strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by Communion with Christ in the Graces and Comforts of his Spirit Q. Why was this Sacrament instituted A. To shew forth the Death of Christ Q. How must we receive it A. In Remembrance of him Q. But that you may receive it aright what must you do A. Examine my self whether I live in any Sin Q. Why so A. Because if I live in any known Sin I shall be an unworthy Receiver Q. What is the Sin and Danger of unworthy Receiving A. He that receiveth unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord and eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself Q. What must you then do A. Repent of my Sins and resolve to lead a new Life Q. But with what Graces must you be furnisht that you may be fit to come to the Lord's Table A. With Faith in Christ brotherly Love and Charity Q. Wherein must you specially shew this Charity A. In loving mine Enemies doing good to them that hate me and forgiving them that wrong me Q. If you rightly receive this Blessed Sacrament what Benefit shall you have thereby A. God will seal up to me the Pardon of my Sins and the Salvation of my Soul Q. But how must you demean your self after you have received A. I must carefully keep my selt from every known Sin and be diligent in every good Duty Q. What will be the Issue of this Holy-Course A I shall at length see my Saviour in Heaven and for ever live and reign with him in Glory Joh. 14.5 If ye love me keep my Commandments Self-Examination Directed by way of Example wherein The Qualification of a Worthy Communicant is disclosed by the Answer of a good Conscience to some Necessary Inquiries The Apostle's Precept 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a mau EXAMIN himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. The Christians Practice IHAVE now an Opportuni-of receiving the Blessed Sacrament of the LORD'S SUPPER I cannot neglect it without the Guilt of a great Sin the Breach of Christ's Command Luk. 22.10 who hath said This do in Remembrance of me yea the Contempt of Christ crucifid who therein offers himself freely with all the Benefits of his Body and Bloud to my Soul and the Resusal of the Renewall of my Covenant with God whereby as I am bound to a Holy Obedience so I am assured of everlasting Blessednefs And yet if I receive it unworthily I shall be guilty of the body and Bloud of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.27.29 and eat and drink to my self Judgment and become liable to Damnation Yet I know the neglect of my Duty is no way to escape this Danger But the way both to escape the Danger and to enjoy the Benefit is to Examine my self 1 Cor. 11 28. and so to come to the Lord's Table This then with the Help of God will I do I will here set my self as before God and as in his sight and Presence examine my self as he hath commanded Now the Lord direct and assist me in this Work that I may so know the State of my own Soul as that I may rightly dispose my self for the receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of Christ's Holy Supper and the Participation of the inestimable Benefits of his Body and Bloud This Holy Supper 1 Cor. 11.25 I know is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace or New Testament which is ratifi'd in the Bloud of my Saviour Now if I rightly receive this Sacrament I must heartily consent to this Covenant the Tenour whereof is this Jer. 30.22 Heb. 8.10 Ye sahll be my People and I will be your God Now Q. Examination of 1 Consent to the Covenant Psal 42. 11. 37.26 1. Do I heartily take God for my God and am I really willing to be one of his People Am I really willing to renounce all my Lusts and Sins and to love serve honour and obey God all the daies of my Life and do I rest satisfi'd in Him as my God and my Portion for ever A. O Lord my God! I have grievously sinned against Thee I have forgotten Thee Daies without Number Jer. 2.32 but now I return to Thee and here most seriously and heartily give my self up to Thee both Body and Soul to be Thine for ever I desire not to live a Day longer than I may serve and glorifie Thee I heartily rejoyce that Thou art pleased to give thy self to me Jer. 32.40 by an everlasting Covenant to be my God and Portion my Shield and exceeding great Reward Gen. 15.1 I thankfully take Thee to be my God and I rest fully satisfied in Thee as the chief est Good and my onely Happiness For whom have I in Heaven O God! but Thee Psal 73.25 And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides Thee But alas I am a guilty Sinner But having now a happy Opportunity of getting the Pardon of all my Sins seal'd to me in the Bloud of my Saviour I am resolv'd to review the Actions of my Life Lam. 3.40 and to make a diligent Search for the Discovery of my Sins that upon my penitent Confession of them I may obtain a gracious Pardon according to God's faithfull Promise who hath said He that cooereth his Sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and for saketh them Prov. 23.13 shall have Mercy Q. 2 Sin 2. What then are the Sins I am guilty of before God If I was sure I should not live to see the Light of another Day what Sin would make me affraid to die What Good have I omitted that I might and ought to have done What Evil have I committed Wherein have I transgress'd and offended God the Great Governour and Just Judge of the whole World in whose Hand my Life is Ah Lord How many are mine Iniquities and my Sins Joh. 13.23 Oh that God would make me to know my Transgressions and shew me my Sins And then as for these Enemies of my Soul Oh that as the Egyptians in the Red Sea they might be all destroy'd by my Saviour's Exod. 14.13 that henceforth I might see them again no more for ever For the finding of them out in Order to this End I will now make a diligent Enquiry And for the Discovery of my Transgressions I will lay the Law of God even the Ten Commandments before me and consider whether I have led my Life according to God's Law or not GOD hath said in his LAW Exod. 20.2 3 4 c. I am the LORD thy God c. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Thou shalt not make unto Thee any graven Image c. See Exod. 20. 1 17. Now 1. The Breach of 1. Commandment 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Have I so taken God for my God as to love and honour Him above all Have I not loved the World and the Things of the World Riches and Honours Pleasures and worldly Delights
unworthy to come into Thy Holy Presence Assist me O God by Thy Grace to the duties of thy Service Grant that I may serve Thee acceptably Heb. 12.28 with Reverence and Godly Fear Oh send me not away without a Blessing And as Thou hast now brought me into Thy House in the End bring me to Heaven through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen At Departure from Church Forgive me O Lord all my wandring thoughts and want of due seriousness in thy holy service O let not my infirmities hinder thy Acceptance and deprive me of thy blessing Joh. 14.26 Teach me O Lord by Thy Spirit what thou hast taught me by thy word and grant that I may so remember and do thy Will that I may be Blessed in my Deed Jam. 1.25 and in my End Happy for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Confession and Prayer to be used after Self-Examination in Order to the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Lord my God Ezr. 9.6 I have just Cause to be asham'd to lift up mine eyes to Heaven or once to look up towards Thee whom I have so grievously offended by my sins Psal 58.3 51.5 For O Lord I have gone astray from the Womb yea I was conceived and born in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity It might have been just with Thee to have snatcht me from the Bosom of Mother and cast me into the Belly of Hell But O Lord Thou wast pleased to prevent me with the Gifts of Thy Grace and Fruits of Thy Goodness For before I was capable to know Thee or to discern betwixt Good and Evil Thou wast pleased by Thy Holy Baptism to admit me into Thy House and Family and to accept me for one of Thy Children Thou wast pleased to take me into a Holy Covenant with Thy self and to promise me the Kingdom of Heaven for mine Inheritance and Thou hast been very Good and Gracious to me from that Time to this very Day But O Lord my God I have grievously sinned against Thee by too great a Complyance with the World the Flesh and the Devil contrary to that mighty obligation which was laid upon me in my Baptism I have not O Lord so stedfastly believed Thy Truth and obeyed Thy Will as lought I have daily offended Thee by the Breach of Thy Holy Commandments and have justly deserved Thy Wrath and Hell-Fire I am no more worthy to be called Thy Son Luk 15.19 or to be accounted one of Thy servants But O Lord I am heartily sorry for my sins and stedfastly purposed by Thy Grace to lead a New life Psal 57.1 Be merciful unto me O God be merciful unto me and pardon all my sins for thy Names sake and seal that Pardon to my soul in the Blood of my Saviour Thou hast promised Pardon Acts 3.19 Joh. 3.16 O Lord to the truly penitent and to him that believeth in thy Son Jesus Christ life eternal Behold O Lord I heartily repent of all my sins and stedfastly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ putting my whole Trust in him alone for my Salvation Behold I give my self up intirely to him being desirous to live to him and willing to dye for him rather than by denying his truth or disobeying his Voice to dishonour him For his sake speak Peace to my soul in the Pardon of my sins and the Assurance of my salvation And O Lord so renew me by thy Grace and uphold me by Thy Spirit that I may not relapse into any of my former sins but continue to glorifie Thee by a holy Obedience all the days of my life Grant O Lord that I may love my Brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 that bear thine Image with a pure heart fervently and that whatsoever usage I receive in the World I may be in Charity with all men Behold O Lord I heartily forgive all them who at any time have done me wrong and I beseech thee to give them that still live in the guilt of their sins true Repentance and a gracious pardon that their Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus Draw forth my Heart O Lord in hungring desires after Christ and satisfie my Soul as with Marrow and Fatness with plentiful Communications of Grace from his fulness Fit me O Lord for a Holy Communion with him and raise me to a nearer Conformity to him in all his imitable excellencies that I may at length be made like to him and live with him in Glory Furnish me O Lord with all those Heavenly Graces and Holy Affections which may make me meet to Feast with my Blessed Saviour in his Holy Supper Therein seal up thine Everlasting Covenant of Grace to my Soul Communicate to me the benesits of my Saviour's Body and Blood and refresh me with the Holy comforts of thy Spirit And grant that all the rest of my life I may seriously endeavour to answer a renewed Obligation to Obedience by a constant Holy care to keep all thy Commandments Enable me O God by thy Grace to persevere to the end that I may be certainly Blessed for ever through the merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and for evermore Amen A Prayer before Receiving of the Lord's Supper GOod Lord pardon my sin and seal that pardon this day to my Soul in the Blood of my Saviour Give me a lively Faith in him that as I shall receive the Bread and Wine I may partake of the saving benefits of his Body and Blood in his Holy Supper Strengthen and refresh my Soul O God with Spiritual Food and preserve me both Body and Soul to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ my onely Lord and Saviour Amen At the receiving of the Bread say with your self O Lord I heartily accept thy Son to be my Saviour and as he gave his Body to be broken for me I give my self Body and Soul to him for ever O Blessed Jesus let me rather be broken in pieces than ever do any thing which may dishonour thee my Dear Redeemer At the Receiving of the Cup say Now Lord wash away all my sins in the Blood of my Saviour and save my Soul for thy Mercies sake Then having drunk of the Wine say How sweet is thy Love O Dear Jesus who hast shed thy Blood for my Salvation O let me rather shed my dearest Life-blood for thee than ever willingly sin against thee Behold Lord I now give my self up to thee and thy service O let me see thy Salvation Having Receiv'd say with your self Now O Lord thou art my God and I am thine both in Body and Soul by a perpetual Covenant sealed with the Blood of my blessed Saviour O let my soul be furnished with thy Grace and fill'd with thy Spirit that I may chearfully serve thee while I live and when I dye fully enjoy
Jesus Christ and trust in him alone for thy Salvation Mat. 12.21 Submit thy self to him and seriously endeavour to do all those things which he requires of thee in his word and Gospel and thou shalt be saved and inherit life Eternall What Duties God requires of thee whether as a Child or a Servant I have plainly shew'd thee from the word of God Read thy Duty oft and never sail to do it This is the way to bring down God's Blessing upon thee and to become happy in his favour When thou comest to be of a competent Age that of sixteen years is the ordinary time prepare thy self for the right receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Know that in thy Baptism a solemn Covenant was sealed whereby thou wast obliged to forsake the World the Flesh and the Devill and to believe in God Iack. 1.74 75. and serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy life Now know if the Vanities and Pleasures of this world gratifying thy natural appetites and Inclinations have drawn off thy mind and heart from the Remembrance Love and Service of God thou hast broken thy Baptismal vow For in stead of forsaking the World for God thou hast forsaken God for the world and thereby gratified thine own Flesh and Satan to the certain hazard and hindrance of the salvation of thy Soul But in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper God is pleased to invite thee to renew thy Covenant with Him for thy Re-instatement in thy forfeited Felicity and thy more firm establishment in a happy state of Grace and Salvation For herein upon thy hearty Repentance and stedfast Faith in Christ he will seal unto thee the free and full Pardon of all thy past Sins and a Right to all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and Felicities of the Kingdom of Glory Oh think it a happy Opportunity wherein thou may'st begin the world anew with God and be in as fair a State of Favour with him and have as firm a Hope of Happiness in Heaven as if thou hadst never sinn'd against him For the Bloud of Christ is exhibited in its Virtue in that Sacrament Mat. 26.28 to cleanse thee from all Sin 1 Joh. 1.7 Isa 1.18 so that tho' thy Sins were as Scavlet or Crimson thy Soul shall become as white as wool or snow in Salmen in the sight of God And moreover hereby thou mayst expect a Communication of those graces and comforts of the Spirit of God which may enable thee to that chearfull obedience to his holy Commands which will fit thee for the fruition of all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and prepare thee for all the Felicities of the Kingdome of Glory That thou may'st not fail of these inestimable Benefits do not neglect this Blessed Ordinance but when thou hast an opportunity to receive it seriously prepare thy self for it For this purpose get by heart the Catechism for Communicants And when the time of the Administration approaches withdraw thy self from all Company into thy private chamber or some convenient place and there setting thy self as in the sight and presence of Almighty God seriously set upon the necessary work of Self-Examination This I have made very plain and casie to thee in that Pattern or example of it which I have set before thee Read it only with a serious attention and Self-application and thy work is done For hereby thou may'st clearly discern thy Spiritual State which is the great end of Self-examination And when hereby thou discoverest thy Sins and Defects humbly and heartily bewail them before God and earnestly beg Mercy and Grace stedfastly resolving to lead a new Life and to honour God by a better obedience for the time to come This thou may'st doe in the use of that Confession and Prayer which is here fitted for that purpose Fall down on thy knees therefore and with all the seriousness humility and devotion thou canst make thy Confession and Prayer to God and so may'st thou with safety and comfort go to the Lords Table that the Pardon of thy sins and the Promises of the Covenant may be seal'd up to thy Soul in the Bloud of thy Saviour and that all thy Defects and VVants may be supply'd from his abundant Grace and so thou mayst be furnished with strength for his service and filled with comfort and Joy in the hopes of his Salvation Having thus seriously engag'd thy self in a holy course of life persevere in it to the end Know now Heaven is before thee Hell behind thee it 's wofull to draw back to Perdition and therefore persevere to the saving of thy Soul Heb. 10.39 To this end be instant in Prayer Rom. 12.12 and endeavour to make a constant Progress in Piety to grow in knowledge and Grace 2 Pet. 3.18 whereby thou wilt daily make a nearer approach to the Kingdome of Glory Let no day pass without Prayer Consider in the morning it was God that kept thee the last night and if he do not keep thee and sustain thee thou canst not live another day And why should he keep thee if thou wilt not praise him for thy preservation nor pray to him to preserve thee Go not out then without Prayer lest God be angry and either cut off thy life from the Earth or shut thee out of Heaven At night kneel down on thy knees to pray before thou liest down on thy bed to sleep lest presuming to sleep in the guilt of sin thou should'st awake in the flames of Hell Make thy peace with God therefore by a hearty sorrow for the sins of that day with an earnest Prayer for pardon So mayst thou lie down in peace Psal 4.8 and sleep in safety under God's protection But still think this night this day may be my last and so demean thy self as if at the end thereof thou wast to appear before God in judgment For thy help in this holy course I have here furnished thee with certain Forms of Prayer and praise do thou add Spirit and life to them by offering them up daily with a holy fervour of affection to God The tongue may repeat the words but 't is the heart must make the Prayer For that 's no Prayer to God which is not offer'd up with a holy motion a pious affection of the heart and Soul of man Pray then that thou mayst have grace to live well and then live as thou prayest and live for ever And that thou may'st so live here as that thou may'st for ever live with God in glory diligently observe those Rules of good life which I have given thee out of the word of God Read them often on the Lord's Daies and especially on those daies on which thoureceivest the Holy-Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and therein renewest thy resolution and obligation to honour God by a Holy life Live according to these Rules carefully shun every known sin and
's neither show'r nor cloud Repentance F. Q. 'T is not to cry God mercy or to sit And droop or to confess that thou hast fail'd 'T is to bewail the sins thou didst commit And not commit those sins thou hast bewail'd He that bewails and not forsakes them too Confesses rather what he means to do Praise G. H. King of Glory King of Peace I will love thee And that love may never cease I will move thee Thou hast granted my request Thou hast heard me Thou did'st note my working breast Thou hast spar'd me Therefore with my utmost art I will sing thee And the cream of all my heart I will bring thee Though my sins against me cry'd Thou didst clear me And alone when they reply'd Thou didst hear me The Offering Since my sadness Into Gladness Lord thou dost convert O accept What thou hast kept As thy due desert Had I many Had I my For this heart is none All were thine And none of mine Surely thine alone Yet thy favour May give savour To this poor Oblation And it raise To be thy praise And be my Salvation Light A. C. Hail active nature's watchful life and health Her joy her ornament and wealth Hail to thy Husband heat and thee Thou the world's beauteous Bride the lustry Bridegroom he Say from what Golden quivers of the Sky Do all thy winged arrows fly Swiftness and Power by Birth are thine From thy great Sire they came thy Sire the word Divine 'T is I believe thine archery to show That so much cost in colours thou And skill in painting dost bestow Upon thine antient arms the gaudy Heavenly bow Swift as wing'd thoughts their light carrier do run Thy race is finisht when begun Let a Post-Angel start with thee And thou the Goal of earth shalt reach as soon as he Thou in the Moons bright chariot proud and gay Dost thy bright world of Stars survey And all the year doth with thee bring A thousand flowry lights thine own Nocturnal spring Thou Scythian like dost round thy lands above The Suns gilt tent for ever move And still as thou in pomp dost go The shining Pageants of the world attend thy show Nor amidst all these triumphs dost thou scorn The humble glow-worms to adorn And with those living spangles gild O greatness without pride the bushes of the field Night and her ugly subjects thou dost fright And sleep the lazy Owl of night Asham'd and fearful to appear They skreen their horrid shapes with the black Hemisphere At thy appearance fear it self growes bold Thy sun-shine melts away his cold Enconrag'd at the sight of thee To the Cheek colour comes and firmness to the Knee Ev'n lust the master of a harden'd face Blushes if thou be'st in the place To darkness Curtains he retires In sympathising night he rowls his smoaky fires When Queen of Beauties thou list'st up thy head Out of the Mornings purple bed The quire of birds about thee play And all the joyful world salutes the rising day All the worlds brav'ry that delights our eyes Is but thy several liveries Thou the rich dye on them bestow'st Thy nimble pencil paints this landshape as thou go'st A crimson garment in the rose thou wear'st A Crown of studded Gold thou bear'st The Virgin-lillies in their white Are clad but with the lawn of almost naked light The Violet like a little Infant stands Girt in thy purple swadling bands On the fair Tulip thou dost dote Thou cloth'st it in a gay and party colour'd coat But when firm bodies thy free course oppose Gently thy source the Land o're flows Takes there possession and does make Of colours mingled light a thick and standing lake But the vast Ocean of unbounded day In th' Empyraean Heaven does stay Thy Rivers Lakes and Springs below From thence took first their rise thither at last must flow Success G. S. Psal 127. Unless the Lord the house sustain They build in vain In vain they watch unless the Lord The City Guard In vain ye rise before the light And break the slumbers of the night In vain the bread of sorrows eat Got by your sweat Unless the Lord with good success Your labours bless For he all good on his bestows And crowns their eyes with sweet repose Hope A. C. Hope of all ills that men endure The only cheap and universal cure Thou captives freedom and thou sick mans health Thou loosers vict'ry and thou beggars wealth Thou Manna which from Heav'n we eat To ev'ry tast a several Meat Thou strong retreat thou sure intail'd Estate Which nought has power to alienate Thou pleasant honest flatterer For none Flatter unhappy men but thou alone Hope thou first fruits of happiness Thou gentle dawning of a bright success Thou good preparative without which our joy Does work too strong and whilst it cures destroy Who out of tortures reach dost stand And art a Blessing still in hand Whilst thee her Earnest-money we retain We certain are to gain Whether she her bargain break or else fulfil Thou only good not worse for ending ill Brother of Faith 'twixt whom and thee The joyes of Heaven and Earth divided be Though faith be Heir and have the first Estate Thy portion yet in moveables is great Happiness it self 's all one In thee or in Possession Only the future's thine and present his Thine's the more hard and noble bliss Best Apprehender of our joyes which hast So long a reach and yet canst hold so fast Good Conscience Q. A Conscience pure unstain'd by sin Is Brass without and Gold within The Holy Heart F. Q. The Royal Off-spring of a second Birth Sets ope to Heaven and shuts the doors to Earth If Earth Heavens Rival dart her idle Ray To Heaven 't is wax and to the world 't is Clay If earth present delights it scorns to draw But like the Jet unrubb'd disdains that straw No hope deceives it and no doubt divides it No grief disturbs it and no errour guides it No fear distracts it and no rage inflames it No guilt condemns it and no folly shames it No sloth besots it and no lust inthrals it No scorn afflicts it and no passion galls it It is a Carknet of immortal Life An Ark of Peace the lists of sacred strise A purer piece of endless transitory A shrine of Grace a little Throne of Glory A Heaven born Off-spring of a new born Birth An earthly Heaven an ounce of Heavenly earth Man's Life F. Q. Our life is nothing but a winters day Some only break their fast and so away Others stay dinner and depart full sed The deepest age but sups and goes to bed He 's most in debt that lingers out the day Who dies betime has less and less to pay Man's Folly I. C. Lord what a foolish thing is man How fond is he of toyes How does he spend that little span Of his in empty joyes But for that precious soul of his He takes no further care
To fit it for immortal bliss Such thoughts too serious are Himself to every pleasure gives And drowns his soul in lust In all destructive sins he lives 'Till levell'd with the dust Give me O Lord that pious care And that obsequious love That all my actions may declare I seek that place above Where we from sin exempt shall be From sorrow and from tears And where no trouble we shall see Nor be disturb'd with sears Christ Crucified R. F. Behold and see if ever any pain Did match his sorrow who for us was slain Lo God bleeds on the Cross high Heav'n descends In blood to make man and his Maker friends When guilty man lay doom'd Eternally To Death and Hell ev'n God himself could dye And smile upon those wounds that spear that grave Which our Rebellion merited and gave This love exceeds all height yet I confess 'T was God that did it how could it be less Death J. D. Death be nor proud though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful for thou art not so For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not poor death nor yet canst thou kill me From rest and sleep which but thy picture be Much pleasure then from thee much more must flow And soonest our best men with thee do go Rest of their bones and souls delivery Th' art slave to fate chance Kings and desperate men And dost with poyson war and sickness dwell Hard pains or poppy make us sleep as well And better then thy stroke why swell'st thou then One short sleep past we wake Eternally And death shall be no more death thou shalt dye The Resurrection I. D. At the round earth's imagin'd corners blow Your trumpets Angels men arise arise From death you numberless infinities Of souls unto your scatter'd bodies go All whom one floud did and fire shall or'ethrow All whom war death age agues tyrannies Despair law chance hath slain and you whose eyes Shall behold God and never tast death's wo. But let them sleep Lord and me mourn a space For if above all these my sins abound 'T is late to ask abundance of thy Grace When we are there Here on this lowly ground Teach me how to repent for that 's as good As if th' ' adst seal'd my pardon with thy blood The Judgment-Day R. C. Hear'st thou my Soul what serious things The Prophets say the Psalmist sings Of a strict Judge from whose sharp ray The world in flames shall fly away O that fire before whose face Heav'n and Earth shall find no place O those eyes whose angry light Must be the day of that dread night O that trump whose blast shall run An even round with th' circling sun And urge the murm'ring graves to bring Pale Mankind forth to meet their King Horrour of nature Hell and Death When a deep groan shall from beneath Cry out We come we come and all The caves of night answer one call O that book whose leaves so bright Will set the world in severe light O the Judge whose Hand whose Eye None can endure yet none can fly Yet thou giv'st leave dread Lord that we Take shelter from thy self in thee And with the wings of thine own Dove Fly to thy Sceptre of soft love Mercy my Judge mercy I cry With blushing cheek and bleeding eye The conscious colours of my sin Are red without and pale within O let thine own soft bowels pay Thy self and so discharge that day If sin can sigh love can forgive O say the word my soul shall live O when thy last frown shall proclaim The flocks of goats to folds of flame And all thy lost sheep found shall be Let come ye blessed then call me Heaven G. F. Behold this house where man doth now reside The flow'rs pour out their odours in his way To serve him all the creatures take a pride The winds do sweep his chambers ev'ry day And clouds do wash his rooms the ceiling gay Starred alost the gilded knobs imbrave If such a house God to another gave How shine those glitt'ring Courts he for himself will have And if a sullen cloud as sad as night In which the Sun may seem imbodied Depur'd of all his dross we see so white Burning in melted Gold his watry head Or round with Ivory edges silvered What Lustre super-excellent will he Lighten on those that shall his sun-shine see In that all glorious Court in which all glories be If but one Sun with his diffusive fires Can paint the Stars and the whole world with light And joy and life into each heart inspires And ev'ry Saint shall shine in Heaven as bright As doth the Sun in his transcendent might As saith may well believe what truth once sayes What shall so many Suns united Rayes But dazle all the eyes that now in Heav'n we praise Here that bright band that now in triumph shines And that before they were invested thus In earthly bodies carried Heavenly minds Pitch round about a Throne most glorious Their sunny tents and houses luminous All their Eternal day in Songs employing Joying their end without end of their joying While their Almighty Prince destruction is destroying Full but yet never cloy'd with what might whet And dull the keenest craving Appetite Where never Sun did rise nor ever set But one Eternal day and endless light Gives time to those whose time is infinite Speaking with thought obtaining without see Beholding him whom never eye could see And magnifying him that cannot greater be How can such joy as this want words to speak And yet what words can speak such joy as this Far from the world that might their quiet break Here the glad souls the face of beauty kiss Pour'd out in pleasure on their beds of bliss And drunk with Nectar-Torrents ever hold Their eyes on him whose Graces manifold The more they do behold the more they would behold Happiness F. Q. I love and have some cause to love the earth She is my Makers creature therefore good She is my Mother for she gave me birth She is my tender Nurse she gives me food But what 's a creature Lord compar'd with thee Or what 's my Mother or my Nurse to me I love the Air her dainty sweets refresh My drooping soul and to new sweets invite me Her shrill-mouth'd quire sustain me with their flesh And with their Polyphonian notes delight me But what 's the air or all the sweets that she Can bless my Soul withal compar'd to thee I love the Sea she is my fellow-creature My careful Purveyor she provides me store She walls me round she makes my diet greater She wasts my treasure from a forreign shore But Lord of Oceans when compar'd with thee What is the Ocean or her wealth to me To Heaven's high City I direct my Journey Whose spangled Suburbs entertain mine eye Mine eye by contemplations great attorney Transcends the Crystal pavement of the Sky But what is Heav'n great God compar'd to thee Without thy presence Heav'n's no Heaven to me Without thy presence earth gives no refection Without thy presence sea affords no treasure Without thy presence air 's a rank infection Without thy presence Heav'n it self 's no pleasure If nor possest if not enjoy'd in thee What 's earth or sea or air or Heav'n to me The highest honours that the world can boast Are Subjects far too low for my desire The brightest beams of Glory are at most But dying sparkles of thy living fire The proudest flames that earth can kindle be But nightly Glow-worms if compar'd to thee Without thy presence wealth are bags of cares Wisdom but folly joy disquiet sadness Friendship is treason and delights are snares Pleasures but pain and mirth but pleasant madness Without thee Lord things be not what they be Nor have they being when compar'd with thee In having all things and not thee what have I Not having thee what have my labours got Let me enjoy but thee what farther crave I And having thee alone what have I not I wish nor Sea nor Land nor would I be Possest of Heav'n Heav'n unpossest of thee FINIS
neglect no known Duty that thou may'st be able to say with St. Paul herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a conscience void of off ence Act. 24.16 hoth toward God and toward men And that thou mayst proceed in this path of Piety with more pleasure I have furnisht out a short Banquet for thy Entertainment with Holy Delight in a brief Collection of some few pieces of Divine Poems which may serve to imbellish the memory and delight the mind Having thus begun and proceeded Heb. 6.4 endeavour to go on to Perfection Not to go forward still in Gods way is to go backward The path of the just is as the shining light Prov. 4.18 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day To this end daily read the Holy Scriptures wherein God has revealed his will to man unfolded the mysteries of Grace and made plain before us the path to eternal Life and Glory This is God's Book and therefore to be read with Reverence and preferr'd before all other Writings in the world On the Lord's Day especially spend some time in reading God's word And when thou takest this Blessed Book into thy hand lift up thy heart to Heaven and pray for the Illumination of the Spirit Eph. 1.17 18. Act. 8.30 that thou mayst understand what thou readest Meditate on what thou hast read and heard and endeavour to turn it into practice and improve it to thy comfort and joy in the hope of glory And thus I have shew'd thee the Way to Heaven a plain path to an eternal Paradise If thou lovest thy soul delay not to enter into it and walk in it Doubtless there are thousands of young people who sometimes resolved to repent and lead new lives but being loath so soon to leave off the Pleasures of sin alas they were surpriz'd with Death and must now suffer eternall pains in Hell Be warn'd be wise be good betimes and be happy for ever Assure thy self by setting with seriousness upon the Practice of true Pietie thou shalt not loose the pleasures of life but exchange them for purer and sweeter So much joy springs up in a truly pious Soul in the sense of God's Favour and in the hopes of Heaven that it far exceeds all the Pleasures and Delights of this world and the delight of well-doing surpasses the pleasures of sin Heb. 11.25 Prov. 14.9 10.23 Psal 40.8 Eccl. 7.6 that are but for a season They are Fools that make a mock and sport of sin but 't is the speech of a serious Saint I delight to do thy will O my God! yea thy Law is within my heart The laughter of a fool and such is the Sinner that laughs while he stands on the brink of Hell and Destruction is but as the crackling of thorns under apot 't is but a flash of vain mirth which will end in bitter pangs of long-abiding Sorrow What reason has he to laugh here that shall weep and mourn in Hell But the joy of a good man is as the Day-break of eternal Bliss Psal 34.8 1 Pet. 2 3. Oh taste and see then that the LORD is good and gracious He that may freely drink pure wine will never be persuaded to quench his thirst with puddle-water He that pursues the pleasures of Lust and sin seeks to quench his thirst at a vile puddle when in the Practice of true Piety he might daily drink of the wine of Paradise Such are those holy Comforts and Joys which spring up in a pious Soul in communion with God and Christ Certainly a Holy life is the happiest life of man on earth and the certain way to everlasting happiness in Heaven Thus live then and when thou diest be happy for ever Jude v. 24 25. Now unto him that is able to keep thee from falling and to present thee faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and power both now and ever Amen The TITLES of the several TRACTS or PARTS of this Book I. A brief Compendium of Scripture-Catechism exhibiting the first principles of the Oracles of God II. The Scripture-Monitor declaring the duties of Children and Servants III. A Catechism for Communicants for the Instruction of those who are to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper IV. Self-Examination shewing the Qualification of a worthy Communicant V. Christian Devotion in Forms of Prayer and praise for Children and Servants VI. Christian Conversation or directions for leading a good Life VII Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver or some choice Pieces of Divine Poesie for the Vse and Delight of young people A Brief Compendium of Scripture-Catechism Exhibiting The first PRINCIPLES of the OR ACLES of GOD * Heb. 5.12 § 1. Of God Q. WHAT must you do that you may be happy for ever A. Know God and serve him 1 Chron. 28.9 Q. What is God A. God is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits John 4.24 with Heb. 12.9 Q. But what is he for Excellency and Dominion A. The King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 Q. Are there more Gods than One A. There is but one God 1 Cor. 8.6 Q. But how many Persons are there in the Godhead A. There are three 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. By what names are they called A. The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 Q. Are these three but one God A. These Three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. By what name hath this one true God manifested himself to men A. By the name of God Almighty Exo. 6.3 Q. Is he not as well Merciful as Mighty A. The LORD is Merciful and Gracious Psal 103.8 Q. What is he for Counsel and Execution A. Great in Counsel and Mighty in work Jer. 32.19 Q. What great work hath God done A. God made the World and all things therein Acts 17.24 Q. Is he then Lord of all A. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.24 Q. And doth he govern all as King A. His Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103.19 Q. Is it he then that hath made us and all men A. It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Ps 100.3 Q. And are we all sustain'd in life by him A. In him we live and move and have our being Acts 17.28 Q. And doth he give us all we have A. He giveth to all Life and Breath and all things Acts 17.25 § 2. Of Man Q. OF what did God at first form man A. The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground Gen. 2.7 Q. In what likeness did he make him A. God created man in his own Image Gen. 1.27 Q. Wherein was man made like to God A. In Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness Col. 3.10 with Eph. 4.24 Q. When God had thus made man where did he put him A. Into the Garden of Eden Gen. 2.15 Q. And what Charge and Command did he give him
of the City and mocked him and said unto him Go up thou bald-head go up thou bald-head And he turned back and looked on them and cursed them in the Name of the LORD and there came forth two She-Bears out of the Wood and tare fourty and two Children of them 2 Kin. 2.23 24. VII You must not mock your Parents nor despise them no not in their old Age much less curse them or strike them but cover their Infirmities and do all you can to preserve their Honour Hearken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Prov. 23.22 Remember Eli's two Sons were wicked and they despised their Father in his old Age not regarding his Reproof and God destroy'd them both For it 's said Eli was very old and heard all that his Sons did unto all Israel and how they laywith the women that assembled at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation And he said unto them Why do ye such things For I hear of your evil Doings by all this people Nay my Sons it is no good Report that I hear ye make the LORD's people to transgress If one man sin against another the Judge shall judge him But if a man sin against the LORD who shall entreat for him Notwithstanding they hearkened not to the Voice of their Father because the LORD would slay them 1 Sam. 2.22.25 And accordingly it came to pass For the Philistines sought and Israel was smitten and they fled every man into his Tent and there was a very great slaughter for there fell of Israel thirty Thousand footmen And the Ark of God was taken and the two Sons of Eli Hophni and Phinehas were slain 1 Sam. 4.10 11. To despise the Admonition and Reproof of your Parents is a great Sin but to mock at your Father or Mother is a greater And therefore it is said The Eye of him that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagles shall eat it Prov. 30.17 It is written in the Law Cursed be he that setteth light by his Father or his Mother and all the people shall say Amen Dent. 27.15 And every one that curseth his Father or his Mother shall surely be put to Death he hath cursed his Father or his Mother his Bloud shall be upon hun Lev. 20.9 And again Whoso curseth his Father or his Mother his Lamp shall be put out in obsecure darkness Prov. 20.20 That is he shall have no Child to call him Father and so dying without Children his Memorial shall perish and his Name shall be blotted out from under Heaven And He that smiteth his Father or his Mother shall surely be put to Death Exo. 21.15 Remember how the Sons of Noah carried themselves towards him and take Notice why that one was Cursed and the other Blessed As it is said Noah began to be an Husbandman and he planted a Vineyard and he drunk of the wine and was drunken and he was uncovered within his Tent. And Ham the Father of Canaan saw the Nakedness of his Father and told his two Brethren without and Shem and Japheth took a Garment and layd it upon both their shoulders and went backward and they saw not their Fathers Nakedness And Noah awoke from his Wine and knew what his younger Son had done unto him And he said Cursed be Canaan a Servant of Servants shall he be unto his Brethren And he said Blessed be the LORD God of Shem and Canaan shall be his Servant God shall enlarge Japheth and he shall dwell in the Tents of Shem. Gen. 9.20 27. VIII If your Parents fall into wants you must be ready to releive and support them Thus the young Storks feed and sustain the old ones Thus in the years of Famine Joseph nourished his Father and his Brethren and all his Fathers Houshold with Bread Gen. 47.12 Our Saviour thus blames the Pharisees Ye say If a man shall say to his Father or Mother It is Corban that is to say a Gift to the Temple by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me he shall be free from an Obligation to relieve them And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his Father or his Mother making the Word of God of none effect thro' your Tradition Mark 7.11 13. IX You must not wrong your Parents by taking away any thing of theirs without their Consent For Whoso robbeth his Father or his Mother and saith it is no Trangression the same is the Companion of a Destroyer Prov. 28.24 X. You must be kindly affectioned towards your Brethren and Sisters There must be no strife nor Anger amongst you and you must not call one another by any bad Names For saies the Psalmist Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity Psal 133.1 And Abram said unto Lot Let there be no Strife I pray thee between me and thee for we are Brethren Gen. 13.18 Said Joseph to his Brethren whom he treated with great Kindness notwithstanding their ill usage of him See that ye sall not out by the way Gen. 45.24 Mind the words of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his Brother without a Cause shall be in Danger of the Judgement and whosoever shall say to his Brother Raca that is Thou vain or empty fellow shall be in danger of the Council but whosoever shall say Thou Fool shall be in Danger of Hell-fire Mat. 5.22 Thus Children you see your Duties Now be it your Care to do them And then you shall not only be beloved of your Parents but God himself will love you and bless you and give you the Kingdom of Heaven for your Inheritance The Duties of Servants NOW you that are Servants Know if you will fear God and serve him God will accept you and honour you He will take you to be His Sons and Daughters and great shall your Reward be in Heaven But if not it will not be possible for you to escape His VVrath and Hell-fire Know then These are the Duties which God in his Word requires from you I. You must honour your Masters giving a due Respect to them For saith the Scripture A Son honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master Mal. 1.6 And therefore Let as many Servants as are under the Yoke count their own Masters worthy of all Honour that the Name of God and his Doctrine be not blasphem'd And they that have believing Masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them Service because they are faithful and beloved Partakers of the Benefit 1 Tim. 6.1.2 II. You must readily obey their lawfull Commands without Gain-saying or Contradiction For the Gospel requires Servants to be obedient to their own Masters and to please them well in all Things not answering again Tit. 2.9 Again saith the Apostle Servants be obedient to them
a Sacrament of our New Birth and the Lord's Supper of our spiritual Nourishment and growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive these Sacraments A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signify'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. VVhat is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Joh. 3.23 Acts 8.36 38. Ezek. 36.25 26. Q. VVhat doth the VVater in Baptism signify A. The renewing Grace and purifying Virtue of the Spirit of God Q. What doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. Acts 22.16 The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Spiritual Benefit of Baptism A. A Regeneration Joh. 3.5 or a New Birth Q. VVhat mean you by Regeneration or the New Birth A. A Change of our Nature Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 which being depraved by Sin is therein renew'd by the Spirit of God Q. How is Baptism to be administred and by whom A. Mat. 28.19 By the Ministers of Christ in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Acts 2.38 39. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are we bound by our Baptism A. Rom. 6.3 13. To forsake our Sins believe in Christ and lead our Lives according to the Laws of God and Rules of the Gospel Q. Wherein stands the Lord's Supper and how is it to be celebrated A. Mat. 26.26 27. Luk. 22.19 20. In a solemn blessing breaking and cating of Bread and Drinking of Wine with Thanksgiving in Remembrance of Christ Q. VVhat is the Intent and Meaning of this A. 1 Cor. 11.28 The setting forth of the Death and sufferings of Christ whose Body was broken on the Cross and his Bloud shed for our Sins Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Mat. 26.26 27.28 Q. What do this signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Jesus Christ a true Body A. Yes Phil. 3.21 the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Luk 22.19 20. 24.39 Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No they are but the signs of his Body and Bloud and Pledges of the Benefits we receive thereby 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie 1 Cor. 11.24 Gal. 3.1 A. The breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. Christ's giving himself Luk. 22 19. with the Benefits of his Body and Bloud to Believers Q. VVhat doth the receiving eating and drunking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ Joh. 5.12 6.48 58. and his Benefits to our selves by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Remission of Sins and Ratification of the New Testament Q. What mean you by the New Testament A. Heb. 8.6 9.15 16. The Covenant of Grace under the Evangelical Administration which is now establisht as the last Will and Testament of Jefus Christ whereby he hath bequeath'd unto us an eternal Inheritance Q. What follows upon the Ratification of it A. Heb. 8.8 9.10 An assured Right to all the Blessings of the Covenant with a renewed Obligation to Obedience for herein Christ gives himself with all the Benefits of his Death to me and I give my self up to serve him all the Daies of my life Q. How must you receive this Sacrament A. Heb. 12.22 29. With great Reverence and Devotion in Remembrance of Christ crucified who is herein lively set forth before mine eies 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Gal. 3.1 as broken bleeding dying on the Cross Q. But that you may be meet to receive it and partake of the Benefits thereof what must you do A. I must examine my self 1 Cor. 11.28 concerning my spiritual State Q. Herein what must you chiefly inquire after A Whether I consent to the Covenant of Grace lead my life according to the Law of God and obey the Commands of the Gospel Q. Jer. 31.33 with Heb 8.10 What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my people Q. What does the Law of God require of you A. Exod. 20.2 3 8 12. To acknowledge the true God and worship him alone as God to fanctifie the Sabbath and honour my Parents Q. And what does it forbid A. Idolatry Exod. 20.4 5 7 13 17. and Abuse of God's Name Murder Adultery Thest Lying and coveting what is another man's Q. What does God in the Gospel require of you A. Mark 1.15 1 Joh. 3.23 2 Pet. 1.7 Repentance and Faith Brotherly Love and Charity Q. In examining your self concerning these Evangelical Graces what must you inquire A. 2 Cor. 7.10 11. Whether I am heartily sorry for all my sins and stedfastly resolved to lead a new Life Gal 3.21 22. Rom. 15.12 Acts 16.31 1 Pet. 1.22 4.8 whether I stedfastly believe the Promises of the Gospel and put my whole Trust in Christ for my Salvation whether I unfeignedly love the Children of God as my Brethren in Christ and am in Charity with all men Q. But wherein must you exercise this Charity A. Mat. 5.44 6.14 15. Rom. 12.20 21. Epb. 4.28 Gal. 6.10 In loving mine Enemies in forgiving of Wrongs in doing Good against Evil in releiving according to my Ability them that are in want and doing Good as I have opportunity to all men Q. But why are these Graces of Faith and Brotherly Love and Charity especially required for the right receiving of the Lord's Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Luk. 24.47 Mat. 18.34 6.14 Because the Bloud of Christ is therein exhibited for the Remission of Sins and without Repentance there is no Remission and if we do not from our Hearts for give them that have trespassed against us which is an Act of Christian Charity God will not forgive our Trespasses against him And lastly nothing can be more necessary than brotherly Love in the Lord's Supper which is a Feast of Loves and the Communion of Saints 1 Cor. 10.17 Gen. 43.16 wherein as the Brethren of Joseph with him we feast with our Elder Brother Jesus Q. When you have thus examin'd your self concerning your spiritual State what must you further do that you may rightly receive this Holy Supper A. 1 Pet. 5 6. I must cast my self down before God and with Sorrow in my Heart 1 Joh. 1.9 make an humble Confession of my Sins and earnestly implore Mercy in the free pardon of them in the Bloud of my Saviour 1 Thess 3.10 I must bewail my weaknesses and wants and earnestly
crave of God those Aids and Supplies of his Grace which may enable me to honour him by a Holy Obedience for the time to come I must put forth in my Soul the Acts of Faith Mat. 5.6 brotherly Love and Charity and stir up in my Heart hungring Desires after Christ and the Participation of his saving Benefits in his Holy Supper Q. Why must you thus examine and prepare your self before you come to the Lord's Supper A. Lest I should receive it unworthily Q. What is the Sin and Danger of unworthy receiving A. 1 Cor. 11.27 28. He that receiveth unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord as the wicked Jews Acts 7.52 who were his Betrayers and Murderers and eateth and Drinketh * Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 render'd in the Marg. Judgment See v. 30 31 32. Judgment or Damnation to himself being for this Sin liable to temporal Afflictions yea to eternal Damnation in the just Judgment of God Q. When doth a man receive unworthily A. When he presumeth to come to the Lord's Table in the guilt of any known Sin unrepented of or wanting that Faith Love and Charity which are required in a worthy Receiver Q. If the Sin and Danger of unworthy Receiving be so great is it not safer to forbear than to come to the Lord's Table A. He that forbears to come to the Lord's Table incurs a greater guilt and Danger for to the guilt that would make him an unworthy Receiver Luk. 22.19 he adds the Contempt of Christ's Command and of the Benefits of his Bloud 1 Cor. 10.16 freely offer'd to him in this Holy Supper Q. What then must you do that you keep your self clear from this Guilt and safe from this Danger A. I must be very carefull and serious in examining my self and finding my self guilty 1 Cor. 11.28 31. I must judge and condemn my self that I may be graciously acquitted by the Lord and accepted as a worthy Receiver Q. If you rightly receive this Blessed Sacrament what Benefit shall you have thereby A. Mat. 26.28 God will seal to my Soul the Pardon of all my Sins in the Bloud of Christ with a Right to all the Blessings and Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace Q. If after you have received this Holy Sacrament you should return to your former sins what will your State and Condition be A. Luk. 22.20 Heb. 10.28 29. 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. VVorse than before For I shall greatly provoke the wrath of God by the Breach of a solemn Covenant ratifi'd with the Bloud of Christ Q. How must you demean your self then after you have received A. 1 Joh. 5.18 Col. 2.6 7. I must carefully keep my self from Sin that Sin especially to which I am most inclin'd and humbly walk with God in the ways of Holiness Psal 18.23 being diligent in every good Duty Q. What will be the Issue of this Holy Course A. I shall at length see my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ glorified in Heaven 1 Joh. 3.2 Joh. 17.22 24. who was Crucifiâ—d for me on Earth and shall for ever live and reign with him in Glory COL 11.6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving If any by reason of the Weakness of their Memory or want of Ability to read cannot learn by Heart the fore-going Catechisin that they may not be kept from the Lord's Table nor come unprepar'd I have comprehended the most necessary things in the following Abridgment Let such then when they can repeat the Creed the ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer learn this Shorter Catechism But if they learn this onely at their first Admission they shall do well for an Increase of Knowledge to endeavour to learn the other also for their greater Benefit in their after-receiving A Shorter Catechism for the Younger Communicants Q. WHAT Religion is the onely sure way to Salvation A. The Christian Religion Q. What doth the Christian Religion comprehend A. Faith Obedience Prayer and Sacraments Q. What is the Sum of your Faith A. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Q. What is the Rule of your Obedience A. The Law of God which is comprehended in Ten Commandments Q. Rehearse them A. God spake all these Words c. Exo. 20.1 17. Q. What is the Pattern of your Prayers A. The Lord's Prayer Q. Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6.9 13. Q. What are the Sacraments A. Seals of the Covenant of Grace Q. What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my People Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. Of what Vse are these to us A. By Baptism we enter into Covenant with God and renew it in the Lord's Supper Q. How else do they differ A. Baptism is a Sacrament of our New Birth the Lord's Supper of our Spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive them A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signifi'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. What is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Q. What doth the water in Baptism signifie A. The Grace of God's Spirit Q. VVhat doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Benefit of Baptism A. Regeneration or a New Birth Q. VVhat is Regeneration A. A Renewing of the Nature of man by the Spirit and Grace of God Q. In whose Name is Baptism to be Administred A. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are you bound by your Baptism A. To forsake my Sins believe in Christ and obey him Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Q. VVhat do they signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Christ a true Body A. Yes the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No They are but the Signs of his Body and Bloud Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie A. The Breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving of the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. God's giving of Christ and His Benefits to Believers Q. What doth the receiving eating and Drinking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. The
more than God Have I not lived in much Forgetfulness of God Jer. 2.32 and estrangement from Him Have I not feared men more than God Mat. 10.28 Have I not set my self up above God serving my own Will Joh. 5.30 Rom. 15.1 2 3. more than His and seeking to please my self more than him 2. Tho' I have not worshipped Idols II. Com. ave I not neglected the Worship of God or shew'd less Reverence to Him than the poor Pagans do to dead and dumb Idols Have I diligently attended the Ordinances of God's Worship and so demeaned my self therein as under his Eye Have I watch'd over my Heart and not suffer'd my Thoughts to wander from the Holy Service I have had in Hand Have I been very serious and sincere in the Service of God Isa 29.13 Have I not oft drawn near to God with my Mouth and honour'd him with my Lips when my Heart hath been removed sar from Him III. Com. 3. Have I not taken the Name of God in vain using it lightly and customarily in my Communications saying O Lord and O God when I have not thought of Him or abusing it in Oaths and Curses Mat. 5.34 Has my Heart accompanied my Tongue as oft as I have used the Name of God in my Prayers Have I never made a Jest of any Thing that is Sacred Have I endeavour'd so to adorn the Doctrine of God my Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 that the Name of God might not 1 Tim. 6.1 thro' me be blasphem'd by any 4. Have I remembred God's Day IV. Com. and disposed my self to the keeping of it Holy Have I with as much Diligence and Seriousness Constance and Chearfulness attended the Service of God and the blessed Means of the Salvation of my Soul on the Lord's Day as I have my worldly Business or Disports on my own Daies Have I not been soon weary of the Service and presence of God Mal. 1.13 Am. 8.5 wishing the Sermon ended and the Sabbath done that I might be let loose to my worldly Employments or Recreations Have I not oft spent the most part of that Day which is consecrated to the Service of God in idle Talk or worldly matters Isa 58.13 or carnall Delights without serious minding of the great Concerns of my immortal Soul V. Com. 5. Have I so honour'd and obey'd my Father and Mother my Master and Superiours as I ought to have done Have I not despised their Authority and refused to obey their Commands Phil. 2.14 Have I done all things without Murmurings and Disputings Have I hearkened to their Admonitions and received their Reproofs without Cavilling Tit. 2.9 or answering again 6. VI. Com. Mat. 5.22 1 Joh. 3.15 Tho' I have not been guilty of gross Murder or killing any body yet have I not been angry with my Brother without a Cause Have I not hated him in my Heart and so been a Murderer in the Sight of God Gal. 5.20 Prov. 12.18 Rom. 12.19 Col. 3.13 Have I not been given to Quarrelling and Contention Have I not given provoking Words And when I have thought my self wrong'd have I not born Malice in my Heart and meditated Revenge 7. VII Com. Have I not by wanton Looks or Gestures Words or Thoughts Mat. 5.27 28. committed Adultery in my Heart or by any vile Acts or Provocations of Lust made my self unclean in the Sight of God Eph. 4.19 Have I endeavour'd by Temperance and Sobriety to keep my Body pure and my Mind chast and undefiled Col. 3.8 Have no vile Lusts lodg'd in my Heart and has no filthy Communication at any time come out of my mouth 8. VIII Com. Have I injur'd any one by Theft Deceipt or Cousenage Have I been just and true in all my Trusts and Dealings Have I not wasted much Time in sloth Idleness and Vanity Eph. 4.28 Have I not wasted what I had in Sports and Gaming Have I not consented to or conceal'd the Frauds or Wrongs that have been done by others Psal 50.18 9. IX Com. Have I not been guilty of Lying and Slandering Have I not taken pleasure in hearing my Neighbour reproacht and evil spoken of behind his back Psal 15.3 Have I not abetted to the injuries done him by others by bearing false witness against him Have I not sometimes scoft at men for those Infirmities which I ought to have cover'd in Love 1 Pet. 4 8. Have I been carefull to keep my word and to perform all my Promises to every man 10. X. Com. Have I been truly content with my own State and Condition without coveting any Thing which is another man's Have I not envy'd others their Happier Estate and repin'd at the meanness of my own Condition Have I not more complain'd of the Wants and Evils I have sustain'd according to my Deserts than I have been thankfull for many undeserved Mercies and Blessings A. Jam. 3.2 I confess I have offended in many Things I am guilty of very many Transgressions in so much as if God should enter into Judgment with me Psal 143.2 He might most justly condemn me But I hope in His Mercy who hath promised Pardon to all that truly repent Acts 3.19 But Q. 3. Repentance Do I truly and heartily repent of all my Sins and am I stedfastly resolved by the Grace of God to lead a new Life A. I am heartily sorry for all my Sins which I have committed against that God to whom I owe my Life and Being and who hath been very good and gracious to me all my Life long and I do stedfastly resolve forthwith to forsake all my Sins and to endeavour to lead my Life in all Things according to the Holy Law of God and Rules of the Gospel for the Time to come and I do heartily beseech Almighty God to enable me by his Grace so to do Q. 4. 4 Faith in Christ Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Am I fully persuaded that He is the Son of God and Saviour of the World and that all He hath revealed and said in his Holy Gospel is most certainly true Do I heartily take Him for my Lord and Redeemer and trust in Him alone for my Salvation Jam. 2.18 And can I shew my Faith by my Works A. I do stedfastly Believe that God the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 Acts 8.37 that Jesus Christ who died at Jerusalem is the Son of God and I do heartily take Him to be my Lord and Col. 2.6 Saviour and submitting my self to his Soveraignty I trust in Him alone for my Salvation Mark 1.15 I am fully persuaded that whatsoever He hath said or revealed in his Gospel is most true And I shall endeavour by God's Grace to persist in this Faith and to demonstrate the Truth of it by my Works Jam.
2.18 and constant Obedience to His Holy Commands all the daies of my Life Q. 5. 5. Brotherly Love Do I entirely love all the Children of God as my Brethren in Christ even because they are God's Children bear His Image and are beloved by their Heavenly Father A. I have a Love for all men Rom. 13.9 and do Desire to love my Neighbour as myself 1 Joh. 3.14 but for those who truly fear-God I have a great esteem of them and a hearty Love to them Psal 16.3 I account them the onely excellent Ones in the Earth And the more excellency I see in them the more my Heart is endeared to them I chiefly delight in their Company and when I can enjoy mine own Choice psal 119.63 I am a Companion of them that fear God and keep his Commandments Q. 6. 6. Charity Luk. 6.37 Mat. 5.44 Rom. 12.21 1 Cor. 5.8 Am I in Charity with all men Can I freely forgive them that have wrong'd me and find in my Heart to do good to them who hate me and ahve done and would do me Hurt A. I thank God I bear no Malice in my Heart to any man I do freely forgive them who have wrong'd me and account it but a very small matter if my Lord will graciously be pleased to remit me a Debt of Ten Thousand Talents Mat. 18.23 35. to forgive to my fellow-Servant a Debt of an Hundred pence And God knows my heart if it lay in my power I could freely do Good to the worst Enemy I have in the World If he was in Danger I would do my best to preserve him If I knew him to be in any Extremity I would to my Ability Rom. 12.20 very freely relieve Him I know I more need mercy from God than any man can need Mercy from me and I am ready and willing to shew Mercy to any man Jam. 2.13 as I do expect and desire to obtain Mercy from God in the Forgiveness of my Sins and the Salvation of my Soul Q. 7. Defire of Christ 7. Have I an Appetite to my Spiritual Food Have I an earnest Defire to have Communion with Christ and to partake of his saving Benefits in his Holy Supper A. Without Christ alas I am an undone Creature Ah Lord God! What wilt thou give me if I go Christless Give me therefore O give me Christ or I die It is Pardon and Grace and spiritual strength and Comfort which he is pleased to communicate to Believers in his Holy Supper These I want these I earnestly defire 1 Cor. 15.10 I must have Pardon or perish Without Grace I can do no good Peace with God is an inestimable Priviledge without this I cannot hope to see His Face in Heaven I want Strength to do my Duties conquer my Corruptions bear my Burdens and withstand my Temptations And my Soul thirsts after those Holy Comforts which are far sweeter than all worldly Joys Psal 4.7 These are the Blessings I earnestly defire These are the Benefits of my Blessed Lord and Suviour Jesus Christ And I am willing to part with the Pleasures of Sin for ever to partake of these Holy Comforts and there is no Treasure in the whole World that I prize or desire in comparison of these inestimable Priviledges which I beseech God to communicate to me in this Holy Feast Psal 63.5 Luk. 1.47 Jude v. 25. So shall my Soul be satisfi'd as with Marrow and Fatness and I shall greatly rejoyce in God my Saviour to whom be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen Now if upon this serious Self-Examination thou canst from thy Heart make these Answers to these Questions doubt not but God will accept thee as a worthy Communicant and thou shalt beâ—◠〈…〉 Guest to the Lord's Table God in that Blessed Ordinance of Christ's Holy Supper will seal up to thy Soul the Pardon of all thy sins and that Covenant of Grace whereby he assures thee of a Kingdome of Glory for thine etenal Inheritance Conclude this Work of Self-Examination with that Confession and Prayer which is fitted for that Purpose Christian-Devotion IN Some short Forms of PRAYER PRAISE Prayers for Children A Prayer for the Morning O LORD God and my Heavenly Father I give Thee humble and hearty Thanks for that Thou hast preserved me this Night past and rais'd me up in Health and Strength this Morning whereas Thou mightest in the Darkness of the Night have cut me off for my Sins and cast me into everlasting Darkness in Hell Pardon O Lord all my past Sins and keep me from sinning for the time to come Guide bless and keep me this Day in Thy Fear and grant that I may demean my self alwaies as in thy Sight And seeing I must at length appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive according to my Works and must then give an Account of every idle VVord grant that I may keep my self this Day from all foolish-speaking evil-doing Especially grant that I may keep my Heart with all Diligence seeing out of it come those evil Things which defile both Body and Soul Keep me O Lord by thy Grace from all wanton thoughts Words and Looks and from all those fleshly Lusts which will defile my Soul and make me loathsome in thy Sight Oh keep me from my special sin and quicken me to every good Duty Keep me from mispending my precious Time in Vanity and Idleness seeing upon this little Moment of my Life depends an Eternity of Joy or Torment Sanctifie me throughout by Thy Holy Spirit and enable me by thy Grace to live to thy Glory Plant in my Heart a Hatred of Sin and Love to Holiness that I may delight to do Thy Will O my God! Psal 40.8 Joh. 4.34 and account it my Meat and Drink to be employ'd in well-doing Grant I may love Thee with all my Heart and Soul and serve Thee with all my Strength all the Daies of my Life that in the End I may be happy for ever Make me like Christ in meekness Patience Humility that I may be like to Him hereafter in Glory Keep me this Day from Sin and Danger and give me all things both for my Soul and Body which Thou seest to be needfull and good for me Make me ever Thankfull for Thy Mercies and truly contented with my Condition Do good O Lord Psal 125.4 to them that are good and convert Sinners from their evil waies that they may be saved Bless my Parents Give them Health Prosperity and Length of Days here and everlasting Happiness in Heaven Bless all my Friends and dear Relations give them Grace and all good things both for Body and Soul Bless me even me also O my Father with the Blessings of thy Love and guide me in thy Holy ways to Life eternal through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with Thy Self and Holy Spirit be all Honour and
Glory now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Noon BLessed be Thy Name O Lord my God that Thou hast preserved me this Day hitherto Blessed be Thy Name for all the Blessings which Thou hast bee stowed upon me Forgive me all the Sins which I have committed and keep me the rest of this Day from all evil Grant O Lord that I may continue to serve Thee faithfully and truly this Day and all the Days of my Life that it may be well with me for ever and ever thro' Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with Thy self and Holy Spirit be Glory and Honour Power Praise and Thanksgiving both now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Night O Lord my God I humbly and heartily bless and praise Thy Holy Name for thy merciful Preservation of me this Day past and for all the Blessings which Thou hast bestowed upon me I bless Thee for my Health and Strength Food and Raiment Peace and Safety and above all for my Redemption by Jesus Christ and my Hopes of Salvation by Him Forgive me I beseech Thee all the Sins which either in Thought Word or Deed I have committed against Thee this Day Forgive me that I have neglected any good which I might and ought to have done or negligently done it I have forgotten Thee O Lord and I have done evil in Thy Sight But I am heartily sorry for all my Sins and do earnestly desire and seriously resolve to serve Thee better for the Time to come Remember not against me any of my past offences but be in Christ fully reconciled unto me And give me Thy Grace that I may henceforth walk in thy Ways and obey Thy Will in all Things Take me into Thy Tuition this following Night Keep me when I cannot keep my self Keep me O Lord from all evil Thoughts and hurtfull Lusts Keep me from the Power of Satan the Prince of Darkness Let Thy Holy Angels be my Guard and thy mighty Power my Defence Defend me from all Dangers and Disquiets Hide me under the Shadow of Thy Wings Psal 17.8 and keep me as the Apple of the Eye When I am awake let me remember that Thine Eye is upon me Psal 139.2 and that Thou see'st my down-lying and discernest my secret Thoughts Give me O Lord quiet Rest and Sleep and raise me up the next Day with renewed Health and Strength to do Thee Service Continue thy Favour to me through all my Life and in Death shew me thy Salvation Bless and keep Thy whole Church Continue Truth and Peace in this Land Bless and preserve my Parents in Life and Health Let all my dear Friends and Relations be Happy in Thy Love and Favour Bless me O Father and save me for Thy Mercies sake in Christ Jesus my Redeemer To whom with thy Self and Holy Spirit be Honour Glory and Praise for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Servants A Prayer for the Morning O Lord God I heartily bless Thy Holy Name for keeping me this Night past in Safety and raising me up with renewed Health and Strength this Morning Hadst Thou dealt with me O Lord according to my Deserts Thou might'st have sent me into the Land of Darkness and I might have made my Bed in Hell But O Lord as Thou hast mercifully kept me when I could not keep my self so take me I beseech Thee into Thy Holy Tuition and keep me henceforth from all Evil Pardon my Sin and preserve me to Thy everlasting Kingdom Direct me O God and lead me forth in Thy Fear and so bless and prosper me in all the Works and Businesses of this day Grant that I may faithfully and diligently discharge the Duties required of me in the Place wherein Thy Providence hath set me Keep me O Lord from all evil Thoughts which may defile my Heart and from all evil Words and Actions whereby I may offend Thee and deprive my self of Thy Blessing and Favour Grant that I may so remember Thine All-seeing Eye as to demean my self always as in Thy Sight studying and endeavouring to please and honour Thee in all things that at the last Day I may give up my Account with Joy Protect Thy whole Church by thy Power and bless all Thy People with Peace Bless this Land and preserve the true Religion Bless this House and Family wherein I live with all Temporal and Spiritual Blessings Bless guide and keep thy Servants to whom Thou hast committed the Care and Government thereof Give me Grace O Lord to look upon them as standing in Thy stead to me that by the Honour and Obedience which I yield to them according to Thy Command I may serve and honour Thee and according to thy Promise receive my Reward in Heaven Grant O Lord that the Beauty and Goodness of Thy Government of Thy Houshould the Church may appear in their wise and good Government of this House and Family committed to their Charge that this House may be to me and all that live therein as the Gate of Heaven and Way to everlasting Happiness Let thy Blessing O Lord crown all the Labours of thy Servants with good Success that whatsoever they do may prosper and man may have Occasion to say The Lord be magnified which hath Pleasure in the Prosperity of His Servants Psal 35.27 Bless all my Friends and Relations and all that have been Instruments of Good to me let all who have shew'd any Kindness to thy unworthy Servant be ever Happy in Thy Love and Favour Now O Lord be with me I beseech Thee this Day and bless me both in Body and Soul Put Thy Fear into my Heart that I may not sin against Thee Give me Health and Strength that I may chearfully serve Thee And when Thou hast finished Thy Will with me on Earth fulfill my Desire O Lord and make me perfectly happy with Thee in Heaven thro' the Merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To whom with Thy Self and Holy Spirit be Glory Power and Praise now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Night O Lord God who art Great in Power and rich in Mercy I Thy Poor Creature do here humbly cast my self down at Thy Footstool beseeching Thee for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake to forgive me all the Sins of the Day past yea all the Sins which I have ever committed against Thee Forgive me O Lord all my loose Thoughts all my rash Words all my irregular Actions whatsoever Thy pure Eye hath at any time seen amiss in me and be in Christ fully reconcil'd to me For I confess my Transgressions and am heartily sorry for my Sins Give me Grace O Lord for the time to come to serve and honour Thee by a better Obedience Heb. 8.10 Put Thy Laws in my Mind and write them in my Heart That I may know and do Thy Commandments Restrain me O God by Thy Grace from those sins to which I am most inclin'd and keep me from those Evils which I am
most apt to commit Help me to withstand Temptations and make me wise to avoid all Occasions of sin Seeing my life is but short on Earth Lord suffer me not to sin my Soul into Hell Bless all those I am bound to pray for my Friends and Kindred in the Flesh Do good to all that are good and requite all those who have done me Good let all the Benefits I have received from them be redoubled into their own Bosoms Bless this House and Family wherein I live Preserve thy Servants to whom Thou hast committed the Care and Government of the Family and all that belongs to them in safety Grant Lord that I may so shew all good Fidelity to them that I may find Favour with Thee who alone canst make me truly Happy for ever And now Blessed be thy Name O Lord who hast as well appointed the Night for Rest as the Day for Labour Keep me I beseech Thee this Night from all Evil. Give me that comfortable Rest and Refreshment which may fit me for the Duties of the following Day And grant Lord that where after a few days I shall sleep in the Dust my Soul may rest with Thee in Glory through the Merits of my Blessed Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ to whom with Thee O God the Father and God the Holy Ghost be Glory and Majesty Dominion Power and Praise now and for evermore Amen If thou art weary and sleepy or not being able to Read canst not learn the foregoing Prayers by Heart rather than lie down at Night like a Beast and rise up in the Morning and go out to thy Work without any serious Remembrance of God or pious Acknowledgment of thy Dependance on Him Acts 17.28 in whom thou livest movest and hast thy Being and without whose up-holding Hand thou canst not subsist a Moment without dropping into Dust and if in thy Sins into Hell Kneel down on thy Knees and say At Night Blessed be Thy Name O Lord God who hast kept me this Day past Forgive me I beseech Thee all my Sins and keep me from Sin and Danger this Night and raise me up refresht with quiet Rest and Sleep to serve Thee better the following Day to Thy Glory and my Salvation thro' Jesus Christ my onely Lord and Saviour Amen In the Morning Blessed be thy Name O Lord who hast kept me in Safety and refresht me with Rest and Sleep this last Night Now be with me I beseech thee and keep me this Day from all Evil. Guide me in all my ways and bless me in all my Works and bring me in the end to everlasting Life in Heaven thro' Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for the Lord's Day O Most Holy and Glorious Lord God Thou art great in Thy Self and yet good to man Thou art gloriously exalted above the greatest of Kings and yet hast a gracious Regard to the meanest of Thy Creatures The Heavens O Lord are the Work of thy Hands and Thou hast made the Earth and all things therein Thou art great in Power Dreadfull in Majesty and glorious in Holiness Psal 8.4 Lord what is man that Thou remembrest him or the Son of man that Thou regardest him 39.5 Verily every man at his best State is altogether Vanity And yet how wonderfull are Thy Works 107.8 O God which thou hast wrought for the Children of men For man thou hast made the World and replenisht it with a rich Variety of Creatures both for his Use and Delight Thou hast appointed all things to serve him that he might with more chearfulness and Delight serve Thee For man thou hast sent and slain Thine own Son that guilty lost man whom Thou mightest have justly thrown into everlasting Darkness in Hell might for ever live with Thee in a Paradise of Divine Pleasures in a Heaven of Bliss and Glory O Lord grant that I thy poor Creature may so love Thee and serve Thee here that I may at length enjoy Thee fully and praise Thee eternally in heaven In Order to this End I bless Thy Name O Lord that Thou hast appointed a Day of Rest from all worldly Labours that I might attend upon Thee in the Duties of thy solemn Worship and Service O Lord make this Day of rest to be to me a day of spiritual Refreshment and holy Delight Grant that I may this Day hear the Voice of my Saviour calling to all that labour and are heavy laden to come to Him that he may give them Rest Mat. 11.28 and make me so sensible of the Burden of my Sins that I may betake my self to Him by a hearty Repentance and lively Faith and may obtain a Holy Rest in the Remission of my sins and the salvation of my soul Keep me this Day O Lord from Vanity and Idleness from foolish-speaking and evil-doing and make me very diligent and serious in the Duties of Thy service that I may not let slip a happy opportunity of insuring my salvation nor mispend that Time which Thou vouchsafest me for the Good of my soul but seriously employ it in the Duties of true Piety for the getting and encreasing of Knowledge and Grace and treasuring up for my self Glory in Heaven Keep me O Lord from all vain worldly and wanton Thoughts which may take off my Minde from a serious Attention to Thy Word and hinder me from joining with a Holy Devotion in Thy worship Grant that I may enter into Thy House as into Heaven and demean my self there as in Thy sight and Presence and Lord send me not away without Thy Blessing Grant O Lord that to Day Heb. 3.13.18 even while it is called to Day I may hear Thy Voice Thy word with a serious Resolution to obey Thy will in all Things lest Thou swear in Thy Wrath that I shall never enter into Thy Rest O let me not go from Thy House Gen. 28.17 the Gate of Heaven into everlasting Darkness in Hell But Lord speak to Thy servant this day those words which may effectually conduce to my salvation Grant I humbly beseech Thee that I may so serve Thee this Day and all the dayes of my Life that in the End I may be truly Blessed for ever through the Merits of my onely Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with Thy self and Holy Spirit Be Glory and Honour Dominion and Power Thanksgiving and Praise now and for evermore Amen A Prayer before Reading the Holy Scriptures OPen my Vnderstanding O Lord Luk. 24.45 2 Tim. 3.15 that I may understand the Scriptures which are able to make me wise to Salvation Grant that I may so believe Thy word as to do Thy will and walk in that way which will bring me in the end to Life eternal Eternal through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer at the first Entrance into the Church LOrd Luk. 18.13 be merciful to me a sinner and forgive me my sins that make me
thee for ever Amen When you depart from the Lord's Table labour to feel your Heart inflam'd with love to God and Christ and fill'd with satisfaction and joy in his Love to you and to find your Soul fixed in a firm Resolution of Holy Obedience to your Lives end Take heed your heart do not entertain Earthly Thoughts and that you do not open your ears or loose your tongue to Worldly Discourse But meditate on the mercies of God to you in Christ on the Promises and Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace on the duties of Obedience whereby you must glorifie God on Earth and on the Glory and Blessedness reserved for you in the Kingdom of Heaven Being return'd home retire your self to give thanks to God for his Mercy in Christ A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the Lord's Supper BLESS the LORD Psal 103.1 O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name who hath sealed up to me this day the forgiveness of my sins in the blood of my Saviour who hath entertain'd me with Heavenly dainties at his Holy Table Grant O God that in the strength of this Spiritual Food I may walk before thee in the wayes of a Holy obedience till I shall at length attain to Eternal Blessedness through my only Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ Amen As oft as thou receivest the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper be sure to read thy Duty as a Child or Servant before declar'd and the Rules of good Life here following Grace before Meat Bless and Sanctifie thy good creatures to me O my God through Jesus Christ Amen After Meat Blessed be thy Name O my God for these and all other thy good gifts through Jesus Christ Amen In Company with others Before Meat God be merciful to us and bless us and give us a Sanctified use of these and all other his Blessings through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen After Meat Blessed be God for these and all his Blessings Give us Grace O Lord to spend the strength we receive from them in thy service to thy Glory and our Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Christian Conversation IN Some necessary Cautions and Directions to Young People for the Government of their Thoughts Words and Actions Or RULES of Good LIFE I. HAve a great care of your Thoughts These are the springs of Action Though the thoughts of mens heart are secret and indiscernible they ost become very visible in their Lives Words and Actions are but the Apparel of the Thoughts These appear upon the open Stage of the world and proclaim what was before done in the secret Chambers of the Soul Evil Thoughts are the seeds of sin and vice which not suppress'd will as noxious weeds overgrow the whole Life These little sparks first kindle the fire of Lust and then of Hell Know thoughts are not free God's Law limits them nor are they hidden God's eye sees them Ps 139.2 Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off saith David Remember God's eye is upon your heart and so do not harbour any evil thoughts Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetful saith the Apostle to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertain'd Angels unawares Be careful say I not to entertain evil thoughts for so may you entertain the Devil unawares The Devil by evil thoughts insinuates himself into the hearts of men that he may corrupt their Lives and destroy their Souls Vain Thoughts though little regarded as the swarms of Flies that corrupted the Land of Egypt are very pernicious Exod. 8.24 Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem saith the Lord wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Psalm 119.113 how long shall thy vain Thoughts lodge within thee Cease not then till you can say with David I hate vain Thoughts but thy Law do I love II. Keep a constant watch against all evil words By evil thoughts you defile your own Soul by evil words you may defile others also The malignity of the heart is oft diffus'd by the tongue to the infection of many And therefore let David's resolution be yours Psal 39.1.4 I said I will take heed to my waies that I sin not with my Tongue Remember the wise and Holy God hears all the words you speak There is not a word in my Tongue saith Holy David but lo O LORD thou knowest it altogether Let your words be few therefore Eccl. 5.2 and free from Folly A fool's voice saith the wise man is known by a multitude of words Prov. 17.27 but he that hath knowledge spareth his words Think before you speak silence is usually safe whereas rash words oft recoile to the hurt of him that spake them Eccl. 5.7 However in the multitude of dreames and many words there are also diverse vanities but fear thou God Temperance of Tongue is a necessary virtue of true Religion And therefore saith the Apostle Jam. 1.26 If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue but deceiveth his own heart this man's Religion is vain c. 3.2 But If any man offend not in Word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Especially take heed of all filthy and impure speeches Remember how strict a charge is given you in the Gospel Eph. 2.29 Let no corrupt Communication come out of your Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may Minister Grace unto the Hearers 31. Let all clamour and evil-speaking be put away from you And as for Fornications â— 4.3 and all Vncleanness or Covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints 4. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks And that your words may be Holy keep the heart pure Mat. 12 34 35 36 37. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things But I say unto you saith our Saviour that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned III. Psal 119.163 Count it a great wickedness to tell a lye I hate and abhor lying saith David but thy Law do I love And he that loves God and his Law Prov. 12.22 must needs hate and abhor Lying For Lying Lips are an abomination to the LORD but they that deal truly are his delight Yea a Lyar is hated both of God and men men hate him because he seeks to deceive them and God hates him because he plainly despises him whom he knowes he cannot deceive The sin of Lying subjects men to punishment both from God and men The common punishment amongst men is this he that is known to
are tempted to any wicked deed remember though no man beholds you the Eye of the great God is upon you and so say with Joseph How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God Thus Gen. 39 9. Psal 4.41 stand in aw and sin not Let the fear of God restrain you from whatsoever is evil and let the Love of God carry you on with Delight to whatsoever is good And though God do not deny you those innocent Delights and Recreations which are agreable to your youthful years and which may fit you for a more chearful discharge of your respective duties yet you must be careful that those very Delights be season'd with the remembrance of God and the day of Judgment Mind what the wise man sayes to you and what charge he gives you concerning this matter Eccl. 11.9 Rejoyce O Young man in thy Youth and let thy heart chear thee in the dayes of thy Youth and walk in the wayes of thy Heart and in the sight of thine Eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgment Know thou art Mortal and consider that every Action thou dost is a step to Eternity and every day thou livest sets thee a day nearer to thy death And therefore live so now as thou wilt wish thou hadst done when thou comest to dye The time of death is uncertain But most certain it is Christ Jesus will shortly come to call every one that has been faithful in his fervice from Labour to Rest and Sorrow to Joy Then happy shall he be who has been most serious in God's Service His Rest shall be sweet and his Reward Glorious Make good use then of this inch of time upon which depends the following Eternity Thy Glass is running be sure thy work be done before the last sand drop Spend thy Life in God's Service and in Death thou shalt see his Salvation Think still my Lord is at hand and so be ever well-doing Blessed is that servant Mat. 24.46 whom his Lord when he comes shall find so doing He will say to him Well done good and faithful servant 25.21 thou hast been faithful in a little take Possession of much Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Now the God of all Grace 1 Pet. 5.10 who hath called us to his Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus make you perfect stablish strengthen and settle you To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen Thou shalt do well to repeat these Rules of Life as also thy Duty before declar'd as a Child or Servant upon the Lords Day once a Month for the better preserving them in Memory for thy direction in thy daily Practise For certainly the most of the sins that men commit to the dishonour of God and wounding of their own Conscience are committed through want of a present remembrance of their Duty or a due consideration of the mighty Obligations that lye upon them to do it This great mischief may be happily prevented by a frequent reading of these Rules of Life Read therefore and Remember and do these things that it may be well with thee for ever Apples of Gold IN PICTVRES of SILVER FOR The Vse and Delight of Children and Servants BEING A Collection of certain Verses from some of our Divine Poems more fit to be Imprinted on the Memories of Young People than Prophane Songs The Preface FOR the close of your entertainment I here present you with a Delicate Dish 'T is choice Fruit which grew in a Rich Soil 'T is as the Fruit of Eden that Tempted Eve good for Food Gen. 3.6 pleasant to the Eyes and desirable to make one Wise Only here is the difference She could not eat of that without Sin against God and Hurt to her self your eating of this may keep you from Sin and prove the Health of your Soul Freely feed then on this Fruit 't is not less wholesome than pleasant 'T is not as the Banquet of Midas or * Plut. Mor. Pythes a Mock-Feast 't is Gold for worth Prov. 25.11 but Food for use A Word fitly spoken saith Solomon is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver And instruction in virtue to Persons in the Flower of their Age is a word fitly spoken Such are these pieces of Divine Poesie wherewith I here present you Read Remember and Practise them so shall you learn that Knowledge and Wisdom which is better than Silver and Gold seeing it will at once make you Rich and Happy Prov. 3.18 For Wisdom is a Tree of Life saith Solomon to them that lay hold upon her and Happy is every one that retaineth her And therefore Receive my Instruction saith He and not Silver and Knowledge rather than choice Gold For Wisdom is better than Rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it Here you have the Words of Wisdom which are Golden Apples by the curious Art of Divine Poesy set in Silver Frames Take and eat for here you have both Food and Treasure What can you desire more than what is here offer'd to your Acceptance Accept and Improve and you shall not fail at once to find both Profit and Delight And Profit with Delight combin'd Is Meat and Musick to the Mind The Names of the Authors from whose Poems the following Verses are Collected G. H. Mr. George Herbert's Sacred Poems called the Temple R. C. Mr. Richard Crashaw's steps to the Temple F. Q. Mr. Francis Quarles his Emblems and Divine Fancies J. D. Dr. Donne's Poems G.F. Mr. Giles Fletcher's Christ's Victory and Triumph G. S. Mr. George Sandy's his Paraphrase of the Psalms and Scripture Hymns A. C. Mr. Abraham Cowley's Sacred Poems Some few others of less note are signified by the first Letters of their Names Counsel to Young men G. H. THou whose sweet youth and early hopes inhance Thy rate and price and mark thee for a Treasure Hearken unto a Verser who may chance Rhyme thee to good and make a bait of Pleasure A Verse may find him who a Sermon flies And turn Delight into a Sacrifice Beware of Lust it doth pollute and foul Whom God in Baptism washt with his own Blood It blots the Lesson written in thy Soul The Holy Lines cannot be understood How dare those eyes upon a Bible look Much less towards God whose Lust is all their Book Drink not the third glass which thou canst nottame When once it is within thee but before Mayst rule it as thou list and pour the shame Which it would pour on thee upon the Floor It is most just to throw that on the ground Which would throw me there if I keep the round He that is drunken may his Mother kill Big with his Sister he hath lost the Reins Is out-law'd by himself all kind of ill Did with his Liquor slide into his Veins The Drunkard forfeits man and doth divest All worldly Right save what he
had straight forward gone To endless death but thou dost pull And turn us round to look on one VVhom if we were not very dull VVe could not choose but look on still Since there is no place so alone The which he doth not fill Sundayes the Pillars are On which Heaven's Palace arched lies The other dayes fill up the spare And hollow room with vanities They are the fruitful Beds and Borders In God's rich Garden that is bare VVhich parts their ranks and orders The Sundayes of man's Life Threaded together on time's string Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the Eternal Glorious King On Sunday Heaven's Gate stands ope Blessings are plentiful and rife More plentiful than hope This day my Saviour rose And did inclose this Light for his That as each Beast his Manger knowes Man might not of his Fodder miss Christ hath took in this piece of ground And made a Garden there for those VVho want Herbs for their wound The Rest of our Creation Our great Redeemer did remove VVith the same shake which at his Passion Did earth and all things with it move As Sampson bore the doors away Christ's hands though nailed wrought our Salvation And did unhinge that day The brightness of that day VVe sullied by our foul offence VVherefore that Robe we cast away Having a new at his expence VVhose Drops of Blood paid the full price That was required to make us gay And fit for Paradise Thou art a day of Mirth And where the week dayes trail on ground Thy Flight is higher as thy Birth O let me take thee at the bound Leaping with thee from seven to seven Till that we both being toss'd from Earth Fly hand in hand to Heaven The Church G. S. in Psal 84. O how amiable are Thy abodes great God of war Happy men who spend their dayes In thy Courts there sing thy praise Happy who on thee depend Thine their way and thou their end One day in thy Courts alone Far exceeds a Million In thy house contemn'd and poor I had rather keep a door Than with wicked men possess All that they call happiness O thou Shield of our defence O thou Sun whose influence Sweetly glides into our hearts Thou who all to thine imparts Happy O thrice happy he VVho alone depends on thee The Young Man's Mirth F. Q. * Eccl. 11.9 Young man Rejoyce what jolly mirth is here Let thy heart chear thee what delicious chear In thy Young dayes thy cares will relish sweeter Walk thy own wayes thy cares will pass the fleeter Please thine own heart carve where it likes thee best Delight thine Eyes and be a joyful Guest But know withall the day will come whereon Thy Judge will doom thee for the deeds th' hast done O what a Feast O what a reckoning 's here Thy cates are sweet the shot 's extreamly dear Grace G. H. My Stock lies dead and no increase Doth my dull Husbandry improve O let thy Graces without cease Drop from above If still the Sun should hide his Face Thy house would but a Dungeon prove Thy works nights Captives O let Grace Drop from above The Dew doth every Morning fall And shall the Dew out-strip thy Dove The Dew for which Grass cannot call Drop from above Death is still working like a Mole And digs my Grave at each remove Let Grace work too and on my Soul Drop from above Sin is still hammering my heart Unto a hardness vold of love Let suppling Grace to cross his Art Drop from above O come for thou dost know the way Or if to me thou wilt not move Remove me where I need not say Drop from above Contentment R. S. I dwell in Grace's Court Enricht with Virtue 's rights Faith guides my wit Love leads my will Hope all my mind's delights In lowly vales I mount To pleasure's highest pitch My honest meanness Honour brings My poor Estate is rich My Conscience is my Crown Contented thoughts my rest My heart is happy in it self My Bliss is in my Breast Enough I reckon wealth A mean the surest Lot That lies too high for base contempt Too low for envies shot My wishes are but few All easie to fulfil I make the limits of my power The bounds unto my will I feel no care of Coin VVell-doing is my wealth My mind to me an Empire is VVhile Grace affordeth health Prosperity F. Q. Take heed thou prosperous sinner how thou liv'st In sin and thriv'st Thou that dost flourish in thy heaps of Gold And Sums untold Thou that hadst never reason to complain Of Cross or Pain VVhose unafflicted Conscience never found Nor check nor wound Believe it Prosper thy deceitful lease Affords thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Thy Golden heaps are nothing but the price Of Paradise Thy flatt'ring pleasures and thy aery joyes But painted toyes Thy peaceful Conscience is but like a dog Ty'd in a clog Believe it Prosper thy deceitful Lease Allows thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Thy heaps of Gold will stand thee in no steed At greatest need Thy empty pleasure will convert thy laughter To groans hereafter Thy silent Conscience when inlarg'd will roar And rage the more Believe it Prosper thy deceitful lease Affords thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Paradise G. H. I bless thee Lord because I GROW Among thy trees which in a ROW To thee both Fruit and Order OW What open Force or hidden CHARM Can blast my Fruit or bring me HARM While the inclosure is thine ARM. Inclose me still for fear I START Be to me rather sharp and TART Then let me want thy hand and ART When thou dost greater Judgments SPARE And with thy knife but prune and PARE Ev'n fruitful trees more fruitful ARE. Such sharpness showes the sweetest FREND Such cuttings rather heal then REND And such beginnings touch their END Several sins F. Q. Drunkenness It is a Thief that oft before his face Steals man away and layes a beast in 's place Cross sin It is a show'r which e're we can get in And find a shelter wets us to the skin Sin of Infirmity Is like the falling of an April-show'r 'T is often rain and sun-shine in an hour Sin of Custom Is a long show'r beginning withthe light Oft-times continuing till the dead of night Sin of Ignorance It is a hideous mist that wets amain Though it appears not in the form of rain Crying sin It is a sudden show'r that tears in sunder The cope of Heaven and alway comes with thunder Sin of Delight Is like a feather'd show'r of snow not felt But soaks to th' very skin when e're it melt Sin of Presumption Does like a show'r of hail both wet and wound With sudden death or strikes us to the ground The sin of Sins It is a sulph'rous show'r like that which fell On Sodom strikes and strikes to th' pit of Hell Lord let thy saving Grace thy servants shrow'd Till we arrive where