sin diminish a mans substance and help to impoverish men A. Yes for by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life for it is a fire that consumeth to destruction and will root out all a mans inheritance Prov. 6.26 Job 31.12 Q. Doth it not cast an everlasting stain upon a man's good name also A. Yes a wound and dishonour shall he get and his reproach shall not be wiped away Prov. 6.33 Q. Ought not this sin to be severely punished A. Yes 't is an heinous crime yea it is an iniquity to be punished by the Judges Deut. 22.22 Job 31.11 Q. However the committers of this wickedness may escape punishment from men yet will not God's judgments be poured out upon them A. Yes whoremongers and adulterers God will judg and if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy Heb. 13.4 1 Cor. 3.17 Q. Is not this a sin which shuts out from the Kingdom of Heaven A. Yes and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth be not therefore deceived neither fornicators nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind shall inherit the Kingdom of God Rev. 21.27 1 Cor. 6.9 Q. And should not this prevail with all men not to be partakers with these men in their sins A. Yes for this we know that no whoremonger nor unclean person hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience be not ye therefore partakers with them Eph. 5.5 6 7. Q. Is not moderation and temperance in eating and drinking a commanded duty A. Yes hast thou found honey eat so much as is sufficient for thee lest thou be filled therewith and vomit it And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess Prov. 25.26 27. Eph. 5.18 Q. May not men lawfully pray for so much as sufficeth nature A. Yes two things have I required of thee deny me them not before I die give me neither poverty nor riches seed me with food convenient for me lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain Prov. 30 7 8. Q. But is there not a special warning to abstain from excess in eating and drinking A. Yes take heed to your selves lest at any time your hearts be over-charged with surfeiting and drunkenness Let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Luke 21.34 Rom. 13.13 14. Q. Should we not then abstain from the company of such persons A. Yes be not amongst wine-bibbers amongst riotous eaters of flesh Prov. 23.20 Q. Do not these sins bring poverty upon men A. Yes for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty Prov. 23.21 Q. Doth not these sins bring diseases and calamities upon mens bodies also A. Yes who hath woe who hath sorrow who hath contentions who hath bablings who hath wounds without cause they that tarry long at the wine Prov. 23.29 30. Q. Doth not the Word of God tell us that drunkards are of the number of those that shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven A. Yes be not deceived for neither the covetous nor drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.10 Q. Is it not a very great sin to make others drunk that they may sport with their ridiculous behaviour A. Yes wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottel to him and makest him drunken also that thou mayest look on their nakedness Hab. 15. Q. Have they who are mighty to drink any reason to brag of this A. No wo unto them that are mighty to drink wine and men of strength to mingle strong drink Isa 5.22 Q. Are they not then very foolish who upon any pretence whatsoever do commit this sin A. Yes wine is a mocker strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise Prov. 20.1 Sect. 4. Of Temperance in Sleep in Reereation and in Apparel Q. Is it not a very foolish thing to give our selves to immoderate sleep A. Yes go to the ant thou sluggard consider her ways and be wise How long wilt thou sleep when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to sleep Prov. 6.6 10. Q. Is it not the high-way to bring poverty on men to spend their time in sleeping A. Yes love not sleep lest thou come to poverty open thine eyes and thou shalt be satisfied with bread but drowsiness shall cover a man with rags Prov. 20.13 23.21 Q. Should we not use lawful recreations with moderation and choose a seasonable time for them A. Yes to every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the Heaven a time to laugh and a time to dance he hath made every thing beautiful in his time Eccl. 3.1 4 11. Q. Doth not excess in recreations bring to poverty A. Yes he that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man Prov. 21.17 Q. Is not there a wo pronounced against those who use immoderate recreations A. Yes wo unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue until night till wine inflame them and the harp and the viol the tabret and pipe and wine are in their feasts Isa 5.11 12. Q. And should we not be careful that our recreations have nothing of sin in them A. Yes let us walk honestly as in the day not in rioting and drunkenness not in chambering and wantonness not in strife and envying Rom. 13.13 Q. Is not the reward of such who sport themselves with their own deceivings very sad A. Yes they shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time spots they are and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you 2 Pet. 2 13. Q. Must not men give an account how they have spent their time in recreations A. Yes rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart chear thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know thou for all these things God will bring thee into judgment Eccl. 11.9 Q. Is not temperance in apparel a commanded duty A. Yes I will therefore that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefac'dness and sobriety not with broidered-hair or gold or pearls or costly array but which becometh women professing godliness with good works 1 Tim. 2.9 10. Q. Will not God punish their vanity who observe every phantastick light fashion A. Yes because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with stretched-out necks and wanton
But must we not be sure to be at peace with God by doing his will since God heareth not sinners A. Yes can two walk together except they be agreed therefore wash ye make you clean put away the evil of your doings learn to do well elsâ— I will hide mine eyes from you yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear Amos 3.3 Isa 1.16 15. Q. Is repentance so necessary a duty that without it we certainly perish A Yes except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Turn ye turn ye why will ye die Luke 13.5 Q. Is this repentance any other thing but a turning from sin to God A. No repent and turn your selves from your idols and turn your faces from all your abominations and it is the design of the Gospel to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins Ezek. 14.6 Acts 26.18 Q. But will God forgive men their iniquities if they forsake their sins and amend their lives A. Yes repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed and doth that which is lawful and right he shall save his soul alive Ezek. 18.30 26. Q. Is it not our duty to repent of our sins although we had only some probability that God will forgive A. Yes repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee who can tell if God will turn and repent and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not Act. 8.22 Jon. 3.9 Q. But have we any instance of God's with-holding of the threatned judgment upon repentance A. Yes and God saw their works that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the evil that he had said that he would do unto them and he did it not Jon. 3.10 Q. May men defer their repentance till death-bed A. No to day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not Psal 95.7 8. Eccl. 12.1 Q. Is it not our duty to joyn fasting with prayer and repentance A. Yes therefore also now saith the Lord turn ye even to me with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your heart and not your garments and turn unto the Lord your God Joel 2.12 13 Q. What is that fast that God calleth for and is acceptable to him A. Is not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness to undo the heavy burdens and to let the oppressed go free Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him then shall thy light break forth as the morning and thine health shall spring forth speedily then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer Isa 58 5.6 7 8. Q. Is not fasting very seasonable when we have any extraordinary thing to request from God A. Yes go gather together all the Jews that are present in Sushan and fast ye for me and neither eat nor drink three days night nor day I also and my maidens will fast likewise and so will I go in unto the King which is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish Esth 4.16 Q. Should we not avoid vain-glory in fasting A. Yes moreover when ye fast be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast But thou when thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy feet that thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy Father which is in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly Mat. 6.16 17 18. CHAP. II. Containing our Duty to our selves Sect. 1. Of those vertues which respect our souls where first of Humility as it is opposed to Pride and Vain-glory of Meekness and of consideration where an enquiry is made after the safe rule of trying our own state and condition Q. IS not humility a duty absolutely necessary to Christians A. Yes he hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God Mic. 6.8 Q. Is it not a great sin to have an high and great opinion of our selves A. Yes every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord for he hates a proud look God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble Prov. 16.5 6.16 Jam. 4.7 Q. Is it not a very dangerous sin A. Yes the wicked through his pride doth persecute the poor and through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God Psal 10.2 4. Q. Is not pride the cause of anger and wrath A. Yes proud and haughty scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath Prov. 21.24 Q. Is it not also the cause of strife and contention A. Yes only by pride cometh contention Prov. 13.10 Q. And will this sin which is in it self so heinous and the root of all other vices go unpunished A. No pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord though hand joyn in hand he shall not be unpunished Prov. 16.18 5. Q. Is it not a great folly for a man to be proud of beauty strength or wit of riches honours or preferments or of any vertue or grace though of themselves desirable A. Yes I said unto the fools deal not foolishly and to the wicked lift not up the horn lift not up your horn on high speak not with a stiff neck for promotion cometh neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south but God is the Judg he putteth down one and setteth up another Man that is in honour and understandeth not is like the beasts that perish It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory therefore lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations there was given to me a thorn in the flesh the messenger of Satan to buffet me Be not wise in your own conceits Psal 75.4 5 6. 49.20 2 Cor. 12.7 Rom. 12.16 Q. Is it not a great sin to thirst after the praise and applause of men A. Yes let us not be desirous of vain-glory How can ye believe that receive honour one of another Joh. 5.44 Gal. 5.26 Q. Does not this destroy the fâ—uit of the best actiâ—â—â— A. Yes but all their works they do to be seen of men And when they give alms they sound the trumpet that they may have glory of men Mat. 23.5 6.2 Q. Is not vain-glory a very dangerous siâ— A. Yes nevertheless among the
neighbour A. Yes he that speaketh the truth in his heart that backbiteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour shall never be moved Psal 15.2 3. Q. May not a false witness certainly expect punishment A. Yes a false witness shall not be unpunished and he that speaketh lies shall not escape Prov. 19.5 Q. Should we not then be very careful that we raise no false report upon our neighbour A. Yes thou shalt not raise a false report put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness Exod. 22.1 Q. Hath not God testified his hatred against this sin A. Yes these things doth the Lord hate a false witness that speaketh lies and he that soweth discord among brethren Prov. 6.16 19. Q. Are not tale-bearers forbidden by God A. Yes thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people Lev. 19.16 Q. Doth not the whisperer who in a private way spreadeth false reports occasion much mischief and confusion A. Yes a froward man soweth strife and a whisperer separateth chief friends Prov. 16.28 Q. And are not the words of a tale-bearer very hateful A. Yes the words of a tale-bearer are as wounds and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly Prov. 18.8 Q. Are not all men concerned to speak the truth and only the truth in matters of Judgment and Justice A. Yes ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judg thy neighbour Lev. 19.15 Q. Is not an unjust sentence an abomination to the Lord A. Yes he that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are abomination to the Lord Prov. 17.15 Q. Should not men shew their anger against tale-bearers and slanderers A. Yes the north-wind driveth away rain so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue Prov. 22.23 Q. Should they not refrain from the company of slanderers also A. Yes whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off he that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Psal 201.5 7. Q. Is it not a great injustice to wrong persons because of their infirmities A. Yes thou shalt not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling-block before the blind but shalt fear thy God Lev. 19.14 Q. Is it not a very barbarous cruelty to reproach and revile any that are in affliction A. Yes let their habitation be desolate for they persecute him whom thou hast smitten and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded Psal 69.25 26. Q. Is not such scoffing enough to sadden and make heavy the heart of the afflicted A. Yes reproach hath broken my heart and I am full of heaviness Psal 69.20 Q. Is it not a great rashness in men to condemn persons as notorious sinners only because God is pleased to punish them with some extraordinary judgment A. Yes suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things I say unto you nay Luke 13.2 3. Q. Is not speaking the truth a duty we own to all men A. Yes wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour for he that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness but a false witness deceit Eph. 4.25 Prov. 12.17 Q. And are their not severe judgments to be poured out upon liars A. Yes all Liars shall have their portion in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone Rev. 21.8 Q. Is not humanity and Courtesie in behavior a debt we owe to all men A. Yes be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another and in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others Rom. 12.10 Phil. 2.3 4. Q. Is not meekness a debt we owe to all men A. Yes be patient towards all men see that none render evil for evil unto any man 1 Thes 5.14 15. Q. is not Brawling a very insufferable evil A. Yes it is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top then with a brawling woman in a wide house Prov. 21.9 Q. Should we not beware of entring into friendship with persons of such an humour A. Yes make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shall not go Prov. 22.24 Q. Should we not then endeavour that we our selves be guilty of none of these faults A. Yes let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice Eph. 4.31 Q. Is it not injustice in us to envy and grudg that others have those gifts which we lack A. Yes is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own is thine eye evil because I am good Mat. 20.15 Q. And should we not give unto men that respect that is due to them in respect of their ranks and qualities A. Yes honour all men love the brotherhood honour the King rise up before the hoary head and honour the face of the old man 1 Pet. 2.17 Lev. 19.32 Q. Is it not the duty of every man to supply those that are in any sort of want if it be in their power A. Yes withhold not good from him to whom it is due when it is in the power of thy hand to do it say not unto thy neighbour go and come again and to morrow I will give when thou hast it by thee Prov. 3.27 28. Q. Is it not a duty we owe to our neighbour to reprove them discreetly and seasonably if they be in any course of sin A. Yes Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise reprove him and not suffer sin upon him Lev. 19.17 Q. Is it not a strange madness in men not to harken to a faithfull reprof A. Yes whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledg but he that hateth reprof is brutish Prov. 12.1 Q. And is not destruction threatned to such sort of persons A. Yes he that being often reproved hardneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Prov. 29.1 Q. Is not ingratitude to benefactors a very barbarous crime A. Yes if you do good to those that do good to you what thank have you for sinners also do even the same Luk. 6.33 Sect. 4. Of Duty to Magistrates pastors of the duty of Parents to Children and Childrens duty unto Parents Q. IS it not the duty of children to honour their Parents whether Civil Spiritual or Natural A. Yes honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Exod. 20.12 Q. Is not the supream Magistrate a Civil Parent A. Yes and kings shall be thy nursing fathers and queens thy nursing mothers
and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation Order my steps in thy word and teach me thy statutes Thy hands have made me and fashioned me give me understanding that I may learn thy Commandments Thou art good and doest good teach me thy statutes encline mine heart unto thy testimonies and not to covetousness Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity I am a stranger in the earth hide not thy commandments from me Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me Take away the stony-heart and give me an heart of flesh that I may be renewed in the spirit of my mind and strengthned with might by thy spirit in the inward man O let the blood of Christ purge my conscience from dead works that I may serve the Living God Teach me thy way O Lord and I shall walk in thy truth unite my heart to fear thy name So teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes Head VI. In times of Affliction I Know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me thou art just in all that is brought upon me for thou hast done right but I have done wickedly But O contend not for ever be not always wroth lest the spirit should fail before thee and the soul which thou hast made Let I pray thee thy merciful kindness be for my comfort Turn thee unto me and have mercy upon me for I am desolate and afflicted the troubles of my heart are enlarged O bring thou me out of my distresses Look upon mine affliction and my pain and forgive all my sins with-hold not thou thy tender mercies from me O Lord let thy loving-kindness and thy truth continually preserve me for innumerable evils have compassed me about Be pleased O Lord to deliver me O Lord make hast to help me Behold O Lord for I am in distress my bowels are troubled mine heart is turned within me I weep mine eye mine eye runneth down with water because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me O Lord behold my affliction thou hast said thou dost not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay and wilt thou bring me unto dust again Are not my days few cease then and let me alone that I may take comfort a little before I go whence I shall not return even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death Head VII In the time of Sickness HAve mercy upon me O Lord for I am in trouble mine eye is consumed with grief my life is spent with sighing I am weary with my groaning all the night make I my bed to swim I water my couch with my tears my days are consumed like smoke and my bones are burnt as an hearth mine age is departed and is removed from me as a Shepherd's tent with pining sickness from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me O Lord I am oppressed undertake for me O my God take me not away in the midst of my days thy years are throughout all generations have mercy upon me O Lord for I am weak O Lord heal me Return O Lord deliver my soul O save me for thy mercies sake for in death there is no remembrance of thee in the grave who shall give thee thanks The grave cannot praise thee death cannot celebrate thee they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth what shall I say my times are in thy hand O save me for thy mercies sake Remove thy stroke away from me I am consumed by the blow of thine hand When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth surely every man is vanity Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear unto my cry hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner as all my Fathers were O spare me that I may recover strength before I go hence and be no more Head VIII A Thanksgiving for Recovery I will extol thee O Lord for thou hast lifted me up O Lord my God I cried unto thee and thou hast healed me O Lord thou hast brought up my soul from the grave thou hast kept me alive that I should not go down to the pit Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies O Lord what shall I say thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption the living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because he hath enclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as long as I live The sorrows of death compassed me and the pains of hell gat hold upon me I found trouble and sorrow I said in the cutting off of my days I shall go to the gates of the grave I am deprived of the residue of my years I said I shall not see the Lord even the Lord in the Land of the living I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the earth But thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling thou hast loosed my bonds O Lord truly I am thy servant I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my Strength and my Redeemer FINIS