Sundry Necessary Observations Suitable for a Christian
WILLIAM PERKINS • SATAN'S SOPHISTRY
Sundry Necessary Observations Suitable for a Christian Published long ago by some religious man.
I. That you keep a close watch over your heart, words, and deeds continually. Psalm 93:1, Matthew 24:42, Luke 12:36, 1 Corinthians
10:13, 15, 34, 16:13, Colossians 3:17.
II. That you redeem the time that has been idly, carelessly, and unprofitably spent with great care. Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5.
III. That private prayer and meditation be made at least once a day. Psalm 119:164, Daniel 6:10, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2.
IV. That you strive to do good and receive good in the company of others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
V. That your family is diligently and Christianly instructed, watched over, and governed. Genesis 18:19, Deuteronomy 4:5, 6, 7,
Proverbs 31:27, Ephesians 6:4.
VI. That you do not spend more care on worldly matters than necessary. Matthew 6:31, Colossians 3:1, 1 John 2:15.
VII. That you stir yourselves to be generous to God's Saints.
Galatians 6:10, Hebrews 13:16.
VIII. That you prepare yourselves to bear the cross by whatever means God chooses to test you. Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:13, 24:27.
IX. That you do not entertain wandering thoughts. Job 31:1, Ephesians 5:3.
X. That you spend some time in mourning, not only for your own sins but also for the time and age in which you live. Ezekiel 9:4,
Psalm 119:136.
XI. That you daily anticipate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for your full deliverance from this world. Matthew 24:44.
XII. That you establish a relationship with a godly person with whom you can confer about your Christian condition and share your doubts to invigorate God's graces within you. James 5:16.
XIII. That you observe the departure of people from this life, their mortality, the vanity and alteration of things below, to help
WILLIAM PERKINS • SATAN'S SOPHISTRY
you despise the world more and increase your longing for the life to come. Isaiah 57:1, Philippians 3:3, 1 Peter 1:24, Revelation 22:20.
XIV. That you meditate frequently on your death and departure from this life, considering how you will lie in the grave, turn to dust, leave all glory and wealth, and use this to humble any pride of life within you. Ecclesiastes 7:4, 12:1.
XV. That you read something daily from the holy Scriptures to further your knowledge. Matthew 22:29, John 5:39, Acts 17:11.
XVI. That you make a covenant with the Lord to strive against all sins, especially against the specific sins and corruptions of your heart and life in which you have most dishonoured God. Carefully ensure that your covenant is kept and continued. Nehemiah 9:38, 2
Chronicles 34:31.
XVII. That you observe how sin dies and weakens within you, and that you do not return to your old sins. Matthew 18:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, 2 Peter 2:22.
XVIII. That you do not fall away from your initial love but continue to have affection for God's Word and all the holy exercises of religion. Diligently listen to it and faithfully practice it, prepare yourself beforehand, meditate on what you have heard, either alone or with others, and observe your daily progress in religion. Hebrews
3:12, 12:15, Revelation 2:4.
XIX. That you are often occupied with meditating on God's benefits and works and praise Him for them.
XX. That you exercise your faith by taking delight in the great benefit of your redemption by Christ and the experience of God's presence in His glorious and blessed kingdom. Psalm 116:12, 13,
118:15, Ephesians 5:20.
XXI. Lastly, that you do not make these holy practices of repentance commonplace for the time or use them merely for the sake of appearances. Luke 8:13.
In Adam, we were able not to die; in Christ, we cannot die.
FINISH.