A17410:366
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. First, Before thou vowest, consider: consider, I say, thine own strength, whether thou be able to do it: and consider also the end, that it be to Gods glory; and consider the matter, that thou vow not things unlawful: and consider what may be the events of thy Vow, for all Vows being made before the Angel, that takes notice of all Covenants, it will be in vain afterwards to plead, it was an error, thou wast mistaken: God may be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands: Be not rash therefore, to cause ⟨p. 188⟩thy flesh to sin therein.
1. First, Before thou vowest, consider: consider, I say, thine owne strength, whether thou be able to do it: and consider also the end, that it bee to Gods glory; and consider the matter, that thou vow not things vnlawfull: and consider what may be the euents of thy Vow, for all Vowes being made before the Angell, that takes notice of all Couenants, it will bee in vaine afterwards to plead, it was an errour, thou wast mistaken: God may bee angry at thy voice, and destroy the worke of thy hands: Be not rash therefore, to cause ⟨p. 188⟩thy flesh to sinne therein.
2. Secondly, when thou hast vowed thy vow to God, defer not to pay it, be sure thou perform it: it is a grievous offence to break a lawful vow: Better it is thou shouldst not vow, then that thou shouldst vow, and not pay.
2. Secondly, when thou hast vowed thy vow to God, deferre not to pay it, be sure thou performe it: it is a grieuous offence to breake a lawfull vow: Better it is thou shouldst not vow, then that thou shouldst vow, and not pay.