Christ or blessed Trinity 7. and have one God and Father Rom. 16.17 Now I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions among you and avoid them He that separateth from a true Christian a child of God or any one whom Christ ewneth and receiveth though never so weak and mean doth so far separate and disown Christ himself who is the Head of that Member Consider Titus 3.2 Speak evil of no man also Jude ver 19. 2. Endeavour what in you lieth the peace of the Church and Common-wealth Mark 9.50 Have peace one with another Rom. 14.19 Follow after the things which make for peace and wherein one may edifie another Heb. 12.14 Follow after peace and holiness without which no man shall see God 2 Cor. 13.11 Finally Brethren be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Gospel is the Gospel of peace Rom. 10.15 Peace is the frequent wish and prayer of the Apostle in every Epistle one end of our calling 1 Cor. 7.15 God is the God of peace Rom. 15.33 Christ is the Prince of Peace Ephes 2.14 Our peace and peace-maker Col. 1.10 It is one of the last Legacies Christ gave to his Church John 14.27 A fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Therefore let the peace of God rule in your hearts Col. 3.15 For blessed are the peace-makers Mat. 5.9 Labour therefore for a peaceable disposition avoid contentions study to be quiet and mind your own business 1 Thes 4.11 Many and great are the benefits of peace but woful are the fruits of contentions and divisions especially of War 3. Also love one another yea all men godly persons for Godliness sake civil and moral men for their civility and morality temperance justice truth civilities and the like Yea also evil men and enemies love their persons pity them pray for them exercise civility and Christian carriage towards them but shun their evil courses and wicked opinions and ways 1 Pet. 3.8 Love as Brethren be pitiful be courteous 1 Pet. 1.22 See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently It is Christs command Mat. 5.44 Love your enemies bless them that curse you pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you and do good to them that hate you that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh his Sun to shine on the good and on the bad c. 1 John 4.7 8. Beloved let us love one another every one that loveth i. e. truly heartily for God's and Christs sake is born of God He that loveth not knoweth not God 1 Joh. 3.14 15. We know that we are passed from death to life because we love the Brethren He that hateth his brother abideth in death whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer and you know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him See before 16. Endeavour to be and alwayes walk in the fear of the Lord I mean an holy fear of offending God any way out of love to God Prov. 23.17 Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long for happy is he that feareth always Prov. 28 14. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Prov. 1.7 and 9.10 A good understanding have all they that do thereafter Psalm 111.10 The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil Prov. 3.7 and 8.13 and 16.6 It prolongeth life Pro. 19.27 Tendeth to life Prov. 19.23 And a little with the fear of the Lord is better than great treasure without it Consider I pray that you are always in his presence and that he takes notice of all your deeds words and thoughts and that we must give an account of our selves and all our ways unto God Eccles 12.13 14. Fear God and keep his Commandments for this is the whole duty of man For God will bring every work into judgment c. So 2 Cor. 5.10 Rom. 14.10 And therefore as much as in you lieth endeavour to live every day as if it were the last To this end mind two things First be careful to avoid and shun all evil and occasions of sin 1. All sin as much as may be in deed word or thought Sin is the transgression of the Law of God 1 Joh. 3.4 any swerving from the Law of God in the matter manner order time measure or end And sin and nothing but sin is evil in it self or own nature forbidden of God hated of him and severely punished by him is filthy defiles the Soul dangerous and damnable the only meritorious cause of all evil of suffering and sorrow whatsoever in body estate name liberty Soul mind here and both in Soul and body hereafter for ever in Hell Therefore be always afraid of sinning against God out of love of God and holiness which are so transcendently good and out of hatred of sin that is so exceedingly evil and will bring nothing but shame and sorrow most intolerable misery for ever How pleasing soever sin seems to sinners now it will be extreme bitter in the end And especially 2. Shun all occasions of sin As first Evil company there is a great danger of being ensnared and brought into sin by evil company at least of being grieved by them consider Dinahs case Gen. 34.1 2. Also Gen. 39.9 10 c. Prov. 13.2 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed Observe not the fool only but he also that accompanies with him therefore saith Solomon Prov. 4.14 15. Enter not into the path of the wicked avoid it pass by it turn away from it Very many hopeful persons have been utterly undone every way in their name estates bodies and souls by evil companions In any company where you have not a necessary obligation to be with them where you have no hope of doing good nor receiving good so soon as with civility you may leave them Pro. 5.8 7.22 23 27. 1 Cor. 16.13 and 15 33 1 Cor. 5.9 10 11. And especially take heed of being tainted with the foul errors corrupt opinions and the sins and abominations of the times wherein you live The fuller the world is of defilements the greater must your care be to keep your selves unspotted of the world Jam. 1.27 As Noah kept himself clear from the corruptions of the old World Lot preserved himself pure from the pollutions of Sodom Daniel was not defiled with the idolatries of Babylon Thus the fish retains his freshness in the salt Sea the rose its sweetness amongst the noysome weeds and the Diamond its brightness though it lie in the dust Keep your selves pure from foul errors and sins as you would have God preserve you safe in dangerous times as he did Noah in the Ark Daniel and the three Nobles in Babylon Ezekiels mourners Jeremiah and many others Secondly avoid evil places places of evil resort and of evil report for uncleanness drinking gaming or any other vice or ungodliness Thirdly
and condition to be always good and useful as David who served his generation Act. 13 36. and so fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the wills of God ver 22. 20. Vse Recreations when nature requires in conventent places fit company and at convenient times and seasons not in times of mourning fasting or publike calamity never on the Lords day which is to be imployed in holy exercises Read and consider Isa 22.12 13. Exod. 20.8 and use them lawfully as recreations not as a trade or calling to refresh and make you more fit for the duties of your calling civil and religious not like him that is all day or a great part of it whetting his sythe but cuts down nothing or little But always let your recreations be only such as are lawful honest harmless of good report and sutable to the end you use them gravely and soberly as Christians Dicing carding mixt-dancing scurrilous sports and stage-plays are unbecoming the piety and gravity Christians should exercise in all their act on s if not simply unlawful for Christ ans 21. Think often of and prepare daily for suffering and death For our Saviour commands all that will be his Disciples to deny themselves and take up his cross and so follow him Luke 9.23 in respect of preparation and expectation for as Solomon tells us We know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 And the Apostle James also Chap. 4. ver 14. Therefore labour to get and clear up to your selves that you have true saving faith truly repented of your sins and have all other renewing and sanctifying Graces that you have an interest in Jesus Christ that your sins are pardoned the sting of death pulled out and all sufferings shall work together for your spiritual and eternal good See before in Adversity And then for death Know and consider that when where or howsoever it cometh it is to a true believer to a godly man only a means to put off the body of sin and to free the Soul from all sin both actual and original from Satans temptations from all worldly cares sufferings and sorrows from all toil and labour from all diseases distempers weaknesses and imperfections both of body and Soul a passage from natural life to eternal life from earth to Heaven from the company of evil and ungodly men and enemies for so many are in this world to have immediate and full communion with God the Father Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit and all the holy Angels Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all other Saints departed in the faith And though you must part with many things desirable in this world and lovely as friends relations and some with riches honour and greatness in the world yet remember it is but for a time and to enjoy a far better estate incomparably better far better friends the most blessed and glorious Lord God the Heavenly Father Jesus Christ your husband Head Redeemer Justifier elder Brother the blessed Spirit your sanctifier and comforter godly relations and all the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven and free from all the infirmities and corruptions they had while on earth which sometimes made the meetings of beloved and desired friends uncomfortable yea bitter as that of Paul and Barnabas two most godly persons and dear friends and companions Act. 15 37 38 39. And though the body shall go to the grave and see corruption yet it is but for a time God will destroy death it self and the grave raise up the body and glorifie it with the Soul to live for ever in Heaven in glory and happiness Hos 13.14 Phil. 3.21 1 Thes 4 15 16 17. Who after wearisome labour all day is unwilling to go to bed and rest Isa 57.1 2. why should any be unwilling to part with the worse for a state and condition that is every way incomparably better and everlasting wherefore comfort your selves and one another with these things and in an holy humble manner triumph over death and all worldly evils as the Apostle did 1 Corinth 15.54 c. 22. Married persons husbands and wives you know you are one flesh Gen. 2.24 And therefore your duty in common is 1. To dwell together that you may be mutual helpers one to another and to live chastly keeping each to other only keeping your bodies undefiled Adultery is a great sin to be punished with death Levit. 20.10 16. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Consider Prov. 5.15 16 17 18 20 21. Drink waters out of thine own cistern c. 2. In a special manner to love one another above all other persons in the world and delight one in another above all others in respect of Gods command and because of their near union In this respect Solomon and God by him counselleth Prov. 5.18 Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth let her be as the loving Hand and pleasant Roe let her brest satisfie thee at all times This is the wives duty as well as the Husbands Love is the ground of all other duties and good carriages the bond of perfection it bindeth together all those duties that do or ought to pass between man and wife neighbour and neighbour Love provoketh constraineth to all duties where this is wanting all other duties will be wanting and often altogether neglected or slightly performed and where true love is there all other duties will be readily performed 3. To bear one with another and bear one anothers infirmities Gal. 6.2 Bear ye one anothers burden and so fulfil the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 4. To defend protect and preserve one anothers person good name credit and chastity 5. To nourish and cherish one another Eph. 5.29 No man hateth his own flesh but nourisheth cherisheth it Now husband and wife are one flesh and thus doing they do in effect preserve their own persons lives chastity credit comfort and nourish their own bodies This duty lieth on them at all times and in all estates and conditions in sickness and weakness in health in poverty lameness c. as well as in time of health strength beauty prosperity yea though the other party be not able or wilfully wanting to do his or her duty because of Gods command their near conjunction and solemn Matrimonial covenant to take one another for better for worse for richer for poorer c. 6. To be diligent provident careful to increase preserve that estate which God hath or shall give you the command of God reason and your own common interest mutually bind both to be as careful of the goods of the family as if they were their particular own goods and therein also to be helpful one to another 7. To govern the children servants and whole family wisely and discreetly for the good of the whole family and therein also to be helpful one to another 8. Especially to be the helpers one to another for the good of your Souls using all loving means to win and draw
the hand and power of sin Satan death and hell bring them into his Church and kingdome by effectual calling and regeneration and to govern them by his word and spirit to life everlasting John 10.16 Haggai 2 7. Ezek. 34.23 24. Also there must be a particular and distinct knowledge in some measure of the moral law of God and of the Sacraments Of the law of God a brief sum of which we have contained in the Decalogue or Ten Commandments which contains the duty we doe owe to God and Man what is evil and what we are to repent of shun and avoid and what we are to do and practice how we are to carry our selves both towards God in all duties of piety and holiness and towards man our selves and others in the duties of mercy justice and equity The Sacraments also There must be a particular knowledge of the Sacraments of the new Testament viz. Baptism the Lords Supper Baptism is a Sacrament of our ingrafting into Christ communion with him and entrance into the Church Mat. 28.19 Rom. 6.3 4. It signifies the washing away of sin from the Soul by the blood of Christ and the renewing graces of his Spirit and so our justification and forgiveness of sinnes and our sanctification Mark 1.4 Acts 2.38 Titus 3.5 And binds all that have been baptized to believe in Christ forsake sin and live holy according to the command of God Acts 8.37 38. Mat. 3.8 Rom. 6.3 4 5. Baptism it a priviledge which belongs to all the Infants of believing Christian Parents Mark 10.13 14. When some would have hindred the Parents from bringing their young children to Christ to bless them his Disciples rebuked those that brought them but when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of these and such like is the kingdome of God If little children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Infants Children new borne as Luke hath it Luke 18.15 be within the Covenant as they are then they ought to have the Seal of the Covenant and if they be of Gods kingdome his subjects then they must wear his Livery and badge Infants are now as capable of receiving Baptism and the benefits of it as the Infants of the Jews were to receive Circumcision and what is now objected against Infant-baptism might as well have been alleadged against the Jews circumcising their children therefore to lay aside or deny Infant-baptism to the children of believing Christians is in effect to make themselves wiser then God I will add but one argument That which was commanded and practised by the people of God for two thousand years yea and much more was approved and commanded of God and is no where forbidden or repealed is still to be used but the sealing of the Infants of believers with the first seal of the Covenant was commanded practised by the people of God so long also approved and commanded of God and 't is no where repealed or forbidden shew it if any can therefore it is still a duty to be observed by Christian believing Parents Object It is objected that Infant-baptism is no where commanded in the new Testament nor any express example and we must do nothing without divine warrant Answ True but this is sufficient warrant to give the first seal of the Covenant to Infants was expresly commanded in the old Testament and is no where repealed or forbidden therefore a duty still as the observation of the Lords day or Christian Sabbath is by the fourth Commandment Besides there are express general commands to baptize Infants in the New Testament as Mat. 28.19 Act. 2.38 39. and general examples of whole housholds and 't is much more then probable there were many children in them let them prove the contrary if they can men had need to have cleer express Scripture to lay aside a duty commanded and approved of God so long practised by the godly by the whole Church of God It troubles me to see and hear that any professing godliness should be so far deceived and be so injurious to themselves their poor Infants as to deny to give them that priviledge and favour which undoubtedly Christ allows and intends whose grace and priviledges are not less to the children under the Gospel then to them under the Law but rather much more That place most think is full Rom. 11.17 The Gentiles being ingrafted into the true Olive-tree do partake of the root and fatness of the Olive-tree of all the priviledges of the Jews the true Church of God whereof Abraham was the root and father of which to be within the Covenant to be members of the Church of God and have the first Seal of the Covenant which now is baptism is one and when they come to years the Sacrament of the Lords supper also I will add but this If Christ under the Gospel hath barred Infants of believing Parents of the Sacrament of Baptism then it is either in mercy or in judgement let them that deny Infant-Baptism make their answer I know readily what to reply But I now study brevity brief hints onely not large treatises 2. The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is also an ordinance instituded by Jesus Christ in the same night in which he was betrayed to be a Sacrament of our continuance and growth in Christ to represent and signifie the body and blood of Christ crucifyed for our sins together with all the benefits of his suffering and death 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.23 24 25 26. To be a special token and pledge of his great love in suffering and dying for lost and miserable sinners and enemies Rom. 5.6 7 8. The end is to confirm our faith in Christ communion with him and all saving graces in us but it cannot confirm these where they are not to keep in remembrance the Lords death until he come again and to testify our love one to another 1 Cor. 10.16 1 Cor. 11.24 26. 1 Cor. 12.13 These and all other grounds and principles of the Christian Religion at least those which are absolutely necessary to life and salvation must be known and understood for without a particular distinct knowledge of these doctrines of faith and godliness in some measure there can be neither saving faith nor repentance nor love nor holiness in truth without which there can be no salvation John 17.3 Isai 53.11 This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Prov. 19.2 Without knowledge the minde is not good Hos 4.6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledg Particularly concerning the Sacrament consider 1 Cor. 11.27 29. Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and eateth and drinketh damnation to himself Mark the reason in the next words not discerning the Lords body
you all the world when he has left many even great ones as well as others to live and dye in their sins and perish in their ignorance unbelief and impenitency The Lord increase it in you daily more and more where it is begun and preserve you to his heavenly kingdom But if you be still grosly ignorant or in your unbelief and impenitency you so many of you as so continue are in the state of nature in the gall of bitterness without Christ servants to sin slaves to the Devil children of wrath and so living and dying must perish eternally Give me leave therefore plainly to tell you the truth for you will finde it so and no way possible of escaping the wrath to come if you will not believe me read your selves Psal 9.16 The wicked and all that forget God shall be turned into Hell that is all that do not so know God as to remember him and obey his command Read also Hos 4.6 2 Thes 1.7 8 9 10. Then 2. Consider the absolute necessity of divine knowledg in some degre of faith repentance love to God and men of sincere obedience to his commands and of holyness unto life and salvation For without knowledge of the doctrine of the Gospel and law also in some measure there can be no true faith nor repentance nor love nor true obedience nor holyness of heart and life no justification no pardon or forgiveness of sins nor any true peace or comfort in life nor death neither here nor hereafter To this end I beseech you read and consider seriously these and other such like places of Scripture though some of them have been mentioned already before viz. concerning the necessity of Knowledge John 17.3 Hos 4.6 2 Thes 1.7 8 9. Of Faith John 3.16 Mark 16.16 Of Repentance Luk. 13.3 5. Ezek. 18.30 31. Of new obedience to God of righteousness and holiness of heart and life Heb. 12.14 Rev. 21.8 27. and 22.14 15. 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Gal. 5.19 20 21. and 6.7 8. 3. Consider your miserable condition without some measure of knowledge faith and other saving graces and holyness If you be destitute of these and so go on still in your ignorance or unbelief and impenitency and disobedience to the commands of God there will be no hope or possibility you shall for ever be shut out of Heaven deprived of Gods favour health peace liberty ease and of all worldly good things of every good thing that may afford you any the least joy comfort ease or content moreover you cannot so living and dying escape being condemned and turned into hell when you dye there to be tormented for ever with the Devil and the damned spirits read and consider in the fear of God Mat. 25.41 46. without any hope of an end release ease or mitigation Revel 14.10 11. Luke 16.23 24 25 26. They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb the smoake of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever they have no rest day nor night O woful that word of being tormented for ever and ever is the most transcendent astonishing thing the very fore-sight or fore-thought of it is very dreadful to them that have their consciences any whit awakened See Isai 33.14 The sinners in Zion were afraid fearfulness surprized them so that they cryed out Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings If the sight or thought of it at so great a distance was so dreadful as that nothing run in their minds and mouthes but devouring fire and everlasting burnings what will the torment it self be when felt and if the pain of one member here tormented with the gout stone head-ach tooth-ach cholick or the like sometimes be so grievous especially when in an high degree which usually is but for a few hours or dayes at most what will the torments of hell be which shall continue not onely for a few daies or years but for very very many thousand and hundred thousands of years yea for ever and ever never to have any end or any the least ease or mitigation of pain no not after millions and millions of years You know the sad story or parable of the rich glutton Luke 16.19 c. who immediately after death was cast into hell and being in great torments could not obtain so much water to cool his tongue as would hang on the tip of ones finger no not of merciful Abraham his Father as he truly called him according to the flesh The Lord help you and I seriously to consider this so as to prevent it 4. Consider how long you have lived how much of your time is spent already how uncertain your life is how short it may be and how suddenly death may come on you Many in the world yea some which many of us have known have been alive and well in the morning and dead ere night and some that have gone to bed well were the next morning dead and of some alive well ill and dead in a few houres I shall privately minde you of one whom divers of you and my self very well knew an antient Gentleman of very good parts that in harvest last 1669 was in good health supt very well was very cheerful and lively walked abroad after supper his wife one or two more being present fell down suddenly dead without so much as giving a groan or sigh And as death suddenly befell him so it may do any of us that survive Oh that they were wise said God Deut. 32.29 that they understood this that they would consider their latter end But if any will not hearken to God repent and return to him but go on still in sin presuming on the mercy of God how just may it be with God and what cause is there to fear that he will not hereafter give them time to repent or else not give them the means or if both time and means yet not the grace to use that time and means so as to repent to salvation who have and do willingly neglect the present time and means We all know well enough that God himself hath said Pro. 1.24 25 26 to 32. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded c. I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh as a whirl-wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not finde me for that they hated knowledg and did not chuse the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their
CHRISTIAN ADVICE Both to OLD and YOUNG RICH and POOR Which may serve as A DIRECTORY At hand Ready to direct all Persons almost in every State and Condition Under XXVII General useful Heads Rom. 10.1 Brethren my hearts desire to God and prayer for you all is that ye may be saved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omne crede diem tibi deluxisse supremum Hor. Si Christum noscis nihil est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caeteta noscis If Christ you know though nothing else 'T will bring you unto bliss If all things else and know not Christ Of Heaven you shall miss LONDON Printed for Edw. Brewster at the Crane in Pauls Church-yard 1671. T. Cross sculpsit The Effigies of Mr. Tho Mocket some time of Qu Col Camb Mr of A in both the Universities and Minister of the Gospel Aetatis suae 68. A D 1670. The Effigies of the Reverend Author of this Worke M T M Haveing knowne him many yeares I thought good to add out of respects to him Edw Brewster A few VERSES On Psal 39. v. 5. Amici cujusdam THreescore and ten the age and life of man In holy Davids eyes seem'd but a span Yet half that time is lost and spent in sleep So only thirty five for use we keep Our dayes of youth must be abated all Child hood and youth wise Solomon doth call But vanity meer vanity he saies Is what befalls us in our childish daies Our daies of age we take no pleasure in Our daies of grief we wish had never bin So time deducted youth and age and sorrow Only a span is all the time we borrow Now we do count our time by years monthes dayes Ere long we reckon must another wayes Make it your work here so to live and dye That you may live with God eternally Live every day as if it were your last day To The Right Honourable truly Noble and Religious and now also the aged Lady the Countess of Exceter increase of honour holiness and comfort here and perfection hereafter Madam ALthough you might wonder that such an one as I should presume to present so small and mean a piece to your hands and under your name to the world who have so many rare and excellent Workes of eminent men of your own already yet be pleased to pass by my boldness and to accept my Reasons that moved me so to doe though slender I had sometimes the honour to wait on and preach to the Right honourable Lord John Earle of Bridge-water Baron of Brackly and Elsemere c. your Father and then Lord President of the Marches of Wales under King Charles the first long since deceased and had I may truly say without ostentation respect and favour above my expectation and deserts and promises of preferment I also well knew the Lady Catherine Courten your Sister deceased very worthy to be remembred and honoured who was pleased to accept of a small piece from my hand also your great candor piety and goodness which God of his free grace hath inriched you with for which I cannot but much honour you and if your Ladyship shall be pleased to favour a poor Minister of Christ so far as to let this mean piece come to your hand and pass abroad under your Name though mean and homely I trust it may be of some use to others and possibly to your self seeing the truths of God are the same though in a mean dress and great souls must be nourished with the same sincere milk of the word go to Heaven in the same plain way of truth and holiness Though this be but as Goats hair was to make an outward covering to save the rich Furniture and Curtains of the Tabernacle and make other rich pieces appear with more lustre and beauty this plain homely dish of spiritual food may give you occasion to relish value and desire others the more and to feed more savourly on them And so your Lady ship will oblige me to be most ready MADAM To love honour and serve you in the Lord while I am THO. MOCKET The Contents and principal Heads handled in this Treatise THe Preface Pag. 1 An Exhortation to some to get and exercise these fundamental Graces Pag. 4 1 Sound Knowledg Pag. 5 2 Saving Faith Pag. 25 3 True Repentance Pag. 26 4 Unfained Live to God and Men Pag. 27 5 Sincere Obedience Pag. 29 Six moving considerations to get and grow in those Pag. 36 Exhortations and Advices to all in general Pag. 41 1 To read the Holy Scriptures dally Pag. 42 2 To take and improve the opportunities of hearing Pag. 45 3 To meditate often Pag. 46 4 To be careful to keep holy the Christian Sabbath and Lords-day Pag. 47 5 To pray daily Pag. 48 6 To sing Psalms often Pag. 53 7 In performing duties to be careful to perform them in a right manner and not to rest in the duty Pag. 54 8 To obey Magistrates Pag. 56 9 To have a lawful Calling and use it lawfully Pag. 58 10 To be watchful to observe the seasons and opportunities of doing and receiving good Pag. 64 11 To Charity Pag. 72 12 To them in prosperity Pag. 75 13 To them in adversity Pag. 77 14 To them under temptations to sin Pag. 82 15 To studie unity peace and love Pag. 85 16 To endeavour to be and walk always in the fear of the Lord Pag. 90 17 To study to carry themselves affably courteously and neighbourly to all Pag. 104 18 Use a moderation in all things at all times and to all persons Pag. 106 19 Study and endeavour to be good and useful in all relations Pag. 112 20 To use recreations when nature requires lawfully and wisely Pag. 114 21 To think often and prepare for death Pag. 115 22 To married persons generally particularly to Husbands Wives Page 118 23 To Parents Pag. 130 24 To Children Pag. 139 25 To Masters and Governours of Families Pag. 153 26 To Servants Pag. 160 27 To them that are poor Pag. 173 28 Some Objections answered Pag. 177 29 The Conclusion with some choice Scriptures Pag. 188 To My dear Relations Friends and Acquaintance especially in the Counties of Kent London Middlesex Hertford and Essex T. M. heartily wisheth Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ with a daily encrease thereof DEAR FRIENDS YOu have been loving kind and respective unto me and mine and now being Aged drawing near unto seventy I am very desirous to leave with you a few lines instead of a worldly Legacy which I am sure many of you need not nor desire as a Testimony of my thankfulness unfeigned love due respects and hearty desire of your real good temporal and eternal that they may be present with you and speak unto you when I cannot come at you or am gone from you into the place of silence and therefore I have been desirous to publish these lines the substance
satisfie the vast and boundless desires of the Soul which cause is God for the Soul could not make it self and its admirable faculties 5. The practices of Satan prove as much for the devil labours by all means to move men to deny God to draw them to sin and all ungodliness to extinguish the light of the word and to keep men in ignorance bring them into errours prophaness and all wickedness as our present times and all Ages prove by woful experience and so to bring men to eternal destruction which plainly shews that there is a God who is most holy just good and that gives eternal life to his children servants that desire faithfully to serve him keep his law and obey his commandments John 10.27 28. Heb. 5.9 6. The consent of all Nations in the world prove clearly that there is a God no Nation was ever so barbarous as not to acknowledge and worship a God as the Heathen Orator Cicero observed although they could not by the light of nature know the true God yet they had and worshipped many Gods or Idols rather yea some unknown as Acts 17.23 To the unknown God that they might be sure amongst them all to worship the true God a plain sure argument that they knew there is a God to whom divine worship is due 7. The defence protection and increase of the Church and people of God who were very few at the first notwithstanding all the malice fury power and policy of the Devil and all worldly men his instruments who were very many to one Christian and those many of them of great Authority malice power and policy and laboured with all their might by all means possible that the Devil and worldly men could invent utterly to root out all that did own and profess Jesus Christ and the Christian Religion as Psal 83.2 3 4 5 6. Notwithstanding the Christians have been wonderfully preserved defended supported and strengthned to indure contempt disgrace poverty imprisonment and the most exquisite torments that could be invented even to the death with invincible courage and admirable patience comfort and cheerfulness also many of them were much increased by the very same means the Enemies used to root them out and the Enemies were plagued with dreadful judgements and horrors of conscience so that many of them out of anguish and despair of attaining their ends the destruction of the Church made away themselves others did leave their places of great Authority power wealth and honour which is an evident demonstration that there is a God of infinite power wisdom goodness and justice that did so defend protect support comfort and multiply his suffering people and disappoint plague and severely punish their Enemies that they might easily see their sin in their punishment 8. Lastly to name no more it is an evident and undeniable argument that there is a God that such as have studied to become Atheists could never blot this truth out of their consciences but at some times were forced to confess that there is a God at least to fear and tremble at the thoughts of his Majesty and wonderful workes as thunder and such like 2. That there is but one God is evident to common reason because there can be but one infinite omnipotent eternal and most perfect being but one first cause of all things for all things are referred to one first cause Dan. 4.35 Rom. 11.36 Revel 1.8 and 4.11 3. That there are three distinct persons or manners of subsisting in that one God-head That there is a plurality of divine persons more then one is evident from the Hebrew forms of speaking of God Gen. 1.1 In the original word for word Gods he created a Noun plural to a Verb singular Isai 54.5 Thy makers is thy husbands Eccles. 12.1 Remember thy Creators So Psalm 149.2 Also Genes 19.24 Jehovah rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven likewise Gen. 1.26 Let us make man Job 35.10 These and divers other Hebrew forms and expressions prove that there is a plurality of persons of divine persons in the God-head That there is a Trinity three distinct divine persons in the God-head is clearly evidenced and so as cannot with any colour of reason be denyed from those words of our Saviour Matth. 28.19 Go and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost Also from 1 John 5.7 There are three that beare record in Heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one namely one God See likewise Mat. 3.16 17. Which three divine persons in that one undivided essence nature or God-head are these the Father the Son and the Holy-Ghost or Spirit and are all co-equal co-essential and co-eternal of a most pure and spiritual nature infinite in understanding wisdom power goodness mercy most holy and most righteous That God is the creator maker preserver and governour of the whole world and of all persons and things in it with all their actions and events that he made man after his own Image in knowledge righteousness and true holiness who by eating of the forbidden fruit lost the Image of God in which he was created and all his peace and happiness and all mankind in him and became very sinful and miserable of himself and by nature altogether unable to do any thing that is truly and spiritually good and pleasing unto God or not to do evil which brings guilt and condemnation That Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God the second Person in the blessed Trinity took on him the nature of man and was made in all things like unto us sin only excepted was born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate and so on as it is in the Creed and this that in our nature name and stead he might fulfil the law satisfie Gods justice and purchase for all his righteousness and life eternal Also that Jesus Christ is the Prophet Priest and King of his Church 1. A Prophet to reveal unto us the way to everlasting life what we are to know believe and do that we might be eternally saved Deut. 18.18 19. John 6.14 Luke 4.18 19. 2. That he is a Priest and our great high Priest to offer up himself a sacrifice once for all Heb. 5.1 and 9.26 Which he did by his suffering death and rising again to satisfie the justice and law of God for mans sins in transgressing his law and thereby purchasing for all his eternal redemption reconciliation forgiveness of sins justification acceptation of our persons and services and eternal life Rom. 4.25 and all good things needful for this life and that to come and also to make intercession to the Father for us Heb. 7.25 3. That Christ is also a King to bridle and subdue all his Enemies Col. 2.15 1 Cor. 15.28 Psal 110.1 2. and so gather govern his Elect and chosen powerfully to save them out of
false way ver 113. I hate lying vanities but thy Law do I love Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will O God yea thy Law is within my heart Psal 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy way do I love and as Paul Rom. 7 22. I delight in the Law of God after the inward man Rom. 8.6 7. To be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 5. Look also to your thoughts that they be good useful holy heavenly spiritual of good things yea as much as may be on the best things to desire them labour for them love them delight and rejoyce in them And on evil things especially of sin to shun avoid and abhor them Prov. 22.3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil hideth himself but the simple pass on and are punished Be careful to watch against and avoid vain foolish idle thoughts but much more vile wicked thoughts envious malicious unclean revengeful proud and all other ungodly thoughts You read what a reproof God gave Jerusalem Jer. 4.14 Oh Jerusalem wash thy heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge in thee 6. Above all look to your hearts they are the spring and fountain of all good and evil thoughts affâ—ctions words and actions Therefore the Wiseman counselleth Prov. 4.25 Keep thy heart with all diligence the Hebrew is above all keeping mark his reason for out of it are the issues of life All good holy gratious thoughts desires affections words and actions spring from a good and holy heart and all evil and wirked from an evil and wicked heart Make the heart good and all will be good if that it be naught all is naught Tit. 1.15 To the unclean all things are unclean Mat. 12.34 35. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things And then remember that God always sees you and his eyes are upon you Prov. 15.3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good The thoughts of some eminent grave person standing by as Cato Laelius or Scipio would be a means to keep men from doing any uncomely thing as the Heathens supposed and so adjudged Seneca How much more will the believing that the All-seeing holy and righteous Lord is always present The Rabbins were wont to say that if a man did remember three things he should not sin viz. 1 His creation that he came from the dust 2. His end he must return to the dust and 3. the strict account he must give The Hebrews have another like saying to that purpose That if a man did think of three things he would not sin viz. 1. Of the Eye that sees all 2. of the Ear that hears all and 3. of the Book in which all his faults are written 17. Study to carry your selves affably courteously neighbourly to all persons as well to the poor as to the rich to be beneficially publike spirited and ready to do good to all persons charitable open-handed to the poor when they come hid them welcome sit down Job professes he did not eat his morsel alone but the fatherless eat thereof he was to him as a father the loyns of the poor blessed him and he was warmed with the fleece of his sheep Job 31.17 18 20. Humility affability Charity do much adorn Religion put a beauty and lustre on it honor our conversation stop the mouths of evil men are pleasing to God good and profitable to men gain the esteem and good will of many and a good report in the world Luk. 7.5 Act. 10.22 oftentimes make friends of foes at least sweeten their sour natures and stop the mouths of such as would otherwise be open against Professors and Religion it self But a sour high losty slighting carriage scarce bidding a poor or mean Neighbour drink or sit down or perhaps as some proud persons scarce speak to them or take notice of them doth very much unbecome civil persons much more persons professing Christianity and loseth them much in their hearts and affections and often gives occasion to slight and speak evil of them and of Religion for their sakes While God gives and I have it I would not willingly let any poor Neighbour go away without some refreshing unasked or other expressions of charity and neighbourliness I have often seen the good fruit of it and am sure Christ Luk. 6.38 saith Give and it shall be given to you again good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosoms Matth. 10.42 Whosoever shall give a cup of cold water only in the name of a Disciple verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward Remember also that loving courteous words to them and of them though they be never so inferiour and bad also is as cheap as evil harsh surly or churlish words and only pleasing to God and men words of contempt are commonly returned in the like kind full measure running over by some others Not railing or evil-speaking but let every one of us please his Neighbour for good saith the Apostle Rom. 15.2 But what good office soever you do do it heartily as to the Lord and not to man Gal. 3.23 Ephes 6.5 18. Vse moderation at all times in all things and to all persons Phil. 4.5 Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand Be not only temperate and moderate but let it appear abhorring vain-glory in all things and always so that all that know you and your conversation may see it and be gained by you not unlike to that of our Saviour Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven This the Apostle exhorts to in the word sober 1 Thes 5.6 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 and 4.7 and 5.8 one of the three great lessons the Gospel teacheth Titus 2.11 12. Vse a moderation in the use of meat drink and apparel for the quantity the quality and the fashionableness that it be not too much too rich or costly nor too conformable to the world and garish but always within the bounds of Religion reason your estate calling degree and condition of life never beyond but alas the devil pride and self have so blinded all sorts and ranks of men and women and almost all of all sorts that our eyes are almost out that we cannot see wood for trees but take one for another vice for virtue Vse a moderation in spending and laying out your estate if you have never so great an overplus there are other ways and uses that may be laid out more to the Glory of God the good of others and much more to your own advantage whereas vain and lavish spending in the former or any
thanks-worthy if a man for conscience towards God indure grief suffering wrongfully for what glory is it if when ye are buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God for even hereunto are ye called because also Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow him who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth See here is Gods command Christs example their own duty comfort and benefit to themselves do all bind servants to a meek and patient bearing of reproof and correction blows also 5. Bear with your Masters infirmities for the best of men have their infirmities are subject to like passions as other men as 't is said of Elias Jam. 5.17 as you your selves also have yours and therefore make conscience of bearing with them in others especially in your Governors concealing and covering them in love as much as may be It is a sinful thing to publish or blaze them abroad to the dis-credit of their Master is indeed to their own discredit shame in the end yet it is too common for servants when they meet together to talk of and blaze their Masters and Governors infirmities and secrets also that others abroad know what is said and done secretly in the house Such the Holy Ghost condemneth as tale-bearers Prov. 11.13 and 20.19 and the Apostle as tatlers and busie-bodies wandring from house to house and speaking things they ought not 1 Tim. 5.13 I say also it redounds to their own discredit and shame for who will credit or like such as tattle abroad what they see or hear at home or knowingly receive or willingly retain such in their houses All sober persons will utterly dislike and condemn such persons for so doing To back all these duties and put all servants on to make conscience of performing these duties consider these weighty Reasons 1. The will and express command of God as you have heard so that in a willing neglecting any of these you sin against God and provoke God against your own souls 2. You wrong your Masters whose good you ought to endeavour heartily and honour their persons and authority 3. The great reward you shall receive if not of men yet to be sure of God who has undertaken to be your pay-master Eph. 6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free 4. The place Masters are in namely over you in the Lord as your Head and Governour and you in the place of subjection to them so that whatsoever the birth parentage estate parts or former conditions of any of you were yet now being servants by your own voluntary choice or Divine Providence you must be subject and do the duty of servants and it is much better to do that cheerfully and faithfully which must be done and will be much for your comfort and benefit 5. The faithful discharge of these duties is a good way to adorn the Gospel credit Religion and Godliness honour the Name of God the contrary will be an occasion of blaspheming the Name of God and of the Gospel and the ways of Godliness 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2.10 and hindring the good of Souls 6. This is one end of your calling to Grace to serve others faithfully 1 Pet. 2.21 22. whereunto also you are called though the place speaks especially and particularly of suffering patiently for well-doing yet excludes not the other but includes it 7. Fellow-servants must be loving one to another and be a help and comfort one unto another in all well-doing and by all lawful means as much as may be that their lives may be more sweet and comfortable to themselves more pleasing to God and their service more acceptable unto their Master and give one another and others a good example of faithfulness diligence chastity sobriety godliness and all Christian vertues and well-doing 8. I might add there will be a day of Death and Judgment in which both Masters and servants must give an account unto God the Judge of all the world how they have carried themselves in their relations one towards another 2 Cor. 5.10 Eccles 12.14 27. Lastly To those that are poor in the world I must add a few words particularly for their comfort and direction and I pray observe them well 1. If now for your comfort you be truly Godly that is know God and Jesus Christ savingly and if you do truly desire to believe and endeavour to serve God daily and faithfully though but weakly as your education 't is probable hath been but mean then you are rich and great in the sight of God God is your Father and Jesus Christ your Redeemer Justifier and Saviour the Holy Spirit is your Sanctifier and Comforter and Heaven your in heritance all is yours if you be Christs 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Bless God with all your Souls serve him with all your heart you are happy in a far better condition than many thousands though you have little or nothing in the world and they have hundreds or thousands by the year if they be Christless ungodly and graceless and such I am confident some of those to whom I intend this are Fear not you shall never want things necessary any thing that God your Heavenly Father knows to be good and necessary for you Consider Psal 34.9 10. 84.11 Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Consider well Mat. 6.25 to the end where you shall read how Christ argues for your comfort and ours also Where God gives life which is the greater better gift says Christ he will give meat and drink which is the lesser and he that gives a body will give raiment which is the lesser good He that will give a hundred or thousand pound to his childe will not be wanting to give him a little meat drink and clothes a few shillings for his present necessaries He that cloth s the field with grass and corn and the Lillies that neither toil nor spin Yea He that feeds the ravens kites and other Birds and Beasts that live on prey God provides for them when they awake in the morning they sing and are merry and yet they do not know where they shall have one small bit and they praise their Maker in their kind depend on him without distracting or carking distrustful cares and he provides for them every one food convenient in the due season Read Psal 104.27.28 and 147.15 16. How much more will he provide for you who truly desire and endeavor to serve and fear him Be not faithless but beleeve But 2. If you have not true saving knowledge and sanctified Grace an interest in Jesus Christ if ignorant or unholy and unrighteous then I beseech you whatsoever you do neglect yet neglect not any longer to give diligent endeavour