part with nothing hoard â—p against a rainy day therefore saith God give freely for the merciful shall â—nd mercy Lastly let the present fears alarum â—ee to prepare for sad events go not without thy armour be not secure say â—ot the over-flowing scourge shall not â—ome nigh me But think with thy self â—hough I have been in the rear of â—ther judgements I may be in the â—ront of this Labour to be fitted to enâ—ertain terrible things When thou â—earest the Minister sound the Trumpet and say judgement is at hand the Lord is risen out of his holy place to â—udge the inhabitants of the earth When thou hearest what is done to others when wickedness is advanced and Godliness slighted and opposed then get those Graces that will fit theâ— for an evil day such as 1. Resignation of thy self and all thoâ— hast unto God be content that hâ— should dispose of thee as he pleaseth 2 Sam. 15.26 2. Faith which is a Grace will live iâ— hard times for Faith lays claim to thâ— fulness of Christ as its own Faitâ— hath two hands a working hand anâ— a receiving hand the receiving hanâ— relieves the working hand 3. Apply the promises of perseverance 4. Patience in both its Acts the bearing act and the waiting act and sâ— doing thou mayest be able to stanâ— in the evil day Which none of thesâ— five sorts of men will be able to do 1. They that slight God and Religioâ— in peace and prosperity will neveâ— suffer for God and Religion in adversity â— Those that will not witness for truth with their mouths will never for the truths sake lay down their lives 3. Those that serve God onely for the praise of men will leave the service of God when men disgrace them 4. Those that will not endure the smaller tryals will much less stand in the greater 5. They that will not suffer the power of Gods word to part them and their lusts and vain conversation will not seal the truth of Gods word with their blood §. 13. A few Motives to young persons to be Religious â—here was never more need for Ministers Parents Tutors Masters to season youth with piety and to improve their interest wisdom authority in this Work then in these days wherein there is such a general decay of Godliness that if God do not stir up the hearts of Governours and if they will not stir up themselves and those under their charge the next Generation are like to prove Banquerupts in Religion and to prove either Papists or Atheists To encourage young persons to look to themselves and to call them out of the tentâ— of wickedness I would earnestly intreat them to let these few considerations rest upon their minds 1. O young man or young woman consider the end of thy being Why God made thee and gave thee a reasonablâ— soul capable of eternal happiness why did God bestow upon thee many endowments of mind and body why he hath vouchsafed the cultivation and improvement of thy natural abilities by education and instruction Waâ—â—â— all this that thou mightest glorifie him and be serviceable in thy Generation to the great end of being and living Cansâ— thou imagine that so bright a lamp as aâ— â—mmortal soul was ever put into the â—arthen candlestick of thy body for â—ase and sensual ends meerly to serve â—y fleshly appetite the most deformed â—nd unsatiable monster that is in the â—orld Canst thou upon serious â—oughts conceive thy being is for â—ch poor low ends No remember â—od and men expect better things from â—ee You that are young the good â—d welfare of Church and State deâ—ends on you you are the Seed-plots â—â—d Nurseries of all Religion and Vertue 〈◊〉 Liberty Honour Trade either you â—ust transmit and hand these down to â—osterity or all these must dye and be â—xtinguished in your hands and are â—ou willing to be recorded in future â—istories for prodigals and betrayers of â—hem all Such a man by Religion and â—ertue raised his Family and such an â—eir such a Grand-child ruined it by â—is debauchery Stobeus relates that â—he Ephebi among the Athenians took â—n Oath not to leave their Country in a worse condition then they found iâ— but in a better Oh that it might be â— said of this Generation 2. Consider It is a monstrous thiâ— for young persons to be old sinners Tâ—â— Age in which sin is committed is so fâ— from excusing it that it aggravates it â— is a sad character of a man he was so aâ— so wicked of a Child he was a sweareâ— a lyar a scoffer an enemy to Godlineâ— from his long Coates God himself whâ— he would aggravate mans sin saith tâ— imaginations of mans heart hath beâ— evil from his youth Gen. 8.21 Aâ—gustine in his Confessions bewails hâ— boyish tricks Lord when I was a littâ— Boy I was a great sinner And Daviâ— begs pardon for the sins of his youth Psal 25.7 and mark how God brand the disobedience of Israel Jer. 22 2â— I spake unto thee in thy prosperity bâ— thou saidest I will not hear this has been thy manner from thy youth thaâ— thou obeydst not my voice And in Jerâ— 32.30 God aggravates the sin of Israel and Judah that they had done evil before him from their youth Take heed of calling sin tricks of youth and and thinking your age gives you a dispensation If ever you return to God those sins must be repented of and they will cost you dear as you may see in those Converts Jer. 3.25 We lye down in our shame and our confusion covereth us for we have sinned against the Lord we and our fathers from our Youth even to this day Consider therefore how dear you must pay for your youthful lusts they will prove dear bought pleasures they are but honey licked off from thorns Like that fruit in the West Indies the Spaniards call the Devils sweet meat a fruit very delicious but the place where it grows is so hot in the day and so infested with venemous insects in the night that none care for dwelling near them Your youthful pleasures expose you to the scorchings of Gods wrath to the bitings and stingings of your own conscience Your youthful lusts must be repented of either here or in hell where repentancâ— will do you no good Consider whaâ— these courses are none can prevail witâ— you now to leave and whither they tend they provoke God to hate youâ— good men are grieved for you and ashamed of you nay even wicked meâ— themselves in their cool thoughts would not have their children as bad aâ— themselves But O how few personâ— consider that by youthful lusts theâ— lay a foundation for old age miseries 3. Consider it is the greatest honouâ— to be good betimes It was the praise oâ— that good Courtier Obadiah he feareâ— the Lord from his youth It was the Glory of Josiah that while he was yeâ— young he began to seek after the God oâ— David his father 2
true piety thou art at the same time an enemy to charity For the promoting therefore true piety in young persons and comers in I have offered my endeavours in the ensuing Discourse That if this present Generation after all their cultivating should bring forth no fruit nor admit of any melioration yet the seedlings and young plants might draw in a more benigne juyce and shoot up and bring forth more and better fruits It is a general complaint that Relations prove so bad and indeed to find a man faithful in all Relations is to find a rare Jewel Nothing more honours God and the Gospel then when those that profess it live up to the duty commanded them in their Relations as nothing dishonours God more shames the Gospel ruines families then undutifulness and unfaithfulness in Relations No plainer proof of our sincerity in our Religion then this is Thou canst not be a good Christian if thou art not a good Child a good Servant a good Master or Mistris a good Subject a good Husband or Wife The same God that commands to be a good Christian commands thee to fill up the duties of the other also as he calls thee to them and one great cause of the neglect of these duties and the decay of them is the neglect of Catechizing in private families which till it be conscientiously practised all publick preaching and chatechizing will be the less successful Vpon whose account soever the neglect of this doth lie I am sure it will not be found light one day and one mans omitting his duty will be no excuse then for thy neglecting thine I have here offered a plain short Catechisme of the heads of second Table Duties I made choice of this Authour as one who lies liable as I know of to no exception the Catechism having been reprinted several times with good approbation and also because his answers are for the most part the words of Scripture pertinently quoted and applyed Vpon which account as the duties herein pressed come with more authority so the learner is accustomed to Scripture phrases and language for want of which and the unbounded libertie many give to their fancy we have so many uncouth wild extravagant and offensive expressions even in Religious performances Which however weak ones may account the height of devotion yet riper judgments and sober Christians know them to be nothing else but the statulency of fancy I exhort thee therefore Christian Reader to hold fast the form of sound words get thy heart stocked with sound knowledge and take heed of phraseologie in Religion which is a minting and coyning new expressions and differencing our selves from others by an affected stile or form of speaking and making people believe we have attained more light then others when as indeed when these notions come to be examined and weighed in the ballance of Truth they are worth no more then the trash and trumpery that the Cardinals Sumpter horses carried a story so well known it needs but naming And this is all will be found among the Enthusiasts of this Age the Behmenists Paracelsians Familists c. Thus I have in brief with plainness of heart given thee an account of this Work which I shall pray to God may be acceptable to his people and successfull to their spiritual edification in Knowledge Faith Love and obedience Amen Thine in the Lord Jos Church The Christians daily Monitor To the performance of personal and relative Duties c. §. 1. Of Humility HUmility is a foundation grace to encrease this grace compare thy self With the brute creatures that have onely sense yet they keep the Law of their Creation With the fallen Angels that sin only against Gods power thou sinnest against his Grace With thy self What thou shouldest have been if man had not fallen what thou art now by sin what thou mightest have been if thou hadst not neglected thy duty With others inferiour in means superiour in growth that have fewer mercies and more thankfulness With the Holy Angels who serve God chearfully readily sincerely fervently constantly With Jesus Christ Who was meek and lowly in heart who for our sakes humbled himself and was obedient to the death of the Cross and then thou wilt abhor thy self in dust and ashes §. 2. The best Physitian Christ our heavenly Physitian exceeds all earthly Physitians in seven things 1. He never leaves any work behind him for others 2. He never undertakes any cure but he finisheth it 3. He doth all freely without desert in us or reward from us 4. There is nothing in him but hath a healing vertue in it his eye his lips his hand his blood his garments c. 5. He cures Nations as well as Persons 6. He cures Death as well as Diseases 7. He alwayes makes his Patients the better not only after but by their sickness Oh! I am sick of sin Lord shew thy Art One touch of thine will break and heat my heart O rare Physician that shedst thy blood And givest thy life to do poor sinners good §. 3. Successfull begging The way to be heard in prayer and not to loose our labour is 1. To ask in faith Mark 11.24 that is believing God is able and willing to bestow good things on us 2. To ask in sincerity for right ends Jam. 4.3 3. To ask fervently as Jacob who wrestled with God and prevailed Gen. 32.28 4. Seasonably while the door is open Isa 55.6 Seek the Lord while he may be found 5. Constantly pray continually 1 Thes 5.17 or without ceasing 6. Patiently Psal 40.1 He that can pray to God withall this cost Is sure his labour never shall be lost Who asks in sound faith zeal fixt patience And season alwayes hath sure recompence Stay not at one or two or four or five But get all six and then be sure thou 'lt thrive §. 4. The Heavenly care From Dr. H. There are five things considerable in that Promise he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 There are five things considerable in that Promise he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 1. God cares for his people when they think he doth not 2. He so cares for them as he cares for none else comparatively 3. He cares for them when none else care for them 4. He cares for them when those that should care for them neglect them 5. He cares with others to bless their care and make it successfull Q. But must Gods Children cast off all care A. No they must use a care of prudence and providence a Godly care but they must take heed of worldly immoderate heart-breaking heart-corroding distrusting care Martha with many things distracts her mind Mary in one thing all content doth find Lord cure my cares that I thy word may hear Lord choose for me the troubles I shall bear §. 5. The Dutiful Aid God hath in wisdome so framed our bodies that one part cannot say to another I have no need of thee So it is in the Political
Commandment of the Lord but you do not so Is not Gods servicâ— contemned by you Do not you looâ— upon it as a disgrace to be Religious When do you hear Gods word or wheâ— doth God hear from you in prayer Anâ— not all dayes alike with you even thaâ— holy time God hath chosen for himself is it not many times more vainly and wickedly spent then the week day What are your Consciences but graves wherein you have buried all the good principles you had in your education Are not your bodies the sinks of lust and the epitome of Diseases Youâ— estates so wasted in the service of thâ— Devil that they are become but a meaâ— skeleton Your breath is become morâ— infectious then the steam of a Sepulcher who more bitter against Godliness then you Who more ready to shake hands with the wicked then youâ— Who more ashamed of their Godly Ancestours then you are Do not many â—f you think their strictness and circumâ—pect walking a crime and for fear least you should be involved in it you think â—hat you have no way to clear your selves but by doing the quite contrary And now Sirs do you think to scape I tell you in the name of God except you repent your condition will be doubly miserable 1. In this life the judgements of God will overtake you Deut. 32.20 They â—e Children in whom is no faith saith God in the 23 I will heap mischief â—pon â—â—em I will spend mine arrows upon them What a fatal deluge befel those Sons of God and of the Church that corrupted themselves and fell from God Gen. 7.8 What a dreadful curse befel degenerate Cham in Noahs family How heavy was Gods hand upon Ishmael and Esau the time would fail to let off the sad ends wicked children of Godly Parents have come to to speak of Nadab and Abihu Hophni and Phineas Absolom the Sons of good Samuel of Jehoram the Son of good Jehoshaphat of the Children of Josiah of theâ— posterity of the seven Asian Churches O you degenerate ones read these examples and tremble at them 2. But most miserable will you be iâ— the day of judgement Mat. 8.13 Wheâ— the Children of the Kingdom shall be casâ— into utter darkness There shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth that day will be a sad day to two sorts of persons to wicked Parents and Rebellious Children when Christ shall say to a Child who taughâ—â—ou to swear drink c. and they shall say Lord I had a Father and Mother did nâ— more for me then beasts do for their young I never was taught any thing was good â— was never warned against sin I knew little of thee and Christ except it were how to abuse and prophane thy Name O the misery of those Parents But oâ— the other side when Christ shall say tâ— another who taught you to take sucâ— courses and do such things and the Parents shall say Lord this our Son â—ur Daughter were Children of Belial we warned them night and day with tears we were gentle to them and exhorted them as fathers should do their their Children we corrected them we â—rayed for them we entreated others to â—ray for them we wept over them Lord thou knowest the sighs and tears the heart-breakings we had from them but they would not hear O the misery of â—hat Child and of all such Children Now let me add but a little Counsel to you which if followed will do you much good 1. Engage your hearts to God give up your selves to him Avouch the Lord to be your God and resolve to be his Servants then you will easily answer those many temptations that will come a suiâ—oring for your hearts and be very importunate with you Satan is Gods rival in suing for the heart the world and the flesh are his Pandors Now Oâ— young man engage thy heart to God and then thou mayest say I am not mine own I have bestowed my affections already and I like my choice too well to change 2. Do not think your selves too wise to learn and too good to be taught which is the sin of most young people It is your great wisdome to hearken to instruction Prov. 12.15 He that hearkneth to counsel is wise Prov. 13.1 A wise Son hears his Fathers instruction There is no greater folly in young people ahen to think themselves wise enough already It is reckoned in Sacred Scripture great impiety not to hear instruction and there is a curse promised against those that like the deaf Addeâ— stop their ears and will not hearken to Parents Ministers Godly wise friends Whom do you despise but God himself Ezek. 3.7 You find it the brand of Reprobates 1 Sam. 2.25 Eli hiâ— â—ons hearkned not to the voice of their father because the Lord would slay them 2 Ch. 25.16 The Prophet tells Aâ—aziah that his not hearkning to counsel was an argument God had determined to destroy him I have read a story of Bernard who had a younger brother that was a Souldier and led a wicked life his brother used many wayes to reclaim him but he slighted all Well saith he to him Brother the time may come that God may let my â—ords into your heart by a hole in the side not long after this gallant was wounded in his side then his Brothers words came to his mind with great astonishment You that have faithfull Parents Masters Friends that advice and counsel you take heed of shutting it out of your ears and hearts least God let it in with a witness afterwards I would intreat young persons to study that place Eph. 6.1 2. It is the first Commandment that hath a promise with it and there is a four-fold cord to bind to the performance of it 1. It is just and equal this is right 2. That it is the first Command thaâ— which leads to all the rest he or shâ— that keeps this will keep the other hâ— or she that breaks this is in danger oâ— breaking all the other 2 Tim. 3.1 3. It is a Command with a promisâ— to allure them to it and that of a temporal blessing and that blessing whicâ— every one desires long life And 4. The Apostle in Col. 3.20 adds one more this is well-pleasing tâ— the Lord and who is there that woulâ— not please him O remember how iâ— all other things you are willing to bâ— instructed What Schollar is not willing to learn of his teacher the Tongueâ— and Arts What Servant is not willing to learn his trade and to be instructed and bind himself seven eight nine years to learn an Art or Mystery that he may live by hereafter And are youâ— souls nothing to you Are you so wise for saving them you need no help 3. Though you are in strength and health likely to live many years yet remember all you Young ones that you must dye and come to judgement It is Solomons counsel Eccles 11.9 There are in Goigotha skulls of all sizes
so troubled with distractions in holy duties 1. Because there is corruption in the best which clogs and shackies us in our best duties Remainders of sin will be hinderers of our close communion with God these dogs will be barking though their teeth be pulled out 2. Because Satan stands at our right â—and to withstand us when we appear beâ—â—re God and to disturb us in our worâ—â—ipping of him 3. To shew unto us our need of Jesus â—hrist to be our High Priest to bear the â—niquity of our holy things 4. To teach us that when we do seem â— be most dutiful yet even then we â—ave need to be most humble 5. To be a touchstone of our spirituality and growth in Grace The more spiâ—ituality we arrive at the fewer distraâ—tions in Gods service we shall meet with 6. To teach us to watch as well as pray to keep our hearts with all diligence Every Christian in duty must fight as well as work 7. To teach us not to make our selves the fountain of assistance and strength in holy duties 8. To make us strive to be more fervent in spirit in serving the Lord. When the flame arises the smoak decreases 9. To stir us up to delight in Gods service Our hearts will abide there wherâ— they do delight 10. To make us long after heaven that blessed state where no distraction are The remedies against them are of twâ— sorts by way of prevention by way of care 1. By way of prevention remembeâ— these three things 1. Holy retirement sometimes of body alwayes of mind Esau went in the field to meditate Enter into thy Closet saith our Saviour But in publicâ— there must be a retirement of spirit calâ— off thy heart from the world and from external objects It was a saying of Bernard it is not unusual for men of untamed fancies to be surrounded with multitudes when alone nor is it impossible for a man of a sound spirit to be alone among multitudes 2. Come to holy duties armed with â—ly resolution say with David Ps 71. â—6 I will go in the strength of the â—rd Resolve not to be taken off 3. Supplication There must come â—ower from above and prayer fetches in And in prayer against distractions â—earnest with God for 1. The sanctification of thy fancy and â—agination That grace that sanctifies â—r minds confines them grace sets â—r hearts upon the right object and â—kes them move orderly and regularâ— 2. Beg a fixed heart Psal 86.11 â—avid prays unite my heart make it â—e and he often speaks of this my â—art is fixed or prepared 3. The spirit of love The soul lives â—here it loves and causes an immoraâ—on on the object the more love to â—od the fewer distractions and the â—ore composedness of mind 4. The grace of holy fear In thy fear â—ill I worship saith David Psal 5. Pray to God to possess thy soul with an awâ— of his Glorious Majesty 5. Beg holy Zeal Let thy heart bâ— seething hot Flies use not to come â— the boiling pot Zealous Christian complain least of distractions 2. By way of Cure 1. Get indignation at the first rise â— them If they be injected by Satan throâ— out the fire-ball if thy heart haâ— been the mother to conceive and brinâ— them forth let it not be the nurse â— bring them up 2. Be humbled for them Gracioâ— souls cannot but be grieved at then but vain thoughts never trouble vaâ— men but walk humbly with God â— the sense how little thy heart is witâ— him 3. Exercise faith in Christ for tâ— pardon of them and power against them when thou art troubled with these fieâ— Serpents look to the brazen Serpeâ— Christ Jesus §. 16 â— brief consideration of that common distress of conscience arising from fear that a man hath sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost in three questions 1. Shewing what are the reasons why God suffers some to be exercised with this â—emptation 2. Who are they that are far from â—mmitting this sin 3. What are those Graces that are â—eservatives against this sin 1. Q. What are the reasons that God â—ffers some to be troubled with this tenâ—ation It is a thing of common observation â—mong those to whom distressed souls â—o open their maladies that they find â—any sore pressed with this tentation â—he reasons with submission to better â—udgements may be such as these 1. It many times ariseth from ignorance â—ant of right and sound information of the nature and ingredients of this sin Many poor Christians charge them selves with it before they understand what it is 2. Because they have not made â— right application of the word to theiâ— own hearts but have been censoriouâ— and uncharitable to others and noâ— they are forced by a Divine hand whether they will or no to make application to themselves and this is God carrosive to eat out uncharitableness 3. It may be they have been secuâ— and formal in Religion and neglecteâ— the duties of it against the conviction oâ— the Word and Conscience and abateâ— in their affections to God to the Ordinances to the Children of God Sin against light and back-sliding thougâ— in such and such a degree they do noâ— constitute this sin yet they look too likâ— it 4. It is to make others fear and takâ— more heed to their wayes When we seâ— God as it were letting our brotheâ— upon the rack this is to check our negligence to be a bridle to our looseness 5. It is to exercise the gifts and graces of others both Ministers and Christians to put them upon the exercise of prayer consolation pitty charity labour brotherly kindness and the like 6. They may be exercised with it to fit them for some eminent service and imployment as to make some open confession of the Faith or to make them experimental comforters of others with the comforts wherewith they themselves have been comforted of God or to prepare them for undergoing some heavy outward affliction which seems â—ight to those that have had a wounded spirit or to make them live a more strict and exemplary life or to possess some greater measure of spiritual joy or to â—ortifie them against the assaults of some beloved sin or to undergo some fierce conflict with Satan some or all these may be the condition of the party hereafter and God is now fitting and preparing them by this trouble for it They may think they have committed this sin by Gods leaving them to hearken to Satans perswasion They failed in believing God who spoke for their good and now they believe Satan who speaks for their ruine they did not hearken to the motions of Gods spirit for their consolation and now they hearken to the false reasonings of an unbelieving heart prompted by Satan for their vexation Satan was not formerly more diligent to draw them on to sin then he is now to keep them from comfort and their own perversness did not then make them further from instruction then