The seventh and last Rule, you have it here in this Scripture Heb. 13. 7. Whose faith follow, Considering the end of there Conversation. That is, be not only careful of your Conversations at first, when you begin to be professors of Religion, then to be exact, but be constant to the very end. Mark, Considering the end of their Conversations: he doth not mean the end only, the reward that comes upon their Conversations, that they shall have a glorious reward, but considering the end, as if he should say thus, look at these that have spoken the Word of God to you, they come not only at the very first to you and speak great things, and seem as if they were Saints or Angels come among you, but they go on in a constant way, whatsoever discouragements they have they go on in a constant way to the very dying day; observe not only what they were when they came first among you, but what they are in the end of their Conversations, and follow them: this is a notable Scripture to show how careful Christians ought to be, not only to be holy in their Conversations when their hearts are first stirred by the Ministry of the ⟨p. 31⟩Word as 'tis with many, many there are that when the Word of God comes first to them, when they are first enlightened, and first converted, Oh how strict are they! Oh how careful are they! then they walk exactly, and they are afraid of the least sin, and examine every thing by the Word, Oh how curious are they in every thing then! and-their consciences are very tender, and are afraid that this is sin, and that the other thing is sin, and there is a mighty change in the family, their Masters, or Parents they see them so afraid of every thing, and careful of their very words, on the Lords Day careful in seeking of God, and attending upon Ordinances, and in their particular calling at the first very strict: But now, within a little time you shall find many of these that by degrees they grow more loose, and especially in these times, because in these times there is a way that the Devil hath to get men to be loose in their Conversations, that hath not been known in England; indeed in Germany it was known, and there it was ordinarily in the beginning of Luther's Reformation; that it is weakness in men to make conscience of duty, to be troubled for their sin and be humbled.
The seventh and last Rule, you have it here in this Scripture Heb. 13. 7. Whose faith follow, Considering the end of ther Conversation. That is, be not only careful of your Conversations at first, when you begin to be professors of Religion, then to be exact, but be constant to the verie end. Mark, Considering the end of their Conversations: he doth not mean the end onlie, the reward that comes upon their Conversations, that they shal have a glorious reward, but considering the end, as if he should say thus, look at these that have spoken the Word of God to you, they come not onlie at the verie first to you and speak great things, and seem as if they were Saints or Angels come among you, but they go on in a constant way, whatsoever discouragements they have they go on in a constant way to the verie dying day; observe not onlie what they were when they came first among you, but what they are in the end of their Conversations, and follow them: this is a notable Scripture to shew how careful Christians ought to be, not onlie to be holie in their Conversations when their hearts are first stir'd by the Ministrie of the ⟨p. 31⟩Word as 'tis with many, many there are that when the Word of God comes first to them, when they are first enlightened, and first converted, Oh how strict are they! Oh how careful are they! then they walk exactly, and they are afraid of the least sin, and examine everie thing by the Word, Oh how curious are they in everie thing then! and-their consciences are verie tender, and are afraid that this is sin, and that the other thing is sin, and there is a mightie change in the familie, their Masters, or Parents they see them so afraid of everie thing, and careful of their verie words, on the Lords Day careful in seeking of God, and attending upon Ordinances, and in their particular calling at the first verie strict: But now, within a little time you shall find manie of these that by degrees they grow more loose, and especiallie in these times, because in these times there is a way that the Devil hath to get men to be loose in their Conversations, that hath not been known in England; indeed in Germany it was known, and there it was ordinarilie in the beginning of Luthers Reformation; that it is weakness in men to make conscience of dutie, to be troubled for their sin and be humbled.
