The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

It is a great fault to abuse the religion of God in life, as the titles are attribute of God in speech, and therefore unless those that be called christians, labour to be christians, that their works be suitable to their words, and they show forth the virtues of Christ, as well as take upon them the name of Christ, unless they be careful to frame their life according to the line of Gods word, & so to order all their carriage, that their conversation may be answerable to their profession, and the fruit that shows it self in their life, agreeable to the seed that is daily sowed in their harts, they are as gross profaners of the name of God, and as liable to the curse and vengeance of God, as he that swears many a vain and idle oath.

It is a great fault to abuse the religion of God in lyfe, as the titles are attribute of God in speach, and therfore vnlesse those that be called christians, labour to be christians, that their works be suteable to their words, and they shew forth the vertues of Christ, as well as take vpon them the name of Christ, vnlesse they be careful to frame their life according to the line of Gods word, & so to order all their carriage, that their conuersation may be answerable to their profession, and the fruit that shews it selfe in their lyfe, agreeable to the seede that is dayly sowed in their harts, they are as grose profaners of the name of God, and as lyable to the cursse and vengeance of God, as he that sweares many a vaine and idle oath.

Secondly, this serves to instruct all men that would be called ⟨image 53⟩christians, and be accounted the sons of God, to live so, as that we bring some glory to God by our life. And this Paul bids the bond servants. 1. Tim. 6. 1. Count their masters worthy all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine may not be ill spoken off. Speaking to such as were servants to unbelieving masters, he bids them give them honour and reverence, not for any religion or goodness that could be seen in them, for they were infidels, but for conscience sake, to Gods ordinance, whose place these masters did supply; & that because if they did not those, all the fault should be laid upon the name of God. But how doth he prove that Gods name should be evil spoken of, because, his doctrine should be ill spoken, so that where ever the gospel is slandered, there God himself and his name is dishonoured. So in the second of Titus, Paul also speaking to servants, wills them to show all good faithfulness, & not to pick nor steal, nor to answer again, and that for this reason, that they may adorn the doctrine of Christ Jesus. He would have those which are in the basest estate, and in the lowest condition of all men, even servants and bondservants, in their place to adorn religion, by their good behaviour, in that place. No place is so mean and of so small account, but you may do God good service in it, if he beautify his profession, by an unspotted and pure conversation; for nothing can glorify God more in all this world then when those that will belong and appertain unto him, show what household they be of, by their works, and he that will be esteemed the Son of God, must do more good work then one that is only the son of Adam, this will stop the mouth of wicked men, and mussel them up, that they shall not have a word to bark out against christians and christianity: yea, this will beget a good liking in their harts of that word and that religion, which works so good effects in the life of them that hold it.