Gospel-conversation

2. Rule. Secondly, Look to your selves in those things that especially you are most in danger to offend in, take heed of that special sin that you are most inclined to, that that do not break forth in your Conversations. It may be in your Conversation you will have a care that you do not offend in such and such things that you see other men offend in, but there is some special haunt of evil, there is some other sin that your natures are most inclined unto, and you (it may be) give liberty to your selves in that; this spoils your Conversations, this darkens your Conversations, whatsoever good you do otherwise this spoils it all: If you give but liberty to your selves in that corruption that your natures are most prone unto, nay if you be not more watchful against that corruption than against any, your Conversation will have no beauty at all in it, God will have no glory by it, you will but dishonour your profession; therefore if you would make conscience to have your Conversation to be rightly ordered, be very watchful over your selves in that special sin that your nature is most inclined unto; Are you one that find your self very hasty by nature? it may be you are not guilty of other sins so much, I but that will spoil the beauty of your Conversation; a man or woman that is a froward peevish and passionate Professor, there's no beauty in their Conversation: And so if you find §1your disposition to penuriousness, and covetousness, that will darken all, and carry you into foolish lusts (as the Scripture speaks) Oh how have men that have made profession of Religion, by one fit of base covetousness been carried into such foolish lusts that every boy in the streets could point at them as foolish and silly ones, and crack their credits, and names, and wound their own souls, yea, and endanger their lives, and make them a by-word to all, and dishonour their profession, and get nothing by it at length! Covetousness carries ⟨p. 27⟩into foolish lusts, foolish base sordid extremes, unbeseeming the Gospel of Christ; as we shall hear more when we come to speak of what Conversation we should have as becomes the Gospel of Christ; take heed of your special sins if you would be careful of your Conversations.

2. Rule. Secondly, Look to your selves in those things that especially you are most in danger to offend in, take heed of that speciall sin that you are most inclined to, that that do not break forth in your Conversations. It may be in your Conversation you will have a care that you do not offend in such and such things that you see other men offend in, but there is some special haunt of evil, there is some other sin that your natures are most inclin'd unto, and you (it may be) give liberty to your selves in that; this spoils your Conversations, this darkens your Conversations, whatsoever good you do otherwise this spoils it all: If you give but liberty to your selves in that corruption that your natures are most prone unto, nay if you be not more watchful against that corruption than against any, your Conversation will have no beauty at all in it, God will have no glorie by it, you will but dishonor your profession; therefore if you would make conscience to have your Conversation to be rightly ordered, be very watchful over your selves in that special sin that your nature is most inclin'd unto; Are you one that find your self very hasty by nature? it may be you are not guiltie of other sins so much, I but that will spoil the beauty of your Conversation; a man or woman that is a froward peevish and passionate Professor, there's no beauty in their Conversation: And so if you find