Thee Reform my life that I may serve Thee and be saved by thee Cleanse me from my secret Sins and let no Presumptuous Sins have Dominion over me Wean me from the world let my Heart my Treasure my Conversation be in Heaven Turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Set a watch O Lord before my Mouth and keep the Door of my Lips that I offend not with my Tongue Let me delight in that which is Good eschew and abhor that which is Evil set thee always before me that I may not dare to Sin against Thee Make me peaceable and contented in my self useful and beneficial to others well-pleasing and acceptable unto Thee Mind me frequently of my latter end while I live let me live unto thee when I die let me die unto thee living and dying let me be thine Be very merciful to all Mankind especially those that are called Christians Inlarge and Bless thy Holy Catholick Church with more abundant Peace Purity and Concord Pardon the Crying Sins of these three Nations let us search and try our ways and turn unto thee our God make us a People peculiar to thy self zealous of good works Bless our Soveraign with all our Magistrates and Ministers let them discharge their Duty as those that must give an account Be with me this Day and all my Days where-ever I am and whatsoever I am doing let me awefully Remember God made me God preserves me God redeemed me God sees me and God will Judge me Never leave me nor forsake me Guide and direct me by thy Counsel Assist me by thy Holy Spirit Prosper me in all my ways and at last Receive me unto Glory through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father c. Evening Prayer MOst Holy and ever Blessed Lord God Thou hast Commanded me to Pray and so it is my great Duty and hast stiled thy self a God hearing Prayers and so it is my great Privilege In Obedience to thy Command and in Confidence of thy Promises I desire in all Humility and holy Confidence to wait upon thee at this Time in and through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his sake beseeching thee for Mercy and Grace Mercy for the Pardon of my Sins without which I am of all Creatures most miserable and Grace for the sanctifying of my Nature and amendment of my life Search me O Lord and Try me and whatsoever is displeasing in me unto thee remove it thence and lead me in the way everlasting Let me value and mind the things that are not seen more than the things that are seen because the things that are seen are Temporal and those that are not seen are Eternal Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not to any Evil way Let not the Pleasures nor Troubles of this world allure or hinder me from serving thee with Chearfulness and Delight Prepare me for every Condition for every Change especially for my great and last Change give me Grace so to live that I may be neither asham'd to live nor afraid nor unfit to die that when thou shalt Call me hence thou may'st Receive me unto the Eternal Enjoyment of thy self in Heaven Be very Gracious and Merciful to all Mankind to all Jews Turks Pagans and Infidels bring them to the Knowledge and Obedience of the Truth Bless Prosper and Protect thy Church and every Member of it be with it unto the End of the World and let not the Gates of Hell prevail against it Reform whatsoever thou seest amiss in the Belief and Lives of Christians especially in these Three Nations Continue unto us Peace with the Gospel of Peace for thy Name sake Bless our Soveraign and all in Authority with Holiness here and Happiness hereafter Let all his Subjects live under him quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty I et the Ministers of thy Gospel Preach both by their Lives and Doctrine and daily turn many unto Righteousness Let none of my Relations be Strangers unto thy self nor any of thine Afflicted Servants be forgotten by Thee Relieve them according to their several Necessities and the Riches of thy Grace in thy Son I Praise Thee for what thou hast afforded me Thy good Creatures thy Blessing with them thy Provision for me and preservation of me this Day and all my Days Let me lie me down and take my Rest and Sleep because thou Lord makest me to dwell in safety Whether I sleep or wake live or die let me be found thine own to thine Eternal Glory and my Everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ who hath taught me when I pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Grace before Meat BLess and Sanctifie most Merciful Father These thy good Creatures to my use and me unto thy Service give them strength to nourish me and me grace to serve Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Grace after Meat BLessed be thy Holy Name O Lord for all thy Mercies for these thy good Creatures make them healthful for my nourishment and me thankful for all thy Mercies Inable me by them to live to thy praise through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen How to spend the Lord's Day REmember the Lord's Day before it come so as to prepare for it by suitable Meditations Go seasonably to your Rest to prevent heaviness or drowziness Prudently dispose and dispatch your Earthly Affairs that they may be off your hands and out of your mind as much as possible on that Day that so your Heart may be more free and fit for the Duties of it Seek Remission for the Miscarriages of the Week past that you may not come with guilt or trouble upon your Consciences before the Lord. Think not your worldly Business more worthy of your Early Rising than your spiritual Imployment Let your first Thoughts be not only Holy but suitable to the Day With gladness consider how Early your Redeemer arose what a Day of Mercy you are awoke to to wait upon God for Receiving and Exercising of Grace in order to Glory to Cast off the Distracting Thoughts and Businesses of the World and what a Happy opportunity of Good is put into your Hands to get more in one Day than this World can afford you in all your lives Spend it as a Day of Thanksgiving for the greatest Mercies Therefore let the manner of it and the frame of your Hearts be holy Joy Gratitude and Love stirred up by the exercise of Faith and Hope Inlarge your Personal Devotions on this Day and let not Secret Prayer be slubbered over slightly but performed with Seriousness Reverence Alacrity and sutable to the nature and end of the Day Go to the solemn Assembly with Joy and Gladness as to the receiving of a great Blessing with desires after and hope to speed not with unwillingness as to an unpleasant Task and Burden as Carnal Hearts that love not God his Grace or Service are weary of all they do and glad when it
it be Good or whether it be Evil. Lead me in thy way sanctifie and support me by thy Holy Spirit now and all my Days Bind up my Soul in the Bundle of Life Redeem me from Sin and Death and the Power of the Grave and bring me to thine everlasting Kingdom Let not any Neglect Temptation Pain or Passion discompose my Thoughts or Duty or hinder me from a well-grounded Confidence in thee Let neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord who hath taught me when I pray to say Our Father c. FINIS ERRATA PAge 75. line 12. for our read your P. 85. l. 1. for hnd r. and. The CONTENTS OF the Scriptures Pag. 1 Of God Pag. 4 Of the Trinity Pag. 6 Of Creation Pag. 7 Of Providence Pag. 8 Of the Angels Pag. 9 Of Man by Creation Pag. 11 Of the Fall of Man Pag. 15 Of Man's Recovery Pag. 16 Of the Sacraments Pag. 19 Of Baptism Pag. 19 Of the Lord's Supper Pag. 173 Of the Creed Pag. 21 Of the Ten Commandments Pag. 28 Of the Lord's Prayer Pag. 35 Husbands and Wives Mutual Duties Pag. 46 Their Prayer Pag. 51 Husbands Duties Pag. 54 Their Prayer Pag. 56 Wives Duties Pag. 59 Their Prayer Pag. 60 Prayer for safe Child-bearing Pag. 62 Thanksgiving after Deliverance Pag. 64 Parents Duties Pag. 65 Their Prayer Pag. 71 Childrens Duties Pag. 74 Their Prayer Pag. 76 Masters Duties Pag. 78 Their Morning and Evening Prayer with their Families Pag. 81 Servants Duties Pag. 88 Their Prayer Pag. 91 Duties of the Aged Pag. 94 Their Prayer Pag. 96 Duties of the Young Pag. 99 Their Prayer Pag. 105 Duties of the Rich. Pag. 109 Their Prayer Pag. 115 Duties of the Poor Pag. 118 Their Prayer Pag. 122 Duties of the Sick Pag. 126 Support for the Sick Pag. 131 Prayers for the Sick Pag. 136 How to spend every Day well Pag. 143 Morning Prayer Pag. 152 Evening Prayer Pag. 154 Grace before and after Meat Pag. 157 How to spend the Lord's Day Pag. 158 Morning Prayer for the Lord's Day Pag. 162 Evening Prayer for the Lord's Day Pag. 166 Directions as to Prayer Pag. 169 Direction as to Reading and Hearing the Word Pag. 171 Directions as to the Lord's Supper Pag. 173 Duties Before At and After Receiving Pag. 174 A Prayer Before or At Receiving Pag. 177 Meditations and Prayers before we receive the Bread Pag. 180 When we receive the Bread Pag. 182 When we receive the Cup. Pag. 184 A Prayer after receiving Pag. 190 How to prepare for a comfortable Death Pag. 193 Prayers for a comfortable Death to be added to our daily Devotions Pag. 216 Some Books Printed for and Sold by W. 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universal Refuge But the goodly price of a Death-Bed-Repentance at which God is prized by most even then when Religion is at the lowest is rejected with Indignation and the Everlasting State purchased by it may be sadly called an Aceldama a Field of Blood It 's in vain to ask whether God cannot save a Man after a vitious life since his own Will seems to restrain his Power that he will not save men without a recovery to Holiness He is Holy Just and True as well as Mercifull The same word that informs us He is mercifull and gracious likewise tells us He will by no means clear the guilty (m) Ex. 34.6 7. That if we live after the flesh we shall die (n) Rom. 8.13 That He cannot lye nor deny Himself I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live (o) Ez. 18.34 Implying except we turn to him his Mercy will do us no good What Reason have we to expect it which we have used to evil purposes and his dishonour that he should work Miracles for us while we despise the means Cause the Sun to stand still for us because we have trifled away our day Turn Stones into Bread for us who have been slothful and are ready to perish That he should stand ready for us with that grace at last which we have so long refused and rejected God is as peremptory for the Time and Season as for the Duty it self There 's a Time when he will not be found nor accept our Offering The Day of Grace lasteth not so long as the Day of his Patience The fruitless Fig-tree stood still in the Vineyard uncut down but presently withered away under that fatal Curse Never fruit grow on thee more (p) Matt. 21.12 Though he will pardon the Infirmities of the sincere yet there 's a certain Period set for the return of Sinners beyond which all their Industry is ineffectual (q) Gen. 6.3 Isa 6.9 10. Ez. 24.13 Rom. 11.8 Rev. 22.11 Jerusalem neglected the day of her Visitation and the things of her Peace were irrevocably hid from her Eyes Esau found no place of Repentance in his Father though he sought it carefully with Tears The foolish Virgins saw and were troubled that they wanted oil and endeavoured after it but too late the door was shut and no knocking powerfull enough for their admission The design of the Parable of the Vineyard (r) Matt. 20.1 c. so grosly abus'd where those that went into it at the last hour were rewarded equally with those that bore the burden and heat of the day was to teach the Jews that though God had chose them first to be his People yet at the Eleventh hour i e. in Gospel Times or end of the World He would call in accept of and reward the Gentiles as largely as they notwithstanding their repining and murmuring at this his Grace and Mercy the Reward being to all of Grace and not of Debt At least it 's no Advantage or Encouragement to those that are early call'd upon and ingaged yet refuse and delay coming in till old Age Adjourn their serving God to their going out of the World for those that went in at the Eleventh hour a time rather to discharge than admit Servants were not call'd before but found standing idle because no man had hired them And for the Thief upon the Cross that hath stole away so many Souls for the Devil it 's a bare Example Lu. 23.33 c. not confirm'd by any Premise It 's a fingle Example without a parallel in the whole Word of God It 's an extraordinary Example ranked among the Miracles Christ wrought when he left the World It 's an Example impertinently alledg'd to warrant delay in us who have the sound of the Gospel continually in our Ears yet wretchedly cheat our selves of the Remedy of our miserable Condition by adjourning the use of it to a late and uncertain Futurity which seldom or never succeeds well Vain Men to conclude an Vniversal Law from one single Instance a personal Grace and Privilege extended to that one Person that stood close to that Sacrifice that was offering it self up to God when the Conqueror was Triumphing over Principalities and Powers and making a shew of them openly upon the Cross Col. 2.15 and displaying the Power of the dying Mediator to forgive Sins in his lowest Humiliation The Scriptures that are an History of more than Five Thousand years have but this one Instance of one accepted upon a Death-Bed-Repentance and in that such an extraordinary Conjunction of Circumstances as will never fall out again No man professing Christianity hath any Reason to expect to fare as this Thief did till Christ come into the World and suffer again and that between two Thieves and he be alive at that time and place where he suffers and be one of the Thieves and the good one too exercising so many Acts of a true Repentance and lively Faith in Christ when probably first preached to him when he saw him in so despicable a state amidst insulting Infidels under all the Infamy and Misery of a shamefull and painfull Death and nothing to make such a greatness as he ascribed to him probable which will never be They dreadfully mistake themselves that crowd up Repentance into so narrow a Room as a Sick-Bed when men have scarce time to reckon up all the particular Duties that make it up That imagine the Tree that hath been always Barren should bring forth good Fruit now it is a cutting down That a man should live a life of Holiness when he is just a dying That a weak infirm Person of disabled disturbed faculties should build that in Three days which others notwithstanding all their Abilities and Diligence find hard enough to do in Forty years That those who have had the knowledge of God and been call'd upon all their lives to give up themselves to him should be accepted when they pour out to him instead of the generous Spirits of life the Lees and Dregs of it When the Blood cools in the Veins and the Spirits are ready to stand still the Season of the Pleasures of Sin are over and a man is no longer to live where they are to cast himself upon Religion when there 's nothing else to vie with it when all things else fail That he must take us in at Night though he hath in vain stretched out his hand to us all the day long As if this state were prepared only for a Stage for Men to act their Vices and Exorbitances upon and then God should remove them to Heaven that have but just begun to acknowledge him by some weak Devotion extorted even out of Necessity and given the Bulk of their Time to Sin That have sacrificed the Male of their Flock to Lust and even with impious Designs kept the corrupt thing for him That the easie Yoak the
light Burden which cost the Son of God his life to obtain Heaven upon an intolerable Load and to be had on easier Terms That God should have only the faint and feeble Services of our last Hour for his Mercies vouchsafed to us all our Days That he should accept of such a Commutation for the Obedience due to him as a Death-Bed-Repentance a few Sighs and Groans Tears Promises Scatterings of Devotion in exchange for all our Duties sufficient to expiate a whole life of Impiety with a Breath to retract all the dishonour we have done him in it As if he had made us to take the delights he most abhors and after all to give us such a stupendious Reward From the Word of God Men have no Promise to warrant such a Confidence if they have let them shew it if they have not they must thank or rather condemn themselves for bringing themselves into a Condition without the Covenant without a promise hopeless and miserable And oh how miserablâ— must he needs be that lies upon the brink of Eternity incountering the throws and horrors oâ— an imminent Dissolution the doubts of what wiâ—â— become of him in another World the fears oâ— Hell the uproars of a guilty Conscience whom God hath left to the Boiling Sea of his own Terrors and thrown him out no Anchor of Hope THE Whole Duty OF A CHRISTIAN c. Of the Scriptures THE Scriptures contain a Continued History of the Church from the beginning to the end of the World and all things necessary to be known believed and â—ractised for Moses and the Prophets deliâ—ered whatsoever God requiâ—ed them (a) Deu. 4.2 Mal. 4.4 and Christ made â—nown the last and full Will â—f his Father (b) Mat. 28.20 John 14.26 15.15 to his Apostles who faithfully delivered what â—hey received of Him (c) Act. 20.27 1 Joh. 1.3 As to â—he substance of it 't was ever â—he same The Apostles saying none other things than thosâ— which the Prophets and Mosâ— did say should come (d) Act. 26.22 Anâ— a woe is denounced against thosâ— that shall add to or take awaâ— from it (e) Gal. 1.8.9 Rev. 22.18.19 Their Divine Authority appears from theiâ— wonderful preservation the Testimony anâ— constancy of Believers in all Ages thâ— Heavenliness and Efficacy of the Matter 〈◊〉 the simplicity sincerity and agreement 〈◊〉 the Pen men Miracles wrought to coâ—firm them their Antiquity being mucâ— Antienter than any other writing thâ— malice of the Devil and wicked men against them together with the testimonâ— of the Spirit in the Hearts of the Faithful At first Moral duties to God and Maâ— were Engraven on Mens Hearâ— (f) Rom. 2.14.15 and other things carried dowâ— by faithful tradition But wheâ— Men were much multiplied the lives shortened and greatly degenerated that the Divine Will might be an Infallibâ—â— standard of true Doctrine and preserv'd uâ— corrupt to the end of the World it was coâ—mited to writing by God hiâ—self (g) Ex. 31.18 by Moses at Gods coâ—mand (h) Ex. 34.27 by Holy men whoâ— he stirred up and inspired (i) 2 Pet. 1.21 oâ— after another according to the necessity 〈◊〉 â—he times by degrees so much in all Ages â—s was sufficient until the whole Canon was â—nished The Old Testament is divided into Moses or the Law and the Prophets (k) Mat. 7.12 Luke 16.29 and 24.27 because penned by them â—nd delivered to the Church of â—e Jews The New Testament â—as writ by the Evangelists and Apostles â—e Originals kept in the Churches they â—lanted and compos'd into one Volume as 〈◊〉 suppos'd by St. John the last of the Apoâ—les as the Old Testament by Ezra Neheâ—iah Malachi the last of the Prophets They were writ in Hebrew the mother â—nguage of the Jews and Greek the most â—ommon language of the Gentiles And as â—e first Edition so after-Translations ought 〈◊〉 be in the vulgar Tongue to be underâ—ood and read of all who are to Live and â—e Judged by them They were written for our Learning and Comfort (l) Ro. 15.4 to be a Lamp â—nto our Feet and a light unto â—ur Paths (m) Ps 119.105 to give wisdom â—nd understanding to the simâ—le (n) Ps 19.7 are profitable for Doâ—trine for reproof for correâ—tion for instruction in Righteousâ—ess (o) 2 Tim. 3.16 Ignorance of them is â—he mother of error not of devotion (p) Mat. 22.29 hid only to those thâ— are lost (q) 2 Cor. 4.3 We are theâ— fore to give attention to reaâ—ing (r) 1 Tim. 4.13 to search the Scripture (s) Joh. 5.39 to have them dwell richâ— in us in all knowledge (t) Col. 3.16 delight and meditate in the day and night (u) Psal 1.2 such as 〈◊〉 are commended (w) Act. 17 11. 2 Tim. 3.15 2 Pet. 1.19 and blâ—sed is he that readeth and 〈◊〉 that heareth the words of tâ—â— Prophesie (x) Reve. 1.3 Of God THat he is appears from the wondâ—â— of Creation and Providence the Hâ—mony and regular order of the World â—â—cay and corruption of things in it the â—â—veral vicissitudes of Night and Day Summâ— and Winter the production natural Aâ—ons agreement and Instinct of Irration Creatures the unanimous consent of Natioâ— the practice of Satan the admirable contâ—vance and offices of the Body the hopes aâ— fears troubles and peace of the Soul in tâ—â— we are not satisfied with the knowledge aâ— possession of any thing below but are 〈◊〉 thirsting after something the knowledge aâ— enjoyment of which gives satisfaction God is a Spirit Omniscient Omnipreâ—nt alone in of and to himself Self-sufâ—cient All-sufficient Invisible Omnipoâ—ent Incomprehensible Unchangeable Eterâ—al Infinite in Glory Blessedness Wiseâ—ome Power Holiness Mercy Justice â—oodness and Truth having most Soveâ—ign Dominion over us and to whom is â—ue the obedience of all his Creatures Many things are spoken of him and ascriâ—ed to him in Condescention to our weak apacities after the manner of men but â—ust be understood according to the nature â—f God As by his Eye is meant his knowldge watchful providence Favour By the Apple of is Eye that which is dear unto him By his â—â—rm Power and Strength By stretching out his â—and putting forth his Power to help or deâ—roy By his being weary that he cannot enâ—ure Sin By sleep his silence forbearing to â—elp or punish By his being a Rock c. his â—rotection c. His Attributes are several representatiâ—ns of that one perfection which is himself â—nd are either Incommunicable such as canâ—ot be given to any Creature as Omniâ—esent Omniscient c. or Communicable â—cause some parts or resemblances of them â—e found in his Creatures as Wisedom â—oodness Mercy c. Of the Trinity THe Trinity is one God in three distin persons or three persons in the Goâ— head yet but one God none before nâ— greater than another They are not three sâ—veral substances but three distinct subâ— stences or three
so much our Deliverance exceeds the which was a Type and faint shadow of thâ— And therefore we being delivered ut of Hands of our Enemies must serve him wâ—â— out fear in Holiness and Righteousness beâ—â— him all the Days of our Life Commandment I. THE First Commandment requireâ— That we have the only true God a none other for our God and that 〈◊〉 worship and glorifie hima ccordingly Tâ—â— we acquaint our selves with him thâ— frequently of him love and highly Esteâ—â— him delight rest satisfied in him oâ—mit all unto him trust and depend uâ— him place our whole Happiness in 〈◊〉 looking upon all things as nothing wâ— out him honour and adore fear and verence him yield all Praises and Thaâ— Obedience and Submission unto him 〈◊〉 and acnoweldge him be zealous for hâ—â— walk humbly with him be carefull in things to please him and sorrowfull wâ—â— in any thing he is by our selves or othâ—â— offended II. The Second forbids us worshipping or giving any Religious Adoration to any Creature in Heaven Earth or Water which particular Places are named besides which there are none other or the true God In or before or by any Representation Likeness or Image who being infinite and invisible is not to be represented by any visible thing (w) Deut. 4.12 15 c. Isa 44.10 c. Rom. 1.23 and enjoyns the serving him by such means and in such a manner as is agreeable to his Nature and Word And this because he is our Soveraign and Proprietor tender of his own Worship will severely punish Idoâ—aters and their Posterity as those that hate him and be mercifull to true Worshippers as those that love him to many Generations III. The Third forbids us thinking or speaking prophanely vainly slightly of him careless irreverent Attendance upon him in his Worship unadvisedly crying O Lord or O God! c. without a due sence of him Cursing our selves or others Swearing by any Creature or by himself except before a Magistrate in weighty and true Cases which cannot otherwise be determined And requires of us a Holy and Reverent Respect unto and Use of his Name Attributes Ordinances Word Works all things whereby he makes himself known And this because the great Soveraign is most highly provoked by Prophaneness and Contempt of him and will deal with those that are guilty of it accordingly IV. The Fourth requires us with those under our Charge to consecrate keep Holy the sabbath-Sabbath-Day That we bear it in mind to fit our selves for it Rest from those Works which are properly called Ours Set our selves apart for the Duties of it Spend it not in Idleness Worldly Recreations or Imployments except of necessity and mercy but in the publick and private Worship and Service of God in Prayer Hearing Reading the Word Religious Meditation and Discourse accounting the Sabbath the holy of the Lord honourable and honouring him therein (x) Isa 58.13 And this from 1. the Equity of it God's allowing us sâ—â— days of seven for our own warrantable Imployments and reserving but one for Himself 2. His challenging a special Propriety in it setting it apart from common to holy Uses so it 's Theft and Sacriledge to alienate it to any others than he allows 3. His own Example resting on it not from doing good or preserving what he had made but from creating any more diversities or kinds of Creatures And 4. from that Blessing he hath put upon it in advancing preferring inriching that Day above the rest in choosing ordaining setting it apart sanctifying it to be a Time for his Service and a means of Blessing to us in sanctifying it Which is not upon the Seventh but First Day of the Week from the Resurrection of Christ on that Day the Practice of the Apostles Primitive Christians and Church of God in all Ages since together with the Command of our Rulers in Church and State V. The Fifth requireth under the sweet Relation between Parents and Children the preserving the Honour and performing the Duties belonging to every one in their several Places Stations and Relations That Inferiors reverence and obey their Superiors that Superiors carry themselves worthily towards and be carefull of those under them that Equals render due Respect towards each other More particularly as to our Superiors in Family Church and State that we pray for them honour and reverence them chearfully submit to and obey them not envy or grudge the Preheminence God hath given them that we do not neglect or despise them for their wants or weaknesses but rather support assist them cast a covering of love over them stand up and plead for them against those that abuse disparage or speak evil of them To which obedience prosperity and length of days as God sees good is promis'd in the Old Testament and not reversed but rather confirmed in the New (y) Ep. 6.2 3. VI. The Sixth condemneth any hurt done threatned or intended to our own or other's Soul or Body Forbiddeth our being actually guilty of or of whatsoever tendeth to our own or others death Together with all sinfull Anger Strife Malice Hatred Revenge denying necessary means for preservation of life but not lawfull War necessary Defence or the Execution of publick Justice And requireth our Endeavours to â—ender all men's lives as safe and comfortable as we can VII The Seventh forbiddeth all Impurities and fleshly Pollutions in Thought Word and Deed unchastity in Mind Speech Behaviour And withall enjoyneth the shunning and avoiding all Occasions Provocations Temptations thereunto as to our selves or others VIII The Eighth forbiddeth all defrauding over-reaching dishonest Actions or whatsoever Abuses unjustly lessens or hinders our own or others Estate and requireth the lawfull procuring and furthering of the same IX The Ninth forbiddeth all false or evil speaking or surmising lying slandering back-biting dissembling reviling tale-bearing detracting from or prejudicing another's Esteem or good Name And requireth our defending preserving promoting advancing the same X. The Tenth forbiddeth dissatisfaction with our own Estate envying repining at desiring of any thing that is another's And requireth a full Contentment with our Enjoyments furthering of and rejoycing in our Neighbours The Lord's Prayer SO called from the Author our Lord Jesus Christ It 's a compleat Directory and Summary of all Prayer And contains 1 A Preface of Compellation the Person we pray to not Saints or Angels but God described by our common Interest in him our Relation to him his Habitation 2 Six Petitions The three first more especially respect God's Glory Advancement of his Kingdom Obedience to his Will which must be first sought The three last our own and others Temporal and Spiritual good 3 A Doxology or Conclusion for Confirmation containing Praise and Thanksgiving and Arguments for our Petitions for Thine is the King dom which we desire to come thy Power alone can effect these things the grant of them tends unto and will end in thy Glory Our Father Implies We ought to call
Service of Christ into the Communion of Saints Keep them from the Loss or Injury of any Sence or Member from every sad Accident from Evil Temptations or Examples prevailing upon them from being useless unprofitable or vitious that they prove not a Curse but a Blessing and Comfort to us and others and attain what thou hast promised to those that Honour and Obey thee and their Parents and not provoke thee to visit the Iniquity of their Fathers upon them Give us grace to carry our selves so as we may be able with Confidence so leave our Fatherless Children with thee and bid them trust in Thee O thou that hast sent forth thine Angels for Ministring Spirits to the Heirs of Salvation give them Charge over us and them for Preservation and Safety thorough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Childrens Duties LOve and Honour your Parents in your Thoughts Speeches and Behaviour be they never so mean in the World or Understanding though you cannot as Rich Wise or Religious you must as Parents Think not contemptuously of them speak not dishonourably irreverently saucily to them or of them Deride not their failings or miscarriages but conceal lament cover them Bear with their Infirmities of Mind and Body when old Age makes them Troublesome to others let them not be so to you Carefully lay up all their wholsome Precepts Imitate them in all that 's good while they live and when they are dead Remember what Grief of Mind your Miscarriages will be to them and how much your Happiness will be theirs Make not their lives miserable by undoing your selves Bear with them when froward and twice Children as they did with you when you were theirs Murmur not but willingly and thankfully be instructed and reprehended by them Obey them in all lawfull things Chearfully submit to any labour they injoyn you or Correction they lay upon you Be content with their Allowance and Provision for you and disposal of you Marry not without their Consent Children are so much their Parents Goods and Possessions that they cannot without a kind of Theft give away themselves without their Approbation that have a Right in them If they be in want relieve and maintain them and that not as Servants or Inferiours but Superiours See they fare as well or better than our selves Though you got not your Riches by them you can never requite them for what you have received of them Pray and do what in you lies for their Health and Life Peace and Comfort Remember how much you owe them for all their Cares and Fears their Cost for you and pains with you Be far from those who imbrue their Souls in bloody Wishes for their Parent 's Death Though they wish them in Heaven it 's not so much that they may have Ease and Rest at their Journey 's End as because they must needs take Death in the way If long Life be promised as a Reward for honouring Parents such may expect untimely Death as a Punishment on the contrary Reverence Kindness and loving Respects to them never went unrecompensed even in this Life Their Prayer MOst Merciful and Heavenly Father who Invitest little Children to come unto Thee and lovest those that do O take me into the Arms of thy Mercy and Bless me who am dedicated to thee in Baptism Make me always mindful of my Vow and Promise to forsake the Devil and all his works to believe in thee and to serve thee to be Dutiful Obedient and Thankful to my Parents and Instructers Humble Reverent and Meek to my Superiors gentle sober and Temperate all my Dayes Keep and defend me from all Evil lead me into all Good Bless me and my Parents O my Heavenly Father The longer I live the better let me be Let me increase in Wisdom and Stature and favour with thee and men to the Glory of thy great Name the Delight of my Relations my own Happiness in this World and that which is to come thorough Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another MOst Gracious and Merciful Father who madest preservest and providest all Necessaries for me Pardon whatever I have done amiss and grant I may do so no more Give me Grace to obey Thee and my Parents to be helpful and a Comfort to them Keep me from slighting of them Irreverence Undutifulness Disobedience to them Let me never forget or slightly Remember my many Bonds and Obligations of Duty Obedience and Thankfulness to them their Sorrows Pains and Care for me that I may never make their Hearts sad or bring down their grey hairs with Sorrow to the Grave Increase the Number of their Dayes and thy Graces in them to thy Glory in their Generation Watch over us for good all our Dayes through Jesus Christ who hath Taught me when I Pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. The Masters Duties LEt your first Care be to admit none into your Service but such as will serve God with you (y) Ps 101.4 c. A wicked Person is a dangerous Infection in a Family Disobedience is from Irreligion There can be no true Fidelity and Subjection but out of Conscience Keep your Servants from Evil Company and from being Temptations to one another Watch over them for their good Encourage the Obedient Rebuke convince admonish the Contrary so as their own Consciences may Condemn them without Bitterness Reviling Sharpness which oftner hardens than Reforms Defend and Protect them in doing their Duty Bear them not out in wronging any but right them when they are wronged Refuse not their just Apologies Hearken to and Redress their Grievances (z) Job 31.13 Deny not necessary wholsom sufficient Food and Rayment if the Contract be so Physick Lodging Wages Think not much of maintaining them when by Providence disabled from serving you Oppress them not with too much Labour Let your Commands be lawful feasable necessary convenient that they may Obey with chearfulness Your Reproofs and Admonitions short plain material prudent sober private seasonable familiar with good Advice according to their different Tempers when it 's most like to do good and to convince them of it with such winning Mildness and Concern as they may see you 're more ingag'd for their welfare than themselves Rule with Wisdom and Discretion Love Gentleness Tenderness not Rigour and Severity Looking on them not as Slaves but fellow Pilgrims fellow-Servants fellow-Christians and Brethren (a) Phil. 1. Knowing you have also a Master in Heaven (b) Ep. 6.9 Col. 4.1 An austere Master makes Eye-Servants his Person hated his Business neglected No Servant will do his Duty except out of Conscience or Love to his Master Fairness sweetens Advice and purchases Love without which there can be no true Fidelity and Respect Constraint is for Extremity when all other ways fail Let your Corrections be prudent moderate unpassionate joyn'd with Instruction proportionable to the Person 's
is over Think how Damned Souls would Hear and Pray if they might with you be tryed again and how unfit unbecoming a Careless a Drowzy Body dull Affections dead Services are for the living God Compose your selves with all Reverence as considering with whom you have to do and for what Beware of a wandring Eye and Mind or slighting what you Hear Be seriously imploy'd all the Time And while others are quarrelling with the Imperfections of the Speaker or Congregation be laying up the Word in your Heart Be Reverent Solemn and Serious in every Duty be sure your Heart be in them In Confession Humiliation Petition Thanksgiving Singing when the Word is Read or Preacht whether Commands Promises Threatnings Calls Invitations be answerably Affected with them as if you heard God speaking from Heaven Haste not away while the Minister is pronouncing the Blessing but hope desire and believe it shall Descend upon you Leave not the Assembly until you have lift up your Heart for Pardon and a Blessing upon the Ordinance to your self and all present In these or the like words A short Prayer I Adore and Magnifie thee O merciful Father for this opportunity of hearing from and waiting upon thee O pardon whatever thou hast seen amiss in us and let the Fruit of it be unto Holiness and the end Everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After your Attendance in Publick with that Concern and seriousness the work requires and deserves let not your self loose the rest of the Day to secular Diversions and Concerns and thereby choke and stifle those good Instructions and devout Affections that have been raised and excited in you Let your Diet be moderate lest it make you drowzy and your Hearts Heavenly at it your Discourse savoury seasoned with Grace suitable to the Company and the Day in the chearful Remembrance of the love of your Redeemer the special work of the Day being to Celebrate the Memorial of his Resurrection and the whole work of our Redemption by him we ought to speak as much as possible of it under a sence of our Natural misery and in stirring up lively Apprehensions of Infinite Condescending Goodness in the special exercise of Faith and Love and Joyful Praises Having spent as much of the Day as you can in Publick Worship and in Reading the Word and ruminating upon it Review the Duties Mercies and Miscarriages of the Day Call over what you have Heard and Read and urge it upon your Heart Beg the Divine Blessing and Assistance for the Advantage and Improvement of it and Pardon for your failings Bless God for any Enlargement or Good received Recommend your self unto him for the Ensuing Night and let your last Thoughts be in the thankful joyful sence of the Mercies you have and hope for and the goodness of God in your Mediator Confidently trust your self and yours in his Hand longing for your nearer approach unto him and full Enjoyment of him in Glory Morning Prayer on the Lord's Day MOst Holy and Infinitely glorious Lord God Thou art greatly to be feared in the Assembly of thy Saints and to be had in Reverence by all that draw nigh unto Thee It 's an Infinite Condescention in thy Majesty to suffer such a despicable Worm as I am to come before Thee to wait upon Thee to speak unto Thee to have any thing to do with Thee in a way of Grace and Mercy Had'st thou dealt with me according to my Deserts and Rewarded me after mine Iniquities I had been long ago in that place of Torment where Prayer and the means of Grace could do me no good at all O Pardon my abuse of thy Mercies mispending my Time Prophaning thy Sabbaths Polluting thine Ordinances the unworthy Returns I have made unto Thee for all thy Benefits which might justly cause thee to withdraw thy self from me and thy Blessing from thine Ordinances Make me truly sensible of the worth of the Opportunity thou this Day puts into my hand for the good of my Immortal Soul let it not be as a prize put into the hand of a Fool that hath no heart to use it Help me to make a wise a right Improvement of the same for the Glory of Thy Name and for the preparing my self for my Eternal Rest Let my Thoughts this Day be much upon it and upon that wonderful love in my Redemption Take away my Heart of Stone that 's so insensible of my own Vileness and thy abundant Goodness and give me a Heart of Flesh write thy Laws upon it put thy Fear within me that I may never depart from Thee Let not thy Sabbaths nor thine Ordinances be continued in vain unto me but let me grow in Grace under all the means of Grace I enjoy The older I grow the better let me be the nearer I come to my end let me be the fitter for thy self Let me love the Habitation of thy House and the place where thine Honour Dwelleth and Esteem one Day in thy Courts better than a Thousand elsewhere and that I had rather be a Door-keeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness Let it be my Meat and Drink the Joy and Rejoycing of my Soul to do thy Will and to be Imployed in thy Service Visit the dark Corners of the Earth with the light of thy glorious Gospel and let all that enjoy it walk worthy of it Make our Soveraign and all our Superiors thy faithful Subjects and Servants Let thy Priests be Cloathed with Righteousness and thy Saints shout for Joy Be in all our Solemn Assemblies Accompany thine own Institutions with thine own Blessing Make thy Word in the mouths of thy Ministers very effectual for turning many unto Righteousness Be with me this Day let my Confessions of Sin Increase my Hatred against it my Praises and Thanksgivings be the Inward sense of my Soul Let my Conversing with Heavenly things have an Influence upon me for the bettering of me Go along with me into the Assembly of thy Servants unite and compose my Thoughts in thy Presence let me attend upon thee without Distraction Let me Consider thou hast an Eye upon me at all Times especially when I draw nigh unto Thee in the way of thy Worship Let me Pray unto Thee in Spirit and Truth because thou art a Spirit and requirest so to be worshipped Give me a Hearing Ear a seeing Eye an understanding Heart Let me hear thy Word as thy Word as that Word by which I shall be Judged and which is able to save my Soul by believing and obeying of it through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Evening Prayer on the Lord's Day MOst great and Infinitely glorious Lord God who hast Exalted thy self far above the Heavens and above the Praises and Apprehensions of the best of thy Creatures Unto thee be all possible Praise Honour and Glory for what thou art in thy self
and unto all thy Creatures for thy Infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness so apparent in Creating Preserving of Providing for them That the Heavens Declare thy Glory and the Firmaments shew thy Handywork that the Eyes of all wait upon Thee and that thou openest thy hand and fillest them with Good that thou hast not left thy self without witness where thy Gospel is not Preached in that thou doest them good and sendest them Rain from Heaven and fruitful Seasons and fills their Hearts with Food and Gladness But what shall I render unto thee for thy unspeakable goodness to Mankind not only in making us capable of serving and enjoying thee but in providing for us a Saviour to Reconcile and Renew us when we had forfeited thy favour which was our Happiness and lost thine Image which was our Excellency and Glory That so many have enjoy'd thy Gospel and been translated out of the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of thy Dear Son That I live in a place where thy Gospel is Preached the way to Heaven so clearly Revealed where I have so many opportunities of hearing from thee of waiting upon thee that this Day I have enjoyed the means of being Happy with Thee for ever O accompany the same with thy Blessing to that End Let me live the Sermons that I hear the Ordinances I enjoy the Duties I am Imployed in Let my Thoughts be much upon that Happy state where I shall offend thee and my self no more but Reap my Redeemer's Purchase for those that sincerely serve Thee Look in much Mercy upon all Mankind Say Behold me Behold me to the People that have not known thee that have not call'd upon thy Name Let all the Ends of the Earth see the Salvation of our God Encrease the number of true Believers daily add to thy Church such as shall be saved Forgive the crying Sins of these Three Nations turn us unto thee by a speedy and unfeigned Repentance and Reformation that Iniquity may not be our Ruine Compose our Differences make up our Breaches heal our Divisions Endue our Severaign with all necessary qualifications for his present and future Happiness Let none of our Magistrates bear the Sword in vain but be faithful to that Trust committed to them Remove not thy Candlestick let not our Teachers be driven into Corners let their Doctrine be pure and their Lives exemplary for the good of Souls accompany their Endeavours with thy Blessing Bring unto my Remembrance that part of thy Word I have Read or Heard this Day let me hide it in my heart that I may not dare to Sin against thee As I am one day nearer my End let me be so much nearer keeping an Eternal Sabbath with thee in Heaven Smell a sweet savour from the sincere services of thy Servants Return gracious Answers to their Prayers Pardon what thou hast seen amiss in me and them this Day through Jesus Christ who hath taught us to Pray Our Father c. Directions as to Prayer STir up in your Souls the most lively Apprehensions Reverence Faith and Love as to him before whom you are going to Appear and upon what terms he is engaged and hath resolved to Answer or deny you Be throughly sensible of your Sins and wants and of the worth of those Mercies you are going to ask Come always in the Humility that becomes a worthless Condemned Sinner and in the belief and boldness that becomes a Son a Member of Christ Disclaim all worthiness of your own but be as Confident in every lawful Request as if you saw your Crucified Mediator interceding for you with his and your Father Pray with Understanding Attention Abhorrence of your Sins a deep sence of your Necessities a holy Confidence of Assistance and Audience through your Redeemer God's merciful Nature and gracious Promises with holy and lively Affections with Charity a Heart filled with good will to all your very Enemies with uprightness and sincerity Beware you love not Sin but resolve to leave it when you Pray against it that you truely Desire and Endeavour for the Grace and Mercy you ask and ask not for that you would not have Keep your Heart all the while in a reverent serious fervent frame as if God's Glory was visible to your Bodily Eye Suffer it not to wander grow Remiss Cold Formal It 's said of Luther that he used such Reverence and Humility as in the presence of Almighty God but such fervency and Faith as if he had been talking with his Friend he that asks with a doubting listless mind begs for nothing but to be denied Make your Prayers your Rule all your Duties are there set down what you are bound to do for the doing whereof you beg the Divine assistance God loves to Bless and Reward Industry but not to support Idleness As we must ask of God what we need so we must labour for all we ask by the Use and Improvement of what we have He that would Pray with Effect must live with Care and Piety Directions as to Reading and Hearing the Word AWefully Remember that the Scriptures are the Word of God full of many gratious Promises Encouragements and Supports the Doctrine of unseen things and of the greatest Mercies the Rule by which you must live and be Judged Therefore Read and Meditate upon it with Humility Reverence Love and great Delight Submission and a full Resolution to obey it If â—ny thing seem Difficult or Improbable â—uestion not suspect not it but your own â—gnorance and Understanding and Pray â—hat the Spirit which Indited it may expound 〈◊〉 to you Before you go to Hear Pray for the Minister the Congregation and your selves for the Divine Assistance and Blessing Lay side all worldly Cares and Thoughts all â—thiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with Meekness the Ingrafted Word which is able to save your Souls Come not with an Irreverent Careless unbelieving Heart as if it were a light matter that â—ittle concern'd you but with Faith Love and Reverence with a deep an â—wakened sence of its unspeakable weight â—ecessity Consequence and Concernment to you Come on purpose to get Direction and Strength against your particular failing Hear with Attentive willing humble Honest Teachable Hearts and Applicatioâ— of it to your selves with a design to Profiâ— with Resolution to obey all that shall bâ— Commanded you of God As new boâ—â— Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that you may grow thereby Despise it no in the plainness of it Hear not to Censure or Cavil but to be taught and Ruled Suâ—fer not vain Thoughts or drowzy careles Negligence to hinder your Attention Chieâ—ly mark the drift and design of the Discoursâ— and those things that are of the greate weight and concernment to your selves When you come Home Meditate oâ— what you have heard Lament a stupiâ— careless unbelieving Heart Pray over an endeavour to practise what you have learn Reason and Plead with your own Heart and let
Thoughts Inclinations Passions Words and Actions your behaviour in your several Duties Places Relations Take a strict Account of the miscarriages of the Day what Sins of Omission or Commission you have been guilty of and Confess them to God with an hearty sorrow and shame and a great Detestation of your self and firmly Resolve by his Grace and Assistance never to be guilty of the like again but to lead a new life A speedy present and particular Repentance is the way to keep your accounts even and to leave as little as may be upon the score to Trouble you when you are least able to bear it and have most need of Comfort and likelier to wipe out the guilt of your particular Sins than a general Repentance on a Death-Bed when you cannot but forget and omit many things which you can take no distinct notice of 'T is too much Presumption for any man to Conclude that his Sins will be forgiven him in a lump and that a general Confession and Acknowledgment of them will suffice when he comes to Dye Let no less Humiliation Repentance and Faith serve for the least Sin than you have good ground to conclude will carry you boldly from your Knees through Death to Judgment Thus get your Case rightly stated by leting Conscience have the full hearing of it in her private Sessions before you appear at the great Assize Make your Bed the Memorial of your Grave and your Evening Thoughts an Image of the Day of Judgment than which there 's no greater Instrument of Piety and Virtue in the world This will make us ashamed and afraid to neglect our Duty to commit any Sin when we know we must be accountable to our selves for it at Night and to God at the last Day By this means we shall be able to Correct the Errors of our past Lives to walk by a sure and steady Rule to make our Repentance particular to prevent Sin coming on us with an After-clap for if we would Judge our selves we should not be judged (u) 1 Cor. 11.31 Let Conscience speak as a Law a Witness a Judge now else it will be a Worm in Hell No wonder most are afraid of Death they are Strangers at Home and Justly Dread being called to account not knowing how things stand between God and Them Finally Often set before you the Condition of the wise and foolish Virgins when the Bridegroom cometh (w) Matt. 25.1 c. Behold the Judge standing before the Door (x) James 5.9 Fancy you see the Fire already kindled which e'er long will turn the whole Globe of Heaven and Earth into Flames The Heavens passing away with a hideous Noise and Clamour and the Works of Nature and Art which men so idolize and dote upon consuming and burning to a black Coal The Son of Man coming in Power and great Glory with his Holy Angels The Books opening the last Trump sounding the Dead starting out of their Graves the Wise with great Joy and Triumph to their expected Blessedness the Foolish in Horrour and Amazement looking for their fearfull Doom Think what a terrible thing this will be to the drowzy World what a Surprize to the Careless and Ungodly to be thus suddainly overtaken not knowing what to do or which way to turn The trembling multitude running up and down appaled astonished and confounded in so much despair of the abused mercy of God that instead of supplicating it they 'll call to the Rocks and Mountains to fall on them and hide them from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb and find them as inexorable as God himself O the ghastly looks the shivering motions the distorted eyes and listning ears the distracted faces and trembling hands of the confident and daring sinners at that great and terrible Day when all the charming Companions and Associates shall like enraged Furies fly upon one another and the Fewel men feed their Lusts with shall be turned into Fewel for Hell-fire and stings of Conscience When every Vice shall have its proper Torment The secure Sinner be fill'd with Remorse and Anguish The Sensualist tormented with an insatiable Hunger and Thirst when a vexatious Fire shall burn Body and Soul The tenacious greedy worldling perish with want Confusion and Shame cover the Proud and Vain-glorious When the lascivious Wretch instead of gazing upon a fictitious Beauty and sporting in the Arms of his Dalilah shall have his sight blasted with the contagious Vision of deformed Spectors and be embraced by devouring Flames The amorous Smiles of all his sweetest mirth and jollity corrupted and surrendred up into dolefull Howlings and mortal Gripes How will the sensual Sinner then look when all his Terrene Pleasures shall be snatched away by those merciless Flames What will the Voluptuous Glutton do when he shall see all his curious delicious Dainties with which he so gratified his brutish Palate turn'd to Ashes Then they would fain vomit up their delicious morsels and abhor the remembrance of what they cannot forget They confess and bewaile their former Folly The things they eagerly pursued they sadly lament when all their Enjoyments are spent and nothing left but naked Sin and Conscience Where will the Costive Avaricious Earth-worm delve or scrape for Riches the Ambitious Climb for Honour when they see all Gold and Silver Crown and Scepter burnt up How soon then will Men's fond Presumptions and Self-flatteries vanish into smoak and vapour end in dreadfull despair when all shall appear in their own likeness nakedly as they are and there can be no varnishing or gilding over a rotten Heart When none shall deceive God as they did men with a disguise of Piety No Wolf in Sheep's Cloathing steal on his Right-hand With what Amazement and impotent Rage will they struggle What would they not give to change their place that they might change their doom How will men's borrowed Colours be then melted away What a number of painted Vizards and disguised Masks of false Hearts be thrown into the Fire What would the Man invited to the Marriage-Feast give for a Wedding Garment when he stands at the Door and receives a Repulse And the foolish Virgins for Oyl How will the Market of Grace rise with what Industry will they seek it when they hear the Rumour of the Bridegroom's approach When Rivers of Tears cannot wash away the Guilt of Conscience nor ten thousand Rivers of Oyl allay the Rage and Clamour of it But Christ's Followers shall be no losers He will consider them for their Time for their Expences for their Labour for their Sufferings None of them serve him for nought They shall certainly have their Hire that Work in his Vineyard The despised Ignorant Christian will then appear wiser than the craftiest Polititian The vilest Believer out-shine the Rich man's Scarlet and glittering Robe The Content of this World be of more value than all the Treasures of it The Penitent's Tears yield
are restless and distracted Horrours and Regrets of Conscience rouls and works within and draws the dismal Picture of their own Guilt in dreadfull Colours Then are the proud Boasts of the Atheists and Debauche's quell'd and baffled by the King of Terrors The very thoughts of whose approach surprises them with fear and consternation whilst good men insult over it The guilty Prisoner dreads every Noise and trembles when the door opens for fear of his deserved doom whilst the Innocent upon the same Account is both calm and joyfull expecting deliverance The Divine Majesty sitteth or abideth at the sick Man's Beds-head saith a Jewish Writer on Psal 41.3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the Bed of languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness Guilt makes us shy of a holy Presence kindles the Sparks of Hell in our Souls and renders Death terrible indeed while a Sabboth of Rest Ensues Innocence and a well-spent life makes the Righteous as bold as a Lyon to receive Death with open Arms for its sting is taken away to Hug and Embrace the Promises afar off as actually Existent and present as a man doth his Intimate Friend who hath been long absent in another Country Remember now O Lord I beseech Thee how I have walked before Thee in Truth and with a perfect Heart and have done that which is good in Thy sight (q) Is 38.3 VI. Lay up and secure every day something against your last i. e. The Comfort of a well-spent life and provisions sutable and proper to the Necessities of that great Day of Expence a strong active well tryed Faith a deep large exercised Repentance a mind well furnished with wise Considerations an unconstrained Charity a firm Hope a profound Submission to the Will of God a well grounded Expectance of a Blessed Eternity And this not only by overcoming and despising the world accustoming your self to suffer Injuries and Affronts Losses and cross Accidents in it a delight in by Conversing with God and Heavenly things getting sweeter Thoughts of it than of the most prosperous state on Earth But by considering with what Arguments then to fortifie your Soul what graces and defences are requisite to render Death easie safe and happy And more particularly by daily assiduous fervent address to God to be with you stand by you assist you at that Time to resist and subdue the Assaults of Satan to strengthen you against Impatience and Infidelity to quicken you to Diligence and sincere Endeavours for obtaining what you pray for else you play the Hypocrite with and mock God Common Acquaintance will not do it 's not enough to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence (r) Luk. 13.26 There must be frequent Interviews a spiritual Intimacy between Him and us He that hath had an intire Conversation with God cannot fear to go to him No marvel they Tremble that know him not or know that he will not know Them Had the Fiery Chariot fetched away Elijah unlooked for we had doubted of the favour of his Translation Watch ye therefore and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man (s) Luk. 21.36 VII Put not the Evil day far from you Familiarize Death unto your Soul by frequent Meditation of it Look not upon it at a distance but even at the door let the Thoughts of it dwell with you O how soon how suddenly will winged Time rush into Eternity Our Lord comes not only in a Day but in an Hour we think not of (t) Mat. 24.44.50 and none but He could ever say Mine Hour is not yet come We are not sure to be further from our Grave on our Feet than on our Sick Bed Serve up a Skeleton at your Table walk upon Mount Calvarie Present to your Soul a frequent view of the Black Scene you go through when you go off the Stage Be still stooping down and looking into your Sepulchre Fancy you see a Grave gaping for you your crazy Tabernacle falling upon your Head your Breath growing Cold your Eye-strings breaking The vitall Lamp just spent and ready to go out How fast Time is Eating you out of Possession of all here Such Thoughts will not only cool our passionate fondness to Earthly things make us sober and indifferent in their use and habitually ready to part with them but take off the Horror of the Apprehensions and approach of Death we shall find it not a Stranger but an intimate Acquaintance an expected Friend we shall make no more of it than of going through a dark Entry to our Father of falling into the Arms and Embraces of our Mother and Sister No guest comes unlookt for to him that keeps a Constant Table A little warning serves a Tenant that 's provided for who is often thinking of a Remove VIII By all means strengthen and confirm your Belief in the Promises of This and another Life Live walk by Faith and not by Sight Dwell on the Believing Thoughts of Everlasting glory and Inure your self to the daily Exercise of the Imployment of it of Love and Joy and chearful Praising God which will much prepare incline dispose you to be There Converse chiefly with those that shall be your Companions for ever A Stranger Rejoyces when he meets with his own Countrey men In your Pilgrimage enjoy as much as you can of Heaven which begins Here let your Treasure your Heart your Conversation be in it Think what others are Enjoying whil'st you are Here and what a life it will be to see and enjoy the Blessed God your glorified Redeemer To be perfectly taken up in the full fruition thereof among Saints and Angels in the new Jerusalem O Could we but realize that how would our Hearts be affected and ravished with the prelibation and foresight of it as Marriners in a Tempest at Sea when by a Perspective-glass they discern their Harbour afar off how do they Rejoyce Embrace and make towards it 'T is utterly the fault of Christians when they see the Earth Cut out among its Possessors to measure Themselves by the standard of the World and value their Estates by the Creatures Rate-Book so they are always poor whil'st they Inventory what Goods they have not what they Hope for and expect for then they could see no end of their Riches That they have their Portion to Receive when all the Treasures of this World shall be exhausted Enter upon their Estate when the Inhabitants of it shall become Bankrupts turn'd out of all and have nothing to look for but Wrath and Vengeance They exceedingly wrong their Souls and hinder Themselves from a willingness to be with God in spending their days in doubts and drooping worldly Dulness and neglecting so much the Graces and Work of Heaven IX Review daily your Heart and Life by a solemn Scrutiny Summon your self before the Bar of Conscience Reckon for your