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A51047 Christian advice both to old and young, rich and poor which may serve as a directory at hand, ready to direct all persons almost in every state and condition. Under XXVII general useful heads. Mocket, Thomas, 1602-1670?; Cross, Thomas, fl. 1632-1682, engraver. 1671 (1671) Wing M2303A; ESTC R217853 68,834 211

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and condition to be always good and useful as David who served his generation Act. 13 36. and so fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the wills of God ver 22. 20. Vse Recreations when nature requires in conventent places fit company and at convenient times and seasons not in times of mourning fasting or publike calamity never on the Lords day which is to be imployed in holy exercises Read and consider Isa 22.12 13. Exod. 20.8 and use them lawfully as recreations not as a trade or calling to refresh and make you more fit for the duties of your calling civil and religious not like him that is all day or a great part of it whetting his sythe but cuts down nothing or little But always let your recreations be only such as are lawful honest harmless of good report and sutable to the end you use them gravely and soberly as Christians Dicing carding mixt-dancing scurrilous sports and stage-plays are unbecoming the piety and gravity Christians should exercise in all their act on s if not simply unlawful for Christ ans 21. Think often of and prepare daily for suffering and death For our Saviour commands all that will be his Disciples to deny themselves and take up his cross and so follow him Luke 9.23 in respect of preparation and expectation for as Solomon tells us We know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27.1 And the Apostle James also Chap. 4. ver 14. Therefore labour to get and clear up to your selves that you have true saving faith truly repented of your sins and have all other renewing and sanctifying Graces that you have an interest in Jesus Christ that your sins are pardoned the sting of death pulled out and all sufferings shall work together for your spiritual and eternal good See before in Adversity And then for death Know and consider that when where or howsoever it cometh it is to a true believer to a godly man only a means to put off the body of sin and to free the Soul from all sin both actual and original from Satans temptations from all worldly cares sufferings and sorrows from all toil and labour from all diseases distempers weaknesses and imperfections both of body and Soul a passage from natural life to eternal life from earth to Heaven from the company of evil and ungodly men and enemies for so many are in this world to have immediate and full communion with God the Father Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit and all the holy Angels Patriarks Prophets Apostles Martyrs and all other Saints departed in the faith And though you must part with many things desirable in this world and lovely as friends relations and some with riches honour and greatness in the world yet remember it is but for a time and to enjoy a far better estate incomparably better far better friends the most blessed and glorious Lord God the Heavenly Father Jesus Christ your husband Head Redeemer Justifier elder Brother the blessed Spirit your sanctifier and comforter godly relations and all the spirits of just men made perfect in Heaven and free from all the infirmities and corruptions they had while on earth which sometimes made the meetings of beloved and desired friends uncomfortable yea bitter as that of Paul and Barnabas two most godly persons and dear friends and companions Act. 15 37 38 39. And though the body shall go to the grave and see corruption yet it is but for a time God will destroy death it self and the grave raise up the body and glorifie it with the Soul to live for ever in Heaven in glory and happiness Hos 13.14 Phil. 3.21 1 Thes 4 15 16 17. Who after wearisome labour all day is unwilling to go to bed and rest Isa 57.1 2. why should any be unwilling to part with the worse for a state and condition that is every way incomparably better and everlasting wherefore comfort your selves and one another with these things and in an holy humble manner triumph over death and all worldly evils as the Apostle did 1 Corinth 15.54 c. 22. Married persons husbands and wives you know you are one flesh Gen. 2.24 And therefore your duty in common is 1. To dwell together that you may be mutual helpers one to another and to live chastly keeping each to other only keeping your bodies undefiled Adultery is a great sin to be punished with death Levit. 20.10 16. Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge Heb. 13.4 Consider Prov. 5.15 16 17 18 20 21. Drink waters out of thine own cistern c. 2. In a special manner to love one another above all other persons in the world and delight one in another above all others in respect of Gods command and because of their near union In this respect Solomon and God by him counselleth Prov. 5.18 Rejoyce with the wife of thy youth let her be as the loving Hand and pleasant Roe let her brest satisfie thee at all times This is the wives duty as well as the Husbands Love is the ground of all other duties and good carriages the bond of perfection it bindeth together all those duties that do or ought to pass between man and wife neighbour and neighbour Love provoketh constraineth to all duties where this is wanting all other duties will be wanting and often altogether neglected or slightly performed and where true love is there all other duties will be readily performed 3. To bear one with another and bear one anothers infirmities Gal. 6.2 Bear ye one anothers burden and so fulfil the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 4. To defend protect and preserve one anothers person good name credit and chastity 5. To nourish and cherish one another Eph. 5.29 No man hateth his own flesh but nourisheth cherisheth it Now husband and wife are one flesh and thus doing they do in effect preserve their own persons lives chastity credit comfort and nourish their own bodies This duty lieth on them at all times and in all estates and conditions in sickness and weakness in health in poverty lameness c. as well as in time of health strength beauty prosperity yea though the other party be not able or wilfully wanting to do his or her duty because of Gods command their near conjunction and solemn Matrimonial covenant to take one another for better for worse for richer for poorer c. 6. To be diligent provident careful to increase preserve that estate which God hath or shall give you the command of God reason and your own common interest mutually bind both to be as careful of the goods of the family as if they were their particular own goods and therein also to be helpful one to another 7. To govern the children servants and whole family wisely and discreetly for the good of the whole family and therein also to be helpful one to another 8. Especially to be the helpers one to another for the good of your Souls using all loving means to win and draw
own salvation But be careful to hear with humble hearts with much attention to remember believe love and practice what you hear for not the hearers but the doers of the Law are blessed Rom. 2.13 Jam. 1.22 23 25. And be earnest with God in behalf of your Minister that he may be a useful instrument of God to your soules and esteem him highly in love for the works sake 1 Thes 5.12 13. 3. Meditate often on the word you hear and read 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things for blessed is the man that doth meditate therein day and night Psal 1.1 2. Oh how I love thy Law said David Psal 119.97 It is my meditation all the day Meditate often 1. Of your sins and what they deserve 2. Of your death 3. Of the day of judgement 4. Of the joys of Heaven 5. Of the torments of Hell And 6. Of God especially of the omniscience omnipresence power justice and mercy of God and of the merit of Christ Dr. Vsher has an excellent treatise of meditation on Prov. 18. Meditation is of great use to further our knowledge and understanding in the things of God to help our memories stir up affections help faith repentance love and every grace put on to practice and to bring in much sweet comfort and spiritual thought 4. Be careful conscientiously to keep the Christian sabbath or Lords day holy for we are expresly so commanded Exod. 20.8 Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy viz. in all the duties of Gods worship publick private and secret the whole day is the Lords but for our spiritual advantage and benefit who allows us six daies for our worldly business reserving only some small portions of them at our best advantage to seek his blessing on our undertakings and one whole day in seven for his service for us to exercise our selves in the works of piety and holyness works of mercy and charity and works of present and urgent necessity that is such as could not be foreseen and done before nor cannot be put off to another day as the feeding of the beasts watering them quenching of fire broke out helping a poor beast fallen into a ditch and such like It is the Lords day not ours set apart not for our worldly business actions recreations or discourse but his service God allows us six dayes for them and this day one in seven and the first day of the week for his service as may be clearly concluded and proved from the fourth Commandment Christs resurrection and resting from the great work of our redemption the practice of the Apostles and the whole Church of God to this day He that makes no conscience of keeping the Lords day holy will make as little conscience of any other duty of piety towards God or dealing with men 5. Pray frequently fervently and constantly in publick in private and in secret also daily 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing that is daily instantly and constantly not that we should spend all our time in praying and do nothing else but keep a constant course of prayer at the most convenient seasons daily and be also ready to pray whensoever there shall be a fit opportunity offered have alwayes a praying frame of heart as much as may be Luk. 18.1 Our Saviour put forth a Parable sayes the Evangelist to this end that men should pray alwayes that is constantly and importunately and not faint Eph. 6.18 Praying alwayes i. e. on all seasons and fit opportunities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pray at least twice a day morning and evening the Jews had their morning and evening sacrifices and incense offer'd a type of prayer Daniel notwithstanding his great and weighty imployments and publick business prayed three times a day solemnly on his knees Dan. 6.10 David seven times a day Psal 119.164 But many are like Heathens and like the bruite beasts have no prayer in the Family daily or none in private and some onely at night in a short curtal drowsy manner without faith c. In the morning when you wake let your first serious thoughts be of God and his goodness towards your selves and others the night past and heartily praise God for them Psal 103.12 Praise thou the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits i.e. not any of them Consider well Psal 92.1 2. And when you are up and dressed first addresse your selves to God by humble and hearty praises and prayer for grace and power against sin and to live holily for preservation from evils both of sin and suffering also for a blessing on your lawful undertakings and thankfully acknowledge his goodness and benefits and so labour to have your hearts filled with a sense of Gods goodness and holy resolutions to walk with God as Enoch did Also at night consider what has been done that day past and how bless God for what hath been well done for mercies received and evils prevented his blessings on your undertakings and assistance of you in your callings humbly acknowledging and bewailing what has been done amiss beg pardon and commit your selves and all to his protection and care for the night and time to come in well doing Use all kinds of prayer confession deprecation petition and thanksgiving 1. Confession confess your sins daily humbly and unfeignedly to God with sorrow and shame and purpose of reforming what has been amiss Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall have mercy 2. Deprecation pray to God to remove evils felt and prevent evils fear'd both of affliction and trouble but especially the evil of sin 3. Supplication petition to God for mercy pardon power against sin and for good things needful both for soul and body this life and that to come for your selves and others especially for those to whom you stand in a more special relation be earnest with God for Magistrates and for your Ministers as you love your own good and welfare of soul and body 4. Thanksgiving and praises be thankful to God for every mercy and good thing privative and positive for evils prevented and removed and for good things bestowed and promised for soul and body for your selves and others for this life and that to come Psal 103.1 2. Ephes 618. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching thereunto with all perseverance supplication for all Saints 1 Tim. 2.1 2. I exhort first of all that supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority that we may lead ae quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty 6. Singing of Psalms Davids Psalms especially and above all others is an ancient an heavenly spiritual comfortable soul-refreshing Christian duty frequently practised by the people of God both under the old and new Testament in the
abundantly reward and crown all their patient humble suffering in a quiet submission to his will Mat. 24.13 Rev. 2.10 12 26. for his sake and well-doing Mat. 5.11 12 13. Rom. 8.17 18. 2 Cor. 4.17 18. Further God in afflictions and suffering very often helps the memories of his servants to call to mind these and such like gratious sutable promises and helps their faith to believe them and rest on them for assistance the comfort and accomplishment of them in his best time for all the promises in Christ are Yea and Amen sure and certain 2 Cor. 1.20 by which they are inabled to overcome all sufferings and temptations and to triumph in the end 1 John 5.4 Consider therefore the patience of Job and what end the Lord made of it Jam. 1.1 2. and 5.11 also of Josephs sufferings and the happy issue the great preferment and honour that followed and the very great good he was inabled to do not only to the Egyptians but to the Church of God Gen. chapt 41.45 and 50. For the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy Jam. 5.11 7. Be sure to endeavour truly to repent to believe in Jesus Christ to walk holily and to make your calling and election sure that you are in the favour of God and that he afflicts in mercy out of love and with faithfulness for our eternal good 2 Pet. 1.10 14. In Temptations to sin consider these things 1. Be not self-confident go not out in your own strength be always jealous and suspitious of your selves and look unto God for wisdom to see the evil in them for grace and power to withstand and overcome them Remember Peter a good soul but relying too much on his own strength was sham fully foiled Mat. 26.33 71 72 73 74. 2 Arm your serves in the best wise ye can 1. by prayer 2. with some good Scriptures as sutable as you can find to your occasion and present temptation the word is The sword of the Spirit Ephes 6.17 3. The shield of faith whereby you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devil ver 16. and 4. Confider and rest your selves on the promises the power goodness and faithfulness of God and 5. with an holy resolution to suffer any thing rather than to sin 3. Consider what a shameful and dishonorable a thing it is to yeeld to Satan and be overcome of sin and Satan and the sad consequents ufually follow and then consider also the comfort peace and honour of not yeelding but overcoming with the encouraging promises made to them that do overcome and hold out in well-doing to the end Rev. 2.17 26. But resist him stedfastly in the faith 1 Pet. 5.9 that is by laying hold on 1. the faithfulness of God believing the promises as most true the threatnings also the precepts as holy just and good 2. By laying hold on the power mercy wisdome and goodness of God Faith reasons thus the Promises are true and sure why should I nor believe them and rest upon them The Threatnings are sure why should I then venture on sin the Precepts are all holy just good therefore all reason I should observe keep them God hath been loving good and merciful to me therefore I would not offend him and he is able all sufficient to support strengthen me in and deliver me out of all in due time therefore I will rest upon him alone 4. As God gives in wisdom to discover the evil in temptations and ability and strength of Grace to resist and overcome them so give to God all the praise and glory he is most worthy of it Thankfulness for benefits received is as I may say an holy inducement to move God to do more who delights to do good to thankful Souls 15. Study unity peace and love towards one another and towards all men 1. Study unity both in judgment and affection As much as possibly may be labour to be all of one judgment and one mind in the Lord and where you cannot be all of one judgment yet labour to be all of one heart to love all that are sound in their judgments in all truths necessary to life and godliness and joyn with them in all Ordinances of Christ How can I separate from them whom Christ owns and receives and where any do differ only in circumstantials or lesser matters that may stand with Godliness bear with them pity them cover their weaknesses in love and use all loving means to inform them a right and gain them to the truth Beware of censuring others that are not of the same judgment and way with your selves in those smaller matters being otherwise found holding the foundation and blameless in their lives Titus 3.2 God doth not give alike knowledge and understanding to every one And especially beware of division and separation from any whom Christ owns and receives The censoriousness division and separation of Professors hath almost undone us weakned the Protestants very much given a great wound to the Protestant Religion brought a great scandal upon Professors Religion and Godliness given occasion to many loose Protestants to slight all Religion many to turn Atheists others prophane and given the common Adversary very great advantage by our divisions to destroy both the Protestant Religion and the Professors of it You know that a bundle of sticks or arrows taken singly one after another may all easily be broken but joyntly bound together they cannot Therefore the Romish Adversaries have of late years endeavored and do still endeavour what in them lieth to sow errors debauch others and make divisions amongst the Protestants that they may destroy them and the Truth also and set up their Romish Antichristian idolatrous Masses and superstition But let not any of you I beseech you and I hope in the Lord you will never be the Jesuites and Devils instruments to make divisions rents and separation in the Church of Christ which is a work of the flesh and forbidden of God 1 Cor. 3.3 and 1.10 Rom. 16.17 The Lord doth often and much command and press to unity Read 1 Cor. 1.10 Rom. 16.17 Phil. 2.1 2 to 8. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves and so on Ephes 4.3 4 5 6. Endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Observe his weighty Reasons 1. There is one Body namely mystical the Church of Christ 2. One Spirit by whom they are united and governed 3. Ye are called into one hope to wit of life eternal 4. Have the same Lord even Christ 5. Have one faith namely in Christ 6. Have the same Baptism to wit into the Name of
thanks-worthy if a man for conscience towards God indure grief suffering wrongfully for what glory is it if when ye are buffeted for your faults ye take it patiently but if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God for even hereunto are ye called because also Christ suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow him who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth See here is Gods command Christs example their own duty comfort and benefit to themselves do all bind servants to a meek and patient bearing of reproof and correction blows also 5. Bear with your Masters infirmities for the best of men have their infirmities are subject to like passions as other men as 't is said of Elias Jam. 5.17 as you your selves also have yours and therefore make conscience of bearing with them in others especially in your Governors concealing and covering them in love as much as may be It is a sinful thing to publish or blaze them abroad to the dis-credit of their Master is indeed to their own discredit shame in the end yet it is too common for servants when they meet together to talk of and blaze their Masters and Governors infirmities and secrets also that others abroad know what is said and done secretly in the house Such the Holy Ghost condemneth as tale-bearers Prov. 11.13 and 20.19 and the Apostle as tatlers and busie-bodies wandring from house to house and speaking things they ought not 1 Tim. 5.13 I say also it redounds to their own discredit and shame for who will credit or like such as tattle abroad what they see or hear at home or knowingly receive or willingly retain such in their houses All sober persons will utterly dislike and condemn such persons for so doing To back all these duties and put all servants on to make conscience of performing these duties consider these weighty Reasons 1. The will and express command of God as you have heard so that in a willing neglecting any of these you sin against God and provoke God against your own souls 2. You wrong your Masters whose good you ought to endeavour heartily and honour their persons and authority 3. The great reward you shall receive if not of men yet to be sure of God who has undertaken to be your pay-master Eph. 6.8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free 4. The place Masters are in namely over you in the Lord as your Head and Governour and you in the place of subjection to them so that whatsoever the birth parentage estate parts or former conditions of any of you were yet now being servants by your own voluntary choice or Divine Providence you must be subject and do the duty of servants and it is much better to do that cheerfully and faithfully which must be done and will be much for your comfort and benefit 5. The faithful discharge of these duties is a good way to adorn the Gospel credit Religion and Godliness honour the Name of God the contrary will be an occasion of blaspheming the Name of God and of the Gospel and the ways of Godliness 1 Tim. 6.1 Titus 2.10 and hindring the good of Souls 6. This is one end of your calling to Grace to serve others faithfully 1 Pet. 2.21 22. whereunto also you are called though the place speaks especially and particularly of suffering patiently for well-doing yet excludes not the other but includes it 7. Fellow-servants must be loving one to another and be a help and comfort one unto another in all well-doing and by all lawful means as much as may be that their lives may be more sweet and comfortable to themselves more pleasing to God and their service more acceptable unto their Master and give one another and others a good example of faithfulness diligence chastity sobriety godliness and all Christian vertues and well-doing 8. I might add there will be a day of Death and Judgment in which both Masters and servants must give an account unto God the Judge of all the world how they have carried themselves in their relations one towards another 2 Cor. 5.10 Eccles 12.14 27. Lastly To those that are poor in the world I must add a few words particularly for their comfort and direction and I pray observe them well 1. If now for your comfort you be truly Godly that is know God and Jesus Christ savingly and if you do truly desire to believe and endeavour to serve God daily and faithfully though but weakly as your education 't is probable hath been but mean then you are rich and great in the sight of God God is your Father and Jesus Christ your Redeemer Justifier and Saviour the Holy Spirit is your Sanctifier and Comforter and Heaven your in heritance all is yours if you be Christs 1 Cor. 3.22 23. Bless God with all your Souls serve him with all your heart you are happy in a far better condition than many thousands though you have little or nothing in the world and they have hundreds or thousands by the year if they be Christless ungodly and graceless and such I am confident some of those to whom I intend this are Fear not you shall never want things necessary any thing that God your Heavenly Father knows to be good and necessary for you Consider Psal 34.9 10. 84.11 Rom. 8.32 He that spared not his own Son how shall he not with him freely give us all things Consider well Mat. 6.25 to the end where you shall read how Christ argues for your comfort and ours also Where God gives life which is the greater better gift says Christ he will give meat and drink which is the lesser and he that gives a body will give raiment which is the lesser good He that will give a hundred or thousand pound to his childe will not be wanting to give him a little meat drink and clothes a few shillings for his present necessaries He that cloth s the field with grass and corn and the Lillies that neither toil nor spin Yea He that feeds the ravens kites and other Birds and Beasts that live on prey God provides for them when they awake in the morning they sing and are merry and yet they do not know where they shall have one small bit and they praise their Maker in their kind depend on him without distracting or carking distrustful cares and he provides for them every one food convenient in the due season Read Psal 104.27.28 and 147.15 16. How much more will he provide for you who truly desire and endeavor to serve and fear him Be not faithless but beleeve But 2. If you have not true saving knowledge and sanctified Grace an interest in Jesus Christ if ignorant or unholy and unrighteous then I beseech you whatsoever you do neglect yet neglect not any longer to give diligent endeavour