Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

DIRECT. X. Cast not your selves wilfully upon temptations, but avoid them as far as lawfully you can: And if you are cast upon them unwillingly, resist them resolutely, as knowing that they come to entice you into Sin and Hell, from God and your everlasting happiness; And therefore be well acquainted with the particular Temptations of every company, calling, relation, business, time, place, and condition of life; and go always furnished with particular Antidotes against them all.

DIRECT. X. Cast not your selves wilfully upon temptations, but avoid them as far as lawfully you can: And if you are cast upon them unwillingly, resist them resolutely, as knowing that they come to entice you into Sin and Hell, from God and your everlasting happiness; And therefore be well acquainted with the particular Temptations of every company, calling, relation, business, time, place, and condition of life; and go alwayes furnished with particular Antidotes against them all.

Strong Grace will do no more against strong Temptations, than weak Grace against weak ones. Temptation is the way to sin, and sin is the way to Hell. If you saw the dangerousness of your station, when you cast your self upon temptations, you would tremble and fly as for your lives. I take that man as almost gone already, who chooseth temptations, or avoideth them not when he may. Especially be acquainted with the diseases and greatest dangers of your Soul; and there keep up a constant watch. Are you liable to a gluttonous pleasing of your appetite? Avoid the temptation; set not that before you which may be your snare: Let a little, and that of the least tempting kind of food, be your ordinary provision. Sit not at the Gluttons Table, (who fareth deliciously every day) if you would escape the gluttons sin and misery. ⟨p. 127⟩Or if the provision be of other mens disposal, at least rise quickly and be gone. Are you inclined to please your appetite in drinking? Avoid such strong drink as may tempt your appetite; and avoid the place and company that draweth you to it. Are you inclined to fleshly lust? Avoid the presence of such of the other Sex as are a temptation to you: Look not on them, nor talk not of them; but above all take heed of nearness and familiarity, and privacy with them; and of all opportunity of sin. When the Devil hath brought the bait to your hand, and telleth you, now you may sin without any molestation or discovery, you are then in a very dangerous case. Some that think they would not be guilty of the sin, will yet tempt themselves, and delight to have it in their power, and to have the opportunity of sinning, and to come as near it as they dare; And these are gone before they well perceive their danger. So if you are inclined to Pride and Ambition, avoid the society of those that tempt you to it: Come not among Superiors and Gallants, or such as kindle your ambition. A retired life, in company of mean and humble persons, is fitest for one that hath your disease. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate,