neglect no known Duty that thou may'st be able to say with St. Paul herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a conscience void of off ence Act. 24.16 hoth toward God and toward men And that thou mayst proceed in this path of Piety with more pleasure I have furnisht out a short Banquet for thy Entertainment with Holy Delight in a brief Collection of some few pieces of Divine Poems which may serve to imbellish the memory and delight the mind Having thus begun and proceeded Heb. 6.4 endeavour to go on to Perfection Not to go forward still in Gods way is to go backward The path of the just is as the shining light Prov. 4.18 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day To this end daily read the Holy Scriptures wherein God has revealed his will to man unfolded the mysteries of Grace and made plain before us the path to eternal Life and Glory This is God's Book and therefore to be read with Reverence and preferr'd before all other Writings in the world On the Lord's Day especially spend some time in reading God's word And when thou takest this Blessed Book into thy hand lift up thy heart to Heaven and pray for the Illumination of the Spirit Eph. 1.17 18. Act. 8.30 that thou mayst understand what thou readest Meditate on what thou hast read and heard and endeavour to turn it into practice and improve it to thy comfort and joy in the hope of glory And thus I have shew'd thee the Way to Heaven a plain path to an eternal Paradise If thou lovest thy soul delay not to enter into it and walk in it Doubtless there are thousands of young people who sometimes resolved to repent and lead new lives but being loath so soon to leave off the Pleasures of sin alas they were surpriz'd with Death and must now suffer eternall pains in Hell Be warn'd be wise be good betimes and be happy for ever Assure thy self by setting with seriousness upon the Practice of true Pietie thou shalt not loose the pleasures of life but exchange them for purer and sweeter So much joy springs up in a truly pious Soul in the sense of God's Favour and in the hopes of Heaven that it far exceeds all the Pleasures and Delights of this world and the delight of well-doing surpasses the pleasures of sin Heb. 11.25 Prov. 14.9 10.23 Psal 40.8 Eccl. 7.6 that are but for a season They are Fools that make a mock and sport of sin but 't is the speech of a serious Saint I delight to do thy will O my God! yea thy Law is within my heart The laughter of a fool and such is the Sinner that laughs while he stands on the brink of Hell and Destruction is but as the crackling of thorns under apot 't is but a flash of vain mirth which will end in bitter pangs of long-abiding Sorrow What reason has he to laugh here that shall weep and mourn in Hell But the joy of a good man is as the Day-break of eternal Bliss Psal 34.8 1 Pet. 2 3. Oh taste and see then that the LORD is good and gracious He that may freely drink pure wine will never be persuaded to quench his thirst with puddle-water He that pursues the pleasures of Lust and sin seeks to quench his thirst at a vile puddle when in the Practice of true Piety he might daily drink of the wine of Paradise Such are those holy Comforts and Joys which spring up in a pious Soul in communion with God and Christ Certainly a Holy life is the happiest life of man on earth and the certain way to everlasting happiness in Heaven Thus live then and when thou diest be happy for ever Jude v. 24 25. Now unto him that is able to keep thee from falling and to present thee faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and power both now and ever Amen The TITLES of the several TRACTS or PARTS of this Book I. A brief Compendium of Scripture-Catechism exhibiting the first principles of the Oracles of God II. The Scripture-Monitor declaring the duties of Children and Servants III. A Catechism for Communicants for the Instruction of those who are to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper IV. Self-Examination shewing the Qualification of a worthy Communicant V. Christian Devotion in Forms of Prayer and praise for Children and Servants VI. Christian Conversation or directions for leading a good Life VII Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver or some choice Pieces of Divine Poesie for the Vse and Delight of young people A Brief Compendium of Scripture-Catechism Exhibiting The first PRINCIPLES of the OR ACLES of GOD * Heb. 5.12 § 1. Of God Q. WHAT must you do that you may be happy for ever A. Know God and serve him 1 Chron. 28.9 Q. What is God A. God is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits John 4.24 with Heb. 12.9 Q. But what is he for Excellency and Dominion A. The King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 Q. Are there more Gods than One A. There is but one God 1 Cor. 8.6 Q. But how many Persons are there in the Godhead A. There are three 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. By what names are they called A. The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 Q. Are these three but one God A. These Three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. By what name hath this one true God manifested himself to men A. By the name of God Almighty Exo. 6.3 Q. Is he not as well Merciful as Mighty A. The LORD is Merciful and Gracious Psal 103.8 Q. What is he for Counsel and Execution A. Great in Counsel and Mighty in work Jer. 32.19 Q. What great work hath God done A. God made the World and all things therein Acts 17.24 Q. Is he then Lord of all A. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.24 Q. And doth he govern all as King A. His Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103.19 Q. Is it he then that hath made us and all men A. It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Ps 100.3 Q. And are we all sustain'd in life by him A. In him we live and move and have our being Acts 17.28 Q. And doth he give us all we have A. He giveth to all Life and Breath and all things Acts 17.25 § 2. Of Man Q. OF what did God at first form man A. The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground Gen. 2.7 Q. In what likeness did he make him A. God created man in his own Image Gen. 1.27 Q. Wherein was man made like to God A. In Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness Col. 3.10 with Eph. 4.24 Q. When God had thus made man where did he put him A. Into the Garden of Eden Gen. 2.15 Q. And what Charge and Command did he give him
are tempted to any wicked deed remember though no man beholds you the Eye of the great God is upon you and so say with Joseph How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Thus Gen. 39 9. Psal 4.41 stand in aw and sin not Let the fear of God restrain you from whatsoever is evil and let the Love of God carry you on with Delight to whatsoever is good And though God do not deny you those innocent Delights and Recreations which are agreable to your youthful years and which may fit you for a more chearful discharge of your respective duties yet you must be careful that those very Delights be season'd with the remembrance of God and the day of Judgment Mind what the wise man sayes to you and what charge he gives you concerning this matter Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O Young man in thy Youth and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy Youth and walk in the wayes of thy Heart and in the sight of thine Eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment Know thou art Mortal and consider that every Action thou dost is a step to Eternity and every day thou livest sets thee a day nearer to thy death And therefore live so now as thou wilt wish thou hadst done when thou comest to dye The time of death is uncertain But most certain it is Christ Jesus will shortly come to call every one that has been faithful in his fervice from Labour to Rest and Sorrow to Joy Then happy shall he be who has been most serious in God's Service His Rest shall be sweet and his Reward Glorious Make good use then of this inch of time upon which depends the following Eternity Thy Glass is running be sure thy work be done before the last sand drop Spend thy Life in God's Service and in Death thou shalt see his Salvation Think still my Lord is at hand and so be ever well-doing Blessed is that servant Mat. 24.46 whom his Lord when he comes shall find so doing He will say to him Well done good and faithful servant 25.21 thou hast been faithful in a little take Possession of much Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Now the God of all Grace 1 Pet. 5.10 who hath called us to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus make you perfect stablish strengthen and settle you To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen Thou shalt do well to repeat these Rules of Life as also thy Duty before declar'd as a Child or Servant upon the Lords Day once a Month for the better preserving them in Memory for thy direction in thy daily Practise For certainly the most of the sins that men commit to the dishonour of God and wounding of their own Conscience are committed through want of a present remembrance of their Duty or a due consideration of the mighty Obligations that lye upon them to do it This great mischief may be happily prevented by a frequent reading of these Rules of Life Read therefore and Remember and do these things that it may be well with thee for ever Apples of Gold IN PICTVRES of SILVER FOR The Vse and Delight of Children and Servants BEING A Collection of certain Verses from some of our Divine Poems more fit to be Imprinted on the Memories of Young People than Prophane Songs The Preface FOR the close of your entertainment I here present you with a Delicate Dish 'T is choice Fruit which grew in a Rich Soil 'T is as the Fruit of Eden that Tempted Eve good for Food Gen. 3.6 pleasant to the Eyes and desirable to make one Wise Only here is the difference She could not eat of that without Sin against God and Hurt to her self your eating of this may keep you from Sin and prove the Health of your Soul Freely feed then on this Fruit 't is not less wholesome than pleasant 'T is not as the Banquet of Midas or * Plut. Mor. Pythes a Mock-Feast 't is Gold for worth Prov. 25.11 but Food for use A Word fitly spoken saith Solomon is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver And instruction in virtue to Persons in the Flower of their Age is a word fitly spoken Such are these pieces of Divine Poesie wherewith I here present you Read Remember and Practise them so shall you learn that Knowledge and Wisdom which is better than Silver and Gold seeing it will at once make you Rich and Happy Prov. 3.18 For Wisdom is a Tree of Life saith Solomon to them that lay hold upon her and Happy is every one that retaineth her And therefore Receive my Instruction saith He and not Silver and Knowledge rather than choice Gold For Wisdom is better than Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Here you have the Words of Wisdom which are Golden Apples by the curious Art of Divine Poesy set in Silver Frames Take and eat for here you have both Food and Treasure What can you desire more than what is here offer'd to your Acceptance Accept and Improve and you shall not fail at once to find both Profit and Delight And Profit with Delight combin'd Is Meat and Musick to the Mind The Names of the Authors from whose Poems the following Verses are Collected G. H. Mr. George Herbert's Sacred Poems called the Temple R. C. Mr. Richard Crashaw's steps to the Temple F. Q. Mr. Francis Quarles his Emblems and Divine Fancies J. D. Dr. Donne's Poems G.F. Mr. Giles Fletcher's Christ's Victory and Triumph G. S. Mr. George Sandy's his Paraphrase of the Psalms and Scripture Hymns A. C. Mr. Abraham Cowley's Sacred Poems Some few others of less note are signified by the first Letters of their Names Counsel to Young men G. H. THou whose sweet youth and early hopes inhance Thy rate and price and mark thee for a Treasure Hearken unto a Verser who may chance Rhyme thee to good and make a bait of Pleasure A Verse may find him who a Sermon flies And turn Delight into a Sacrifice Beware of Lust it doth pollute and foul Whom God in Baptism washt with his own Blood It blots the Lesson written in thy Soul The Holy Lines cannot be understood How dare those eyes upon a Bible look Much less towards God whose Lust is all their Book Drink not the third glass which thou canst nottame When once it is within thee but before Mayst rule it as thou list and pour the shame Which it would pour on thee upon the Floor It is most just to throw that on the ground Which would throw me there if I keep the round He that is drunken may his Mother kill Big with his Sister he hath lost the Reins Is out-law'd by himself all kind of ill Did with his Liquor slide into his Veins The Drunkard forfeits man and doth divest All worldly Right save what he
hath by Beast Take not his name who made thy mouth in yain It gets thee nothing and hath no excuse Lust and Wine plead a pleasure Avarice gain But the cheap swearer through his open sluce Le ts his Soul run for nought as little fearing VVere I an Epicure I could bate swearing VVhen thou dost tell anothers Jest therein Omit the Oaths which true wit cannot need Pick out of Tales the Mirth but not the sin He pares his Apple that will cleanly feed Play not away the virtue of that name VVhich is thy best Stake when griefs make thee tame Lie not but let thy heart be true to God Thy mouth to it thy actions to them both Cowards tell Lies and those that fear the Rod The stormy working Soul spits Lies and Froth Dare to be true Nothing can need a Lye A fault which needs it most grows two thereby Fly Idleness which yet thou canst not fly By Dressing Mistressing and Complement If those take up thy day the Sun will cry Against thee for his light was only lent God gave thy Soul brave wings put not those feathers Into a Bed to sleep out all ill weathers When thou dost purpose ought within thy power Be sure to do it though it be but small Constancy knits the bones and makes us stowre When wanton pleasures becken us to thrall Who breaks his own Bond forseiteth himself What nature made a Ship he makes a shelf Do all things like a man not sneakingly Think the King sees thee still for his King does Simpring is but a Lay-hypocrisie Give it a corner and the Clew undoes VVho fears to do ill sets himself to task Who fears to do well sure should wear a Mask Look to thy Mouth Diseases enter there Thou hast two Sconces if thy Stomach call Carve or discourse do not a Famine fear VVho carves is kind to two who talks to all Look on Meat think it dirt then eat a bit And say with all Earth to Earth I commit By all means use sometimes to be alone Salute thy self see what thy soul doth wear Dare to look in thy Chest for 't is thine own And tumble up and down what thou findest there VVho cannot rest till he good fellowes find He breaks up house turns out of doors his mind In Conversation boldness now bears sway But know that nothing can so foolish be As empty boldness therefore first assay To stuff thy mind with solid bravery Then march on gallant get substantial worth Boldness gilds finely and will set it forth Laugh not too much the witty man laughs least For wit is Newes only to Ignorance Less at thine own things laugh lest in the jest Thy person share and the conceit advance Make not thy sport abuses for the Fly That feeds on Duug is coloured thereby Pick out of Mirth like stones out of thy ground Profaneness Filthyness Abufiveness These are the scum with which course wits abound The fine may spare these well yet not go less All things are big with Jest nothing that 's plain But may be witty if thou hast the vein Towards great persons use respective boldness That temper gives them theirs and yet doth take Nothing from thine in service care or coldness Doth ratably thy Fortunes marr or make Feed no man in his sins for Adulation Doth make thee parcel-Devil in Damnation Scorn no man's Love though of a mean degree Love is a Present for a Mighty King Much less make any one thine Enemy As Guns destroy so may a little sling The cunning workman never doth refuse The meanest tool that he may chance to use Render to God his due part of thy time Treasure purloin'd cankers the whole Estate Sundays observe think when the Bells do chime 'T is Angels Musick therefore come not late God then deals Blessings If a King did so VVho would not hast nay give to see the show Let vain or busie thoughts have there no part Bring not thy Plough thy Plots thy Pleasures thither Christ purg'd his Temple so must thou thy heart All worldly thoughts are but thieves met together To cozen thee Look to thy Actions well For Churches are either our Heav'n or Hell Judge not the Preacher for he is thy Judge If thou mislike him thou conceiv'st him not God calleth Preaching Folly Do not grudge To pick out treasures from an Earthen pot The worst speak something good if all want Sense God takes a Text and Preacheth Patience He that gets Patience and the Blessing which Preachers conclude with hath not lost his pains He that by being at Church escapes the ditch Which he might fall in by Companions gains He that loves God's abode and to combine With Saints on Earth shall one day with them shine In brief acquit thee bravely play the man Look not on pleasures as they come but go Defer not the least virtue life 's poor span Make not an Ell by trifling in thy wo. If thou do ill the Joy fades not the pains If well the pain doth fade the joy remains The Confession G.S. in Psal 51. LORD to a sinner Mercy show Which since in thee so infinite Let all thy streames of Mercy flow And purifie me in thy sight My sins unmaskt before thee lye Who have deserv'd thy wrath alone VVhich I confess to testifie Thy truth and make thy Justice known In sin conceiv'd brought forth in sin Sin suckt I from my Mothers Breast Thou lov'st a heart sincere within VVhere wisdom is a constant guest Blot out my crimes O scparate My trembling guilt far from thy view A clean Heart in my Breast Create A Mind to thee confirm'd renew Nor cast me from thy Presence Lord Nor O! Thy Holy Spirit withdraw But thy Life-quickning Grace afford Inlarge my will t' embrace thy Law The Resolution G. S. in Psal 119. YOung man thine Actions by God's Precepts guide From these let not thy zealous servant slide Thy word writ in my heart shall curb my will Lord teach me how I may thy laws fulfil Those by thy tongue pronounc't I will unfold Thy Testaments by me more priz'd than Gold On these I meditate admire there set My Souls delight these never will forget O let me live t' observe thy laws mine eyes Illuminate to view those Mysteries Me a poor Pilgrim with thy truth inspire For which my Soul even fainteth with desire The proud is curst who from thy Precepts straies Bless and preserve my soul which them obeyes No hate of Princes from thy law deters My Study my Delight my Counsellers The Bible A. C. THis Holy Book like Heaven it self doth shine VVith thousand lights of truth Divine So numberless the Stars that well they may To Heaven's Gate make a Milky way Yet reason must assist too for in Seas So vast and dangerous as these Our course by Stars above we cannot know VVithout the compass too below Tho Reason cannot through Faith's Mysteries see It sees that there and such they be Leads to Heav'n's