A17410:491
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. Mortification. 1A sound care to reform our ways, and true hatred and grief for our own sins, will cause many times wicked wretches to say of us, that we are the people of the Lord, Isaiah 61. 3, 8. I say, a sound care of reformation for to profess a mortified life, and yet in any thing to show, that we can live in any fault without repentance, this provokes them exceedingly to speak evil of the good way of God. Therefore the first care of a Christian, that would be rightly ordered toward wicked men, must ⟨p. 249⟩be to live without offence, and to discover a true mortified mind, and a heart broken for sin.
1. Mortification. 1A sound care to reforme our waies, and true hatred and griefe for our owne sinnes, will cause many times wicked wretches to say of vs, that wee are the people of the Lord, Esay 61. 3, 8. I say, a sound care of reformation for to professe a mortified life, and yet in any thing to shew, that we can liue in any fault vvithout repentance, this prouokes them exceedingly to speak euill of the good way of God. Therefore the first care of a Christian, that would be rightly ordered toward wicked men, must ⟨p. 249⟩be to liue without offence, and to discouer a true mortified minde, and a heart broken for sinne.
- 11. A mortified life.
Secondly,1 to speak with all reverence, and fear, when we entreat of matters of Religion, much amazeth the profane conscience of a wicked man. Whereas cursory discourses of such grand mysteries, and empty and vain janglings do exceedingly occasion a confirmed wilfulness, and profaneness in such men,