Neh. 13.19 Joh. 7.23 2 King 4.23 Q. Why must we be carefull of this Law A. Because if we make conscience of the Sabbath day we shall be blessed in our soules and in the labours of the weeke daies T is a blessed day the day is not capable of blessing or a curse in it selfe but to the observers of it it is a day of blessing Esay 56.4 6. Neh. 13.18 Jer. 17.24 25. CAP. XXXIII Of the fifth Commandement Honour thy Father and Mother c. THis Cemmandement shewes our duty as we stand in relation one to another as the duty of Children Servants VVives Subjects the reciprocall duties or Kings Husbands Masters Parents Eph. 6.2 4 9. Q. VVho are meant hereby Father and Mother A. Not onely our naturall Parents but all such as God hath linked to us and set over us in office and authority or other preheminency above us Esay 49.23 Job 29.19 2 King 5.13 Q. VVhat is meant by honouring of them A. It is to render unto every one his dues that is such respect as is due to his place calling or other dignity and preheminence which God hath bestowed on him and will have to be acknowledged in him Rom. 13.7 1 Pet. 2.13 1 Pet. 5.5 Gen. 41.40 43. To begin with the duties of Parents and Children Duties of Parents Q. If I be a Parent What is my duty to my Children A. The duties of Parents to their Children be five First to a nurture them in the knowledge and feare of the Lord to train them up to Heaven to instruct them in their duties and to b observe and correct their vicious inclinations a Eph. 6.4 Deut. 6.7 2 Tim. 3.15 b Prov. 19.18 1 Sam. 3.13 1 King 1.6 Q VVhat is the second duty of Parents A. In all things Parents must shew themselves patternes of Godlinesse and not bane their Children by their irreligious examples which makes both their own counsels at home and the helpes of education abroad to be unfruitfull unto them Psal 131.2 Q. VVhat third duty A. Parents must cherish protect and provide for their Children of substance honestly gotten 2 Cor. 12.14 Gen. 30.30 Josh 7.24 Q. VVhat fourth duty belongs to Parents A. VVhen their Children are growne up to fashion them to good a manners to assist and direct them in choice of their b callings and c Marriages And in other things wherein children want help of Governours a Job 32.6 2 King 2.23 Job 29.8 b 1 Sam. 1.28 c Gen 24.2 1 Cor. 7.38 Q. What fift duty A. Parents must not a provoke nor discourage their Children by disgracing or reviling them b nor by withholding things necessary for them nor by unequall loves making a difference of Children upon outward respects to the just grife of the other a Col. 3.21 Eph. 6.4 b Gen 37.4 Deut. 21.15 17. Q. If I be a Child What is my duty to my Parents The Childs duty A. The duty of Children to their Parents is threefold First to love reverence and obey them though they be poore folkes Eph. 6.1 Mal. 1.6 Luk. 2.51 Prov. 30.17 Q. What 's the second duty of Children A. Not to a wast their Parents but to support and b cherish them in all their wants and weaknesses a Prov. 19.26 b Mat. 15.4 6. 1 Tim. 5.4 8. Gen. 47.12 Joh. 19.27 Q. What 's the third duty of Children A. To receive the instructions and corrections of their Parents and not to grieve them by obstinacy and stubbornnesse Deut. 21.18.19 Q. VVat followes hereof A. They be naughty children children of Belial that a inwardly despise or b outwardly revile mock and disobey their Parents causing shame and griefe unto them by their unkindnesse unthankfulnesse and other licentious living a Deut. 27.16 b Lev. 20.9 Gen. 9.22 25. Ro. 1.30 CAP. XXXIV The duty of Masters and Servants Q. IF I be a Master What is my duty to my servants A. There be four duties of Masters 1. they must give to their servants things equall and just that is equall a commands equall workes b equall wages taking c care of them both in sicknesse and in health Avoiding cruelty and hard usage contenting themselves with that which a well minded servant may with a good conscience and honest care performe a 1 Cor. 7.23 Exod. 5.18 19. 2 Sam. 24. 4. b Mal. 3.5 Jam. 5.4 Deut. 24.15 Gen. 31.6 7 12. c 1 Sam. 30.12 13. Prov. 31.15 Mat. 8.6 Q. What 's the second A. Masters must not be froward and threatning to them Rebukes must be sparing and with moderation else out service will be their bondage Eph. 6.9 Q. What 's the third A. Masters must heare the cause and grievances of their servants Job 31.13 14 15. Q. Why is the fouth duty of Masters A. They must chuse a and encourage godly servants or else labour to make them such by b instructing them by rebuking restraining them from ill companies Such as have spent their time with us with love and fidelity the greatest reckoning is to be made of them Prov 27.18 Act. 10.2 7. Psal 101 6 7. Gen. 30.27 Gen. 18.19 Exod. 20.10 Q. If I be a Servant VVhat is my duty to my Master A. There be three duties of Servants 1. They must doe service to their Masters faithfully willingly desirous to please them well in what they doe not crossing and answering againe not slubbering over businesse for fashâ—ons sake Eph. 6.5 6 7. Gen. 31.6 Tit. 2.9 Q. What 's the second duty of Servants A. They must not filch and purloyne but procure their Masters credit and profit what they can Tit. 2.10 Gen. 31.38 29.2 Sam. 12.28 Q. What 's their third duty A. They must submit to the instructions and beare the rebukes of their Masters without stomack and murmuring 1 Pet. 2. 18. Gen. 16.9 Q. This is the Servants duty What followes hereof A. Therefore they be naughty Servants that be idle and slothfull untrusty not caring for their Masters credit or profit or whether they be pleased or displeased The duty of Kings and Rulers and Subjects under them Q What is the duty of Kings and Rulers A. They must study to preserve the people in a wealth b peace and godlinesse protecting them from wrongs and thy themselves must not c oppresse them in any kind by violence or d wresting of judgement a 2 Sam. 1.24 b 1 Tim. 2.2 Deut. 17.17 c Ezek. 46.18 2 Sam. 23.3 Mic. 3.9 10 11. Mic. 7.3 4 2 Chr. 16.10 2 Chr. 10.4 d Amos 5.7 Q. VVhat other duty is there of Kings and Magistrates A. They must be a terror to the evill an encouragement to the good Rom. 13.3 Amos 5.10 Mic. 3.2 Q. VVhat is due from Subjects and inferiours to their Kings and Rulers A. First obedience to all their lawfull commands In the Lord. Subjects duty Tit. 3.1 1 Pet 2.13 Eccl. 8.2 For the Lords sake and in regard of the Oath of God Q. VVhat secondly A. VVe must render unto them their dues of Tribute
creature for religious use no testimony of reverence to be given to them of Will-worship of the parts of Gods worship and the right manner of performing the same Cap. 31. Of taking Gods name in vaine in or without an oath of conditions of a lawfull Vow and Oath Cap. 32. Of the Sabbath day the institution change and celebration the duties for sanctifying of the Rest Cap. 33. Duties of Parents and Children Cap. 34. Duties of Masters and Servants of rulers and Subjects Cap. 35. Duties of husband and Wife Cap. 36. Of Murther in the heart tongue gesture c. Cap. 37. Of Adultery in the heart tongue gesture c. Cap. 38. Of Theft Oppression Restitution Cap. 39 Of Truth Falshood in our words kinds of lying dissimulation of defending ones good name Cap. 40. Of concupiscence and first motions to evill how evill thoughts not consented unto be sinfull How it may be discovered whether evill thoughts doe arise from our owne corrupt hearts or from Satan Cap. 41. Of the meanes of working and increasing Grace How to hear the Word of God to our comfort and salvation Cap. 42. Of Prayer what it is to whom and for whom to be made Of Prayer in the Spirit and other conditions required in an acceptable prayer Cap. 43. Of the Lords Prayer of sanctifying Gods Name Cap. 44. Of Christs Spirituall Kingdome and doing Gods will Cap. 45. Of our daily bread what it is and how given Cap. 46. Of forgivenesse of sinnes what it is to whom granted signes that we forgive others Cap. 47. Of Temptations how God is said to lead into temptation of the right manner of giving praise to God Cp. 48. Of the right use abuse of the Lords Prayer of stinted Prayer of the Spirit of Prayer how to judge whether our Prayers be heard Cap. 49. Of the seales of the Covenant How the Spirit doth seale and witnesse with our spirits Of the nature Author and efficacy of the Sacraments in generall Cap. 50. Of Baptisme what it is to be baptized in the Name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Of Baptizing of Infants and the benefit of Baptisme to them Cap. 51 Of the Lords Supper Of Transubstantiation and the Reall Presence Of the sacrifice of the Masse and of the true use and end of the Lords Supper Cap. 52. Of right participation of the Lords Supper what we must doe before we come when we be there and after we have received how to find that we have received aright of receiving in a mixt cōgregation An Appendix 1. Vnfolding certaine termes used in sermons and English Bookes 2. Shewing the markes of Gods Children 3. Containing some generall Rules and Principles of Holy Life CAP. I. Of the state of Man by Creation and of the Covenant of Nature WHat should be the first and great care of every man in this World Ans To a know God betimes to serve him aright and to b provide for the eternall salvation of our poore soules a Eccl. 12.1 1 Chron 28.9 b Luc. 10.42 John 6.27 Esa 55.2 1 Tim. 6.18 19. Q. What is mans chiefest happinesse in this world A. It is to enjoy God by faith to walk with him to know our selves to be in his favour here and that we shall for ever live with him after death Without this we are as miserable as the Beasts Gen. 15. 1. Lam. 3.24 Eccl. 2.1 11 13. No earthly thing can make one happy Jer. 9.23 24. Eccl. 12.13 Math. 16 26. 1 Cor. 15.19 Eph. 2.12 Q. How shall a man attain to this true Happinesse A. Only by the Scriptures which are able to make us wise to Salvation Ioh. 5.39 46. Luke 16.29 31 Iohn 14.6 2 Tim. 3.15 Q. How are we assured that the Scripture is Gods-Word A. Not onely by the Testimony of the Church which cannot universally deceive but especially by the Testimony of the Spirit working strange and supernaturall effects in us by the Word giving us such joy contentment and satisfaction touching spirituall and eternall things by way of tast and feeling as is not possible for humane reason to doe Ioh. 4.42 Ioh. 6.68 69. 1 Thes 1.5 2 Pet. 1.18 21. 2. Cor. 4.6 Foure heads of Christian doctrine Q. What be those Parts or heads of Christian Doctrine delivered in Scripture the knowledge whereof maketh us happy A. There be foure generall heads of it 1. The Doctrine of mans creation and state of innocency 2ly Of the fall and misery of man 3ly Of mans deliverance and redemption by Jesus Christ and of the means to partake of Christ 4. How the redeemed ought to live These Truthes bring us to Humiliation Justification and Sanctification Act. 20.20 Q. God in the beginning created Adam and Eve in what state did he make them at first A. God made them upright after his own likenesse Of the state of Man by Creation i.e. in an holy and happy estate free from sin and misery Gen. 1.27 Col. 3.10 Eccles 7.29 Q. Wherein consisted the Image of God in which man was created A. It stood in two things First in that Dominion Honour and Excellency which Adam had over the creatures Gen. 1.26 Gen. 2.20 Gen. 9.6 This was externall Joh. 10.34 God is the great King and Lord of all things and all in Authority doe beare his Image 1 Cor. 11.7 Rom. 13.4 Q. Wherein chiefely did that Image of God consist A. In Holinesse and Righteousnesse wherein man was like unto God himselfe their whole soules and bodies being filled with the fulnesse of Grace Eph. 4.24 Col. 3.10 Q. If Adam had not sinned should he have died A. No For death came in by sinne as the wages of it Rom. 5.12 Gen. 2.17 Q. Also if he had continued upwright he should have been saved without the help of a Mediatour Of the first Covenant made with Adam A. It is true for so God Covenanted with him and in token thereof Gave him to eat of the tree of Life Gen. 2.9 16. Gen. 3.22 24. Rev. 2.7 Q. Declare more plainly the Covenant made with Adam before he fell A. It was a Covenant of Workes wherein life was promised upon condition of his continuing without sin in perfect obedience Rom. 10.5 Gal. 3.12 Rev. 22.14 Doe this and live Q. But could Adam at that time have been saved by his own inherent righteousnesse was he able to keepe that Covenant A. Yes For Adam was the Sonne of God perfect in holinesse righteousnesse and Heire of Heaven even as the holy Angels are Luk 3.38 Gen. 1.27 31. Adam had a whole will no ignorance no corruption to strive against the Spirit Q. Can any man since the fall be saved by that Covenant A. No Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and therefore must look for salvation by another that is by Christ Jesus Rom. 3.22 23. Rom. 8.3 Heb. 8.8 Gal. 3.10 Q. Must any be judged that is stand or fall by that Covenant of Workes A. Yes all
servants it must have an institution from God else we sin against God who alone hath power to give any grace and to appoint the means of obtaining it The first Commandment requires that we worship the only true God and that we doe not give his properties and honour to another the second Commandment prescribes the true manner of worshipping that true God Q. Well then here we are forbidden to worship God after our own wits and wils What is particularly forbiden in this kind 1. Images for religious use A. 1. The making of any Image either of God or of any Creature for religious use that is to help us in our worshipping of God The likenesse and representation of any thing whatsoever is a false help und meane of worship Exod. 32.1 4. Ps 106.20 Jer. 10.8 14 15. Ezek. 8.10 Jer. 50.38 Jer. 51.17 18 19. Q. Is it unlawfull to make an Image of the Trinity or of any Person in the Godhead Pictures of God unlawfull A. It is utterly unlawfull and a great dishonour to figure the incorruptible God by the shape of a base and corruptible man or bird or other creature Deut. 4.15 16 17 18. Rom. 1.23 Act. 17.24 29 Esa 40.15 18 19. Hab. 2.8 It abuseth our understandings the party thinks there is some good in an Image else he would not make it and that 's a lie He lieth that shews me a Toad and saies it is the picture of an Angel so c. All the pictures of Christ in the flesh as that on Christ on the Crosse and resurrection are lies false in their representations and false in the conceit of any good by them Q. Is it unlowfull to make the image of a man or Angell or other creature to help us in the worship of the Creator A. It is utterly unlawfull to make or to have the likenesse of any creature for religious use to serve God thereby in at or before it To think that by doing any part of worship before an Image one shall please God the better or that it will be a mean of good unto us this is to rob God of his due What promise of Gods presence audience or acceptance before an Image do you find in the whole Scripture c. Esay 42.8 2 Kings 18.4 1 Ioh. 5.21 Rev. 9.20 Ezek. 8.10 11. Act. 7.43 1 Chron. 14.12 Deut. 27.15 the congregation are bound to curse this man v. 26. Thou shalt not bow downe to them nor serve them 2. All outward respect done to Images vid. Catechis Rom. part 3. c. 2. Q. What is forbidden in those words A. 2. We are forbidden to give any honour or outward reverence to any Image as to come before it to make our prayers to bow the knee to put off the cap or to shew any token or reverence unto it It is a cursed thing to doe any honour to an Image in word by speaking favourable of it or in deed as to put off the hat to bow the knee to give money and offerings for the maintenance of it or to be at the feasts held in honour of the creatures c. 1 King 19.18 Hos 13.2 1 Cor. 9.7 10. with 1 Cor. 10 14 20 21. Dan. 3.5 11 18. Exod 32.5 6. Ezek. 18.6 Judg. 6.31 Esay 66.3 2 Chr. 25.14 we must not kisse the Calves nor blesse an Idoll Q. What thirdly is here forbidden 3. All helping forward of Idolatry A. All outward service tending to the honour worship and service of Saints Angels Images or any other creature whatsoever As the building of Temples dedicating of Daies Altars Garments Priests Feasts to them and raising of money for the maintenance thereof Hos 8.14 Hos 10.1 2. 1 King 12.32 33. Esay 46.6 Exod. 32.2 Q. Under this grosse sinne of making and worshiping of Images are condemned all other superstitious corruptings of Gods worship without an Image Now How is Gods worship corrupted without an Image A. By will-worship that is all such means and manner of divine worship 4. Will-worship humane traditions as is not prescribed by God but brought in by man It is will-worship to observe what God hath not commanded and to forbeare what God hath not forbidden for conscience sake as going to God by Saints worshiping of Angels vowes of continency placing of holinesse in meats daies garments and places Lastly the inventing or using of New Sacraments as the Popish Masse and the five new Sacraments Adoration of the Altar and of the consecrated Elements of Bread and Wine together with all religious Ceremonies and Rites in and about the worship of God wherein is placed any holinesse vertue necessity or efficacy All such manners and formes of worship be obhorred of the Lord. Col. 2.18 21. 23. 2 Chron. 28.3.4 1 King 12.33 Ier. 19.5 Q. Why are such things unlawfull A. Because they be imposed or taken up for Conscience sake made the matter of Gods worship according to the Traditions and Commandements of men without any Authority of God Mat. 15.9 20. Esay 29.13 Mar. 7.4 7. Act. 17.25 To place holinesse or sin or duty in any invention and ordinances of Men is a superstition of deluded and seduced soules Q. What is the thing commanded in this precept A. That we worship God with a pure worship that is by those meanes and in that manner as God himselfe hath prescribed as hath been shewed in the first question Tell me next Q. What be the chiefe Parts of Gods outward worship under the New Testament A. They be foure 1. The a Preaching and hearing of the Word 2ly The exercise b of Prayer publique and private 3ly The c administration of the Sacraments 4ly And singing of d Psalmes a Act. 2.42 Luk. 4.16 Act 13.15 b 1 Tim. 2.1 8. Act. 16.13 16. 1 Cor. 1 2. c 1 Cor. 11.23 d For singing of Psalmes read 1 Chron. 16.7 9. Act 16.25 1 Cor. 14.26 with 1 Chron. 25.3 Col. 3.16 Q. In what manner must this worship of God be performed A. First for the inward man Care of the inward man in Gods worship each part of Gods worship must pe performed 1. In a faith with feeling affection b 2. And with a cleane heart 3. Not c resting in the work done but desiring to please God and expecting a blessing by them a Rom. 14.23 2 Chron. 17.6 Psal 63.1 2. Psa 84.2 6. b Ezek. 33.31 32. Mat. 15.8 Ezek 14.3 Psal 50.16 Esay 1.11 Job 16.17 c Ier. 7.4 10 11. Hos 7.14 Zach. 7.5 Mal. 1.7 8 13 14. Mal 3.14 1 Pet 2.2 Exercises of Religion must be performed not only as a duty but as a means of grace Q. How must Gods worship and service be performed by the outward man A. With such humility and reverence And of the outward man as becomes people that have to doe with an holy Lord God Heb. 12.28 29. 1 Cor. 11.22 28 29. Act. 20.9 It is a sin either to disuse or to neglect the outward worship of God or to
performe the same carelesly Reverend Gestures of the Body as Kneeling Bowing lifting up of Hands and Eyes putting off the Hat c. are forbidden to be given to an Image therefore they are commanded to be given unto God 1 Cor. 15 13. 2 Sam. 6.3 7 8. Q. What duty is here required as an helpe to further the outward worship of God A. We must provide all such means by which the worship of God may be erected defended and maintained Mal. 1.10 1 Cor. 9.13 14. We must pleade for Religion and be at cost for it take away Arts Tongues Schooles Colledges and Maintenance you will soon have no preaching nor any worship of God Helping service is forbidden to Images bur required for Gods Worship Q. Why should we be so carefull to avoid Images and Will-worship A. Because such persons be indeed haters of God however they say they doe it with good intentions and in greater honour and reverence to God As the unchast Wife doth not love her husband what ere she professe Prov. 6.34 35. Hos 2.2 13. 2 Chron. 19 3. Esay 30.1 God will visit this iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children to the third and fourth generation of them that Hate him CAP. XXXI Of the third Commandement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vaine c. Q. WHat is the drift of this third Commandement A. To provide for the glorifying of Gods great name in our tongue and doings that we so behave our selves as God in all things may be glorified This Commandement directs us to an holy use of all Religion and of every thing upon which God hath set his name 1 Pet. 4.11 Levit. 10.3 Joh. 2.16 Ezek. 22.26 Mal 1.13 Ezek. 8.12 Ezek. 18.2 19. Deut. 28.58 Mat. 5.16 Mat. 6.9 Joh. 11.4 Joh. 15.8 Gods name is taken in vain either In an Oath Or Without an Oath Q. How many waies is it taken in vain in an Oath A. Foure 1. By vain and needlesse and customary swearing in mens common talk Oaths cannot come unawares from a gratious heart much lesse ordinarily Eccles 9.2 Iam. 3.12 Mat. 5.34.37 Ier. 6.7 Q. How secondly A. By false swearing as when we a affirme a falshood or deny and conceal the truth b or falsifie what we have promised by oath This is called perjury a Zach. 5.4 Mal. 3.5 Lev. 5.1 Zach 8. 16 17. b Psal 15.4 Ezek. 17.16 18. with Judg 9.20 56 57. 2 Sam. 21.1 7. with Josh 9.15 Men are perjured when they goe from what they have promised by Oath as well as when they swear an untruth Q. How thirdly A. By wicked swearing that is when by an oath or vow we bind our selves to doe evill to doe any thing against charity piety justice duty As that I will not come to such a mans house or that I will be revenged on him Also all sinfull combinations Covenants and Oaths to hide evill or to set up any pretended good contrary to Authority Law and duty or contrary to any former Oaths and Protestations All this is wicked swearing for Gods ordinance must not be a bond of iniquity 1 King 19.2 Act. 23.12 1 Sam 25.22 Hos 10.2 3 4. See Iunius Diodate in loc Q. How fourthly do men take Gods name in vaine in an Oath A What they sweare by the creatures as many doe by their Faith and Troth by the Masse by their Drink or as I live c. vainly customarily or in passion Mat. 5.33 34. Jam 5.12 For these things men are damned Amos 8.14 Zeph. 1.5 Esa 45.23 Q. But is it not lawfull to swear before a Magistrate for the maintenance of truth justice and peace among men Three conditions in an Oath A. Yes First provided that we swear in truth the thing sworne or vowed must be a knowne truth Secondly in judgement as becomes a wise Christian Thirdly in righteousnesse not to the hurt of another Jer. 4.2 Exod 22. 10 11. Q. Is it not lawfull to make a vow and promissory Oath whereby we bind our selves to God to perform the thing that is gone out of our mouthes A. Yes it is with these two conditions Of a vow First that the thing vowed promised be lawfull to us and within our power and callings to performe Else we take Gods name in vain if we bind our selves to doe that which is not in our Power or not lawfull for us in our places to performe And therefore to vow single life absolute and blind obedience to superiours as Popish Priests doe or to vow any thing against our duty callings former Vowes and Oathes they be all unlawfull and to be broken Num. 30.3 Jer. 44.25 Psal 24 4. Q. What second condition is required in a vow and solemne protestation A. Because all lawfull Vowes must be performed therefore we should foresee and consider how meet lawfull and profitable the Oath will be before we swear that so we may safely performe our vowes Our promissory Oaths must be with much caution and condition It is a sinne not to performe a lawfull Vow Josh 9.14 15. 1 Sam. 14.44 Jâ—sh 2.19 Gen. 24.5 Judg. 11.31 a rash vow Q. How is Gods name taken in vaine without an oath A. First by foolish light unreverent speaking of Gods a Will Titles and Attributes or of his b Word and c works As in foolish admirations O Lord O sweet Jesus Lord have mercy upon us I never saw the like Secondly When gamesters thank God for their good luck Thirdly when men jest with Scripture-phrases Fourthly when men speake reproachfully of Gods decrees as if I be predestinated I shall be saved if not I shall be damned doe what I can c. a Rom. 9.19 20. b Joh. 6.60 Jer. 23.34 Act. 17. 32. c Gen. 4.24 Mar. 3.22 29 30. Esay 36.20 Mic. 3.11 Zach. 11.5 Q. How secondly without an oath A. When men have cursings and imprecations in their mouthes As a pox or a plague on thee the Devill take thee c. It is a sinne to wish a curse to our selves or others as God damne me would I were hanged c. 1 Sam. 17.43 2 Sam 16.7 Q. How thirdly A. When we apply the name Jesus or any other name of God or any sentence of Scripture to Charmes sorcery or other supernaturall uses As to drive away Devils to doe cures to sanctifie creatures not sanctified by God as to baptize Bels c. this is a false application of Gods Word Act. 19.13 Q. How fourthly A. When men goe about to imitate the miraculous and extraordinary workes of Christ and the Apostles As the Popish exorcisme ex tempore Prophecying of men called and ungifted laying on of hands to give the Holy Ghost to make empty signes without effects following c. This is a misapplication of Gods power without promise or warrant exposing of Religion to contempt and a taking of Gods name in vaine Act. 19.13 Act. 8.18 19. 1 Cor. 14.31 32. Q. How fiftly is Gods name taken in vain
singular thing which cannot be found in an Hypocrite nor in the best morall Man in the World Mat. 5.47 And seeing there are but few that shall be saved we must strive to go the narrow path that lead to life Luk 13.24 Luk 6.33 6. A singular love affection is to be borne towards all that feare God even because they fear God and have Gods Image on them Mat 10.41 7. A speciall regard must be had of the Lords day to spend the Lords day in the Lords work and not in wordly pleasures or profits Es 56.6 Es 58.13 8. A precise conscience must be made of the least sin by every one that desireth to stand in the favour of God as of lesser Oaths by ones Faith and Troth and also of Idle words Ps 119.6 Mat. 12.36 Jam. 2.10 Sins of Omission are to be avoided as being more dangerous then sins of Commission The heart is wonderfully hardned and estranged from God by neglect and omission of good duties 10. A Christian must exercise Justice Truth and Fidelity towards all men even the worst not daring to wrong any man in the least pin or farthing Luk 16.10 Mat. 16.26 Ezek 22.13 14. Es 63.8 11. A Christian must make Conscience of doing good things in a good manner that is with the spirit and with the affections of the inward man and unto spirituall ends viz. to please God and edify his own soule 12. A Christian must seperate from the sinfull Manners Customes Courses Fashions and waies of the World He must not fashion himselfe to the World All familiar society with wicked men is to be avoided Rom. 12.2 Es 8.11 12. Ier. 15.19 Ps 1.1 Eph. 5.7 11. Phil. 2.15 Ps 26.4 5. Mat. 24.49 2 Cor. 6.17 13. A Christian must neither feare nor please man against God he must not feare their threats nor their reproches nor yet prize their favours and so forget God his maker Es 3.22 Es 51.7 12. Luk. 1.26 27. Heb. 12.4 Of Callings 14. A Christian must live in some honest calling and be conscionable therein doing the duties thereof as the work which God sets him about And not like the Oxe or Horse who doe their worke but not in knowledge nor obedience to God we must doe the businesse of our callings faithfully and obediently as unto God studying to honour him and to adorne our holy profession in that ranke and place wherein God hath set us 15. A Christian in his calling must exercise the graces of the spirit viz. Patience Justice Equity Mercy Truth Faith and Dependance on Gods promises providence in all his waies our generall calling of Religion and Christianity must be expressed in the use of our particular callings He that is not Godly and good in his calling is good no where 16. A Christian must enter upon the duties of his calling with Prayer craving Gods blessing and strength his pardon for failings his protection in our waies And also his grace to preserver us from those snares and Temptations unto which in our callings we are most subject and exposed whether it be unto Idlenesse frowardnesse uncheerfullnesse discontentednesse distrustfulnesse covetousnesse vaine glory c. 17. A Christian should labour to see all things in God and from God the fountain of Wisdome Power Goodnesse and Mercy we must labour to see and meet God at every turne Ps 73.13 Ps 22.17 18. A Christian must never prosecute any earthly thing so as for perishing things to lose spirituall and eternall things Mat 16 26. 19. Never be thou so passironately addicted to any cause work or end be it never so good as to carry it on by unlawfull means and waies God is all sufficient in his own waies And it is better to suffer any evill of affliction then to doe any evill of sin Resolve to stick to Gods waies what ever the issue may be 20. Never meddle without a warrant or calling nor above thy strength Ps 131.1 Let it never be sayd to thee in reproach who art thou Who gave thee this Authority or who required this at thy hand 21. Doe the most necessary duties of thy calling first and most 22. Never lock up thy comfort in the Creature but let God be thy portion and thy exceeding greate reward Use the World as if thou usedest it not 23. A Christians recreations must be 1 Harmlesse and without offence to others without scrupulosity to our owne consciences 2. They must not master us nor overrule our affections but our recreations must be such as we can use for refreshments without losse of the graces of Patience Charity justice Truth c. without wasting of our pretious time Estates We must not exchange better things for sports 24. God hath given us all things plentifully to enjoy yet with moderation a Christian must never eat nor drink to make the head heavy nor the heart heavy 25. A Christian must not be ashamed of God and Godlinesse here before men Grace is a Christian crown 26. A Christian must prepare to meet with crosses reproaches in the World for a good conscience sake and yet not be discouraged thereby Es 8.18 Gal. 4.29 Ps 14.10 Ps 38.20 Pro 29.27 Act. 28.22 27. A Christian can never be sound in Religion that doth not prize and highly esteeme the Publicke Ordinances and Ministers of God We must delight to meet God in his Ordinances we must give up our hearts to be ruled and directed by them FINIS