most heavy burthen that even over presseth him avoiding as before in this further increasing of them that he may by Gods good providence to deminish and get out of them to use all possible lawfull meanes to discharge them to beg of his God often and earnestly that he will please to free him of them to betake himselfe to such promises as in this case may most support and assure succour unto him to take the best course he can out of conscience to God whatsoever his may seem to suffer hereby that all may be fully paid that shall be found justly due at his decease and then not to trouble himself too much about them but to rest fully perswaded that the Lord as he sees good can and wil as he hath declared easily speedily amply and remarkably helpe him out of them The eighth maine part concerning Death The thirtieth Vow or the last of all and onely Vow of this maine part To prepare himselfe conscionably carefully constantly for the day of his death In this manner AMong many other these four main points offer themselves to his consideration chiefly Viz. 1 How to demeane himself in life and health 2 In time of sicknesse and at the point of death 3 Some sound reasons moving to this course 4 The great benefit following thereupon In life and health By Gods great goodnesse and grace to set himselfe about these two things especially viz. 1 To make his peace with God 2 To put his outward estate in good order For the first of these To pray to endeavour daily and seriously to search out acknowledge bewaile abhor protest against resolve to forsake fly the occasions of to beg pardon for strength to resist and overcome every knowne sinne whatsoever his especiall ones in especiall manner those principally that his wofull experience hath told him doth or may tell him have broken doe will or may most violate his sweet peace with his sweet God most trouble his mind terrifie his conscience makes him most fear Gods displeasure for the present and would most affright his soul if he were ready to dye and had not assurance they were pardoned so not daring for any respect to persist in any knowne evill impenitently but seeking of walking with his God in all things revealed to and so required of him sincerely and watchfully cleaving to the Lord with full purpose of heart in all good conscience inseperably thus dying to sinne and living to grace daily the sting of death which is sin unrepented of may be plucked out throughly so shall death have no power to hurt me Further for this By faith feelingly and effectually to apply the pardon which his most mercifull Father hath freely promised and by his Covenant examples and according to the goodnesse of his owne nature infinitely assured in the blood of the Lord Jesus for all his sinnes though never so many and hainous that the Lord loves him in his most dearly Beloved with an undeserved infinite unchangeable love notwithstanding his unmeasurable unworthinesse extreame weaknesse and never so great impediments to looke for mercy and grace the cause of true peace from the Lord of life onely often and earnestly to pray to the Prince of Peace for that Peace that he hath graciously left with and plentifully promised to his to consider be affected with and imbrace what he hath found most to further or that he daily finds and conceives he shall find to be most furtherable to the procuring and keeping this sweet peace which passeth all understanding to prize this Peace before al the world without it in any measure injoying it to be affectionately thankfull for it to be most fearfull of loosing it if it be wanting or decayed never to be at peace till it be vouchsafed or restored nor to give the Lord rest till he grant it considering the great setling against all distempers it brings with it and what miserable disquiet yea that nothing in this world can give true content without it yea that the remembrance of death is sweetned and the cure of the feare of death is furthered by it for having peace with God through Jesus Christ neither sinne nor affliction nor death nor devill nor hell shall ever be able to harme us for our God who hath assured it in spite of all that all these can make against us will cause all to procure good unto us For putting his outward estate in order According to the meanes his good God in his good providence hath afforded or shall please to vouchsafe unto him to have especiall care without delay conscionably and wisely to order all so that those to whom he may be indebted at his decease may be honestly paid that none may have just cause to complaine against him or lose the least by him that it may appeare he hath dealt honestly with every one to his uttermost power to keep a true and exact account of all he owes continually to prevent future trouble disorder and mistakings And further As by Christianity and nature he is bound of what shall remaine others to whom he was indebted being paid to provide for his Family by appointing every one his portion as conscience and equity requires and he with good judgement sound deliberation throughly weighing the circumstances and his charge sees most fit and so far as is possible for preventing heart-burnings contentions and Law-suits among those of his he leaves after him and from others against them concerning both these poynts of debts paying and division among his own timely to make carefully and constantly to keep in readinesse his Will or some other writing according to the course of Law whereby may plainly appeare what course he would have followed in each particular and as occasion requires changing or confirming the same leaving the good successe of these his honest intendments and endeavours to the Lords good blessing and which he must often beseech the Lord in the future as need requires to make prosperous that none may be wronged that his may be relieved and all contentions prevented Thus while he is in life and health In time of sicknesse At the beginning and as it increases by the Lords assistance most seriously to search out what sinnes he can conceive to have procured the visitation or that any way troubles his conscience to renew the most humble acknowledgement of them to lament and crave renewed remission of them and assurance of pardon for them also more earnestly renewing his resolutions against them and vowes if God please to send recovery no more to fall into them to ply the promised duty of examination now especially to find out as neere as he can what sinnes are threatned with the punishment of sicknesse particularly and to take the same course to be rid of them that is here mentioned already having thus nenewed his repentance and faith and his peace with the Lord in Christ to review and settle his will or writing for ordering his
may testifie to his owne Conscience that he acknowledgeth the beginning progresse and issue of all his well doing and welfare to be from Heaven onely More especially when his turne comes to watch Be it when where or upon what occasion soever to pray and rest assured that the Lords watching with for and over us onely must and will and can secure us To give his most gracious Majesty onely all the glory for our safety and that all hath gone well with us and that we were not affronted surprized ruined and made to feare flye and fall by our Enemies when we watched Principally in or against any perilous imployment In the expectation thereof and to be well prepared therefore be it never so hard and dangerous with all humility and earnestnesse oftentimes to seeke of God all direction courage of heart strength of body all sufficiency to doe worthily all preservation from shame and harm and all good successe with his soule begging of the Lord however else he please to deale with him not to leave him so to misdemeane himselfe or that any mishap should befall him whereby his Christian profession should be disgraced his honest repute blemished or the mouth of scorne and injury opened to urge his God herein to be jealous of his owne glory be the beggar never so unthankfull sinfull weake and unworthy and though he never so much meriteth to be left to doe most unworthy and to suffer all shame sorrow and harme irrecoverably ever to the death submitting himselfe to his good Gods good pleasure wholly as is more at large in his prayer to this purpose to be found in his daily devotions then that he may be the more throughly confirmed to betake himselfe to those particular promises which in this respect assure him in Christ as the Lord sees best for him the good things he so much craves which promises are manifold and to be found in his collection of promises and the which he alwayes carries about him Thus fitted by Gods good grace in his onely name and strength to discharge his duty without backwardnesse feare or shrinking bravely and resolutely not giving over till he hath done his part fully leaving the rest to the Lords disposing freely not forgetting to give his name onely for all ability and good successe all praises duly and now when the Army is abroad and his danger the more apparent to avoid all sinfull and unseemly courses and customes more carefully yea most especially In all personall imployments also Either in receiving and executing commands in sailing marching quartering watching c. to be willing forward carefull unwearied with few words without arguing with setled countenance and carriage beseemingly towards others to behave himselfe reservedly modestly quietly friendly submissively respectively fairly inoftensively as every ones person place and worth requires of him so to carry himselfe Christianly and commendably Hereunto help Lord continually The fourth maine part concerning his Family carriage The twelfth Vow and first of this maine part To abstaine from all abuses of the Marriage-bed That is IN heart by Gods especiall grace to watch and strive against all vile conceits in words all imodesty in behaviour all wantonnesse in action all voluptuousnesse yea every way whatsoever would provoke unlawfull lusts to take heed of all unseasonable immoderate and any way meerly lustfull use thereof to abstaine altogether in time of naturall seperation solemne humiliation in case of sicknesse weaknesse or any other time when purity health or modesty is wronged to beg pardon for strength against the contrary graces to prevention of Gods threatned feared and merited judgements for and grace to eschew the occasions of and power to overcome his forepast offences to labour to possesse his vessell in holinesse often and earnestly to beg the gift of continency carrying himself chastly therefore to eat drink and sleep moderately to have respect to the right use and ends of this holy Ordinance and to keep the Bed undefiled so to crave and look for the Lords blessing therein to be deeply humbled and desire mercy howsoever The thirteenth Vow and second of this maine part To labour the conversion and edification of his Wife Children Servants or any other under his roofe by all good meanes he possible can That is TEach them where when and how to performe religious exercises and what our duties are one to another and how to carry our selves Christianly in our common conversation to admonish further and hold them thereunto according to the warrant of Gods Word with wisdome mecknesse and authority to reprove their neglect or unwilling unreverend or sloathfull performing holy duties pressing upon them the danger and ilnesse thereof and the acceptablenesse and blessednesse of the contrary not seldome or softly but often and sharply to reprove whatsoever sinne or fault he observes in word behaviour and action to be in any of them in countenance and speech to shew unfained dislike of them and as need requires using seasonable correction to his Children but that not presently in passion but considerately with compâ—ssion in obedience to Gods ordinance and to shew his hatred of the sinne and not to satisfie his froward humour or as a cruell Tyrant and not like an affectionate Parent whereby the poor Children are extreamely disheartned and rather imbittered then bettered ever letting them understand their offence and that they are duly chastised according to Gods revealed will to pray unto the Lord often and unfainedly to work uppon his Childrens hearts that the corrections may work upon them kindly if Servants be refractory after often earnest and meek warning to part with them not keeping any person to serve him that continues to be prophane or that slights and mocks goodnesse yea as much as is possible to avoid entertaining any so disposed to cast out a swearer a lyar a purloyner a deceiver a scoffer a tale-bearer a strife-sower a medler a proud selfe-conceited gadding idle filthy-speaking person if such amend not to use daily upon all occasions especially at meales holy conference among them of what hath beene heard or read or otherwise out of and according to Gods Word using to catechise more or lesse daily especially on the Sabbath day calling his Family together twice a day to prayer reading the Scriptures and somewhat in a good book singing Psalmes seasonably solemnly and constantly praying for them in private especially avoyding those evils he forbids and reproves in them and doing those duties he requires of them taking great care they may not have cause to note any particular knowne falt in him or have occasion to say this you reprove in us yet practise it your selfe or thus if not so you forget c. The fourteenth Vow and third of this maine part To demeane himselfe wisely in all his wayes among them That is IN his countenance carriage and speeches to shew a grave quiet sober cheerfull wel-ordered disposition to the uttermost eschewing a churlish frowaâ—d jealous possionate
little and taking liberty sometimes he be so intangled that he cannot without great distaste be againe freed yea rather then faile at some times in some places and companies to vow against and abstaine from all wine strong beere hot-waters and the like altogether when where and among whom he feares or it is likely he may be provoked To lay to bea rt The basenesse and beastlinesse of this vice what fooles and mad-men drunkards are the sinfulnesse and punishment thereof how it layes us open to all apishnesse shame and scorn to all injuriousnesse villany and mischiefe how unfit it makes us to serve God to converse among men to discharge our calling so that no body respects or cares to imploy dare or will trust such an one yea how those that are otherwise wicked men and their owne companions in their hearts contemne scornfully speak of deride laugh at and shamefully abuse such Especially let Professors Consider seriously and conscionably how foule a blemish this vice is and how much shame scorn and injury it hath procured and will procure unto them his owne sinfull forrowfull and shamefull experience makes him speak it for it hath been cast in his teeth and he hath justly deserved it he prayes and hopes to be the better for it and resolves by Gods good grace never more to fall into it but carefully to eschew all occasions of it solemnly protesting as farre as is possible never to come in company with those who out of malice nor conscience have spoken of it or so to abridge his lawfull liberty and to carry himselfe so circumspectly and soberly that their malicious mouthes may be stopped former scandals remored and furture prevented nerer forgetting what horrible dejections of spirit terrours of conscience and distempers of body he hath found upon it therefore daily to pray and watch against it The seventeenth Vow and third of this maine part To watch against all filthinesse in all places That is NOt to invent give way to or cherish any vile conceits contemplative wickednesse or remembring any forepast uncleannesse with contentment to resist strive and pray against the first motions thereof not to utter any impure but onely chast speeches not to suffer his eyes to seek out to look at or wander after any lustfull or unclean object but to make a covenant with his eyes and to turne them from such objects nay not to behold lawfull objects of delight to stirre up lust to abhorre not at all to listen to but to forbid or else to goe away from all ribald talk songs or books detesting all such gestures and pictures taking heed of all immodest behaviour secretly or with others avoyding companying with any woman privately though at first intending no harme especially with such whose too free and loose behaviour might provoke or whose ill repute would ofter the more freedome not yeelding to the very least daliance not playing with the flame least he burne avoyding all occasions abhorring the act of all self-pollution though in never such darknesse and closely and all other abominations not fit to be named and most horrible to be committed And further Seriously considering his former offches to be deeply humbled his evill inclination to be constantly watchfull his great weaknesse to feare alwayes to remember Josephs speech and example for imitation the threatnings against and judgments upon uncleannesle to be terrefied therefrom or else to looke for the like to lay to heart whatsoever hath occasioned or may occasion any impurity in himselfe or others or that hath brought him the neerest to fall therein to run from the like hereafter to bear down his body and to break off sloth to eschew idlenesse solitarinesse and intemperance to learne well that Heathen lesson sure cerere bacho friget venus to pray often and earnestly that the Lord as he wils will please to work his sanctification that he may possesse his vessell in all holinesse and honour and that continually The eighteenth Vow and fourth of this maine part To take heed of breaking out into pashon upon any occasion Especially UPon evill suspicions without warrantable cause upon bare relations of others before hearing the cause upon taking things in the worst part wresling others words or mis-interpreting their meaning or upon rash judging or old grudge or out of an irreconcileable disposition or being crossed in his hopes or proceedings contemned in his person slandered in his good name wronged in his right ill spoken of behind his backe villified without cause or any way injured justly or unjustly if justly to be silent and doe no more so if unjustly to take heed he deserve it not and to consider Gods dearest Children and Christ himselfe were served so therefore to examine the cause seriously to weigh all circumstances warily to be informed throughly to take all in the best part to judge as he would be judged to heare the party fully if he deny it to be easily satisfied if he maintaine it having truely and soberly informed him to be silent and setled and to turne from him till his distemper and his owne heat of blood be over then to discourse againe deliberately rather to suffer as may stand with Christian decency then to enter into contention Gods Word his own and common experience tels him it is much better to cease from strife in the beginning then after the matter is divulged the one procures peace love and credit the other trouble hate and shame yea so to labour for a meek and sustering loving and forgiving disposition and to abhorre watch against and break off the contrary that whereas he hath been noted for hastinesse chollar and passion to force them by Gods grace and government to say see how remarkably is the man changed what a conquest hath he gained yet if there be cause to cleere himselfe as if the wrong may tend to the scandall of his Christian profession disabling him for his calling or blemishing his honest reputation to declare himselfe boldly and wisely and to assure them that wrong him conscience not cowardlinesse the feare of God not of their faces restrains him from taking the roughest course to right himselfe and in his calling in the greatest danger to call upon them to behold and testifie the truth thereof he is no coward that will not but he that dares not fight he that is truly valiant when there is just cause will shew it feare the Lord and nothing else by mild carriage and soft speeches prevent and cut off wrath strife and vexation de part from palsion and discord for an hasty and contentious man never wants woe and anger is a short madnesse procuring to body and mind most strange distempers The nineteenth Vow and fifth of this maine part To set himselfe against all misgovernment of the tongue without ceasing That is TO the uttermost to watch against to avoyd to breake off all ignorant speaking of things he understand not all foolith unadvised rash supershous unseasonable
hypocriticall double false deceitfull vaine proud boasting selfe-conceited vain-glorious detrading slandering tale-bearing carious malicious judging concurring uncharible gibing â—coffing medling disputing cavaling contradicting rayling reviling unmanly unfriendly diftastfull injurious reproachfull passionate provoking loose light lavish obscene prophane ungracious uncomely unacceptable unprofitable speeches To speak As he would be heard and content to answer and justifie alwayes to let his tongue consent with his brains forethinking before he speak whether it be lawfull or fitting that he is about to speak so to speak or be silent accordingly to speake of others as he would be spoken of by others to speak of the good but to conceale the ill of every one especially they being dead or absent yea though of such as have injured him and given cause to speak evill of them to be wholly silent rather then speak the lest word that offends God or wrong man considering it hath often shamel vexed and troubled him to have spoken but seldome to have held his tongue and will doe if he watch not a word out is no more ours t is then too late to say had I not said it what will follow of it Never assirming more then he knows to be true sometimes forbearing to relate things strange though true to avoid asking or answering questions or enquiring after and relating newes lightly all talking of State-matters or of great persons and their proceedings or of finding fault where it does not concerne him or more then concernes the businesse to take heed of discovering his affections by his words of speaking his owne suspitions of complaining of his condition of revealing his owne or others secrets for if he cannot keep his owne counsell why should he conceive another can or will â— not to tell another what he would not should be told forth to talke with all reverence and wisdome of holy things with all charity and sparingnesse of others courses with all lowlinesse and sobriety of his owne businesse to avoyd too much forwardnesse and too many words in praysing others who deserve it not to praise his friend with a loud voyce yet not to neglect the seasonable and serious commendation of true worth nor the thankful acknowledging the favours of his friend to flatter none to speak as each merits truly and discreetly In all his discourses To be inoffensive and acceptable to remember deliberation and softnesse not to be loud or hasty not to use re-itterations not to interupt others in speaking but to heare all out and than to speake or answer in due season to the purpose as briefly and pithily as may be with freenesse truth and plainnesse and there an end The twentieth Vow and sixth of this maine part To stirre up himselfe to edifie others in all places upon all occasions and by all means he can Thus in his Family THat all his discourses tend thereto yea to bring our needfull talke of outward things in the conclusion to the same end also if the Lord especially blesse or afflict us out of the same to labor thereafter yea out of whatsoever we hear or observe cerning others to gather occasion thereunto to speak of what we heare and read out of Gods Word or things grounded thereon to this purpose to let no occasion slip without some observation and word of edification thereout for thansgiving humiliation consolation or prayer c. Also with others When they come to visit or eat with him or he with them or that accidentally he come to converse with any in the Leaguer or garrison or any where else alwayes to remember and carefully to endeavour that we part not without some edifying discourses therefore though they be worldly vaine and wicked men if they doe not openly and utterly oppose scorne and rage at goodnesse and so shew themselves to be those dogges and swine to whom these pearls may not be given nor bread cast to seek out or catch at some passage or other that may minister occasion to say somewhat that may savour of sanctification to touch the sins observed in generall terms and to another person which he would some other present should take notice of so for well doing taking heed of naming any to avoid offence and to winne the more except it be convenient to mention the names of such as are notable examples of piety honesty sobriety and good government to move to holy emulation and imitation among such as are more civill and not openly prophane to be more free yet with very great circumspection and godly discretion so that some good may be done and no offence taken at least that no just cause thereof be given but among those that truly feare God are members of his Church and make a more then ordinary profession of Religion and would be esteemed religious to goe yet further with them to break off neednesse and worldly discourse by drawing somewhat thereout for better to ask some case of conscience or the meaning of some place of Scripture or to relate some seasonable passage heard at a Sermon or read in Gods Word c. to lay hold on some good wordspoken to hold on the good discourse to break off his owne and others wretched silence and miserable indisposition or shame to good conference and one wayor other to move thereunto Yet all In all Christian wisdome well weighing the circumstances of time place persons occasions formost fitnesse and best acceptation ever speaking circumspectly distinctly soberly friendly and reverendly with such expressions countenance and gesture that it may appeare his onely end is edifying himselfe and others avoyding speaking when and where he should not be heard or the matter not regarded and all kind of affectation in words or carriage above all beseeching God before at and after every meeting at least in heart to guide strengthen and blesse his good though most weak desires and endeavours herein doing all as his duty requires to Gods glory others good and his own satisfaction having especiall care to carry himselfe so in all his words and wayes that he may not crosse and make fruitlesse his good discourses bewailing if he hath beene with any without doing or receiving some good and that so usefull a duty of Edification hath been and is by himselfe and others so greatly neglected and by the most so much laught at and contemned The one and twentieth Vow and seventh of this maine part To demeane himselfe warily in all other things That is TO watch against to resist the beginnings of to restraine suppresse and instantly earnestly constantly to oppose keepe in and root out all hidden hatefull head-strong shamefull harmfull passions and distempers his especiall corruptions and daily failings in especiall manner that all though alas all seeds of sinne abound in him they may neither in countenance words carriage or conversation break out from him to take heed of being transported into any such speeches as may declare folly loosnesse or prophanenesse or into any unchristian indiscreet