and Bodies In respect to their Souls that they be brought to an early Baptism that they be Eph. 6. 4. taught to read and as soon as possible be instructed in the Principles of the Christian Religion and that a constant care be had by forbearing Provocations and shewing Piety at Home and by all other good and prudent means thaâ— they dayly encrease in the Knowledge and Practice of them In respect to their Bodies that their Parents supply them with Food and Raiment and if possible with all the Conveniencies as well as Necessaries of Life thaâ— 2 Cor. 12. 14. they may be put into the World under a possibility and probability of thriving in it There are also mutual dues between Husband and Wife and the Duties common tâ— them both are that they love each other and express it in endeavouring to procure a mutuaâ— satisfaction in all things and to promote thâ— Eph. 5. 31 Temporal and Spiritual Welfare of each other that they be faithful to each otheâ— Bed having always in remembrance the 7th Commandment that they bear with eacâ— 5. 1 Cor. 2. 7 1 Pet. 3. 2. Heb. 13. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 7. others Infirmities and partake of each other Prosperity or Adversity that they pray foâ— each other that they honour that is giveth respect due to each others Person and particularly that the Husband give Honour to the Wife in St. Peters sense which is * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 3. 7 Maintenance â—â— being the weaker Vessel that he exercise his Authority over Her in the milder way of Admonition rather than in the more imperious waâ— of Command remembring that they twain are buâ— one flesh though the Man be the head of the Woman that he gives her all due Benevolence anâ— 1 Cor. 11. 3. 7. 3 lastly all seasonable and necessary Instructions The Duties of the Wife whereby she standâ— â—â—e especially obliged unto her Husband are 1 Pet. 3â— 1. Eph. 5. 24. â—â— she submits peaceably to that Authority â—â— her which God has given to the Man â—â— as a necessary consequence of this She reâ—â—ce her Husband and shew it in a becoming 33. 1 Pet. 3. 4. â—â—guage and Deportment towards him â—â—ly that she be at all times forward to do â—â—t she knows he likes and obey what he Eph. 5. 24. â—â—mands provided it be both lawful and â—â—edient of which he is supposed to be the most Col. 3. 18. 1 Cor. 14. 35. â—â—petent Judge being by the Apostle appointâ—â— an Instructor to his Wife even in Matters â— Religion Lastly there are various Duties incumbent â— Masters and Servants that Masters take a due â—â—e of their Servatnts as Members of their â—â—n Families that they provide for their 1 Tim. 5. 8. â—â—dies a competent Maintenance and for their â—â—uls religious Instruction and Admonition â—â—at in every respect they give to their Servants Col. 4. 1. â—â—t which is just and equal as knowing â—â— they also have a Master in Heaven with whom is â— respect of Persons That they be not in their Rom. 2. 11. â—overnment of them harsh and froward but â—â—ld and gentle that they require nothing of â—â—em but that which is in it self both reaâ—â—nable and lawful that they threaten them Eph. 6. 9. â—o more than is necessary and give them onâ—â— when need so requires due Correction â—â—at they perfectly instruct them in the Art or â—rade which they undertook to teach them â—â—at they reward them according to agreement Deut. 24. 14 15. Jam. 5. 4. â—â—nctually paying them their Wages lastly â—â—at they restrain them from Vicious and â—ove them all they can to Religious Practiâ—â—s And Servants in return of these Dues â—ust as they justly ought count such Masters 1 Tim. 6. 1. â—â—rthy of all Honour and shew it upon all Occaâ—â—ons in their respectfull Carriage and Demeaâ—our towards them They must obey them in all â—â—ings agreeable to their Contract that out of a Principle of Conscience not with Eye-service as Meâ— Col. 3. 22. Eph. 6. 5. 6 7 8. pleasers but as the Servants of Christ with singlâ—ness of heart and chearfulness of Spirit whiâ—â— will make them diligent constant in their Obâ—dience they must be also true to their Truâ—â— Tit. 2. 9 10 ever promoting by all lawful means the â— Masters Profit they must take care of the â— Goods vindicate their Credit abroad as far â— they can and conceal their Infirmities at homâ— And lastly they must quietly submit to the â— unjust as well as due Corrections ever amending by them for what glory is it if when â—â— are buffeted for your faults ye shall take it patienâ—ly but if when ye do well and suffer for it â—â— 1 Pet. 2. 20. take it patiently this is acceptable unto God Accordingly Servants are there commanded to â—â— V. 18. subject to their Masters with all fear not only to thâ— good and gentle but also to the froward Foâ— though Masters should not strictly observe theiâ— Duties to their Servants yet this would noâ— free Servants from their Obligations to theiâ— Masters because God has in Duty bound noâ— only the Master and Servant to one another but both of them to himself And this as â— would have it observed and remembred holdâ— true in all the other forementioned Relationâ— of Superiors and Inferiors so that the Superior's offence against God in depriving the Inferior of his due and so on the contrary cannot authorize the Inferior to sin against Goâ— too by returning the injury received upon hiâ— superior as for instance though a wicked Father should cast off all care of his helplesâ— Children and so sin against God as well as injure his Children who have a natural righâ— to maintenance yet this would not excusâ— his Children from their Obedience to theiâ— wicked Father because it is impossible thaâ— ever one Man's Sin should excuse that of another when both sin against God And this iâ— 1 Sam. 2. 25 all I think necessary to be said concerning the Relations of Superiors and Inferiors There are other Relations which seem to be â—â—e upon the level those I mean of Breâ—â—en and as to these there are some partiâ—â—ar dues belonging to them whether they be â—â— natural or our spiritual Brethren Thus our â—â—ral Brethren are by means of their near â—â—ance to us by nature obliged to be more â—â—iceable to us when they can than they â—bound to be to mere Strangers because â—â—r natural Affection for us may be well supâ—â—ed to prompt them to it by exciting in â—â—n a passionate concern for our Welfare â—â—ich supersedes the want of all those Arguâ—â—â—ts and Entreaties which are allowable â— sometimes necessary to be used in drawâ— out our relief to Strangers So that to â—e our Brother of our Substance and to â—â— him in every thing where we can and â—â—ere he needeth seemeth to be but the neâ—â—ary though just
Perfections chiefly by the Powers of our Souls yet not excluding those of our Bodies with which we must glorify him as well as with our Spirits and that by such humble gestures of Body as testify and extoll the adorable Perfections of God to others we must entertain right apprehensions of the divine Nature and Excellencies in our Minds frequently call them to mind firmly believe them really delight in Psal 73. 25 28. them and as far as 't is possible imitate those which are imitable by us We must further out of our great Esteem for and deep sense of these his Excellencies admire and adore him 18. 3. 96. 4. Heb 13. 15 Acts 17. 28. â—ow down our Souls before him in Prayer and Praises to him as to our great Creator and â—enefactor in whom we continually live move and â—ave our Beings All this is no more than a just acknowledgment of what God is in himself and here described to us for thus our Faith and Hope that is to say our Assent to the John 6. 40. Truths which he hath revealed and our expectation of what he has promised are debts Rom. 10. 11. we owe to his Veracity or Truth as founded on his Omniscience Holiness and his Omnipotence Our love of and trust in him are 1 Cor. 8. 3. 1. Tim. 4. 10. Isa 26. 4. the necessary effects of our firm Belief of his Almighty Power joyned with his infinite Goodness which renders him both able and willing to do us good Our fear of him or care not to offend him is but the natural consequence Luk. 12. 5. of our Belief of his Omnipresence and Justice armed with his Omnipotence Our patience and submission to his Will are but Heb. 12. 9. in us the reasonable products of his infinite Wisdom and Greatness exerted in his act of Creation Our Honour or our profound Reverence 1 Sam. 2. 30 and Respect to his super-excellent Majesty and to all things relating to him as his Name his Word his Sacraments his Ministers his House and his Day our profound Regard to these naturally flow from our consideration of all his boundless Perfections Lastly his Existing in three Persons Father 1 John 5. 7. Son and Holy Ghost binds upon us fresh Obligations of Obedience to them all particularly of owning and renewing our Obligations and Resolutions of Obedience to them in the blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Because herein we make a particular acknowledgment of what each of these blessed Persons have done for us as that God the Father who once gave his Son to die for the Sins of the whole World is disposed to present him here Rom. 5. 8. 1 John 2. 2. for our spiritual Food and Sustenance The Son as he once freely offered up himself for us upon the Cross So again freely offers to us his Body Heb. 9. 14-12 2. Matth. 26. 27 28. and Blood in this heavenly Feast And Lastly the Holy Ghost conveys that strength and refreshment to our Souls which is here received from the Body and Blood of Christ All which enhanseth our Obligations to renew our Obedience Acts 2. 46. 1 Cor. 11. 26. to them all and in order thereto to come often to this Blessed Sacrament for the worthy receiving whereof the best Preparation is to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World And what it is to live Righteously is the second thing to be consider'd by me Now Righteousness is in short nothing else but the giving to every man his due in all those various capacities and relations wherein he stands Thus there being the relation of Magistrate and Subject of Pastor and Flock of Father and Son of Husband and Wife Master and Servant Brethren and Friends there being also a common Relation to all Mankind as our Neighbour Righteousness consists in an exact observance as well of those special Duties which each of these relations may bring us under in particular as of all other Duties which the common relation of Neighbour lays upon us in general that is in the giving to every Man his due not only as he is my Neighbour but moreover and above as he may be concerned with me in any one or more of the forementioned Relations Thus Rom. 13. 1 4. Eccles 10. 20. Pro. 20. 20. besides the common Obligation of Neighbour our Superiors the Magistrates being Gods Vicegerents and of his Appointment and acting by his Authority justly claim of us an â—wful Apprehension of them in our Thoughts â—e making an honourable mention of them â—ith our Lips submiting to them for Conscience â—â—e paying them their Tribute and praying for Acts 23. 5. Jud. 8. 1 Pet. 2. 13. Rom. 13. 5. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 2. â—â—eir happy Government of us that which in â—â—urn they owe unto their Subjects is their Proâ—â—ction against the Assaults of their Enemies a â—nstant maintenance of their Rights Properâ—â—s their Liberty and Religion that under â—â— we may lead quiet and peaceable Lives in all â—â—dliness and Honesty And as to our spiritual 1 Thess 5. 13. 1 Tim. 5. 17. Heb. 13. 17 â—â—ents who have begotten us through the Gospel â—â—se also we must esteem very highly in love for â—â—eir Works Sake and if they rule well count them â—â—thy of double Honour which we cannot betâ—â— express than by attending to their Word and â—â—ctrine with the utmost Application of our â—inds and by falling to the practice of it John 20. 23. 1 Cor. 16. 16. Gal. 6. 6. â—ith all our Hearts which would not only â—event the ungrateful use of the Censures of the â—â—urch which we must submit unto when we â—â—end but would better dispose us to afford â—â—r Pastors an honourable maintenance as it is our â—â—ties to do it being as St. Paul says a matter 1 Cor. 9. 14 â—â— God 's own Ordaining and Appointment that â—â—y which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel â— Lastly we must joyn with them in their ofâ—â—ing Heb. 10. 25 Luk. 2. 37. Acts 2. 46. 1 Thess 5. 17. up the publick Prayers of the Church and â—â—ily present our private Prayers to God for them â—or good Success on their Labours that whilst they â—â—ch to others they themselves may not be cast away but â—â—her may both save themselves them that hear them Again Our natural Parents being under â—â—d the Authors and Maintainers of our Beâ—â—gs acquire hereby a right to our Honour â—â—l Esteem our Fear and Reverence our Mat. 19. 19 â—â—ve and Affection our Obedience to their Col. 3. 20. â—â—ful Commands our submission to their â—astisements and lastly our Gratitude in Adâ—â—nistring Heb. 12. 9. 1 Tim. 5. 4. to their Wants and bearing with â—â—eir Infirmities And they as being our Parents are by the Laws both of Nature and Religion obliged to provide their Children â— as far as they are able with a competent maintenance in respect both of their Souls
our Souls we therefore thine unworthy Cereatures sinful Dust and Ashes present our Selves before Thee to praise thee for the infinite Perfections of thy Nature and to beg of Thee the necessary Supplies of thy Grace and Holy Spirit that we may give thee the Honour due unto thy Name and Worship thee suitably to thy Nature with an holy and a spiritual Worship Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold the least Iniquity and therefore how shall such polluted Wretches as we are dare to approach thy dreadful Majesty who by our Sins and Follies have made our selves so unlike to thee who art righteous in all thy Ways and holy in all thy Works How then shall we presume to come into thy holy Presence who are defiled in our very Natures having nothing but Vanity and Blindness in our Minds Perversness in our Wills both spiritual and carnal Iniquity in our Affections and Appetites and what is worse have defiled our Selves yet much more by our many actual and habitual Sins against thee so that we are altogether unworthy to approach thy Presence or expect thy Favour and yet have so great need of both that without them we are lost for ever O therefore cast us not away from thy Presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from us but out of Pity to thy defective and diseased Creatures receive us graciously and heal our Souls though we have sinned against Thee Rescue us from the Power and Bondage of our Lusts by the greater Power of thy Grace Renew and purifie our corrupted Natures Create in us a clean Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within us Teach us a perfect Denial of all our Sins and establish us in a stedfast Obedience to all thy Laws To which End enlighten our Minds to form clear and true Notions of Thee and open our Hearts to attend upon all the Means that may help us to discharge our various Obligations to Thee Inspire our Souls with thy heavenly Graces Strengthen our Faith confirm our Hope encrease our Love quicken our Fear establish our Trust inspire us with Patience Constancy and Sincerity Enflame our Devotions and envigorate our Endeavours in a faithful Discharge of our Duty to Thee Give us thy Grace also to assist us in the Peformance of our Duty to our Neighbour that we may ever remember and constantly observe thy great and righteous Law to love him as our selves and to this End grant That we may never defraud Him of his Right but give him his due in all the Relations towards us wherein he stands Dispose us therefore good Lord chearfully to obey Them that have the Rule over us whether in Church or State and bless them in an happy Government of us that under them we may lead qulet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty Bless all Sorts of Parents and Masters grant that they may faithfully discharge the various Duties of their Stations and their respective Inferiours may in a grateful Return thereof ever Love Honour and Obey them Grant to all Men we beseech thee the Spirit to think and do all such Things as be rightful ever adhering to that equitable Rule the dâ—ing as they would be dealt by And grant us O thou Fountain of Mercy and Love a universal Charity towards all Men even to our Enemies that we may be ever ready both to forgive and also to provide that they which are in need and necessity have Righte in a suitable Relief of their various Wants and because our Prayers to Thee from whom every good and perfect Gift cometh are oft the best and only Helps we can afford them therefore do thou O Lord abundantly for them more than we can ask or think Suit thy Mercies according to their various Necessities sanctifie their Afflictions to them and when thou seest it best for them give them a happy Deliverance out of all their Troubles And Lastly O Lord we come unto thee for a Blessing upon our Selves who as we are here Living Instances of thine Almighty Power and Goodness so be pleased to make us the happy Instruments of thy Praise and Glory to which Purpose enable us to subject all the Faculties of our Souls and the Powers of our Bodies to thy blessed Will which is the Law and Perfection of our reasonable Nature Direct our Understandings to the Knowledge of those glorious Manifestations which thou hast been pleased to give us of thy self Clear up our Apprehensions both of the Perfections of thy Nature and the Excellency of those Perfections Direct our Wills to the Choice and Imitation of such thy Perfections as are imitable by us Teach us the Wisdom to proportion our Affections of Things according to the Nature and Value of them that having a less Concern for this World we may fear thee more and love thee better Give us a râ—ght Understanding of our Selves of our own Insufficiency and of our entire Dependance upon thee that so we may not think more highly of our selves than we ought to think Teach us a chearful Submission to thine all-wise Dispensations and in whatever State we are therewith to be content Endue us with a calm and gentle Temper of Soul such as may invite thy Blessed Spirit to come and take up his Abode with us that through his Blessed Operations we may bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit in Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness and Temperance Subdue our bodily Appetites to the Laws of our Reason and the End of their Creation ever remembring that our Bodies are the Temples of the Holy Spirit and that he who defileth the Temple of God him thou hast threatned to destroy Out of an holy Fear and Dread of this and all other thy reasonable Threats grant that we may be ever careful to keep under our Bodies and cleanse our Selves from all Filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit that so we may as we are in Duty bound glorifie thee in our Body and in our Spirit which are Thine and we not only beg thy Grace to assist us in but thy heavenly Wisdom to shew us the reasonableness and necessity of our Performance of these Duties that we may make haste and delay not to keep thy Commandments AND as we desire this Morning to enter into For the Morning the World upon our lawful Occasions with this holy Frame and Disposition of Soul so grant that we may never lose it either through Surprize or wilful Neglect but guide us safely by thy Grace through all the Dangers and Temptations of this and all other Days of our Life that escaping the Corruption that is in the World through Lust we may live and die thy faithful and obedient Servants AND now O Lord that we are going to repose For the Evening our selves keep us from all Dangers and Adversities that may happen to our Bodies and from all evil Thoughts and Dreams which may assault and hurt our Souls that we may rise in the Morning with a fresh sense upon our Minds of thy Mercies to us and a full Conviction of the absolute necessity of expressing our Thankfulness not only with our Lips but in the constant Obedience of our Lives spending that Strength which thou hast given us to thy Honour and Service to whom we owe our utmost Praises for all thy free and undeserved Mercies Therefore We not only pray unto thee but desire to bless thee for all thy Benefits from time to time conferred upon us for thy Creation of us out of Nothing for thy Preservation of us ever since we had a Being for all the Accommodations of this Life and the plentiful Provision thou hast made for our Happiness in the other for all that thy Son our dear Redeemer has done and suffer'd for us for his wonderful Incarnation and Birth for his exemplary Life his meritorious Death and Passion for his glorious Resurrection and Ascension and for his sending the Holy Ghost to comfort us for all thy Saints and Servants departed this Life in thy true Faith and Fear beseeching thee to give us Grace so to follow their good Examples that with them we may be Partakers of thy heavenly Kingdom These Prayers and Praises with whatever else thou in thine infinite Wisdom seest most necessary and expedient for us we humbly offer up in the Name and for the Sake of thy Son our blessed Saviour and Redeemer who has commanded us when we pray to say Our Father which art in c. This Prayer may be used by one Person only changing the Words We Vs and Our into I Me and My and saying instead of Creatures Creature c. FINIS