Remains of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…Remaines of that excellent minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Joseph Alleine being a collection…

First, In the entrance of your duties, set before you your rule fo• •hat duty; as. the Scholar doth his copy, and do your work by rule You know the Mason will lay the line before he will lay the stone in the foundation, or else he may commit many errors, and the building may come to nothing. So when you come to perform your duties, set your rule before you. Suppose you come to pray, have some thoughts of it, what be the rules you are to pray by. Consider you are not to come in your own names but in Christs. Take heed that you come not in your own Righteousness, but Christs. And go out to Christ for strength. Remember that God calls for faith and life in duty. And so when you come to hear, consider what rules have I to hear by. And so in giving your Alms. And then your work is like to be done to purpose.

First, In the entrance of your duties, set before you your rule fo• •hat duty; as. the Schollar doth his coppy, and do your work by rule You know the Mason will lay the line before he will lay the stone in the foundation, or else he may commit many errors, and the building may come to nothing. So when you come to perform your duties, set your rule before you. Suppose you come to pray, have some thoughts of it, what be the rules you are to pray by. Consider you are not to come in your own names but in Christs. Take heed that you come not in your own Rignteousness, but Christs. And go out to Christ for strength. Remember that God calls for faith and life induty. And so when you come to hear, consider what rules have I to hear by. And so in giving your Alms. And then your work is like to be done to purpose.

Secondly, Reflect upon your rule in the close ⟨p. 71⟩of your duty, and examine whether your work hath been done by rule or no. Observe what graces have been acting in your duty, and thankfully take notice of the influences of your graces. Take notice what corruptions have been working in your duty, and take the shame of it before God that you should thus miscarry. If these two rules were but observed by us, we should come to another manner of proficiency in Religion than we do. But more particularly let me give you three directions for your duties.