whereby we have provoked thee to Wrath against us We have not only sinned through Ignorance but have sinned also against Knowledge we have acted contrary to that light which thou hast made to shine upon us We have been very Inconstant in good Purposes and Resolutions We have often confessed our Sins and yet soon after returned to them O Lord have Mercy upon us and forgive us all our Sins for Jesus Christ's sake Thou who knowest the Deceitfulness and desperate Wickedness of our Hearts make us what thou requirest us to be put thy Spirit within us and cause us to walk in thy Statutes and to keep thy Judgments and do them Give us unfeigned Repentance for all our past Offences Work in us strong Resolutions to observe thy Laws for the time to come Make us Watchful and Circumspect in all our Words and Actions Lord watch thou over us for good and never leave us nor forsake us Make us sensible of thy Power and Faithfulness that we may put our Trust and Confidence in thee Acquaint us more and more with our own Hearts and Lives that the sense of our Weakness and Folly of our manifold and great Sins may make us very humble and careful to avoid those Temptations which do so often and easily prevail over us Fortifie us with great Measures of Meekness and Patience That we may bear and endure all those uneasie things which thou seest fit to exercise us with Possess us with a lively sense of thy wise and just Providence that in all things which befall us we may say Good is the Word of the Lord. Save us from the Immoderate Love of all Earthly things from all vain Hopes and groundless Fears Make us content and thankful in every condition of Life Faithful and Just in all our Dealings careful to do to others what we would have them do to us And as much as in us lieth to live peaceably with all Men. Set a Watch before our Lips that we offend not with our Tongues save us from Lying and Slandering from Foolish Talking and Sinful Jesting and from all manner of Corrupt Communication And grant that our words being seasoned with Salt may Minister Grace to the Hearers Keep us mindful of thy all-seeing Eye that we may be in thy Fear all the day long that whether we eat or drink or whatever else we do we may do all to thy Glory Lord be Merciful to the many Nations which sit in Darkness send the Light of the Gospel unto them Grant that all they upon whom this Glorious Light does shine may walk as Children of the Light and of the Day that they may put off the Works of Darkness and put on the Armour of Light Bless all Rulers and Governours make them wise and good just and merciful Let it be their chiefest care to encourage Piety and to restrain whatever is dishonourable to thee the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Have mercy on these sinful Lands Bless and preserve our King and Queen and all the Royal Family Direct our Judges and Magistrates Sanctifie and assist all thy Ministers Be gracious to all our Friends every where and forgive those who wrong us by word or deed Let thy Blessing be on this Family Bless our Children make them thy Children put thy Fear within them Grant that as they grow in Years they may grow in Grace shed abroad thy Love in their Hearts that they may never depart from thee save them from every evil thing Be favourable O Lord to all others for whom we are bound to pray on any account whatsoever Bless them and us in our Souls and Bodies and in all our Affairs and Concerns We give thee our Hearty Thanks for preserving us and watching over us and our Habitation the last night for affording us quiet Repose and for raising us up in Health and Safety this Morning Be with us this Day Assist and direct us in all our ways Give thy Angels charge concerning us Lord make us ready to leave this vain World Let the sense of our Frailty stir us up to redeem our time and to give all dilligence to make our Calling and Election sure Grant that this day we may do somewhat worthy of Christians for thy Glory the Advantage of others and our own Everlasting Happiness and Comfort Let it be our constant Study and Endeavour to follow the Example of our Blessed Saviour who went about doing good In whose most Blessed Name and Words we conclude our Prayers Our Father c. An Evening Prayer for Parents or Masters of Families with their Family O Lord our God what shall we render unto thee for the many and great Favours which thou hast been pleased from Time to Time to bestow upon us We bless thee for giving us a Being for making us reasonable Creatures capable to know and love thee and to live for ever with thee for preserving us in the World and for affording us all things needful for our Support and Comfort But above all we bless thee for thy Love in Christ Jesus whom thou hast sent into the World to visit us to make his abode among us to dye for us That he might wash us from our Sins in his Blood Lord what is Man that thou art mindful of him or the Son of Man that thou doest in this gracious manner visit him Tho' thou hast bestowed innumerable Mercies upon us and hast visited us with this great Salvation yet we have been very unthankful and undutiful to thee We have abused thy Goodness and turned thy Grace into wantonness We have set at naught thy Counsels and despised thy Reproofs we have trampled under foot the Blood of our Saviour we have quenched the motions of thy good Spirit we have refused to obey thy Commands and to follow thy kind and gracious Invitations we have not regarded thy Promises nor been afraid of thy Threatnings we have been too often led by the sinful Examples and Manners of the World we have in many Things gratified our Lusts and Rassions We have drawn near to thee with our Mouth and Honoured thee with our Lips when our Hearts have been far from thee we have promised our selves Peace and Safety in the broad way that leads to Destruction O Lord We have destroyed our selves but in thee is our Help Our only Hopes are in thy infinite Mercy who hast hitherto spared us notwithstanding our manifold and crying Provocations Most Gracious God have Mercy upon us For Jesus Christ's sake pardon us all our sinful Thoughts Words and Deeds Renew and Sanctifie us by thy Holy Spirit that henceforth we may live thy faithful Servants and may be always ready to do or to endure whatever is thy Holy Will and Pleasure Thou knowest our Weakness and Inconstancy let thy Grace continually prevent and follow us that we may abhor that which is Evil and cleave to that which is Good Make us Faithful unto Death that at last we may obtain the Crown of
Life Lord be Gracious to all Mankind pity those who are in a State of Ignorance and Barbarity and send the glad tidings of Salvation to them Grant that they who have this Blessed Light of the Gospel may walk honestly as in the Day that others seeing their good Works may glorifie thee our Heavenly Father Lord cleanse thy Church from the many and great Sins which abound in her Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity Have Mercy on these Sinful Lands Give Repentance to all sorts of Persons amongst us that all of us may search and try our ways and turn again to thee Lord turn us that we may be turned and draw us that we may run after thee and follow thee fully Be Gracious to our King and Queen direct and prosper them in all their good Designs make them the happy Instruments of promoting Religion amongst us Bless the rest of the Royal Family Guide ouâ— Judges and Magistrates Grant that they may Execute Justice without Respect of Persons Sanctifie and assist all thy Ministers make them Diligent and Faithful grant that their Endeavours for the good of Souls may be attended with great Success Raise up many Faithful Pastors to feed thy Flock with Wisdom and Vnderstanding Shew thy Pity upon all who are any ways afflicted or distressed in Mind Body or Estate Sanctifie their Afflictions unto them give them Patience under them and a Happy Issue out of them Let thy Blessing be upon this Family let no harm come near our Dwelling this Night or at any time Lord bless our Children take them into thy Gracious Protection give them a Heart to Fear and Love thee cause them to Remember thee their Creator in the days of their Youth possess them with a deep sense of thy Infinite Power Wisdom Faithfulness and Love that they may walk before thee in Holiness and Righteousness all their Days Be thou their God and Guide and Portion for ever Bless all others for whom we are obliged to pray to thee bless them and us in our Souls and Bodies and in all our Interests and Concerns Blessed be thy Name for bringing us safely through the past Day for preserving us from a great many Dangers and for bestowing upon us innumerable Mercies Preserve in us an Affectionate and Grateful Remembrance of all thy undeserved kindness to us Lord watch over us this Night refresh us with comfortable Rest and Sleep defend us from all the Powers of Darkness save us from all vain and sinful thoughts from all sad accidents and from every evil thing When thou seest fit to remove us out of this vain World translate us into that Blessed and Happy State which thou hast prepared for thy Ransomed Ones And if thou art pleased to prolong our time grant that we may spend it to good purpose in such Designs Words and Actions as may tend to thy Honour and Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. In whose Blessed Name and Words we continue to pray as he hath taught us saying Our Father c. A short Prayer for the Morning or Evening when through Extraordinary Occasions there is not time for the other O Lord our God look down with an Eye of Pity upon us thy unworthy Servants this Morning Pardon us the many Sins whereof we are Guilty before thee in our Thoughts Words and Deeds Have Mercy upon us and be reconciled to us through Jesus Christ thy dear Son Sanctifie and assist us by thy Holy Spirit that for the time to come we may do thy Will and seek thy Glory We bless thy Name for all thy Mercies especially for thy wonderful Love in Christ Jesus whom thou hast sent into the World to die for us to purchase for us an Everlasting Kingdom Give us Grace firmly to believe in him heartily to love him and constantly to obey him Grant that it may be our sincere Endeavour to follow his Blessed Example in all Lowliness and Self-Denyal in Meekness and Patience in Charity and Compassion in Sincerity and Vprightness in Temperance and Soberness in Thankfulness and Contentedness in Purity and Holiness in Watchfulness and Circumspectness and in fervent and prudent Zeal for thy Honour and Glory O Lord we bless thee for bringing us safely through the last Night Watch over us this Day Keep us mindful of thy All-seeing Eye that we may avoid every thing that is displeasing to thee Be Gracious to all Mankind Have Mercy on these Lands Bless and Guide our Rulers and all thy Ministers Be near to all who are in trouble and Sanctifie their Afflictions to them Be with our Friends and Relations every where Bless them and us with all things needful for our Souls and Bodies Make us sensible of our Frailty and Mortality give us Grace so to number our Days that we may apply our Hearts to Wisdom When this vain and short Life is at an end make us Partakers of Everlasting Life and Happiness through Jesus Christ our Lord who hath taught us when we pray to say Our Father c. SOME FORMS OF PRAYER WHICH Parents may teach their Children according to their Age. A Morning Prayer to be taught Children when they begin to speak O Lord I praise thee for all thy Mercies and for thy Care of me this Night Watch over me this Day Forgive me all my sins and make me thy Child for Jesus Christ's sake This Prayer may be used likewise at Night only changing that Petition watch over me this Day into watch over me this Night When Children come to be four or five years old the following Prayer may be used O Lord my God what shall I render unto thee for all thy Mercies I bless thee for giving me Life and all things needful to keep me alive But above all I bless thee for sending Christ to dye for me that he might wash me with his Blood and make me fit for the Kingdom of Heaven For his sake have mercy upon me and forgive me all my sinful thoughts words and deeds Give me Grace to serve thee as I ought to do that I may not do nor say a naughty thing lest thou be angry with me and cast me into Hell fire Lord bless and preserve my Father and Mother and all my Friends and Relations I praise thee O God for preserving me this Night watch over me this day save me from every evil thing Good Lord hear me and grant me whatever thou knowest to be best for me for Jesus Christ's sake in whose holy Name and Words I pray Our Father c. This Prayer may be likewise used at Night by changing only two words and saying instead of preserving me this night preserving me this day and instead of watch over me this day watch over me this night A Morning Prayer for Children when they come to twelve or fourteen years of Age sooner or later according to the ripeness of their understanding LORD teach and assist me by thy
is said of Ahaziah King of Judah 2 King 8. 27. That he walked in the way of the House of Ahab and did Evil in the sight of the Lord as did the House of Ahab for he was the Son in Law of the House of Ahab Thirdly Parents are to provide for them if they can somewhat that may be a Foundation for their Comfortable Subsistance in the World which by the Blessing of God on their Callings may be improved towards their living decently and honestly For this end they ought to keep within Compass and to avoid all vain and unnecessary expences Parents ought to lay up for the Children says the Apostle 2 Cor. 12. 14. And 2 Tim. 5. 8. He that provideth not for his own is worse than an Infidel Parents are not to propose to themselves the rendring their Children very Great and Rich But as they themselves having Food and Rayment are to be therewith content so if they can get Necessaries for their Children they ought to rest satisfied and be thankful Our Life that is the happiness of our Life doth not consist in the abundance of the things we possess Luke 12. 15. Tho' you are to provide for your Children yet you are not out of too great thoughtfulness about the time to come to restrain your selves from doing all necessary Offices of Charity to the Poor who do now stand in need of your help Never neglect a present Duty for fear of an uncertain inconvenience You are forbid to take thought for the Morrow Mat. 6. 34. But you are required to do good to all Men while you have opportunity Gal. 6. 10. To cast your Bread upon the Waters to give a Portion to seven as also unto eight because you know not what evil there may be in the Earth Eccles. 11. 1 2. This is the way to lay up Treasures for your Children to entail upon them great Blessings to make God their Guardian to leave them to his Merciful and kind Providence and to his Almighty Protection Psal. 37. 25 26. I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the Righteous forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread He is ever Merciful and lendeth and his Seed is Blessed So that by your Bounty and Charity you bring your Wares to a good Market you put forth your Money into God's hands who will not fail to repay it with Usury For as the Wise Man saith He that hath Pity upon the Poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Prov. 19. 17. The Liberal Soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall be watered also himself Prov. 11. 25. He that gives to the Poor shall not lack Prov. 28. 27. And Deut. 15. 10. it is written Thou shalt surely give him to wit thy poor Brother and thy heart shall not be grieved when thâ—â— givest unto him because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy Works and in all that thâ—â— puttest thine hands unto And in the Epistle to the Hebrews chap. 6. v. 10. it is said God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of Love which you have shewed towards his Name in that you have ministred to the Saints and do minister From all which it appears that Charity and Liberality are the best Husbandry As you are to beware lest your care for your Children make you neglect necessary Duties of Charity so you are to take heed lest you use any unlawful Method to get Wealth to bestow upon them This is not a way to make them Rich for such Riches seldom prosper There is a Curse which attends all unlawful Gain and like a Canker eats it out and consumes it All Ages and Places afford Examples which confirm this Observation Wealth gotten by Vanity saith Solomon shall be diminished Prov. 13. 11. And again Prov. 10. 3. He saith Treasures of Wickedness profit nothing And Jer. 17. 11. 't is said As the Partridge sitteth on Eggs and hatcheth them not so be that getteth Riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a Fool. A small Estate got honestly is a hundredfold better than a vast and plentiful Estate purchased by unrighteous Methods A little saith the Psalmist Psal. 37. 16. that a Righteous Man hath is better than the Riches of many Wicked And Better saith Solomon Prov. 16. 8. is a little with Righteousness than great Revenues without Right As it is the Duty of Parents by all Honest and Lawful ways to provide somewhat for their Children and to preserve it for them so they ought in due time to bestow upon them more or less of what they have acquired and purchased and not wholly to delay the doing of this until their own Decease They ought so far as they can to afford their Children whatever their present Necessities or their Lawful Occasions do require And the more Virtuous and Industrious they see their Children they ought to give them so much the more liberally that they may have not only what is absolutely necessary for them but likewise what they may improve for the bettering their Estate in the World that they may live decently and may also have somewhat wherewith to help and relieve others How great a Reproach is it to some Persons who have a great deal of wealth out of a woful covetous Temper to suffer their Children to go in Rags and to depend upon the Charity or good Nature of others for a piece of Bread Such Parents must needs be very unnatural whose Bowels are not stirred with Compassion towards their Children when they see them in distress and want and who do not all they can for their necessary Supply and Assistance But tho Parents ought to give their Children chearfully and seasonably more or less of their Worldly Goods yet they must have a care lest out of an indiscreet fondness they give them more than their own circumstances will permit How many sad Examples are there of Children who have either wholly neglected their Parents or who have not cared for them as they ought to have done so soon as they were put into the Possession of their Estate and Fortune Whereas formerly they seemed to carry themselves with all possible Duty and Affection no sooner did their Parents bestow all they had or at least the greatest part upon them but they begun to grow Insolent towards them and went on to so great a height of undutifulness that their poor Parents were forced to leave them and thenceforth to live in a very melancholly and mournful condition 'T is therefore the Wisdom of Parents so to give their Children as still to reserve to themselves what is needful for their own support They ought rather to keep their Children in a dependance upon them than that they should depend upon their Children To this purpose is the Advice of the Son of Syrach
Adversaries he will render to you according to your Works he will in no wise clear the Guilty Consider the terrible threatning which is mentioned Deut. 29. 19 20. against the Man who when he heareth the words of the Curse does bless himself in his Heart saying I shall have peace tho' I walk in the imagination of my heart to add drunkenness to thirst The Lord will not sparâ— him but the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that Man and all the Curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him and the Lord shall blot out his Name from under Heaven Concerning the Duty of Parents when God removeth their Children by death THe Death of Children as well as Aged Persons falls out so very often that it cannot but be seasonable to a great many Parents to suggest to them some plain and easie Considerations which they may sometimes reflect upon and imprint on their minds that so they may not be surprised with the death of their Children nor swallowed up of excessive and immoderate grief Parents ought to consider when their Children dye first that it is the Lord who does it He who is Lord of Life who gave Life to themselves and to their Children is also Lord of death and removes out of the World whom and when he sees fit He is the great Potter and Man is the Clay which he hath formed and fashioned into a curious and beautiful shape and animated with an immortal Soul When he sees fit to break this brittle Vessel in pieces and to separate the Soul from it who can stay his Hand Or who dare say unto him what dost thou May not he do with his own what he thinks good Or must he give an account of his Actions unto the work of his own Hands He is infinitely great and powerful and therefore will do according to his own good pleasure He is infinitely wise and knows what 's best and fittest to be done He is infinitely good and kind and therefore will order all things for good And he is infinitely just and righteous and therefore can do no wrong It 's fit therefore that Parents when God removes their Children from them by Death submit chearfully to the will of him who is infinitely powerful wise good and just and that they adore him and say with Ely 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And with the Royal Psalmist Ps. 39. 9. I was dumb I opened not my Mouth because thou didst it Secondly they should consider that their Children were born Mortal frail by Nature subject to a necessity of dying by their very composition and frame and also by the Decree of Heaven Heb. 9. 27. It is appointed for all Men once to dye And therefore when God sees fit to remove them by Death to make the House of Clay fall down about their Ears Parents ought not to be surprised This is nothing but what falls out daily Some are going out of the World and some are coming into it Some are a great while upon the Stage and some but a very short while some no sooner enter upon it but presently they are gone and are seen no more some take a few turns and then they are withdrawn some tarry longer and Act a great part on the Stage for a considerable time and give hopes of yet greater Actions and Performances but on a sudden they are gone likewise as a shadow and all their own designs and projects and the hopes and expectations of others fall to the ground All this happens every day in the Course of things here in the World and therefore Parents have no reason to think it strange when they see their Children dye The thing that hath been it is that which shall be and that which is done is that which shall be done and there is no new thing under the Sun Eccles. 1. 9. And as it is with Men so it is with all things else which live upon the Earth or grow out of it Some live longer and some a shorter while than others of the same kind Some prosper and thrive and others decay and perish Some things grow up in the Morning and are withered e're Night Some things grow apace till they are very near the time of ripeness and perfection and then somewhat happeneth which prevents the perfect growth and makes the goodly appearance come to nothing Now what are Men Moses in his Prayer Ps. 90. 5 6. tells us In the Morning they are like grass which groweth up In the Morning it flourisheth and groweth up In the Evening it is cut down and withereth And to the same purpose the Psalmist David speaketh Psal. 103. 15 16. As for Man his days are as grass as a flower of the field so he flourisheth for the Wind passeth over it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more Likewise Esa. 40. 6 7. it is thus written The Voice said Cry And he said What shall I Cry All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field The grass withereth the flower fadeth because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it Surely the People is grass By all which it appears what Man is by Nature to wit a very weak and vanishing thing soon nipt and brought to nothing like the tender Grass and the Flower of the Field which is more exposed to the Winds and other inconveniences than the Flowers of the Garden which the Gardiner preserves and secures The Consideration of these things will tend mightily to quiet the minds of those who calmly and wisely reflect upon them when God removes their Children or other Relations from them by Death Their case is not singular it is that which is common and usual amongst Men it is according to the course of Nature for a mortal thing to die Plutarch reports of Anaxagoras an Ancient Philosopher That when he was Discoursing to his Hearers concerning the Causes of Natural Things One brought him the news of his Sons Death upon which after a little pause he said to those who were present I knew I begat a Son that was Mortal The Consideration of this did quiet the Thoughts of this Heathen But what if the manner of the death of your Children be somewhat extraordinary by some sudden and unusual Accident or by some strange and odd Distemper are you on this account to allow your selves in the excesses of Sorrow and Mourning No in no ways You are not therefore to be transported into immoderate grief and mourning Shall you be vexed and disquieted because a Worm did eat up your pleasant Fruit or because the stormy Wind did blow away your lovely Flowers Are you therefore to be enraged and mad with anger against the Worms or against the Winds What would it mend the matter if you should give way to your passion and anger never so much in such a case
This would only multiply your losses by making you lose not only your Fruit and your Flowers but your selves too Which they all do who lose their Patience in which it is that we possess our Souls When therefore your Children are removed from you by Death in some unusual and extraordinary manner you ought to look beyond Diseases or Accidents unto the Lord of Life and Death who by his Providence ordereth not only their death but the manner of it If the Sparrows fall not to the Ground that is die not without your Father You may be sure your Children do not die by chance or without the particular disposal of their heavenly Father As to the particular grounds and reasons for which God does after such a manner see fit to put an end to your Childrens days you are not to be too curious and inquisitive The Counsels of God are a great deep His ways are in the deep waters and none by searching can find him out unto perfection Job 11. 7. Upon such occasions all ought to remember the words of our Lord when they told him of the Galileans whose Blood Pilate hath mingled with their Sacrifices Luke 13. 2 3 4 5. Suppose ye that these Galileans were Sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you Nay But except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish Or those eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siâ—oe fell and slew them think ye that they were sinners above all Men that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell you Nay But except ye repeâ—t ye shall all likewise perish We see what was Aarons Carriage when God removed his two Sons Nadab and Abihu by a very extraordinary stroke Levit. 10. 2. There went Fire from the Lord and devour'd them c. And v. 3. 't is said That Aaron 〈◊〉 his peace He did not murmur against the Justice of God or complain as if he had been too severe No he was silent He submitted to the Will 〈◊〉 God and considered that the Honour of God ought to be dearer to him thaâ— the Lives of his two Sons In like manner we see how Job carried himself when God removed 〈◊〉 seven Sons and three Daughters all at one blow in an extraordinary manner Job 1. 18 19. Thy Sons and thy Daâ—ghters were eating and drinking Wine 〈◊〉 their eldest Brothers House And 〈◊〉 there came a great Wind from the Wilderness and smote the four Corners 〈◊〉 the House and it fell upon the young Men and they are dead This was sad news to the good old Man who had â—â—rd so much ill news before But yet for all this you see how patiently â—e hare his Affliction He fell down â—pon the Ground and Worshipped and said Naked came I out of my Mothers Womb and naked shall I return thither The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken 〈◊〉 blessed be the Name of the Lord Job 1. 20 21. This good Man was so far from Cursing God which Satan said â—e would do that he humbly adored and worshipped him He was so far from Blasphemeing God and from entertaining any dishonourable Thoughts of him as if he had done any thing which he ought not to have done that 〈◊〉 the contrary he approved of all he acquiesced in the Divine pleasure he considered that all that he once enjoyed was a free and undeserved gift from God which he so gave as still to reserve to himself the Supreme Power of disposing of it as he should think good and therefore when all was taken away from him he blessed the Name of the Lord he did not quarrel with the Divine Providence but was heartily thankful not only for the former Mercies but also for thâ— present Correction and Chastisement which he knew to proceed from Infinite Wisdom Goodness and Justice To the abovementioned instances from Scripture might be added several Examples of the patience and composedness of Spirit which some Heathens discovered when their Children were suddenly snatched away by a violent and untimely Death I shall only mention two related by Plutarch The 1 st is of Dio of Syracuse who as he was busie in consulting with his Friends about matters of importance heard a great noise and tumult in the House which occasioned his enquiring what the matter was and being told that his Son was dead by a fall from the Roof of the House he received this sad news without discovering any perturbation of Mind and having given Orders that the dead Body should be delivered into the hands of the Women that they might take care of it and that it should be buried in the accustomed manner He went on in his Design to consult with his Friends about the business that was before him The other instance is of Xenophon who when he was employed in offering Sacrifice received the news of his Son 's being killed in Battel at the hearing of which he pull'd off the Garland from his Head wherewith it was then covered and having askt the manner of his Son's Death and being told that he died fighting valiantly for his Country he quickly brought his Mind which was a little disturb'd into subjection to his Reason and again putting on the Garland he went on with his Sacrifice and told those who brought him the news of his Son's Death I never pray'd the Gods to make my Son Immortal or very long liv'd it being very uncertain if that be expedient but to make him an Honest Man and a Lover of his Country And now said he I have my desire Thirdly Consider from whence and whither they are gone They were here in a life of Vexation and Trouble subject to innumerable Vanities Temptations Snares and Dangers They were compassed about with great and terrible Enemies the Devil the World and the Flesh They were subject to daily necessities and wants Iâ— they had lived never so long they would only have seen the same things in a continual succession and revolution As for Example heat and cold fair weather and foul might and day Summer and Winter health and sickness plenty and poverty peace and war prosperity and adversity succeeding one to another All things going round But now they are delivered from all these they are at rest they are subject to no more necessities and wants oppressed with no more troubles and vexations exposed to no more enemies temptations or dangers but exalted to a state of perfect Peace Joy Love and Glory They are as well and better than you can desire You are not able to comprehend the Happiness that they are admitted to Will you then be in continual sorrow and grief for your Children when they are exalted to a state of Rest and Glory when they are where you would rejoyce to be when their Gracious Father hath freed them from the vain company of the World and Translated them into the blessed Society of Angels and of the Spirits of Just Men made perfect when he hath put an end to their Toil and Labour
Holy Spirit to worship thee as I ought to do Lift up my heart unto thee What shall I render unto thee O most Gracious God and most Merciful Father for all thy Mercies to me and to all the World I bless thee for making me a reasonable Creature and for affording me all things which be needful to support my Life I bless thee for my health liberty and safety for my Food and Rayment for the use of my Reason and Vnderstanding and of my Senses for thy corrections and deliverances and for all the advantages I have had by good Examples and good Instructions But chiefly I praise and bless thee for the redemption of Mankind by the Lord Jesus Christ That I was born within thy Church where I was early given to thee in Baptism that I have had the benefit of Christian Education that thou hast afforded me the means of Grace and called me to the hope of Glory But notwithstanding thy goodness and love I have gone astray from thee I have not cared so much as I ought to have done to know thee and to do thy Will but have done my own will in many things and followed my own foolish and sinful inclinations I have broken many of thy most Holy and Just Laws in Thought Word and Deed whereby I have deserved thy Wrath and Curse Father of Mercies have mercy upon me and forgive me all my sins for Jesus Christ his sake who dyed for sinners Give me a true and hearty Repentance for all mine iniquities that I may not wilfully break thy Laws any more Make me always mindful of my Baptismal Covenant to forsake the Devil and all his Works to believe in God and to serve him Lord never leave me nor forsake me Hold up my goings in thy Paths that my footsteps may not slide Grant that hencesorth I may love thee with all my heart and may be afraid to sin against thee Work in me a true Faith and a lively hope make me humble meek and patient sober and temperate in all things Charitable and Compassionate towards all that are in distress true and faithful in my words and sincere and upright in my Actions well content and thankful in every condition of Life and zealous for thy Glory Grant that I may daily grow in Grace and Spiritual Knowledge Create in me a clean Heart and renew a right Spirit within me and cause me to walk in thy ways O Lord send thy Gospel through the World Pour out plentifully the Blessings of thy holy Spirit on all thy People Bless and preserve our King and Queen Guide our Judges and Magistrates Sanctifie and assist the Ministers of the Gospel Be with all my Friends and Relations particularly bless and preserve my Father and Mother Reward them for their care and kindness towards me Make me a loving and dutiful Child unto them Comfort all that are in trouble and sanctifie their afflictions to them I thank thee O Lord for thy care of me this Night Watch over me this Day Bless and direct me in all I do or say Keep me mindful that I am always in thy sight that I may be in thy fear all the day long Cause me to remember that I musâ— shortly dye and come to judgment thâ—â— I may not mispend my precious time but employ it in a constant â—â—d chearful Obedience to thy Holy and Righteous Laws that when this vain and short life is at an end I may be made partaker of everlasting Liâ—â— through Jesus Christ our Lord in whâ—â— Holy Name and Words I pray Our Father c. This Prayer may serve likewise at Night until you come to the last part which begins with these words I thank thee O Lord for thy care of me this Night c. instead thereof you may say as follows I thank thee O Lord for thy care of me this Day watch over me this Night and grant me quiet Repose save me from every Evil thing for the sake of thy dear Son Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I conclude my Imperfect Prayers saying Our Father c. A Grace before Meat WE Bless thee O Lord for making this Provision for us who are less than the least of thy Mercies Grant that by a moderate use of these thy good Creatures we may be made more fit for thy Service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen After Meat BLessed be thy Name most Gracious God for all thy Mercies freely bestowed upon us and for refreshing our Bodies at this time with thy good Creatures Cause us to hunger and thirst after Righteousness Feed our Souls with the Bread of Life Let it be our Meat and Drink to do thy Will Provide for all in want through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS * Chrysost. Plat. l. 2. de Republ. Aristot l. 6. Politic. c. 1. Hierom Ep. 7. ad Laetam How Parents ought to be affected while Children are yet in the Womb. How they ought to be affected when their Children are born The Right of Children to Baptism Children are to be acquainted with Scripture Histories †Plutarâ— in Lycurgo What is to be done if they are sturdy and proud If they be given to Lying If they are Cunning and Deceitful If they are peevish and passionate If they are Revengeful and Malicious If they are Jealous and Suspitious If they are too credulous If they are Envious If they are very impatient If they love their Belly too well * Xenophon â—â—lls us that the Dyet of the Persian Boys till they were 16 or 17 years old was Bread and Cresses their Drink was Water Paediae Cyr. lib. 1. If they discover any tendency to Vnchast and Immodest Actions * Nil dictuâ— fâ—dum visuqâ—e haec limina â—angat intra quae 〈◊〉 est Procâ—â— hinc procâ—l inde 〈◊〉 Lâ—â—â—num Cantus perâ—â—â—â—â— parasitâ— Maxima debetâ—r pâ—ro Reverentia c. Juven Sat. 14. If they curse 〈…〉 * Pythagoras forbad his Followers to Swear by the Gods and required them 〈◊〉 to live that they might be believed without an oath Diog. Laert in Pythag. Clinias one of his Followers chose rather to pay a Fine of 3 Talents than to violate the Precept of his Master tho' he could have made Oath very innocently If they are very Changeable and Vaconstant If they are surly and morose * This way of instructing Children by Fables was very much used in Ancient Times by the Wisest Nations see Plato Dialog 2. de Repub. Strabo lib. 15. Geograph If they are disrespectful to Aged Persons * Plutarc Lacoâ—â— Apopâ—â— * Plutarc Lacoâ—â— Apâ—pâ—â— If they quarrel much with one another * De Fraterno Amore. If they are over curious to know their Lot and Fortune in the world a That is who foretelleth what is to come and discovereth what it secret by unlawful Arts. b That is who judgeth one day lucky and another dismal and unlucky and therefore begins or forbears his Designs accordingly c