Rules for the Conduct of Life - Edition - A Few Cautions and Directions for Freemen or London Apprentices

Sep 29, 2026

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“Rules for the Conduct of Life” presents guidance on living rightly through four foundational rules. It instructs readers to consider the real goodness of any intended end, to choose lawful and prudent means for achieving it, and to put knowledge into practice rather than idle speculation. It also emphasizes the need for circumspection, since life is short and uncertain, and provides comfort when desired worldly outcomes are denied for higher reasons.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages56

Reading Time2 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Rules

Rule I

Rule II

Rule III

Rule IV

Cорире 3 # RULES FOR # THE CONDUCT OF LIFE TO wHICH ARE ADDED A FEW CAUTIONS, FOR THE USE OF sUCH FREEMEN OB LONDONAS TAKE APPRENTICEs —— 二 Consider your Ways—Hag.I.5. LONDON: PRTNTED BY WITHERBY&Co.LTD. I5,NICHOLAS LANE,E.C.4. # IRules FOR # THE CONDUCT OF LIFE. RULE I.—Whatever you at anytime intend to do,considerthe end which you therein proposeto yourself,and be sure that it bealways really good,or at leastinnocent. He who does anything,and knows not why or wherefore,acts foolishly;and he who aims atan unlawful end acts wickedly,which is the worst sort of folly.If you are careful always to observethis fundamental rule,you will | RULES FOR THE
4 | | --- | | thereby avoid many sins which
would disturb your conscience,and
also many trifling actions which
would tend to your discredit,or
trouble your repose.
RULE II.—When you have thus
fixed upon a proper end to aim at
in each action,then consider not
only what are the lawful means to
be used in order to this end,but
also how these means are best to
be applied.That which is unlaw-
ful ought not to be done,even for
the obtaining of a good end;and
means in themselves good have
often failed of success for want of
prudence in the management of
them.
RULE III.—When you are seeking | | CONDUCT OF LIFE.
5 | | --- | | for a good end, proper means,
and the right way of using them,
remember that the knowledge of all
this must not rest in idle specula-
tion or plausible discourse,but
ought to be effectually reduced to
practice,as often as you have an
opportunity for it. The man who
thinks wisely,and discourses judici-
ously,is never to be excused if his
practice,when there is occasion for
it,is not answerable to his thoughts
and words. To him that knoweth to
do good,and doeth it not,to him it
is sin. And that servant which knew
his Lord's will and prepared not him-
self,neither did according to his will,
shall be beaten with many stripes.
James iv.I7;Luke xii.47· | | 6
RULES FOR THE | | --- | | Take the sum and substance of
these three rules in short:—Let the
end you aim at be always good;
be vigorous in making use of the
proper means for the compassing
of such an end;and in doing this
be always very circumspect. If you
proceed after this manner,you will
certainly obtain the great end you
propose to yourself in the life to
come;and,if you fall short of some
things which you desire in this
world,you will have this comfort,
that GoD thinks fit to deny them to
you,not for any fault of yours,but
for other good reasons,which he
knows though you do not.
RULE IV.—Since our life here is
short and uncertain,and the pleasures |

FAQs

What is the central instruction of Rule I?

Whatever you intend to do, consider the end you propose to yourself and ensure it is always really good, or at least innocent. Acting without knowing why leads to foolishness, while aiming at an unlawful end is wicked folly.

How should lawful means be handled according to Rule II?

After fixing a proper end, consider both what lawful means are to be used and how they should be applied. Unlawful means should not be done even for a good end, and even good means may fail without prudent management.

What does Rule III require beyond thinking and speaking?

The knowledge of a good end, proper means, and the right way must be reduced to practice when opportunity allows. Those who know to do good but do not do it are said to be in sin, and knowing a lord’s will without doing according to it brings many stripes.

Sep 29, 2026

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