Selected quad for the lemma: book_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A79559
|
The Christians daily monitor to the performance of personal and relative duties With a resolution of some cases of conscience. Published for the benefit of young persons; By Joseph Church. Together with so much of Mr. Samuel Hierons catechisme, as concerns second table duties.
|
Church, Josiah.
|
1669
(1669)
|
Wing C3986B; ESTC R230947
|
48,548
|
166
|
now it doth from consolation 2. Quest Who are they that are far from committing this sin The solution of this may serve as a remedy against this distress for whosoever finds in himself these things may be confident he is not guilty of this sin 1. They are far from committing this sin that do esteem Christ and desire to enjoy him and are willing to be subject to his Authority 2. They that do truly desire to honour Christ not only inwardly in their hearts but outwardly in their lives and conversations by words and actions 3. They whose illumination is attended with reformation who not onely know the Truth but love and obey it 4. Those who with well to the Kingdome and Gospel and people of Christ that for Sions sake cannot hold their peace 5. They who cleave to the Ordinances though they want comfort that wait upon the Lord who hides himself from the house of Jacob. 6. They who desire the efficacy of the ministry on the souls of others who can rejoyce when souls are converted and are glad to see that Grace in others they want and that grieve when the edification of souls is opposed and obstructed 7. They that aspire after a holy life that are students for piety and mourners for iniquity These have not committed the sin against the Holy Ghost 3. Qu. What are those Graces that are preservatives against this sin 1. A chearfulness in the service and wayes of Christ. Serve the Lord with gladness account not his Commands grievous 2. A sincere love to Father Son and Spirit This sin is committed out of malice and hatred 3. A daily desiring thirsting after Christ ever desiring Christ will keep us from ever despising him 4. A labouring to get heat unto our light that our knowledge may be attended with a change in heart and life 5. A daily care to persevere and hold on in Religion and Grace with a jealousie of our selves least we should be guilty of declining and back sliding 6. A pleading and standing up for the truth in our places and callings with courage and wisdom 7. A perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord avoiding not only all gross sins but also as much as we can keeping our selves from infirmities at least not allowing our selves in them §. 17. The spirituals mans aime or a resolution of an important and serious question concerning our aimes and intentions whether they be for God or the world Aims and intentions are secret things removed from the cognizance of others The rectitude of intention contributes so much to the acceptation of our services with God that without this nothing though never so materially good and plausible can denominate us sincere in his sight or prevail for any acceptance with him Now though others are not competent judges of our ends yet if we will deal faithfully and truly with our own souls we may know them by such plain things as these are 1. By our desires Try thy heart by this whether thou dost desire most to be with God or to be in the world That which is our end we would be in the fullest enjoyment of 2. By thy hopes What is it thou hopest for is it to grow great or rich in the world or is it that thou art approved of God and in favour with him That which is thy chiefest hope is thy end 3. By thy delights Dost thou so delight in the world that if that flow in and that thou hast any probable assurance of its continuance thou findest thou canst be contented without God or dost thou account thy self miserable whatsoever thou enjoyest except thou have some soul communion with God and canst find some tasts of his love even in outward mercies and those tasts carrying thy soul to delight more and more in God as the fountain of them 4. Examine how thy heart is affected upon the loss of outward things What is it grieves thee most the burning thy house loss of trade death of friends or the want of Gods presence the dishonour of his name the danger of losing the Gospel and the like that which is our end we are grieved for being disappointed of 5. If the world be thy darling thou wilt be affraid to own Religion when it exposes thee to danger shame and loss alwayes worldlings are for an easie creditable cheâ—p Religion But if God have thy heart thou art jealous least the world should draw thee from God and thou wilt account no pains too much for him thou wilt be diligent in the use of all means In the service of God thou wilt account losses gain and think thy self abundantly honoured in being accounted worthy to be dishonoured for Christ 6. That which is a man's end he will plead for We see prophane men plead for the world gross sins are with them small sins nay no sins nay sometimes commendable things or at least indifferent for ends will make men find cut many Topicks to argue from Monstrous apparel is but decency drunkenness is but good fellowship they can say much for unlawful gaming wanton dalliances stage-playes recreations on the Lords day Alas say they these are but innocent Divertisements for the body and mind But those that make God their end will plead for him they stand up for his Name â—is Word his People Wisdom is justified of her Children they have much to say for devotion for mortification for fasting and praying for holy conference for modest apparel for sobriety and temperance for circumspect walking and the like 7. He that serves the world will suffer much for it in his body by pinching it in his name and reputation by reproach for even a covetous miser shall have some scoffs he will make such pittiful complaints and such ridiculous excuses and do such base drudgery the world will laugh at him yet he suffers all this because it is his end So he that serves God is willing to suffer for God to part with all for him when he calls for it to endure scoffs and jeers for his not complying with the Vices of the world Lastly if God and the World call whom dost thou follow the Bell touls the Play-bill is set up whither dost thou go Here 's the Bible or a good Book there is the Tavern or the Gaming house God calls to the one the World to the other whom dost thou obey If a Lacquey follows two Gentlemen when they part he whom he follows we know is his Master that which a man follows from morning to night from week to week and leave other things to follow that is his Master that he serves and that is his end §. 18. How must we carry our selves to God aâ— our friend Trust him because he is faithful Prize him because he is so transcendently excellent Be advised by him for he is infinitely wise Suffer for him for Christ did so foâ— us Delight in him because he is amiable Be zealous for his Glory and grieved at his
THE Christians DAILY MONITOR To the performance of Personal and Relative Duties With a Resolution of some Cases of CONSCIENCE Published for the benefit of Young Persons By Joseph Church Together with so much of Mr. Samuel Hierons Catechisme as concerns second Table Duties LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the sign of the Bible upon London Bridge 1669. TO Mrs Elizabeth Papilion Eldest Daughter to Mr Thomas Papilion The Authour wishes increase of Grace and Peace THe intent of this Dedication is not to tell the World how hopefull and towardly a Child you are but partly for mine own sake to testifie my sense of those many kindnesses I have received from your Parents which I cannot see any possibility I should ever require and the least I can do is to acknowledg Lowâ— Parents do accept from a poor hand a small kindness that is shewed to their Children Even God himself our Heavenly Father because our goodness extends not to him accepts of what we do to his Children and because my thankfulness cannot ascend I was willing that it should descend ever judging it a true principle If I cannot do the good I would to do what good I can But for your sakes also do I Dedicate this small Book to you 1. To lay an obligation upon you to answer the means you enjoy in a good education that the prayers pains and cost your Parents are at with you may not be lost 2. That you might have a Daily Monitor of your Duty to God and Man You are not sure to have Father or Mother alwayes with you or Ministers but these things if they sink into your heart will abide with you to comfort and counsel you I do therefore exhort you to a frequent and serious râ—â—ding of them with prayer unto God that they may be blessed to you and if no other should gain by them yet if you do I shall not altogether repent my pains But if others should gain by them and you not you and I both shall have cause of grief and shame Pardon my plainness with you I speak not this as distrusting the Grace of God in you which I pray may grow up with you more and more and abound in you but as one I love in the Lord to warn you and admonish you that you may not begin in the spirit and end in the flesh Some of these things you have heard discoursed to you and some of them in publick and there are some that I have collected from others which owe nothing to me but the meer order and form of them of which I have given an account by prefixing the two first letters of their names I know you have many other usefull and spiritual Books by you let not this take you off from them nor them or this make you neglect the reading of the Scriptures and the orderly reading of them according to an example you have daily before your eyes For all other Books are written to give light to the Scripture and to stir us up to the practise of those duties there laid down I shall trouble you no further now but commend you and this Treatise to the blessing of the Almighty And Rest Your Souls and your Faiths Servant in the Lords Work Jos Church TO THE READER Christian Reader IT was not because the World needed Books that I appear in Print or if it did there are blessed be God enough others more able and fit to supply its wants But one great inducemâ—nt to me to Print was the need I stood in of the Press to ease me of the labour of transcribing these things for my own near Relations and Friends and were there not a kind of necessity of multiplying the number of Copies beyond what would have served my particular occasion to any one will make use of that ingenious Invention of Printing I could very well have been contented to have been consined within the limits forementioned I would intreat thee therefore to consider that these things were first written and laid together for the private use and benefit of some young persons And my touching upon so many subjects and with brevity was with respect to that age for variety and brevity do most please them and if any think by brevity I am guilty of obscurity let it put them upon meditation and beating things out in their own thoughts or else enquiry of others what such a thing means before they condemn me But I am not conscious to my self of that crime for though I have endeavoured to speak pertinently and shortly yet I have also done it plainly I have ventured at some cases of conscience which I observed did frequently occur among sober good Christians not that I think my self able for that kind of divinity but if by any means I might provoke some of my able Brethren to travel in that so much wanted and desired work of Casuistical Divinity And if I have not wrote what may give full satisfaction yet I hope I have taken the safe way and said that may stay the violence of the distress if rightly applyed till they meet with that interpreter of a thousand that shall speak a word in season to him that is weary I am very sensible that whosoever doth appear in Print layes himself open to the lash of every mans tongue Some will criticize some will censure others will deride and scorn but all these shall hurt themselves more then me I do not expect better measure then those that were far my betters had before me and have at this day It is vastly more comfortable to have a mans words and name reproached innocently then to censure and wrest proudly and uncharitably what is well meant and upon examination will be found well-spoken if it be but well taken To please all is impossible to please men in their sins is wicked and to please good men in these dayes wherein there is such a consumption of charity is very difficult As for those that are learned if any such should stoop so low as to peruse these things it may be if they find no beams of light they may find some sparks of fire to kindle their affections and to beget some ardour and fervency of desire to add to their knowledge practise as for any other fire of contention and strife I trust they shall find none I should think the worse of my self as long as I live if I should be really guilty of that O that we could all avoid studium partium the espousing particular opinions and interests and labour after an universal charity to all that love our Lord Jesus Christ and silence our own private sentiments which might cause a publick disturbance which we must not expect till we see more piety For the Schooles have long ago told us Rivulus charitatis oritur ex foâ—â—e pietatis That the stream of charity to our Brother comes from the fountain of piety towards God If therefore thou art an â—nâ—my to