A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Doct. What comes from the World, the Children of God are to be weaned from.

This is the Major, the Minor was before, they must be weaned from all things that look not at God as the Fountain and end.

Reas. Civill customs spring not from the corruptions of men or their ⟨p. 124⟩customs, but from the law of nature, from the rudiments written in the heart, Rom. 2.15. not remnants of an old, but rudiments of a new nature, John 1.9. Christ enlightens every man that comes into the World; Civill Prudence, Learning, all comely things are from him, so that we should not shun these.

Reas. Civill customes spring not from the corruptions of men or their ⟨p. 124⟩customes, but from the law of nature, from the rudiments written in the heart, Rom. 2.15. not remnants of an old, but rudiments of a new nature, John 1.9. Christ inlightens every man that comes into the World; Civill Prudence, Learning, all comely things are from him, so that we should not shun these.

Q. How are these distinguished from the other?

A. 1. Customs that spring from the World are corrupt, they flow from a corrupt heart, as vain customs of apparel usually flow from pride and vanity of mind, and not from civill prudence, or moral virtues; when thou dost well to thy self, men will praise thee, this springs from the general covetousness in men, so Drunkards praise Drunkards, Gluttons, Gluttons, look at these as fashions you are to be weaned from; but civill customs spring from the light of Christ shining in us, in moral, economical and political virtues.

A. 1. Customes that spring from the World are corrupt, they flow from a corrupt heart, as vain customes of apparell usually flow from pride and vanity of minde, and not from civill prudence, or morall vertues; when thou dost well to thy selfe, men will praise thee, this springs from the generall coveteousnesse in men, so Drunkards praise Drunkards, Gluttons, Gluttons, look at these as fashions you are to be weaned from; but civill customes spring from the light of Christ shining in us, in morall, oeconomicall and politicall vertues.

2. When there is a lust in Gods children against them, though many receive them, their hearts are secretly set against them, this is a sign they are carnal, and we must turn from them.

2. When there is a lust in Gods children against them, though many receive them, their hearts are secretly set against them, this is a signe they are carnall, and we must turn from them.

Reas. 1. These cannot satisfy our souls, they are transitory, and our souls eternal, what should an high soaring Eagle meddle with such flies? an eternal soul must be set upon an eternal object.

Reas. 1. These cannot satisfie our soules, they are transitory, and our souls eternal, what should an high soaring Eagle meddle with such flies? an eternal soule must be set upon an eternall object.

2. These are corporal, and feed the body only, in the midst of these the soul is blind, carnal, foolish; these are disproportionable to the nature of it, and therefore cannot strengthen it.

2. These are corporall, and feed the body onely, in the midst of these the soul is blind, carnall, foolish; these are disproportionable to the nature of it, and therefore cannot strengthen it.

3. They are not of the Father, and therefore lead us not to the Father; a man cannot work above the sphere of his calling, so give up your hearts to these, and you will never reach higher.

3. They are not of the Father, and therefore lead us not to the Father; a man cannot work above the sphear of his calling, so give up your hearts to these, and you will never reach higher.

Use. 1. Shows, we may conform to the civill customs of the World, the Holy Ghost doth not forbid those, 1 Cor. 9.20, 21, 22. Paul became all things to all men, so that in pretence of mortification we must not fill our spirits with morosity and rustical rudeness, good manners, and civill respects, stand well with Christianity.

Ʋse. 1. Shews, we may conform to the civill customes of the World, the Holy Ghost doth not forbid those, 1 Cor. 9.20, 21, 22. Paul became all things to all men, so that in pretence of mortification we must not fill our spirits with morosity and rusticall rudenesse, good manners, and civill respects, stand well with Christianity.

2. This shows that we may have a lawful use of honours, and pleasures, and riches, we are to use them as from God and to God.

2. This shews that we may have a lawfull use of honours, and pleasures, and riches, we are to use them as from God and to God.

3. It teacheth us what is in the World, and of the World, that we are to be weaned from, viz. from corrupt Customs, they are of the World, and are transitory and corporeal, and lead us not to the Father.

3. It teacheth us what is in the World, and of the World, that we are to be weaned from, viz. from corrupt Customes, they are of the World, and are transitory and corporeall, and lead us not to the Father.

Thus much for the General; now because these lusts before mentioned are the springs of all the lusts in the World, therefore we will speak of them in particular.

Thus much for the Generall; now because these lusts before mentioned are the springs of all the lusts in the World, therefore we will speak of them in particular.

Doct. Old-men and Young-men are to be weaned from the lusts of the flesh.