true piety thou art at the same time an enemy to charity For the promoting therefore true piety in young persons and comers in I have offered my endeavours in the ensuing Discourse That if this present Generation after all their cultivating should bring forth no fruit nor admit of any melioration yet the seedlings and young plants might draw in a more benigne juyce and shoot up and bring forth more and better fruits It is a general complaint that Relations prove so bad and indeed to find a man faithful in all Relations is to find a rare Jewel Nothing more honours God and the Gospel then when those that profess it live up to the duty commanded them in their Relations as nothing dishonours God more shames the Gospel ruines families then undutifulness and unfaithfulness in Relations No plainer proof of our sincerity in our Religion then this is Thou canst not be a good Christian if thou art not a good Child a good Servant a good Master or Mistris a good Subject a good Husband or Wife The same God that commands to be a good Christian commands thee to fill up the duties of the other also as he calls thee to them and one great cause of the neglect of these duties and the decay of them is the neglect of Catechizing in private families which till it be conscientiously practised all publick preaching and chatechizing will be the less successful Vpon whose account soever the neglect of this doth lie I am sure it will not be found light one day and one mans omitting his duty will be no excuse then for thy neglecting thine I have here offered a plain short Catechisme of the heads of second Table Duties I made choice of this Authour as one who lies liable as I know of to no exception the Catechism having been reprinted several times with good approbation and also because his answers are for the most part the words of Scripture pertinently quoted and applyed Vpon which account as the duties herein pressed come with more authority so the learner is accustomed to Scripture phrases and language for want of which and the unbounded libertie many give to their fancy we have so many uncouth wild extravagant and offensive expressions even in Religious performances Which however weak ones may account the height of devotion yet riper judgments and sober Christians know them to be nothing else but the statulency of fancy I exhort thee therefore Christian Reader to hold fast the form of sound words get thy heart stocked with sound knowledge and take heed of phraseologie in Religion which is a minting and coyning new expressions and differencing our selves from others by an affected stile or form of speaking and making people believe we have attained more light then others when as indeed when these notions come to be examined and weighed in the ballance of Truth they are worth no more then the trash and trumpery that the Cardinals Sumpter horses carried a story so well known it needs but naming And this is all will be found among the Enthusiasts of this Age the Behmenists Paracelsians Familists c. Thus I have in brief with plainness of heart given thee an account of this Work which I shall pray to God may be acceptable to his people and successfull to their spiritual edification in Knowledge Faith Love and obedience Amen Thine in the Lord Jos Church The Christians daily Monitor To the performance of personal and relative Duties c. §. 1. Of Humility HUmility is a foundation grace to encrease this grace compare thy self With the brute creatures that have onely sense yet they keep the Law of their Creation With the fallen Angels that sin only against Gods power thou sinnest against his Grace With thy self What thou shouldest have been if man had not fallen what thou art now by sin what thou mightest have been if thou hadst not neglected thy duty With others inferiour in means superiour in growth that have fewer mercies and more thankfulness With the Holy Angels who serve God chearfully readily sincerely fervently constantly With Jesus Christ Who was meek and lowly in heart who for our sakes humbled himself and was obedient to the death of the Cross and then thou wilt abhor thy self in dust and ashes §. 2. The best Physitian Christ our heavenly Physitian exceeds all earthly Physitians in seven things 1. He never leaves any work behind him for others 2. He never undertakes any cure but he finisheth it 3. He doth all freely without desert in us or reward from us 4. There is nothing in him but hath a healing vertue in it his eye his lips his hand his blood his garments c. 5. He cures Nations as well as Persons 6. He cures Death as well as Diseases 7. He alwayes makes his Patients the better not only after but by their sickness Oh! I am sick of sin Lord shew thy Art One touch of thine will break and heat my heart O rare Physician that shedst thy blood And givest thy life to do poor sinners good §. 3. Successfull begging The way to be heard in prayer and not to loose our labour is 1. To ask in faith Mark 11.24 that is believing God is able and willing to bestow good things on us 2. To ask in sincerity for right ends Jam. 4.3 3. To ask fervently as Jacob who wrestled with God and prevailed Gen. 32.28 4. Seasonably while the door is open Isa 55.6 Seek the Lord while he may be found 5. Constantly pray continually 1 Thes 5.17 or without ceasing 6. Patiently Psal 40.1 He that can pray to God withall this cost Is sure his labour never shall be lost Who asks in sound faith zeal fixt patience And season alwayes hath sure recompence Stay not at one or two or four or five But get all six and then be sure thou 'lt thrive §. 4. The Heavenly care From Dr. H. There are five things considerable in that Promise he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 There are five things considerable in that Promise he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 1. God cares for his people when they think he doth not 2. He so cares for them as he cares for none else comparatively 3. He cares for them when none else care for them 4. He cares for them when those that should care for them neglect them 5. He cares with others to bless their care and make it successfull Q. But must Gods Children cast off all care A. No they must use a care of prudence and providence a Godly care but they must take heed of worldly immoderate heart-breaking heart-corroding distrusting care Martha with many things distracts her mind Mary in one thing all content doth find Lord cure my cares that I thy word may hear Lord choose for me the troubles I shall bear §. 5. The Dutiful Aid God hath in wisdome so framed our bodies that one part cannot say to another I have no need of thee So it is in the Political
of God in his mercies and blessings are perverted and turned out of their right channel and made to serve pride lust envy luxury and the like and this way the providence of God is most universally abused in the world both by Heathens and Christians 3. We abuse the providence of God when we make an evil construction of the afflictions of Gods people when we conclude from thence they are wicked men hypocrites that God hath forsaken them and cast them off Thus Jobs friends dealt with him and the wicked with David Psal 71.10 11. and the Jews with Christ Whereas all these providences are either probative corrective or purgative Buâ— to conclude they are none of Gods people because they are afflicted is a horrible abuse of Gods providence a condemning the generation of the just and argues desperate ignorance or something worse 4. When we insult over those that are in misery a thing too common among those that are called Christians There is a spirit in the world that rejoyces in others afflictions a generation that â—lap their hands at our divisions or â—osses or sufferings and say as they in the Psalms so would we have it But as Solomon saith Prov. 17.5 He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished If any should rejoyce in the dismal burning of London and say it was well burnt but in an ill time God himself hath said of such they shall not go unpunished the Devil himself shall as soon escape the vengeance of eternal fire as such shall escape the judgements of God 2. Quest How providence is to be improved for the comfort of the Godly instanced in some common cases may and do befall them 1. Case is Concerning the deadness and inefficacy of means I call that deadness of means when there is either a total inaptitude in the means or no suitableness or congruity in the means to the end as in Abrahams Case Rom. 4. There was no likelihood that such an ancient couple as Abraham and Sarah should have a young child So in the destruction of Jericho that the compassing the City in a kind of procession six dayes should contribute to the taking of the City What efficacy seemed in this So that Cyrus a Heathen should proclaim liberty to the Jews to return to their own Land and that he should contribute to the building the Temple to the God of Israel was a very unlikely thing no one would have thought him a fit person for such a work that he should become another Solomon in this particular Thus many times a Christian sees no â—ively suitable means to bring about that good he desires and expects In this Case we may be comforted 1. Because the fountain from whence we expect all good to flow is God Now God is not tyed to means all means work only by way of instrument If a man be sick physick is the ordinary way to cure him but the fountain of â—ife and health is God and therefore God many times blesses poor weak unâ—ikely means to restore a man to health So when a man is poor friends and acquaintance are the ordinary way to relieve him but sometimes God makes strangers and enemies to do it whosoever iâ— the instrument it is God that sends the supply Phil 4.19 2. God many times denies and hides suitable and lively means because we should put too much trust in them and it is our over-prizing and over-expecting from creatures makes God to put a deadness into them 3. Providence seldome appears in means of our choosing or works by tools of our appointing When we limit the Holy One of Israel to time to persons to means God alwayes holds back his hand for God will not be prescribed by us what he shall do 4. Divine providence can put life into the deadest means that are he can prosper the most unlikely means he can mâ—ke dry bones live This many times he doth to shew that he can quicken the dead that he is wise in counsel and excellent in working 2. Case The crosness of events Cross events are when things do fall out contrary to expectation when we look for light but behold darkness for peace but behold trouble for healing but lo a breach for ease and behold a burthen when we have said of such a thing surely it shall comfort us concerning our sorrow and when it hath been produced it hath been either a rod to beat us or a Serpent to bite us this is that causes great trouble and sadness of heart Deceived hopes trouble us more then present wants Present wants may pain us but deceived expectations shame us and a rational creature endures any thing better then shame which is caused not only from doing things against common principles but from losing and missing our expectation Therefore David prays Psal 119.116 that he may not be ashamed of his hopes This the Godly meet with at every turn Many times children other relations callings do not answer our expectations all things go cross with him In this case consider 1. There are certain Royalties in Divine providence with which we may not meddle We must submit to God for as God is the cause of all actions why they are so he is the cause of the cessation of acts As God hath the highest reason for what he doth so he hath good reason why he doth not do such a thing or why he doth invert or stop such a thing 2. How cross soever the events of providence are they are alwayes founded upon unerring wisdome and unspotted goodness God knows well enough what he doth he works all things according to the counsel of his own will Eph. 1.11 For as in the body of man the foot hath an eye to direct it and in the soul the will of man hath the light of the understanding to go before it so God would have us to conceive of him that the light of advised wisdome is with him in all he wills or works In all our desires therefore we must put them up with a reservation of the will of God and how cross soever things fall out to our hopes yet remember what God works is better then what we pray for we may err in our prayers but God never mistakes in what he doth 3. Cross events in providence are many times the punishment of some sin in us either it is for our untimely desire of things or our inordinate desire or the neglect of some duty required as preparatory to make such a thing come as a blessing 4. Cross events many times come from Divine Love A Father will not let the Child have a knife or climb up in some high place because he knows he will hurt himself So God many times sees if he should gratifie and succeed our hopes and our desires we should but thereby be rendred more uncapable of serving him we should be prone to terminate in the creature we should contract more falls and bruises Consider then God
Chron. 34.3 It waâ— the commendation of Timothy thaâ— from a child he had known the Holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 God takes iâ— very kindly when you begin betimes to serve him Cant. 7.12 Christ loves the buds the blossomings of Grace as well as the ripe fruit and the Devil is a great enemy to this age he opposes the bringing young persons to Christ to be dedicated and to be instructed and catechised There are four reasons among others why the Devil labours to corrupt youth 1. Because he knows a vicious youth layes the foundation of a vicious life Reason teaches that if we would alter the disposition of any thing we must do it while it is young Now the Devil acts according to this principle and because youth is an age of fancy and apt to receive impressions therefore he labours to stain and pollute it no colour holds so well as that which is dyed in the wool 2. Because their age being least able to discern between good and evil will soonest bite at his baits and yield to his temptations Young persons are soonest catched in his snare 3. He doth not know how short a time they have to live and therefore he would get them into his clutches as soon as he can 4. Because God loves this age therefore he loves to be cropping early buds indeed God highly values aâ— a Religious Child-hood and youth he hath given us all testimonies how much he accepts it Under the Law the acceptable services were young things young lambs young bullocks young pigeons the first ripe fruits the first born God challenged to be his O how doth God delight in young Samuels young Davids young Daniels young Johns the one was a young Prophet the other a young Apostle Saith God When Israel was a Child then I loved him And can there be a greater honour to you then to say I loved God from my Child-hood I knew Christ from my Child-hood to say as David Psal 71.5 O Lord I have trusted in thee from my youth 4. The word of God doth concern you and Religion is as proper and fit for you as for any persons whatsoever The Scriptures are written for young persons that they may know how to cleanse their wayes Psal 119.9 The word is the best staff for old men to lean on and the best sword for young men to fight withall The Heathens indeed thought that youth might be indulged in sin Cicero in his defence of â—aelius saith something is to be allowed to youth till the heat of that age be abated but I could appeal from him as a Mercenary Oratour pleading for his Fee the Cause of a debauched young man to himself in another place in his sober mind telling us That this age is in a speciall manner to be kept from lust and that they are much mistaken that think way should be given to the licentiousness of young men But it is no great matter what they thought since we know God hath so framd the Scriptures that Religion belongs not only to thosâ— of riper years but to Children also Deut. 29.29 Those words as the learned observe have extraordinary pointâ— in the Hebrew and three times there are mention made of Children in thâ— Decalogue The Scripture teaches therâ— is a duty you owe to God Eccl. 12.1 There is a duty you owe to men Eph. 6.1 and both these are clear because God hath appointed correction as aâ— means to keep them in the way of theiâ— duty Prov. 22.15 and God promises a blessing to it Pr. 23.13 now God promiseâ— not a blessing but as a means appointeâ— by him to an end Nor is there any agâ— more proper for Religion then this is This the learning age now you havâ— leasure now your minds are not so preingaged and prejudiced as they will bâ— hereafter Religion is like water fit to be poured upon tender plants You will never have a fitter time in your lives The time of youth is the fairesâ— flower that grows upon the stalk of Time Now your understandings are quick your memories tenacious your affections soft and pliable If you redeem not this time for God and your souls I dare be bold to say you will repent of it sometime before you dye 5. Conversion after youth proves very difficult and rare I would not be thought so arrogant as to set any bounds to Gods Grace or limit it to any time Possibly some unwary expressions that way have done much harm But this I say sins of youth are hardly left and seldom forsaken as those bones that grow crooked in Childhood are hardly rectified when we become men It is said Mark 11.13 the time of figs was not yet the time of gathering figs was not yet as some expound that place it was a time of bearing figs for that kind of fig tree saith a learned man uses to have fruit on it of the first second and third years growth Now Christ being hungry came to see if he could find any thing upon it Old age iâ— the time of gathering fruit Youth iâ— the time of bearing fruit If you do noâ— bear fruit while you are young how shall Christ gather fruit when you are old and what then can you look foâ— but a curse 6. Good education makes the sins of youth more heynous You therefore that have sprang from Godly Parents that have been the Children of many prayers and tears you that have been brought up in Godly Families that have had many Fathers many Instructors know you cannot sin at so easie a rate as others And here I cannot but take up a sad lamentation over the degenerate children of Godly parents and ancestours Then which there is not a worse symptome among us of Gods utter leaving and forsaking us Many Sons and Daughters are so given over to looseness prodigality scurrility pride uncleanness contempt both of the form and power of Religion that if their Parents and Ancestours were now upon â—arth would they know them to be â—â—eir Posterity Surely it may be said â—f them as in the Prophet Abraham is â—gnorant of them and Israel knows them â—ot Sarah and those Holy Women of â—ld would not know their Daughters Those Squirril-brain'd creatures that â—isk from one fashion to another those â—potted and painted faces of yours do â—ore resemble Jezebel then the Saints of old And know you not that their Children you are whose works you do â—any young men their fathers were â—overs of God and Worshippers of him â—ept the Sabboth prayed in their Families were chast in their minds and body â—ust in their dealings careful of giving offence meek humble lovers of them that were good But look upon their Children do these things live and survive in them are they the inheritours of their Fathers vertues do they walk in the steps of their Godly Ancestours O no it may be said of them as in Judges 2.17 You have turned quickly out oâ— the way wherein your fathers walked obeying the
other Qu. What is required of Neighbours that live and converse together An. To consider one another and provoke to love and good works Heb. 10.24 Qu. How must we be affected in respect of those things that happen to our Neighbours An. We must rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep Rom. 12.15 1 Thes 3.7 8 9. 2 Cor. 11.28 29. o All things befalling our Neighbour may be referred either to prosperity or adversity therefore this Precept teacheth us how to behave our selves towards them in both these Estates Qu. Must we rejoyce with all men upon all occasions An. No For folly is joy to him that is destitute of understanding and it is a sport to fools to do mischief Prov. 15.21 Prov. 10.23 Qu. Must we shew our selves grieved with all men when they are grieved An. No. In case they grieve because they cannot sin as Amnon did 2 Sam. 13.2 or because there are any that seek the good of Gods Church Neh. 2.10 Qu. What must we do in this case An. Be grieved for them but not with them Psal 119.158 Qu. What is the benefit of a good Neighbour An. He is better then a Brother afar off Prov. 27.10 (p) That is afar off in place or kind affection Qu. What is the best means to preserve good Neighbours An. He that hath friends must shew himself friendly Prov. 18.24 Qu. How is that An. By bearing one anothers burthens Gal. 6.2 Qu. How else An. By relieving their miseries according to our abilities 2 Cor. 8.3 Qu. But how if there be jarring somtimes An. Let not the Sun go down upon your wrath Eph. 4.26 Qu. But what if we be daily provoked An. Be not overcome with evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12.21 Qu. But what if my neighbour be my enemy An. Love your enemies and pray for them Mat. 5.44 Qu. When a man hath many enemies what is the best way to peace An. If a mans wayes please God he will make his enemies to be at peace with him Prov. 16.7 (q) Unlesse God in his Wisdome sees it 〈◊〉 for us to be exercised with th◠〈…〉 wicked men Qu. How if a man live in a place so wicked it is not safe to have familiarity with almost any of them An. He must strive to shine as a light in a noughty and crooked Generation Phil. 2.15 §. 9. A direction concerning Contracts Qu. How must we carry our selves in our dealing towards men An. We must neither Oppress (r) By hard and extream dealings as Racking Usury taking Advantage nor Defraud (Å¿) By cunning and subtle courses as false Weights Measures c. any man in any thing 1 Thes 4.6 Qu. What is the Rule by which all our Contracts must be guided An. Whatsoever we would that men should to us we must do even so to them Mat. 7.12 Qu. What is a good help to this An. To have our Conversation without Covetousness and be content with such things as we have Heb. 13.5 Qu. Why is this such a help An. Because the love of money is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6.10 §. 10. The Rich Mans Duty Qu. What is the Rich Mans Duty An. To honour God with his substance Prov. 3.9 Qu. How is that done principally An. If he be rich in good works and and ready to distribute 1 Tim. 6.18 (t) By giving or lending freely Deut. 15.8 and sometime by forgiving debts Neh. 5.9 Qu. What things must a rich man take heed of An. Of high-mindedness and confidence in his wealth 1 Tim. 6.17 (u) A conceit that he is in Gods favour and such as he ought to be because he is Rich. Qu. What must be the rich mans joy An. That he is made low Jam. 1.10 (a) That is hath a low mind in a high condition God having given him Grace to see the vanity and uncertainty of riches and that they commend us not to God §. 11. The poor Mans duty Qu. What is the poor mans duty An. To learn to know how to be in want Phil. 4.12 Qu. What is the poor mans comfort An. That Christ for our sakes became poor that we through his poverty might be made rich 2 Cor. 8.9 Qu. What is the best means by which a man may be assured while he liveth never to fall into extremity An. To seek first the Kingdome of God and the righteousness thereof (b) That newness of life that becometh the heirs of Gods Kingdom and then all other things shall be added to him Mat. 6.33 Qu. What must be the poor mans joy An. That he is exalted to be the Child of God by Grace Jam. 1.9 §. 12. The Duty of Aged persons Qu. When is age a Crown of Glory An. When it is found in the way of Righteousness Prov. 16.31 Qu. What is the duty of the aged man An. To be sober grave temperate sound in faith in charity in patience Tit. 2.2 Qu. What is required of elder Women An. To be of such behaviour as becometh holiness and to instruct the Younger Women Tit. 2.3 4. §. 13. The young persons duty Quest What be the duties of young folks Answ Three especially Quest What is the first Answ To remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth Eccl. 12.1 Quest What is the second Answ To be sober minded and to flee the lusts of youth 2 Tim. 2.22 Tit. 2.6 Quest What is the third Answ To honour the person of the Aged Lev. 19.32 Quest What is required of young Women Answ To be discreet chast keepers at home good obedient to their own Husbands Tit. 2.5 Quest Why must they thus carry themselves Answ That they give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully least the Name of God be blasphemed 1 Tim. 5.14 2 Tit. 5. Quest Wherewithall shall young persons redress their way Answ By taking heed thereto according to Gods word Psal 119.9 §. 14. The Summe of All. Quest What is the brief summe of the whole duty of Man Answ To fear God and kâ—â—p 〈◊〉 â—â—â—mandments Eccl. 12.13 Quest What is the reward 〈…〉 Answ He that doth thâ—se â—ingâ—â—haâ—â—â—ver be moved Psal 15.5 Glory be to God alone AMEN FINIS Christian Reader BEfore thou readest mend with thy pen these more considerable faults in Printing for points and Commaes either mend them thy self or pardon them In Epist Dedic Leaf 1. for sakes r. sake In Epist to the Reader p. 5. l 2. for in r. on p. 5. l. 19. for mind r. need p. 17. l. 22. r. adherence p. 34. l. 9. r. and that not p. 38. l. 22. for a holy r. the holy p. 45. l. 20. r. fitted p. 48. l. 6. r. Banquerouts p. 61 l. 23. for let r. tell p. 65. l. 13. r. your side p. 72. l. 10 add 7. p. 74. l. penul for pulled out r. cannot bite p. 76 l. 13. for Esau r. Isaac p. 80. l. 12. r. Corrosive p. 82 l. 4. add 7 p. 107 l. 1. r. six days p. 64. l. 19. for promised r. pronounced Books to be Sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridge AN Exposition of Temptation on Mat. 4. vers 1. to the end of the 11th by Tho. Taylor D. D. A learned Commentary or Exposition on the first Chapter of the second Epistle to the Corinthians by Richard Sibbs D. D. Fol. A practical Exposition on the third Chapter of the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians with the Godly Mans Choice on Psal 4. vers 6 7 8. By Anthony Burgess Fol. The view of the Holy Scriptures By Hugh Broughton Fol. Christianographia or a Description of the multitude and sundry sorts of Christians in the world not subject to the Pope By E. Pagit Fol. These six Treatises next following are written by Mr. George Swinnock 1. The Christian Mans Calling or a Treatice of making Religion ones business The first Part. 2. Likewise a Second Part. 3. The third and last part of the Christian Mans Calling 4. The door of Salvation opened by the Key of Regeneration 5. Heaven and Hell Epitomized and the True Christian Characterized 6. The Fading of the Flesh and the flourishing of Faith An Exposition on the five first Chapters of Ezekiel with useful observations thereupon By Will. Greenhil 4 to The Gospel Covenant or the Covenant of Grace opened Preached in New-England by Peter Buckley 4 to Gods Holy Mind touching matters Moral which himself uttered in ten words or ten Commandments Also an Exposition on the Lords Prayer by Edw. Elton B. D. 4 to Fiery Jesuite or an Historical Collection of the Rise Increase Doctrines and deeds of the Jesuites Exposed for the sake of London 4 to Horologiographia Optica Dialing universall and particular speculative and practical together with the Description of the Court of Arts A new method by Sylvanus Morgan 4 to A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature and Duty of Prayer by Tho. Cobbet Of Quenching the Spirit the evil of it in respect both of its causes and effects discovered By Theophilus Polwheile Wells of Salvation opened or words whereby we may be saved with advice to young men by Tho. Vincent The Re-building of London encouraged and improved in several Meditations by S. Rolles The greatest Loss upon Mat. 16.26 by James Livesey small 80. Moses unvailed by William Guild A defence against the fear of death by Z. Croft Gods Soveraignty displayed by Will. Geering The Godly Mans Ark or City of refuge in the day of his distress in five Sermons with M ris Moores Evidences for Heaven by Ed. Calamy The Almost Christian Discovered or the False Professor tryed and cast by Mr. Mead. Spiritual Wisdom improved against temptation by Mr. Mead. A Divine Cordial A word of comfort for the Church of God A Plea for Alms in a Sermon at the Spittle by Tho. Watson The True bounds of Christian freedom by Sam. Bolton D D. out of Joh. 8. v. 36. The Lords Day enlivened or a Treatise of the Sabbath by Philip Goodwin Ovid's Metamorphosis Translated Grammatically by J. Brinsley Closet Prayer A Christians Duty by Oliver Heywood Author of the Hearts Treasure A Little Book for Little Children by Thoma White A Memento to Young and Old by John Maynard late of Mayfield Sussex