we receive all Temporal and Spiritual Blessings we bless and praise thy Name that thou hast afforded us health and strength and understanding to discharge the labours and hardships of our worldly Callings this day and much more for whatever means or measures of Grace thou hast vouchsafed us to enable us to do the duties of our Christian Calling It is of thee that we have been preserved from Sickness and Death and Disasters 't is from thy restraining Grace that we have been kept back from presumptuous Wickedness and 't is from the assistance of thy Grace that we have thought or done any good thing O be pleased to continue to us the Mercies we enjoy and confer upon us whatsoever thou dost see us want enable us to persevere to our lives end with patience humility and thankfulness in the condition of life to which thou dost call us and to pass the time of our sojourning here in fear calling upon thee daily O holy Father who without respect of Persons wilt judge every Man according to his works We every day are a day nearer to Death and Judgment grant O Lord that by an impartial Examination of our selves and by a sincere endeavour of reforming what is amiss and perfecting what is begun in us we may be daily the fitter for both that we may come finally to that eternal Rest where not only all the labours and travels of the Body will be at an end but those also of the Soul and we shall need watch and contend no more 'till when let thy Providence O Lord watch over us and thy Grace preserve and assist us that we may pass this night and the remaining part of our lives in Vertue and Safety in Peace Contentment and if thou think fit Prosperity but if thou think fit otherwise so prepare and strengthen our hearts to endure whatever thou shalt lay upon us that the trial of our Faith may be to praise and honour and glory in the day of our Lord Jesus through whom we put up these our Requests to thee beseeching thee to accept our Praises and answer our Petitions through thy dear Son and our dear Mediator Christ Jesus You must not excuse this by your weariness for it is a greater Duty then to be omitted for any worldly consideration but if you are not well or very weary only say the Prayer which is so short that no one can neglect for any other cause but a carnal heart Before you sleep examine how you have spent the past day recall as well as you can what sin or infirmity you have been guilty of what duty you have left undone what mercies you have received Spiritual or Temporal or what Corrections For your better direction some times read over the following Example I begin with the Morning Of Examination Prov. 4.26 Eph. 5.15 Luke 2.36 Psal 4.8 Gen. 24.63 and consider how I performed my Morning Service if I neglected my part of it out of carelesness or want of delight in God's Service if in my worldly business I was not provoked to outragious Anger to any of my Family Did I not swear curse or take God's Name in vain Did I not omit to reprove sin in my Children or Servants or have I not omitted any neighbourly Office that might have done me no great harm and my Neighbour good Have I been surly or morose to any have I been merciful to the Poor according to my Ability at least given them good words if I had not wherewithal to relieve them Have I been ready to hear or speak of good things when I have had opportunity Have I been thankful for any good success given in my business give God the glory and attribute it to his blessing have I patiently submitted if I have had loss and owned it to be the just desert of my sin begging God to give me grace to be content and to sanctifie his Corrections to me Have I been true and just in my dealing buying and selling desiring only an honest gain and that by words of truth Have I not oppressed my Servant or Hireling in their wages have I made good my bargain allowing a reasonable hire have I not to gain a small matter to my self caused a great loss to my Neighbour by Law Suits Quarrels or the like Have I spent my time and mony in excess of drinking or tempted others to the like Have I slandered my Neighbour or carried stories from one to the other to cause differences These and the like Questions you may put to your self recollecting all the day and as you went from one thing to another so you will easily discover your faults and the better you grow and the more you read the Word of God and other good Books the better you will do this useful Duty But you must consider the end of Self-Examination is not only to know your faults but to mend them as for Example If you find you were to day guilty of a great Passion to be more careful to morrow not to give way to it to be more silent and take care to prevent those faults in your Children or Servants that were the cause of your Anger never to reprove when you find you are in a Passion to consider your own faults and God's patience with you pray for Patience c. If you lost your time or drank too much to avoid those People that tempted you and those Houses If you spoke ill of or slandered your Neighbours to unsay it to the same People you slandered them to Be careful to speak the good and let the rest alone If you have wronged any to make restitution Thus undoing what is ill done if you can and purposing by the grace of God to be no more wilfully guilty of the like This Examination you may make at what time in the Evening you find most convenient or at your evening labour if your work is such as will give you leave to think Before you sleep humbly and earnestly beg pardon for your sins and greater grace for the future Thank God for all his Mercies especially being kept from sin and enabled to do any good This method of daily Examination is useful for your Temporal as well as Spiritual Estate that so considering the Errours of every day what is amiss one day may be mended the next and where any good opportunity has been neglected to be more careful another time so will you do more good and less evil and grow wiser both for your Soul and Body An Evening Private PRAYER if upon Examination you find your self guilty c. O Eternal God who hast created me to glorifie and serve thee and has prepared eternal happiness and glory to crown and reward this my Service with what Love with what Zeal ought I daily to do thy will with what meekness and patience submit to it But ah wretch that I am how far short of both have I fallen this day the fear of thee has
if you have far to go let your thoughts and discourse be what you have that day heard and learnt Eat and drink with thankfulness for God's goodness but let it be also with moderation that you may be fit for holy Exercises after dinner In some places Prayers begin at Three or Four a clock which time you will do well to imploy in examining your Children or Servants what they remember of the Sermon of their Catechism often tell them of the sinfulness of lying and swearing immodesty and the like If you have time sing a Psalm and after say the following Prayer Here may be used the Prayer set down before for Sunday or this WE bless thee O holy and most merciful Father for this day of rest O may it kindle in us the desires of eternal rest and be made instrumental both to obtain it and prepare us for it We bless thee for the opportunity that thou hast given us of joyning this day with our fellow Christians in the publick Worship of thee our God Lord pardon whatever defects we have been guilty of in the performance of it and grant that we may renew it this Afternoon with that cheerfulness and devoutness with that sense of thy goodnesss and our wants as may render it acceptable to thee and profitable to us We bless thee again O Lord for the publick preaching of thy Word and Administration of thy Sacraments and beseech thee that thy grace may accompany both through the whole Nation and particularly for our selves we beg that thou wouldst so assist us that thy Word may ever be a light to our feet and a lanthorn to our paths and that thy holy Sacraments may nourish and strengthen us in faith and love Let our examination of our selves O Lord be serious and impartial let our meditation be affectionate and delightful let our conversation be pure and holy that there may be nothing thought said or done by us this day but what may best serve promote the end for which thou hast instituted it and good God make every one of us diligent not only to save our own Souls but as much as in us lyes the Souls of others too Finally O thou Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be thou present in our publick Assembly and build thou up our Family in faith and vertue and speak thou to every one of our hearts in private and hear all our Prayers and accept all our Praises and continue to us all that is necessary to life and godliness and crown us at last with everlasting glory All which we humbly beg through our great and only Mediator and Advocate Christ Jesus But if Prayers begin early and you have less time do so much as you can not omitting the Prayer be careful to be at the beginning of publick Service do not neglect the Church because there is no Sermon by Prayer we worship God and obtain his blessing besides there is read the holy Scripture which is the best Instruction and foundation of all Sermons Be careful to fit your Children and Servants for Catechising and have them present when it is performed in publick After you return home so soon as your necessary business is over read or cause to be read some good practical Book and if you did not do it before examine and instruct your Children and Servants sing Psalms make your Evening Prayer and in these imployments spend your Evening till Bed-time only allowing time for a cheerful temperate Supper which you will eat with great comfort after so well spending the day you must not omit your private Prayers only enlarge your Praises To which end call to mind the many Mercies you have received and your unworthiness of them by reason of your sins and compare your selves with those below you who are perhaps more worthy but if you want all other blessings yet consider how great your happiness is in being a Christian and so capable if not your own fault of heavenly glory which incomparably exceeds the greatest temporal felicity I do not here allow any time for gossiping Visits because the greatest part of Country People are apt to waste the Afternoon in such things but yet I am by no means so severe as to forbid a walk in the Fields or a friendly visit to a Neighbour for an hours refreshment to those whose necessary business allows time enough for both especially if that Neighbour is sick or under any affliction but then you must not spend your time in idle talk making bargains or other worldly business but in good and useful Discourses And those Neighbours that will not endure this but promote drinking swearing or the like profaneness are by no means to be visited on that day that is sanctified to the Service of God and Spiritual Promise And indeed if you consider as you ought the great advantage of being obliged to spend one day in seven in holy Duties you would not be weary of its so frequent return but thank God for so profitable an Institution since I fear were the observation of this day left to every ones choice the love of profit or pleasure would prevail with too many to neglect it and so occasion ignorance and profaneness to prevail more then it does The inconvenience of the Sabbaths being neglected and the advantages of its observation are so many especially to the more unlearned that no true lover of Piety that desires the publick good ought by any means to encourage the Contemners of it SECT II. Of Holy Days or Fast Days THE use of other Festival days or Holy days is that People may have more leisure and opportunity to serve God and to keep in memory the History of the New Testament as the Birth Suffering Resurrection Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ The Apostles days are to thank God for the Doctrine they preached and writ and to encourage us to the imitation of their holy Examples There are also days of Thanksgiving for National Blessings and the Fasting days are to consider and lament your own sins and also those of the Nation especially in times of War or other publick Calamity and to pray for the averting those Judgments which our sins deserve some of these I think are the subject of all Holy days which is also reasonable upon another account the giving Servants and Labourers time first to serve God and next for innocent refreshment and doing their own business It is not out of any Superstition that the observation of these days is recommended for what Superstition can it be to read pray and serve God as frequently as our business will admit I do not say it is a Command from God and therefore do not command but commend their observation And since such days are appointed and Service in the Church ordered if we prefer these before days of our own choosing it will keep greater order and all Families being imployed in the Service of God not hinder one the
The Plain Man's Guide to Heaven containing first his Duty towards God secondly towards his Neighbour with proper Prayers Meditations and Ejaculations designed chiefly for the Country-man Trades-man Labourer and such like in Twelves 1692. Pr. 1 s. A Sermon conterning Publick Worship preached before the Queen at Whiteball on Wednesday the 23d of March 1692. By Thomas Manningham D.D. Chaplain in Ordinary to their Majesties and Rector of St. Andrew Holborn A Sermon preached at the Consecration of the Right Reverend Father in God Thomas Lord Bishop of Lincoln In Lambeth Chappel Jan. 10. 1692. By Willam Stanley D. D. Clerk of the Closet to her Majesty THE Plain Man's GUIDE TO HEAVEN CHAP. I. The Country-Man and Trades-Man's daily Duty and Devotion I Will not here set down any Hour for your rising but suppose you allow no more time for sleep then serves to preserve your health and refresh your weariness otherwise your Temporal as well as Spiritual Duties will be ill performed and suffer great prejudice Only consider how to serve God first and to that end forecast to rise so early as to have time both for your self and Family to worship God before you begin your days work and be assured that this loss of sleep shall neither hurt your health nor on the other hand be a hindrance to your Labours So soon as you wake and while you are rising entertain your self with good thoughts call to mind the mercies of God to you your being kept in safety the past Night and your Family from sudden Death Fire Robbers and the like Think what Temptations you may that day meet with especially to drinking or over-reaching your Neighbour in buying and selling and arm your self against them and what opportunities of doing good and encourage your self to do it cheerfully out of obedience and love to God who will certainly reward you for it as well in this Life as that to come As soon as you have put on your Clothes kneel down and make your private Prayer to God to thank him for his mercies beg pardon for your sins with the continuance of his Grace and Protection that day which you may do in the following words or what other you like better But let not your inability to read or any other consideration cause the neglect of your worshipping God Psal 5.3 Rom. 8.26 27. Hebr. 7.25 Luk. 11.2 Chron. 29.30 Prov. 15.8 Mark 11.24 Psal 145.18 19 20. Acts 17.25 Hebr. 4.16 Prov. 28.13 John 1.1 8 9. Jer. 33.3 Psal 50.15 Numb 22.4 Psal 92.2 Mark 2.35 Matth. 6.6 Psal 55.17 Dan. 6.10 Psal 10.19 122.6 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. Thess 3.1 Ephes 4.2 but the rather make you more diligent to seek Instruction that so you may be able to offer up your Prayers from an honest heart truly sorrowful for your sins with an ardent love to God and a desire to please him and then he will except those desires and pardon such imperfections as are not wilful or through negligence always saying the Lord's Prayer which endeavour to understand in its fullest sense as you may learn from some good Catechism or Exposition A PRAYER to be used in private every Morning ALmighty God the Creator and Preserver of Mankind I worship and adore thy incomprehensible Majesty and desire that my Soul may be always filled with a devout awe and reverence for thee I acknowledge that 't is thou only who causest me to dwell in safety To thee alone I owe the supports and comforts of this Life and the hopes of a better for all which my Soul blesses thee And I thank thee O my God that thou dost cause the light of thy Sun to arise once more upon me O grant me thy Grace that I may so spend this day that it may bring me comfort in the day of the Resurrection Pardon and deliver me O merciful Father from all my sins establish and strengthen my heart in thy Faith Fear and Love Enable me to trust in thee and resign up my self to thy holy will Make me humble and contented thankful and industrious in my Calling diligent to instruct my Children and Family in the Knowledge of thee and careful to be an Example to them of Obedience to thy Commandments guide and direct me in my way bless and prosper the works of my hands prevent and restrain me from all sin this day and give me if it be thy will a quiet Life but above all a peaceful and comfortable Death through Jesus Christ our Lord. So soon as your Wife Children or what Family you have is ready call them together and so often as you can possibly spare time you will do very well to read Joh. 5.36 Rev. 1.3 2 Tim. 3.15 16. Gen. 18.19 Josh 24.1 Acts 10.2 Matth. 11.2 or cause to be read a Chapter Choose those Chapters to be read oftenest that are easie to be understood and most practical then stand up and say the Creed which is the Sum of a Christian's Faith Then all kneeling down adore and worship God in these or the like words as you best approve A Morning Family PRAYER O Gracious God and merciful Father we bless thee that thou hast refreshed and preserved us this last Night and thereby fitted us for the labour and service of this day 't is of thy goodness O Lord 't is of thy goodness that we are on this side the Grave and that the bottomless Pit has not closed her mouth upon us for we acknowledge that we have often sinned against thee provoked thee either through sottish ignorance or presumption or through neglect or contempt of thy Words and Commandments the Ox knows his owner and the Ass his Master's Crib but we have forgot thee and been unthankful to thee and in many things have acted as though we knew thee not nor considered thy goodness and the works of thy hands O pardon pardon us thou who delightest not in the death but conversion of sinners pardon us thou who hast given thy Son to be a Propitiation for our sins and sow in our hearts we beseech thee the Seed of everlasting life and grant that whatsoever we learn from thy word to be our duty we may carefully and diligently fulfil keep us this day from the commission of any thing that may wound our Consciences wrong others or provoke thee Bless the Children of this Family granting that they may grow up in thy fear increasing in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and Man Teach every Member of this Family to do their duty humbly and cheerfully as out of Conscience towards God from whom they shall receive their Reward Let Peace and Charity rule our hearts let thy Providence protect and provide for us and when thou hast carried us through the labours hardships and temptations of this life bring us into the rest and glory of a better through Jesus Christ our Lord. Take care that both your private and family Devotion be performed with reverence and
Imprimatur April 11. 1692. GEO. ROâ—SE THE Plain Man's GUIDE TO HEAVEN Containing his Duty I. Towards God II. Towards his Neighbour With Proper Prayers Meditations and Ejaculations Designed chiefly for the Country-man Trades-man Labourer and such like LONDON Printed for Samuel Smith at the Prince's Armes in St. Paul's Church-yard 1692. THe Duty of Apprentices and Servants Containing 1. The Parent 's Duty how to educate their Children that they may be fit to be employed and trusted 2. What preparation is needful for such as are entring into Service with some Rules to be observed by them how to make a wise and happy choice of a Service 3. Their Duty in Service towards God their Master and themselves Together with sutable Prayers to each Duty and some Directions peculiarly to Servants for the worthy receiving the Holy Sacrament Published for the Benefit of Families By Richard Lucas D. D. Vicar of St. Stephen's Coleman-street London in 80. Price 1 s. 6 d. Printed for Samuel Smith at the Prince's Arms in St. Paul's Church yard THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE Country-man and Trades-man's daily Duty and Devotion Page 1. Texts relating to the Worshipping of God by Prayers and Praises 4 A Prayer to be used in private every Morning 5 Texts which relate to the reading the Scriptures and serving God in your Families 7 A Morning Family Prayer 8 Of teaching your Children their Prayers 11 Texts which relate to the Duty of honest and diligent Labour refer'd to ibid. Ejaculations at the beginning of your Work p. 12. Of sweetning your Labour by singing of Psalms 14 Of making your daily Labour a Religious Service 15 Of saying Grace at your Meals with proper Texts relating to that Duty 17 Of your Christian Behaviour at Meals 18 Texts concerning the Duty of singing Psalms ibid. An Evening Family Prayer 20 Of Self-Examination with Texts of Scripture relating to that Duty 24 The best way of doing this Duty and the End to which it tends 27 This Duty useful for your Temporal as well as Spiritual Estate 29 An Evening private Prayer when upon Examination you find your self guilty c. 30 An Evening private Prayer when upon Examination of the past day your Conscience acquits you from wilful wickedness 34 SECT I. OF the Lord's Day Proper Texts of Scripture concerning the sanctifying of that Day p. 37. CHAP. II. A Morning Prayer for the Lord's Day 38 What you are to do before you go to Church 41 What you are to do at your Entrance into the Church 42 Of publick Prayer with proper Texts of Scripture relating to that Duty 44 The Absolution explain'd 46 Some Ejaculations when the Absolution is pronounced 50 Concerning those Curses that we meet with in some of the Psalms 52 Rules to be observ'd when you hear the Chapters read in the Church 53 How Prayers for the Publick are of great advantage to your selves 56 Of that which is call'd the Second Service 57 Proper Texts of Scripture concerning the hearing of God's Word p. 59. A Prayer to be us'd between Morning and Evening Service 62 You must not neglect Prayers in the Afternoon thô there be no Sermon 65 How to behave your selves on Sunday-Evenings 66 SECT II. OF Holy-days and Fast-days 69 CHAP. III. OF prepartion to the Holy Sacrament 75 Of Fasting 81 A General Confession of Sin 82 Directions to be observed on the Day before you receive 86 A Prayer for Grace according to some foregoing Heads 88 A short Example of Applying the Communion Service the better to prevent the wandring of your Mind 92 For what reason you are to kneel at the Sacrament 94 Short Prayers according to some foregoing Rules p. 99 Of Behaviour at Baptism and Marriage 108 CHAP. IV. THE Country-man's Duty towards his Neighbour 110 SECT I. HIS Duty to his Minister ibid. Proper places of Scripture relating to that Duty ibid. SECT II. DVty to his Superiours 115 Proper Texts relating to that Duty 116 SECT III. HIS behaviour to his Landlord 121 SECT IV. HIS Duty to his Wife and Children with proper Texts relating to that Subject 124 His Duty to his Servants with proper Texts 132 His Duty to his Neighbours with proper Texts p. 139 SECT VII HIS Duty to the Poor with proper Texts 145 SECT VIII OF just Dealing with suitable Texts of Scripture 149 SECT IX THE Dames Duty to her Husband with sutable Texts refer'd to 152 Meditations and Ejaculations proper for several Occasions As 158 When you find your Cattel well or have hopes of seasonable Weather Or When you find your Cattel sick or dying the Weather be unseasonable 159 When you begin a new Work 160 If you are sick or in pain 161 When you hear talk of Wars and Troubles in Church or State 161 When you lye under any Temptations ibid. Before you read the Holy Scripture 163 When you sow your Ground 164 If you hear any People talk prophanely 166 If you see any in a miserable Condition 167 If you find your self inclined to discontent 168 ERRATA PAge 11. line 5. for own read one p. 89. l. ult r. from glory to glory p. 90. l. 7. r. straying p. 99. l. 2. for chastening r. hastening p. 107. l. 11. after endeavour add by p. 124. l. 7. after encourage add her p. 126. l. 8. r. Immortal p. 141. l. 16. for House r. Horse p. 147. l. 3. for Bedding r. Begging Several Books published by Dr. Richard Lucas Vicar of St. Stephen 's Colemanstreet and sold by Sam. Smith at the Prince 's Arms in St. Paul 's Church-yard DR R. Lueas's Practical Christianity Or an Account of the Holines which the Gospel enjoyns with Motives to it and the Remedies it proposes against Temptations with a Prayer concluding â—ach distinct Duty in Octavo 1685. Price 3 s. 6 d. Enquity after Happiness in several Parts c. 1. In Octave the second Edition Englarged 1692. Pr. 3 s. 6 d. The true Notion of Human Life Or A second Part of the Enquiry after Happiness in Octavo 1690. Pr. 2 s. 6 d. The Duty of Apprentices and Servants 1. The Parents Duty how to Educate their Children that they may be fit to be employed and trusted 2. What preparation is needful for such as enter into Service with some Rules to be observed by them how to make a wise and happy Choice of a Service 3. Their Duty in Service towards God their Master and themselves with suitable Prayers to each Duty and some directions peculiarly to Servants for the worthy receiving the Holy Sacrament published for the benefit of Families in Octavo Price 1 s. 6. d. A Sermon preached at the Funeral of Mr. Tho. Lamb July 23 d. 1686. in Quarto Pr. 6 d. A Sermon preached at the Assizes held at Horsham in the County of Sussex Aug. 23. 1691. Pr. 6 d. Christian Thoughts for every day of the Month with a Prayer wherein is represented the Nature of unfeigned Repentance and of perfect Love towards God in Twelves Pr. 1 s.
not aw'd me nor has the love of thee moved me nor thy great and precious promises prevailed upon me but I have broke through all to gratifie my own vile affections Ah how have I wandered from the paths of Truth and Life here repeat the sins of the day past And now O holy and just God what shall I say unto thee shall I lye down in my wickedness and either through despair of thy mercy or presumption upon it continue to commit it Ah no! for then if Death surprize me and what reason have I to fear it may I must be miserable for ever everlasting remorse of Conscience and everlasting burnings in the company of Devils must be my portion for ever therefore O God thou God of mercy I come to thee though ashamed and confounded though my guilt will not suffer me to look up towards thee I come to weep to condemn my self before thee O hear me thou that delightest not in the death but the conversion of a sinner O hear me thou that hast given thine own Son to be a Propitiation for our sins O thou that delightest to hear Prayers and forgive the Penitent have mercy upon me pardon and deliver me from my sins make me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me and O never suffer me to be at rest 'till I have subdued my corruptions and rooted out every habitual sin 'till I feel the power of Religion in and change of my heart and reformation of my life and find the Kingdom of Heaven established within me in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost And here O my God I once more dedicate my self to thee and vow a perpetual War against those Lusts by which I have been thus wretchedly misled and betrayed into the paths of darkness and death Here particularly resolve against that sin or sins which thou hast been guilty of the day past or finds thy self most prone too And thou O God by whose mighty power the blind received their sight the lame walked the Lepers were cleansed and the dead raised O thou who didst call quicken by thy grace the Gentiles when dead in trespasses and sins vouchsafe me the assistance of the same Spirit that I may continue stedfast and unmovable in these Resolutions and abound more and more in the works of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. An Evening private Prayer when upon Examination of the past day your Conscience acquits you from wilful wickedness O Gracious God and heavenly Father I thy poor Servant frail of my self and lying open to many Temptations do bless and praise thy Name that thou hast preserved me this day from presumptuous sin beseeching thee to blot out the remembrance of whatever has formerly displeased thee in my life past and pardon the defects and infirmities of my present state strengthen my faith increase my hope and let my breast be more and more inflam'd with a Divine love and O may my love abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment that I may approve the things that are excellent and may be sincere and without offence 'till the day of Christ being filled with all the fruits of Righteousness through Jesus Christ unto the praise and glory of thee my God Preserve and bless me in my honest Labours let me never want things necessary for me and mine nor moderation humility and thankfulness in the use of them Keep me in safety and refresh me with sleep this night and when I awake let my thoughts be upon thee and upon the happiness of those that fear thee and trust in thee so shall I abide in thy love unto my lives end and be at last carried from this state of labour and watchfulness and trial into one of peace and security and triumph which grant O merciful Father for thy dear Son's sake Amen Amen And so much for your daily Devotion where for the circumstances of Time and Persons you may alter what agrees not with your condition and business if so be you are careful not to wholly omit the Duties of Family and private Prayer which you are as a Christian obliged to and is the surest way to make you happy here and hereafter SECT I. Of the Lords Day FOR your profitable Observation and hollowing the Lord's Day Exod. 28.8 9 10 11. Neh. 13.19 Isa 50.13 Acts. 27.7 20.7 1 Cor. 16. Rev. 1.10 Psal 118 24. Ezek 23.38 Amos 8.4 it will be of great use so to contrive your Affairs on Saturday that you may have as little as possible of them to perform on the Lord's Day CHAP. II. A Morning Prayer for the Lord's Day WE adore and worship thee O God the Creator of Heaven and Earth for thou speakest the word and all things were made thou commandedst and they were created in thee we live and move and have our being and when thou pleasest we die and return again unto our dust blessed be thy Name that thou hast made us rational Creatures and hast continued us in the Land of the living to this day and blessed be thou the God of Hope because thou hast so loved the World when dead in trespasses and sins and in a state of enmity against thee that thou gavest thy only begotten Son to the end that all that believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life Lord we believe help thou our unbelief we believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God we believe that the words he spoke are the words of everlasting Life we believe that he died for our sins that we might escape the wrath due to them we believe that he rose again for our justification that he might be a Prince and Saviour to all those who believe and obey him And now O Lord let this Faith we beseech thee have its due influence upon our hearts and lives that the grace of God which bringeth Salvation and hath appeared unto all men teach us to deny ungodliness and worldy Lusts and to live righteously soberly and godlily in this present world looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Christ Jesus Particularly assist us we beseech thee in the duties of the day that we may offer up unto thee pure and fervent Prayers and praise thee with unspeakable joy and gratitude Make us to hear thy Word with a holy fear and devout thirst and grant that we may be not only hearers but doers of thy Word that so being quickned by thy Word and Spirit we may be cleansed from our guilt by the Blood of Jesus and be made partakers of his Resurrection and Kingdom through the same our dear Lord and Saviour Amen After your Morning Prayer such business as can't be dispensed with as milking and ordering of Cattel must be done but no more at which Imployments you may sing Psalms have good thoughts or discourse with those with you After which let all get ready for Church and
if any spare time remains read some good Book but be sure so to order your Devotion and necessary Affairs as to be at Church at the beginning of Prayers As you go think of the great Priviledge and Mercy you enjoy in being admitted to the House of God to pray and hear his holy Law and the particular blessings of living in a Nation where God's Word is freely dispensed to all think what a sad aggravation of your Fault it will be if you resist or neglect such great Advantages but let not the sense of your unworthiness tempt you to despair or negligence but rather to love and admire the long Sufferance of God and to resolve to improve better these means of grace Enter the Church with reverence and gravity it is the House of Prayer make it not a Den of Thieves by sinful thoughts and hypocritical Designs nor yet a House of Merchandize by thinking or talking of worldly Affairs but so soon as you come to your Seat make an humble Prayer to God for attention and zeal grace to know and do his will a pure unprejudiced mind to apprehend and hold fast the Truth Pray for a blessing on the Minister then present and all other faithful Dispensers of the Word and Sacraments throughout the World that they may be successful Labourers in God's Vineyard and convince and convert many from their sins and build up all through Faith unto Salvation that the Word may be Seed sown in good ground bringing forth Fruit abundantly to the glory of God Pray also against wandring thoughts and drowsiness finally desire the union of your Prayers with all Christians and that the Intercessions of the Universal Church sent up in the Name of its common Redeemer may by him be presented acceptably to God and obtain for it all good things notwithstanding the blemishes imperfections and mistakes of its particular Members These or the like Petitions you may use as time permits till the Minister begins then standing up Of Publick Prayer Matth. 18.20 Isa 56.7 Luk. 2.37 Ioel 2.15 16 17. Hebr. 10.24 35. apply those Texts of Scripture that are read to your self To be able to do this the better read them over at home to consider them then attend to the Exhortation which is to inform you of your Obligation to the Worship of God by holy Scripture the end and benefit of it and manner how you should perform it with a truly penitent heart and therefore with seriousness apply it to your self and do not hear it as words of course which you are not concerned in gazing about as too many do but being composed and recollected as in the Presence of God with bended knees and a contrite heart sensible of your great unworthiness make the following Confession next comes the Absolution To hear this with profit you must first understand the meaning of it it is a short Declaration of God's Mercy and Pardon to penitent sinners that is to those who being truly penitent of their sins are heartily sorry they have committed them and resolve by the assising grace of God never more wilfully to do the like As for Example Almighty God These words sets forth God's infinite Power and Ability to Pardon The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who desireth not the death of a sinner This shews God's infinite goodness and willingness to pardon since he spared not his own Son will he not with him freely give us all things But rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live Here follows the conditions you must turn from your wickedness before you have any right to the Promise of Life and though God had much rather you should repent and live being desirous that none should perish but that all should come to Repentance yet here is no encouragement to hope for any that lead wicked lives but to the Penitent that is such as to the utmost of their power sincerely endeavour to obey God's Commands and to avoid what he forbids doing their Duty as well as they are able yet trusts not to any merit thereby but being sensible of the weakness of their best performance expect Mercy and Eternal Life as the free gift of God for the sake and merit of Christ Jesus only to such Penitents God has given power and commandment to his Ministers to declare and pronounce to his People being penitent the absolution and remission of their sins Which is no other then declaring the terms set forth in the Gospel more largely for the Minister only declares on what Conditions we may be pardoned by Almighty God but does not by this Absolution pardon any who do not perform the Conditions He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent Where observe the Minister does not say I pardon but he pardoneth that is God and that only those that truly repent that is confess and forsake their past sins for without amendment Repentance will not profit so that no one can with comfort apply this Absolution that indulges any wilful sin And unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel that is the Duties and Threatnings as well as the History and Promises Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true Repentance and his holy Gospel Where you may observe you must joyn Prayer to your Endeavours both for Repentance for what is past and the assistance of God's holy Spirit to enable you to do your Duty for the time to come for by our own strength we are not able to do any thing that is good and acceptable to God the rest is so easie that it needs no Explanation If you are sure of your â—art in performing the Conditions of Repentance and Amendment God will most certainly perform his promise which he has authorized his Servant to declare in his Name on which you may rely with comfort and apply with confidence to your self You must not say the Absolution after the Minister that being not properly a Prayer but setting forth the Condition of our Pardon While the Minister is saying the Absolution offer some such Ejaculations as these Let this gracious Absolution pronounced by the Minister be extended unto me Thou art the Father of Mercy who willest not the death of a sinner O fit me and all here present to receive the Remission of our sins by a faithful performing the Conditions on our part Encrease our Faith perfect Repentance and by the assistance of thy holy Spirit help us unfeignedly to believe and sincerely obey thy Gospel that those things may please thee which we do at this present and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy so that at the last we may come to thy Eternal Joy through Jesus Christ our Lord. At the end of this and other Prayers say Amen which signifies your consent to Prayer and desire that God will hear and answer it Then follow the Lord's Prayer which being the most perfect Pattern and comprehensive Form of Prayer is in our Liturgy several times
other in worldly business therefore to those who are willing to follow my directions I recommend the doing of no more work then is needful not that the obligation is the same as on the Lord's day but only on an advantage of your growing in grace Therefore those that cannot read after the Family and Private Devotions is over had much better work themselves or find any innocent imployment then loose their time in idleness and sloth After your necessary business is done spend the rest of the Morning in reading to your Family who may at the same time do any quiet or sitting work or else catechise your Children and Servants but be sure if there is any Service in the Church to attend on that with willingness and devotion and cause your Family to do the like The rest of the day if you are able to afford so much time you may spend in seeing an honest Neighbour or Relation your Minister or Landlord but be sure on these days as on no other you eat nor drink not to excess for by that you make what was designed for God's Service and your good the cause of God's dishonour and your perdition the Devil's work ought to be done on no day and less on a day called holy and designed for holy uses therefore avoid such Company as will tempt you to excess 't is better work at home then go abroad for such purposes Come home early if you go abroad that you may have time to enlarge your Devotions by reading or praying something longer or singing Psalms but whatever part of these Devotions you want time for be sure that nothing but very great necessity hinders your going to Church on such days but when Harvest or other unavoidable business hinders read the same Scriptures you should hear at Church at home and at your work be much in singing Psalms good discourse on holy Meditations praying that God will accept your desires to worship him more solemnly and give you a share of those blessings others pray for But take care whenever you plead necessity to omit God's Worship that it be not a pretended necessity for that will be a great aggravation of your neglect if you can loose time in idleness and vanity and yet fancy you have none for God's Service this is plainly because you want a true love to God For we like to converse with those we love and are very ready to contrive means to do it if you will but try to be in the first place careful to serve God in the next industrious in your business dare promise that the time you so spend shall not be lost but be abundantly rewarded and is most likely to obtain the blessing of God on your labours a contented mind and sure hope of eternal happiness CHAP. III. Of preparation to the holy Sacrament SUpposing you live an honest holy life and sincerely endeavour to do your duty to God Of the Sacrament 1 Cor. 11.23 24 25 26. Luke 22.17 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 5.7 8. 11.27 28 29 30 your Neighbour and your self I would advise you to receive the holy Sacrament as often as it is administred in your Parish Church If your life is wicked you must not come at all till you reform and are prepared by repentance and good works So that there is no excuse for seldom receiving If you are unfit for the Sacrament you are unfit to die and then there is no time for delay but you must speedily mend and beg pardon and grace that you may be prepared for both But forasmuch as this Book is directed only to such as are ingaged in a holy life or resolve to be so for others will hardly submit to these Rules I shall suppose my Reader is in a state of grace and resolved to be God's faithful Soldier and Servant all the days of his life as he engaged in his Baptism But to avoid all scruple in judging of your right to this holy Ordinance take the advice of your Pastors and submit to it and if he admits you once you ought not after to neglect repeating of this Duty except you fall into some wilful sin temptation or doubt in which case 't is safest being advised by your Minister who will resolve your doubt and advise you how to overcome your temptation and in case of wilful sin will assist your repentance and judge when it is such as will admit your return to the holy Communion then you must deal sincerely else you deceive him and so are the cause of his deceiving you which will be your own misfortune When the warning is given rejoyce at the glad Tidings and hearken with reverence and attentention to the Exhortation and Instructions contained in it during the whole week have it often in your mind and as you are at work think how you are prepared what it is makes you most afraid or unwilling to come to this blessed Feast if it is any remaining love to sin if you find any beloved lust you are still loth to part with rest not in this dangerous state for your Salvation is in great hazard when your love to sin is greater then your love of God or Heaven or fear of Hell which it must needs be so long as you cannot resolve to part with it though you know that the wages of sin is death and that no unclean wicked man so long as he continues so can enter into the Kingdom of Heaven therefore if you live in Fornication Drunkenness Swearing Cheating Malice Lying Covetousness Unmercifulness the neglect of God's Worship reading and hearing his holy Word frequent Prayer breach of the Sabbath or any other known wilful sin come not to the holy Sacrament not only not frequently but not at all till you amend your ways nor immediately so soon as you think you repent but try your sincerity But the safest way in this case is as I said before to be advised and examined by some honest sober Minister both before your first admission and after in case of relapse into your old sins or doubts of sincerity in your spiritual state if your sins are only of infirmity and defects of doing good be not discouraged nor keep from this great means of strengthening your weak graces which the Enemy of your Soul will tempt you to that being without this spiritual Armour he may with the more ease overcome but in the days of your Preparation often call to mind and observe what imperfections you find most prevail and what temptations to them and think what may be the best means for the overcoming of them also think what is most apt to draw you from the Service of God and your Neighbour and fortifie your self against such temptations and by meditation of the Joys of Heaven and the Torments of Hell certainty of Death and uncertainty of Life quicken your Resolutions of sincere Obedience to all God's Commandments Fasting Matth. 6.16 17 18. Acts 10.30 What time
thy Servant O blessed Jesus thy Disciple and Follower O be thou my Prince and my Saviour be thou my strength and my glory and let me rejoyce always in thy Salvation I desire to imitate thee O holy Jesus and especially thy boundless Charity I forgive O let me find forgiveness from the mercy of God I am ready to do all the good I can for any one of my fellow Members and I am sorry I can do no more I will weep I will pray for all that are in distress and I will feed and clothe and comfort them as I can O accept then the mite of thy poor servant and remember me in the day of Judgment Grant O God according to the riches of thy glory that all we who receive the Sacrament this day may be strengthned by the might of thy Spirit in the inward man that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith that we being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and heighth and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge that we may be filled with all the fulness of God Nor for our selves only do I bow my knees unto thee thou Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named but also for the whole Catholick Church O let the same presence and powerâ— of thy Spirit be amongst all those who believe in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ their Lord and ours build them up in their holy faith unite them in humility and love remove all the scandals and obstacles of righteousness that are in the midst of thy Church and support and protect it against all the Adversaries of the Cross and all the Enemies of holiness and vertue Let thy Son Jesus be glorified in the blameless and exemplary Lives of all that profess his Name let profaneness be put to confusion and Here sie and Errour be rooted out and let all with one mind and one mouth glorifie thee O God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Amen O thou in whose hands are the hearts of Kings guide we beseech thee theirs whom thou hast set over us in thy faith and fear give them wisdom to rule this great People that under them we may live peaceable and quiet lives in all godliness and honesty and Lord possess all their Subjects with a due sense of their Authority and of the benefits we all reap from them that we may dutifully obey them and cheerfully contribute all we can to the maintainance and support of Law and Justice in this Realm that Righteousness and Peace may through thy blessing flourish amongst us and our Children after us through Jesus Christ our Lord. O merciful God and Saviour cause all them that sleep in sin to awake cause them to arise from the dead and let Christ give them light O thou God of tender mercies and compassions hearken to the voice of them that mourn break not the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax but bring forth righteousness unto victory O God who art the God of the fatherless and widow and judge of the oppressed and the Saviour of the meek and poor and distressed upon the earth visit with thy grace and salvation all that are in necessity or tribulation and hear them when they cry unto thee for succour O Lord our Defence O bless my Family and all my Relations possess them with the fear of God and Charity towards one another and make them all love the Lord Jesus Christ to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be glory for ever O my God never suffer me to forget thy love or the love of Jesus never suffer me to break my holy Vows but strengthen me that I may always endeavour to walk as my Lord walked and may ever abide in him and he in me that I may be safe through thy protection and grace and when he who is my life shall appear I also may appear with him in glory Amen Amen Go home with a cheerful gravity and spend the remaining part of the day according to the Rule for the Lord's day only be more strictly careful to keep up a holy frame of mind and not by worldly thoughts and light discourse grieve the holy Spirit but improve every good inclination by Prayer that it may grow into practise and endeavour your good Resolutions by meditation and foreseeing what temptations may assault you to provide against them do not go abroad but spend that day in devotion reading and praying with your Family Of behaviour at Baptism and Marriage WHen you are present at the Baptising of Children attend to what is said let it put you in mind of what you vowed your self and think how well you have performed it joyn with great seriousness in Prayer with the Minister for the Child that it may live sutable to this dedication and enjoy the priviledges of the same If you are a Surety think your self obliged to take care that the Child learn what you undertook for it for that was the reason of God-fathers and God-mothers especially if the Parents die or are careless worldlings otherwise refuse being a Surety if you think you cannot Also at Marriages Churchings and the like avoid all vain behaviour but joyn in the Service with Reverence and Devotion and make particular applications to your self how you have performed your own duty when the Bannes are bid pray that the marriage may be to the glory of God These are some short Directions for your duty to God I shall now add some for your duty to your Neighbours CHAP. IV. The Country Man's Duty towards his Neighbour SECT I. To his Minister FIrst for your behaviour to your Minister be very just in paying Tithes and other Dues to him Duty to Ministers Mal. 2.7 Isa 30.20 Hebr. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Cor. 6.7 9.7 8 9 11 13 14. Rom. 15 27. Gal. 6.6 Matth. 10.41 10.14 15. Luke 10.16 1 Cor. 4.1 1 Thess 12.13 and that in obedience to God who has taught us by his holy Apostle That they who wait at the Altar that is do the duty of a Minister should live by the Altar and if they minister to us spiritual things we ought to minister to them in temporal things for by attending the Ministry they are made incapable of gaining a livelyhood by other means Secondly Be very respectful in your behaviour to him never speaking rudely but believe in honouring your Minister you please God and let not any personal failing make you neglect your Duty for 't is not his person only but chiefly his office you must respect him for and God will reward you for it Supposing the worst that he has faults consider that he as well as you is liable to the same infirmities and temptations nay more for Satan is vigilant to ensnare him because by it he hopes to do more mischief either by
end do not neglect to have them all present when you pray and read to your Wife and Children at least Morning and Night See they say their own Prayers daily Gen. 18.18 19. Josh 24.15 Psal 101.9 10. Lev. 25.49 Ephes 6.9 Coloss 4.1 1 Tim. 5.8 Job 31.13 14. and call on them to spend the Lord's day and other leisure times in reading and learning their Catechise If they cannot read encourage them to ask you Questions as they are at work with you and convince them of the great comfort of knowing and doing their duty And since they cannot read if they will not attend to Instruction they must be wilfully ignorant of the means of their Salvation which is a damnable sin Indeed it is a great shame that any that live in a Christian Country should be so ignorant as I fear many amongst us are Call on them to hear Sermons and let them miss no opportunity of publick Worship when you can spare them If they are subject to swear or lie to be drunk or talk immodestly admonish them gravely and sharply but if they reform not speedily turn them away and let not any worldly consideration tempt you to keep them for if you do your Children are in danger of being infected with such ill Examples and you bring a Curse on your Family Potiphar's House was blessed for Joseph's sake how know you but yours may be less prosperous for a wicked Servant therefore when you have good ones prize them much and use them kindly Next their Duty to God keep to the duty of their Service allow them convenient rest and wholsome food but do not indulge them in idleness nor careless trifling in their work but keep them to a full Employment and see they follow it diligently and do it with as great perfection as they can It is far better to allow them now and then an hour of recreation then to let them go on in a slothful way though they always seem employed keep them to their work while at it and then if they have spare time they may do something for themselves Do not suffer your Servant to be rude and surly to your Children Neighbours or Strangers Good manners is a good preparative for Religion and we see where People are least civilized how Ignorance Cruelty and Ill-nature renders them almost barbarous therefore be often telling your Children and Servants how commendable a thing it is to be gentle and affable always ready to do a good Office give good words and pay respect to their betters I recommend this the more earnestly because it is so common a fault among those of that rank to be rude to their Superiours and often to bear a secret envy and hate to those above them and be so morose as not to give a civil Answer or tell the way to one in distress Avoid such faults and believe me by your mild and kind behaviour you will find love and many other kindnesses Suffer not your Servants to be with such as are vicious but only such as live an innocent orderly life if any have Sweet-hearts so soon as you discover it acquaint their Parents if promised by no means endeavour to break it off if they will not own their Affection yet keep Company 't is best to part them or at least often tell them of the folly of deceiving one another and the shame and danger of that abominable sin of Uncleanness Pay them quarterly their wages and give them what other reward you can afford and they deserve If your Servant marries from you let them not go away empty according to to the Precept in Deuteronomy Chap. 15.13 If they can change yours for a better Service more to their Preferment do not oppose it but trust to God's Providence and do not endeavour to obstruct the greater profit with others which you cannot afford to give them your self only if it is a disorderly wicked Family that they would go to you ought to tell them the dangers and inconveniencies and advise them against it Do not turn away your Servants for every trifle if they are such as fear God nor keep those that do not though they may do you good Service but prefer God's glory to your own benefit those you cannot reform part with SECT VI. To his Neighbours YOur Duty to your Neighbours is to be ready to do them good Offices To his Neighbours Thess 5.11 Hebr. 3.13 1 Cor. 15.23 Prov. 12.26 23.20 21. 28.19 1 Cor. 5.9 10 11. Lev. 19.7 Prov. 25.12 28.23 Ephes 5.11 advise them when they ask it to the best of your skill reprove them for their sins and follies but with so great meekness and kindness that they may see it is a sense of your duty to God and love of their Souls that puts you upon doing it therefore do it always in private Whenever you go to see your Neighbours endeavour not to part without saying something that tends either to his or your own good being as willing to learn as to teach and so encourage one another in the ways of God often talking and thinking of the blessed end of all your labour when you shall come to Heaven this will comfort your weariness and make all your troubles light Be ready also to administer comfort and help to your Neighbours temporal wants which will mightily convince them that your reproof is not out of pride or to reproach him for his faults but real Christian affection Of this sort of kindness is visiting the sick comforting the afflicted being ready to help if your Neighbour is behind hand with his Land and getting in his Harvest not that you are obliged to neglect your own Business for anothers sake but only when you are first served your self or the inconvenience you will suffer is very small and the good you can do your Neighbour is great then you ought to venture your own small danger to help your Neighbours great loss and if he should be so ungrateful to forget it God will not If you see your Neighbour's House fall under his burden help him up or his Cattel stray out of the way carry them back and avoid that ill nature of pounding his Cattel on every little slight Trespass Be very careful of your own Fences advise your Neighbour to do the like but if often warnings will do no good and his Cattle do you any considerable Dammage you may in a lawful way endeavour to be made amends but let this be done with a quiet Spirit without brawling and bitterness and if he will refer it to your Minister or some honest Neighbour go not to Law if you can avoid it but be sure do not fall into an Enmity and whatever your Adversary is be you reconciled and willing to ask and give pardon If People went to Law or Reference with such Spiritual Love only desiring what is just Differences would be much easier made up then now they are If any of your
blessing such Maids need not fear getting an honest Service and are fitted to make good Wives when their Parents think fit be especially careful to prevent fondness in your Daughters and Maids and often set before them the monstrous deformity of an immodest Woman and the great Beauty and Prudence of a chast modest humble Maid As your Daughter ought not to marry without your consent so do not constrain her where she has an aversion nor cross her Affection too much if the Man is sober and honest While at your work in the House or Field be often saying some profitable thing causing your Children to repeat what they have learnt by heart and instead of idle Ballads let them learn Psalms to sing at their work so shall your House be a little Temple of God and a Blessing accompany all your Labour and make you both happy and contented here and dispose you for Eternal Happiness in the World to come which is so great a Hope that nothing but sad Experience could make one think it possible that they that pretend to believe the Truth of Eternal Glory and Happiness can be so miserably negligent in the pursuit of and endeavours after it Having in the fore-going Directions often Exhorted you to think of God and entertain holy Meditations and Ejaculations at your work I will here give you some few Examples not to use in a set formal manner but for the direction and quickning to inlarge as your Devotion directs Meditations and Ejaculations proper for several Occasions IN a Morning when you find your Cattle well or have hopes of seasonable Weather admire God's goodness and look not on these Blessings as the Course of Nature or what you have a right to but as the immediate gift of God and as if they were newly bestowed on you and say in your heart Lord I thank thee for all thy gifts it is thy bounty that first gave them and the same bounty preserve them O give me grace to use them to thy glory that I may never abuse them to sin or vanity to dishonour thee or hurt my Neighbour but be a faithful Steward of all those Talents committed to my charge that so I may find Mercy in the Day of our Lord. If your Cattle is sick or die or the Weather unseasonable consider it is the Mercy of God that you lose not all or that you had not such losses sooner for should he withdraw his protection you might be by the malice of the Devil who hates all those that serve God reduced to the condition of Job and let such Accidents convince you of the great necessity of God's Blessing and how vain all your labour or care is without it not being able to cause a fair day when you want it or restore a poor Beast to health here you may thus meditate Lord thy will be done giving or taking what thou hast given thy Name be blest I thank thee for all thy past Mercies and submit to my present losses sanctifie them to my profit my sins deserve worse punishments whatever thou recallest let it not be any degree of grace or thy favour for so long as I am thy reconcil'd Child I cannot be miserable but without thy love I am most wretched could I possess the whole World for what shall it profit to gain the whole World and lose my Soul When you begin a new work dedicate it to God and say Lord I desire to do all to thy glory all for thy love and in obedience to thy will bless this my labour that it may prosper and grant that I may first seek thy Kingdom and its Righteousness and have such a portion of Temporal Blessings as thou seest best for me If you are sick or in pain look on it as sent from God and submit to it saying Lord keep me from sin the worst of evils the more the Outward man is afflicted the more I beg thy grace to support my Spirit with Faith and Patience When you hear talk of Wars and Trouble in Church or State or are sad at the thoughts of Divisions among Christians Remember that God is infinite in goodness wisdom and power and will bring good out of all When you find your self affected with these Thoughts retire to pray for your fellow Creatures or at least at your work sometimes lift up your heart to God to pray that he would enlighten all Mankind that they may both believe and obey the Gospel that he would unite the Divisions among Christians and reform whatever he found amiss in their Belief and Practice that all Christian People might have a true Christian Spirit a Spirit of Love and Charity proving their Discipleship by their Love to one another that so God might be worshipped in Spirit and Truth to his glory and their salvation When you lye under any Temptations say to this effect Lord let thy power be magnified in my weakness suffer me not to be tempted above my strength take away the Temptation or enable me to resist and overcome it Before you read the holy Scripture pray that God would assist you with his enlightning grace that so your Faith may rest not on the Wisdom of Men but on the Power of God that you may rightly understand and faithfully practise what you know that so obeying the Commands you may inherit the Promises of the Gospel and that the steadfast belief of God's Word may be your Comfort and Support against all Temptations of the World the Devil or your own Corruptions Before you go into company or before you reprove or advise any think how you may do most good and best please God say Lord be present with me sanctifie my Heart and Tongue which I dedicate to thee and give me both courage and wisdom to speak in due season for thy glory and my Neighbours good and let thy Spirit both assist me and supply my defects by its powerful working on the heart of my Neighbour As you sow your Ground you may from thence draw a Meditation of Death and Resurrection of the necessity of grace and good works for as you must do your part to manure the Grounds and sow the Seed and you expect seasonable Weather to make it bring forth so must you do your endeavours to prepare your heart to receive the grace of God and by Prayer to procure his blessed Spirit by which aid alone you are enabled to do the will of God Lord as without thy blessing all my labour is in vain so if thy grace does not assist me I am all weakness O pity thy poor Creature the work of thy hands and both sow the Seed of true Faith in my heart and water it with thy grace that it may bring forth the Fruits of a Holy Life When you see Harvest getting in you may meditate to this effect O Lord grant that I may be as a fruitful Field ready for Harvest that so when Death or Judgment comes I may rejoyce and not mourn that my work being done I shall ever rest not only from labour but from sin and be perfect in loving and serving God If you hear profane People talk or are tempted to doubt in any point of Faith say Lord I believe help my unbelief I believe and am sure that thy Word is most true and that my doubts are only the effects of my own weakness Lord I believe whatever thou hast revealed I renounce all my Errours and beg thou wilt either pardon my ignorant Mistakes or give me light to discover and forsake them thy Word is perfect I believe and desire to obey it If you see any in a mean or miserable condition think of God's goodness to you and say Who is it that made me to differ and what have I that I have not received and if I have received it why do I glory as if I had not received it let my Brother's misery make me thankful to God and charitable to him that he be not tempted to envy my Prosperity If you find your self inclined to discontent say Lord it is enough for me that I may but love thee and be loved by thee Shall I complain of an ill Nights lodging in an Inn when I shall soon be at my Fathers House and have there as large a share of glory and happiness as my Soul is capable of How can I be more honourable than to be a Child of God who is Lord of Heaven and Earth How can I be richer than to have peace here and glory hereafter Let me instead of murmuring admire the great goodness of my heavenly Father and rejoice in my Neighbour's Happiness for in Heaven no one envies another but is made more happy by the Felicity of the rest FINIS
affection not in a formal careless manner Do not grudge the time you give to God for he can and will repay you nor think it longer then it is The Devotion here prescribed both publick and private will not take up half an hour You or your Wife must also take care that your Children must say every own their Prayers which you must teach them early When they can say the words of some short Prayer instruct them in the meaning of it the same do for those Servants that are ignorant For others put them in mind of their Duty and encourage them in doing it This done cheerfully begin your days labour every one imploying themselves in what belongs to their places which the more diligent they are in the more acceptable it will be to God 1 Thess 4.11 12. 2 Thess 3.11 12. Prov. 18.19 21.17 28.19 6.9 10 11. Ephes 4.28 At the beginning of your Work dedicate it to God in some such Ejaculation as this O Lord thy most wise Providence has placed me in this state to eat my bread in the swet of my brows I believe it is best for me because it is thy will for thou art a loving Father to all that obey thee and wilt do what is best for them I submit to thy good pleasure desiring thou shouldst choose for me I rejoyce in my Labour and that I have health and limbs to perform it I will be as diligent and do it as I am able in all things endeavouring perfection for in so doing I am faithful to my Calling and shall best please thee and advance my own happiness I desire to do all things for the love of my God and in obedience to thy Commands I dedicate all to thy glory which ought to be the end of all I do Or you may meditate on the Example of Christ who submitted to work at a mean Trade Shall I not rather submit to his Will and rejoyce in his Dispensation and do my duty cheerfully and as perfectly as I can for his Honour O Lord Jesus let the Merit of thy Humiliation sanctifie my labour and suffer not the business of my hands to indispose my heart for the acts of thy Worship and Service suffer me not to indulge my Body by ease and slothfulness but use that strength and health thou hast given me to thy glory and honest provision for my Family You may also some times sing such Psalms as you have by heart or entertain your self with any other pious thoughts or if you work with your Servants or Children or honest Neighbours put them on singing Psalms or some good Discourse to encourage one the other in the Service of Almighty God Would you but be perswaded to try this method with devout and honest Minds you cannot imagine how it would sweeten your Labour making you cheerful and content though poor and God would comfort and direct you with his holy Spirit whose delight is in the Man of an humble heart And thus to have all Places sound with God's praise would make a sort of Heaven on Earth and fit us for the Employment of Heaven it self Besides It will much farther your labour for when one that has no farther aim then profit and pleasure is tempted to murmur at every disappointment and seeks for diversion in riotous Company and merry Meetings which instead of mending his Condition makes it worse the honest poor Man's design in his labour is to please God he works in obedience to his Commands and so endures patiently all the inconveniency of cold and heat weariness and pain with humble submission to his Providence offers his Sufferings to God as endured for his sake for though they are not altogether voluntary certainly it is more acceptable cheerfully and willingly to submit to those Troubles allotted us by God then enduring any other of our own choosing for a poor Man works to pay his Rent because it is just and he has promised so to do He looks on his Wife and Children or Servants as those for whom he is obliged to take care in obedience to God as well as by the ties of Nature and is the more careful that he may by his Industry gain time both for himself and them to serve God and be better able to breed his Children to reading or such other learning as is necessary for those honest Imployments he designs them for These and the like Considerations are sufficient to make a good Man cheerful and diligent in his Labour I am sure they are much more powerful than any that either Covetousness or Pride can produce and if all the honest Man's pains does not succeed as to the World it is only for the trial of his Patience and submission to God which will be rewarded a thousand fold in heavenly glory and it may be to his Posterity in the world after his Decease When you come home to Dinner 1 Tim. 4.4 5. 1. Cor. 10.13 Col. 3.17 Eccles 10.17 1 Cor 9.27 Prov. 23.20 21. Luke 21.34 with reverence say Grace and eat your Meat with a cheerful thankful heart considering your own unworthiness of the least of God's Mercies and his bounty in supplying your Necessities Be not intemperate in your Meat and Drink but use both to support your health and strength not to impair them If you have Children let one of them read a Chapter or Psalm and the next day another Child every one taking their turns this will take up so little time that it can be no ways inconvenient and it is only want of love to Piety that can occasion their not doing it for besides that you will keep your Childrens reading and see how they improve It will increase both your and their Knowledge in the Scripture Of singing Psalms Ephes 5.18 19. Col. 3.16 Jam. 5.13 Psal 119.97 Matth. 12.35 15.19 20. Psal 119.59 which you must above all things attend and observe as containing the whole Will of God both what you are to believe and do and what you are to avoid and by which you must be judged at the last day When Dinner is done return Thanks with Devotion and a sense that all you have is from the gift of God go to your Labour as in the Morning and support your self in it by singing Psalms good Thoughts Meditations and the like Neither would I by any means be understood to forbid innocent and cheerful Discourse nor what is useful to your Business for the Service of God was not designed to be our burthen but for our comfort and support in all Conditions In the Evening or some time before you go to bed be sure to forecast time for your Devotion your Family reading a Chapter in the Bible or small part of a Catechism with its Explication then say a short Prayer this that follows or what you like better An Evening Family PRAYER O Almighty God the Father of Mercies and the Fountain of all good Gifts for from thee