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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B05977	The map of the little world, illuminated with religion being a practical treatise, directing man to a religious scope, and right measure, in all the periods of his life; with devotion suitable. To which is added an appendix, containing a gospel ministers legacie, in some sermons, upon 2 Pet. 1. 12, &c. / By Patrick Strachan minister of the gospel at St. Vigeans.	Strachan, Patrick, fl. 1693.	1693 (1693)	Wing S5775A; ESTC R184656	117,746	314

THE MAP OF THE Little WORLD ILLUMINATED WITH RELIGION Being a Practical Treatise directing Man to a Religious Scope and right Measure in all the Periods of his Life With Devotion suitable To which is added an Appendix containing a GOSPEL MINISTERS Legacie to his Flock in some Sermons upon 2 Pet. 1. 12 c. By PATRICK STRACHAN Minister of the Gospel at St. VIGEANS EDINBURGH Printed by John Reid to be sold by Thomas Brown John Vallange their Shops over against the Parliament-Closs Anno Dom. M. DC XCIII Unto the Right Honourable and truely NOBLE JAMES EARL of PANMURE Lord MAUL BREGHIN and NAVAR c. My most Generous PATRON May it please Your Lordship IN Your Goodness to accept of this small Testimony of my bounded Duty for Your Lordships Patrociny and Singular Kindness to me and mine in a constant Course of Favour which hath still issued from Your Noble Ancestors without the least Umbrage in your Noble Person and your most Honourable Lady Who tho the Daughter of a Prince and One of the greatest Peers of this Ancient Kingdom● doth add to Her Natural Splendor th● Lusture of a Condescending and Courteou● Mean as if her Ladyship were of a lowe● Extract I cannot but express the Thankful Sentiments I Entertain of the Favou● of your Noble Predecessors and of you● Honourable and most Worthy Mother● Whose approved Conduct Prudent C●vil and Edifying Way hath not only Engaged me but all who have had the Honour of her Ladyship's Converse to loo● upon her as a Woman among a Thousan● But I know your Lordship needs no borowed Rayes from the Applauses 〈◊〉 Men And therefore I shal not insist B● only to Begg your Favourable Acceptan● of this small Mite of my Gratitude● which tho Weak and Unworthy yet presumes to Kiss your Noble Hands because of its general Design to Advance that Glorious Religion which if it were not opposed by the Lusts of Men and if left to its own Innocence and Native Power would transform the World from a Chaos of Confusion to a wonderous Light So Wishing the Blessings of the LORD' 's Right and Left Hand to your Lordship and Noble Family I shall add no more but that I am in all sincere Duty My LORD Your Lordships Humble Devoted Servant in CHRIST Pat Strachan From my Study at St. Vigeans 14 July 1693. TO THE READER Courteous Read●r IF thou shall be pleased to peruse this little Treatise with the Denvedness and Charity wherewith I have laboured to digest and publish it I hope it will meet with little Censure for this is forbidden Jam 3. 1. And it is very much contrary to the Gospel Spirit and argues too much pride Self conceit in the Cen●urer and a very malevolent humor that will not allow the offer of a little Mite for the building of the LORDs House by another without Disdaine and contempt and because self is so natural ready like the Ivy to twist it self in with the best of our Essayes I here solemnly renounce it so that if this weak Work may be any wise usefull to the Church and promotive of the Glory of GOD I have my End Reward It is not calculated to the Luxurient fancies of Men nor to any sphere of more sublime Judgements but only that it may be helpfull to such of lower Capacities I send it forth without affection not with the Excellencie of words of Mans wisdom but in the simplicity of the Gospel And therefore I humbly commend it to the Acceptance of GOD it being but a smal thing to be judged by Man such as read it let them do it with Humility denyedness and simplicity And I hope they shall not regrate their pains and if it can do any good it s better done than undone and may possibly drop upon some and afford them a little Oyl to their Lamps to take the blessed Rod of the Kings High Way to lead them through the Laborinth of Time and after all the Wyndings and Traverses of the Stages of our Life happlly bring us by a safe Conduct to the Land of Joy and Peace which that it may contribute to is the earnest Wish of Thy Servant for CHRIST's Sake P. S. The Contents The Entrance Period 1. OF our beginning and bygone life page 1 The prayer Ibid Stage 1. 2 Of the Formation of the Infant 3 Of the propagation of the Soul 5 Of Original sin 7 Of Infant Baptism 10 Stage 2d Of the care of Parents 12 Of Regeneration 13 Of Confirmation 16 Stage third of the evils incident to Children 18 A brief Reinforcement of the duty of Parents 25 A prayer of parents for their Children Ibid A prayer of a Child 27 Stage 4 which Resumeth the instructions for Children 29 The prayer 36 Period 2. Stage 1. Which considereth the portracture and lineaments of Youth 37 The evils incident to Youth 43 Directions for the recovery of Youth 49 The motives Page 58 The prayer 60 Stage 2d Of mans entring into a settled state with suitable Directions 63 The necessity of domestick devotion 72 A morning prayer to be used in a family 75 The evening Prayer 77 Suitable prayer for the bygone stage 79 Stage 3d. which divideth into three courses 80 Course first of the ordering thy person family c. 82 The means and methods to mannage this state of life aright 85 Which are 1st Wisdom Ibid 2ly Prudence 86 3ly Providence 87 4ly Government 88 5ly Improvement Ibid Motives to mannage this state of life 89 The prayer 113 Course 3d. What fine your labour in vertue and piety c. hath come to Ibid Period 3. Of what is to come in the declensians of Nature 119 Stage first Of a serious Recollection of thy self c. 120 What now remains to be done 128 A continuation of this Stage to the outmost Extent of mans life 131 The Prayer 138 Stage 2d Of the 4 last things 139 Of Death ibid Prayer in order to Death 148 Of Judgement 149 The Prayer 155 Of Hell 156 The prayer 159 Of Heaven ibid The prayer 163 A Lamentation for the decay of Religion 167 The Prayer 176 A Vindication of the Forms of Devotion used in this Treati●e Ibid Prayers according to the dayes of the Week 179 Of Psalmodie 189 Of the Doxologie 190 A Vale to the World 195 Devotion suitable 204 In the Appendix SErmon I. Of the compact Chain of our Holie Religion c. page 1. Sermon II. The dutie and diligence of the Apostolick Curate discribed c. page 10. Sermon III. of the expediency and usefulness of the means for the advancement of practical Religion c. page 26. Sermon IV. Of the practical knowledge of Death and the Information that the LORD giveth some of his favorites thereof c. page 36 Sermon V. Of the endeavours which faithful Ministers have to make their labours useful after their decease c. page 45. Sermon VI. Concerning the truth and excellency of our Holy Religion

Soul I choise thy Statutes as my Heritage in the Land of my pilgrimage and Thy Salvation as my Inheritance for ever Give me victory over the World by Faith and grant me Peace Patience and Perseverance to the End Amen Sixthly Devotion for Old Age on Saturday O Ancient of Dayes who remains still in that prime of purest Light and Glory look upon me whom Thou hast preserved in all the periods of life in great mercy Visit me in this my groaning stage with Thy Salvation Let all the errors of my Youth and by gone Age be done away that I may have no burden from my former life now support me when old age hath overtaken me Blessed be God that I have escaped sad Accidents and the hurtful effects of any miss-government of my Life Grant I may now be taken up with Heavenly Exercise and contemplations that I may Receive Dimission with Christ not only in my Arms but in my Heart Renew my inner-man day by day that tho my Limbs be weak my Faith Hope and Charity may be strong And grant me a house with Thee 2 Cor. 5. 1. When my Earthly House shall fall I entered into the World with a groan and nature of necessity must groan being Burthened But Lord exhilera●e my Spirit that I may leave the World with great Joy that the day of my Redemption draweth near and may be Refreshed in the Suburbs of Heaven with the Joyful Musick of the Saints that so I may sing in Death and triumph over the Grave through JESUS CHRIST the Prince of life my LORD and life my strength and Redeemer Amen Devotion in order to the Eternal Sabbath On Sunday or the Christians LORDS Day O Lord of Sabbaoth I Bless thee that has brought me out of the toils of the World to rest with thy self Lord take me up to some mou●t to ●ee thy Glory where I may erect a Tabernacle not for Earth but Heaven Quicken me with the Life of CHRIST to seek those things above and if I look back to the World it is not for love to it but to see it's vanity I admire the works of Creation and providence and the portract of the little World to show the praise of GOD But I cannot get words nor thoughts to expatiat tiat on the work of our Redemption by Thy Son Nor capacity to Comprehend the height deepth breadth and length of thy love in him But I desire so love him with all my heart and above all the World I behold him now Rising from a Sea of Blood with the Glory of all his conquest LORD put me in the Spirit on this day to Relish the sweet influences of the Holy Ghost that I may be fitted fo● the Eternal Sabbath where all duties and longing shall be turned into rewards and enjoyments and thy Name be Celebrated with Everlasting wonder Hymns Hallelujahs World without end Amen AND in Regard that Evangelical work of Praise and Singing of Psalms is a special Part of Devotion cease not in thy Pilgrimage and Solitudes to Sing And if you restrict your selves to David's Psalms For your Birth and Child-hood Sing Psalm 51. From the Beginning and the 71. Psalm from Verse 5. For your Youth Psalm 25. And Psalm 109 from Verse 9. For your ●iper Years and your Family the 101 Psalm and Psalm 144 at the End For your Old Age Psalm 71 9 and 18 Verses and if the Church thought fit ye may also make use in your Devotion other Scripture Psalms The Song of Israel on the Banks of the Red-Sea ●he Song of Simeon Zacharias and the Blessed Virgin and the Songs in the 1 5. and 7. Chapters of the Revelation And particularly the Doxologie which hath been of constant use in the Christian Church and is no other but an ascribing of sempeternal Praise to the Ever Blessed Trinity Which tho the Leprous Church of Rome use yet is it Clean to the Pure and it is very sad that it should be controverted in the Militant Church since it will be sung for ever in the Triumphant And since the Mysterious but Salutary Doctrine of the Trinity was contradicted by the Arians in Old and some of that same Gang under another Name of Late there is still occasion for the using of it And to distinguish the Modest and Regular Christian from such as in vade it by Opposition for to commend their Beloved Sect it is not amiss to rise up in token of a more immediat Address and closing with the custom of the Church wherein we should not be contentious And if ●ou please in your Private Devotion to Sing after this manner 1. MY heart is fix'd my ●eart is fix'd now will I sing and praise I 'le praise the Lord with songs unmix'd and still Thy Glorie raise 2. Now Ha●elujah's shall extoll the Lord God of my praise And still in praises Thee enroll and laud and never cease 3. My little Harp is tun'd to laud my Lord my God my Love With Heavenlie Queer Thy Name applaud Thy Glories all approve 4. All Songs below ●ad not the Clief to raise Thee thus in ault They were sincere but not the chief as those which GOD exalt Second Hymne 1. I Wear the Crown Christ still renown I reign and He 's Supream I am extol'd to praise my King and glorie in His Name 2. I am as well as heart can wish m● Soul is all in bless With Joy and Peace Rests and Relish the sweets I now express 3. I see my God my Christ my joy all mysteries are gone Nothing now but Love I know and melodie Divine 4. The Tree of Life ma●tains my life never to die again O Death in time thou art so rife but here thy strength is vain 5. I live I love I much delight I ●raise and never cease I see and fee● with Soul and Sp'ri● I m all in Light and Bless 6 What can I ●ake For I have all my God is here with me And I with him perpetual my Christ and God to see 7. Here without doubt I 'le glorie give to Father Son and Spirit I 'le praise my God and not deprive fr●m his just Right and Merit 8. From the first Minute to Ages all I will ●ssert ●●y Golre In melodies sempiternal to Tri●e Vne evermore Third Hymne 1. O Sp'rit of Light tune now my sp'rit with Heaven fill my heart And give me se●se of that great Light that I may act my part 2. With all the Host and Heav'nlie Queer that never ceass to cry Thrice holie Lord and Thee admire in Peace and Rest and Joy 3 My Soul my Heart my Sp'rit my Powers all joyn to Praise Thy Name My GOD my Life my Hope my Help I 'le praise Thy Mercies Fame 4 Thy Help in need hath made me Glad Thy Grace was still my claim And fresh Supplie hath me releiv'd I magnifie Thy Name 5. I 'le Praise I 'le ●ing I 'le Hope and Joy in Thy great Grace so Good I

their holy principles and by their life● denying obedience to the faith And alas If we descend to the dregs of time we shal find many named Christians Unchristian and Antichristian in their way For such is now the contempt of the Gospel the unsuitable walking to it the despising of Holy things as the LORDS Ministers Ordinances and day such is the neglect of all thing that looks like duty to GOD such is the heathenishness of families for want of calling on the name of GOD and such horrid immoralities among these called Christians that we may without breach of Charity now say that a great part of the Christian World hath as to their practice repea●ed th●t Blasphemous saying that GOD hath now forsaken the Earth Ez 9. 9. It s now then very worthy of our while to consider better of the Character of a true Christian that people be not fostered in their folly in boasting of a name without the true life of Religion This has been much declamed against by Pens and Pulpits but alas People delight themselves in their delusions and for all that is said and done content themselves to be nominal not real christians I am told that there is a little peice done by a forreign Divine in Latine Arnd de vero Christianismo which gives great clearness as to this and which perhaps if I had seen might have saved my labour as to any thing that I can say on this purpose But the sad times and the corrupt manners of men stir me up to contribute my little mite to hold in the almost expiring life of practical Religion and this shall be done in considering these purposes following 1 st That the Christian walk suitably to the discovery of the Principles of his Religion 2ly That he walk suitably to the full digest of the rule GOD has given him to guide his life by 3ly That he answer the Gospel Spirit and Design 4ly That he knit his Life suitably to the whole Chain of Graces Vertues and Duties 5ly That he answer the Means and Institutions of GOD in his Word and Sacraments 6ly That he advance to Perfection in the Heavenly Exercise of a higher Pitch of Grace 7ly That he suit that great Hope set before him of the Crown of Glory And 8ly That he be well prepared for a Dimission from Time to Eternity And to clear the plain path of these to a Christian in all the Stages of his Life It would be considered First That the Seed and Habits of Grace are infused in our first Conversion 2ly That Grace proceedeth gradually 3ly That Grace groweth and goeth along with the conscionable use of the Means First That the Seed and Herbs of Grace are infused together as our first Conversion which is called by St. John the Seed of GOD remaining in us and by St. Paul the Life of GOD Gal 2. 20. Or the Divine Nature whereof Believers do partake as St. Peter sayes 2 Pet 1. 4. For a new born Child if it want Life cannot be capable of the Operations thereof No more can a new Convert exercise Grace without the principle of Life Now this new principle of Life in such as are born again consists not of one but of all Graces and the power and faculty of gracious Operations flows from t●at Life that animats all the faculties of the Soul So that certainly there is more than the influence of an external Swasion from the Word in regard it is but a dead Letter till it be animated with the Spirit of Life And 2ly It is no l●●s clear That Grace proceeds by degrees from Childhood to Manhood thus we are exhorted to grow in Grace and Knowledge 3ly That Grace groweth and goeth along with the Conscionable use of the Means For if our Vineyard be not dressed and well manured it will grow wild and full of weeds It is to be confessed that carelesness and the power of temptation may produce bad fruit even in a Believer for a time But be that is born and begotten of GOD si●●eth not finally but keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not Joh 5. 4. Having now premi●ed these things for clearing I proceed to handle the several Ranks of Christians in the 8 forementioned Particulars First then That the Christian walk suitably to the discovery of the Principles of his Religion Which is so clearly manifested in the Gospel Dispensation especially in these four particulars following 1 st The Knowledge of our selves and our sinful miserie by nature Which calls for Humility Reformation and a new Life 2ly As to the Revelation of GOD whose Essence indeed is incomprehensible by mortals yet is so clearly discovered by Christ who dwelleth in the bosome of the Father and hath revealled H●m unto us that beside His incommunicable Attributes of Immensitle Omniscience Omnipotence and Omnipresence be is discovered to be so amiable in His Purity Holiness Goodness Mercy and Truth c. that the Rational Soul cannot but love choice and embrace Him 3ly As to the discovery of the Mediator And 4ly The clear Path Wa● to Happiness so fully discovered by Jesus Christ which calls for Faith and Obedience and the embracing of Christ in His threefold Office Secondly That be walk suitably to the full D●gest of the Rule which GOD has given him to guide his Life The Law of the LORD is Perfect so fully cleared from the false glosses of the Pharisees by Christ in His Sermon upon the Mount That now in the times of this Light no man can pretend ignorance of the Rule but either he that is negligent or prejudged at it 'T is true the best cannot reach it in its Spirituality and Extent But yet a sincere Christian may and should come the length of Having a respect to all the Commandments Psal 119. 29. and the hatred of every false way 3ly That he answer the Gospel Spirit and Design This is a great propertie of a Christian to know what Spirit he is of and that he close with the Gospel in its Holy Design not only to seek Salvation by Christ but Sanctification and to walk in the Way that leads to Salvation And this calls for Sincerity Humility Patience and self denyal c. And such a temper of spirit as suits its Design and the heavenliness of its Author 4ly That he knit his Life suitably to the whole Chain of Graces Vertues and Duties To be a Christian is a great Character and requires a perfect exactness not to live after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom 8. 1. Not to work the works of the flesh but to Crucifie it with the lusts and affections thereof and to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit Gal 5. 18. Which calls for the exercise of Graces as we are called and related 5ly That be answer the Means and Institutions of GOD in His Word and Sacraments He is a too high towering Christian that neglects the Means and Ordinances Since the LORD did institute them for excellent Ends to propagate and perfect practicall Religion This calls for a meek Submission to the LORDS appointment especially in the right improvement of the Word and sacraments answering our cognizance and having with the Apostles A fellowship with the Father and the Son 6ly That he advance to perfection in the 〈◊〉 exercise of a higher Pitch of Grace Grace is of a growing nature all means and ordinances are for the advancement thereof true life cannot lurk but will send forth emanations and exercises And altho we should not co●nt our selves to have apprehended Phil. 3. 13. Yet should we follow fast towards the prize of the high Calling And this is very much evidenced in our self denyat● mottification victory over the World by saith and our affections more sublime than ●●put sue after the things of this world Col. 3. 3. For the conversation of 〈◊〉 is in Heaven Phil. 3. 2. The true Christian then after many labours tenrations ●cli●ses and difficultie comes to be expe●●en●ed and now as a proficient and an expert Soul●●● ri●teth to a higher 〈◊〉 of Grace and Vertue And this calls for a Heavenly elevated mind and a faith that will make us steddy and faithful unto Death 7ly That be suite that Great hope set before him of the Grown of Glory This ●●●●tily anima●s a Christian and carried him through difficulties it fixeth him in ●●●pests as an Anchor upon the Rock i● sanctifies and saves the Christian We are saved by hope Rom 8. 24. said St. Paul it helps us much in the way to Salvation and whoever hath this hope in him ●●●fies him self as CHRIST i● pure this calls for courage Resolution confidence and patience and through the Blessing of GOD expelleth that dreadful disease of 〈◊〉 dence and dispair 8ly That he be well prepared for a dimission from time to Eternity It 's happy for us that GOD find us at our work that the Lions of our Mind be gir● up that we be waiting our 〈◊〉 call shall our accounts be cleared and our Soul and our Heart in a humble way be full of Joy and Peace with a ●lerophorv or a full assurance of faith that our eyes be closed upon the World open to Heaven That we have CHRIST in our hearts then we may say ●une dimittas now let thy servant dep●● in peace This calls for a fixed preparation for Death Judgement and 〈◊〉 clear Conscience a Willingness and with submission and intire Resignation A desire to be with CHRIST which is best of all I shall conclude then in lotting you know that the great Mean to state you a true Christian is Action and the exercise of your Religion I could have enlarged and added many other things but that deserves a particular Treatise And as for motive to perswade thee to be a true Christian I shall add no more but that you improve your Faith look to your Claim and by the Eyes of Faith look to the splendor of that Crown prepared for a true Christian which ye shall wear with CHRIST World without End AMEN The End

Calling of serving under Christ our great Apostle and high Priest is very desireable For 〈◊〉 makes Heaven and the Golden Way that tends to it the greatest Study and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o● the Candidate It gives him a Prospec● to view the Embellished Toys of a vain World and occasion to Contempl●● GOD and see Things invisible It make● the Man if he answer his Character 〈◊〉 Man of GOD a guide to the Blind● Strength to the Weak and according to his measure a Saviour For in so doing he shall save his own Soul and them that hears him And if through the badness of the Soil he do not alwayes succeed In his Ministry Yet tho Israel be not gathered his Reward is with his GOD. 'T is true the prejudiced and ignorant World may have other Sentiments but it knows not the Use End and Rewards of this Rank of Men But taking pleasure in their own way they may Ra●e it according to the Relish of their corrupted pallat And this should not discourage any Engaging or engaged in it since our Blessed LORD was so raited that the Prophet sayes When we see him there is no beauty in him that we should desire him 4ly Beware of passion that it predomine not either in the Irascible or Concupiscible Appetite Be not too intent upon trifles but learn to be solide in thy florid Age shun rashness and feed not upon wind Particulary guarde against Carnal Love which hath been the great bane of many Wise Solomon was intangled with it tho in the first 7 Chap of the Prov he giveth sound counsel against this Delirium and Vanity If in due time with good advice thou affect a suitable Mate carry as the Cherubs with the Propitiatory in the midst like the Sun and Moon who never meet but by the disposition of nature and issues such influences as refresh the earth 5ly It is good to season and sweeten thy Humour betimes with Religion thy Ghostly Enemie hath an evil eye upon thy Genius and and if he can prostrate thee to a carnal phansie he gains his point for if passion and phansie predomine the better part is put low But I write unto you young men because ye have overcome or should overcome the wicked one 1 Joh. 2. 13. And to soil Satan at first is our great advantage Thy thoughts are but indigested till thy heart be established with Grace Consider thy Talents and gifts and the rise of the morning of thy life that thou may manure them found well that in thy after life thy building totter not look back what you have been you ly a while in the womb sleeping in a dark Cell on the Breasts the dug was your care while at School the ferula was your fear and the play your pleasure thc School was to thee a Prison and the play house 〈◊〉 palace begin therefore well with God for a careless mind now may make thee stupid all thy dayes If thou labour to hide thy sins and thinks to Repent after thou beguiles thy self because thou cannot promise to thy self a day after and tho that day should come thou art not sure that GOD will give thee Grace principle well and act accordingly guard against the vice of the time and of your age and person be constant and sincere in duty and never undertake any business of consequence without advice Moderate your Recreations and neglect not the Vnum necessarium the one thing needful § 19. And for motives to press this timeous duty of youth consider 1. That Early fruit is a seasonable sacrifice to GOD It is a good thing to begin with GOD and the sooner thou begins the Work is the more easie but if sin take rooting it is not so soon eradicated And makes the Sinner like the Ethiopian that can not change his hew But timous beginning in Grace breeds a great deal of Facility to serve GOD and makes Christs yoak easie Grace gives thee a comely Feature and Joseph thereby was better adorn'd than his Coat made him It makes thee Splendid and Honourable it breeds a satisfying and solide Joy to the Soul it sweetneth all the accrbities and tediousness of Discipline and other Incumbrances And tho Youthful lusts may make it at first a little difficult yet if thou flee them and mortify them and follow after Godliness The difficultie will over and Religion will become thy delight 2ly Remember thy Creator and consider the examples of Youth that have done so St. John writes to Young Men as well as to Fathers and Timothy knew the Scriptures from his Youth Youth must consider that tho he bloom blossom yet a little blast may much wrinkle and wither him as the Flower begins to hing its head and loss much of its beauty and smell till it fall amongst the portion of weeds But early Piety is a savoury sacrifice to GOD to bring to him thy first Fruits To be sanctifyed from the Womb is extraordinary and in the Womb singular and to be sanctifyed in Youth is rare Ye● many Young Men and Virgins gave u● their lives for Christ and wilt thou no● sacrifice thy sins for him O but a ne● Heart is pleasant in a Young Breast A●● a new sprung Rose sends forth a fragran●● smell And in thy Youth thou hast th●● Advantage of warmer affections Car●● and Incumbrances ceaseth upon year●● but Youth is free to care for the things of 〈◊〉 LORD The Young Disciple had war●●est affections and if thy love be fix●● for the right Object it may be a war●● Season to produce Fruit. Suffer not 〈◊〉 therefore to prepossess thine heart whi●● may trouble thee all thy dayes and mak●● thee possess the sins of thy Youth to th●● sorrow And with the Psalmist have reason to pray Remember not the errors of my Youth Psal 25. 7. § 20. And For the further advancement of the Piety of Youth Let the rising Generation consider 1. The Glory and Dignity of Adoption 2ly The Luster and Fragrancy of Grace 3ly The Guidance of the Spirit 4ly The Guardianship of Angels 5ly Their Inheritance 〈◊〉 Then the Glory and Dignity of Adoption 'T is no small matter for to be the Children of GOD I 'le make him my first born higher than the Kings of the Earth CHRIST became the Son of Man that thou mightest become the Son of GOD He was humbled that rhou mightest be Exalted and except thou Receive him thou hast no tittle to Adoption Joh. 1. 12. Close with Christ and then thou may lift thy heart and head as high as Heaven and Glory in thy high descent tho thou dwell in a house of Clay be then of a noble Spirit with Caleb 2ly The lustre of Grace which makes thy face to shine with Moses and makes thee altogether Lovely O what excelency and vertue is in the new heart How Beautious are it's Rayes up-upon the life Man thereby becomes like himself and Masters all brutal Passions Grace is a Ray

Heart with the Salt of Grace and make me to grow in Grace Imprint O LORD upon the Table of my Heart the A B C of Christianity teach me to know Love Fear Choice and Obey Thee give me to savour something of Reason and Religion in my ruder Age that I may mind my moment not trifle my time away abou● things of no moment Pardon and heal the corruption of my nature and the Vices of my person give me the new Heart in my younger dayes take away all Impediments and prejudices at Vertue and Religion And so shape sharpen and Sanctifie me that I may become an Instrument of Thy Glory and be prepared for Duty in the following Periods of the Life that thou shalt grant me Amen Devotion in order to Youth to be Exercised on Tuesday NOw Blessed GOD thou hast enlarged me from the bondage of None-Age the yoak of Discipline Keep me under thy Discipline For thy yoak is easie and thy commands are not grievous I am now lifted up to the Prime of my Age LORD make me steddy by Thy Grace that I do not turn giddy and stagger When I look back I find I have been Childish in mind as well as body What dark conceptions have I had of thee And any little spark of Grace was smuthered with a Mass of corruption the Brute in me much mastered it How raw and rude were my Notions of Religion And how contracted and deadned was my Conscience I was almost in all evil and knew it not and much under the Senses and sensitive Appetite The root of all evil was in me and I was content with my pleasant Fetters and were not Thy Mercy Thou hadst fully cast me off the Stage as a miscreant unworthy to live Yet LORD thou hast brought through all this dark trance of Childhood 1 Kings 18. 26. Save me from youthful lusts and grant mewith Obadiab that I may fear thee from my youth purge me from the Dregs of Nature Let them not fix in my Bones least in fuller years I ●e made to possess the sins of my Youth Jo●● 20. 11. Make me vigorous to engage under the Banner of CHRIST to fight against the infernal Trinity the devil the world and the Flesh and own the Holy TRINITY Blessed for ever Give me to offer the first fruits of my Life to Thee LORD make me to relish the sweetnes● of Vertue above all the pleasures of the World and pardon the Errors of my Youth Psal 25 11. and so ballast and establish me with Grace that I may lanch out unto a longer Life and not make shipwrack of Faith and good Conscience but have Thy Word for my Pilote Thy Spirit for my Star Humility for my Ballast the Gail of Grace to fill the Soul of my Affections Thy Glory for my End and Eternal Life for my Harbour Through JESUS CHRIST My LORD Amen 3ly Devotion As to our Entrance to a ●alling and Relation to be exercised on Wednesday O GOD of Love the Father of all sweet Harmony and Peace and the great Proveditor of Man Thou hast made him a Sociable Creature and hast united Mankind in a Society as Members of one Body Thou hast ordained him to live by his own Industry in the use of the Means which by Thy Blessing tends to his Provision As Nature abhores Vacuity so Thou O LORD abhores Idleness and hath given a particular Vocation to Man for Vertue LORD make me religious in my general Calling as a Christian and frugall in my particular Calling grant me the composed Wisdom to make choice of a Helper like unto Me let neither Lightness ●ondness nor carnal phansie be the principle and measures of my Affection and choice let the Advice and council of those whom I ought to follow be consulted and bless me with such purity in my Design that if by Thy Allowance I enter into a conjugal State I may ascend that bed with Innocence and Whiteness without the very knowledge of the carnal Tricks of Sin and Satan And when entered● to entertain a constant Conjugal Affection to the wife or Husband of my Youth and if ever I have escaped in the least wash me throughly and Cement our Relation with the Endearments of the best Bond that our Family may be a Bet●el to Thee Make our Calling Honest and Creditable and wherein we may be usefull to Thee and if Thy Providence hath brought us to Fortunes give us to consider that Thou wilt only honour them that honour Thee make us usefull in our Generation in the Stations Thou hast put us and may we with all Descretion pursue the Ends of our General and particular Calling to Thy Glory and our Comfort Amen Fourthly Devotion for our Riper years to be exercised on Thursday O Eternal Life and Action who dwells in a perpetual Repose grant me in all my Actions to aim Thee and repose in Thee and since now I must resolve with Action having not only the charge of my self but of a Family grant me to be active to what is accountable and agreeable for the increase of my Talents and the Improvement of the opportunities of my Time and Station Save me from vexing cares and doubtful a●xiety but grant me rational and providential Ca●e in the diligent Use of the Means Help me to Cast all my Care upon Thee 1 Pet 5 7. And as to dist●ust to be careful for nothing Save me from all impertinent and destructive digresions and let me never be worse than an Infidel in not providing for my Family and grant me O LORD Thy Blessing without which my ●arly and late Endeavours will not profit us Save me from all wrong measures in the Improvement of my Stock knowing that A little that the Righteous Man hath is better th●n the Treasures of the wicked For thou can turn my Mite into Talents Give me to seek the Kingd●m of GOD and mind the one Thing necessary without which all bussiness is but trouble give me to win my Soul and do Good in my place and time that when I cease from my labours I may enter into the Repose of everlasting Rest Through JESUS CHRIST my LORD Amen 3ly Devotion For our Declining Age on Friday O Uncha●geable GOD the same to Day Yesterday for ever the whole Creation hath been is and will be under a Decay untill the Deliverance of the Children of GOD. Our Life is but a vapour and a shadow the World so weights us that man begins to Decline ere he well consider that he lives Help O LORD my bowing and declining age give me to ●loath my self against the Winter and fill me well against a troubled Sea LORD give me to superstruct well upon solid Foundations to build my House upon a Rock 'T is time for me now to be wise since I have seen and done so much folly I will not choice the World for my portion it is Thee O LORD and Thee only as the Cen●er and Repose of my