Soul I choise thy Statutes as my Heritage in the Land of my pilgrimage and Thy Salvation as my Inheritance for ever Give me victory over the World by Faith and grant me Peace Patience and Perseverance to the End Amen Sixthly Devotion for Old Age on Saturday O Ancient of Dayes who remains still in that prime of purest Light and Glory look upon me whom Thou hast preserved in all the periods of life in great mercy Visit me in this my groaning stage with Thy Salvation Let all the errors of my Youth and by gone Age be done away that I may have no burden from my former life now support me when old age hath overtaken me Blessed be God that I have escaped sad Accidents and the hurtful effects of any miss-government of my Life Grant I may now be taken up with Heavenly Exercise and contemplations that I may Receive Dimission with Christ not only in my Arms but in my Heart Renew my inner-man day by day that tho my Limbs be weak my Faith Hope and Charity may be strong And grant me a house with Thee 2 Cor. 5. 1. When my Earthly House shall fall I entered into the World with a groan and nature of necessity must groan being Burthened But Lord exhileraâ—e my Spirit that I may leave the World with great Joy that the day of my Redemption draweth near and may be Refreshed in the Suburbs of Heaven with the Joyful Musick of the Saints that so I may sing in Death and triumph over the Grave through JESUS CHRIST the Prince of life my LORD and life my strength and Redeemer Amen Devotion in order to the Eternal Sabbath On Sunday or the Christians LORDS Day O Lord of Sabbaoth I Bless thee that has brought me out of the toils of the World to rest with thy self Lord take me up to some mouâ—t to â—ee thy Glory where I may erect a Tabernacle not for Earth but Heaven Quicken me with the Life of CHRIST to seek those things above and if I look back to the World it is not for love to it but to see it's vanity I admire the works of Creation and providence and the portract of the little World to show the praise of GOD But I cannot get words nor thoughts to expatiat tiat on the work of our Redemption by Thy Son Nor capacity to Comprehend the height deepth breadth and length of thy love in him But I desire so love him with all my heart and above all the World I behold him now Rising from a Sea of Blood with the Glory of all his conquest LORD put me in the Spirit on this day to Relish the sweet influences of the Holy Ghost that I may be fitted foâ— the Eternal Sabbath where all duties and longing shall be turned into rewards and enjoyments and thy Name be Celebrated with Everlasting wonder Hymns Hallelujahs World without end Amen AND in Regard that Evangelical work of Praise and Singing of Psalms is a special Part of Devotion cease not in thy Pilgrimage and Solitudes to Sing And if you restrict your selves to David's Psalms For your Birth and Child-hood Sing Psalm 51. From the Beginning and the 71. Psalm from Verse 5. For your Youth Psalm 25. And Psalm 109 from Verse 9. For your â—iper Years and your Family the 101 Psalm and Psalm 144 at the End For your Old Age Psalm 71 9 and 18 Verses and if the Church thought fit ye may also make use in your Devotion other Scripture Psalms The Song of Israel on the Banks of the Red-Sea â—he Song of Simeon Zacharias and the Blessed Virgin and the Songs in the 1 5. and 7. Chapters of the Revelation And particularly the Doxologie which hath been of constant use in the Christian Church and is no other but an ascribing of sempeternal Praise to the Ever Blessed Trinity Which tho the Leprous Church of Rome use yet is it Clean to the Pure and it is very sad that it should be controverted in the Militant Church since it will be sung for ever in the Triumphant And since the Mysterious but Salutary Doctrine of the Trinity was contradicted by the Arians in Old and some of that same Gang under another Name of Late there is still occasion for the using of it And to distinguish the Modest and Regular Christian from such as in vade it by Opposition for to commend their Beloved Sect it is not amiss to rise up in token of a more immediat Address and closing with the custom of the Church wherein we should not be contentious And if â—ou please in your Private Devotion to Sing after this manner 1. MY heart is fix'd my â—eart is fix'd now will I sing and praise I 'le praise the Lord with songs unmix'd and still Thy Glorie raise 2. Now Haâ—elujah's shall extoll the Lord God of my praise And still in praises Thee enroll and laud and never cease 3. My little Harp is tun'd to laud my Lord my God my Love With Heavenlie Queer Thy Name applaud Thy Glories all approve 4. All Songs below â—ad not the Clief to raise Thee thus in ault They were sincere but not the chief as those which GOD exalt Second Hymne 1. I Wear the Crown Christ still renown I reign and He 's Supream I am extol'd to praise my King and glorie in His Name 2. I am as well as heart can wish mâ— Soul is all in bless With Joy and Peace Rests and Relish the sweets I now express 3. I see my God my Christ my joy all mysteries are gone Nothing now but Love I know and melodie Divine 4. The Tree of Life maâ—tains my life never to die again O Death in time thou art so rife but here thy strength is vain 5. I live I love I much delight I â—raise and never cease I see and feeâ— with Soul and Sp'riâ— I m all in Light and Bless 6 What can I â—ake For I have all my God is here with me And I with him perpetual my Christ and God to see 7. Here without doubt I 'le glorie give to Father Son and Spirit I 'le praise my God and not deprive frâ—m his just Right and Merit 8. From the first Minute to Ages all I will â—ssert â—â—y Golre In melodies sempiternal to Triâ—e Vne evermore Third Hymne 1. O Sp'rit of Light tune now my sp'rit with Heaven fill my heart And give me seâ—se of that great Light that I may act my part 2. With all the Host and Heav'nlie Queer that never ceass to cry Thrice holie Lord and Thee admire in Peace and Rest and Joy 3 My Soul my Heart my Sp'rit my Powers all joyn to Praise Thy Name My GOD my Life my Hope my Help I 'le praise Thy Mercies Fame 4 Thy Help in need hath made me Glad Thy Grace was still my claim And fresh Supplie hath me releiv'd I magnifie Thy Name 5. I 'le Praise I 'le â—ing I 'le Hope and Joy in Thy great Grace so Good I
GOD that gave it He gave it not as He doth many things by the use of means but peculiarly GOD noâ— man gave the spirit Ecc. 12. 7. And our Saviour in proving the Resurrection assertâ— that Abraham Isack and Jacob Yet live in a separated state from the Body and such as believe the immaterality and immortality of the Soul which is the common belief of alâ— most the whole World cannot but acknowledge this so St. Paul reasoneth with Philosophers at Athens Acts 17. How long it is ere the Embryo in the Womb receive the soul is something quisquus to determine tho some of the Ancients have been positive as the following distich doth declare Sep in lacte dies ter sunt in sanguine terni Bis seni carnem ter seni membra figurant That is Seven dayes in milk and nâ—ne in blood Twelve dayes the flesh thrice 6 the rest conclude § 3. But leaving this to Philosophy to discuss as to Religion since our spirit or soul is the daughter of an high house no lower than Heaven and the product of the Father of Spirits it is fit that we labour as much as we may in the use of the means to deliver her out of the bondage of corruption she groans with the load of flesh 2 Cor 5 3 In this Tabernacle we groan being burthened And the natural body hath an Animal spirit to lust after sin as St. James sayeth the spirit in us lusteth to Envy Jam. 4. 5. But this spirit evaporateth in pleasure and that sore must be mortified that our soul may be saved in the day of the LORD 1 cor 5. 5. But the rational tho it be hugely darkned and alienated from the life of GOD Eph 4. 18. Yet hath it reason tho much master'd by the brutall part and by that Reason and the faculty even of a natural conscience it cannot but groan under the burden of sin § 4. Now that the soul is contaminate and participant of original sin with the Body and how it is propagated and corrupted are purposes that we should rather yeild to with humble Faith then with canvassing Curiosity labour to comprehend Since the Scripture is positive in the thing That the imaginations of the heart of man are evil and only evil a puâ—â—tia Gen 6. 5. The thoughts of his heart 〈◊〉 only evil continually And without wreâ—ing that of Psal 51. 3. and 5. Verses 〈◊〉 must confess Original Sin And our Saviour Joh. 3. 6. sayeth That which is born of the flesh is flesh and inferreth the necessity of Regeneration from this Disease If we Compare this then with that of Gen. 6. 3. My spirit shall not strive with Man for that 〈◊〉 is flesh We may easily perceive that Man in his whole Compositum is Corrupt and Carnal And the Apostle St. Paul Concludes the whole World under sin And guilty before GOD Rom. 3. 9. and Rom. 7. 23. he descrives unto us a Man inter Regenerandum convinced by the Law and entering the doors of a new Life groaning under the power of sin and death wretched under that corrupt Body of sin and death till he be delivered This is also the Doctrine of the Orthodox and primeval Church and what has been said against it by the Manicheans and Pelagians is fully refuted by that great Dr. Aug concluded against by General Councils and the Current of the Catholick Church all along Yea the sensible amongst the Heathens as Pliny and Tully have acknowledged this and found out the Disease by their own Sentiments Confessing that Nitimur in vitetum c. Now to Dive into that deep Gulf how original sin comes in since no sin is of GOD whether by the breath of Eve corrupted by the Serpent or by the poisonous quality of the Tree of Knowledge whose fruit thô sweet possibly was Venemous which GOD forbad Man to eat of under the pain of Death And GOD may make poison to be in Nature for good and Holy Ends. Whether by these wayes or any other Way or by permissive providence leaving Man under the facultie of Free Will to make his own Election or whether the Soul was infused void of Original Righteousness Or by the first Contact with the Body as our Countryman Dr. Baron De prop pecc doth very pertinently clear is a businesse improper for this Treatise to enlarge upon Yet it is best for thee O Man humbly to believe and sensibly acknowledge what thou feel's that thou may Cleanse thy self from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor 7. 1. And that You may be sanctified throughout Soul Body and Spirit as the Apostle prayes for the Church of the Thess 1 Thesâ— 5. 23. And labour by all means to dig out this root of bitterness from thy Soul and Heart and make use of the salutary means thy Saviour hath prescribed for this end § 5. Now this gets an excellent open Entrance by early Baptism and bringing the Children from the Womb to the Font to be washen in this saving Flood in the Laver of Regeneration from the guilt and filth of sin Which mercy according to the Tenor of the new Covenant is allowed of GOD to Infants For as Circumcision in old which was a seal of the Covenant Rom 4 11. was conferred on Infants so Baptism upon that same ground may be thought to belong to Children of believing Parents Or at least reputed to be so or if one of the Parents believe they are federally holy as St. Paul sayeth 1 cor 7. 14. Else were your children unclean but now they are holy And St. Peter tells the Jews that the promise belongs to them and their children Acts 2 39 CHRIST himself took little Children and blessed them and said suffer Little Children to come to me for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and he laid his hands on them and blessed them If his blessing belong to such Why not Baptism Which is among the first of his Blessings And we find from Scripture that GOD hath sanctified some in the Womb and from the Womb why may he not than sanctifie His own institution of Baptism to Infants and the sooner the better this Antidote be applyed against the poyson of the Serpent it doth also much inhanse this Truth that it is and hath been the practice of the Universal Church in and since the Apostles times For we read that some have been baptised and their whole house of which probably Children were a part And altho' some Sectaries have opposed this and have denyed Infant Baptism yet neither is their grounds nor practice to be laid against the General Vote of the Church well instructed by the word of GOD and it is no small defence and warâ—and for Infant Baptism that it is not now a question in the Church and it is so fully asserted and proved that it were superfluous and like lighting a Torch at Noon to add any thing upon the head since none but Phanaticks that follow the fume of
Calling of serving under Christ our great Apostle and high Priest is very desireable For 〈◊〉 makes Heaven and the Golden Way that tends to it the greatest Study and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ— the Candidate It gives him a Prospecâ— to view the Embellished Toys of a vain World and occasion to Contemplâ—â— GOD and see Things invisible It makeâ— the Man if he answer his Character 〈◊〉 Man of GOD a guide to the Blindâ— Strength to the Weak and according to his measure a Saviour For in so doing he shall save his own Soul and them that hears him And if through the badness of the Soil he do not alwayes succeed In his Ministry Yet tho Israel be not gathered his Reward is with his GOD. 'T is true the prejudiced and ignorant World may have other Sentiments but it knows not the Use End and Rewards of this Rank of Men But taking pleasure in their own way they may Raâ—e it according to the Relish of their corrupted pallat And this should not discourage any Engaging or engaged in it since our Blessed LORD was so raited that the Prophet sayes When we see him there is no beauty in him that we should desire him 4ly Beware of passion that it predomine not either in the Irascible or Concupiscible Appetite Be not too intent upon trifles but learn to be solide in thy florid Age shun rashness and feed not upon wind Particulary guarde against Carnal Love which hath been the great bane of many Wise Solomon was intangled with it tho in the first 7 Chap of the Prov he giveth sound counsel against this Delirium and Vanity If in due time with good advice thou affect a suitable Mate carry as the Cherubs with the Propitiatory in the midst like the Sun and Moon who never meet but by the disposition of nature and issues such influences as refresh the earth 5ly It is good to season and sweeten thy Humour betimes with Religion thy Ghostly Enemie hath an evil eye upon thy Genius and and if he can prostrate thee to a carnal phansie he gains his point for if passion and phansie predomine the better part is put low But I write unto you young men because ye have overcome or should overcome the wicked one 1 Joh. 2. 13. And to soil Satan at first is our great advantage Thy thoughts are but indigested till thy heart be established with Grace Consider thy Talents and gifts and the rise of the morning of thy life that thou may manure them found well that in thy after life thy building totter not look back what you have been you ly a while in the womb sleeping in a dark Cell on the Breasts the dug was your care while at School the ferula was your fear and the play your pleasure thc School was to thee a Prison and the play house 〈◊〉 palace begin therefore well with God for a careless mind now may make thee stupid all thy dayes If thou labour to hide thy sins and thinks to Repent after thou beguiles thy self because thou cannot promise to thy self a day after and tho that day should come thou art not sure that GOD will give thee Grace principle well and act accordingly guard against the vice of the time and of your age and person be constant and sincere in duty and never undertake any business of consequence without advice Moderate your Recreations and neglect not the Vnum necessarium the one thing needful § 19. And for motives to press this timeous duty of youth consider 1. That Early fruit is a seasonable sacrifice to GOD It is a good thing to begin with GOD and the sooner thou begins the Work is the more easie but if sin take rooting it is not so soon eradicated And makes the Sinner like the Ethiopian that can not change his hew But timous beginning in Grace breeds a great deal of Facility to serve GOD and makes Christs yoak easie Grace gives thee a comely Feature and Joseph thereby was better adorn'd than his Coat made him It makes thee Splendid and Honourable it breeds a satisfying and solide Joy to the Soul it sweetneth all the accrbities and tediousness of Discipline and other Incumbrances And tho Youthful lusts may make it at first a little difficult yet if thou flee them and mortify them and follow after Godliness The difficultie will over and Religion will become thy delight 2ly Remember thy Creator and consider the examples of Youth that have done so St. John writes to Young Men as well as to Fathers and Timothy knew the Scriptures from his Youth Youth must consider that tho he bloom blossom yet a little blast may much wrinkle and wither him as the Flower begins to hing its head and loss much of its beauty and smell till it fall amongst the portion of weeds But early Piety is a savoury sacrifice to GOD to bring to him thy first Fruits To be sanctifyed from the Womb is extraordinary and in the Womb singular and to be sanctifyed in Youth is rare Yeâ— many Young Men and Virgins gave uâ— their lives for Christ and wilt thou noâ— sacrifice thy sins for him O but a neâ— Heart is pleasant in a Young Breast Aâ—â— a new sprung Rose sends forth a fragranâ—â— smell And in thy Youth thou hast thâ—â— Advantage of warmer affections Carâ—â— and Incumbrances ceaseth upon yearâ—â— but Youth is free to care for the things of 〈◊〉 LORD The Young Disciple had warâ—â—est affections and if thy love be fixâ—â— for the right Object it may be a warâ—â— Season to produce Fruit. Suffer not 〈◊〉 therefore to prepossess thine heart whiâ—â— may trouble thee all thy dayes and makâ—â— thee possess the sins of thy Youth to thâ—â— sorrow And with the Psalmist have reason to pray Remember not the errors of my Youth Psal 25. 7. § 20. And For the further advancement of the Piety of Youth Let the rising Generation consider 1. The Glory and Dignity of Adoption 2ly The Luster and Fragrancy of Grace 3ly The Guidance of the Spirit 4ly The Guardianship of Angels 5ly Their Inheritance 〈◊〉 Then the Glory and Dignity of Adoption 'T is no small matter for to be the Children of GOD I 'le make him my first born higher than the Kings of the Earth CHRIST became the Son of Man that thou mightest become the Son of GOD He was humbled that rhou mightest be Exalted and except thou Receive him thou hast no tittle to Adoption Joh. 1. 12. Close with Christ and then thou may lift thy heart and head as high as Heaven and Glory in thy high descent tho thou dwell in a house of Clay be then of a noble Spirit with Caleb 2ly The lustre of Grace which makes thy face to shine with Moses and makes thee altogether Lovely O what excelency and vertue is in the new heart How Beautious are it's Rayes up-upon the life Man thereby becomes like himself and Masters all brutal Passions Grace is a Ray
solid Foundation by Religion 2ly That thou enter into such a serious and lasting state of Life with the good Advice of GOD under him of those of Experience 3ly That thou propose the most pheasable means and good Ends for the Comfort and Contentment of thy Life 4ly That thou fall upon the most clear and approved Methods to attain these Ends. And Lastly When engaged in this Relation of conjugal Life that thou carry well therein and behave as a solid Christian in thy Family First Except the LORD build the house they labour in vain that buiâ—â— it Psal 127. 1. See that thou marry iâ— the Lord and that thou set him befoâ—â— thee that he may be at thy Right-handâ—â— and keep thy Heart still in His Handâ— that thy choice may be dexterous anâ— fortunate learn to be a Christian anâ— Espouse Christ ere thou be a Husband oâ— a wife for Religion is the bond the Bleâ—â—ing the beauty and the thrift of thy Relation and will have a greater influence upon the peace and prosperity 〈◊〉 thy family and the sweet converse 〈◊〉 the married twain Psal 128 2. And maâ—â— them live together as Heirs of the grace 〈◊〉 Life 1 Pet. 3. 7. 3ly Thou shouldest noâ— enter rashly unto this Covenant Consider what thou does Seek Counsel at Goâ— and good men especially of thy Parentâ—â— Let not Pride hast passion and indiscretion engage thee to make such an adventure and if the Council of GOD and good men be wanting thou mayest be fond this night and faint to morrow and begin to repent when it is too late and canst propose no Remedy but that which is desperate 3ly Have a Right designe before thee Marry Rationally and with discretion consider the ends for which GOD has appointed Marriage And never think to accomplish them except thou shape out fit means to obtain them bewar of Being unequally yoked Let thy match be suitable if thou wouldest have it profitaâ—le Consider how thou shalt live in that Relation that thou may live well in It. Bewar of the Snare of Poverty nor too greedily look after gain Keep the midle mean and that is to propose an honest and unchargeable way of living Say with Ag Give me neither Poverty nor Riches but what 's convenient for me Be not too confident in that thou art Perhaps young and strong to provide for thy self For thy youth may soon fade and thy strength decay a laudable seeking after a creditable way of living is rhy duty that thou have some talent and stock to use well which may by the Blessing of GOD be improved and thy Family provided 4ly That thou fall upon most clear and approved methods to attain these ends Besides what is already hinted thou art to engage in this setled state with consent of Parents if they be living for if thou oughtest to honour or obey thy Parents as GOD's Word directs Eph. 6. 1. Then thou 〈◊〉 not be but culpable If in this thou coâ—â— contrary to their will And if the Scâ—â—ture gives it as a note of Prophane Eâ—â— that by his Marriage he was a grieâ—â— heart to Isaac and Rebekah Wheâ—â— Jacob followed his Fathers Couâ—â— thou shalt find it most agreeable to follâ—â— Jacobs Rod and if thy parents should 〈◊〉 too tyranical and self willed in this 〈◊〉 imped thee for their own ends or as 〈◊〉 Apostle to the Hebrews sayeth in the 〈◊〉 of Chastisement for their own pleasuâ—â— yet shouldst thou be very submiss Bâ—â— they be unreasonably wilfull thou haâ—â— fuge in the Church which hath poâ—â— to call Parents to an account of their tâ—â—ciousness But this point is so fully hâ—â—led by Divines and determined by 〈◊〉 Church that I shall not enlarge this treaâ—â— upon it Only I would commend this â—â—siness to be orderly done with all thâ—â— necessarly previous to its consummatâ—â— and with suitable solemnities in the 〈◊〉 of GODs Chnrch and not after some â—â—sual Caruse nor done like a thing 〈◊〉 dares not hold up its face but doth 〈◊〉 and sneak in corners as the persons engâ—â—ing were ashamed that it shonld be knoâ—◠〈◊〉 the World whereas they must give an â—â—count of it before GOD Angels and Men. And make that suspected to the peoâ—â—e which they should approve themselves 〈◊〉 to their own Consciences and to the reâ—ular Church The Blessing whereof is not 〈◊〉 be despised by any private Man 5ly â—o carry Christianly in this Relation â—hat Man or Wife make conscience of â—â—eir mutual duties and the main thing â—hat concerns the Husband is Religious and Conjugal Love to his Wife which the Apostle so fully presseth Eph. 5. Gives the Man an excellent Pattern of the free sinâ—ere full and constant Love of CHRIST to â—he Church And the great Specifick of â—he Wifes duty is Reverence and Obediâ—nce to her Husband as the head For this Rational and Religious Love of the Husband Will last when the heats of passion shall expire and evanish And that Reverence and Obedience of the Wife to the Husband as it will Indear his Heart to her more and more so shall it make her to be taken among the number of the Godly Women especially Sarah 1 Peter 3 6. Who reverenced her hnsband and Called him LORD So that these things being observed they may be freer for a good Understandâ—â— among themselves to govern their Faâ—â—ly with Discretion and their Affairs 〈◊〉 Frugality and Vertue 2ly As to yâ—â— entrance into the Exercise of your Pâ—â—cular Calling be well advised that it qâ—â—drate with thy General Calling as a Chriâ—â—an Be as vertuous as thou may but 〈◊〉 not thy Bussiness hinder thee from workiâ—â— out the Work of thy own Salvaâ—ion â—â—gin and end the Day with GOD aâ—â— seek first the Kingdom of GOD aâ—â— His Righteousness Mat. 6. 20. And neâ—â— say that thou hast not time For if thâ—â— improve thy time with Frugality thâ—â— will never want leasure to seek and seâ—â— GOD It is to be feared thou wants Wiâ—â— and there lyes the root of the evil Thâ—â— would also take care to Employ thy seâ—â— well in an approved Calling Beware 〈◊〉 the snares thereof keep a good Conscience let the Word of GOD and noâ—â— Interest rule thy Conscience Be honeâ—â— in thy Calling beware of fraud anâ—â— sneaking wayes and work not in thâ—â— Calling to be called a Cheat Take rightâ—â— Measure true Ballance and the same Weights otherwayes thy Tricks are an Abomination to the LORD Consult the most approved Proportions for thy gain â—nd if thou be engaged in the laborious Work of the Husband-Man let Grace â—uide thy Georgicks And consider that in 〈◊〉 beginning such a Calling payed Fruits â—o GOD Gen 4. 3. He makes the ground â—â—st up to thee and brutish Animals â—eed thee Cloath thee and serve thee The LORD brings food out of the Earth Psal 104. 14. And makes the senseless Clod and Turâ— produce Corn and Grain And all thy Labour without His Blessing will not profit thee Thou canst therefore
have no excuse to neglect Religion in thy most busie Employment It will be good also that thou be a keeper at home and be not like a Bird that wanders from his Nest Let no sinful diversion especially the Tavern take thee away from thy Trade And if thou enclines to Religion follow not the guise of the Times be not carryed about with every wind of Doctrine Rather follow the Faith of the Orderly Church For it is very dangerous for love to a Sect to cutt the Church and break the Staves of Beauty For as long as thou reels with this giddy humour thou canst not well fix in a solid course of Religion And Lastly Beware of Discord and Division in thy family For 〈◊〉 consumes the Substance thereof makâ—â— many careless and desperate is an Enâ—â—my to all thâ—iâ—t For A house diviâ—â— cannot stand § 7. And for the management bâ—â— of thy conjugal Relation and callingâ—â— must here in the beginning of thy settâ—â—ment Recommend unto thee domâ—â—tick devotion and â—amily worship a duâ—â— that none of the seed of Jacob should â—â—cline it being their Fathers practice whâ—â— house was a Bethel to GOD a little Teâ—â—ple for the LORD of Glory who hâ—â— this duty brought down to him from 〈◊〉 famous Grandfather Faithful Abrahâ—â— who is commended for the Religious Gâ—â—vernment of his Family whose steps 〈◊〉 sau treased a man much of Contempâ—â—tion at home And thô Jacob hâ—â— Greater incumbrance and a more nuâ—â—erous family Yet his house as well 〈◊〉 person was consecrated to GOD. aâ—â— not only the Jews but also Christiaâ—â— should follow the Steps of these Venerâ—â— Patriarchs to be lively portractures of thâ—â— vertues as Images of their nature Aâ—â— this duty is so proper to the family thâ—â— before the Church was enlarged 〈◊〉 Master or Father of the House was â—â—iest and did officiate in the dayly Sâ—â—â—ifice at home And when the Church 〈◊〉 made more ample it is constitute of â—amilies which if Heterogenius to the â—ody they are but useless and corrupt â—embers Whereas the Families of the Faithful are blessed of GOD And His â—rath power'd out upon such families as all not upon His Name Jer 10. 25. Joshua that great Capâ—ain of the LORDS â—ost did not suffer his military Affairs 〈◊〉 hinder him and his House to serve GOD tho all Israel should neglect it David after him in the midst of a Bloomâ—â—g State under the burthen of a Crown and Countrey Yet walked Righteously in his House And every Tribe Family is called to pray and mourn a part Zech 12. 13. And the Gospel hath set up this Duty clearly Christ hath promised to be among the midst of two or three conveened in his Name And we read of the Church being in particular Houses and the Centurion feared GOD with all his House Acts 10 2. And Christ hath made 〈◊〉 a Royal Priesthood and a Holy Generation And this doth rather prepare for than invade a setled order of a Priesthood Private and Publick duty doth not interfere and Clash Thou must not only pray for thy Family but pray in thy Family Is the LORD the GOD of all the Familys of the Earth and not of thine Shalt thou wish GOD a Catholick service and cutt of thy Family by schisme This were to joyn thy House to another GOD or else to have none at all Let all Houses then that Smoak Smoak with Sacrifices to GOD for the House of the Godly is under a special Protection his Eyes are open to their Prayers GOD is a Shadow and Covert over the Roof of such Families It 's good To declare his Faithfulness every night and his Loving Kindness every morning Psal 92. 2. Let the People praise Thee O LORD let all the People praise Thee And Lastly This Duty of Family Devotion may be called Ezekiels Sign and Mark that saves from the destroying Angel and if any trouble fall out GOD knows how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations This Family worship is the great Characteristick of a Christian it makes thy House thy Home and gives thee Repose in thy Perigrination it makes thy house a Dutyful Tenement to the Great Land-Lord it payes due Rent to GOD it is the Bond and Beauty of thy House and makes thy Family like Jerusalem compact together § 8. Let every Christian then Regard Domestick duty which is so necessary and useful to guide the family and to consecrate and cover thy house which if thou Rule well with discretion and good Government thou shall find some leasure if it were but as long as to take thy Brakefast thou may conveen thy family and joyn together and seek GOD it would never hinder thy business but rather advance it if thou pretend thy ignorance it is much to be imputed to thy own fault and the neglect of thy Soul And if you say it is not the custom of many of your Rank Alas You are ready to follow an evil custom but to imitate what is good you have neither heart nor hand yet I am loath to leave thee in such neglect and therefore for meaner Capacities I shall subjoyn the Practice of Domestick Devotion and family Worship The Morning Prayer O Eternal and ever blessed GOD our blessed Creatour Preserver and Redeemer the fountain of Life and the Father of Lights the Keeper of Israel who never sleeps nor slumbers this poor family falls down before Thee this Morning and with all humble Devotion praises thy exalted Name for all thy mercies to Mankind and to us and that Thou has protected and refreshed us the night bygon and raiseâ— us up this morning in any health and hope Glory to Thee who hast given us time to rcpent LORD give us Grace to repcnt and to work oâ— the work of our own Salvation LORD heal oâ—â— corrupt nature sweeten our humour and seasâ—â— our heart with Grace slay our corruptions anâ— give our heart a right set with Thy healing haâ—â— perfect our Faith and guide us by Thy Spirit Vphold us with Thy Arm Refine and â—â—our hearts and passions set a Watch at the dâ—â— of our lips be at our right hand we shal nevâ—â— be moved give us to set Thee alwayes before 〈◊〉 and while it s called the day that we harden 〈◊〉 our hearts but hear thy Word and Voice thâ—â— we may spend the rest of our dayes in Thy 〈◊〉 and sincere Obediâ—nce save us from sin and Satan the deceits of the World and all dangerâ— of Soul and Body LORD bless our Famiâ—â— with Grace Peace Comfort and Contentmenâ—â— Heal the Church rule the publick Governmeâ—â— of Chureh and State Bless the Parish withâ—â— Gospel Blessing strengthen our Pastor prepaâ—â— us for Death and Judgement guide us all our dayes by Thy Council in Thy fear grant us a blessed and happy End and hereafter receive us unto Thy Glory through JESVS CHRIST our LORD in whose Name and Words 〈◊〉 pray Our Father c. And in the evening again labour to Recollect
your selves and ere you give slumber to your eye lids seek out a habitation for the mighty GOD of Jacob that he may dwell in your heart and house And Pray after this manner The Evening Prayer O Most Gracious GOD and Father of mercies we thy unworthy servants come this Night before the Throne of thy Grace to present our Evening oblation through the perfect sacrifice of thy Son our Saviour once offered and still effectual through his containued Intercession in presenting that meritorious blood on our behalf We adore thee Our Good and Gracious GOD and gives Glory to thy name confessing our sinfulness Original and actual and our escapes in thought word and deed We have sinned Alace we have sinned againâ—t thy mercies and the warnings of thy word and Rod In the sight of an all-seeing GOD LORD give us Repentance and Remission and from henceforth guide us in the pathes of Righteousness for thy Name sake LORD watch over us this night that we may be Refreshed under the Cloud of thy covert and have matter of rejoicing in thee in the morning prepare us for all duty and all tryals and our last tryal Be with us to the end and in the end of our life and hereafter receive us into thy Glory Lord let thy Kingdome come have mercy on the World heal the Christian Church and in this Nation powr out a spirit of Grace truth peace and charity upon it be with all our friends and all that fear thee give us Charity to give and forgive as thou requires We commit our selves and all ours to thy keeping through Jesus Christ our LORD The grace of our LORD JESVS The love of GOD the Father and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with us for now and ever Amen § 9. If thou can read or if there be some few to sing a Psalm GOD's Word and Praise may help to Hallow your House if not fail not to make use of these Prayers till thou get better and be more dexâ—â—rous in Devotion and wait on GOD in the way of Duty Shun Idleness and Sin and wandring from your house which will obstruct this work and consider that it is good to begin well and to bring forth fruit in this Season Use makes perfection and ye can not breath a free Air till you dwell in the Wholesome Regions of Religion Make progress under the Gale of the Spirit Stir up the faculties of reason to be holy happy in the flower of your age and you shall find that Dimidium facti qui bene cepit habet that a Good beginning is a great progress for true Wisdom hews her Pillars and builds her house Prov. 9. 1. The Prayer O LORD through thy providence I am now come to some consiâ—â—ence of age I thank thee for the happy opportunities I have Enjoyed of the light of thy word teaching me to be wise sober solid Just and honest And had I improved well I had been an expert souldier of CHRIST Pardon my Fâ—â—lours wherein I have been shaken by temptation I desire now to stand under the Guard of the whole Armour of GOD. LORD thou has led me by thy invisible hand through a labyrinth of Childhood and Indigested youth It is a mercie I have not spleeted upon Rocks and ruined but by Grace I stand LORD unite my heart to fear 〈◊〉 Name I know that difficulties attend me 〈◊〉 the credit of my course the assistance of my Câ—â—tain the honour of my engagement and 〈◊〉 comfort of my Reward do animat me 〈◊〉 to faint for in due time I shall Reap throâ—â— JESUS CHRIST Amen STAGE Third Which commenceth from the 30 to the 〈◊〉 year of our age or there about which being a very material part of our Life I shall for clearness sake consider in three courses 1. Of the Ordering thy person Familâ—â— and walking in the pathes of Vertâ—â— and Religion 2. A Discourse to several Ranks of peoplâ—â— with all seriousness and modesty 3. What fine your labour in Vertue Piety Good Government of your lifâ—â— and family and the progress of your Religion the ordering of your House and the setting forth of your Childrenâ— to Laudable and Lawfull callings and settlement hath come to COURSE first The Contents Of the Right methods of Religion and Vertue for the Ordering of our person our Families And General and particular calling in this long and serious course of our life with means and motives for the furthering of these ends and suteable Devotion § 1. HAving led thee hitherto to some digested and setled Course of Life and helped thee by the Light and guidance of Religion out of the darker cells of Minority to clearer Air And from the beginning of thy Majority a very difficult scene of thy Life to the consistence of thirty Years of thy Age wherein if ever thou look to be Vertuous thou wilt make some ground of Hope bud fâ—rth This is a time wherein thou must either appear to be a man and a Christian Or a Mushrome and a Grape of unsavoury fruit â—ook first then to thy bygone way if thy work be begun and carried on hitherto or yet any solid Work of Grace very imperfect and scarse well founded For experience anâ—â— perhaps thine own senses if exerciseâ—â— will make thee feel thy pronness to 〈◊〉 off and delay Make â—ound work therefore and follow the streight Line of Religion and Morality Redeem misspeâ—â— time cleave to the LORD with full purpose of Heart and because thy Heart 〈◊〉 inconstant say with the Psalmist Unâ—â— my Heart O LORD to fear Thy Namâ—â— Psal 36. 12 Serve thy Generation anâ— carry worthily in it 2ly After this Reflection see what form thou now are itâ— If thy Heart be Right and stedfast in thâ— Covenant if thou be free of visible Blemishes Deut 32. 5. Which are noâ— the spots of GODS Children If thy lifâ— and family begin to blink with anâ— lustre If thou be thriving in Vertue anâ— piety if thou carry Creditably and be reputed to have an Honest and Religioâ—â— family and Grace and Peace beautifie the same 3ly If thou grow in Grace For Grace being a principle of new life iâ— may ly hid in the Root for some Seasons as a Plant or a Tree in Winter after which verdent greenness doth appear So is it with Grace it may lurk in the Heart and then come forth with greater Life and Fruit And this will distinguish betwixt a Real and Counterfit Christian his Light Life and Fruit will declare that the Seed of GOD remains in him And this you may perceive by the decay of sin and the greater vigour of Vertue in thee And it is with thee as it was with the House of Saul and David The House of Saul waxed weaker and weaker The House of David Stronger and Stronger Thou must be as Joseph a fruitful Bough both in thy General and Paricular Calling Water thy Garden every Morning for the refreshing of thy tender Plants Learn the
GOD is the Jâ—dâ— and knoweth all things And now its hâ—â— time that thy Wisdom appear to maâ—â— thee wise unto Salvation otherwise iâ— but worldly wit For true Wisdom is Siâ—plicity heavenly sincerity and accurate walkinâ— which as it makes thee useful in thy Geâ—â—rationâ— So makes it thy face to shine aâ—elevates thee to a clearer orb there to Râ—main as a fixed Star § 3. 2ly What resolutions thouâ— hâ—â— to encounter incident personal afflictioâ—â— Afflictions spring not out of the dust buâ— they attend dust ashes they flow from many causes And now in thy declining age thou art to encounter with the decay of a frail Body occasioned By obstructions Rehums distillations and manifold distempers which requires a great deal of fortitude and firmitie of mind to â—â—dure and improve together with all inciâ—ent tryals from without that are appointâ—d for thee which thou should sweeten by â—â—e consideration of Christ's sufferings â—rm thy self with patience and poise thy â—elf with Christian Contentment in all â—he counterbuâ—s of tryal know with the Aâ—ostle How to be abased and how to be exâ—lted through Christ strengthening thee Phil. 4. 12. § 4ly What account thou can give of thy self to GOD and man Every one must give account of himself to GOD enquire then if thou hast any register of thy diurnal and Annual accounts if thy conscience doth report to thee that thou art serious in Religion and dissintangled from any affection to sin and false way which if thou find as it will afford great peace so will it commend thee to Men especially to such as deserve the name of Men and thou shalt by such accuracy deservedly get the name of a good wise and honest man and go off the Stage of time with a Euge and an applause well done good and faithful servant enter into thy Masters joy Matt. 28. 21. § 5. 4ly If thou through CHRIST helping thee labours to perfection It is tâ—â— nature of Grace still to grow and such 〈◊〉 are planted in the LORDS house by 〈◊〉 hand off GOD bring forth fruit in thâ— old age there is no time for sloth 〈◊〉 Man be now as to his outwardframe muâ—â— abâ—agendo yet the Spirit is loosing and nearer Heaven and hath more of Heavâ—â— and so the inner Man is renewed day 〈◊〉 day and thou canst do all things throuâ—â— CHRIST strenghning thee if thy dutâ— be lame and thy graces weak thou mâ—strive to make them up and labour 〈◊〉 square thy self by Religion for that 〈◊〉 which lyeth four square let no part 〈◊〉 thee be without its policy that thou maattain unto that perfection that can 〈◊〉 reached here § 6. 5ly If thou be running thy Raâ— in the good fight of Faith Thou must noâ— stop till thou come to the end and obtain the prize and tho thy limbs be noâ— weak thy faith should be strong anâ— thy Soul vigorous to take Heaven 〈◊〉 Violence § 7. 6ly If thou be busie now in ripening thy self for Heaven As thy Soul should be purified so should it be ready and all in white with the holy Vesture of the Wedding Garment that thus adorned thou mayest meet the Bridegroom The world now may clog thee but it should be little in thy Eye for it is empty and nothing can satisfie thy Soul but GOD and thy thus continuated Grace must take fire with the sparks of Divine Love till it be consummate in Glory and thou attain to the Regions of Love Life Peace and Joy § 8. 7ly If thou dayly prepare for death and have thy Soul upon readiness Thou must now wait the Gail of Grace with a Calm and comfortable Air to conduct thee to thy fathers house death hath already entered thy windows ceased upon thy faculties and loosed thy Tabernacle and there remains but little of animal and Vital Spirit in thy â—ead and heart Thou shouldst now have thy Loyns girt up and be ready to shake of thy fetters when thy Master calls that thou mayest resolutely render up thy Soul into the hands of a Faithfull Creatour And § 9. 8ly Come I now to consider the Means Motives to advance this Beside all that has been said the great â—ean now to be used consists in Consideration Action and Devotion To conâ—ider well where ye are and whither ye tend If every thing relating to Eternity be well ordered 〈◊〉 disposed If Faith and Repentance 〈◊〉 had their perfect Work And if nâ—â— thou be disposing thy â—elf by Heaveâ— Mindedness that with thy Eyes cloâ— upon the World thy faith as a prospâ— beholds in the Heavenly Visions of soâ— and serious Contemplation the Gloriâ—â— thy Fathers House To which thou mâ— add sincere Devotion and by a constaâ— Course of lively Prayer labour to attaâ— unto the Land of Praise For which 〈◊〉 thing can be added by way of Motiâ— more useful than the consideration 〈◊〉 thy Heavenly Aid to help and assist thâ—â— in duty with the proposal of that greaâ— Recompence of Reward that is laid uâ— for thee in Heaven with all that Lovâ— the appearing of our LORD JESUS CHRIST § 10. And altho in this stage of thy Liâ—â— to which few attaiâ—n thou must make use of thy stock and live upon it as a Beâ— doth in Winter upon hony tho through the Infirmity of Old Age the outward Organs be much weakened the inward faculties not as before yet must thou bring forth fruit in old age Psal 92. 14. as much as possible Guard against that which is called Dottleness by dissentangling thy self â—rom the cares and affairs of the World and labour by wisdom and wariness to keep thy self from the weakness of a Crazy Brain and a fible mind that thou do not much affect converse except that with GOD who is the Ancient of dayes that thou lean not to thy memory but learn of St. James To be swift to hear and slow to speak and that through the direction of GOD Thou follow the Patriarchs in old and the Primitive Fathers under the new dispensation as Polycarp St. Johns disciple who Vigorously Endured his Tryal in the 86 year of his Age * Eus Hist liâ— 5. Cap. 15. and to seek in to the GOD of Wisdom that thy Judgement and intellectuals be clear which is a mercy that should be much sought after by all that thus the strength of thy mind may be fresh after the toils of thy life and that thou esteem the mercy of GOD that has lengthned thy dayes on earth against long and everlasting Eternity And that thô GOD for Holy ends may remove some who are hopefull in the very Bud and Alas Thô many hasten their own fate and shorten their dayes by misdiet Passion and follâ— Yet if thou persevere in the way of rightâ— ousnses thou shall have the advantagâ— of great experiâ—nces and have a freâ— and nearer prospect of the promised land every hour looking for Eternity anâ— with old Simeon waiting the LORD's pasâ— and not only Dye with
is the Faith of the Church the hope of the Just the comfort of the aflicted and the great Crise and Result of of mortal Life Which will determine all the Intriges of Providence and destribute Rewards and Punishments according to their Works Theâ—e is a principâ—e and facultie in every Man which makes him accountable to GOD. This as it is an Article of our Creed so the Scripture fully determines it Ecc. 12 14. Matt 25. Acts 17. 30. 2 Cor 5. 10. GOD will be publickly manifested in His Hâ—liness and Justice the Equity and Reasonableness of His Laws and severity against sin Who will not acquite thy guilty And the monuments of Grace will sâ—e their Demerit had not the Merit of Christ prevented the punâ—shment Fixe then this Truth in thine heart and constantly apprehend â—â—th an Ancient Father that thou hearest 〈◊〉 Sâ—uâ—dâ—ngs of the last Trump with â—he Voice of GOD Arise Dead and come te Judgement § 3. 2ly That this Judgement in a part commenceth immediatly after Death is assâ—rted by the Apostle Heb 9. 27. The Saints of old have â—nherited the Promises The Convert Thief immediately after was judged and entered Paradise and the rich Glutton got his Doom and after his death was set to the place of Torment But the open visible and general Assize of the whole World is delayed to the time of the Restitution of all things When and where Soul and Body Good bad Young and Old without Law and under Law will be judged According to their Works and tho in the Apostles times some were â—hanatick said that the Resurrection was past some Atheitical scoffers as St. Peter sayeth Impioâ—sly Ragâ—ing and â—corning where is the promiss of his coming not knowing that God worketh hitherto hath great patience in whose Eternal View a Thousand years are but as one day yet when his works is done all the World will be judged which day and Hour GOD hath keept secret in his Eternal Council 〈◊〉 good and holy ends And there somethings yet unaccomplished before 〈◊〉 end to wit the full conversion of the Jeâ— Rom. 11. 26 and the discoverie of 〈◊〉 declension of the Christian Church 〈◊〉 exposing of that man of sin and son Perdition The pure Gospel becom 〈◊〉 divive and the Christian Church be muâ— liberated from the great Corruption 〈◊〉 manners and worship according to 〈◊〉 Primitive Patern When these shall comeâ— pass and not till then shall the end 〈◊〉 In the mean time let us pâ—ssess our selâ— with the Belief of This truth that all 〈◊〉 nerations shall be judged before the Tâ—â—bunal of the Soveraign Judge ss 4. 3ly The Judge GOD hath coâ—mitted all Judgement to the Son Aâ—â— hath appointed a day in which he will Judge 〈◊〉 world in Righteousness by him Acts. 17. 3â— We must all appear before the judgement sea◠〈◊〉 CHRIST 2 â—or 5. 10. When the Son 〈◊〉 Man shal appear in his Glory Matt. 25. 3â—â— And in this he Exerciseth his mediâ—torial Kingdom which will continue tâ—â— the last Enemie be distroyed which 〈◊〉 Death He declined to be a Judge on â—arth but came to be Judged and it is â—ighly reasonable that he who was unâ—ustly judged should judge the World in Righteousness Then shall they who have â—earced him by their sins mourn and â—owl But His afflicted people shall lift up â—heir head and say This is the Day that â—he LORD hath made Blessed is He who comâ—th to save us For our LORD and Kingâ—o whom the Godly have submited in â—heir time whose Scepter Cross they wilâ—ingly have born is now come to deliver â—hem He that bore our sins on His own Body on the Tree He that is a Compaâ—sionate High Priest He that is the King of Peace is now come to Judge them according to the Gospel of Peace and His easie Yoak which they did take upon them and walkt under What then shall such expect but Love and Peace and Pity from their LORD King and Brother Who is much Meeker than Moses more Loving than David and more Merciful than Man can be Whereas it shall be a great dreadour to the wicked to behold this Meek LAMB roaâ— like a Lyon against them § 5. 4ly The Process We cannot coneeive how soon and yet how exactly this-shall be done since every ones Conscience is in the place of a Thousand Witnesses and the Judge needeth no Information nor farther probation Every one then will be Judged according to that Law which was Given them to walk by And such as are under the Gospel shall be Judged by the Law of libertie Jam 1. 25. And the Issue will be whether they have obeyed or disobeyed the Gospel and walked suitably thereunto and answered the opurtunities they have enjoyed above oâ— thers to make them Christians indeed And fit for the Kingdom of GOD. ss 6. 5ly The Sentence will be accord to thy works tho thou be justified by Faith and saved by Grace yet the LORD will reward according to thy works For to the true Christian there is a wonderful mitigation of the Rigor of the Law by the easie terms of the Gospel and such shal receive sentence according to that Infinite Love revealed therein then shal the great sheepherd appear in Glorie yet probably with the Honourable marks of the Cross that all who have gloried in Hiâ— Cross may rejoice such as have stumbled at â—t hang their heads The Sentence shall decide in favours of Believers and all who have Closed with the conditions of the Gospel and Obeâ—ed the Faith 1. 5. Which is the great specifick of Christanity Such may appear before him with his marks upon them of Faith Mortification and Self-denyal c. And that in their time they have born Testimony against a sinful Generation they shall receive that favourable sentence Come ye Blessed c. The Prayer O Soveraign Judge prepare me for Death and Judgement It is much my comfort that thou art Judge Competent and Compassionate Thou wilt not acquite the Guilty yet Thou delights in mercy and there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou may be feared LORD give me my discharge in time for Who can condemn CHRIST has dyed I make my humble application to the Mercies of Thy Infinite Bowels the Merit of Thy Death the worth of thy Blood and the Power of Thy Intercession I have many Accusers am convict But LORD say to me that thou will not condemn me Thou knows all the Intrigs of my Soul What I cannot clear LORD do Thou cancell I make Mercy my claim Thy Merit my Trust and Thy Righteousnesâ— my Justification Give me the White stone to refresh my Soul till Thou grant me the Crown oâ— Righteousness at Thy Appearing Amen The Third Last Thing HELL 1. TO treat of Hell is a sad Subject Tophet should have a Beacoâ— set over it that Passangers may be aware Let us then consider 1 The Certainty of a future punishment of the Wicked in another World and
powerful Engine even the Power of GOD unto Salvation Rom 7. 16. that if it were not opposed by the petty power of Men and GOD may suffer this for good and holy ends it would certainly make a sensible change in the Christian World This Gospel not only pressing and propounding a pure Faith and also good manners and impartially distributing to every Rank their Duty It cannot be suffered in this Luxurient and Wantoâ— Age when the lusts of Men not the Golâ— pel carries the sway And further if thâ— methods of Christs Oeconomy for the government and the Education of His Disciples were not despised and not considered all would be observant of their Station and Relation But alas Baptism and Baptismaâ— Engagements are very little headed by Parents or Children and Confirmation is either not in use or not in force And the Keyes both of Doctrine and Discipline are cunningly thrusted out of the Churches hands and the great Men of the World will have it so and the most of Men hate restraint and therefore love to have it so but let the Godly humble and mourn for all this and pray that the Gospel may yet have its Native Power and the Sacraments and the Discipline of CHRIST have their Genuine force that the Church may be yet Patronised and become fair as the Moon beautiful as the Sun and terrible as an Armie with Banners Cant. 3. 6. Then would Religion shine in its glory then would differences be healed and good and bad be discovered then People would return to the LORD with their faces thitherwaâ—d then would GODS Day â—rdinances and Ministers Be punctually looked to and respected then would GOD be set up in the Houses and Hearts profession and practices of Men and a golden Age woulâ— be Restored that all the Godly mighâ— cry grace to the work and Glory to the Workeâ— The Prayer LORD heal a sinful World and a sadly corrupted Church and open the Eyes of the powers and of all people more to mind the things oâ— Jesus Christ Heal the Backslidings of this sâ—â—ful Generation and bring us out to the Light thâ— we may see thy Righteousness let the time even thâ— set time to favour Zion comeâ— and regard thoâ— O LORD the Prayer of the destitute who loves Zion even in the Dust Revive the pregnant Pâ—â—rity of Primitive Christianity after the dierfull declensions of many generations come LORD down upon mount Zion O Lyon of the Tribe of Judah and roar with terrour that all the wicked of the Earth may tremble And display 〈◊〉 banner for all that long and wait for thy Salvation Amen § 7. 2ly As to any Form of Devotioâ— used in this Treatise I need not apologize much since this hath been impressed upon the Rational World by invincable rable Arguments Only as to my Mite and Measure I shal desire you to consider First That by the Commandment of GOD himself Forms were used in the Jewish Church And not only the Matter but the Words were put in Moses's mouth by the LORD Num 6 from 22. to the end And at the resting of the Camp of Israel And by the Prophet Hosea returning Israel is bid take with him words Hosea 14. 2. And say Take away all iniquitie And the whole of the Jewish worship Sacrifices was directed by GOD in a constant form of Incence and Oblations And in the times of the new Test John the Baptist taught his Disciples the form of Prayer and Christs Disciples crave of Him the same direction who said unto them when â—e pray say Our Father c. Which Prayer was still in use amongst the Disciples of Christ as it is probably inferred from that of St. Peter If ye call on the Father c. 1 Pet 1. 17. Where probably the Apostle Judgeth it to be the constant custom of Christians to say the LORDS Prayer And the Primitive Church had it's Liturgies which hath been the practice of the best of Churches It were therefore Good that a novice sect of men that are so much against forms should not so superciliously imagine that doubtless they are the People and that Wisdom dwells with them And that they are only competent to Reform the Christian World in it's practice of Devotion for 16 Ages since they themselves use a form of Benediction and dimission of the people according to the Appostolick practice Tâ—â— Grace of our Lord Jesus c. And 2ly If it be considered impartially this doth not restrict Men especially Gospel Ministers to a Form but are allowed without doubt to express their mind to GOD in the method of their own conceptions providing it be done with gravity knowledge and great deliberation But it would be adverted that Forms do not stint the expressions of Mens Gifts and the Spirit of Prayer doth not soly assist in these extemporary Gifts but also doth Act in the Calm Element of an approved form since it is not the matter only but the heart guided by the Spirit that helpeth to a Right way of Devotion and it may be in Charity Judged that the devout praâ—ing The LORDS Prayer may do it with as much if not more of the Spirit than by an extemporarie Gift and I am confident The experiences of many deâ— vour persons will say no less So that it seems a Stupendious conceit in men to deny the constant use of that Divine Prayer uttered by the heart and lips of himâ— that was full of the HOLY GHOST And for my self I would Shrink to lay aside the use of these venerable and comprehensive words which are â—o be looked upon as the season and incense of all our Oblations And therefore I hope It shall not be thought impertinent to Summ up the matter of this treatise in all it's Periods and Stages into some particular Suitable forms which for clearness sake I shall ser down according to the six dayes of the Week and the LORDS Day The Prayer to be used upon Munday for Childhood OCreatour and Preserver of Man Thou made us and not we our selves Psal 100. And I was cast upon thee from the Womb Psal 22. 9. Thou madest me hope with an implicite Dependance while I was upon the Breasts O what a Blessing is it to be sanctified in the Womb and from the Womb This is a singular Grace indeed and all that are under the Rayes of the Gospel have the nearest access thereunto especially when by the happiness of Education it is early transmitted unto the Mind O LORD there have been myriads and millions of people before me And thou hast brought me forth in the last dayes and I am nothing but an empty Vessel without Thee I am lately sprung out of nothing and am nothing and have nothing and better had it been for me to have been nothing than want Thy Incorruptible Grace O LORD prevent me in the morning of my short day and Instill some Tincture in this new Vessel which may give it a lasting Relish Season my
Heart with the Salt of Grace and make me to grow in Grace Imprint O LORD upon the Table of my Heart the A B C of Christianity teach me to know Love Fear Choice and Obey Thee give me to savour something of Reason and Religion in my ruder Age that I may mind my moment not trifle my time away abouâ— things of no moment Pardon and heal the corruption of my nature and the Vices of my person give me the new Heart in my younger dayes take away all Impediments and prejudices at Vertue and Religion And so shape sharpen and Sanctifie me that I may become an Instrument of Thy Glory and be prepared for Duty in the following Periods of the Life that thou shalt grant me Amen Devotion in order to Youth to be Exercised on Tuesday NOw Blessed GOD thou hast enlarged me from the bondage of None-Age the yoak of Discipline Keep me under thy Discipline For thy yoak is easie and thy commands are not grievous I am now lifted up to the Prime of my Age LORD make me steddy by Thy Grace that I do not turn giddy and stagger When I look back I find I have been Childish in mind as well as body What dark conceptions have I had of thee And any little spark of Grace was smuthered with a Mass of corruption the Brute in me much mastered it How raw and rude were my Notions of Religion And how contracted and deadned was my Conscience I was almost in all evil and knew it not and much under the Senses and sensitive Appetite The root of all evil was in me and I was content with my pleasant Fetters and were not Thy Mercy Thou hadst fully cast me off the Stage as a miscreant unworthy to live Yet LORD thou hast brought through all this dark trance of Childhood 1 Kings 18. 26. Save me from youthful lusts and grant mewith Obadiab that I may fear thee from my youth purge me from the Dregs of Nature Let them not fix in my Bones least in fuller years I â—e made to possess the sins of my Youth Joâ—â— 20. 11. Make me vigorous to engage under the Banner of CHRIST to fight against the infernal Trinity the devil the world and the Flesh and own the Holy TRINITY Blessed for ever Give me to offer the first fruits of my Life to Thee LORD make me to relish the sweetnesâ— of Vertue above all the pleasures of the World and pardon the Errors of my Youth Psal 25 11. and so ballast and establish me with Grace that I may lanch out unto a longer Life and not make shipwrack of Faith and good Conscience but have Thy Word for my Pilote Thy Spirit for my Star Humility for my Ballast the Gail of Grace to fill the Soul of my Affections Thy Glory for my End and Eternal Life for my Harbour Through JESUS CHRIST My LORD Amen 3ly Devotion As to our Entrance to a â—alling and Relation to be exercised on Wednesday O GOD of Love the Father of all sweet Harmony and Peace and the great Proveditor of Man Thou hast made him a Sociable Creature and hast united Mankind in a Society as Members of one Body Thou hast ordained him to live by his own Industry in the use of the Means which by Thy Blessing tends to his Provision As Nature abhores Vacuity so Thou O LORD abhores Idleness and hath given a particular Vocation to Man for Vertue LORD make me religious in my general Calling as a Christian and frugall in my particular Calling grant me the composed Wisdom to make choice of a Helper like unto Me let neither Lightness â—ondness nor carnal phansie be the principle and measures of my Affection and choice let the Advice and council of those whom I ought to follow be consulted and bless me with such purity in my Design that if by Thy Allowance I enter into a conjugal State I may ascend that bed with Innocence and Whiteness without the very knowledge of the carnal Tricks of Sin and Satan And when enteredâ— to entertain a constant Conjugal Affection to the wife or Husband of my Youth and if ever I have escaped in the least wash me throughly and Cement our Relation with the Endearments of the best Bond that our Family may be a Betâ—el to Thee Make our Calling Honest and Creditable and wherein we may be usefull to Thee and if Thy Providence hath brought us to Fortunes give us to consider that Thou wilt only honour them that honour Thee make us usefull in our Generation in the Stations Thou hast put us and may we with all Descretion pursue the Ends of our General and particular Calling to Thy Glory and our Comfort Amen Fourthly Devotion for our Riper years to be exercised on Thursday O Eternal Life and Action who dwells in a perpetual Repose grant me in all my Actions to aim Thee and repose in Thee and since now I must resolve with Action having not only the charge of my self but of a Family grant me to be active to what is accountable and agreeable for the increase of my Talents and the Improvement of the opportunities of my Time and Station Save me from vexing cares and doubtful aâ—xiety but grant me rational and providential Caâ—e in the diligent Use of the Means Help me to Cast all my Care upon Thee 1 Pet 5 7. And as to distâ—ust to be careful for nothing Save me from all impertinent and destructive digresions and let me never be worse than an Infidel in not providing for my Family and grant me O LORD Thy Blessing without which my â—arly and late Endeavours will not profit us Save me from all wrong measures in the Improvement of my Stock knowing that A little that the Righteous Man hath is better thâ—n the Treasures of the wicked For thou can turn my Mite into Talents Give me to seek the Kingdâ—m of GOD and mind the one Thing necessary without which all bussiness is but trouble give me to win my Soul and do Good in my place and time that when I cease from my labours I may enter into the Repose of everlasting Rest Through JESUS CHRIST my LORD Amen 3ly Devotion For our Declining Age on Friday O Unchaâ—geable GOD the same to Day Yesterday for ever the whole Creation hath been is and will be under a Decay untill the Deliverance of the Children of GOD. Our Life is but a vapour and a shadow the World so weights us that man begins to Decline ere he well consider that he lives Help O LORD my bowing and declining age give me to â—loath my self against the Winter and fill me well against a troubled Sea LORD give me to superstruct well upon solid Foundations to build my House upon a Rock 'T is time for me now to be wise since I have seen and done so much folly I will not choice the World for my portion it is Thee O LORD and Thee only as the Cenâ—er and Repose of my
fully made up in the perpetual festival which they shall enjoy in their Fathers house where we hope Luther and Calvin and their biguit adherents Having keept the main of Religion are now agreed And all the debates about Modus Rei the manner of our LORDS presence in the Eucharist are now settled and saâ—iâ—fied in the Celestial Communion Where all debates anent the outward policy of the Church shall evanish When we come to a continual Doxologie of the Trine-Une GOD anâ— aâ—tain unto the General Assemly of the first-born where also we hope that Papists who have walked suitably to fundamentals of Religion yet through the Unhappiness of their Birth and Education have been under a sort of invincible Ignorance shall join with the Protestant Where also we do charitably hâ—pe that many who are without aâ—d have answered their Light in Morality and have implicitly closed with the Mercy of GOD which takes in all the methods of its communication may come to share of the deepth of that Mercy which is the very Nature of GOD And that Tremendous Justice which rendereth to every man according to his Works and impartiaâ—â— Judgeth such as are under and such as aâ—â— without Law And particulary we hoâ—â— that all the private Contests among Fam 〈…〉 lys and Relations which have floweâ—â— from humour weakness temptations and incumberances of the World shall all be gone when the warm Flame of the infinite Love of GOD shall fill their Hearts § 15. Away with all biguit adherance to a Sect or Party since neither Papisâ— nor Protestanism Parity nor Prelacy will save us if we be not real Christians We ought indeed to search all things and hold what is best but withall we should not so much lean to our own understanding but follow after Charity that Ephraim no more vex Israel but all be joyned in one faith to the LORD § 16. Away with all fears of the frowns of providence for there is a wise disposer Away with all vexation about the troubles of Revolutions since we hope to be Citizens of a Continuing City that hath a Foundation Let us labour to vanquish the World by Faith and be still doing good and we need not fear what man can do ss 17. Adiâ—w all Relatives and Acquaintances We leave you to the â—race and Guidance of God Farewel Sun â—nd Mâ—on and that glâ—riâ—us Canopy of â—he Firmament bespangled with dividâ—d Lights For we hope to Live above â—he Clouds in our Fathers House where there is no need of the Sun because the Son of Righteoâ—sness is there we leave all the flowers and pleasures of an earthly paradise to feed upon the Tree of Life And last of all farewell beloved Body the Spirit and Voice of our Beloved sayes come we must gird up the loins of our Mind we leave thee to the dust but we hope to return-again for tho thou hast been corrupted by sin yet now sanctified by the Blessed Body of CHRIST we lay thee down as precious dust to be refined in the bowels of the Earth Our Souls can not be fully perfect without Thee therefor go to thy Dormitory and sleeping house till the last Trump sound and then shall we be made perfect in Soul and Body and be ever with the LORD The Devotion Suitable ANd now what clogs and fetters thee O my Soul thou sees what sin and the world can do linger not but arise for thisâ—â— not thy Rest look to the recompence of reward with Moses think upon the calmnâ—â— of a better life in the tâ—mpests of this fight the Good fight of Faith and GOD will give thee the Crown of Life Prepare for Judgâ—mâ—nt and Eternity for the Judge is aâ— the Door The Prayer LORD make up my wants and Remove what is superfluous in me adorn me with the Weâ—ing Garment and deck my soul that through thy Grace I may be able to enter in Courage Courage O my Soul for CHRISTS mercy and Grace iâ— before thee let not Death be Irksome to thee but LORD grant me the Wish that I have long breathed for to Die in peace and lay down my Tabernacle with joy and render up my Soul to GOD with delight I have seen an end of all perfection in the short span of my life I have seen the Glory of the World pass away like a Scroll there 's nothing certain but in Thee all flesh is Grass but thy word endureth for ever I have seen Riches flee away with the Wings of the morning and strength and vigour turn to weakness but Thou O LORD art the only sure portion of thy People I count all things loss for thee I have none in Heaven but thee and none is there on Earth that I desire beside Thee I aquiesce in thee as my Repose for ever Thou art all my bless and happiness for ever Amen The End AN APPENDIX The Pastoral legacy and latter will of a Gospel Minister to his flock in some Sermous upon 2 Pet Chap. 1. from v 12. to the middle of 16. Preached from the 2 Sunday of April to the 4th Sunday of June 1693. To the Reader Courtious Reader COnsidering the weakness and uncertainty of my life being under often Infirmities some years bygon to which I humbly submit and kisses the hand that smites me considering also the uncertainty of the times not knowing how soon I may be turned out I did resolve to leave this Valedictarie behind me for the good of my flock and of any that shall pursue it which I dedicatâ— to the glorie of GOD and the Edification of the Church and to my Reverend Brethren of the Ministrie Moses took hie leave of Israel and left directions after him Deut. 1. 32. So did Solomon Eccl. 12. 8. And He that is greater than Solomon our Blessed Lord had his farewell Sermon John chap 14 15 16 Saint Paul Acts 20 29. And. St. Peter here So I desire to leave my Flock with some Advertisement and monument of my care for them Sermon I. Containing the Compact Chain of our Holy Religion exactlie knitting the Priviledges and Properties of a Christian together in one link in the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore I Shall leave it to such as write upon the whole Epistle to vendicate it from the false Aspersion of some who denyed it to be Canonical of whom Eus speaks in his Church history 3 Book 25. Chap Which indeed was very unjust since the Epistle savoâ—rs of its Author and the genious of Christianity So that its like whoever they were that refused it to be Canonick could not bâ—â— be among the number of those false Prophers mentioned by this Apostle Chap 2 d Vers 1. Or of â—hese scoffers of whom he writes Chap 3 d Verse 1. Neither shall I insist upon the design and scope of this Epistle since it is so clearly manifest to any that â—eads it mentioning the great priviledges and properties of a Christian and a preserv â—ive against false Prophers and