Gospel-conversation

A sixth Rule is this, If you would be careful of your Conversations, do not so much look at those that are beneath you and in the lower form; as let your eye be upon those that are most eminent in their Conversations, look upon them rather as your mark and aim. Many Christians live, and their Conversations are very dark and no beauty at all in them; Why? Because they think they live as others do, they look upon such are beneath them, and they think their lives are rather better than some others that have made profession, and this makes them go on in a dull and sluggish way; but now, if you would have your Conversation indeed as it ought, so as to be convincing, set before you the examples of the most eminent of those whose Conversation doth most glister, not a mere glistering show, I do not mean them, But that glistering that comes from Diamonds and Gold and Pearls, that have the excellency of Grace shining in their very Faces and Conversations, set them before you, and labour to imitate them, and so this will help you in your Conversations. We have in Heb. 13. 7. a Scripture for this, Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their Conversations. 'Tis supposed that they should be most eminent, Such as have the rule over them, that are their Guides; but mark, he speaks of those that had spoken unto them the Word of God, for he doth not speak of the Rulers in Civil States, but of the Ministers that were their Guides, for so the word is: now though there be a ⟨p. 30⟩work of Ruling besides Teaching, we find in Scripture; yet we find no Rule of any Minister but over those that they speak the Word of God unto, what Ruling any Minister hath (I say) it is over such people as he speaks the Word of God to: If any Minister shall come to rule over a people, that people may well ask them, Have you spoken the Word of God to us? Do you teach us the Word of God? Do you challenge Rule over us and have not spoken the Word of God to us? Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God, whose Faith follow, considering the end of their Conversations. They were it seems eminent in holiness of life, and eminent so as they continued in that way of eminency, and the Apostle would have all Christians to look at them;

A sixth Rule is this, If you would be careful of your Conversations, do not so much look at those that are beneath you and in the lower form; as let your eye be upon those that are most eminent in their Conversations, look upon them rather as your mark and aime. Manie Christians live, and their Conuersations are very dark and no beauty at all in them; Why? Because they think they live as others do, they look upon such are beneath them, and they think their lives are rather better than some others that have made profession, and this makes them go on in a dull and sluggish way; but now, if you would have your Conversation indeed as it ought, so as to be convincing, set before you the examples of the most eminent of those whose Conversation doth most glister, not a meer glistering shew, I do not mean them, But that glistering that comes from Diamonds and Gold and Pearls, that have the excellencie of Grace shining in their verie Faces and Conversations, set them before you, and labor to imitate them, and so this will help you in your Conversations. We have in