A. Of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil thou shalt not eat Gen. 2.17 Q. Did he notwithstanding eat of it A. He did eat Gen. 3.6 Q. Were many the worse for this fault of one A. By one mans disobedience many were made Sinners Rom. 5.19 Q. What evil came upon all men hereby A. By the offence of one judgment came upon all men to Condemmation Rom. 5. 18. Q. Shall all men then being thus condemn'd everlastingly perish A. There is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.1 § 3. Of Christ Q. VVHo is this Jesus A. Jesus is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5.5 Q. And was he sent to be our Saviour A. The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 Q. And did he accordingly come to save us A. Jesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 Q. After what manner did he come into the world A. He took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men Phil. 2.7 Q. Is he not true God A. He is the true God 1 Joh. 5.20 Q. Being true God how was he made in the likeness of men A. Being made of a woman Gal. 4.4 Q. What was this woman A. A Virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph Luk. 1.27 Q. And what was the Virgin 's Name A. The Virgins Name was Mary Luk. 1.27 Q. Being a Virgin how came she to be with child A. By the Holy Ghost Mat. 1.18 Q. And where was he Born of her A. Jesus was born in Bethlehem Mat. 2.1 Q. What was this Bethlehem A. The City of David Luk. 2.11 Q. Being thus made man what did he for mans Salvation A. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the Cross Phil. 2.8 Q. What was done to him after his death A. He was buried 1 Cor. 15.4 Q. But did he not rise again A. He rose again the third day 1 Cor. 15.4 Q. And whether did he then go A. He was received up into Heaven and sate on the right hand of God Mark 16.19 Q. What mean you by his sitting on the right hand of God A. God hath highly exalted him Phil. 2.9 Q. What power hath he given him A. All Power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28.18 Q. Is he then fully able to save lost Sinners A. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 Q. And is there no Salvation in any other A. Neither is there Salvation in any other Acts 4.12 Q. Who shall be saved by him A. He that Believeth and is Baptized shall be sased but he that Believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.16 § 4. Of Duties Q. IF Believing be so necessary to Salvation tell me how we must come by this Faith A. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10.17 Q. What call you the word of God A. The Holy Scriptures which are able to make me wise to Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. Is Baptism ordinarily necessary to Salvation A. Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3.5 Q. What mean you by being born of water and the Spirit A. The washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy ghost Tit. 2.5 Q. Does the promise of the Holy ghost which is the ground of Baptism belong to us that believe only or to our children also A. The promise is to you and to your children Acts 2.39 Q. In whose name is baptism to be administred A. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 Q. How should we walk who have been baptized A. We should walk in newness of life Rom 6.4 Q. How should we walk in newness of life A. Denying ungodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2.12 Q. That we may so live here then as that we may enter into life eternal in the end what must we do A. Keep the Commandments Mat. 19.17 Q. VVhich is the first and great Commandment of the Law A. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy Soul and with all thy mind Mat. 22.37 Q. VVhich is the second that is like to it A. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self Mat. 22.39 Q. But what need is there of our Obedience Did not Christ by his sufferings become the Saviour of all Sinners A. He became the Author of eternal Salvation to all them that obey him Heb. 5.9 Q. VVhat hath he in his Gospel said to us to engage our Obedience unto him A If ye love me keep my Commandments Joh. 14 15. Q. VVhat special Commandment hath he given us A. To love one another 1 Joh. 3.23 Q. And what charge hath he given us concerning our enemies A. Love your Enemies do good to them that hate you Luk. 6.27 Q. What must he do that will become Christs Disciple indeed A. Deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow Him Luk. 9.23 Q. And what hath he said to encourage us to his Service A. Where I am there shall also my Servant be and if any man serve me him will my Father honour Joh. 12.26 Q. Besides Baptism for our admission into the Church what are we enjoyn'd for our holding Communion with the Church A. To eat the Lord's Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 Q. VVhat charge hath Christ given us concerning this A. This do in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11.24 Q. Do not we hereby shew forth the Death of Christ A. As oft as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lord's Death till he come Cor 1.11.26 Q. That a man may rightly receive this Holy Supper what must he do A. Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup 1 Cor. 11.28 § 5. Of Priviledges Q. VVHAT special Benefits have we by Christ upon Believing A. Being justify'd by Faith we have peace with God Rom. 5.1 Q. But when we have offended God what must we do that our sins may be forgiven us A. Repent and be converted Acts 3.19 Q. But what hath our Saviour said shall become of us if we repent not A. Except ye Repent ye shall all perish Luk. 13.3 Q. VVhat other Benefits besides Remission of Sins do we receive by Christ A. The Adoption of Sons Gal. 4 5. Q. And what do we receive hereupon A. The Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 Q. And does God hear our prayers A. If we ask any thing according to his Will he heareth us 1 Joh. 5.14 Q. That you may obtain all good things then at his hand what must you do A. Watch and pray Mat 26.4 Q. That having done all these things you may not fall short of eternal life what must you
a Sacrament of our New Birth and the Lord's Supper of our spiritual Nourishment and growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive these Sacraments A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signify'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. VVhat is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Joh. 3.23 Acts 8.36 38. Ezek. 36.25 26. Q. VVhat doth the VVater in Baptism signify A. The renewing Grace and purifying Virtue of the Spirit of God Q. What doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. Acts 22.16 The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Spiritual Benefit of Baptism A. A Regeneration Joh. 3.5 or a New Birth Q. VVhat mean you by Regeneration or the New Birth A. A Change of our Nature Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 which being depraved by Sin is therein renew'd by the Spirit of God Q. How is Baptism to be administred and by whom A. Mat. 28.19 By the Ministers of Christ in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Acts 2.38 39. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are we bound by our Baptism A. Rom. 6.3 13. To forsake our Sins believe in Christ and lead our Lives according to the Laws of God and Rules of the Gospel Q. Wherein stands the Lord's Supper and how is it to be celebrated A. Mat. 26.26 27. Luk. 22.19 20. In a solemn blessing breaking and cating of Bread and Drinking of Wine with Thanksgiving in Remembrance of Christ Q. VVhat is the Intent and Meaning of this A. 1 Cor. 11.28 The setting forth of the Death and sufferings of Christ whose Body was broken on the Cross and his Bloud shed for our Sins Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Mat. 26.26 27.28 Q. What do this signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Jesus Christ a true Body A. Yes Phil. 3.21 the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Luk 22.19 20. 24.39 Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No they are but the signs of his Body and Bloud and Pledges of the Benefits we receive thereby 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie 1 Cor. 11.24 Gal. 3.1 A. The breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. Christ's giving himself Luk. 22 19. with the Benefits of his Body and Bloud to Believers Q. VVhat doth the receiving eating and drunking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ Joh. 5.12 6.48 58. and his Benefits to our selves by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Remission of Sins and Ratification of the New Testament Q. What mean you by the New Testament A. Heb. 8.6 9.15 16. The Covenant of Grace under the Evangelical Administration which is now establisht as the last Will and Testament of Jefus Christ whereby he hath bequeath'd unto us an eternal Inheritance Q. What follows upon the Ratification of it A. Heb. 8.8 9.10 An assured Right to all the Blessings of the Covenant with a renewed Obligation to Obedience for herein Christ gives himself with all the Benefits of his Death to me and I give my self up to serve him all the Daies of my life Q. How must you receive this Sacrament A. Heb. 12.22 29. With great Reverence and Devotion in Remembrance of Christ crucified who is herein lively set forth before mine eies 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Gal. 3.1 as broken bleeding dying on the Cross Q. But that you may be meet to receive it and partake of the Benefits thereof what must you do A. I must examine my self 1 Cor. 11.28 concerning my spiritual State Q. Herein what must you chiefly inquire after A Whether I consent to the Covenant of Grace lead my life according to the Law of God and obey the Commands of the Gospel Q. Jer. 31.33 with Heb 8.10 What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my people Q. What does the Law of God require of you A. Exod. 20.2 3 8 12. To acknowledge the true God and worship him alone as God to fanctifie the Sabbath and honour my Parents Q. And what does it forbid A. Idolatry Exod. 20.4 5 7 13 17. and Abuse of God's Name Murder Adultery Thest Lying and coveting what is another man's Q. What does God in the Gospel require of you A. Mark 1.15 1 Joh. 3.23 2 Pet. 1.7 Repentance and Faith Brotherly Love and Charity Q. In examining your self concerning these Evangelical Graces what must you inquire A. 2 Cor. 7.10 11. Whether I am heartily sorry for all my sins and stedfastly resolved to lead a new Life Gal 3.21 22. Rom. 15.12 Acts 16.31 1 Pet. 1.22 4.8 whether I stedfastly believe the Promises of the Gospel and put my whole Trust in Christ for my Salvation whether I unfeignedly love the Children of God as my Brethren in Christ and am in Charity with all men Q. But wherein must you exercise this Charity A. Mat. 5.44 6.14 15. Rom. 12.20 21. Epb. 4.28 Gal. 6.10 In loving mine Enemies in forgiving of Wrongs in doing Good against Evil in releiving according to my Ability them that are in want and doing Good as I have opportunity to all men Q. But why are these Graces of Faith and Brotherly Love and Charity especially required for the right receiving of the Lord's Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Luk. 24.47 Mat. 18.34 6.14 Because the Bloud of Christ is therein exhibited for the Remission of Sins and without Repentance there is no Remission and if we do not from our Hearts for give them that have trespassed against us which is an Act of Christian Charity God will not forgive our Trespasses against him And lastly nothing can be more necessary than brotherly Love in the Lord's Supper which is a Feast of Loves and the Communion of Saints 1 Cor. 10.17 Gen. 43.16 wherein as the Brethren of Joseph with him we feast with our Elder Brother Jesus Q. When you have thus examin'd your self concerning your spiritual State what must you further do that you may rightly receive this Holy Supper A. 1 Pet. 5 6. I must cast my self down before God and with Sorrow in my Heart 1 Joh. 1.9 make an humble Confession of my Sins and earnestly implore Mercy in the free pardon of them in the Bloud of my Saviour 1 Thess 3.10 I must bewail my weaknesses and wants and earnestly
Door and there does humbly keep And there through chinks and key-holes peep Though it like Moses by a sad command Must not come into th' Holy Land Yet thither it infallibly does guide And from a far 't is all descry'd Charms and Knots G. H. Who read a Chapter when they rise Shall ne're be troubled with ill eyes A poor man's Rod when thou dost ride Is both a weapon and a guide VVho shuts his hand hath lost his Gòld Who opens it hath it twice told VVho goes to Bed and doth not pray Maketh two nights to ev'ry day VVho by aspersions throw a stone At th' head of others hit their own VVho looks on ground with humble eyes Finds himself there and seeks to rise VVhen th' hair is sweet through Pride or lust The Powder doth forget the dust Take one from ten and what remains Ten still if Sermons go for gains In shallow waters Heaven doth show But who drinks on to Hell may go God's Greatness G. S. in 1 Sam. 2. GOD our secret thoughts displayes All our works his balance weighs Giants bows his Forces break He with strength invests the weak Who were full now serve for bread Those who serv'd infranchised Barren wombs with children flow Fruitful Mothers Childless grow God frail man of life deprives Those who sleep in death revives Leads us to our filent Tombs Brings us from those horrid Rooms Riches sends sends Poverty Casteth down lifts up on high He from the despised dust From the dunghil takes the just To the height of honour brings Plants them in the Thrones of Kings Man's Meanness G. S. Psal 8. LORD how illustrious is thy Name Whose power both Heav'n and Earth proclaim Thy Glory thou hast set on high Above the Marble-arched Sky The wonders of thy power thou hast In mouths of Babes and Sucklings plac't That so thou might'st thy Foes confound And who in Malice most abound When I pure Heaven thy Fabrick see The Moon and Stars dispos'd by thee O what is man or his frail Race That thou should'st such a shadow Grace Next to thy Angels most renown'd With Majesty and Glory Crown'd The King of all thy Oreatures made That all beneath his feet hast laid And that on Dales or Mountains feed That shady woods or deserts breed What in the Aery Region glide Or through the rowling Ocean slide Lord how illustrious is thy Name Whose Pow'r both Heav'n and Earth proclaim Humility G. S. Psal 131. THou Lord my witness art I am not proud of heart Nor look with lofty eyes Nor envy nor despise Nor to vain pomp apply My thoughts nor soar too high But in behaviour mild And as a tender child Wean'd from his Mothers Breast On thee alone I rest The word of God G. S. in Psal 19. GOd's laws are perfect and restore The Soul to life even dead before His Testimonies firmly true With wisdom simple men indue The Lord's Commandments are upright And feast the Soul with sweet delight His Precepts are all purity Such as illuminate the eye The fear of God soil'd with no stain Shall Everlastingly remain Jehovah's Judgments are Divine With Judgment he doth Justice join Which men should more than Gold desire Than heaps of Gold refin'd by fire More sweet than honey of the Hive Or Cels where Bees their treasure stive Thy servant is inform'd from thence They their observers recompence The World F. Q. O VVhat a Crocodilian world is this Compos'd of treacheries and imnaring wiles She cloaths destruction in a formal kiss And lodges death in her deceitful smiles She hugs the Soul she hates and there does prove The veryest tyrant where she vowes to love And is a Serpent most when most she seems a Dove Thrice happy he whose nobler thoughts despise To make an object of so easie gains Thrice happy he who scorns so poor a prize Should be the Crown of his heroick pains Thrice happy he that ne'er was born to try Her frowns or smiles or being born did lye In his sad Nurses Arms an hour or two and dye The Quip G. H. The merry world did on a day VVith his Train-bands and Mates agree To meet together where I lay And all in sport to jeer at me First Beauty crept into a Rose VVhich when I pluckt not Sir said she Tell me I pray whose hands are those But thou shalt answer Lord for me Then Money came and chinking still VVhat tune is this poor man said he I heard in Musick you had skill But thou shalt answer Lord for me Then came brave Glory puffing by In Silks that whistled who but he He scarce allow'd me half an eye But thou shalt answer Lord for me Then came quick wit and Conversation And he would needs a comfort be And to be short make an Oration But thou shalt answer Lord for me Yet when the hour of thy design To answer these fine things shall come Speak not at large say I am thine And then they have their Answer home The Rest F. Q. How is the anxious Soul of man befool'd In his desire That thinks a Hectick Fever may be cool'd In flames of Fire Or hopes to rake full heaps of burnisht Gold From nasty Mire A whining Lover may as well request A scornful Breast To melt in gentle tears as woe the world for rest VVhose Gold is double with a careful hand His cares are double The Pleasure Honour VVealth of Sea and Land Bring but a trouble The world it self and all the world's command Is but a bubble The strong desires of man's insatiate breast May stand possest Of all that earth can give but earth can give no rest The world 's a seeming Paradise but her own And man's Tormenter Appearing fixt but yet a rowling-stone VVithout a tenter It is a vast circumference where none Can find a Centre Of more than earth can earth make none posrest And he that least Regards this restless world shall in this world find rest The Retreat Return F. Q. Lord when we leave the world and come to thee How dull how slug are we But when at earth we dart our wing'd desire VVe burn we burn like Fire If pleasure becken with her balmy hand Her beck's a strong command If honour call us with her Courtly breath An hours delay is death If Profits Golden finger'd-charms inveigle's VVe clip more swift than Eagles Lord stop our Flight and turn our Course that we May fly as fast to thee Sunday G. H. O day most calm most bright The Fruit of this the next world's Bud Th' Indorsment of supreme delight VVrit by a Friend and with his Blood The Couch of time cares Balm and Bay The week were dark but for thy light Thy torch doth show the way The other dayes and thou Make up one man whose face thou art Knocking at Heaven with thy brow The worky dayes are the back part The burden of the week lies there Making the whole to stoop and bow Till thy release appear Man
do A. Be faithfull unto death Rev. 2.10 Q. Must you then and all men die A. It is appointed unto men once to die Heb. 9.27 Q. But shall not the dead rise again A. As in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15.22 Q. Shall the dead then be raised by Christ A. All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth Joh. 5.28 29. Q. When the dead are thus raised what shall we all do A. We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ Rom. 14.10 Q. How shall he then Judge all men A. He will render to every man according to his deeds Rom. 2.6 Q. Shall not men then be call'd to account for their words A. Of every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account in the day of Judgment Mat. 2.36 Q. What will God bring into Judgment at that day besides men's words and deeds which have been openly spoken and done A. Every secret thing whether it be good or evill Eccl. 12.14 Q. VVhether shall the Righteous go thereupon and what shall become of the wicked A. These shall go away into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Life Eternal Mat. 25.46 Rev. 22.20.21 He which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen THE Scripture-Monitor Declaring The Duties of children and servants which are required of them by the express Commands of God himself in his Word and Gospel The Duties of Children COME Psal 34.11 ye Children hearken unto me I will teach you the fear of the Lord. I will plainly tell you what the God that made you requires of you If ye mind not these things to do them you despise the Word of God which requires them And remember Whoso despiseth the World shall be destroyed but he that feareth the Commandment shall be rewarded Acts 17.31 Eccl. 12.14 Prov. 13.13 And there is a Day of Judgment appointed wherein God will certainly call you to account for these things and either punish your Contempt or reward your Obedience Now if you will indeed hearken to the Voice of God Psal 81.8 Mat. 7.21 hearken to the Voice of God and obey his Will as you must do if you would go to Heaven when you die These are the Things which you must do I. You must honour your Parents carrying your self reverently towards them For it is said Honour thy Father and thy Mother Exo. 20.12 Deut. 5.16 which is the first Commandment with Promise that it may be well with thee and thou may'st live long on the Earth Eph. 6.2 3. II. You must obey your Parents readily doing what they bid you to do unless it be any Thing which you know is forbidden of God For it is said Children obey your Parents in the Lord for this is right Eph. 6.1 And again Children obey your Parents in all things for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Col. 3.20 And remember what further Charge is given you Do all things without Murmurings and Disputings Phil. 2.24 And know If you may not murmur youhnust not rebell Absalom rebell'd against his Father and came to an untimely End 2 Sam. 15.14 with Chap. 18.14 III. You must hearken to the Instruction of your Father and Mother and be willing to be taught by them Saies Solomon to his Son My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother For they shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head and Chains about thy Neck That is the Virtues they teach you will make you more lovely in the eies of all men than the richest Jewels and Ornaments IV. When they chastize you for your faults you must bear this Correction with patience and humble Submission and amend what is amiss For saith the Apostle We had Fathers of our Flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence Heb. 12.9 You must know if they do not correct you for your faults they do not indeed love you For He that spareth his Rod hateth his Son but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes Prov. 13.24 For if they should let you go on in Sin without Correction you might at length fall into Hell and be destroy'd without Remedy And therefore God hath said With-hold not Correction from the Child for if thou beatest him with the Rod he shall not die Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and deliver his Soul from Hell Prov. 23.13 14. And is it not better that your Parents should chastize you for your Faults with a gentle Rod than that God should deliver you up for your Crimes into the hand of the Devil to torture you with a flaming scourge in the dark Mansions of Hell for ever It s surely better for you to ask Forgiveness for your Faults and to amend what ever is amiss than to murmur against them that correct you for your Good It is not against them you murmur but against God who has commanded them to chastise you when you do amiss that you may do so no more And there fore if a Son was stubborn and would neither hearken to the Admonition of his Father or Mother nor be reclaim'd from his ill Courses by their Correction he was by Gods appointment under the Law of Moses to be put to Death For it is said If a man have a stubborn and rebellions Son which will not obey the Voice of his Mother and that when they have chasten'd him will not hearken unto them then shall his Father and his Mother lay hold on him and bring him out unto the Elders of his City and unto the gate of his Place and they shall say unto the Elders of his City This our Son is stubborn and rebellious he will not obey our Voice he is a Glutton and a Drunkard And all the men of his City shall stone him with stones that he die so shalt thou put evil away from among you and all Israel shall hear and fear Deut. 21.18 21. Tho' this Law doth not take place amongst us God is no less offended with such stubbornness of Children now than he was then and therefore tho such a one may escape a Temporal Death he cannot escape Eternal Damnation V. You must learn to know God and be careful to serve him Said David to Solomon And thou Solomon my Son Know thou the God of thy Father and serve Him with a perfect Heart and a willing Mind for the LORD searcheth all Hearts and understandeth all the Imaginations of the thoughts If thou seek Him He will be sound of thee but if thou forsake Him He will cast thee off for ever 1 Chro. 28.9 10. VI. You must not mock God's Ministers but observe them with due Reverence Remember what befell the Children of Bethel who mocked the Prophet Elisha For As he was going up by the way there came forth little Children out
shall be wise but a Companion of fools shall be destroyed If it be known that a man has the plague or some infectious disease upon him will not every man shun his society Sin is the disease of the Soul not less infectious than the Plague Should you not have more care of your Soul than of your Body Is a Temporal Life in this World to be preferr'd before Eternal Life in Heaven Can you touch pitch and not be defil'd familiarly and delightfully converse with sinners and not contract the guilt of sin 'T is impossible Do you seriously reprove them for all their Oaths and Curses all their evil words and actions all their vanities and vitious excesses If so their company will soon become unpleasant to you and yours to them If not know you go away guilty of all their sins in the sight of God Oh! What a load of guilt do men carry home with them from ill Company Now are not thine own sins enough to damn thee How then wilt thou hold up thy head at the Judgment Seat of Christ when thou shalt be charg'd with all the horrible sins of that Company with which thou didst delightfully converse For he that keeps another Company in sinning heartens and hardens him in his sins and so at once promotes his and his own Damnation Surely if thou saw'st the Wrath of God and his Judgments hang over the heads of these sinners if thou saw'st those Black Devils that stand at their Elbowes to prompt them to wickedness if thou saw'st the burning Lake which is kindled underneath them into which they are ready to fall every step they take every sin they commit thou would'st be afraid to come into their Company and no Gold should ever bribe thee to become one of their Society If thou art wise and hast any regard to thy own welfare Eph. 5.11 12. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret Keep thy distance then from them and bind thy self with firm resolutions altogether to refrain their Society Hear the Counsel of the wisest of men Solomon and know therein thou hearest the voice of God Prov. 4.13 14. Enter not into the Path of the wicked and go not in the way of evil men avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away Observe here the wise man repeats expressions of the same import no less than six times to engage thee to shun the Society of sinners as if he should cry out aloud to thee and say fly fly fly fly fly fly evil Company if thou lovest the life of thy Soul or otherwise thou art a dead man utterly undone for ever Know for certain such as the Company is in which thou delightest in this World such shall thy Company be hereafter either the Saints in Heaven or the Damned in Hell If thou knowest not where to have Society with good men know its far better to remain solitary and to hold converse with God wherein the Pious Soul ascends to Heaven than to be travelling on with a great deal of merry Company towards Hell IX Be very serious and constant in the Duties of God's Service Know the service of God and the Salvation of your Souls are your great work and business in this World which you are to mind above all other things And be sure what you do in these matters you do with all your might No man will endure a negligent and slothful servant who is still mindless and heedless in what he goes about Trifling with God in matters of Eternal Consequence is utterly intolerable Be very diligent in attendance on the solemn Worship and Service of God on the Lord's Dayes and be constant in the performance of the duties of Religion Prayers and Praises to God on your own daies also but be sure you serve God in both with all humble Reverence Holy Seriousness and hearty Devotion God's Service is the most excellent employment and you must alwaies attend it with the greatest earnestness of Spirit Stir up your self to serve God with all your strength employ all the powers of your Soul in the duties of Religion Gen. 32.24 30. Hos 12.4 Jacob wrestled with God in Prayer and so gain'd a Blessing If you play the Hypocrite in your Prayers you must expect nothing but the Portion of Hypocrites in Hell-fire Mat. 24.51 When you approach the presence of God remember he is that great and dreadful God who is Glorious in Majesty and Infinite in Excellency and so address to him with all possible Reverence and Humility Heb. 12.28 Let us have Grace saith the Apostle whereby we may serve God acceptably with Reverence and Godly Fear For our God is a consuming fire Psal 95.6 And O come saith the Psalmist let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the LORD our Maker How intolerable is the Pride and Arrogance of some Persons in this duty of Prayer The greatest Subject of the Kingdom if he have a request to the King presents his Petition to him on the Knee But you shall see a sorry Servant to a Mortal man that will not be perswaded to bow his Knees to Almighty God when he should joyn with the Assembly in Publick Prayers The rude Carriage of such persons in the special presence of the All-Glorious God plainly discovers a profane and Atheistical Spirit Such an one though he be come to God's House Gen. 28.17 which is the Gate of Heaven sits there upon the brink of Hell 'T is a great instance of the Divine Patience that such a Person is not smitten with death in the place where he sits Lev. 10.1 2 3. Nadab and Abihu the Sons of Aaron we know for a like presumption were both punished with sudden Death For saith the LORD I will be Sanctifi'd in them that come nigh me and before all the people I will be Glorifi'd And therefore as you tender the Honour of God and the good of your own Souls approach Gods presence with great Reverence and Humility and serve him with great seriousness and sincerity of heart in all the Duties of Religion X. Let all your Actions and Employments your Labours and Delights even your most pleasant Recreations be season'd with the Fear of God and a serious Remembrance of Death and Judgment Where ever you are whatsoever you do remember the Eye of God is upon you and so demean your self as in his sight and presence For His Eyes are upon all the wayes of the Sons of men Jer. 32.19 to give to every one according to his wayes and according to the Fruit of his Doings Remember the day is coming when you must give an account before all the World for whatsoever you have done in the Flesh Do nothing now which you would be afraid or asham'd to own then When in the most secret place you
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
had straight forward gone To endless death but thou dost pull And turn us round to look on one VVhom if we were not very dull VVe could not choose but look on still Since there is no place so alone The which he doth not fill Sundayes the Pillars are On which Heaven's Palace arched lies The other dayes fill up the spare And hollow room with vanities They are the fruitful Beds and Borders In God's rich Garden that is bare VVhich parts their ranks and orders The Sundayes of man's Life Threaded together on time's string Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the Eternal Glorious King On Sunday Heaven's Gate stands ope Blessings are plentiful and rife More plentiful than hope This day my Saviour rose And did inclose this Light for his That as each Beast his Manger knowes Man might not of his Fodder miss Christ hath took in this piece of ground And made a Garden there for those VVho want Herbs for their wound The Rest of our Creation Our great Redeemer did remove VVith the same shake which at his Passion Did earth and all things with it move As Sampson bore the doors away Christ's hands though nailed wrought our Salvation And did unhinge that day The brightness of that day VVe sullied by our foul offence VVherefore that Robe we cast away Having a new at his expence VVhose Drops of Blood paid the full price That was required to make us gay And fit for Paradise Thou art a day of Mirth And where the week dayes trail on ground Thy Flight is higher as thy Birth O let me take thee at the bound Leaping with thee from seven to seven Till that we both being toss'd from Earth Fly hand in hand to Heaven The Church G. S. in Psal 84. O how amiable are Thy abodes great God of war Happy men who spend their dayes In thy Courts there sing thy praise Happy who on thee depend Thine their way and thou their end One day in thy Courts alone Far exceeds a Million In thy house contemn'd and poor I had rather keep a door Than with wicked men possess All that they call happiness O thou Shield of our defence O thou Sun whose influence Sweetly glides into our hearts Thou who all to thine imparts Happy O thrice happy he VVho alone depends on thee The Young Man's Mirth F. Q. * Eccl. 11.9 Young man Rejoyce what jolly mirth is here Let thy heart chear thee what delicious chear In thy Young dayes thy cares will relish sweeter Walk thy own wayes thy cares will pass the fleeter Please thine own heart carve where it likes thee best Delight thine Eyes and be a joyful Guest But know withall the day will come whereon Thy Judge will doom thee for the deeds th' hast done O what a Feast O what a reckoning 's here Thy cates are sweet the shot 's extreamly dear Grace G. H. My Stock lies dead and no increase Doth my dull Husbandry improve O let thy Graces without cease Drop from above If still the Sun should hide his Face Thy house would but a Dungeon prove Thy works nights Captives O let Grace Drop from above The Dew doth every Morning fall And shall the Dew out-strip thy Dove The Dew for which Grass cannot call Drop from above Death is still working like a Mole And digs my Grave at each remove Let Grace work too and on my Soul Drop from above Sin is still hammering my heart Unto a hardness vold of love Let suppling Grace to cross his Art Drop from above O come for thou dost know the way Or if to me thou wilt not move Remove me where I need not say Drop from above Contentment R. S. I dwell in Grace's Court Enricht with Virtue 's rights Faith guides my wit Love leads my will Hope all my mind's delights In lowly vales I mount To pleasure's highest pitch My honest meanness Honour brings My poor Estate is rich My Conscience is my Crown Contented thoughts my rest My heart is happy in it self My Bliss is in my Breast Enough I reckon wealth A mean the surest Lot That lies too high for base contempt Too low for envies shot My wishes are but few All easie to fulfil I make the limits of my power The bounds unto my will I feel no care of Coin VVell-doing is my wealth My mind to me an Empire is VVhile Grace affordeth health Prosperity F. Q. Take heed thou prosperous sinner how thou liv'st In sin and thriv'st Thou that dost flourish in thy heaps of Gold And Sums untold Thou that hadst never reason to complain Of Cross or Pain VVhose unafflicted Conscience never found Nor check nor wound Believe it Prosper thy deceitful lease Affords thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Thy Golden heaps are nothing but the price Of Paradise Thy flatt'ring pleasures and thy aery joyes But painted toyes Thy peaceful Conscience is but like a dog Ty'd in a clog Believe it Prosper thy deceitful Lease Allows thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Thy heaps of Gold will stand thee in no steed At greatest need Thy empty pleasure will convert thy laughter To groans hereafter Thy silent Conscience when inlarg'd will roar And rage the more Believe it Prosper thy deceitful lease Affords thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Paradise G. H. I bless thee Lord because I GROW Among thy trees which in a ROW To thee both Fruit and Order OW What open Force or hidden CHARM Can blast my Fruit or bring me HARM While the inclosure is thine ARM. Inclose me still for fear I START Be to me rather sharp and TART Then let me want thy hand and ART When thou dost greater Judgments SPARE And with thy knife but prune and PARE Ev'n fruitful trees more fruitful ARE. Such sharpness showes the sweetest FREND Such cuttings rather heal then REND And such beginnings touch their END Several sins F. Q. Drunkenness It is a Thief that oft before his face Steals man away and layes a beast in 's place Cross sin It is a show'r which e're we can get in And find a shelter wets us to the skin Sin of Infirmity Is like the falling of an April-show'r 'T is often rain and sun-shine in an hour Sin of Custom Is a long show'r beginning withthe light Oft-times continuing till the dead of night Sin of Ignorance It is a hideous mist that wets amain Though it appears not in the form of rain Crying sin It is a sudden show'r that tears in sunder The cope of Heaven and alway comes with thunder Sin of Delight Is like a feather'd show'r of snow not felt But soaks to th' very skin when e're it melt Sin of Presumption Does like a show'r of hail both wet and wound With sudden death or strikes us to the ground The sin of Sins It is a sulph'rous show'r like that which fell On Sodom strikes and strikes to th' pit of Hell Lord let thy saving Grace thy servants shrow'd Till we arrive where
To fit it for immortal bliss Such thoughts too serious are Himself to every pleasure gives And drowns his soul in lust In all destructive sins he lives 'Till levell'd with the dust Give me O Lord that pious care And that obsequious love That all my actions may declare I seek that place above Where we from sin exempt shall be From sorrow and from tears And where no trouble we shall see Nor be disturb'd with sears Christ Crucified R. F. Behold and see if ever any pain Did match his sorrow who for us was slain Lo God bleeds on the Cross high Heav'n descends In blood to make man and his Maker friends When guilty man lay doom'd Eternally To Death and Hell ev'n God himself could dye And smile upon those wounds that spear that grave Which our Rebellion merited and gave This love exceeds all height yet I confess 'T was God that did it how could it be less Death J. D. Death be nor proud though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful for thou art not so For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not poor death nor yet canst thou kill me From rest and sleep which but thy picture be Much pleasure then from thee much more must flow And soonest our best men with thee do go Rest of their bones and souls delivery Th' art slave to fate chance Kings and desperate men And dost with poyson war and sickness dwell Hard pains or poppy make us sleep as well And better then thy stroke why swell'st thou then One short sleep past we wake Eternally And death shall be no more death thou shalt dye The Resurrection I. D. At the round earth's imagin'd corners blow Your trumpets Angels men arise arise From death you numberless infinities Of souls unto your scatter'd bodies go All whom one floud did and fire shall or'ethrow All whom war death age agues tyrannies Despair law chance hath slain and you whose eyes Shall behold God and never tast death's wo. But let them sleep Lord and me mourn a space For if above all these my sins abound 'T is late to ask abundance of thy Grace When we are there Here on this lowly ground Teach me how to repent for that 's as good As if th' ' adst seal'd my pardon with thy blood The Judgment-Day R. C. Hear'st thou my Soul what serious things The Prophets say the Psalmist sings Of a strict Judge from whose sharp ray The world in flames shall fly away O that fire before whose face Heav'n and Earth shall find no place O those eyes whose angry light Must be the day of that dread night O that trump whose blast shall run An even round with th' circling sun And urge the murm'ring graves to bring Pale Mankind forth to meet their King Horrour of nature Hell and Death When a deep groan shall from beneath Cry out We come we come and all The caves of night answer one call O that book whose leaves so bright Will set the world in severe light O the Judge whose Hand whose Eye None can endure yet none can fly Yet thou giv'st leave dread Lord that we Take shelter from thy self in thee And with the wings of thine own Dove Fly to thy Sceptre of soft love Mercy my Judge mercy I cry With blushing cheek and bleeding eye The conscious colours of my sin Are red without and pale within O let thine own soft bowels pay Thy self and so discharge that day If sin can sigh love can forgive O say the word my soul shall live O when thy last frown shall proclaim The flocks of goats to folds of flame And all thy lost sheep found shall be Let come ye blessed then call me Heaven G. F. Behold this house where man doth now reside The flow'rs pour out their odours in his way To serve him all the creatures take a pride The winds do sweep his chambers ev'ry day And clouds do wash his rooms the ceiling gay Starred alost the gilded knobs imbrave If such a house God to another gave How shine those glitt'ring Courts he for himself will have And if a sullen cloud as sad as night In which the Sun may seem imbodied Depur'd of all his dross we see so white Burning in melted Gold his watry head Or round with Ivory edges silvered What Lustre super-excellent will he Lighten on those that shall his sun-shine see In that all glorious Court in which all glories be If but one Sun with his diffusive fires Can paint the Stars and the whole world with light And joy and life into each heart inspires And ev'ry Saint shall shine in Heaven as bright As doth the Sun in his transcendent might As saith may well believe what truth once sayes What shall so many Suns united Rayes But dazle all the eyes that now in Heav'n we praise Here that bright band that now in triumph shines And that before they were invested thus In earthly bodies carried Heavenly minds Pitch round about a Throne most glorious Their sunny tents and houses luminous All their Eternal day in Songs employing Joying their end without end of their joying While their Almighty Prince destruction is destroying Full but yet never cloy'd with what might whet And dull the keenest craving Appetite Where never Sun did rise nor ever set But one Eternal day and endless light Gives time to those whose time is infinite Speaking with thought obtaining without see Beholding him whom never eye could see And magnifying him that cannot greater be How can such joy as this want words to speak And yet what words can speak such joy as this Far from the world that might their quiet break Here the glad souls the face of beauty kiss Pour'd out in pleasure on their beds of bliss And drunk with Nectar-Torrents ever hold Their eyes on him whose Graces manifold The more they do behold the more they would behold Happiness F. Q. I love and have some cause to love the earth She is my Makers creature therefore good She is my Mother for she gave me birth She is my tender Nurse she gives me food But what 's a creature Lord compar'd with thee Or what 's my Mother or my Nurse to me I love the Air her dainty sweets refresh My drooping soul and to new sweets invite me Her shrill-mouth'd quire sustain me with their flesh And with their Polyphonian notes delight me But what 's the air or all the sweets that she Can bless my Soul withal compar'd to thee I love the Sea she is my fellow-creature My careful Purveyor she provides me store She walls me round she makes my diet greater She wasts my treasure from a forreign shore But Lord of Oceans when compar'd with thee What is the Ocean or her wealth to me To Heaven's high City I direct my Journey Whose spangled Suburbs entertain mine eye Mine eye by contemplations great attorney Transcends the Crystal pavement of the Sky But what is Heav'n great God compar'd to thee Without thy presence Heav'n's no Heaven to me Without thy presence earth gives no refection Without thy presence sea affords no treasure Without thy presence air 's a rank infection Without thy presence Heav'n it self 's no pleasure If nor possest if not enjoy'd in thee What 's earth or sea or air or Heav'n to me The highest honours that the world can boast Are Subjects far too low for my desire The brightest beams of Glory are at most But dying sparkles of thy living fire The proudest flames that earth can kindle be But nightly Glow-worms if compar'd to thee Without thy presence wealth are bags of cares Wisdom but folly joy disquiet sadness Friendship is treason and delights are snares Pleasures but pain and mirth but pleasant madness Without thee Lord things be not what they be Nor have they being when compar'd with thee In having all things and not thee what have I Not having thee what have my labours got Let me enjoy but thee what farther crave I And having thee alone what have I not I wish nor Sea nor Land nor would I be Possest of Heav'n Heav'n unpossest of thee FINIS