THE COUNTRY-PARSON'S ADVICE TO HIS Parishioners In Two Parts I. Containing a Plain and Serious Exhortation to a Religious and Virtuous Life II. General Directions how to Live accordingly LONDON Printed for Benj. Tooke at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-yard 1680. The Contents PART I. A Serious Exhortation to a Religious and Virtuous Life THe Introduction Page 1. Chap. 1. Containing the first Argument to a Holy Life viz. That being God's Creatures we ought to be subject to God as all other Creatures are to Consult the Lawes of our Creation and consult the Honour and Dignity of our Nature p. 2. Chap. 2. Containing a second Argument to a Holy Life from those Obligations which our Profession of Christianity layes on us p. 7. Chap. 3. Containing a third Argument to a Holy Life from the General Consideration of a future Judgment p. 13. Chap. 4. Containing a Fourth Argument to a Holy Life The Consideration of the future punishments of wicked men viz. That their Torments are extream and intolerable without Ceasing and without End p. 22. Chap. 5. Sect. 1. Containing a Fifth Argument to a Holy Life from the Consideration of those great Rewards God hath prepared for Good men in the other World the Greatness of which may be in some Measure estimated p. 40. 1. From God's Goodness to good men even in this World p. 41. 2. That the Reward is not proportioned to our Deserts which are very little but to the Goodness of God which is Infinite p. 43. And 3. Is designed as the most glorious Manifestation of the Divine Goodness ibid. And 4. It is the Purchase of Christ's Blood and the Reward of his Obedience and Sufferings which are of Infinite Merit p. 45. Sect. 2. Containing a Prosecution of the same Arguments That this Reward of good men must be great Because 5. It is not only the Reward Christ purchased for his Disciples but that also which he hath obtained for himself as the Recompence of his Obedience and Sufferings With a more particular Explication wherein this Happiness consists a serious Expostulation with those who slight it and the necessity of Holiness for the obtaining of it p. 46. Chap. 6. Containing a Sixth Argument to a Holy Life from considering that these Rewards and Punishments are not so far off as some persons vainly imagine With the conclusion of this first part p. 54. PART II. General Directions how to live a Holy and Christian Life THe Introduction Page 61. Chap. 1. Sect. 1. Containing the First Advice Seriously to resolve upon a Holy Life the necessity of such a Resolution and the great Virtue and Efficacy of it p. 63. Sect. 2. Containing some Directions how to form a lasting Resolution First to resolve soberly and deliberately not rashly and in hast maturely to consider what it is we must resolve and carefully to examin all the Advantages on both sides p. 64. Secondly to take the matter into Consideration several distinct times before we fix our Resolution p. 71. Thirdly to back the Resolution with a solemn Vow p. 72. Sect. 3. A Prosecution of the same Argument containing some further Directions in making a lasting Resolution as Fourthly to write down our Resolutions in the words wherein we make them and to engage our selves to God in a solemn Bond and Contract p. 72. Fifthly to make known this Resolution to the World as often as a fit occasion offers which very much tends to the Glory of God delivers us from many Temptations and makes us more stedfast to what we resolve p. 73. Sixthly to seek out some good men who have taken up the same Resolutions and to contract an Intimate Friendship and Acquaintance with them or if we cannot find any such to endeavour to persuade our old Friends and Companions to enter into such a Religious Friendship p. 79. Chap. 2. Sect. 1. Containing the second Advice To take up our Cross and forsake all to follow Christ Where is explained the Nature of this Duty and the necessity of it p. 85. Sect. 2. Containing several Arguments to reconcile us to this Duty of Self-Denyal From the necessity of it in order to our Spiritual Life and Health from the Example of our Saviour who was a great Pattern of Self-Denyal from the Reasonableness of this Duty considered in it Self and the great Advantages of it p. 104. Sect. 3. Containing some Directions how to put this Duty of Self-Denyal in Practice p. 110. Chap. 3. Sect. 1. Containing a Third Advice to give up our selves Souls and Bodies entirely to God with several Arguments to persuade us to it p. 118. Sect. 2. Containing several Directions how to put this Advice of giving our selves to God in Practice p. 123. Chap. 4. Sect. 1. Containing the Fourth Advice To grow in the Knowledge of God and of the things of God p. 145. Sect. 2. Containing several Directions how to improve in all divine Knowledge as Truly know what is necessary and may be helpful to thee p. 149. And the means of procuring this Knowledge 1. Reading the Holy Scriptures p. 150. 2. Reading good Books p. 151. 3. Hearing of Sermons and good Discourses Ibidem 4. Frequent conferring with serious Christians p. 152. 5. Meditating upon the good things we hear and read p. 154 6. Prayer which ought never to be omitted p. 156. 7 Regulating our lives according to this Knowledge p. 157. Chap. 5. Sect. 1. Containing a Fifth Advice To live alwaies as in God's sight with the great Vsefulness of this to promote a holy Life p. 159. Sect. 2. Containing some Directions for the Practice of this Duty of living alwayes as in God's sight p. 163 Chap. 6. Containing the last general Advice To commit our Souls to the Care and Conduct of Spiritual Guides with proper Directions relating to it p. 171. 1. Christ hath settled an Order of men as his Substitutes on Earth to take Care of Souls p. 172. 2. This Order of Men thus settled by Christ are authorized by him to preach the Gospel p. 175. 3. Christ hath Promised and accordingly hath is and will be with them in the Exercise of their Office p. 176. 4. Christ as he hath appointed an Order of men to guide the Church so he hath charged all men to respect them as his Officers p. 178. The Practice of this last general Advice p. 185. A Catalogue of some Books Sold by Benj. Tooke at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-Yard HErodoti Halicarnassaei Historiarum libri ix gr lat Folio Francisci Suarez Tractatus de Legibus ac Deo Legislatore fol. Causin's Holy Court fol. Arch-Bishop Bramhal's works A Collection of all the Statutes now in Force in the Kingdom of Ireland fol. Baker's Chronicle of England fol. Bishop Sanderson's Sermons fol. Le Beau Pleadeur Judge Winche's Book of Entries Holyoake's large Dictionary in 3. parts fol. Dr. Browne's Travails 4o. A True Widow a Comedy by Tho. Shadwel 4o. Dr. Dumoulin's Vindication of the Protestant Religion 4o. Phocaena or the Anatomy
state does depend In a word Live as a man dying hastening to the Grave and to the Judgment-Seat of Christ and to everlasting Bliss or Woe must needs think himself concerned to live Live thus dear Brother and I have my Desire Only let me beg thy Prayers that I may live thus likewise that both of us may be happy for ever Amen Amen The End of the First Part. General DIRECTIONS how to live a Holy and Christian Life PART II. Introduction I Am now Dear Brother to give thee some Directions how to live that Holy and Christian Life which in the former Part of this Book I have endeavoured to Perfwade thee to It shall be my Care not to trouble thee with many and less necessary things and I begg of thee that it may be thine to consider what I say impartially and to give it the regard which upon consideration thou shalt find it to deserve Now because I suppose thee to be convinced That it is necessary thou shouldest live a Holy Life if thou wouldest be happy eternally the first thing I shall advise thee to is CHAP. I Sect. 1. Containing the First Advice Seriously to Resolve upon a Holy Life the necessity of such a Resolution and the great Virtue and Efficacy of it Sect. 2. Containing some Directions how to form a lasting Resolution First to resolve soberly and deliberately not rashly and in hast maturely to consider what it is we must resolve and carefully to examine all the advantages and disadvantages on both sides Secondly to take the matter into consideration several distinct times before we fix our resolution Thirdly to back this Resolution with a solemn Vow Sect. 3. A prosecution of the same Argument containing some further Directions in making a lasting resolution as Fourthly to write down our Resolutions in the words wherin we make them and to engage our selves to God in a solemn Bond and Contract And Fifthly to make known this resolution to the World as often as a fit occasion offers which very much tends to the golry of God delivers us from many temptations and makes us more stedfast to what we resolve And Sixthly to seek out some good men who have taken up the same Resolutions and to contract an intimate Friendship and Acquaintance with them or if we cannot find any such to endeavour to perswade our old Friends and Companions to enter into such a Religious Friendship 1. To Resolve upon it Make an absolute and peremptory Resolution to live a Holy Life I see it is necessary that I should do so may'st thou say I cannot be happy for ever if I do not live so and therefore I am resolved I will live so and nothing shall divert or hinder me Without this peremptory Resolution thou wilt never be able to do what thou may'st desire Thou may'st begin well but wilt fail to persevere to the end Thou wilt be as the double-minded man which St. James speaks of Chap. 1. v. 8. unstable in thy wayes one while in the good way and another while in the bad according to the circumstances of thy life and the Sway of thy inclinations But with this resolution begin and prosper Resolution worketh wonders every day in other matters and in this be confident it will do much more because God will bless it It hath a mighty efficacy in it self and whoever is possessed of it seldom sails to bring his Designs to pass It makes a man intent upon the thing he would do inquisitive after the best means to effect it watchful and ready to lay hold upon all fitting opportunities jealous of the least Impediments and Hindrances bold and constant in the midst of difficulties and dangers and so excludes that forgetfulness Inadvertency that Negligence and Sloth that Rashness and Levity that Doubtfulness and Faint-heartedness which overthrows the good Purposes of many and frustrates their best Designs But how much greater will the efficacy of it be thinkest thou when it is backed with the Almighty Grace of God which in this matter will be ever assisting to it The truth is thy work is half done when thou art fully resolved and if thy resolution fail not I dare promise thee as good success as thy heart can wish But then care must be taken that thy resolutiou continue firm and strong and that it may do so thou must observe the following directions § 2. Thou must make it soberly and deliberately not rashly and in hast Thou must consider what thou art about to resolve upon what difficulties and discouragements thou art like to meet with and what dangers and Inconveniences may attend thee in it And when thou hast done this thou must consult thy own Reason and Understanding upon these and the like Questions Is it reasonable that I should undertake and resolve upon such a business as this is is it possible for me to effect it can I march through all the difficulties and overcome all the Tempatations which may or can befall me in it Is the Design honourable and worthy of a man and can I hope for a sufficient Recompence for all the Troubles it will put me to And for the Avoiding of all error and mistake it will not be amiss for thee to put down in writeting if thou can'st all that thou art to consider upon as also thy judgment and determination upon every particular However fail not to get as clear and distinct an apprehension of every thing as possibly thou can'st and let nothing pass thee without due consideration Run through all the parts and duties of a holy life in thy thoughts and tell thy Heart This I must do this I must fly from this I must suffer Almighty God requires it and I cannot hope to be excused in any thing Tell me O my heart may'st thou say wilt thou be content I shall do it or not Wilt thou not prove false to me if I do resolve it These things I must attend to not for a few days only or at some certain times and seasons but constantly and perpetually throughtout the whole course of my life It must be my business to obey and please God in all my wayes and all my worldly affairs and fleshly Pleasures must give place to it Tell me O my heart how do'st thou approve of this Have I thy free consent to undertake it and wilt thou be contne that I now begin it And then suppose within thy self the greatest temptations that can befall thee to discourage and draw thee aside suppose that thy Mother who bare thee in her Womb and nourished thee with her Breasts and loves thee as her life should come with weeping eyes to thee and with the most melting expressions that Love and Sorrow could put into her mouth should intreat thee to do some wicked act or to forbear the doing of thy duty in any matter And suppose the Wife of thy bosome who is as thy very Soul should joyn with her in the same desire and
destroy our selves but since we could do that upon very little or none at all let us no longer withstand this which is so earnest and importunate with us to save our selves Then turning thy self to God in whose presence thou hast been all this while thou may'st speak as I hope thou wilt be able with truth to do in this manner to him I am overcome I am overcome O God I can no longer withstand thy mighty Love I must I do yield my self a captive to it I am thine I do acknow ledge by all Right and I will be thine for ever by the full consent of my Heart I can do no less in Return to that wonderful Love thou hast shewed me and I can do no more O let this little that I can do be accepted by thee and receive me for thine own take possession of me by thy Spirit and let it preserve me for ever to thy self according as I do now sincerely resign up my self and all I have to thee Then 3. Casting thy self upon the Ground say thus and say it with all thy Heart and Soul To God the Father Son and Holy Ghost my Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier do I give my Self Soul and Body and all that belongs unto me to be guided governed and disposed of according to his Will and to his Honour and Glory and may he be a Witness to this my Act which I promise never to revoke and may I never obtain the least Favour from him if I do it not with with an upright Heart and an unfeigned purpose to make it good to my Lives End Thou art my Witness O my God be thou also my helper with thy continued Grace and so shall I be faithful to thee according to my Heart's Desire Amen Amen But then 4. As in matters of the World that which is done in private between Man and Man must in some cases receive a further Consirmation by such Solemnities as are appointed by humane Lawes so that which thou hast done thus between God and thy own Soul must be farther confirmed and as it were compleated by those Solemnities which the Lawes of God do require and therefore sail not to take the first opportunity that is offered thee to go to the Table of the Lord and having prepared thy self at home by such meditations as I have before taught thee and by reading some good book of the Holy Sacrament such as Dr. Patrick's Christian Saacrifice which I desire may find a place both in thy Closet and in thy Heart do thou there renew what thou hast done in private and as it were in publick Court avow it and consirm it At that Holy Tale God will not fail to meet thee attended with an innumerable Company of Holy Angels and he strictly requires and expects it from thee And therefore when thou art at that Table and beholdest what manner of Love is there shewed thee and which cannot but draw thy very heart from thee if thou do'st consider it aright remember what thou art to do and let thy heart speak in this manner to Almighty God There is all the Reason in the World O Heavenly Father that I should give up my self entirely to thee since thou hast not withholden thy Son thy only Son from me there is all the Reason in the World O my Blessed Saviour that I should surrender my self and all I have into thy hands since thou did'st offer thy self a Sacrifice upon the Cross for me and do'st now offer these Holy Pledges of the all-sufficient Virtue of that Sacrifice to me there is all the Reason in the World that I should resign my self to thee O Holy and Blessed Spirit since thou do'st offer thy self to be a Principle of Holiness and Life in me And therefore as I do now accept with all thinkfulness those great and inestimable Favours and do declare my acceptance of them in the sight of these thy Servants and all thy Holy Angels here present by receiving those Tokens and Pledges of them according to thy Command and Institution so do I give up my self and all I have to thee and declare it before the face of all these Witnesses and I earnestly desire that even my unworthy self may be accepted through this my poor Gift the perfect Sacrifice and Oblation of my dearest Saviour and be sanctified by the Holy Ghost and be owned by my God to the everlasting parise of the Holy Blessed and Undivided Trinity whose I am and whose I will be for ever and ever Amen Amen But then 5. When thou art gone from this holy Table Retire as soon as possibly thou can'st and whil'st these good thoughts are warm in thy breast into thy Closet and there take the Book of thy spiritual Accounts into thy hand for I would not have thee to be without such a Book for recording these things wherein the Welfare of thy Soul is greatly concerned least thou be condemned by the Care and exactness of those whom we are wont to call good Husbands in Worldly Matters and with thy pen write thus In such a Year and such a Months and on such a day I did through God's Grace with all the Devotion of my Heart and Soul make an entire Surrender of my self and all things belonging to me to Almighty God protesting and vowing that he should have the full guiding governing and disposing of me and mine for ever And then that thou may'st have a more distinct Understanding of what thou hast done and what thou art obliged to do for the time to come thou may'st under write these following particulars viz. I have given up my self entirely to God and therefore I must not serve my self but Him all the dayes of my Life I have given him my Understanding and therefore my chiefest Care and Study must be to know him his Nature his Perfections his Works his Will These must be the Subject of my Meditations night and day as for all other things they must be as Dross and Dung to me and the Knowledge of them must be as loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of God in Christ Phil. 3.8 v. I must believe all his Reelations and silencing all the carnal Reasonings against whatsoever he teaches me I must rest my self on his veracity being fully persuaded that he can neither be deceived himself nor deceive me See Rom. 4.19 20. have given him my Will and therefore I must have no Will of mine own whatever he wills I must will also I must will his Glory in all things as he does and that must be my chief End in every thing I must prefer it before all desireable things and subordinate my own Desires Delights and Satisfactions to it I must say as the Psalmist did Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee Psal 73.25 I must do whatsoever God commands me and forbear whatever he forbids and I must do it for this Reason chiefly because