Divers practical cases of conscience satisfactorily resolved ... to which are added some counsels…

Coun. VI. Confine not your Religion to your knees, but carry on an even spun thread of Holiness through your whole Course. Brethren, 'tis the disgrace of Religion that Christians are so unlike themselves, unless it be when they are in holy duties. This wounds Religion to the quick, when it shall be said of Professors, these men indeed will pray like Angels, but for ought we can see they are as Peevish, and as Touchy as any other men, and they are as Hard in their Dealings, and make as little Conscience of their Words as others do. Beloved, think not Religion lies only or chiefly in Praying, Hearing, Reading. No you must be throughout Religious. Sirs, bring forth your Religion out of your Closets into your ordinary Course. Let there not be a life of Holiness on ⟨p. 74⟩the outside of the Cloth: But Let Holiness be woven into the whole of your Conversations. Here lies the excellency & difficulty of Religion: when you have the baits of intemperance before you, then to hold the Reins hard, and deny your flesh: when you have provocation before you, then to bite in your passions, and bridle the unruly member? When you have dealings with others, then to proceed by that golden rule of Equity and Charity, To do to others as your Consciences tell you, you would have them do in the like case to you. When you are called upon in your several relations, then to behave your selves with that tenderness and love, with that reverence and obedience, with that courtesy and condescension, and kindness that becomes you in your various capacities; In this I say lies the Excellency of Religion.

Coun. VI. Confine not your Religion to your knees, but carry on an even spun thred of Holiness through your whole Course. Brethren, 'tis the disgrace of Religion that Christians are so unlike themselves, unless it be when they are in holy duties. This wounds Religion to the quick, when it shall be said of Professors, these men indeed will pray like Angels, but for ought we can see they are as Peevish, and as Touchy as any other men, and they are as Hard in their Dealings, and make as little Conscience of their Words as others do. Beloved, think not Religion lies only or cheifly in Praying, Hearing, Reading. No you must be throughout Religous. Sirs, bring forth your Religion out of your Closets into your ordinary Course. Let there not be a life of Holiness on ⟨p. 74⟩the outside of the Cloth: But Let Holiness be woven into the whole of your Conversations. Here lies the excellency & difficulty of Religion: when you have the baits of intemperance before you, then to hold the Reins hard, and deny your flesh: when you have provocation before you, then to bite in your passions, and bridle the unruly member? When you have dealings with others, then to proceed by that golden rule of Equity and Charity, To do to others as your Consciences tell you, you would have them do in the like case to you. When you are called upon in your several relations, then to behave your selves with that tenderness and love, with that reverence and obedience, with that courtesie and condescension, and kindness that becomes you in your various capacities; In this I say lies the Excellency of Religion.