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A45865 A guide to repentance. Or, The character and behaviour of the devout Christian in retirement Psal. 119. 54, 60. I called my own ways to remembrance, ... commandments. By John Inett, M.A. chanter and residentiary of the cathedral church of Lincoln. Inett, John, 1647-1717. 1692 (1692) Wing I157A; ESTC R215993 30,439 131

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with great confidence challenged by the several Orders of Recluses and renouncing the World though the least thing in their Character under these Pretensions being useless grew up into such Credit that the Commands and Tears of a Father were not strong enough to with-hold an only Child from a Cloister nor the conjugal Ties and Vows of Fidelity a discontented Wife But the Pretence of the Primitive Pharisees was revived with such advantages that the Name of Corban did not only excuse his Wealth but the Possessor too and set him at Liberty not only to leave a Father or a Mother a Child or a Family to the Mercy of the World but voided the Right of his Brother his Prince his Country his Wife or his Child to his Charity his Counsel his Service or his Care and not only broke through but cancelled the most sacred Ties both of Nature and Religion These were such Abuses of Retirement that it is not to be wondered if the Contempt and Indignation they deserved lessen'd the esteem of every thing that had serv'd to colour them and drew a Suspicion on the Discipline that in the first ages of Religion had ministred to all the End of Piety and Devotion and this Prejudice falling in with the Interests of Sloth and Luxury and Indevotion had too much influence on some that embraced the Reformation but did not so far prevail in this Church but that besides the stated Fasts and Vigils Retirement for Piety and Devotion had a just regard in these Nations amongst the People of Thought and Leisure till our unhappy Wars let in a Torrent of Impiety upon us and the ill-grounded Fears of a relapse to the Superstition of the Church of Rome run some Men into Superstition of another kind for he that places Holiness and Merit in laying aside the proper Means and Instruments of Piety and Devotion and he who places Holiness in the Use are both alike guilty of Superstition and the Loosness and Prophaneness which have pursued the former have given us a sensible Evidence of the Mischiefs that unhappy Mistake has drawn down upon us In these unhappy Circumstances whilst the Mistakes of some have cast a Blemish and Contempt on the Primitive Methods of Holiness and Devotion and the Prophaneness of others has broke all the Restraints of Modesty and good Manners to reproach and despise them it may look like the attempt of one unacquainted with the World to offer at an Essay to recommend them to a due Consideration and Regard But when the Prophet Elijah complained of a general Apostacy and Corruption of Manners and thought his Country gone after False Gods God checked the Immodesty and want of Charity in the Prophet and told him that in the midst of that Dissolution which seemed Epidemical he had still reserved himself seven Thousand that had never bowed the knee to Baal it would then be very unreasonable as well as unchristian to imagine that in so great and flourishing a Church as that of England God had not preserved infinite Numbers that with all Sincerity aspire to the Primitive Piety and Devotion For though the pomp and shews of austerity do not make that Figure with us that possibly they may do in the Church of Rome though wrong Notions and the too general Loosness have withdrawn some and the bold Insults of Prophaneness intimidated others and thus lessened the Piety and Vertue and Decency and Gravity of that Devotion that blessed the first Age of the Reformation yet without Vanity and Flattery it may be said that there appears more plain natural and unaffected Piety in the Communion of this Church than are commonly to be found amongst other sorts of Christians Which it may be no one thing within the Compass of our own endeavours would more improve than a due observation of that her Rubrick wherein she directs her Children to a Weekly Fast by which I shall presume to think she intends not so much a total abstinence or particular kind of Diet as to prescribe Periods for a more exact Review of our Lives and more especial Oblation of our Thanks and Prayers to God accompanied with the strictest measures of Temperance For though abstinence be of admirable Use to some Constitutions and not only redoubles the Piety of the Christian in laying the Foundation of it in the Sacrifice of his appetite but in kindling holy ardors that give new Life and Vigour to his Devotions yet there are other Tempers that not only frustrate but pervert all the Religious Ends of abstinence But he that has a Will to it can want neither Ability nor Time to consecrate an Hour in a Week to Repentance and Devotion he that cannot observe the Rubrick in a Day of Fasting may confess his Sin to God and beg his Pardon and cannot be so oppress'd with Business but his busie Thoughts may reflect on the Mercies he owes to God or on his own Demerit And if we consider the general practice of Mankind it will appear an unaccountable and stupendious folly that the affair which only deserves our time and thought should only be neglected or at the best be only left to Chance and Accidents whilst every Trifle prescribes to a certain portion of our Time and Care But if Men would be persuaded to do the same Justice to their greatest Interest that of the other World which they do to those of this that is allow themselves Time to consider it I doubt not but it would go a great way not only in the Cure of that Loosness which has so fatally broke in upon us but in restoring that Temperance and Charity that Goodness and Beneficence and that exemplary Holiness and Vertue which the Religion of our Lord requires from us To which blessed Ends if the following Papers will any way contribute either by awakening the careless and unthinking or encouraging or assisting the better disposed Christian they will answer and reward the Intention with which they were written ADVERTISEMENT A Guide to the Devout Christian in Three Parts The First containing Meditations and Prayers affixed to the Days of the Week together with many Occasional Prayers for particular Persons The Second for more Persons than one or a whole Family for every Day of the Week together with many Occasional Prayers The Third containing a Discourse of the Nature and Necessity of the Holy Sacrament together with Meditations thereon Prayers and Directions for the worthy Receiving thereof To which is added A Prayer for Ash-Wednesday or any other Time in Lent for Good-Friday and any Day of Publick Fasting The Second Edition Corrected Written by the same Author CHAP. I. 1. The Reasons which lead the Devout Christian to retire 2. His Notions of Retirement 3. His Behaviour therein 1. THE Union of the Soul and Body is a Secret the Devout Christian does not pretend to penetrate nor to explain the Difficulties that attend it But that the Body has a mighty influence on the Soul and the