Besides which duties which we owe to our neighbours, there are divers others required in this Commandment, which are to be performed to our selves, for the good, preservation, and defence of our persons and lives, and especially for the salvation of our souls. In respect of our bodies and lives here is required, that we use all good and lawful means 1whereby our health may be preserved, as temperance and sobriety in diet, moderate sleep and labour, honest and moderate recreations of body and mind, cheerfulness and honest joy, rejoicing in the fruition of ⟨p. 154⟩Gods blessings; or if it be lost and impaired, whereby we may recover it, as good diet, physic, &c. Secondly, that we by all good and lawful means preserve our safety, by avoiding unnecessary dangers, or recover 2our selves out of them, if we be fallen into them; by repelling gross injuries, and avoiding causeless quarrels, and all other means, whereby our lives are needlessly hazarded. But above all, here is required, that we earnestly endeavour in the use of all good means which may further the salvation of our souls, and avoid the contrary whereby it may be hindered. The which must not be delayed, nor posted off from time to time, as it is the practice of those, who from day to day defer their repentance; but we must first seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, both 3in order and time, giving it the precedency; and also in degree, more earnestly in our judgements esteeming, in our affections embracing, and in our practice seeking and labouring after the means of our salvation, especially our effectual calling and conversion, our justification by a lively 4faith, and sanctification unto holiness of life, then in any thing in the world besides; yea contemning and rejecting all earthly pleasures, profits, and preferments, as vain and unprofitable in comparison of them. And with the like care and endeavour, we must avoid all means whereby our salvation may be hindered, especially sin, which is the bane of the soul, and not give way to the committing of it wittingly and willingly, though for hire, the whole world were offered unto us, the gain whereof, will in 5no sort recompense the loss of our souls, as our Saviour telleth us. Or if we be overtaken with it, and by the law of our members, warring against 6the law of our minds, be led captive unto sin:
Besides which duties which we owe to our neighbours, there are diuers others required in this Commandement, which are to bee performed to our selues, for the good, preseruation, and defence of our persons and liues, and especially for the saluation of our soules. In respect of our bodies and liues heere is required, that wee vse all good and lawfull meanes 1whereby our health may be preserued, as temperance and sobriety in diet, moderate sleepe and labour, honest and moderate recreations of body and minde, cheerefulnesse and honest ioy, reioycing in the fruition of ⟨p. 154⟩Gods blessings; or if it be lost and impaired, whereby wee may recouer it, as good diet, physicke, &c. Secondly, that we by all good and lawfull meanes preserue our safety, by auoyding vnnecessary dangers, or recouer 2our selues out of them, if we be falne into them; by repelling grosse iniuries, and auoyding causlesse quarrels, and all other meanes, whereby our liues are needlesly hazarded. But aboue all, heere is required, that we earnestly indeuour in the vse of all good meanes which may further the saluation of our soules, and auoid the contrary whereby it may be hindred. The which must not be delayed, nor posted off from time to time, as it is the practice of those, who from day to day deferre their repentance; but we must first seeke the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse, both 3in order and time, giuing it the precedencie; and also in degree, more earnestly in our iudgements esteeming, in our affections imbracing, and in our practice seeking and labouring after the meanes of our saluation, especially our effectuall calling and conuersion, our iustification by a liuely 4faith, and sanctification vnto holinesse of life, then in any thing in the world besides; yea contemning and reiecting all earthly pleasures, profits, and preferments, as vaine and vnprofitable in comparison of them. And with the like care and indeuour, we must auoyd all meanes whereby our saluation may be hindred, especially sinne, which is the bane of the soule, and not giue way to the committing of it wittingly and willingly, though for hire, the whole world were offered vnto vs, the gaine whereof, will in 5no sort recompence the losse of our soules, as our Sauiour telleth vs. Or if we be ouertaken with it, and by the law of our members, warring against
- 1Mat. 6., 1. Pro. 17. 22. Eccl. 3. 22.
- 2Mat. 4. 6. Num. 16. 38. 1. Sam. 31. 4.
- 3Mat. 6. 33.
- 4Eccl. 2. 11. Phil. 3. 8. 1. Joh. 2. 15.Eccl. 2. 11. Phil. 3. 8. 1. Ioh. 2. 15.
- 5Mark. 8. 36.
- 6Rom. 7. 24. Pro. 28. 13.
