A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

§. Sect. 5 That this watch is to be kept in all things.

Now if we would know wherein this observation and circumspection ⟨p. 509⟩consisteth, and in what it is to be used and exercised; the Apostle telleth us, that it must not be in some few things only, the rest being neglected, but in all things whatsoever; Watch thou in all things; so that we must keep ¹this watch at all times, in all places, upon all occasions, when we are alone, and when we are in company, abroad and at home, in the works of our callings, and in our recreations, when we have to deal with others, and when we are exercised in our own business; in civill affairs and moral actions, and in our religious duties which we perform unto God, as hearing, reading, praying, meditating; according to that of our Saviour; Take heed how ye hear, watch and pray. And seeing the devil layeth baits ²and snares to catch us in all places and in all things, we must be very heedful and circumspect, that we do not fall into his nets of perdition. When we are alone, we must take heed that we be not idle and unprofitable, wholly taken up with worldly thoughts and sinful imaginations, nor overtaken by Satan's tentations, enticing us to the committing of secret sins, seeing solitude exempteth us from the fear, either of shame or punishment. When we are to go into company, we must look to our selves, that we be not corrupted with evil examples, and vain and rotten communication, and that we do not thus corrupt others, but edify them by our savoury speeches, and holy conversation. When we look to be taken up in Christian conferences, we must watch over our selves, that we fall not, through self-love over-weening our own gifts, into pride and vain-glory, nor through pride break out into anger and contention. When we go to compound differences between neighbours, we must take heed, that we be not partial to either side for worldly respects, nor through stiffness and obstinacy, cause more discord in stead of making peace. When we are going to a feast, let us set a watch over our appetite, that it do not draw us to gluttony and excess; but that we so use Gods greater blessings, as that we be fitted by them to do him better service. When we are about to do the works of mercy, we must take heed of pride and affectation of humane praises, or that we have in them any opinion of meriting thereby any thing at Gods hands.