some unseemly behavior or other are so troublesom and vexatious that they find themselves rather Tired than Refreshed by company But doubtless these men are under a mistake for what tho' the number of Knaves and Fools of Lew'd and Vain men be greater than the accomplish'd and Virtuous yet ought we therefore to banish our selves the Society of Mankind and not rather to consort our selves with men of Worth and Virtue with such as are Pious and good whereby our minds may be confirm'd and fortifi'd For it is a most certain truth that the judgment we make of our selves is not our own but we borrow it from others and being by divers persons either by Signs or otherwise reproved for the same fault at length we are content to submit our selves to the common Opinion of all men to acknowledge our Imperfections and to frame our selves to do to leave to change to correct according to the Judgment of other Men. Our conversation among men is twofold according to which our behavior must be regulated The one is General Common and Ordinary such as our Affairs do daily lead us into we change from those we know to those we do not without our choice or consent The other is Special Affected and Desired company In both our chief care consists in these two things In the right Goverment of our Tongue and of our Behaviour First then let thy revenues be far greater than thy expence Wise Nature has given us two Ears and but one Tongue that we may hear much and speak little And commonly the weakest in understanding delight to hear themselves speak which gave occasion to the Proverbs that it is one piece of Wisdom for a man to hide his Folly That He knoweth not how to speak that knows not how to be silent For as words well utter'd shew Eloquence and Learning so silence well kept shews Prudence and Gravity A Fools voice is known by the Multitude of his words but he that refraineth his lips is wise Prov. 10.19 Eccl. 5.3 and 10.14 Words well consider'd like Money well employed tend to the profit and advantage both of him that receiveth and him that disburseth And as it is not lawful to Coyn or Pay out false Money so is it as unlawful to invent or speak what may turn to the Prejudice or Reproach of others There are three special seasons wherein a man ought to speak And in all other cases silence is to be prefer'd First when things come in question we understand perfectly well Again when such matters arise we are oblig'd to speak to And in the last place when men have a good opinion of us and in things they will willingly hear and easily give credit to us Heedfully observe those things that beautify and adorn our speech The honourable part of Talk is to give occasion and then to moderate and pass to something else to vary in our Discourse and intermingle speech of the present occasion with Arguments Tales with Reasons asking of Questions with telling of Opinions 't is a dull thing to Tire and Jade any thing too far to be too much in any thing so as to give another occasion of weariness This makes a man cheap to speak pertinently to the thing in hand and agreeably to the Person is better than Eloquence A man must avoid all those things which make his Discourse less delightful to the hearers He must not be so brief as to be obscure nor tire men with superfluous words and tedious Prefaces impertinent Circumstances and Digressions Discourse is the Image of the Thought which it ought to set forth so clearly that it may be seen and as it were touch'd with the Finger We shall find upon reflection that the delight and pleasure we feel and conceive in a Discourse proceeds either from the Images form'd by Words in our Minds or the resemblance between the Words and the Things whose Image they bear So that 't is either the truth that pleaseth us or the conformity betwixt Words and things Yet in speech we may observe some persons have so strange a force and sweetness in the delivery of their Words that altho they be neither proper nor well placed yet do so delight our Ears and Minds with their Harmony that we neither search nor desire any thing farther while other men whose Words are more pure and correct lose their force for want of a pleasing Voice in delivering A man ought therefore to be very exact in measuring the force of his Voice that he offend not other mens Ears by raw and harsh sounds And also careful to fill his Memory with proper Terms So contriving it that the Images of things and their Names be of so strict a Coherence that the Images and Expressions may present themselves together One resembles the Memory to a Printing press A Printer who has nothing but Gothick Characters let the Treatise be never so good can Print it in no other The same may be said of those whose Memories are full of nothing but improper Terms A man's Words ought to be Proper Significant and of efficacy A Gentleman ought not to make payment with Farthings and Liards using such expressions as are base and low and defil'd by the use of the Vulgar People who by turning words from their Original meaning to signifie vile and sordid things have forc'd upon them many and different Images hereby debasing and polluting them It is certain that a Sentence receives its Force and Vigor from the Reputation and Authority of the speaker the Words and Expressions by which it is utter'd and the Action and Air of the Countenance these have their peculiar Charm which strangely influence the minds of men A graceful Majesty of gesture and goverment of Face and Countenance either in Speech or Silence is of great force and effect for it gains a kind of Reputation Esteem and Reverence and where that is almost every thing becometh There is as well Eloquence of Body as of Mind and a man may Cancel the force of his Words by his Countenance But to give a more exact and sure Rule sor the Tongue If thou would'st rightly Govern it begin with the Heart The disorders of the Tongue usually proceed from the Distempers of the Heart Idle words from vanity of thoughts rashness of speech from hastiness of Spirit boasting from pride of heart Out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh Beg of God that he would be with thy Mouth as he was with Moses touch thy Tongue as he did Jeremy teach thee at all times what to say and put words into thy Mouth give thee the Tongue of the Learned as he did Isaiah and a door of utterance as he did Paul that he would circumcise and pare off the fore skin of thy Lips all Superfluous Foolish and vain Words that so thy Language may be pure and thy Voice sweet that no sinful idle nor rash words break forth that he would delight to use thy
Tongue as an Instrument of much service and praise to his Name and good to others making thy Words prosper and prevail to all good intents and Purposes Exod. 4.12 Isa 50,4 Jere. 1.6 1 Chr. 1.5 Act. 13.9 As God is Lord over our Tongue so is he Author of all its gifts Mark and moan for the errors as well of thy Tongue as Wayes Joh. 40.6 Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no farther Keep a good correspondence as between Heart and Tongue to speak what thou thinkest So between Tongue and Hand to do what thou sayest Pay thy Vows to God and perform thy promises to Men and say no more to either than what thou can'st and wilt do Conform thy Mind and Affections to thy Words indeavour really to be what thou desirest to seem A man cheats not the World so much as Himself when he strives to seem greater wiser or better than he really is and covets to be esteemed a Wise Just and Pious man but neither cares or endeavours to make himself possessour of these Virtues 'T is impossible this man's designs should take effect Labour for Patience and moderation Be slow to Speak and slow to Wrath trust not thy self without the greatest watchfulness to speak of those Persons who have wrong'd or injur'd thee lest Envy Malice or any other bitter Ingredient insensibly mingle themselves with thy Words Resolutely arm thy self a gainst all Passion of Joy Anger and the like but be sure thou never speakest when thou art in any Not only the Wicked as Rabshakeh Nabal and Herod but even the most Holy when transported with disorder'd Passions have broke forth into unadvised speeches Moses and David overcome with Anger Job with grief and Peter wth Joy could not command their unruly Tongues Nothing more exposes a man more betrays and surprises the Powers of Reason than Passion which is bred and nourish'd by Pride Folly and Self-love Be not too positive in affirming any thing lest thou prove mistaken and if thou hast erred persevere not in it think it no shame to submit to truth but rather rejoyce that thou hast found it Be not too fond of your own Opinion nor concern'd if others differ from you and do not so much regard what you say as you imagin they ought make not applause your end let neither it nor distast have too great an Influence upon you in any thing or Power either to exalt deject or raise any unruly Passion in thee Consider alwaies before thou speakest what thou art about to say and to whom Be not over hasty and inconsiderate either in thy Speeches or Actions Pause and Deliberation do many times discover many Ingredients of Wisdom and Prudence requisite to the choice of Words and Actions and the manner of doing them Never run into any conclusion how quick so ever thou mayest be in any matter of importance suddenly How many Witty men have fallen into great errors because they would not give themselves time to think nor their Imaginations time to cool whereas calm and flow men who pass for dull in the common estimation as they search after truth with more deliberation so they find it out with more certainty In all disputes and pleading of Cases or the like Prov. 15.28 use but few words and those as significant and expressive as the matter will bear and home to the point and as much as possible shorten the excursions of other men about circumstances of no moment keeping them still to the main Hinge of the business It doth greatly add to a man's Reputation to have good Forms The Exercises in Universities and Schools are of Memory and Invention either to speak by heart that which we have set down Verbatim or else to speak Extempore Whereas in Action there is little use of either of these but most things we utter are neither Verbally premeditated nor meerly Extemporal therefore Exercise should be so fram'd to take a little breathing to consider the Heads and then to set and form the Speech Extempore This may be done either with using Notes for in most Actions they are allow'd or else without them Speak not the evil thou knowest of any man blame the Action not the Person unless lawfully called by Authority or to those whom it concerneth thee to Reform and Reclaim or when the concealment may make thee guilty or accessory or to prevent certain dammage to thy Soul Body or Estate of thy Neighbour or lastly when some particular remarkable Judgment is upon a notorious Sinner that God may be acknowledg'd in his just Judgments and Sinners wain'd from such practices Impart to no man the evils thou hast heard spoken of him neither bring any thing to light upon which Scandals may ensue Seek to stop evil Discourse by a timely and wise turning of it to the lawful affairs of this life for where Religion will not be admitted these things may take place Let not others see that thou know'st their defects ill actions or hard thoughts they have of thee or such as thou lovest or any offence committed against thee neither the good affections they bear to thy Enemies Make good use to thy self of all things that fall out in Conversation mark every passage and circumstance and lay up and appropriate whatsoever is commendable and indeavour to imitate wise men not only in their words and manner of delivery but even in their common behaviour so far as it will become your Place and Person All the profit we reap by conversation flows from the diligent observation and imitation of others Envy no man his due and just praise as if it abated thy esteem rather rejoyce to hear another man well reported of Not only stop thine Ears but set thy Speech and Countenance against whispering Detractions from thy Neighbour's good name And if thou canst not without danger by word reprove men let thy Countenance Silence and contrary Example testifie thy dislike Let the Good thou seest be matter of content thankfulness to God and thy own imitation And the Evil of Grief Humiliation and Warning When men report good of thee if it be true repress such discourse as wisely and suddenly as thou canst And if not indeavour to make it so When men report evil of thee be not so inquisitive who rais'd it as to make good use of it to thy self this evil does not arise without Gods Providence 2 Sam. 16.11 And tho' the report be false in respect of such or such a Fact yet consider whether thou hast not run into the appearance and occasions of those evils and let this humble thee and make thee more circumspect Labour to see Gods wise and good Providence not only in discovering the Folly and Malice of wicked men who raise and take up an evil Report against thee without cause but in giving thee warning to look to thy self lest thou deservest thus to be spoken of Great is the advantage
A Christian's Journal OR Brief Directions FOR DEVOTION AND CONVERSATION Brevis Praedicatio longa Comminatio Actio perpetua Denique quid verbis opus est spectemur agendo LONDON Printed for the Author and sold by R. Bentley in Russel-street 1684. TO THE Right Honourable The LADY PHILIPPA MOHVN Baroness of Oakhampton Madam I Humbly present to your Ladyship these few Gleanings which I have gather'd and ty'd up into this little Sheaf I am not asham'd to acknowledge that much of it is none of my own In Divinity all men must be Borrowers and no man knows more than what is Reveal'd the Ambition of Discovery has been one of the chiefest grounds of those many Heresies and Schisms with which the World is at this day over-run and the Church divided And to me 't is no great wonder when men dispute Wisdom with their Maker when soaring Wits will not stoop and submit to the plain Truths of the Gospel but think themselves able to correct Scripture and find out more New and Easie wayes to Heaven than our blessed Saviour or his Apostles have ever inform'd the World of that so many Wander and Miscarry You have here Madam set down the thoughts of several Learned Divines upon the same Subject Various Rules from divers Hands directing our Practice and yet all of them so Weighty as I doubt not but your Ladyship will confess few of them could have well been omitted You will find men of different Opinions here All consenting to further Holyness of Life It is the mischief Madam of our Days that men are too much of a Party in Religion and regard not so much what is said as who is the Preacher So that 't is as dangerous to quote Charnock or Owen in the Pulppit as Mead or Sanderson in a Meeting This Madam is one Reason why I conceal Mens names that the Reader may be no way byass'd by them And I have indeavour'd so to mingle different Parties that 't will not be very easie to discern the Bishop from the Doctor or the Coat from the Cassock that so men that are set upon Quarrels may Fight in the dark where 't is odds they mistake their man And this Madam is the only excuse I have for hiding my self in the Croud of your Admirers among whom you have not Madam A more Real humble Servant Covent Garden Sept. 15. 1683. Errata P. 31. l. 13. for a r. as P. 51. l. 5 6. r. Imaginations P. 54. l. 20. No Comma after Containing P. 74. l. 5. for your r. Our P. 86. l. 1. blot out the. P. 89. l. 9. for to r. by P. 95. l. 18. r. with P. 100. l. 18. r. delight most P. 121. l. 7. for thy r. the. P. 134. l. 2. for all r. ill P. 139. l. 6. for Neither r. Never P. 180. l. 14. No Comma after in P. 243. l. 13. r. bring us that P. 246. l. 17. for bat r. that P. 258. l. 5. no Comma after best P. 280. penult for knowest r. knewest CAP. I. Introduction Sect. 1. THE best way to please God the nearest and readiest way to Heaven and to get a chearful Heart in the mean time till we come thither is to walk with God in all Uprightness to live by Faith which is to frame our Life according to the Will of God revealed in his Word This God commands to Abraham Gen. 17.1 I am God all-sufficient walk thou before me and be thou upright This is commended to us by a Cloud of Examples of Enoch Noah Job David Zacharias c. Then a Man is said to walk with God when he daily goes on to repent of his Sins past when he believes in Christ for Pardon and believes his Word for Direction when he sets God before him and walks always as in his presence not after the Flesh but Spirit not to the will of Man but God Sect. 2. Everyday is a little Life bound with the Night and Morning as with Birth and Death one Day is the Brief of the whole and the whole but a Day repeated A good Christian first turns himself to God by Prayer alone then with his Family then to his Calling to his Society Eating and drinking and at Night returns ro his rest in all these walking Godly Soberly and Righteously This is the sum of Life and of the ensuing Manual wherein Directions are offered for each of these particulars which may not be without their use especially to such who are not better provided How to begin each Day IN the Morning when you awake accustom your self to think on God or something in order to his Service let thy fist thoughts be for Him who made the Night for Rest and the Day for Travel who has given thee rest preserved thee while thou slept and renews his loving kindness to thee every morning thankfully acknowledge the Mercies thou hast received and earnestly pray for those thou standest in need of Prayer is the best Key to open the Morning and the surest Bar to shut up all at Night A Heart early perfumed with Gods presence will savour of him all the day after Arise as early as the necessity of thy Body or Mind will permit according to the Example of our Blessed Saviour Joh. 8.2 Matth. 1.35 This Practice will be for the Health of thy Body for the advantage of thy Spiritual and Temporal estate hereby thou wilt have the day before thee and gain the fitest season and large Portions of time for the exercise of Religion and works of thy Calling besides thou wilt be more able and active for any employment Too much Sleep hurts the Brain dulls the Wit impairs the Memory and makes a man more slothful like the Drunkard who becomes more dry through excess The time betwixt your waking and arising may profitably be employed in occasional Meditation While your Body is dressing not with effeminate Curiosity nor yet with rude Neglect let your Mind address her self to her ensuing Task bethink what is to be done and in what order and because every day thou shalt surely be assaulted by the World the Flesh and the Devil fail not to put on thy Spiritual Armour prescribed Ephes 6. from the 12. to 18. that thou mayest be able to resist Consider what temptations thy Business or Company are most likely to lay thee open to the day following and Arm thy self with Resolution against them And again what occasions of doing Service to God or Good to thy Neighbour are most likely to present themselves and resolve to embrace them And Lastly thou may'st consider thy self with thy Equals either in Estate Age or other Circumstances what are thy particular failings what thy Natural Infirmities what those things are in thy Words Actions Behaviour and whole manner of Life which diminish thy Reputation and make thee less than thy Equals and what thy aims and ends are with the Rules of Life thou hast set thy self This is likewise a fit time to call to mind what
Rules we are to observe in our Apparel That they be for Health Honesty Comliness that we go rather with the lowest than highest of our Place and Quality That the Fashion be neither Strange Immodest Singular Ridiculous nor we the first in it That neither the making nor wearing savour of Pride Lightness Curiosity Lasciviousness Prodigality Covetousness but such as becomes Holiness Wisdom and Honesty following the Example of those of our own Rank that are most Sober and Discreet Directions for Closet Devotion And first for Reading HAving thus begun the Day that thou mayst walk with God the remainder of it it will be needful first to renew thy peace with God and then keep it To this end as soon as thou art ready if unavoidable necessity hinder not retire to thy Closet and there in a more solemn manner offer thy morning Sacrifice of Prayer and Thanksgiving according to the Command Matth. 6.6 And that these may be the better performed prepare thy self by Reading and Meditation for though these be distinct Exercises yet are they most properly joyned together since they mutually help and assist each other That day is lost whereof some time is not improved in searching Gods Holy Word those Divine Monuments other Books thou mayst turn over out of choice this thou must read out of Duty Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them And John 5.39 Search the Scriptures And Deuteronomy 31.11 Thou shalt read this Law before all Israel that they may hear it that they may learn and fear the Lord God and keep and observe all the words of this Law So also the 6. and the 61. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy Heart and thou shalt rehearse them continually to thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou tarriest in thy House and as thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and risest up Thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand and they shall be as Frontlets between thine Eyes also thou shalt write them upon the Posts of thy House and upon thy Gates First therefore when you read this Word lift up your Heart to God for his Leave and Blessing for the Spirit of Understanding and Wisdome that your Mind may be more inlightned and your Heart more strengthen'd with Grace by it for this Word is Spiritual and contains the hidden things of God in a Mystery in which respect 't is a Sealed Book to those that have not the help of the Holy Spirit Then you read the Word aright indeed when you have the same frame of Heart as the Holy Pen-men had in the Writing of it Read the Word with Hunger and Thirst after Knowledge and growth in Grace and as the means ordained of God for this end Read it with a Reverend and Humble with a tractable and honest Heart trembling at the Judgments against Sinners rejoycing at the Promises made to the Penitent willing and resolving to obey the Commands This is the best help and Art of Memory for exceeding Joys Griefs Hatred and Desires c. do leave the deepest impressions upon us we do not soon forget the Sicknesses and Pains we have gone through and the shortest Wit can remember where he laid his Gold Compare your ways with the Word bring them to the Rule see how they and that agree be thankful for any Conformity humbled and grieved for any Failing fly to Christ to make your Peace and resolve to look better to your ways for the time to come Advise about and resolve upon the means to bring all into practice especially those Duties which are laid before thee in thy present reading Observe the very expressions of Scripture for they are very useful in Prayer and do often carry a secret Emphasis in them that will greatly comfort and affect the Heart that considers them In reading still keep Jesus in thine Eye as the End Scope and Substance of all the Scripture in whom they all are Yea and Amen Meditate on and strive to find out the meaning and mind of God in each particular Scripture and to prevent mistake and wresting of Scripture to your hurt get first a clear knowledge of the Grounds and Principles of Christian Religion and indeavour to frame your Life according to the more easie and known Scriptures Secondly Be much in hearing the Word read in Publick and Interpreted by a Learned and Faithful Minister Let not God's publick Ordinances be either condemned or neglected for the sake of Reading Prayer or any other private Duty This will rather bring a Curse than a Blessing And Lastly as above Cherish an humble and honest Heart resolved to obey when you know God's Will Joh. 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God There is not in the World such another Book as this Book of God no Word of like Authority Holiness Wisdom true Eloquence Power and Eternity no Book that aims at Gods Glory and the Salvation of Mans Soul like this It discovers our misery by sin with the perfect Remedy it propounds perfect Happiness to us and affords the Means to attain it 'T is mighty through God to prepare for Grace 't is the immortal Seed to beget us unto Christ the Milk and strong Meat to nourish us up in him and the only Physick to recover the Soul from all Spiritual Diseases By it Christ giveth light to the Blind hearing to the Deaf speech to the Dumb strength to the Weak health to the Sick yea by it he doth cast out Devils and raise Men from the Death of Sin This is that Book alone that contains all the rich Legacies bequeath'd us by our dying Saviour 'T is his last Will and Testament Sealed with his own Blood Heb. 9.15 This is the Magna Charta or Great Statute Book of the Kingdom of Heaven containing in it all the mighty Priviledges and Immunities of Gods Children 'T is the Hammer the Fire the Sword the Plow the Seed the usual Instrument the Holy Ghost makes use of to build up pull down to plant purge and cleanse by it we have an Inheritance among them that believe and are Sanctify'd and Presented to God without spot or wrinkle In short 't is the Perfect Rule of Faith and Manners Let any Man but seriously and impartially consider the Precepts contained in the word of God he shall assuredly find the best Direction in the World for all kind of Moral and Divine Wisdom There are not in all the other Books of Morality together so sound deep certain and evident Instructions of Wisdome yet most strictly joyned with Innocency and Godliness as in this one Book Of Prayer PRayer is a Religious representing of our Will and pouring out our Hearts before God 't is the Souls Pulse and shews the state of the Heart If Spiritual Life be weak in us our Prayers will be so too We do not pray to God that
we may make known our desires to him as if he were not acquainted with them for he understands our Thoughts afar off neither that we may move him to accept and grant our desires for with him there is no Change or Shadow of turning but that we may by our Prayers obtain that of him which we believe he is willing to bestow Prayer being a necessary means both for God's Glory and our good 1 John 5.14 This is our Confidence which we have towards God that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us When therefore thou art about to pray First look into your present State and inquire how all things stand between God and you mark whatsoever occurs between your set times of Prayer the Providences of God or Sleights of Satan what sins you have committed what Graces you want and what Fresh Favours God has bestowed Tune thy Thoughts and Affections wind and Screw them up when thou comest to Duty This is that Zophar advises Job 11.13 to prepare the Heart and then to stretch forth the Hands When you are about to address your self to God in Prayer Fix your thoughts upon some particular Subject to inlarge upon There is no question if you observe your condition well but you have somtimes one errand to God somtimes another whether it be to confess some predominant Sin to beg Pardon of and Power against You may have in your Eye some Grace which you stand in more than ordinary need of and observe your own weakness and defect in Run not out into Generals only for you cannot speak to God of all things at one time but consider the Present Case of thy Soul and what business you have to go to God about at that time in a particular manner enlarge your thoughts on that Subject and follow it home till you feel your heart warm'd and affected Implore and expect the Spirit 's assistance and let thy whole heart be engaged in this work See what thou dost be according to Gods will and have a Warrant from his Word A Command is our Warrant a Promise is our Incouragement and an Example our Tract the Footsteps of the Flock wherein we must walk Improve your Advocate This is the Principal part of all our Religion and especially of Prayer to depend wholly upon the Righteousness and Intercession of Christ Jesus for access to and acceptance with God Be not slight formal and cursory in calling your Sins and Duties Cods Favours and Promises into a bare and Fruitless remembrance if the Heart be not affected with Anger Fear Grief and Shame for Sin with Joy and acknowledgment of being beholden to God for his Favours with Hope and Confidence in him in remembrance of his Promises if it be not gain'd to a new Resolution to Reform what is Faulty and to endeavour after more exactness all your preparation is nothing Nay Sin will gather Strength upon you thereby like idle Sturdy Vagrants who when brought before the Magistrate if he either say little to them or only give them threatning words but never makes them smart for their Offences they grow thereby ten times more insolent lawless Keep up Spiritual Frames out of Worship the Fire was to be kept alive upon the Altar when Sacrifices were not Offer'd from Morning till Night from Night till Morning as well a in the very time of Sacrifice One well advises to be such out of Worship as we would be in it any thing that does unhinge and discompose our Spirits is inconsistent with Religious Services which are to be perform'd with the greatest sedateness and gravity All irregular Passions disturb the Serenity of the Spirit and tho they be allay'd yet they leave the heart some while after like the Sea rolling and swelling after the Storm is ceased Ill company leaves a Tincture upon us in Worship Ephraim hath mixed himself with the People Hosea 7.8 He is a Cake not turned This will make our Hearts and Lives half Dough as well as half Baked These and the like make the Holy Spirit withdraw himself and then the Soul lies like a Wind-bound Vessel that can make no way When the Sun departs from us it carries its Beams along with it then Darkness spreads it self over the Earth and the Beasts of the Forest creep out Be much in Secret Ejaculations to God These are the purest flights of the Soul that have more of Fervor and less of Carnality As frequent sinful Acts strengthen habits of Sin so frequent Religious acts strengthen habits of Grace Excite and exercise particularly a Love to God and a Dependance on him The Soul that loves God when it has to do with him can mind nothing else during such Impression Nourish right apprehensions of God in thy mind Consider thou art drawing nigh to God the most amiable Object the best of Beings worthy of infinite Honour and the highest Affections thou canst give a God that made the World by a Word that upholds the great frame of Heaven and Earth a Majesty above the Conceptions of Angels View him in his Greatness and Goodness that your Heart may have a true value of the Worship of so great a Majesty and count it the most worthy employment to attend upon him A Fear of God will make your Worship serious a Joy in God durable your Affections will be rais'd when you represent him in the most reverential indearing and obliging Circumstances We Honour the Majesty of God when we consider him with due Reverence according to the greatness and perfection of his Works And in this Reverence of his Majesty does Worship chiefly consist Preserve a strong Sence of the Omniscience and Omnipresence of God who Judges thy inward Affections and is as really present with thee as if he were Visible Take heed of inordinate desires after the World it dulls the Word and stifles all Spiritual breathings after God in Duty Be deeply sensible of thy present wants and the supplies thou mayest have in Worship It is pardon thou desirest Apprehend then the blackness of Sin with the aggravations thereof as it respects God be deeply sensible of the want of Pardon and the worth of Mercy indeavour to get your Affections into such a frame as condemned Men would be and as you have seen some dying Men have Consider thou art now at the Throne of Gods Grace but must shortly be at the Bar of his Justice indeavour to stir up the same affections now the same fixedness and earnest Pleading for Mercy which thou mayest suppose forlorn Souls will have at Gods Tribunal If thou couldest apprehend God as an angry and offended Judge or didst see the riches of his Mercy and his glorious out-goings in the Sanctuary the blessed Doles he gives out to those that Spiritually attend upon him both the one and the other would make thee perform thy Duty humbly sincerely earnestly and affectionately waiting upon him with thy whole Soul to have Misery averted and Mercy
bestow'd Christ does not present any Man's Case and Duties without a sense of his wants and shall we our selves have none of our own Affect thy Heart with what supplies thou hast had in former Worship The Israelites would not have been at leisure for Idolatry had they preserv'd the Sense of the Majesty of God discovered in his late Thunders at Sinai If any thing intrudes that may choke thy Worship cast it speedily out We cannot hinder the Gnats from buzzing about us when we are in our Business but we may prevent them from setling upon us Lay hold on the most melting opportunities when thou findest thy Heart in a more than ordinary Spiritual Frame look upon it as a call from God to attend him Such Impressions and Motions are God's voice inviting us into Communion with him in some particular act of Worship and promising Success in it Psal 27.8 Be not always pouring out Words in Prayer Pause reflect upon and indeavour to affect thy Heart with all thou sayest in silence wait for the elapses of the Spiriti Examine thy self at the end of Worship and chide thy self for any Carnality thou perceivest review thy Duty and examine the reason why thou wert so low and Carnal If any unworthy Frames have surprised thee in Worship seek them out afterwards call them to the Bar make an exact Scrutiny into the Causes of them and let thine Anger and Indignation be raised against them that thou mayest prevent their incursion another time Apply the Blood of Christ by Faith for thy Cure and draw strength from his Death for the Conquest of them Also be humble for them for God will lift up the humble Daily examination is an Antidote against the Temptations of the following day and constant examination of our selves after Duty is a Preservative against vain incroachments in following Duties Labour especially after these two things To see the wants and imperfections that are in thy best Prayers and abhor them and in thy greatest defects see if thou canst not find somewhat of Gods Spirit that so thou mayest be truly persuaded in both That God will through the Merits of Christ pardon thy Wants and accept the Work of his own Spirit 'T is a dangerous thing to think that God likes our Prayers well when we do so seeing they have unseen defilements which pollute them or on the other hand to be perswaded that God rejects them when we dislike them In short Diligently watch and keep thy self from all Sin especially Surfeiting and Drunkenness Luk. 21.34 and 53. Which make the Heart dull and heavy Indeavour to grow in all God's Commands and Faith in all his Promises Keep in thy heart a Catalogue of thy own Sins Wants and Infirmities together with the sins and wants of the Land with the Tokens of God's wrath due thereto Look at God's Holiness and what Holiness he requires in Thee and then at thy own unworthiness of those things thou beggest of him thy Necessity and Danger For sins that thou art in danger of because strongly inclined to them ask the overcoming of them using all the means thereto and avoiding the occasion so for any Grace you want Importune God after the same manner Never trust so much to thy Prayers as to neglect any other means ordain'd by God for the obtaining of what thou desirest But use them still more conscionably neither ever trust so much to other means as to neglect Prayer And thus having offer'd up thy Prayers to God and committed thy self and Cause to him quietly rest in his good pleasure according to the Example of Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18 and David 2 Sam 12.20 Doubt not but God hath heard thy Prayer and in due time will grant what shall be most for his Glory and thy Good This is the meaning of the word Amen Look after thy comings in and gettings by Prayer I will direct my Prayer saith David and look up How we are to conceive of God in our Devotions HOw to conceive of the Deity in our Prayers and Meditations is both the deepest Point of all Christianity and the most necessary So deep that if we wade into it we may easily drown but can never find bottom So necessary that without it both our Persons and services are Profane and Irreligious We are all born Idolaters naturally prone to fashion God to some Form of our awn whether of a Humane Body or of an admirable Light or if our mind have any other more likely and pleasing Image There are as many carved Images of God as there are Minds of men and as Monstrous shapâ—s as those corruptious into which they would Transform him Hence all Idolatry sprang Men set up vain Images of him in ther Fancy before they set up Idolatrous Representations of him in their Temples The likening of him to Idols of Wood and Stone and various Metals was the fruit of an Idea erected in their own minds Hence also all Superstition receiv'd both its Rise and Growth When we Mint a God according to our own complexion like to us in mutable and various Passions soon angry soon appeas'd 't is no wonder we invent ways of pleasing him after we have offended him and think to expiate the Sin of out Soul by some Melancholy Devotions and self-Chastisements Superstition is nothing else but an unscriptural and unrevealed dread of God When men imagin'd him a rigorous and severe Master they cast about for ways to Mitigate him whom they thought so hard to be pleas'd All the Superstition this day living in the World is built upon this Foundation So natural it is for men to pull down God to their Imagination rather than raise their Imaginations up to God Hence arises all the diffidence of his Mercy tho' they Repent measuring God by the contracted Models of their own Spirit as tho' his Nature were as difficult to pardon their Offences against him as they are to remit wrongs done to themselves And hence also all Presumption the too common Disease of the World springs All the Wickedness that is in the World is nothing else but a presuming upon God arising from the ill interpretation of his Goodness breaking out upon them in the Works of Creation and Providence God's Patience is apprehended to be an approbation of their Vices and from the consideration of his Forbearance they fashion a God that they believe will smile upon their Crimes Psal 50.20 A God they Fancy like themselves that would do as they would do not be angry for what they count a light Offence How does the unclean person represent him to his own thoughts but as a Goat the Murderer as a Tiger the sensual Person as a Swine while they Fancy a God indulgent to their Crimes without Repentance First then away with all these wicked thoughts these gross Devotions and without any mental Reservation conceive of God Purely Humbly Spiritually as of an absolute Being without Form without Matter without Composition yea as
13.14 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all The Apostles begin their Epistles thus Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 7.59 Stephen pray'd Lord Jesus receive my Spirit If we exclude the other while we fix our heart upon one our Prayer is Sin if we retain all and mention but one we offend not Lastly we may name the Spirit before the Son and the Son before the Father Revel 1.4.5 and Saint Paul more than once names the Son before the Father Now our Lord Jesus Christ and God even the Father comfort your hearts 2. Cor. 13.14 2 Thes 2.16 Here we may add the Rules we are to observe in calling upon God As first that we call upon him by those Titles by which he has been pleas'd to make himself known unto us in his holy Word That we consider of him in Prayer as an All-sufficient God and see in him the things we desire Ephes 1.17 The Saints still set God before them as having that in him for which they pray Acts. 4.24 We must call upon God by such Names Titles and Descriptions Psal 86.15,16 as are most apt to inflame Desire stir up Reverence confirm Faith or incourage the Heart according as our necessity and disposition do require If many and general requests be to be put up then such Titles and Names must be used as may perswade us we shall be heard in all If particular requests be presented then choice is to be made of such Titles and Names as may help the heart in that particular Gen. 24.12 Acts. 1.24 Ps 94.1 2 Ch. 20 6 Dan. 9.4 Isa 64.8 It is necessary for one that would make a good entrance into Prayer to acquaint himself with the true understanding of the manifold Names and Descriptions of God recorded in Scripture and then to make choice of such to name him by as are specially to be exercis'd in granting his request and most fit to incite Reverence and confirm Faith Lastly the express Command of God forbids to Worship him by any Image or Similitude Deut. 4.16,17 Exod. 10.4 And he himself in many places of Scripture shews how severely he will punish them that give his Glory to dumb Idols Of Family Government I If thou art Master of a Family be watchful over thy Charge with all diligence and faithfulness Instruct thy Children and Servants in the knowledge of God Pray with them and for them Bring them to Gods Ordinances Prevent and remove all occasions of their hearing seeing or doing Evil. But above all be sure to go before them in a good Example If a Master be a Swearer Drunkard or the like 't is madness for himever to expect a Sober Family his House shall be a Den of Swearers Drunkards and Whoremasters c. Augustus his Court is fill'd with Scholars Tiberius's with Dissemblers and Julian's with Apostates Duties relating to our Calling YOur Closet-Devotions and Family-duties being perform'd we are in the next place to set about the work of our Calling The Law impos'd upon Adam binds all his Posterity In the sweat of thy Face thou shalt eat Bread till thou return unto the Ground First then adventure not on any course without good assurance that it be in it self Lawful Acts. 9.25 Ephes 4.20 Make not a Calling of that which was never made to be one There are many things Lawful to do which are not Lawful to Live by Lawful as Delights and Recreations which are not Lawful as Callings Resolve not upon that for thy Calling which is rather hurtful than profitable to the Common-wealth Chuse that Calling which is fittest for thee when thy Inclination Education and Gifts concur in one and the same Calling that is ever so If thou art altogether averse to that Calling for which thou hast been bred up and design'd choose then the nearest of kin to it that thou canst like that so thy education and time may not be lost Thus one bred up for the Ministry may make choice of some other Profession that hath to do with Learning as Law Physick or the like Ever begin and end all thy Works with Prayer begging God's blessing on thy Labours and commending all thy indeavours to him that must either wither or prosper them Likewise upon any unexpected accident or when thou doubtest what to do go to God for direction make known and commit thy Case to him he hath not only wisdom for thy Salvation but for thy outward direction too Carefully avoid all Covetousness whereby men design no farther end than the meer gathering of Wealth and Riches This is the root of all evil Would'st thou remedy it Restrain thy Affections from the World keep thy desires within Compass and as the Scripture terms it without â—…ousness being contented with what thou hast Heb. 13.5 Labour to see a particular Providence of God in all things that come to pass and befall thee Health or Sickness Riches or Poverty Liberty or Bondage He raiseth up and pulleth down he only giveth Power to get Wealth and taketh it away again at his pleasure He Ruleth the Kingdoms of the Earth and giveth them to whom he pleaseth Assure thy Conscience that God is thy Father and Portion and that all things befall thee by his holy Will and Fatherly Providence and Appointment Seek no more than the things which are necessary and sufficient even Food convenient And lastly raise your Affections from the World to better things As carefully shun all Injustice whereby men abuse their Calling to the hurt and hindrance of others Luk. 19.8 For prevention consider this Sin is against the express Word of God 1 Thessal 4.6 Let no man oppress or defraud his Brother in any matter For the Lord is the avenger of all such things * Tit. 2.11 That it makes all our Worship and Service abomination Esay 1.13 to the 17. That the Curse of God it the practice of it Deut. 25.16 Thou shalt not have in thy Bag two manner of Weights a great and a small nor in thy House divers Measures But thou shalt have a right and a just Weight a perfect and just Measure shalt thou have For all that do such things and all that do unrighteously are an abomination to the Lord. Beware of Ambition whereby men think better of themselves than there is just cause become malecontent with their Condition and seek for themselves greater and better Things and Places Examples of this we have in Adam and Absalom c. One of the best Remedies in World for this Disease of the Mind is the serious consideration of our selves what we are in respect of our Bodies but Dust in respect of our dispositions altogether set on Sin and in our Places and Callings at best but weak and worthless Instruments in the hand of God the meanest of ten Thousand Be not evercome with Envy let not thy
this But if our believing Sanctification brings us This then certainly our believing our Salvation will bring us at Of Set Meditation IN Set Mediation there are four things to be consider'ds The Circumstances the Preparation the Act it self and the Conclusion The Circumstances FOR the Time This is left to every man's discretion yet Bishop Vsher advises us to make choice of the Lords day in the Evening when we may call to mind what we have heard and the better to keep it in memory take the Hendi of Sermons For the Place as retir'd as may be and the room somewhat dark that the Senses may have no object to draw them away For the Space there is requir'd but one hour in seven Days and thou wilt find it the best hour that ever thou did'st spend The Preparation THE time allotted for this Exercise being come retire into thy Closet and having shut the door before thou go about this great Work do thy Homage fall down prostrate groveling and kissing the dust laying thy self at the feet of God labor to be convinc'd of and affected with the presence of God consider whom tho art to deal with a God before whom all things are Naked and Bare who is in the highest Heavens full of Glory and Majesty who will not be dally'd with or mock'd but Sanctify'd in those that approach him therefore must thou be careful not to speak Foolishly before so Wise a God Again a most Just God hat will not indure that you should hide or foster any Sin And yet of a most Gracious and marvellus sweet nature who if we ask Pardon and Forgiveness Grace and Wisdom confessing and forsaking our Sins and hoping in his Mercy will not upbraid us with our Unthankfulness Undutifulness Sins and Rebellions against him Beg of God assistance to perform this Duty Pray to him that He would be pleas'd to direct thee in the choice of thy Subject that he would put such Considedrations and Thoughts into thy Heart that thou may'st be convinc'd of and affected with the Truths of his Word The Act it Self NOW pitch upon a Subject The Subjects of our Meditations should be such things as are Plain Certain and Evident and not Intricate Abstruse Controversial and Doubtful Speculations much less such as are Curious and Nice We must chuse those places of Scripture to Meditate on as are most sutable to our present condition and the dispensations of Gods Providence either in general or personal to Ourselves or to his Church Let your Meditation be upon Scriptures sutable to your Temptations Let your Meditations be sutable to the Ordinances you are to be partakers of Let Christ be very much the Subject of your Meditation This Holy and Solemn Meditation consists of Three parts The first I call Consideration which is nothing else but the convincing our hearts of several Truths which do belong to the Subject whereof we Meditate To help us herein we may consider 1 what Scripture 2. what Reason saith concerning it a few pertinent Scriptures and weighty Reasons are as good as many for this purpose We should not over multiply our Considerations but as soon as we find our Hearts strongly affected then we are to pass over that part but yet we must be sure to let our considerations take deep root before we pass over to Affections and Resolutions but in case our Affections are very much inflam'd as soon as ever we begin our Considerations we are to yield to the Inspiration of God and follow the leading of his Spirit and not bind up and limit the extraordinary working of it but otherwise we must not leave blowing the Fire as soon as ever it begins to flame for green Wood will suddenly go out unless it be very well kindled We should view the Subject in all its Faces turning it on all sides but not tye our selves up to Logical methods The second thing in the Act it self is a Working on the Affections The first which is a calling to mind and debating the matter is an Act of the Understanding the end of which is to inlighten the Mind with Knowledge The second is an Act of the Will and Affections laying the matter to heart and applying of it close and home the end of which is to fill the heart with Goodness Here therefore we must examin Our selves and Actions whether they be according to the Rule or wherein they come short or differ from it Nor should we give over this Search till we find our Hearts in some measure become Pliable Broken and Affected The third part of the Act it self is Resolution to do this or that This Resolution should be firm and strong in the present not future Tense and as well against the Means Occasions and Temptation to any Sin as against the Sin it self We must peremptorily charge our Souls in every Faculty Understanding Will and Affections to Reform and Conform to the Rule of God's Word In Meditating we must joyn all these three together otherwise we shal never bring our Meditation to any profitable issue for if we only study to find out what 's True or False Good or Evil we may gain much Knowledge of the Head little Goodness of the Heart And if we only apply to our selves that whereon we have mused we may by finding our selves Transgressors lay Guilt upon our Conscience without fruit or comfort But if to both these we add a Resolution through Grace to be such as God commands us and lay a peremptory charge upon our selves to live hereafter according to his Law and to follow his Counsel touching what we should believe and do when we have offended him then we shall reap both benefit and comfort by this Exercise The Conclusion FOR the Conclusion of our Meditations we must first with earnest desire beg of God strength to perform whatsoever we have resolv'd to do being humble and sensible of our own Infirmity Secondly we must return praise and thanks to God if we have perceiv'd any warmth of Love to God or tasted of him or any other Spiritual effect wrought in our hearts Thirdly we must humbly acknowledge our Failings in the performing of this Duty Fourthly we must remember the Vows and Promises which we have made Fifthly we must remember what Passages in our Meditation did most affect us and lay them up in our thoughts that we may hereafter think upon them Lastly we must by degrees warily go out of the presence of God being careful and watchful that we lose not the Sense and Feeling Warmth Strength and Grace we have got This is the most proper and genuine Method for Meditation Preservatives against Sin COnsider first the Fruits and Wages of Sin The best it yields is Sorrow and Repentance if not dreadful Punishments If thou dost commit it t' will poison and invenom all Conditions it will sowre thy Prosperity with Preapprehensions of Wrath haunting thee like an importunate Creditor a wild Gallant spoiling thy Jollity and
Content In thy Adversity it will add affliction to affliction Superadding to thy outward troubles a misgiving Soul Besides Sin unqualifies thee for any good Duty either to God or Man If thou prayest yet the sense of Sin thou bringest with thee makes thee ungrateful to thy self and how can'st thou expect to be accepted by the Holy God In a good work the Sin thou art guilty of makes the comfort of it Insipid thy Heart tells thee There is sin in the Conscience and this makes thee asham'd to own the good that is in the Action Again will it not be a grief to the good Angels to be present and Spectators of thy Enormities will it not work a loathing and nauseousness in them and cause those chast and pure Spirits who are employ'd for thy preservation to retire themselves And will it not be a most grateful Spectacle to the envious and malignant Spirits and lay thee open to their power and malice who have gotten thee within their Territories unless God in mercy restrain them Consider the heynousness of the least Sin It is against God's Infinite Majesty and the riches of his Bounty in giving his Son for us Also against his Honor and the Love and Loyalty we profess to owe unto him for all his Goodness and Mercy and likewise against our Covenant with him the vileness of which is seen in the fearful Punishments of the Sin of Angels Adam the old World Lot's Wife Saul and so of Moses Vzzah David Josiah and chiefly that inflicted on the Son of God for our Sins Numb 20.24 Deut. 3.26 A Child of God cannot look to carry away the least Sin against Knowledge and Conscience unpunish'd without speedy submission and amendment Live alwaies as in God's presence whose Eye is ever upon thee and who may take thee away on a sudden Gen. 17.1 Job 32.22 2 Cor. 5.15 Remember thy appearance before him and account every day thy last being always prepar'd to give upthy Account Keep continually a fresh remembrance of God's great Goodness especially his chief Mercies Bodily and Spiritual Ordinary and Extraordinary Let thy great Deliverances never depart out of thy Heart say always with Joseph How can I do this and Sin against my good God Gen. 39.9 Neh. 6.11,13 Psal 103.25 116.12.16 Walk ever painfully in thy special Calling and in the Conscionable use of all the meanes of Grace Keep a perpetual memory of the former misery of Sin and Blessings of Righteousness Be resolv'd to chuse rather to endure any misery than to Sin against God as Joseph Daniel and the three Children did Dan. 1.8 Warily resist the first motions to any Sin James 1.5 Lust when it has conceiv'd brings forth Sin Achan tells Joshua by what degrees he came to finish his Sin Josh 7.21 I saw a Babylonish Garment then I coveted it and took it and it is hid in my Tent. Avoid every occasion of Sin as you would do of Infectious Diseases 1 Thes 5.22 Gen. 39.10 1 Thes 5.17 Eph. 6.18 But above all use Fervent Prayer to be kept by these Preservatives Of the Sabbath REmember the Sabbath before it come that thou may'st dispatch all thy own works in six days to attend the better upon the right Sanctification of the Sabbath Meddle not with any Recreation Pastime or Ordinary Work from Saturday night at eight of the Clock till Monday morning Isa 56.2,4,6 58.13.14 Now in thy Evening Devotions allow thy self so large a portion of time as may serve for some preparatory Meditations and Prayers and be not slight and uncertain but constant to thy set times and earnest in this work Now look into thy by-past Life and chiefly to thy walking with God the last Week be sure to set all strait between God and you examine thy self both by the Law and Gospel and see whether there be not some sin or miscarriage that lies unrepented of which may blast thy next day's performances if there be consider of it more particularly in its aggravations and nature reconcile thy self with God by Faith and Repentance and renewing thy Vows of walking more Conscionably after thou hast cleansed thy heart and hands Let thy Prayers be sutable to thy Condition beg fervently forgiveness of thy particular sins confessed and bewail'd together with Grace for the future against them and an increase of all other Graces which thou standest most in need of especially for a quiet setled composed mind that thou may'st attend with all thy Soul upon thy holy concerns and business likewise for inliven'd Affections that thou may'st not be dull and heartless but of a tender and melting Spirit for a pliable and yielding mind that thou may'st hear the Word with and render the obedience of Faith that the Lord would fix thy mind and make it serious inlighten it and open thy heart that thou may'st have a clear and right understanding that the Spirit would set in with the Preaching of the Word and make it effectual for the beating down of thy Corruptions and that it may be the power of God to the salvation of thy soul And lastly for the Minister that the Lord would teach him what he should teach the People and direct and inable him to declare the mind of God and make it manifest that utterance may be given unto him to speak boldly as he ought to speak and that God would Pardon his sins and frailties Earnestly endeavour to tast the sweetness of holy Exercises and to long for the enjoyment of God's Sabbaths that so thou may'st come to make them thy Delight Rise at least three hours before morning Sermon if it will stand with your Health and not hinder your fitness for Spiritual Exercises through drousiness afterwards When thou art up retire into thy Closet and having read two Chapters in the Bible betake thy self to Meditation and Prayer Consider with thy self what an impure Sinner thou art and into what an holy place thou goest to appear before the most Holy God who seeth thy Heart and knoweth all the Sins of thy Life tho' thou may'st have forgotten them and hateth all Impurity and Hypocrisie Now again examine thy self and Confess thy sins unto God earnestly praying for the pardon and forgiveness of them and so reconcile thy self with God in Christ and renew thy Vows to walk more Conscionably and especially pray that thou may'st have Grace to hear God's Word with profit and be inabled to Sanctify his holy Day not forgetting the Minister And after your private Prayer read another Chapter Be present with the first at all Publick Assemblies of the Church with cheerful Reverence and the greatest attention as before the Lord of the whole Earth Both to declare thy Love and Honour and for the good Example of others Be afraid of the least unseemly gesture or of being overtaken by sleep drowsiness or wandring thoughts 1 Cor. 12.12 Acts. 2.46 4.32 Joyn in with the Congregation in every publick Action according to
from my Mother's Womb and thy long-suffering Patience and Compassion that never fail that I have not been long ago consumed swallowed up or swept away with some extraordinary Judgment for those many gross and heinous Sins of my Life my whole Nature is deformed with Original corruption my whole Life my whole Life abounding with the fruits thereof all manner of actual Transgressions My Vnderstanding is full of Blindness Vanity and Infidelity my Conscience Dead and Remorsless my Heart Hard and Impenitent my Affections Disorderly and Violent Vnruly and Masterless my Appetite Sensual and Brutish I have no ability to any good Duty no restraint or moderation in Sinning against thee Yea if I do any Good I am apt to blemish it with Self-love and Hypocrisie if I abstain from any Evil it is many times rather from the Act than from the Love of it I ought to have lived as under covenant with thee but wretch that I am I have broken my Vow falsified my Faith and violated the everlasting Covenant What Commandment of thine is there O Lord I have not transgressed What Grace I have not abused What Curse I have not deserved When I view the wretched course of my Life and consider my weighty and crying Sins what Lord can I say And what confusion should cover me Here confess to God thy secret Sins with the Circumstances of Time Place Person and Manner c. In how many things have I Sinned against Knowledge against Conscience against Light and against many Vows and Promises of better Obedience I have no colour of excuse nothing to plead with thee in defence of my many and heinous Sins if I dispute I must lay my hand upon my mouth and learn to abhor my self in Dust and Ashes for Lord for these my Sins I stand here guilty of thy Curse with all the Miseries of this Life and that to come But O blessed Lord thou art he that Justifies the ungodly and hast sent thy Son to die for Sinners and hast made a general Offer and invited all to come unto Christ that they may be sav'd whosoever will every very one that thirsteth yea and hast most graciously promised John 6.37 That him that cometh shall not in any wise be repulsed or cast out John 3.16,17 Luke 2.10 and that whosoever believeth shall not perish that thou wilt not despise a broken heart Rev. 22.17 John 7.37 John 6.40 2 Cor. 5.20 John 3.23 Nay Lord it is thy Will Desire and Command that I should believe on the Name of thy Son that so I may be saved 1 John 5.10 And thy Word of Truth saith That whosoever believeth not maketh thee a Lyar. O Father of Mercies I am bold in the name of Christ to come unto thee and by the hand of Faith to lay hold upon thy Promises yet feeling my own weakness I beseech thee strengthen my unbelief and what assurance I cannot have by my Faith weakly embracing thee let me have from thy self embracing me who art mighty to save Thou did'st inable thy Servant Jacob to lay hold on thee and not let thee go till thou had'st blessed him Lord give me the same Strength the same Courage and the same Success I beseech thee O Lord who despisest not the sighing of a contrite heart nor desirest the death of a penitent Sinner but delightest by thy Goodness to Reign where Sins have most abounded to pardon and forgive me all my Sins and to wash away the unâ—…leanness of them by that precious Blood of Sprinkling which Christ Jesus my Saviour hath shed I hope for me And seeing he has born the burden of the Curse due for my Transgressions deliver me O Lord both from my Sins and those Judgments which hang over my head as due unto me for the same bury them in the Burial of Christ that they may never have power to rise up against me to shame me in this life or condemn me in that to come And I beseech thee O Lord not only to pardon the Guilt of my Sins but to purge my heart by thy holy Spirit from the Dross of my natural Corruptions that I may feel thy Spirit more and more killing my sins in the power and practise thereof especially my special Sins and Corruptions Let my Flesh be Crucified with its Affections and Lusts And let me find the power of Christ's death mortifying my corruptions and the power of his Resurrection raising me up to newness of life Arm me O Lord with the Furniture of thy Grace and write thy Laws in my inward parts that I may not only be thy Soldier but thy Servant and Subject Set up the Scepter of thy Kingdom in my Conscience subdue my heart to the obedience of thy Commands win my Affections to the Love of thy Statutes conform my Life to the Rule of thy Righteousness and transform me daily more and more into thy Image Bless all the Means of Grace unto me and me with a heart sanctified and set upon the Means for the increase of Grace let thy holy Word be my chief Treasure thy Statutes my Counsellors thy Promises my Comforters thy Sacraments my Delicates thy Sabbaths my best Daies and thy Servants my dearest Companions Renew daily with me the Covenant of thy Peace and now this morning let thy Spirit from Heaven Seal me a new Patent of Mercy that being to meet with thee in the ways and works of this day I may be sure to find thee as a reconciled Father not as an offended Judge As thou do'st add Days unto my Life so good Lord add Repentance and amendment unto my Days and bestow a supply upon me of all those Graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me and necessary for me with an increase of all those Gifts wherewith thou hast already indowed me Give unto me such Spiritual Eye-sight that I may see thee in thy Word and Works Let me live in thy sight and not without thee as the Gentiles do O let me not be cast out of thy presence as Cain nor run against thee as Balaam but walk with thee as Enoch Noah and Abraham in all my ways taking knowledge of thy Presence Promises and Providences Bless me O Lord this day in the Duties of my Calling preserve me from all fraudulent oppressing greedy Courses Draw my Affections from the Love of this World fix my heart upon things above if things succeed according to my mind make me thankful to thee which hast given the Blessing if any Cross comes make me patient and careful to profit by the Chastisement good Lord do thou bless me with such a portion of Health Peace Prosperity and every good thing as may inable and make me Chearful in Duty And because the daily occasions of danger to my Soul are infinite teach me to keep my Heart with all diligence to make a Covenant with my Eyes to keep my mouth as with a Bridle for the avoiding all filthy communication to use
and secure in so extream danger nor lulled asleep when I am even ready to be utterly swallow'd up but let me ever be preparing and buckling on my whole Armor that I may stand fast in this evil day and preserve my self until the Conquest be gotten and I Crowned O let me never deceive my self by imagining my case to be good when I am but a Carnal Worldling or meer Hypocrite but Lord help me daily but especially before thy Sabbaths to examin and try my Spiritual Estate how I grow in all Graces in more sincere obedience to all thy Commands Faith in all thy Promises and in the power of all true Godliness That I may hereby not only avoid all Hardness of heart Lukewarmness Sleeping in Sin prevent an evil Conscience with the dreadful Punishments thereof and be kept from Satans power but also may get strong Consolation may be every day more filled with content and delight in thee increasing in Love to thy Majesty People and Ordinances in Zeal for thy Glory and Kingdom full of Life and Cheerfulness in accomplishing all thy good pleasure and submiting my self to thee only and thy gracious direction in all things having my Eyes and Faith fixed upon thee believing thou wilt always watch over me for good thy Fatherly care shall feed and supply all my wants thy faithful and powerful Protection make me safe and thy wise and holy Providence order all things for my advantage in the end Save me O Lord from backsliding from thee after the manner of this evil Age and preserve me from all the causes thereof conceitedness of the goodness of my State standing at a stay in Religion neglect of any means of Grace especially the Word and Sacraments unfaithfulness in my Calling committing or living in any known Sin without speedy Repentance Grant me to Glorifie thee according to my Knowledge of thee and so to love and practice thy Sacred Truth that thou mayst never leave me or in judgment give me up to vile Affections a Reprobate Sence or the strong delusions of Anti-christ And now O Lord as I am in duty bound I do here present unto thee from an humble heart this my Evening Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy Goodness and Mercy to me a poor miserable Sinner that I was born and live in the shining Light of thy glorious Gospel and am not as others under the darkness of Popery and Tyranny of Antichrist in all Afflictions and Misery That I have any measure of Peace in my Spirit when I might have been in continual horror of Conscience for my Sins and left unto the power of Satan that thou hast granted me health and sufficiency of the things of this Life many kind Friends about me my good Name and Credit preserved and thy Blessings in any measure upon my labours whereas thou mightest have smitten me to have lain continually Bed rid tormented with most loathsome Diseases and Sores or like a poor Lazar to have begged my Bread from door to door yea to have layn without in the Streets or in Prison hungry naked thirstie as many better than my self do destitute of Friends in the midst of cruel enemies odious to all my Name rottenness and my labours accursed and what is more than all this that thou shouldst continue all those kindnesses unto me notwithstanding all my unthankfulness great impenitency and hardness of heart and altho' I have profited so little by the means of Grace thou hast so long vouchsafed me both of thy Word and Ordinances thy Judgments Mercies Fatherly Chastisements and Corrections so that thou might'st in Justice have shut up all thy Loving kindness in heavy displeasure and have cast me off as one in whom thou takest no pleasure it is thy Goodness thy Goodness alone which is the Fountain whence all those rich Mercies flow unto me And that thou mayst receive all the Glory shall be the constant Prayer and indeavour of thy Servant all the daies of his life to the which I do here solemnly engage and bind my self in thy Sacred Presence beseeching thee to Sanctifie unto me this night's rest that I be not troubled with any Terrors or weakened with any Sickness or impoverish'd by any Casualities or Crosses but that being defended under the Shadow of thy Wings and by the Protection of thy holy Angels I may be secured both from the Assaults of Satan and the designs of evil Men. Into thy holy Protection and Custody O Father I do here commend my self and all that through thy Goodness do belong unto me beseeching thee both to hear and grant these my Requests and all other things needful either for my self or any Member of thy whole Church for thy dear Son Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour's sake to whom with thy self and the Blessed Spirit be all Honour and Obedience from Generation to Generation Amen Our Father c. FINIS
such words as may administer Grace unto the hearers to be sober in Diet wary in Disports moderate in Apparel choice in my Company and ever to practice that continual Fear which has a promise of Blessing especially watching against those Sins I am most inclined to and those Temptations that are most likely to assault me Plant in me Faith without Presumption Love without Dissimulation Fear without Infidelity Zeal without Hypocrisy Knowledge without Pride Purity without Judging Wisdom joyn'd with Simplicity Courage accompany'd with Meekness Cheerfulness with Sobriety and let every Grace be graced with Humility And be thou pleased so to bless all my Studies and Actions that they may tend to thy Glory the good of others and comfort of my own Soul in that day when I shall make my final Accompt unto thee for them O my God keep thy Servant that I do no Evil unto any man this Day and suffer neither the Devil nor his wicked Angels nor any of his evil Members or my malicious Enemies to have any Power to do me any hurt or violence But defend me from the Power Malice and Multitude of them all both in my going out and coming in with the impregnable defence of thy Providence and Guard of thy holy Angels whom thou hast said should to this end pitch their Tents about those that fear thy Name For into thy Hands I do here O Father commend my Soul Body and all that I have to be guided and protected by thee being assured That whatsoever thou takest into thy Custody cannot suffer any harm seeing thou Rulest all things to thine own Glory and the greatest good of thy Children and because thou hast assured me that thus begging I shall receive that I may set forth thy Glory whereunto I do here bind my self And if at any time I shall this day forget thee my God I beseeh thee do thou in mercy remember me and suffer not Sin to swallow me up or grow strong upon me lest I perish And now may it please thee to receive at the hands of me thy unworthy Servant this my Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving for all thy Mercies both for my Being and Well-being for the Means of Grace and Hopes of Glory c. By thee at first I was fearfully and wonderfully made thou did'st cover me in my Mothers Womb and gavest me the shape of a Man when it was free for thee to have equalled me with the basest Creatures Thou hast made me Perfect in shape and not a Monster Sensible and of understanding not a Fool Thou didst preserve me in the Womb nourish'd me when I hung upon the Breasts provided means of Education fitted me for an honest Employment and compassed me with many particular Mercies which others want That I am now alive that Satan has not had his will upon me that I know the way and the means unto a better Life that I have been protected and refreshed the night past when for the Sins of the Day thou mightest justly in the dead of sleep have called for my Soul and that I have daily access unto thy glorious Presence Whence are all these but from the freedom of thy Grace If thou shouldest have given me my desert I should have perished long ago Father I defire to remember with a thankful heart all thy Mercies at any time bestowed upon me or continued to me My Health Peace Liberty Maintenance Credit Fellowship Success in my Affairs Preservation from Dangers delivery from Troubles Recovery out of Sickness Consolation in Afflictions c. But above all for the magnifying thy Mercy to me in the great work of Redemption and Salvation by Jesus Christ for thy Christ thy Spirit thy Word thy Sacraments thy Sabbaths and the Assemblies of thy Saints with all the helps of Example Instruction Admonition and Fatherly Correction by which thou hast indeavour'd to farther me in the way of my Salvation yea tho' my provocations have been so many and so grievous yet thy Compassions fail not but are renew'd every Morning For all those Testimonies of thy Bounty thy Pity thy Patience towards me I do according to my poverty offer up unto thee the Calves of my Lips confessing thy Goodness and the Due Service of my Soul and Body as a Living and reasonable Sacrifice And now O Lord I come unto thee in behalf of thy whole Church and chosen People and of all my Brethren wheresoever they live upon the Face of the whole Earth Defend them from the rage and Tyranny of the Devil the World and Antichrist give thy Gospel a free and a joyful Passage through the World for the Conversion of those that belong unto thy Kingdom Judge Babylon and Redeem Sion in thy appointed time Call the uncalled and perfect the called raise up the Fallen strengthen the Weak heal the Sick relieve the Needy and Distressed release such as are in Restraint comfort them that are Comfortless either in Body or Mind especially such as mourn for Sin Strengthen the Hands and Hearts of them that stand in the just defence of Religion and Right and confound every Adversary and Antichristian Power and Policy Especially be favourable to all such a suffer any Trouble or Persecution for the Testimony of thy Truth and holy Gospel support them under and give them a gracious deliverance out of all their Troubles which way it shall seem best to thy Wisdom for the Glory of thy Name the further inlarging of thy Truth and the increase of their Comfort and Consolation Give me a compassionate fellow feeling of the Miseries others suffer and prepare me for the day of Trial. Bless with all sutable Mercies this particular Church forgive the publick Sins heal the publick Calamities and Diseases Bless thy Servant Charles our Sovereign adorn him with all Princely Graces answerable to his high Estate especially with a Spirit of Government Prosper the work of the Gospel and make thy Word to grow by the labours of those thou hast appointed to the Service of the Church give them Sufficiency Fidelity and Success in thy Business Increase Wisdom in our Counsellors and stir up Magistrates and men in Authority to seek the advancement of thy Glory and good of thy People contain the Subjects in their due obedience to Authority bring to naught all Tumultuous and Rebellious Practices Visit all my Kindred Relations and acquaintances and all that are committed to my charge and whosoever may claim an interest in this Duty at my hands with such Blessings as they need Reward a thousand fold all who have shown any kindness to thy Servant forgive and have mercy upon all my Enemies and let not one of them ever fare the worse for any wrong done unto me Finally both to my self and all that desire to fear thy Name grant all the Blessings of Mercy and Peace in Jesus Christ to whom with thee O Father and the Eternal Spirit be all Honor Obedience and Thanksgiving throughout all Generations Amen Our