Medicin wholsom both for the Bodies and Souls of Sick Persons For their Bodies in that by its Supernatural Vertue and Efficacy it procures and restores Corporal Health when 't is Profitable and Advantageous to the Soul For their Souls in that it gives Grace which remits Venial Sins frees the Soul from Disorderly Affections and all other Relicks of Mortal Sins strengthens the Spirit with Divine Hope Comfort and Courage against the Inordinate Fears of Death and Judgment against Despair of God's Mercy against the last and most violent Assaults of our Ghostly Enemy and in fine makes Sickness and Death it self far more easie and welcome than otherwise they could be to Flesh and Blood Wherefore as you desire your Soul's Welfare in its last and greatest Extremities neglect not this Sacrament but take the Apostle's Advice in sending for the Minister of it whilst your Understanding and Senses are perfect that by Actual Faith and Devotion you may contribute to a more plentiful Receiving of its Grace and happy Effects For attaining which § I. Before Extreme Unction The things hereafter set down being prepared 1. In regard the Priest ordinarily repeats the Seven Penitential Psalms as he goes to Anoil the Sick it is meet that you join with him in the same Devotion and cause them to be read to you desiring all present to Pray with and for you that you may receive this Sacrament Worthily and that this Divine Medicin may work a perfect Cure upon your Soul whatever befalls your Body c. 2. When the Priest enters your Chamber to Anoil you think your self to be the Distress'd Traveller that fell among Thieves who spoiled wounded and left him half dead such being the State of every Sinner and esteem the Priest to be the good Samaritan who seeing him so abused was moved with Mercy and going unto him bound up his Wounds pouring in Oyl c. Luke 10.30 c. 3. When he offers you the Cross salute it devoutly in Testimony of your Faith Hope and Love towards Christ Crucified and say I believe the Son of God suffer'd upon the Cross to save me I hope he will apply the Merits of his Passion to my Soul in vertue of this Sacrament And for the Love of him that died for me I am truly content to die either now of this very Sickness or when and after what manner else he pleases 4. When he sprinkles you and the By-standers with H. Water say to God Thou shalt sprinkle c. Attend as much as you are able to what he says for your Comfort and Encouragement concerning the Vertue and Efficacy of this Sacrament which helps the Sick either to Recover or Die well according as God determines its Operation for the Good of the Receiver and take Courage whilst he puts you in Hopes of Eternal Life § II. At Extreme Unction Say or Hear the Confiteor either in Latin or English with a Contrite Heart To Misereatur c. and to Indulgentiam c. answer Amen with Desires and Hopes of Pardon Whilst the Priest Anoils 1. Your Eyes 2. Your Ears 3. Your Nostrils 4. Your Mouth 5. Your Hands 6. Your Feet 7. Your Reins Beseech Almighty God for his tender Mercies sake to forgive by this H. Vnction whatsoever you have sinned 1. By Seeing 2. By Hearing 3. By Smelling 4. By Tasting and Speaking 5. By Touching 6. By Going Ill Ways 7. By Lust § III. After Extreme Unction 1. Join in Prayer with the Priest and question not but God hears those Solemn and Holy Addresses which he makes for you in the Person of Christ and his Church 2. Give Thanks to God for his Goodness and Mercy towards us in the Sacraments you have received Many Thousands in the World lye now a Dying without the Helps to Die well which you have had in so full a measure that nothing is wanting towards making you happy with Grace here and with Glory hereafter c. 3. Keep in mind the wholesom Admonitions given you by the Priest to the end you may thereby drive away the Devil's Temptations couragiously and Die in our Lord comfortably than which no greater Blessing can befal you on this side Heaven c. Apoc. 14.13 4. Have always by you H. Water and a Crucifix that you may often Use the first and frequently Behold Kiss and Embrace the latter according to your Devotion and in so doing say to your Dear Redeemer O good Jesu hear me within thy Wounds hide me suffer me not to be separated from thee from the Malignant Enemy defend me at the Hour of my Death call me and bid me come to thee that with thy Saints I may praise thee World without end Amen * ⎠* Before the Priest comes to Anoil a Sick Person there must be prepar'd H. Water and a Table cover'd with a White Linnen Cloth having upon it a Crucifix with two Hallowed Candles on which the H. Oyls are to be placed at his Entrance into the Room A little Platter with Cotton or something like shared into Six or Seven little Parcels to wipe off the Oyl from the Parts Anointed Crumbs of Bread to Cleanse and Water to Wash his Hands A Wax-Candle to give him Light if need be whilst he Anoils and Care must be taken that all things be Clean and Decent about the Sick * ⎠* Besides the real Receiving of our Viaticum and Extreme Vnction in the time of Sickness there is a very Profitable Way of Receiving them Spiritually in the time of Health which consists in Reading Meditating and Practising what has been said of these two Sacraments once a Month while you live that you may be the better prepar'd for doing these Duties well when you come to Die For farther Instructions in this Point I refer you to the Christian Riâ—es to The Daily Exercises of a Christian Life and to The Manual of the Poor Man's Devotion At the end of which Books you may find this Exercise amply set forth CHAP. X. Of Holy Orders Every High and Inferior Priest taken from among Men is appointed for Men in those things that appertain to God c. Heb. 5.1 c. See Acts 13.2 3. HOly Orders concern the Laity no farther than 1. To know and believe Them to be a Sacrament of the Gospel in which the Persons Ordain'd by Imposition of Hands c. are made Ministers of Christ and Dispensers of the Mysteries of God and do thence receive Special Grace for fulfilling the Ministry assign'd them Acts 6.5 6. c. 13. v. 2 3 4. 1 Cor. 4.1 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 2. To know and believe that as it is the Duty of Pastors to Rule and Feed their Flocks Spiritually (a) Acts 20.28 1 Pet. 5.2 c. so 〈…〉 their Flocks to Honour (b) 1 Tim. 5.17 〈…〉 Obey (c) Heb. 13.17 and Feed their Pastors Corporally (d) 1 Cor. 9.7 c. that neither Contempt nor Indigency may be a Hindrance to the due Execution of
or abated by the Benefit of Indulgences For gaining of which 1. You must have true Repentance consisting of Hearty Sorrow for all your Sins and a firm Purpose of Amendment See Chap. 3. § 1. 2. You must perform with due Zeal all the Pious Works enjoin'd you that is you must Fast Pray give Alms visit Churches Confess Communicate c. according to the Intention of the Giver and the Tenor of the Grant of the Indulgence which commonly allows choice of Two Three or more things to be done as every one's Estate Ability Opportunity and other Circumstances require 3. You must do the last part at least of the said Works in the State of Grace that being a Disposition without which no Indulgence can be gain'd And tho' Faith assures us Conc. Trid Sess 25. c. 21. That the Power of granting Indulgences was given and left to the Pastors of the Church by Jesus Christ and that the use of them is wholsome and beneficial to Christians yet notwithstanding this general Warrant any particular Indulgence may be Invalid and Unbeneficial either for want of Authority in the Giver or thro' Deficiency in the Cause or by reason of Indisposition of the Receiver And therefore all well-advised Christians says Bellarmin so accept of Papal and Episcopal Indulgences as besides them to be careful to perform Works worthy of Penance and to make Satisfaction for their Sins by voluntary Mortifications and patient Sufferings As aforesaid Ch. III. § III. N. 5. CHAP. V. Of H. Communion Take ye and eat This is my Body c. Mat. 26.26 GReat and diligent Care is to be had in using all the Sacraments of the Catholick Church Religiously and Holily but most especially in receiving the most H. Sacrament of the Eucharist than which the Church of God has nothing more worthy nothing more Sacred and Admirable because in it is contain'd the principal and greatest Gift of God and the very Fountain and Author of all Grace and Holiness to wit Christ our Lord. Therefore be thou O Christian prepar'd to meet thy God For the Work is great neither is an Habitation to be prepar'd for Man but for God Amos 4.12 1 Par. 29.1 § I. Before Communion 1. Ponder well the Immense Difference betwixt Receiving Worthily or Holily and Unworthily or in the State of Mortal Sin Of the former Christ says My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed He that cats my Flesh and drinks my Blood abides in me and I in him And he that eats me the same shall live by me He that eats c. has Life Everlasting and I will raise him up in the last Day and he shall live for ever John 6. From all which 't is plain that the Life of Grace here and of Glory hereafter is the happy Effect and Fruit of receiving Worthily Of the latter S. Paul assures us Whosoever shall eat the Bread or drink the Chalice of our Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of our Lord. And again He that eats and drinks unworthily eats and drinks Judgment to himself Therefore viz. for receiving Unworthily are there among you many weak and feeble in Body and Soul and many sleep i. e. Die both Temporally and Eternally 1 Cor. 11. O Dismal Guilt Judgment and Punishment of Unworthy Receiving But why should I wonder hereat since the Blood of Christ cries to Heaven for Vengeance like that of Abel against every Unworthy Communicant Gen. 4.10 who Crucifying again to himself the Son of God and making him a Mockery has trodden the Son of God under Foot and esteem'd the Blood of the Testament polluted wherein he is sanctified Heb. 6.6 c. 10. v. 29. Whereas on the contrary Heb. 12.24 The Mediator of the New-Testament Jesus and the sprinkling of his Blood speak better than Abel and plead effectually both Mercy and Pardon in Behalf of worthy Communicants 2. You cannot be Partakers of the Table of our Lord and of the Table of Devils (a) 1 Cor. 10.21 For what Participation has Justice with Iniquity Or what Society is there between Light and Darkness And what Agreement with Christ and Belial (b) 2 Cor. 6.14 15. Therefore before Receiving Purge away the old Leaven of Mortal Sins and Affections thereto by the Sacrament of Penance that you may become a new Paste and let us Feast at the Table of our Lord not in the Leaven of Malice and Wickedness but in the Azims of Sincerity and Truth (c) 1 Cor. 5.7 8. And because a little Leaven corrupts the whole Paste (d) Gal. 5.9 to be wholly Clean and Unleaven'd you must purge your Souls likewise from Venial Sins and from all Affections to them and to Worldly Vanities This is what the Apostle insinuates saying Let a Man prove himself by Examining and Rectifying his Conscience and so let him eat c. 1 Cor. 11.28 3. You must not only lay away the old Man Eph. 4.24 c. who is corrupted according to the Desires of Error but you must also be renew'd in the Spirit of your Mind and put on the new Man who according to God is created in Justice and Holiness of the Truth That is besides the Cleansing of your Soul from Sins and Sinful Affections you must Adorn it with Holy Thoughts Affections and Acts of Vertue Put ye on therefore Col. 3.12 c. as the Elect of God Holy and Beloved the Bowels of Mercy Benignity Humility Modesty Patience supporting one another and pardoning one another if any one have a Quarrel against any Man as our Lord pardon'd us so you also But above all these things have Charity which is the Band of Perfection c. Lest after your Happiness in being call'd to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb you become so unfortunate as to be cast into utter Darkness for coming without the Wedding-Garment of Charity Apoc. 19.9 and Mat. 22.11 c. Hence that your Inward Man may be adorn'd in a manner suitable to the Divine Guest you are to entertain say the Prayers before Receiving as in the Manual or Primer eliciting Acts of Faith Hope Charity Humility and other Vertues whilst you say them 4. Besides Purity and Piety of Soul you must bring along with you to the Table of our Lord Dispositions of Body agreeable thereto that is 1. You must be Fasting so as not to have eat or drunk any thing at least from the Midnight before you Communicate 2. Married Persons are advis'd by Mutual Consent to practise Continency some Days and Nights before they come to Holy Communion that they may give themselves to Prayer with more Freedom from Tribulation of the Flesh and with less Impediment in the Service of God 1 Cor. 7.5 28 35. Such Continency being a Disposition requir'd in those that were to eat the Hallowed Bread of the Old Law and much rather for them that by eating the Eucharistical Bread of the New Law are to partake of the
Testament * Isa 38.1 and in Settling his Temporal Concerns advertise him 1. To Pay his Debts and Restore what belongs to others 2. To leave to his Heir what is his due 3. To bestow Alms on the Poor and especially on his Needy Relations 4. To give something that his Soul may be remembred at the Altar c. And that he may be sure of some Performance in this kind Admonish him to make his own Hands Executors in part according to the Advice of Ecclesiasticus saying Son if thou hast it do good to Thy Self and offer to God worthy Oblations Before Death do good to Thy Friend and according to thy Ability stretching out thy Hand give to the Poor Before thy Death work Justice Ecclus 14.11 c. And I adds Christ say unto you Make to your selves Friends of the Mammon of Iniquity i. e. of Riches the Idol of Worldlings that when you fail they may receive you into the Eternal Tabernacles Luk. 16.9 2. And to his Body Admonish him to Surrender it entirely unto the Care and Management of his Physician saying Honour the Physician for necessity for the Highest has Created him for all Medicine is of God c. The Highest has Created Medicines of the Earth and a Wise Man will not abhor them The Vertue of these things is come to the knowledge of Men and the Highest has given knowledge to Man for to be honour'd in his Marvellous things Curing with these things he shall mitigate Pain c. Give place to the Physician and let him not depart from thee because his Works are necessary And they that practice Physick shall beseech our Lord that he direct their Cure Ecclus 38. passimo But let Physicians beware of Advising or Applying any thing for the Cure of the Body that may be hurtful to the Soul And let them not make above Three Visits to the Sick unless they be first Certified that their Patients have duly Expiated their Sins by Sacramental Confession For so the Council of Lateran and many Popes have Decreed under great Penalties If the Sick Party be destitute of Corporal Necessaries and an Object of Charity do not neglect the Relieving of him out of your own Purse or Stores as far as you are able like the good Samaritan Luk. 10. And if that will not suffice then you must take Care to make his Wants known that they may be Supplied by Private or Publick Collections of Alms. 3. As to his Soul You must Advertise him that Sickness and Diseases are many times the punishment of Sin mercifully inflicted by Almighty God for the Reclaiming of Sinners This Holy Writ declares saying He that Sins in his sight that Made him shall fall into the Hands of the Physician Eccl. 38.15 He God rebukes also by Sorrow in the Bed c. that he may reclaim their Souls from Corruption c. Job 33.19.30 O how sweet is thy Spirit O Lord in all And therefore those that err by parts thou dost Chastise and dost Admonish and Speak to them concerning the things wherein they Sin That leaving naughtiness they may believe in thee and when nothing else will reclaim them it often happens that a grievous Infirmity makes a sober Soul Wisd 12.1 2. Ecclus 31.2 In which Case Sin being taken away by true Repentance Sickness also ceases and not otherwise as it appears in that King Ezechias when Sick even to Death by Prayers and Tears obtain'd of God Health and longer Life whereas King Asa fell Sick and Died of a most violent Pain in his Feet because in his Infirmity he did not seek our Lord but trusted in the Art of Physicians 4 K. 20.1 c. Isa 38.1 c. 2 Paral. 16.12 13. Hence address your self to your Sick Neighbour after this manner Son in thy Infirmity contemn not thy self but pray to our Lord and he will Cure thee Turn away from Sin and direct thy Hands and from all Offence cleanse thy Heart Ecclus 38.9 10. That is to say Repent for thy Sins Implore the Divine Mercy Place all thy Hope in God Endure patiently the Pains of thy Corporal Infirmity in Satisfaction for thy Sins look upon it as a Fatherly Visitation and Chassisement of God less than thy Sins deserve and believe it befals thee for the good of thy Soul and the Amendment of thy Life Judith 8.27 Job 33. from v. 19. to v. 31. Ps 102.10 13 c. But if his Sickness grows Dangerous you must Admonish him to procure in due time what farther Helps are requisite for the Salvation of his Soul and that with all fitting expedition he send for his Spiritual Director and impart to him in Confession his Sins Temptations and Fears in order to receive of him Absolution fit Remedies and Encouragement as also the Holy Sacraments of Eucharist and Extreme Unction whilst his Understanding Memory and Senses are perfect without those dangerous and deceitful Delays which thro' the Falacy of the Devil have brought and Daily do bring many to endless Misery If the Sick Person will not be perswaded to Confess his Sins do not presently give him over for lost but frequently as long as he lives be putting him in mind of the great Mercy of God inviting him to Penance and most ready to Pardon his Sins if he will Confess them and endeavour to make him sensible how thro' Impenitence he hazards his Salvation and exposes himself to Everlasting Torments See Rom. 2.4 c. Moreover both Private and Publick Supplications must be made to God for the Conversion and Salvation of a Soul at the Brink of Eternity and so miserably unprovided for it You must take Care that a Figure of Christ Crucified be ever placed in View of the Sick and that Holy Water do always stand beside him wherewith he may be often sprinkled you must likewise propose unto him according to his condition some short Prayers and godly Exercises of Mind especially some Verses of the Psalms set down in the next Chapter our Lord's Prayer the Angelical Salutation the Apostles Creed the Meditation of our Lord's Passion the Martyrdoms or Sufferings of the Saints the happy State of Heavenly Glory which will abundantly Recompence all his present Grievances Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 But these things must be seasonably and discreetly Suggested that they may not molest but give ease to the Sick § III. Tell your Sick Neighbour for his Comfort that you and the rest of the Company will Pray for him And accordingly having first desired that his Thoughts and Heart may go along with your Words kneel down and say the Prayers for the Sick as in the Manual c. Last of all Exhort him if he Recovers to go to Church the first Journey he takes and there to give God Thanks for his Recovery as also to receive Holy Communion Devoutly and thenceforward to lead a better Course of Life That being a Duty incumbent on every Christian after his Recovery no less than on the
Bed-rid Man after his Cure whom when Jesus found in the Temple he said to him Behold thou art made Whole Sin no more lest some worse thing chance to thee Jo. 5.14 CHAP. XIX Of Assisting Dying Persons Comfort him that lies a Dying in the Departure of his Spirit Ecclus 38.24 HE loves at all times that is a Friend and a Brother is proved in distresses Prov. 17.17 But no time is of greater Consequence than the Hour of Death and the Entrance into Eternity nor any Distress comparable to our last Agony Therefore he is our best Friend and kindest Brother who assists us most in those our greatest Extremities Now the best Service you can do an Agonizing Person is as follows § I. Admonish him to Pronounce often with a Contrite Heart the most Holy Name Jesus and Help him whilst he is able to make Acts of Faith Hope Charity and other Vertues after this manner I Believe firmly all the Articles of Faith which the Holy-Catholick-Apostolick and Roman Church Believes and Teaches I Hope that Christ our Lord for his Immense Goodness will be merciful to me and that I shall obtain Life Everlasting thro' the Merits of his most Holy Passion I Love God with my whole Heart and I desire above all things to Love him as the Angels and Saints in Heaven do Love him I am Sorry from my Heart for the Love of God that I ever Offended him or my Neighbour in any kind I Pardon from my Heart for the Love of God all my Enemies and those that have any way Molested me I Crave Pardon of all those I have at any time Offended either in Word or Deed. I Accept with Patience the Pain I Endure and the Anguish of my Sickness for God's sake in Punishment and Expiation of my Sins I Resign my self freely to the Pangs of Death for the Love of him that Died upon the Cross to Save me from â—â—dless Misery I Resolve if God Restores my Health to avoid Sin hereafter and to keep his Commandments as much as in me lies And I would rather Die in the State I now am in than Live to Offend my God any more § II. Exhort him to Pray at least in Heart as often as he 's able after this manner Have Mercy on me O God according to thy great mercy Psal 50.1 In thee O Lord have I hoped let me not be Confounded for ever Psal 30.2 Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Psal 30.6 O God incline unto my Aid O Lord make haste to help me Psal 69.2 Be thou Lord God to me a protector Psal 30.3 God be Merciful to me a Sinner Luk. 18.13 Most Sweet Lord Jesus in Virtue of thy Passion receive me into the Number of thy Elect. Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Acts 7.59 Mary Mother of Grace Mother of Mercy protect us from the Enemy and at the Hour of Death receive us Angel-Guardian Assist me All ye Holy Angels and Saints Intercede for me and Succour me These and such like Prayers you may suggest to a Dying Person according to his Capacity § III. During his Agony sprinkle him with Holy Water offer him the Crucifix to Kiss by Efficacious words put him in hopes of Eternal Life and place the Crucifix before him that in beholding it he may conceive hopes of his Salvation thro' him who Died upon the Cross Admonish the Domesticks and By-standers to join with you in Prayer for the Dying Party and then on your Knees read Devoutly the Recommendation of a Soul departting as in the Manual But when the Soul is at the point of leaving the Body then all present must Pray most earnestly for its happy Departure and one of the Assistants applying his Mouth towards the Ear of the Person Dying must pronounce in a Hain and Comfortable Tone Jesu Jesu Jesu and as often as it shall seem fitting he may repeat that Sacred Name as also the following Sentences Into thy Hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit c. as before 4. As soon as the Soul is gone out of the Body Pray thus Succour speedily O ye Saints of God hasten O ye Angels of our Lord receive this Soul and offer it in Presence of the Highest May Jesus Christ who has call'd thee receive thee and may his Angels carry thee into Abraham's Bosom Eternal Rest give her O Lord and let perpetual Light shine unto her Lord have Mercy on us Christ have c. Lord have c. Our Father c. Vers And lead us not c. Resp But deliver us c. V. From the Gate of Hell R. O Lord deliver this Soul V. Let her rest in Peace R. Amen V. O Lord hear my Prayer R. And let my Cry come to thee We recommend to thee O Lord the Soul of thy Servant N. that being Dead to the World he or she may live to thee and the Sins he or she has committed thro' Frailty of Human Conversation do thou mercifully Pardon and Wipe away Thro' Christ our Lord. Amen In the Interim let thy Passing-Bell be rung according to the Custom of the Place that they who hear it may pray for the Soul newly departed Afterwards let the Corps be order'd handsomly and placed in a decent Room with Candle-Light and let a small Cross be set between the Hands join'd on the Breast of the Dead Body or for want of a Cross let its Hands be laid over one another in form of a Cross and let it be sprinkled with H. Water and whilst it remains in the House let all present pray for the Soul of the Party deceased CHAP. XX. Of Burying the Dead Blessed be you to our Lord who have shewn Mercy to your Lord Saul and have Buried him And now truly our Lord will render you Mercy c. 2 Kings 2.5 6. See Tob. 12.12 IN going to and assisting at Funerals there is offer'd you an Opportunity to exercise Three several Acts of Charity viz. Edifying of your self Comforting of the Sorrowful and Praying for the Dead And § I. As to Edifying of your self There is no better a Preservative against Sin than the Remembrance of Death and therefore 't is written In all thy Works remember thy last things and thou shalt not Sin Ecclus 7.40 Neither is there any livelier Memorial of Death than a Funeral Wherefore it is better to go to the House of Mourning than to the House of Banqueting for in that the end of all Men is signified and he that lives thinks what shall be Eccles 7.3 Hence at Funerals follow the Advice of Ecclesiasticus viz. Son upon the Dead shed Tears c. and according to Discretion cover his Body and neglect not his Burial Remember the last things and forget not Imagin the deceased Party says to thee Be mindful of my Judgment for thine also must be so To me Yesterday and to thee to Day Ecclus 38.16 c.
their Tribulation and to make and keep ones self unspotted from this World James 1.27 3. Perfect Charity because if I should have all Faith and have not Charity I am nothing And if I should distribute all my Goods to the Poor and have not Charity it profits me nothing 1 Cor. 13.2 3. Therefore When you shall stand to Pray forgive if you have ought against any Man that also your Father who is in Heaven may forgive you your Sins Mark 11.25 Forgive thy Neighbour hurting thee and then shall thy Sins be loosed to thee when thou prayest c. Ecclus 28.2 c. But if you will not forgive Men neither will your Father forgive you your Offences Mat. 6.15 And if thou offerest thy Gifts at the Altar and there remember'st that thy Brother has ought against thee leave there thy Offering before the Altar and go first to be reconciled to thy Brother and then coming thou shalt offer thy Gift Mat. 5.24 25. Hence it appears that Charity towards our Neighbour ought always to accompany and sometimes take place of Divine Worship and God's more immediate Service Because to do Mercy and Judgment does more please our Lord than Victims And to love ones Neighbour as himself is a greater thing than all Holocausts and Sacrifices without Charity Prov. 21.3 Mark 12.33 See also Hosea 6.6 Mat. 12.7 Besides these three Conditions mention'd 1 Tim. 1.5 you must also have 4. A good Intention to which the Apostle directs you saying Whatsoever you do in Word or in Work do all things unto the Glory of God and in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving Thanks to God and the Father by Him 1 Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.17 5. True Devotion must inspirit the whole Body of your Religious Actions and make you serve God with a perfect Heart and a willing Mind 1 Par. 28.9 For God is a Spirit and they that adore him must adore in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 by offering Spiritual Sacrifices or Acts of Faith Hope Charity and other Interior Vertues acceptable to God thro' Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 without which all outward Respects and Signs of Godliness are no better than Counterfeit Piety and downright Hypocrifie See Ps 77.36 37. Ecclus 1.40 Luke 20.47 In fine To keep Sundays and other Feasts Holy you must not only serve God in Holiness and Justice but you must be also in all Conversation Holy Luke 1.74 75. and 1 Pet. 1.15 CHAP. XXIV Of Working and Business Whatsoever you do work it from the Heart as to our Lord and not to Men. Col. 3.23 § I. BEfore you take in Hand any Work or Business make the Sign of the Cross and let it be your Intention and Aim to please Him thereby who ought to be the Beginning Progress and End of all your Actions and for that Purpose say this short Prayer Lord God of Mercy give me Wisdom from thy Holy Heavens that she may be with me and labour with me that I may know and do what is acceptable to thee Wisd 9. § II. In all thy Works be quick and Infirmity shall not chance unto thee Ecclus 31.27 The Slothful Hand has wrought Poverty the Hand of the Strong gets Riches Prov. 10.4 In all thy Works be exquisite or exact give no stain to thy Glory thro' Negligence Ecclus 33.23.24 Hence it appears that Industrious and Diligent Labour is a great Friend to Health Wealth and Reputation and it is as Advantagious to Salvation when Sanctified with Spiritual Recollection 1. By calling to mind the Presence of God or the Subject of your Mornings Meditation 2. By using Jaculatory Prayers and Silent Elevation of the Heart to God 3. By Singing with Heart and Voice Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs whilst you are at Work Col. 3.16 § III. When you have finished your Work offer it to God its principal Author Phil. 2.13 together with the Labours and Pains undergone by Christ on Earth for us Men and for our Salvation and pray that what you have done may be acceptable to the Divine Majesty thro' the Merits of our Saviour's Works c. CHAP. XXV Of Eating and Drinking Whether you Eat or Drink or do any other thing do all things to the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 THE first Christians took their Meat with Joy and Simplicity or Sincerity of Heart praising God Acts 2.46 Do you in like manner And § I. Before Meat say Grace not for fashion-sake and meerly out of Custom but with that inward Devotion and outward Respect which is due to God in whose presence you are and to whom you speak for this Lesson Christ taught when looking up to Heaven he Blessed the Five Loaves and Two Fishes Mat. 14.19 * ⎠* What Virtue the Blessing of our Meat has you may see in the Annotations of the Rhemes Testament upon 1 Tim. 4.5 § II. At Table if thou be set in the midst of many stretch not forth thy Hand before them neither do thou first ask to Drink Vse as a frugal Man those things that are set before thee Leave off first for Manners-sake and exceed not lest perhaps thou Offend Watching and Choler and Torment to an Vnsatiable Man Sleep of Health is in a Man of spare Diet and his Soul with him shall be delighted Sober Drinking is Health to Soul and Body Ecclus 31. passim Eat what suffices but be not greedy in all Feasting and pour not out thy self upon all Meat for in many Meats there shall be Infirmity and Greediness shall approach even to Choler Because of Surfeit many have Died but he that is abstinent shall add Life both to Body and Soul Prov. 25.16 Ecclus 37.32 c. § III. After Meat say Grace again with Devotion and Reverence and let thy Soul magnifie our Lord for that he has filled the Hungry with Good Things and thee amongst the rest for no other end than that when thou hast Eaten and art Full thou may'st Bless the Lord thy God Luk. 1.53 Deut. 8.10 CHAP. XXVI Of Discourse If any Man think himself to be Religious not Bridling his Tongue this Man's Religion is Vain But if any Man Offend not in Word this is a Perfect Man Jam. 1.26 c. 3. v. 2. § I. B Before you fall into Discourse make your Intention to keep up thereby true Charity and Friendship with your Neighbour in Honour and Imitation of Christ's Holy Conversation on Earth with all sorts of People And then Pray thus Set O Lord a Guard to my Mouth and a Door to my Lips Decline not my Heart into Words of Malice that I fall not by Them and my Tongue destroy me Psal 140.3 4. Ecclus 22.33 § II. In Discourse speak nothing but what is Good Eph. 4.29 and Edisying * and better than Silence in regard that of every Idle Word that Men shall Speak they shall give an Account in the Day of Judgment For by thy Words thou shalt be Justified and by thy Words thou shalt be Condemned Mat. 12.36