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 exhileraâ—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 mouâ—t to â—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 foâ— 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 â—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 â—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 â—ou please in your Private Devotion to Sing after this manner 1. MY heart is fix'd my â—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 Haâ—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 â—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 mâ— 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 maâ—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 â—raise and never cease I see and feeâ— with Soul and Sp'riâ— I m all in Light and Bless 6 What can I â—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 frâ—m his just Right and Merit 8. From the first Minute to Ages all I will â—ssert â—â—y Golre In melodies sempiternal to Triâ—e Vne evermore Third Hymne 1. O Sp'rit of Light tune now my sp'rit with Heaven fill my heart And give me seâ—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 â—ing I 'le Hope and Joy in Thy great Grace so Good I
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 Kingdomâ— doth add to Her Natural Splendor thâ— Lusture of a Condescending and Courteouâ— Mean as if her Ladyship were of a loweâ— Extract I cannot but express the Thankful Sentiments I Entertain of the Favouâ— of your Noble Predecessors and of youâ— Honourable and most Worthy Motherâ— Whose approved Conduct Prudent Câ—vil and Edifying Way hath not only Engaged me but all who have had the Honour of her Ladyship's Converse to looâ— upon her as a Woman among a Thousanâ— But I know your Lordship needs no borowed Rayes from the Applauses 〈◊〉 Men And therefore I shal not insist Bâ— only to Begg your Favourable Acceptanâ— of this small Mite of my Gratitudeâ— 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 Readâ—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 Cenâ—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 Treatiâ—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
are like to fall in a Ditcâ— Some act as in a dream and roave as inâ— Fever with an unjoynted Judgementâ— and a Scopeless Life their Tongues are thâ—â— own sayeth their way who is LORD over them They think Religion eitherâ— phansie or a Superstitious restraint of theiâ— lusts And say Come let us break his Bondâ— assunder And do all they can to ruâ— on Precepieces and a fatal fall Yet somâ— as has been before observed are moâ—â— tractable To shew that there is an Election and that GOD has His Jewels amonâ— a heap of Stones Some are taught oâ— GOD from their Youth and are underâ— His Discipline and the Life of Graceâ— spruting forth in little buds Which makes them serious at their Studies Pioâ—â— in their Devotion solid in their Conversation and in stead of all the Gayetâ—â— from without They cloath themselves with Humility Charity and Holiness and act by the Principles of Wisdom and Discretion § 5. But alas This Light shines but in few for the most take pleasure to live in darker Regions Now this Particular consideration shal be 1. To observe the evils incident to this State of Mans Age. And 2ly The Directions and Motives for his Recovery § 6. As to the first I condescend upon First The ignorance and prejudice of the Mind of Youth against all Vertue And Inclinations to Vice carryed on with great Inconsideration Secondly Pride and Vanity Thirdly Stoutness in sin with an aptness to follow the ill customs of the Generation Fourthly Idleness and omissions of Duty and good Exercise Fifthly A sleeping and unexercised Conscience § 7 First The Philosopher as well as the Divine observes Praejudicia Juventutis Great prejudice against Vertue And Experience may teach any Man that his imaginations have been evil from the beginning And if there be any thing of acquired Knowledge which is learned in the School Yet Speculation without Grace and saving Knowledge is not warm light and doth not nourish the tender Plants For tho the man were as learned as Plato or Aristotle he is but rude and dull as to that Knowledge which tends to Salvation And the fums that come from the forge of his lusts darken the heart and the head and if he hath the Advantage of the Gospel Light surely his Ignorance flows from Supine Negligence or self Conceit and feest thou a man wise in his own Eyes there 's more hope of a fool than of him GOD gives Grace to the humble but youth for the most is so swelled with self Conceit and vanity that he will nâ—â— bow himself to learn to wise to Salvation But it's better for him to learn of the Royal Psalmist to â—eek the gift of right Vnderstanding And at the wisest of Kingâ— to dig and labour for Wisdom as the Principal thing as the greatest accomplishment either of Youth or Riper yearâ— And no Man that looks to his Instinct but finds it naturally tending to that which is Evil. Till the Old Man be Mortified sin lives and Reigns without controul especially the sin that agrees with our present frame Concupisce not now rides in a hot Career sets up the Brute and puts down the Man It Corrupts the affections and blasts the Plants of Zion with corrupt Breath It makes the Man Degenerate and by giving place to carnal quencheth the Flams of Seraphick and Divine Love It makes the Man a brute Who might by Grace be made an Angel Awake then out of sleep For if thou live after the flesh thou shalt die Rom 8. 15. § 8. 2ly As to Pride and Vanitie much incident to youth Because he knows not well where he is and hath such complasancy in his present Circumstances as not to consider what mav fall out to a mortal Man Pride and vanity may soon be layed with Herod's And a little time of a Disease may Make him more feeble then an Infant Solomon saw much of this vanity and saw no cure for it but by Religion and the consideration of our account at Judgement Pride is devilish it turned Lucifer to a Devil And the higher any towers up the more subject is he to a vertiginous fall His 〈◊〉 as well as his Brains prove Air but GOD hates the proud and Agur prayes LORD Remove from me vanity and lies Prov. 38. 8. Let no man then Glory in Strength Wisdom Riches or Beauty but let him that Glorieth Glory in the LORD Jer. 9 23. 24. This vanity makes a man walkinâ— vain show and act the worst part of the Scene to play the Fool. § 9. 3ly Stoutness in sin c. Hearâ—â— ye stout hearted sayes the Prophet you must stoup e're GOD look upon you This is a Natural contracted hardneâ— of heart that alienates Man from the Lifeâ— GOD Eph 4 18. His blindness makeâ— him bold Yet he hath not only an Angel with Balaam but the Great GOD for his Enemy Consider this thou that forgets GOD least he tear thee in pieces whâ— there is none to deliver Psal 50 22. Aâ—â— make your stout heart turn into a fechâ—â— Mind for who can stand against GOD when He is angry Yet alas how liceâ—tious is this state of Age And do speak 〈◊〉 as their tongue were indeed their own bâ—â— GOD will break this fool-hardiness maâ—â— thee either contreet or crush thee Neveâ— then be stout in sin except thou think 〈◊〉 master thine Enemy If thou Kick agaâ—â— the pricks CHRIST can cast thee doâ—â— and turn a stout hearted Saul into a humble Paul to cry out LORD What wilt Thâ—â— have me to do Acts 9. 6. § 10. 4ly Idleness and emissions of Duty 〈◊〉 Youth 's very prone thereunto to forâ—â— GOD when he should remember his Creator as he dwelr in a Land of Forgetfulness Wherein he passeth much of his time ere he consider the great use thereof He lets the Night come on him Wherein no man can work Joh. 9. 4. And may drop into the Grave Where no bussiness is Eccles 9. 10. His Life is but a Digression if he work not while it is called the day and work not for Eternity Our Life is but a Minute and for a Day O that thou knew in this thy Day the thiâ—gs that belongs to thy Peace § 11. 5lv A sleeping and unexercised Conscience This is a great Disease in Youth which occasioneth bad conduct Youth is subject to Inconsideration layeth not things to heart as he should do his Conscience lyeth under a heap of humours And so is void of Action and neither informed or Employed He looks not to the Rule nor reflects upon his way whereas he should first consult the Word and thereby awaken and inform his Conscience to have his bosom Monitor Vigilant And the Witness within him honest And judge impartially according to the Rule Man cannot want Conscience because there is a GOD But Conscience may sleep be brideâ— deadned and to Government useless and unactive as Tertullian long ago hath observed because it is not a God noscc
have no excuse to neglect Religion in thy most busie Employment It will be good also that thou be a keeper at home and be not like a Bird that wanders from his Nest Let no sinful diversion especially the Tavern take thee away from thy Trade And if thou enclines to Religion follow not the guise of the Times be not carryed about with every wind of Doctrine Rather follow the Faith of the Orderly Church For it is very dangerous for love to a Sect to cutt the Church and break the Staves of Beauty For as long as thou reels with this giddy humour thou canst not well fix in a solid course of Religion And Lastly Beware of Discord and Division in thy family For 〈◊〉 consumes the Substance thereof makâ—â— many careless and desperate is an Enâ—â—my to all thâ—iâ—t For A house diviâ—â— cannot stand § 7. And for the management bâ—â— of thy conjugal Relation and callingâ—â— must here in the beginning of thy settâ—â—ment Recommend unto thee domâ—â—tick devotion and â—amily worship a duâ—â— that none of the seed of Jacob should â—â—cline it being their Fathers practice whâ—â— house was a Bethel to GOD a little Teâ—â—ple for the LORD of Glory who hâ—â— this duty brought down to him from 〈◊〉 famous Grandfather Faithful Abrahâ—â— who is commended for the Religious Gâ—â—vernment of his Family whose steps 〈◊〉 sau treased a man much of Contempâ—â—tion at home And thô Jacob hâ—â— Greater incumbrance and a more nuâ—â—erous family Yet his house as well 〈◊〉 person was consecrated to GOD. aâ—â— not only the Jews but also Christiaâ—â— should follow the Steps of these Venerâ—â— Patriarchs to be lively portractures of thâ—â— vertues as Images of their nature Aâ—â— this duty is so proper to the family thâ—â— before the Church was enlarged 〈◊〉 Master or Father of the House was â—â—iest and did officiate in the dayly Sâ—â—â—ifice at home And when the Church 〈◊〉 made more ample it is constitute of â—amilies which if Heterogenius to the â—ody they are but useless and corrupt â—embers Whereas the Families of the Faithful are blessed of GOD And His â—rath power'd out upon such families as all not upon His Name Jer 10. 25. Joshua that great Capâ—ain of the LORDS â—ost did not suffer his military Affairs 〈◊〉 hinder him and his House to serve GOD tho all Israel should neglect it David after him in the midst of a Bloomâ—â—g State under the burthen of a Crown and Countrey Yet walked Righteously in his House And every Tribe Family is called to pray and mourn a part Zech 12. 13. And the Gospel hath set up this Duty clearly Christ hath promised to be among the midst of two or three conveened in his Name And we read of the Church being in particular Houses and the Centurion feared GOD with all his House Acts 10 2. And Christ hath made 〈◊〉 a Royal Priesthood and a Holy Generation And this doth rather prepare for than invade a setled order of a Priesthood Private and Publick duty doth not interfere and Clash Thou must not only pray for thy Family but pray in thy Family Is the LORD the GOD of all the Familys of the Earth and not of thine Shalt thou wish GOD a Catholick service and cutt of thy Family by schisme This were to joyn thy House to another GOD or else to have none at all Let all Houses then that Smoak Smoak with Sacrifices to GOD for the House of the Godly is under a special Protection his Eyes are open to their Prayers GOD is a Shadow and Covert over the Roof of such Families It 's good To declare his Faithfulness every night and his Loving Kindness every morning Psal 92. 2. Let the People praise Thee O LORD let all the People praise Thee And Lastly This Duty of Family Devotion may be called Ezekiels Sign and Mark that saves from the destroying Angel and if any trouble fall out GOD knows how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations This Family worship is the great Characteristick of a Christian it makes thy House thy Home and gives thee Repose in thy Perigrination it makes thy house a Dutyful Tenement to the Great Land-Lord it payes due Rent to GOD it is the Bond and Beauty of thy House and makes thy Family like Jerusalem compact together § 8. Let every Christian then Regard Domestick duty which is so necessary and useful to guide the family and to consecrate and cover thy house which if thou Rule well with discretion and good Government thou shall find some leasure if it were but as long as to take thy Brakefast thou may conveen thy family and joyn together and seek GOD it would never hinder thy business but rather advance it if thou pretend thy ignorance it is much to be imputed to thy own fault and the neglect of thy Soul And if you say it is not the custom of many of your Rank Alas You are ready to follow an evil custom but to imitate what is good you have neither heart nor hand yet I am loath to leave thee in such neglect and therefore for meaner Capacities I shall subjoyn the Practice of Domestick Devotion and family Worship The Morning Prayer O Eternal and ever blessed GOD our blessed Creatour Preserver and Redeemer the fountain of Life and the Father of Lights the Keeper of Israel who never sleeps nor slumbers this poor family falls down before Thee this Morning and with all humble Devotion praises thy exalted Name for all thy mercies to Mankind and to us and that Thou has protected and refreshed us the night bygon and raiseâ— us up this morning in any health and hope Glory to Thee who hast given us time to rcpent LORD give us Grace to repcnt and to work oâ— the work of our own Salvation LORD heal oâ—â— corrupt nature sweeten our humour and seasâ—â— our heart with Grace slay our corruptions anâ— give our heart a right set with Thy healing haâ—â— perfect our Faith and guide us by Thy Spirit Vphold us with Thy Arm Refine and â—â—our hearts and passions set a Watch at the dâ—â— of our lips be at our right hand we shal nevâ—â— be moved give us to set Thee alwayes before 〈◊〉 and while it s called the day that we harden 〈◊〉 our hearts but hear thy Word and Voice thâ—â— we may spend the rest of our dayes in Thy 〈◊〉 and sincere Obediâ—nce save us from sin and Satan the deceits of the World and all dangerâ— of Soul and Body LORD bless our Famiâ—â— with Grace Peace Comfort and Contentmenâ—â— Heal the Church rule the publick Governmeâ—â— of Chureh and State Bless the Parish withâ—â— Gospel Blessing strengthen our Pastor prepaâ—â— us for Death and Judgement guide us all our dayes by Thy Council in Thy fear grant us a blessed and happy End and hereafter receive us unto Thy Glory through JESVS CHRIST our LORD in whose Name and Words 〈◊〉 pray Our Father c. And in the evening again labour to Recollect
and Noble Spirit David in his Faith and Chearefulness being the sweet Psalmist in Israel And all GODS Worthies have had their own Feats and Glorious Adventures But let your Noble Persons observe these Properties 1. Humility 2. Generosity 3. Affability and Condescendance First Humility For GOD resists the proud and gives Grace to the Humble and Sa 〈…〉 temptation to Adam smell'd much 〈◊〉 Pride ye shall be as Gods But the moâ—â— Humble you are in your high place yoâ—â— are the liker GOD who tho he be the hiâ—â— and Holy One that Inhabiteth Eternity yâ—â— He dwells with the Humble Spirit and your Saviour shinned in this Vertue signally and left you an example to folloâ— His Steps which if you do GOD willâ— exalt you with Him and encrease youâ— fame As He gave him a name above every name Phil 2. 8. And the greater ye are ye have received the greater Recepts froâ— GOD and therefore ye should be humble because ye have nothing but what 〈◊〉 given you And GOD may take it from you and you from it Let the pride of Pharaoh who said who is the LORD and Nebuchadnezars Ostentation Is not this great Babel which I have built for the glory of my name Beâ—shezar in the fervour of a Feast Herod under applauses as to a GOD let these warn you For tho 〈◊〉 be Gods and all of you Children of the Most High yet ye shall die like Men Ye are eminent because of your place and Authority yet ye are mortal Men and tho we worship you with Civil Honour yeâ— your Glory may be Eclipâ—ed if ye guide it not with Humility to the Glory of GOD. 2ly Generosity Who should be generons but the Noble Man this makes you truly Noble And as a favourable Constellation to refresh the Countrey a-about you This breeds you Respect and Followers And what is more it chears and dilates your own Spirits if it be guided with frugality It makes you both Good and Great it suits your Character and gives you more Glory than your Fortune And the Sun as soon looseth its Light as you thus qualified can loss your Honour and Respect For the liberal Soul deviseth liberal things and is liberally rewarded sayeth the Prophet 3ly Affability Your Wisdom conducts your Character betwixt the Luminous Lines of Humility and Generosity and to know when to appear and when to be Private And the discretion of such as adress you should teach them to keep their distance since familiarity sometimes breeds contempt Yet your Courtesie oblidgeth you to a serene aspect a Noble Air and Mean in your way and rather win Men with Condescendance than turn Sullen like Saturn And such as are truely great they delight to diffuse themselves tho they be not profuse The great GOD allows us to come boldly to the Throne of Graâ—â— providing we come as we ought anâ— with a pleasant Countenance he behold â—eth the upright Follow GOD then and â—how your selves ready to receive otherâ—â— who perhaps adress you because proviâ— dence hath made them to have need oâ— you Secondly As to your domestick Capacity § 5. Look not upon it as presumpâ—ioâ— in one that honours your house anâ— wishes a Blessing to it humbly to mentâ—â— on the mean that can obtain the Blesâ—inâ— and that is to have your House qualified to entertain GOD And altho your qualitie requires a Retinue of many servants yet Government that rules Kingdoms should guide your families and that which is most essential for this end is Piety and Devotion and courteous Hospitality for the entertainment of Human Sosciety The dayly sacrifice must be offered for the sanctifying your house The most private family indeed may have its hinderances and youâ—s much more But as Abraham Governed A numerous family and David walked with a perfect heart in his house at home So if you Rule your house with authority It may be as easie and usual therein as to manage and settle the Oeconomie thereof And since GOD in his providence makes so many bring in your revenues It is very agreeable you should pay your Rent to GOD in having a qualified person set a part for that end and then you may upon good grounds say with Miâ—ah Judg. 17. 1. Now I know that the LORD will Bless me since I have a Levit and an Altar for Devotion in my House And tho some of that Rank has mscatried yet it should not hinder the Constant course of your good Carriage to GOD since CHRIST himself had a Traytor in his family And also it very much Suits that Generosity which provides your house for the Entertainment of humane Sosciety that frugally you be Hospital which as it conciliats Respect to you for honor est in honorante sayes the Philosopher So will it serve to banish penuriousness and Churlish Nabal-like humour out of the hearts of those who see your Noble deportment and so help to advance mutual kindness amongst Neighbours and the countrey made serene as a new Region wherein the life not only of humanity but of Christianity may appear Thirdly As to the Demeanour of the Noblemen towards the Institutions of CHRIST and His Ministers § 6. I Make only my humble adress here to such Persons of Quality who have espoused the interest of that glorious Cause of Reformed Religionâ— Wishing also that such as ly under the bondage of Rome may awake that CHRIST may give them Light and iâ— they were not Byassed by their Education and misinformed by the corrupt principles of the vain pretences of Rome and strangley tenacious of the Traditions of their Fathers as the Pharisees before them they could not but open their Eyes to the Light of pure and primitive Christianity But as to you my Lords who are under a more favourable Constellation of Scripture-Light pray consider what freedom you are under In being delivered from the Onerous loads of nuâ—â—erous Cerimonies peevish Abstinences and the necessity of Auricular Confession Beside the great Ignoranc this way would keep you in and the straitning of the Spirit of Liberty in serving GOD in Spirit and Truth And since ye have united your selves to Catholick Truth propagated by Christ and His Apostles be sure you labour even after the Periods almost of 17 Ages to show your Zâ—al and Respect to the Ordinances and Ministers of Christ As to the first Altho they be accounted by many as in old to be foolishness for The Jews sought after a sign and the Greeks after Wisdom 1 Cor 1-22 And now adayes Men despise the Ordinances And Athenian-like long after some new thing Yet there is a secret Vertue in these Institutions which only the simple and humble feel and perceive And GOD by the foolishness of Preaching may save Souls and the Gospel is the Power of GOD unto Salvation to such as believe For GOD is in His Ordinances and Day tho perhaps many know it not How strange was that Stratagem of a Rude Illiterate Man at the first
is the Faith of the Church the hope of the Just the comfort of the aflicted and the great Crise and Result of of mortal Life Which will determine all the Intriges of Providence and destribute Rewards and Punishments according to their Works Theâ—e is a principâ—e and facultie in every Man which makes him accountable to GOD. This as it is an Article of our Creed so the Scripture fully determines it Ecc. 12 14. Matt 25. Acts 17. 30. 2 Cor 5. 10. GOD will be publickly manifested in His Hâ—liness and Justice the Equity and Reasonableness of His Laws and severity against sin Who will not acquite thy guilty And the monuments of Grace will sâ—e their Demerit had not the Merit of Christ prevented the punâ—shment Fixe then this Truth in thine heart and constantly apprehend â—â—th an Ancient Father that thou hearest 〈◊〉 Sâ—uâ—dâ—ngs of the last Trump with â—he Voice of GOD Arise Dead and come te Judgement § 3. 2ly That this Judgement in a part commenceth immediatly after Death is assâ—rted by the Apostle Heb 9. 27. The Saints of old have â—nherited the Promises The Convert Thief immediately after was judged and entered Paradise and the rich Glutton got his Doom and after his death was set to the place of Torment But the open visible and general Assize of the whole World is delayed to the time of the Restitution of all things When and where Soul and Body Good bad Young and Old without Law and under Law will be judged According to their Works and tho in the Apostles times some were â—hanatick said that the Resurrection was past some Atheitical scoffers as St. Peter sayeth Impioâ—sly Ragâ—ing and â—corning where is the promiss of his coming not knowing that God worketh hitherto hath great patience in whose Eternal View a Thousand years are but as one day yet when his works is done all the World will be judged which day and Hour GOD hath keept secret in his Eternal Council 〈◊〉 good and holy ends And there somethings yet unaccomplished before 〈◊〉 end to wit the full conversion of the Jeâ— Rom. 11. 26 and the discoverie of 〈◊〉 declension of the Christian Church 〈◊〉 exposing of that man of sin and son Perdition The pure Gospel becom 〈◊〉 divive and the Christian Church be muâ— liberated from the great Corruption 〈◊〉 manners and worship according to 〈◊〉 Primitive Patern When these shall comeâ— pass and not till then shall the end 〈◊〉 In the mean time let us pâ—ssess our selâ— with the Belief of This truth that all 〈◊〉 nerations shall be judged before the Tâ—â—bunal of the Soveraign Judge ss 4. 3ly The Judge GOD hath coâ—mitted all Judgement to the Son Aâ—â— hath appointed a day in which he will Judge 〈◊〉 world in Righteousness by him Acts. 17. 3â— We must all appear before the judgement sea◠〈◊〉 CHRIST 2 â—or 5. 10. When the Son 〈◊〉 Man shal appear in his Glory Matt. 25. 3â—â— And in this he Exerciseth his mediâ—torial Kingdom which will continue tâ—â— the last Enemie be distroyed which 〈◊〉 Death He declined to be a Judge on â—arth but came to be Judged and it is â—ighly reasonable that he who was unâ—ustly judged should judge the World in Righteousness Then shall they who have â—earced him by their sins mourn and â—owl But His afflicted people shall lift up â—heir head and say This is the Day that â—he LORD hath made Blessed is He who comâ—th to save us For our LORD and Kingâ—o whom the Godly have submited in â—heir time whose Scepter Cross they wilâ—ingly have born is now come to deliver â—hem He that bore our sins on His own Body on the Tree He that is a Compaâ—sionate High Priest He that is the King of Peace is now come to Judge them according to the Gospel of Peace and His easie Yoak which they did take upon them and walkt under What then shall such expect but Love and Peace and Pity from their LORD King and Brother Who is much Meeker than Moses more Loving than David and more Merciful than Man can be Whereas it shall be a great dreadour to the wicked to behold this Meek LAMB roaâ— like a Lyon against them § 5. 4ly The Process We cannot coneeive how soon and yet how exactly this-shall be done since every ones Conscience is in the place of a Thousand Witnesses and the Judge needeth no Information nor farther probation Every one then will be Judged according to that Law which was Given them to walk by And such as are under the Gospel shall be Judged by the Law of libertie Jam 1. 25. And the Issue will be whether they have obeyed or disobeyed the Gospel and walked suitably thereunto and answered the opurtunities they have enjoyed above oâ— thers to make them Christians indeed And fit for the Kingdom of GOD. ss 6. 5ly The Sentence will be accord to thy works tho thou be justified by Faith and saved by Grace yet the LORD will reward according to thy works For to the true Christian there is a wonderful mitigation of the Rigor of the Law by the easie terms of the Gospel and such shal receive sentence according to that Infinite Love revealed therein then shal the great sheepherd appear in Glorie yet probably with the Honourable marks of the Cross that all who have gloried in Hiâ— Cross may rejoice such as have stumbled at â—t hang their heads The Sentence shall decide in favours of Believers and all who have Closed with the conditions of the Gospel and Obeâ—ed the Faith 1. 5. Which is the great specifick of Christanity Such may appear before him with his marks upon them of Faith Mortification and Self-denyal c. And that in their time they have born Testimony against a sinful Generation they shall receive that favourable sentence Come ye Blessed c. The Prayer O Soveraign Judge prepare me for Death and Judgement It is much my comfort that thou art Judge Competent and Compassionate Thou wilt not acquite the Guilty yet Thou delights in mercy and there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou may be feared LORD give me my discharge in time for Who can condemn CHRIST has dyed I make my humble application to the Mercies of Thy Infinite Bowels the Merit of Thy Death the worth of thy Blood and the Power of Thy Intercession I have many Accusers am convict But LORD say to me that thou will not condemn me Thou knows all the Intrigs of my Soul What I cannot clear LORD do Thou cancell I make Mercy my claim Thy Merit my Trust and Thy Righteousnesâ— my Justification Give me the White stone to refresh my Soul till Thou grant me the Crown oâ— Righteousness at Thy Appearing Amen The Third Last Thing HELL 1. TO treat of Hell is a sad Subject Tophet should have a Beacoâ— set over it that Passangers may be aware Let us then consider 1 The Certainty of a future punishment of the Wicked in another World and