Maiestie and Wisedome, and thou art an infirme and sinfull creature: Length of it selfe doth not commend prayer; we must speake as becomes the Maiestie of God, without vaine repetitions and babblings, pattering ouer of the same things is not pleasing to God: As affectation is ill in any thing, so much more ill in prayer. This Rule may bee vnsauory in the taste of some that are transported with rash zeale: But let them take heed of ⟨p. 173⟩will-worship: the words are so plaine in the Text, as they must informe themselues about them: The Lord knew what was fittest for vs, when hee gaue vs this charge.
- 1Thy words must be few.