of God's children attain not to this

But many strictness, yet are saved.

It is true; though all God's children travel to one country, yet not with equal speed; they all shoot at one mark, yet not with the same dexterity. Some difference there is in the outward action, none in their inward intention; some inequalities there are in the event, none in the affection: In degrees there is some disparity, none in truth and uprightness. All that are regenerate are alike strict in these five things, at least. 1. They have but one path or way wherein they all walk. 2. They have but one rule to guide them in that way which they all follow. 3. All their eyes are upon this rule, so as they are not willingly ignorant of any truth. Nor do they suppress, or detain any known truth in unrighteousness, but they stand in the ways, and ask for the old path, which is the good way. 4. They all desire and endeavour to obey every truth, not only to walk in all the commandments of God without reproof, before men, but also in all things to live honestly and uprightly before God. 5. If they fall by temptation, (as a member may, by accident, be disjointed,) yet they are in pain till they be set right again; if they stumble, through infirmity, as sheep may slip into a puddle, yet they will not lie down, and wallow in the mire which is the property of swine: If they are sometimes drawn aside by violent temptations, or step aside by mistake, yet they will not walk on in the counsel of the wicked, nor will any way of wickedness, (that is, a constant, or daily course in any one sin) be found in them; they are so far from perverting the right ways of

God, (that is, speaking evil of what is good,) that they will justify God in condemning themselves, and subscribe to the righteousness of his word, praying that their ways might be directed to keep his statutes.

To conclude, laying aside all cavils, beg of God a teachable disposition, and make the best profit of the labours of this faithful servant of Jesus Christ. For the matter of this book, use it as thy daily counsellor; learn to write by this copy. I mean, stir up the gifts of God that are in thee, to become more profitable to others, both in presence, by discourse, and in absence, by writing.

The Christian and intelligent Reader shall find in this, some things new, other things expressed in a new manner, all digested in such a method, with such brevity and perspicuity, as was necessary to make the book a vade mecum, or pocket companion, especially profitable to the poor and illiterate.

I will here stop, wishing thee, candid and serious Reader, to consider that an account must be given of what thou readest, as well as of what thou hearest, and therefore, to join prayer with thy reading, that spiritual wisdom and strength may be increased in thee, for the practice of what thou learnest. I commend the book to thy reading; and thee and it to God's blessing.

Thine in the Lord Jesus,

So,

JOHN DAVENPORT.

THE

CHRISTIAN'S DAILY WALK.

CHAPTER I.

Of Walking with God in general.

INTRODUCTION.

BELOVED friend, observing your forwardness and zeal in seeking to know how you might please God, and save your soul, I thought it would be acceptable and profitable to you, if I should, by the infallible rule of God's word, direct you how, with most certainty, speed, and ease, you might attain to this your holy aim. Wherefore, considering that most of God's children make their lives unprofitable and uncomfortable, by troubling themselves about "many things," and that too much in things less needful; by caring and fearing what shall befal them and theirs hereafter, with respect to this present life,—that you may obtain "that one thing needful," and contain yourself within your own line and calling, I exhort you heedfully to apply yourself to do each present day's work with Christian cheerfulness, and to bear each present day's evil with Christian patience.

I. Walking with God described.

The best and surest way to please God, and gain a cheerful quiet heart in the way to heaven, is, to walk with God in uprightness, (through faith in Jesus Christ,) "being careful in nothing: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to make your request known unto God:" which if you do, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall so establish your heart and mind, in and through Christ Jesus, that you may live in a heaven upon earth, and may be joyous and comfortable in all states and conditions of life what

soever.

That you should walk with God in uprightness, is commended to you in the cloud of examples, of Enoch, Noah, Job, David, Zacharias and Elizabeth; with many others, renowned in scripture; and is commanded to Abraham, and, in him, to all the faithful,—“ I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."

To live by faith, (which is, to frame your heart and life according to the will of God revealed in his word,) and to walk with God, are all one. Enoch was said to have walked with God;-what was this else, but to believe and rest on God, whereby he pleased him. For according to what we live, according to that we are said to walk. The moral actions of man's life are fitly resembled by the metaphor of walking, which is a moving from one place to another. No man, while he liveth here, is at home in the place where he shall be. There re two contrary homes, to which every man is al

ways going either to heaven, or to hell. Every action of man is one pace or step whereby he goeth to the one place or the other. The holiness or

wickedness of the action is the several way to the place of happiness, or place of torment. So that God's own children, while they live in this world as pilgrims and strangers, are but in the way, not in the country which they seek, which is heavenly.

This life of faith and holiness, what is it, but a going out of a man's self, and a continual returning to God, by Christ Jesus, from the way of sin and death, and a constant perseverance in all those acts of obedience, which God hath ordained to be the way for all his children to walk in, unto eternal life.

A godly life is said to be a walking with God in respect of four things that concur thereunto.

1. Whereas by sin we naturally are departed from God, and gone away from his ways which he hath appointed for us, we, by the new and living way of Christ's death and resurrection, and by the new and living work of Christ's Spirit, are brought near to God; and are set in the ways of God, by repentance from dead works, and by faith towards God in Christ Jesus; which are the first principles of true religion, and the first steps to this great duty of walking with God. Now, to believe and to continue in the faith, is, to walk in Christ; therefore to walk with God.

2. The revealed will of God is called God's way, because in it God doth as it were display the secrets of his holy Majesty, to show his people their way to him, and so bring them nigh unto