- In time of journeying, riding, or walking, to be taken up with high and excellent thoughts of Christ’s free grace, with base thoughts of thyself: of death, eternity, the joys of heaven; how unspeakable the pains of hell are, and how intolerable; and after by giving thyself to some ejaculations or short prayer.
- By abstinence, fasting, humiliation, frequent prayer, setting days apart for suchlike worship.
- By frequenting the society of the saints; mutual edification, exhortation, searching out of the impediments of grace, and scruples within thyself, seeking to have them resolved by others; by holding up one another’s condition; and by making an errand to God for them, thou mayest get something for thyself.
- To be certainly persuaded with thyself that God heareth prayers, yea, even of smallest importance: and not to be discouraged with a refusal if lawfully put up: and assure thyself that if He grant not the thing that thou askest He will grant thee as good, and that which is better for thee nor that which thou askest.
- Be not discouraged to march under the banner of Christ though thou mayest run counter with foul footsteps, not standing to set thy face against the wind for His cause though thou shouldest meet with many calumnies, reproaches, nicknames; comforting thyself that thy Kingdom is not of this world: but be sure always to take no bigger coat of profession nor thou art able to fill.
- By making conscience of atheistical thoughts, not questioning if there be a God or heaven which troubleth the best. And set before thine eyes the all-sufficient omnipotence, omniscience, of an eternal God who is not only privy to thy words and actions but to thy very thoughts, that it may be an awband* above thy head.
- By studying daily a growth of grace, and means sought to further it; shortcoming and falling from thy first love mourned for; the estate of our Mother the Church always in remembrance, sympathising with her members, fellow-feeling.
- By studying all means for advancing God’s glory, letting it always carry the pre-eminency before thine own particular. By making thy call-* “Christ by His covenant layeth awe of grace upon us.” — Influences of the Life of Grace (1659), p.2. “The awe of heaven hath a stronger impression than the terror and awe of hell.” — Covenant of Grace (1655), p.218.
ing and election sure hearaway, carrying a preparatory disposition for the day of the Lord’s visitation, and not resting on means only. - When thou art merry, give thyself to Hymns and Songs; and in a sad condition to pour out thine heart to Him as the only cheerer up of hearts, and not Saul-like by seeking unlawful means.
- By spiritually applying all mercies, deliveries, visitations, upon body, mind, or friends, and out of bitterest portions to drink sweetest draughts. And suffer nothing to escape without spiritual use even in most natural and profane objects.
- By not complying with an erroneous conscience, and not shutting thine eye to greater light but rather to seek after it; and not shifting away of convictions, but to give conscience a hearing, not suffering it to be hoodwinked, but let it have its full strength to make way for conviction. And not to rest here only: but using the means of knowledge till thou attain unto the power and practice of religion, to grow therein. And being converted, strengthen thy brethren.
- By setting before thine eyes the strictest professors, the closest walkers with God, by way of imitation: by striving to reform the vices of those that are without. In admiring and blessing the Lord’s free grace in bestowing a greater measure upon thee who by black Nature was an imp of the same stock; and what thou hast gotten bestow it to His glory who gave thee anything beyond thy desert.