Part 7
3. Being set on the way, labour to hold by it. Ye must learn not to be shamed out of God's way, by the reproaches of the world. Care not for the name of singularity, and be not ashamed to be fools in the world's eyes; 1 Cor. 3:18, 19, not to be bribed nor boasted out of God's way, by any advantage or loss in the world; Heb. 11:24.
4. Closely ply the work of mortification; Gal. 5:24. What is your need of Christ, if it be not to save you from your sins? Matth. 1:21. Beware of making Christ the minister of sin, by going the round betwixt sinning and confessing, without suitable endeavours for mortification. Mortification is no easy business; but most necessary.
5. Beware of indulging yourselves in those things that are accounted but small sins, and abstain from all appearances of evil. No man will walk with God, to whom any sin is so small that he will make no bones of it. And those that stand not to go frankly into the borders of sin, will very readily step over.
6. When ye fall lie not still, but get up again by a new application of the Redeemer's blood, and renewing your repentance. For no man can walk so but he will stumble; but then the suitable remedies are to be improved for recovery.
7. Be frequent in self-observation and examination. Take notice how often the pulse of your affections beats. Retire into yourselves, and observe the way of your hearts and lives; Hag. 1:7. And examine yourselves often as to your state and case; 2 Cor. 13:5. Ask yourselves whether ye be going forward, or backward, what profit ye make of duties?
8. Be diligent observers of providence; Psalm 107 ult., towards yourselves and others.
9. Be tender of waiting on the Lord, to know sin and duty in particular cases.
10. Be diligent in all religious duties, missing none of them, and being frequent in them all. For these are the trysting places for communion with God, which they that walk with him must diligently attend.
11. Prepare for duties before ye set about them; not only public duties, but private and secret ones. For the rushing on these without consideration, is the high way to make them vain and fruitless.
12. Labour to be spiritual in all things; in religious duties seeking to exercise grace, and enjoy communion with God; and even in other things, to act as under his eye, and by influence of his command.