3. And then again, because it is said indefinitely here, ' They shall walk in these ways,' remember always to take uisclom and prudence along tvith you in all your icalkinys. It is put indefinitely, because we should leave out none. For, as we say in things that are to be believed, Faith chooseth not this object, and not another; so obedience chooseth not this object; I will obey God in this, and not in this, but it goes on in all God's ways. Therefore, if we would walk on aright in God's ways, there must be con- sideration of all the relations as we stand to God. First, ichat duties we owe to God in heavenly tJtinys, to please him above all, whomsoever we dis- please, and to seek the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness before all, that all things may follow which are needful for us. Mat. vi. 33. So, in the next place, when we look to ourselves, to know those tvays which are re- quired of us in reyard of ourselves ; for every Christian is a temple wherein God dwells ; therefore we are to carry oui'selves holily, to be much in prayer and communion with God in secret. A man is best distinguished to be a good walker by those secret ways betwixt God and his soul, those walks of meditation and prayer wherein there is much sweet intercourse betwixt God and the soul. Therefore, in this case a man makes conscience of his commimion with God in his thoughts, desires, affections, using all good means appointed of God to maintain this communion.
4. Then we should look to our own carriage in the use of the creatm*es, to carry ourselves in all things indifferently, because wisdom and prudence is seen in those things especially, to use things indifferent, indifferently ;
* That is, ' steer, guide, regulate.' — G.
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not to be much in the use of the world, in joy or son-ow, but in moderation to use those things, being sure to set our aflections upon the main.
5. And so in things indifferent, not to do them with offence and excess ; but to see and observe the rule in all things of mditferency.
6. And for our carriage to others in those ways, let us consider what we owe to those above us, what respect is due to governors, and what to others ; what to those who are without ; what to those who are weak. We owe an example of holy life unto them, that we give no occasion of scandal ; and also to walk wisely towards them that are without, that we give no occasion for the ways of God to be ill spoken of.
7. And for all conditions which God shall cast us into, remember that tfiose be irays which we should walk seemly in. If prosperity, let us take heed of the sins of prosperity, pride, insolency, security, hardness of heart, and the like. If adversity, then let us practise the graces thereof, take heed of murmuriiig and repining, dejection of spirit, despair, and the hke. This is to walk like a wise man in all conditions, in those relations he stands in.
8. For our ivords likeicise and expressions to others, in that kind of our walking, that they may be savoury and to purpose, that we labour to speak by rule, seeing we must give an account of every ' idle word' at the day of judgment. Mat. xii. 36. So that in all our labours, carriage, and speech, we must labour to do all wisely and justly. These are the ways of God, and ' the just shall walk in them.'
Negatively, what we must ai-oid. in all our walkinrj.
Remember in general, we must never do anything against reUgion, against conscience, against a man's particular place aud calling, or against justice. Let us not touch upon the breach of any good thing, especially of rehgion and conscience. Thus a man shall walk in the ways of God, if with wisdom and prudence he consider what ways are before him to God, to himself, to others ; in all conditions and states of life, to see what he must, and what he must not do, and then to walk in them answerably.
For our encouragement to walk in God's wa^/s in our general and parti- cular callings.
1. Ivnow first, they are the most safe ivays of all. Whatsoever trouble or afHiction we meet withal, it is no matter, it will prove the safest way in the end. For as it was with the cloud which went before God's people, it was both for direction and protection ; so the Spirit of God, and the ways of God, as they serve for direction, so they serve for protection. God will direct and protect us if we walk in his ways. Let him be our dii-ector, and he vidll be our preserver and protector in all times.
2. Again, they are tlie inost pleasant ways of all. All wisdom's ways are paved with prosperity and pleasure ; for when God doth enlarge and sanctify the soul to walk in them, he giveth vrithal a royal gift, inward peace of conscience, and joy unspeakable and glorious, with an enlarged spirit. God meets his children in his own ways ; they are therefore to walk there. Let a man start out of God's ways, he meets with the devil, with the devil's instniments, and many snares. But in God's ways he shall be sure to meet with God, if he walk in them with humility and respect to God, look- ing up for direction and strength, and denying his own wisdom. In this case a man shall be sure to have God go along with him in all his ways. In God's ways expect God's company. Therefore they are the safest and the most pleasant ways.