* That is, ' nursed,' ' pampered.' — Gr-
THE CHRISTIAN S WATCH. 803
Add hereunto, to have a soul fit for all advantages of doing good ; let us labour for this, whereby we may know how to judge everything in its own worth, that so we may afiect* it. Oh that hereby the soul may be raised up, otherwise it will fall. To know God in his greatness, Christ in his goodness, the world in its vanity, and sin in the danger thereof, will be means to stir up the soul to watchfulness. So long as the judgment is in a good frame, so long the soul will be fit for anything. And when we have advantages to anything, let us study how we may turn it to God's glory ; and let us redeem those advantages, for this is one exercise of watching, to observe all advantages tending to the glory of God. It will grieve us one day, when we shall see at such a time we lost such an opportunity of doin« good, and at such a time neglected such a duty ; let us therefore labour to have such a disposition fit for all advantages, considering that this is our seed time. But, alas ! how many advantages do we lose in not taking good and doing good !
And let us be wise to see what hinders us from doing good. As, too much business about the things of this world, as if we were born for them, whereas the Scripture limits our care for earthly things, telling us that we * should use this world as though we used it not,' 1 Cor. vii. 31, but that we may enjoy these things here ; but we must use them so as we may be wise unto salvation. Take heed ' of surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this world,' saith Christ, Luke xxi. 34. For when men are plunf^ed in the cares of this world, they have their hearts eaten up, and thereby they lose many advantages of doing good and taking good. We should therefore labour to be in such a disposition that we may take heed of all hindrances. And we ought to do this, because our life is a warfare. We should therefore divide the day, and keep a daily watch.
First in the morning begin to awake with God before the world or the flesh thrust in, and bethink of all that may befall us that day, of all the dangers, of all the troubles ; and we should likewise think with what armour we need to encounter with those accidents that may befall us. And then get provision, that whatsoever happens unto us, all may be for our ^ood • and then let us consider how we stand prepared, and where we are like to be surprised strongly, there to prepare. And withal, before we set upon any good thing, let God have the first fruits of our time, and the first fruits of our hearts ; let him have the first of the day by prayer, that when at any time we fall into any sin or afiliction, we may not have cause to say, we have not commended ourselves unto God, and therefore this evil hath befallen us.
And this will be a comfort to us in all the actions of the day with this resolution. This is my comfort, I have commended myself and my prayers to God, and have set upon the day with this resolution, to do nothing that may oflfend God or a good conscience, and to -regard no iniquity in my heart, but to pass the day under the shadow of the wings of the Almighty. We should labour to be in such a disposition as this ; and afterwards in the day let us do nothing wherein we conceive God will not protect ns ; as in any evil way, for it is a fearful condition to be in any such, God not being in that place.
And then upon occasion be sure we carry a heavenly mind in earthly businesses, whereby we may serve God better, and fear him more ; for there is nothing fallsf in this life, but a gracious heart may draw out some-
* That is ' choose,' ' love ' it.— G. f That is, ' befalls.'— G.
804 THE christian's watch.
what of it to make his heart more religious. And to think with ourselves God hath set us in this place, and therefore we do this work.
Many other things may be given, but I name but some. So for recrea- tions, in those whettings be watchful, especially above all things where we are ready to be surprised, as in prosperity. Therefore the Lord com- mands his people, take heed when thou art in the good land that floweth with milk and hone}^ that thou forget not the Lord thy God, Deut. iv. 9. Job knew this ; therefore when his children were feasting, he ofiered sacri- fice for them, lest they should dishonour God in their hearts, Job i. 5. It was a gracious heart in holy Job so to do. We should in like manner be watchful over ourselves, especially in that we are most prone to be over- taken in ; and we should be watchful over ourselves when we are alone, for every man cannot use privacy well. Therefore our sequestration from company we should use in holy meditations. We should be watchful in that, because the devil is busy still. Oh when we are sequestered from others, our thoughts are a fit shop for the devil. Take heed, therefore, of privacy and idleness.