Principles of our Religion necessary to be known and Believed by all Persons in Order to their Everlasting Salvation are these four I. Concerning God II. Concerning Man III. Concerning Jesus Christ the Mediator between God and Man IV. Concerning the way and means to obtain Salvation by Christ the only Mediatour I. Concerning GOD. It is necessary to Know and Believe the following Severals Namely That God is an Infinite Invisible and Immortal Spirit without Bodily Parts or Passions Almighty All-knowing every where present most Wise and Holy most Just and Righteous most Good and Gracious The following Scriptures will Confirm your Belief of the Truth of this viz. St. John 4.24 God is a Spirit St. Luke 24 39. A Spirit hath not flesh and bones Exod 34. v. 6 7. The Lord passed by and proclaimed his Name the Lord God gracious and merciful long-suffering abundant in Goodness and Truth 2. That there is but one true and ever-living God who being Oone in Nature is yet Three in Person namely the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost each Person having his proper Part and Office in the Salvation of lost Sinners namely the Father as the Original and Fountain the Son as the Manager and Transacter of it and the Holy Ghost as the Applier and Sealer of it See the following Scriptures Deut. 6.4 The Lord thy God is one Lord 1 John 5.7 There are three that bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these Three are One St. John 15.26 But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which preceedeth from the Father he shall Testifie of me Eph. 4.30 Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby you are sealed unto the Day of Redemption 3. That this ever-living and only living Lord God by his Almighty Power and Infinite Wisdom Created the World and all things therein out of nothing and by his effectual Providence doth sustain and preserve them in being and doth likewise govern and dispose of all things to his own glory Nehem. 9. v. 6. Thou art Lord alone who hast made the Heavens and the Heaven of Heavens with all their host the Earth and all things that are therein and thou preservest them all II. Concerning Man We are to Know and Believe 1. That Almighty God Created Man Adam after his own Image which consisted in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness giving him an holy Law for the Rule of his Obedience with Power to keep it and a Promise of Life upon Condition of keeping it see Gen. 1.27 So God created Man in his own Image in the Image of God created he him Eccles 7.29 This only have I found that God made man Upright 2. That Man Adam being Created in an Holy State yet in a mutable Condition and under a possibility of falling being tempted by Satan and left to the freedom of his own Will did actuall fall from his Estate of Innocency and Integrity into a State of Sin and Misery Gen. 3.6 And when the Woman saw that the Tree was good for Food and pleasant to the Eye she took thereof and did Eat and gave also unto her Husband and he did eat Eccles 7.29 God hath made Man upright but he hath found out many Inventions 3. That by reason of Man's Fall his Nature is wholly Corrupted with Original Sin which is the Seed and Root of all other Sins derived upon us by Natural Generation whereby we are disabled to that which is spiritually Good and inclined to that which is Evil and sinful Gen. 5.3 And Adam begat a Son in his own likeness after his Image Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in-iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me Rom. 8. v. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God 4. That every Man doth further fall into manifold Actual Sins in the daily Course of his Life transgressing every one of God's holy Commandments either in Thought Word or Deed see Eccles 7. v. 20. There is not a just Man upon Earth that doeth good and sinneth not Rom. 3. v. 10 23. There is not one righteous man no not one for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God 5. That the Punishment due to every sin is Death and Hell all Miserie 's Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Rom. 6.23 The Wages of Sin is Death 2 Thes 1.9 They shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power 6. That Almighty God pitying the deplorable Misery of our fallen Estate has found out a Way and appointed a Means for our Deliverance from the Power and Punishment of Sin by a Mediator and Redeemer Titus 3. v. 4 5 6. After that the Kindness and Love of God our Saviour towards Man appeared according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost III. Concerning Christ the Mediator between God and Man We ought to Know and Believe 1. That Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God the second Person in the Trinity is the only Redeemer of lost Man and the only Mediator betwixt God and Man from whom alone we are to expect Life and Salvation 1 Tim. 2.5 There is one God and one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus Acts 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is no other Name given under Heaven by whom we must be saved 2. That Jesus Christ our Redeemer was both God and Man having two Natures in one Person a Divine Nature as he was God and an Humane Nature as Man in which Humane Nature he suffered for Sinners and in his Divine Nature satisfied the Justice of God for sin Acts 20.28 Feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Heb. 10. v. 10. By the which Will we are sanctified thro' the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all 3. That Christ our Redeemer having taken upon him our Nature lived here upon Earth about three and thirty Years and did in our stead and for our sin give full Satisfaction to the Justice of his Father by enduring most grievous Torments in his Soul and by undergoing most painful Sufferings in Body was Crucified Dyed and was Buryed and by his Death did Conquer Sin and Satan Death and Hell Read the 26th and 27th Chapters of St Matthew which give a large Account of our Saviour's Sufferings 4. That Jesus Christ on the third Day Arose again from the Dead with the same Body in which he suffered with which Body also he Ascended into Heaven and sitteth there at the right hand of his Father to intercede for us and by his Intercession in Heaven making Application of that Redemption which he wrought on Earth from whence at the End of the World he shall come again to Judg both Men and Devils and to determine their Final and Eternal State see Rom.
8. v. 34. Who is he that Condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh Intercession for us St. Matth. 13. v. 41 42. The Son of Man shall send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things which offend and them that do Iniquity and shall cast them into a Furnace of Fire where shall be wailing and weeping c. IV. Concerning the Way and Means to obtain Salvation by Christ 1. That the way and means appointed by God for the Sinners Salvation thro' Jesus Christ the Redeemer is by Faith Repentence and sincere Obedience So saith the Apostle Eph. 2.8 By Grace ye are saved thro' Faith Acts 11. r8 Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life Heb. 5. v. 9. Christ became the Author of Eternal Salvation to them that obey him 2. That saving Faith is a Grace of the Holy Spirit wrought in us by the Ministery of the Word Whereby we do in our Understandings Assent to the Doctrine of the Gospel as true and with our Wills embrace it as good And according to that Revelation do depend upon the merits of Christ alone foâ— pardon of Sin and eternal life on such conditions as the Gospeâ— has assured them upon Rom. 10. v. 10. With the heart man beliveth unto Righteousness St. John 6. v. 68 69. We believe and are sure that thou art Christ the Son of the living God to whom shall we go thou hast the words of Eternal Life 3. That true Repentance consists in an hearty Trouble and Sorrow for sin past In an humble acknowledgment and Penitential Confession of sin both past and present but chiefly in such stedfast Purposes and Resolutions against sin for the time to come as do produce Actual Reformation and Amendment of Life 2 Cor. 7.11 Ye sorrowed after a Godly sort what carefulness did it work in you yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what revenge Isa 55.7 Let the Wicked forsake his way and turn c. 4. That Repentance being a real Change and Reformation of our Lives to defer it to a sick bed and a dying hour puts the Soul upon a mighty hazard it being then impossible to know the truth of our Repentance when we want time and opportunity to make tryal of the sincerity of it St. Mat. 3.8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for Repentance Isa 55.6 Seek ye now the Lord whilst he may be found and call upon him whilst he is near 2 Cor. 6.2 Behold now is the accepted time 5. That Sincere obedience consists in a conformity of Heart and Life to the Word and Will of God from an unfeigned Love to God and a sincere delight in keeping his Commandments Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will oh my God yea thy Law is within my heart Acts 24.16 Herein do I exercise my self to keep always a Conscience void of offence towards God and towards all men 6. That the Obedience of the best of Christians in this Life when at the best is but imperfect attended with much weakness and accompanied with manifold imperfections which yet upon our humble acknowledgment God will graciously pardon and for Christs sake mercifully accept Job 9. v. 20. If I justifie my self my own mouth shall condemn me If I say I am perfect it shall also prove me perverse 2 Chr. 30.18 19 20. The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God tho' he be not cleansed according to the purification of the Sanctuary And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the People 7. That no Obedience is sincere but that which is Universal and causes us to have an abiding respect unto all Gods Commandments to obey them and to all Christs institutions to observe and follow them Psal 119.9 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect unto all thy Commandments St. Mat. 28.20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you 8. That the great Commands of God are to Love him with all our Hearts with all our Souls with all our Strength and to love our Neighbour as our selves Matth. 22.37 38. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. This is the first and great Commandment and the second is like unto it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self 9. That the great Institutions of Jesus Christ under the Gospel are his Word and Sacraments to wit Baptism and the Lords Supper which he Commands all his Disciples and Followers most Religiously to Celebrate until his coming again unto Judgment St. Math. 28. ult Go teach all Nations Baptizing them c. And lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world 1 Cor. 11.26 As oft as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 10. That Baptism is a holy Institution of our Saviours for the benefit of Believers and their Seed Wherein by the outward washing with Water in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost it signifies the Spiritual washing of the Soul by the Blood and Spirit of Christ from the guilt and filth of sin Eph. 5.25 26. Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctifie and cleatnse it by the washing of Water and the Word 11. That the Lords Supper is an holy Ordinance wherein by Bread broken and Wine poured out the death of Christ is shewed forth and all the Benefits of his death are Represented Applied and Sealed unto Worthy Receivers 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Commmunion of the Blood of Christ c. 12. That the end of this Ordinance is to be a Memorial of Christs Death To strengthen our Faith in him To encrease our Communion with him To be a Spiritual Banquet wherein we feed upon him in order to our Spiritual nourishment and Growth in Grace 1 Cor. 11.26 As oft as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye shew forth the Lords death till he come 13. That all such as are truly penitent for sin past and holily resolved against sin and for a new life for the time to come tho' their Grace be weak their doubts many and their fears great yet ought they often to come to this Heavenly Banquet for Spiritual strength and inward comfort St. John 6.51 I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this Bread he shall live for ever 14. That it is the duty of every one who would be a Worthy Receiver of the Lords Supper to prepare himself thereunto by previous Examination and to make proof of his Knowledge Faith and Charity and so to eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup. See 1 Cor 11.28 But let a Man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. 15. That the danger
in Compassion to our Infirmities has commanded us to say Our Father c. An HYMN Or Song of Praise for the Morning LORD for the Mercies of this Night My humble Thanks I Pay And unto Thee I Dedicate The First-Fruits of the Day My God was with me all this Night And gave me sweet Repose My God did Watch even whilst I Slept Or I had never Rose How many groan'd and wisht for Sleep Untill they wisht for Day Weary both of their Bed and Life whilst I securly lay Whilst I did Sleep all Dangers Slept No Thieves did Me affright Those Evening Wolves those Beasts of Prey Disturbers of the Night No Raging Flames Nor Storms did Rend The house that I was in I heard no Dreadful Cries without Nor Doleful Groans within What Terrors have I ' scap'd this Night Which have on others fell My Body might have Slept its last My Soul have wak'd in Hell Let this Day Praise Thee oh my God And so let all my Days And oh let my Eternal Day Be thy Eternal Praise An HYMN or Song of Praise for the Evening MY God my only Help and Hope My strong and sure Defence For all the Mercies of this Day I Bless thy Providence Lord in the day thou wert about The Paths wherein I tread Now in the Night when I lye down Be thou about my Bed This Day God was my Son and sheild My keeper and my Guide His Care was on my Frailty shewn His Mercies multiplied Minutes and Mercies multiplied Have made up all this Day Minutes came quick but Mercies were More swift and free than they New Time new Favours and new Joyes Do a New Song require 'Till I shall Praise the as I would Accept my Hearts Desire Now for a Close of this Advice to Family-Governours concerning their Performance of Family Worship I shall only subjoin this one Cautionary Direction Take heed of resting in thy Family-Duties and by no means think it sufficient to prove thee a Saint and evidence thee a sincere Christian because thou art frequent in Family-Duties Alas a Man may set up the Worship of God in his House and yet not Enthrone God in his Heart The Duty it self is good but the bare Performance of it will not demonstrate thee to be so look therefore how thou daily Walkest as well as how thou Prayest If thou meanest to foul thy Hands with Sins black work in the Day it is gross Hypocrisie to pretend to wash them by Prayer in the Morning 'T is sad to pretend to Religion in the House and to practise Deceit and Fraud in the Shop Oh how many begin with God by Prayer in the Morning and keep the Devil Compain Sin all the Day after The Neglect of Family Duties will certainly bespeak thee a Bad Man But the most constant performance of them without a Life suitable to them will never prove thee a good Man CHAP. X. Of Glorifying God in Secret Duties GReat is the Condescention of Almighty God in holding Communion with his Church in their Publick Assemblies when with United Prayers and Supplications they make their Solemnest Adresses to him But Oh how Adorable is his Condescending Love in stooping so low as to maintain a holy Fellowship and sweet Communion with a single Christian in his Closet-Devotions It is not enough that in Heaven when we shall put on our Robes of Glory that he will take us into his Royal Presence and Admit us there to the sight and enjoyment of his Face and Favour but will he now whilest we are clad with Raggs of Mortality and before our Grave Cloaths are thrown off entertain us also as his Friends and indulge us the liberty of giving him a Visit in the remotest Corner of our House Verily such astonishing Love and stupendious Condescention is rather to be admired than expressed by us Now there are several Secret Duties incumbent upon Christians which Almighty God upon our humble Application to him will afford us the sweet Influences the secret Aids and Assistances of his Holy Spirit in the performance of As namely 1. Holy and Devout Meditation when the Soul retires from the World and in a serious and solemn Manner sets it self to think upon God to contemplate his glorious Attributes to ruminate upon his gracious Promises to admire his wonderful Word and Works 2. Serious Self-examination by which we make a daily enquiry into the State of our Souls and thereby arrive at a well-grounded Kowledge of the safety of our State and Condition by comparing the Frame of our Hearts and the Course of our Lives with the Holy Rule of God's Commandements and observing their sincere Conformity thereunto 3. Secret Prayer and Supplication which ought to be performed constantly and seasonably twice a Day As soon as thou arisest out of thy Bed in the Morning begin the Day with God and make a most hearty tender of your self to his Service and Glory before you set about any Worldly-Business and never think of putting off your Cloaths to lye down at Night before you have commended your selves and all yours unto his merciful Protection For your Encouragment hereunto you have the Practise and Example of our Blessed Saviour whom you find early in the Morning Praying alone St. Mark 1.35 and late in the Evening St. Matth. 14.23 and that this was our Saviour's usual Practice may be gathered from St. Luke 22.39 compared with St. Luke 21.27 Thus Christ Sanctified this Duty by his own Example and has by his Promise annexed a Gracious Reward to the faithful doing of it St. Matth. 6.6 All this our Blessed Saviour did when he was here on Earth and now that he is Ascended up into Heaven to what Purpose is he appointed our Intercessor there if we send up no Prayers to him to be presented by him to the Father Besides this the Sense of our daily wants one would think should sufficiently excite us to this Duty we standing in continual need of God or if we could be supposed to want nothing yet the Sense we have that we hold All we call Ours by the meer Mercy of God should move us to acknowledge him and to pay our Homage and Adorations to him Add to this that there is no such way to make Almighty God intirely our Friend as by commending our selves in the Duty of Prayer to him with a Pious Trust in his Mercy and an intire Devoting of our selves to his Service and Glory But oh how inexpressible will be the Comfort of going to God as an Acquaintance when we are going out of this World if we can truly say as that Devout Man Dr. Preston did a little before his Death I shall change my Place but not my Company how joyfully may we hope and comfortably expect to go to God when we dye with whom we held a constant good correspondence and maintained a sweet familiarity whilest we lived Let these Considerations briefly hinted to thy Thoughts work in thee a Pious Resolution
admit me this day into thy Presence to renew my Covenant with Thee which I have so often and so perversly broken before Thee I have once more lifted up my hand to the most High God and sworn Allegiance to my Soveraign and my Saviour Oh keep it in the purpose of my Heart for ever to continue stedfast in his Covenant and let neither the smiles of a flattering World allure me nor the Frowns Threats and Terrors of an Angry World be ever able to drive me from my Duty or hinder me in the way of well-doing Holy Father accept I Beseech Thee of that renewed Dedication which I have made of my self this day unto Thee even of my whole Man Soul Body and Spirit to thy Service and Honour And now Glory be to Thee Oh God the Father whom I shall from this day forward with an humble Expectation look up unto as my Father and God in Covenant Glory be to Thee Oh God the Son who hast loved me and washed me from my Sins in thine own Blood and art now become my Saviour my Justifier and Redemer Glory be to Thee Oh God the Holy Ghost who hast by the Power of thy Victorious Grace overcome the obstinacy of my Heart and turned it from Sin to God Oh Lord God! Omnipotent Father Son and Holy Spirit Thou art become my Covenant Friend and I through thy Grace am become thy Covenant Servant Truly I am thy Servant I am thy Servant heartily devoted to thy fear Thy Vows are upon me Oh God! Thy Vows are upon me I will render Praises unto Thee Oh let me never more start aside from my Vows like a broken Bow but give me such a stedfastness and stability of Mind such a firmness and fixedness of Resolution that my after-Conversation may be suitable both to my present Profession and future Expectation that so I may in all Companies in all Conditions walk worthy of him that hath called me to his Kingdom and Glory And let the sence of my Redeemers Love this day to me inflame my Heart with a never failing Charity unto all Mankind whom I pray God to do good unto especially to thy Church particularly to these Nations under their Majesties Care and Inspection whom may Almighty God long and mutually Bless in the Happy Enjoyment of each other and work in the Minds of all Christians a dread of thy Name an Honour of their Superiours and un unfeigned Charity one towards another All which Mercies I humbly Beg in the Name of the Holy Jesus saying Our Father c. An Hymn after the Sacrament LOrd any Mercy short of Hell For Me it is too good But have I Eat the Flesh of Christ And also Drunk his Blood Mysterious Depths of Endless Love My Admirations Raise Oh God thy Name exalted is Above the highest Praise My Saviours Flesh is Meat indeed His Blood is Drink Divine His Graces Dropt like Honey-Combs His Comforts Taste like Wine This day Christ has refresht my Soul With his abundant Grace For which I magnifie his Name Longing to see his Face Oh when shall I ascend on high Most Holy Just and True To eat that Bread and Drink that Wine Which is for ever New To Him that sits upon the Throne And Christ the Lamb therefore Be Glory Blessing Strength Renown And Honour evermore CHAP. XIV Containing an Earnest Exhortation to the Love and Practice of Universal Holiness THE Consideration of our Baptismal Vow renewed and ratified by many Sacramental Engagements at the Holy Table is certainly one of the strongest ties that Christianity layes upon us to oblidge us to the Love and practice of universal Holiness for most certain it is if we relapse and fall back into an evil course of Life if we wilfully return again to Folly we kindle Gods Wrath against us we provoke him to plague us with divers Diseases and sundry kinds of Death But if we escape these there are more dismal Plagues than these that will overtake us such are hardness of Heart blindness of Mind and a Seared Conscience These are indeed invisible stroaks which make not a noise and strike not our Senses but verily if we consider the Effects and consequences of them they are more formidable and dismal than the raging Pestilence and the loudest Claps of Thunder Let us then Piously Resolve as we Fear the Wrath of God and Love our own Souls after we have renewed our Covenant with God at his Holy Table to oblige our selves to an Eminent and Exemplary Piety of Conversation Let us live as those that are Redeemed by the Blood of Jesus as those that are Sanctified and Sealed by the Spirit of Jesus as those that do expect an Eternal Fellowship and Communion with Jesus in his Heavenly Kingdom To this end it may be very advisable 1. The next Morning after thou hast been at the Sacrament as soon as thou art up enter into thy Closet And before the Lord piously and positively Resolve and Vow to maintain a strict Watchfulness and Care over thy Heart Words and Ways for the time to come Such a Resolution as this made in the Strength of God will work wonders because God will Assist and Bless it 'T will fortifie thee against Temptations and the strongest Solicitations to return to the Love and Practice of Sin and Wickedness Suppose thy dearest Friends and Familiars suppose thy Indulgent Mother that bare thee nay suppose the Wife of thy Bosom the Delight of thine Eyes should all set upon thee yea Entreat and Importune thee to Omit some known Duty or to Commit some wicked Act such a Resolution as thou hast now made for a Holy Life will Antidote thy Soul against the Poyson of such a Temptation and put the same Reply into thy Mouth as was found in Holy Joseph's Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great Wickedness and sin against God 2. Having made this Solemn Vow betwixt God and thy own Soul for a Holy Life for a Life suitable to a Sacramental Engagement you will find it very advantagious to write it down and keep it by you thus At such a Time and on such a Day having renewed my Covenant with God at his Holy Table I did with all the Devotion of my Heart and Soul entirely surrender up my self and all that is mine to the Service and Glory of Almighty God Vowing all Fidelity and Obedience to him and Resolving that he shall have the full Guiding Governing and Disposing of me and mine And after every Sacrament look upon it and consider seriously of it saying thus to thy self Behold Oh my Soul the Bonds that are upon thee this is thine own Act and Deed it is as certainly Recorded in Heaven as it is here Written on Earth and shall one Day be brought forth against thee to thy Everlasting Condemnation if thou dost not walk answerably to the Obligation of it Keep it by thee as a Memorial of the Solemn Transactions betwixt God and thy Soul and besides the
of Unworthy Refusing is certainly as great as the danger of Unworthy Receiving The neglects of duty are as dangerous and damnable as the Acts of sin and sins of omission are certainly damning as well as sins of commission St. Mat. 3.10 Every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire 16. That God hath appointed a time in which he will Judge all Persons as well for their omissions of good as for their commissions of evil and every one shall receive an unalterable Sentence according to his Works Rev. 20.12 I saw the Dead standing before God and the Dead were Judged according to their Works 17. That those who have done good shall be absolved and accepted and shall inherit a Kingdom of Glory prepared for them where they shall both see and resemble their Blessed Saviour in perfect holiness and endless happiness 18. That such as have here done evil and dyed in their Impenitency shall suffer an everlasting Imprisonment with Devils and damned Spirits in Blackness of Darkness for ever Undergoing the perpetual gnawings of the Worm that dyeth not and the extreme torments of the fire which never shall be quenched St. John 5.28 Marvel not at this for the hour is â—â—ming in which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and they shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation CHAP. II. Containing Practical Directions for the General Course of Life I. Direction For the Right Ordering of Our Thoughts COgito Ergo sum I Think therefore I am is a prime Conclusion with the Modern and Ingenuous Philosopher Thinking is the surest Proof and Evidence of Being I cannot so certainly conclude I am because I walk I drink I see and hear because the Senses are oft-times deceived but If I be sure I Think I am sure I Am because Thinking is an Operation that flows from Being Now as bare Thinking is an Argument of meer Being so Well-Thinking is an Evidence of Well-Being for says the Wise-man Prov. 23. v. 7. As a Man Thinketh in his Heart so is he Therefore in Order to the right Governing of thy daily Thoughts Observe the following Rules 1. Think frequently with thy self that as thy Pulse will be continually beating so thy Thoughts will be always working to thy Dying Hour and therefore had need be well imployed 2. Think often what a World of Sin a Man may be guilty of in his Thoughts Atheism Blasphemy Idolatry Adultery Murder and what not and Believe thy self to be no less Accountable to God for the Sin of thy Thoughts than of thy Words and Actions Eccles 12.14 God shall bring every secret thing into Judgment whether it be good or whether it be evil 3. Think often what a glorious Theme and Subject for thy Thoughts God has provided and laid before thee as himself in his Attributes his Son in his Natures Life and Actions his holy Spirit in all its gracious Operations his Word and Promises his Works of Creation Preservation and Redemption c. Astronomy does but Surveigh a Dunghill in comparison of what Christianity Comtemplates Stars are but dirty Clods compared with that Glory which lyes within the reach of the Christian's Thoughts 4. Think every Morning what good Offices thou hast to do that day and so Think all the Day as if all thy Thoughts were written on thy Forehead for the whole World to read them and so Act every Day as if thou hadst a thousand Eyes upon thee 5. Think thy own Condition to be certainly the best because the Wisdom of God sees it best for thee if thou hast not as much as others yet thou hast that which is Appointed for thee In Heaven our Reward shall be not according to the good things we have received here but according to the good Works which we have done here At the Reckoning Day he will be accounted the wisest Man that has laid out his time in good Duties and his Treasure in good Works 6. Think Contentment to be the truest Riches and Covetousness the greatest Poverty He is not Rich that has much but he that has enough that Man is Poor who Covets more and yet wants a Heart to enjoy what he has already 7. Think it no part of thy Business curiously to Search into other Men's Lives but narrowly to inspect the Errors of thine own It is much better to amend one Fault in our selves than to find out an hundred Faults in another 8. Think it a greater Virtue to forgive one Injury than to do many Kindnesses because it is harder and more against Nature 9. Think him no True Friend whom one Injury can make thine Enemy He must have no Friends that will have a Friend with no Faults 10. Take a View of thy Thoughts every Night as the Master does of his Servants Work every Day and so Think if possible of all things now as thou wilt think of them when passing into Eternity II. Direction For the right Ordering of our Words Speech is a very Noble and Advantagious Benefit to Man by which he excels the whole Creation Our Tongue is our glory the Index and Expresser of our Mind and Thoughts the Instrument of our Creator's Praise and there is no Subject so sublime and honourable for the Tongue of Man to be imployed about as the Word and Works of God There is a great Difficulty in governing of the Tongue it being a proud and active Member and therefore the Scripture places much of Religion in Bridling of the Tongue St. James 1.26 It is the great Wisdom of a Man to know both when and what to speak and also how and when to be silent for a Man may sin both ways by over-silence as well as by over-much speaking Wo unto us if we want a Tongue to publish God's Truth to plead God's Cause to Vindicate God's Honour and to sound forth God's Praise To avoid all Extreams Remember these Rules 1. Accustom not thy self to speaking over-much and before thou speakest Consider let not thy Tongue run before Reason and Judgment bid it go if the Heart doth not pre-meditate the Tongue must necessarily precipitate 2. Let the Matter of your Speech be both true and profitable True logically by an Agreement betwixt the Thing and your Words without falshood and True morally by an Agreement betwixt your Tongue and your Heart without Dissimulation 3. Speak always to God with extraordinary Dread and Caution and always of him with a profound Veneration and Awfulness of Regard 4. Speak of Holy Things frequently but always seriously yet place not Religion in Talk only nor measure Goodness by good Words 't is much easier to Talk like a Saint than to be one 5. Speak well of all Men 'till thou knowest otherwise and when thou canst not speak well be Silent 6. Speak not well of any undeservedly that 's sordid Flattery Speak not well of
be drawn in And take heed of making any Resolutions in your own strength but earnestly implore the Grace and Assistance of Almighty God Oh be sensible that your own strength is small your Enemy strong your Temptations many your Danger great if ever you desire to bring your Resolutions for a better Life to perfection look up to Heaven for Auxiliary Aid from thence engage God's Strength which will enable Thee to do all things so saith the Apostle Phil. 4.13 I can do all things c. 4. Apply thy self next to the Duty of Meditation particularly Meditate on the Sufferings of thy Saviour And to help and quicken thy Meditations upon them let me advise Thee constantly to read over the History of them before a Sacrament as you find them Recorded in the two last Chapters but one of all the Evangelists Meditate on his wonderful Abasement in his Incarnation that the Creator of the World should become a Creature Meditate on the Meanness and Poverty of his Life and that will work in thee true Contentment of Mind in thy poor and low Condition But above all meditate on his unparallel'd Sufferings at his Death his Patience under them and his readiness to pardon and pray for his Enemies and Murtherers that were the occasion of them This will at once inkindle thy hatred against Sin inflame thy Love to Christ and inspire thee with a Spirit of Meekness towards thy greatest Enemies in imitattion of thy dear Saviour who offer'd up his Blood to God on the behalf of them that shed it 5. Set more than ordinary time apart before the Sacrament for Sccret Prayer earnestly pleading with God to make the Sacrament effectual for the mortifying of thy Sins for the strengâ—hning of thy Grace for the quickning of thy Desires for the confirming of thy Resolutions to make a Soul-nourishing Meal unto Thee and that thou mayst experience the strengthening comforting quickning assisting and accepting Presence of Christ in and at the Ordinance and that so thou mayst be able to sanctifie the Name of Christ in the highest Act of Homage and Adoration to him suitable Petitions for such an occasion you have many in that excellent Cook called The Whole Duty of Man and in Bishop Patrick's Christian Sacrifice with many more in want of which if thou canst not of thy self express thy own Desires make use of the following Form of Words A Prayer before the Sacrament O Eternal and Ever Glorious God! Who dwellest in the highest Heavens yet in the humblest and lowest Hearts In a great sight of thy Infinite Majesty and Adorable Excellencies as also in a deep sense of my own vileness and unworthiness I come unto Thee Beseeching Thee for the Passion of thy dear Son to Accept of me a poor Prodigal now returning to Thee and Prostrating my self at thy Door who am by Nature a Child of Wrath by Practice a Child of Disobedience and therefore liable and obnoxius to thine Everlasting Wrath But thou of thine Infinite Goodness hast promised me thy Favour and Friendship in Christ if at the call and invitation of thy Gospel I will accept the Merit of his Death and submit to the Authority of hie Laws and Proclaim and Prosecute an open and irreconcible War against all known Sins the Enemies of thy Glory and the disturbers of my Peace Oh Lord I heartily lament them and from the bottom of my Soul I Renounce them all whether in thought word or deed committed against thy Divine Majesty faithfully Covenanting with thee for the time to come not to allow my self in any known sin but to use all those means which I find prescribed by thee in thy Word for my Spiritual Advantage and for the Death and Destruction of all my Corruptions Oh thou God and Father of Hcaven whose Thoughts of Mercy towards me have been from Everlasting I Dedicate my self Soul Body and Spirit to thy Service and Glory as a small Return of Duty and Thankfulness for thy matchless Love promising to serve Thee in Righteousness and true Holiness all the dayes of my Life Oh thou Blessed Jesus the Precious Lamb of God whose Soul was made an Offering for Sin and who hast declar'd thy readiness to receive and embrace Repenting and Returning Sinners Receive me Graciously who am weary and heavy laden with the Burthen of my Sins and humbly desire by Faith to Approach unto thee I own my self unworthy to gather up the Crumbs that fall from thy well-spread Table much more unworthy to be entertained at it but seeing such is thy condescending Grace and Love to invite me to the participiation of thy self I do here with all humility Accept thee for my Lord and Saviour for my King Priest and Prophet Oh permit me to come to thy Holy Table to Ratifie this Engagment And oh thou Holy and Good Spirit the Sanctifier and Comforter of thy Church and Children enable me to resign up my self intirely to the Guidance and Dominion of thy Grace that I may evermore hereafter walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the Lusts of the Flesh And now that I am going to the Holy Table in obedience to my Lords Command to Commemorate his Dying Love vouchsafe thy Gracious Presence with me and render thy self powerfully present to my Mind and Thoughts Oh help me that I may attend my Lord without Distraction Enable me to give up my self an holy and acceptable Sacrifice to my Redeemer who has given himself a Meritorious Sacrifice for my Redemption Oh help me to follow my Holy Lords Example in all the steps of an Imitable Vertue Let me Admire and Imitate his Condescending Humility his Fervent Charity his Patience under Sufferings his readiness to forgive Injuries and let the same mind ever be in me which was also in Christ Jesus that having been a Welcome Guest at thy Table here on Earth I may hereafter be Adjudged worthy to be called to the Supper of the Lamb and may Feast with my Blessed Redeemer in his Everlasting Kingdom All which I ask in the Mediation of Jesus Christ saying Our Father c. An Hymn before the Sacrament THis day the Lord of Hosts Invites Unto a Costly Feast I will take care and will prepare To be a Welcome Guest But who and what am I oh Lord Unholy and Unfit To come within thy doors or at Thy Table for to sit Awake Repentance Faith and Love Awake O every Grace To meet your Lord with one Accord In his most Holy Place Worldly Distractions stay behind Below the Mount abide Cause no Disturbance in my mind To make my Saviour chide O come my Lord the time draws nigh That I am to Receive Stand with thy Pardon Sealed by Perswade me to Believe Let not my Jesus now be Strange Nor hide himself from me But cause thy Face to shine upon The Soul that longs for thee Come Blessed Spirit from above My Soul do thou Inspire To come again to My Lords Board With fulness of Desire Oh
to begin and end the day with God this will Antidote and fortifie thy Soul against the Contagion of Sin and the Temptations of Sinners Ecclesiastical History tells us that when St. Origen fell into that great Sin of Offering Incense to an Idol-god that Morning he went forth before he had performed his Private Devotions We are never safe either from Sin or Danger but when under the over-shadowing Care and Providential Wing of God and Prayer is the way and means to engage God Almighty's care over us and concern for us by Prayer we fix our Minds upon him we lay open our Souls before him we recomend our selves unto him which gives our Minds the sweetest and most solid satisfaction that whatever Providences befall us are certainly intended by an unerring Wisdom for our good and in Order to our Happiness Now in Order to your Glorifying Almighty God in Secret Duties let the following Directions be observed 1. Be sure that thou art Private in thy Private Duties let it be true Secret Prayer and not have its Name for nought Remember our Saviour's Advice St. Matth. 6.6 Enter into thy Closet when thou prayest and shut thy door and be sure to shut it so close that no Wind of Vain Glory may either get out or come in Some Hypocrites pray in Secret but as they handle the matter they are not Secret in their Closets like the Hen that goes into a Private place to lay her Egg but by her Cackling tells all the House both where she is and what she is about rather than be guilty of this Vanity shut the door of thy Lips as well as of thy Closet not but that it is lawful to use the Voice in Private Prayer provided it be not for Ostentation to be over-heard by others Yea and useful also as it helps the Attention of the Mind and prevents wandring thoughts and likewise quickens the Affections by raising them up to an higher degree and pitch of Fervency Christian Prudence therefore must direct Thee what is best in this Case 2. Look that thou art free and open with Almighty God in Private Duties come not to God in Secret and then conceal thy Secret from him lay open thy very Heart and spread all thy Secret Sins before him and be sure to hide nothing from him if thou art not free to Confess never expect that God will be faithful to forgive Prayer is called in Scripture a pouring forth of the Soul to God because a Gracious Person makes known all its wants and griefs to God and does this with much Freedom of Spirit Verily there is nothing that Almighty God resents more unkindly at his Peoples hands than their Attempts to conceal either their their Secrets Sins or their Secret wants from him when he stands ready so graciously to pardon the one and so mercifully to supply the other 3. Make use of the most proper and fitting Season for Secret-prayer and take heed that one Duty doth not interfere with another either with Family-Prayer or with Publick-worship the Beauty of Christianity consists in the Harmony of a Christian Obedience but the Devil takes a mighty pleasure in putting Persons upon setting the Ordinances of God at variance one against another look also that thy Closet-Devotions do not interfere with the Duties of thy particular Calling God allows time for the Shop as well as for the Closet as thou art to shut thy Closet-doors to pray so to open thy Shop Windows for work and if we be not faithful in the one we cannot expect his Presence in the other Go then Oh Christian into thy Closet before thou goest into thy Shop or else thou art an Atheist but when thou hast been with God there attend with faithfulness the Business of thy Calling or else thou art an Hyyocrite he that says Be fervent in Prayer also says Be not sloathful in Business 4. Take heed that your frequent performance of Secret Duties do not degenerate into a lifeless formality what we do very frequently we are prone to do very carelesly it is exceeding hard not to grow formal in those Duties which we are daily Conversant in Endeavour therefore with your utmost Care and Diligence to keep up the fervour of your Affections in your daily approaches to God and in order thereunto I would advise you to pray often rather than very long for it is difficult to be long in our Prayers and not to slacken our Affections Our Blessed Saviour himself we find praying often yea and using the same Words in Prayer St. Matth. 26.44 5. Rest not upon it as an Infallible Evidence of thy Sincerity thou art found in the practice of Secret Duties 'T is as possible for Hipocrisie to creep into the Closet as for the Frogs to get into Pharaohs Bed-chamber a man may perform Secret-Duties and yet indulge himself in many Secret Sins But if thou delightest in searching Duties as well as Secret in the close Examination of thy Heart in the impartial Trying of thy Ways in serious Meditation of the Threatnings of the Word so as to deterr thee from the Practice of all known Sin this will afford thee a good ground of Hope that thy Heart is upright in Gods sight 6. Let not Business divert thee let not the sense of thy own weakness and want of Abilities discourage thee from the practice of Secret Duties especially from praying daily by thy self alone confess all thy Sins and lay open all thy wants before Almighty God in the best manner thou art able and question not the acceptance of thy worthless Services for the sake of a worthy Mediator and rather than the sense of thine own weakness and want of Expression should tempt thee to neglect this Duty make use of the following Words A Morning Prayer for a Private Person OH Eternal and ever Blessed God! Thou art in thy self Infinitely Glorious in the Son of thy Love transcendently Gracious In all Humility I bow at thy Foot adoring thy Divine Majesty by whose Power I was brought into the World and by whose Providence I have been preserved to this Moment I acknowledge my self to have been estranged from Thee even from the Womb for I brought a sinful Nature into the World with me from whence all actual Transgressions havâ— flown and proceeded as impure Streams from a polluted Fountain Oh Lord humble me and that greatly for my Original Guilt for the Follies of my Childhood for the vanities and impieties of my Youth for the Transgressions and Provocations of my Riper Years give me a particular sight of them work in my Soul an Ingenious and Godly Sorrow for them an impartial hatred and enmity against them Accept of the Death and Sufferings of thy Son as a full satisfaction to thy Justice for all that wrong I have done to the Holiness of thy Law and enable me by Faith to repose the intire Trust and Confidence of my Soul on the sufficiency of his Merits and Oh let thy Holy Spirit
for the time to come so direct sanctifie and govern both my Heart and Life in the Ways of thy Laws and in the Works of thy Commandments that in all my Thoughts Words and Works I may ever seek thy Honour and Glory and may so Order my Conversation aright that at Death I may see the Salvation of God Prepare me for a sick-bed and fit me for a dying hour let not God be a Stranger nor my Conscience a Terrour to me when I come to die but do thou mercifully assist and succour me in my last Moments In the hour of Death and in the Day of Judement Good Lord deliver me and conduct me safely to thine Everlasting Kingdom I Bless thy Name Oh Lord for that good Providence of thine which has brought me to the Light of another day do thou so prevent me with thy Grace so direct and assist me by thy Holy and Good Spirit that I may not run this day into any Sin or Temptation that I may not follow nor be led by any Worldly and Carnal Lusts but be enabled in my place and station to perform my Duty to thy Self and my Neibour with such Care Fidelity and Chearfulness as may be acceptable both to God and Man I humbly commend this Church and Nation to thy merciful Care and Protection Let our Gracious King and Queen live in thy sight and rule in thy fear and let all their Subjects fear God Honour their Majesties and Love one another Assist all thy Ministers in their hard and difficult work and follow their endeavours with thy Blessing particularly his who labours amongst us in the Word and Doctrine Pity all in an afflicted Condition Pardon their Sins and supply their wants Remember all my Relations for good requite the kindness of my Friends pardon and forgive my Enemies and Enable me to forgive them also These Mercies with whatever else thou knowest to be needful for me and all Mankind I humbly beg in the Name and Words of my Blessed Redeemer saying as he has Taught me Our Father c. An Evening Prayer for a Private Person MOst Holy and ever Blessed Lord God! the Father of Mercies the Fountain of Goodness and the Author of all Grace I desire again this Evening to bow before thy Mercy-Seat to adore and praise thy Glorious Majesty for thy Gracious Care and Providence over me the day past Pardon unto me most Merciful Father I most humby Beseech whatever I have committed or omitted this day contrary to my Resolutions and Obligations Pity my weaknesses and accept my sincere endeavours to serve and glorifie Thee Wherein I have been wont to slip Lord help me to be more Watchful where I have been careless and negligent let me use greater Diligence and Circumspection help me more sensibly to groan under this Body of Sin which I carry about with me and which so interrupts me in thy Service that when I would do Good evil is present with me And oh that the Sense of that Corruption which I find stirring in my Soul may cause me more earnestly to implore the help of thy Blessed Spirit which alone can enable me to Mortifie all Evil and Corrupt Affections to deny all Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World Raise up my Heart and my Affections above this World and the things below and place them upon thy Self and the things that are above oh help me to Realize the Things of Eternity and another World to my Mind and to believe them as certainly as if I saw them with my Bodily Eyes Hear Oh Lord and Answer the Supplications and Prayers which have been put up unto Thee by any of thine this day on the behalf of this Church and Nation Oh that Peace and Happiness Truth and Justice Religion and Piety may be established amongst us for all Generations Secure the Persons of thy Servants King William and Queen Mary from all attempts of Violence and let that hand be for ever withered which shall be once stretched forth to hurt the Lords anointed and let all that are in Authority under them execute Judgment and Justice impartially to the Punishment of Wickedness and Vice and to the maintainance of thy True Religion and Godliness Let all that Minister unto Thee in Holy things endeavour both by the Purity of their Doctrine and the Piety of their Lives to win many to a Love of Holiness and Religion that they may shine as Stars for ever and ever Pity all those that are in a worse Condition than my self supply their wants out of thy abundance and work in me a readiness of Disposition to administer to their necessities according to my Ability Accept my Thankful returns to thy Majesty for all thy Mercies for the Fountain of them all the Holy Jesus for all the invaluable Benefits of his Incarnation Death and Passion Resurrection Ascension and Intercession for the Gift of thy Holy Spirit for the Light of thy Glorious Gospel for all the Comforts and Conveniences of Life afforded to me which many Better than my self are deprived of for thy watchful care and good Hand of Providence over me this day Receive me into thy Protection this Night sanctifie my Rest and keep me from sinning against Thee upon my Bed and let the natural repose of my Body put me in Mind that e're long I must sleep in the Bosom of the Grave and awake no more 'till the Morning of the Resurrection for which solemn hour good Lord prepare and sit me and all Mankind by a renewed frame of Heart and a Religious course of Life for thy Mercies sake in Christ Jesus who has both directed and commanded me when I pray to say Our Father c. A short Hymn for the Evening NOw from the Altar of my Heart Let Incense Flames arise Assist me Lord to offer up My Evening Sacrifice Lord Watch and Ward when I shall sleep I humbly Thee implore Thine Angels let my Guardians be Both now and evermore Into thy hands do I commit My Spirit which is thy due For why Thou hast created it Yea didst Redeem it too Lord if I live let me be thine Thine also if I die Come Life come Death let Heaven be mine Amen Amen say I. CHAP. XI Of Reading the Holy Scriptures THE Holy Bible being a Letter wrote unto us by the Finger of God himself what is our Reading of it and daily Conversing with it but a Communing with the Almighty and making an inquiry after that Revelation of his Will which his Wisdom has been pleased to make unto us How stupendious then is the Folly and Impiety of those who either lay the Bible aside as a neglected Book or else read it carelesly irreverently unattentively without an honest simplicity of Mind to be guided instructed and directed by it To prevent the Sin and danger of both which neglects it will be our Wisdom to resolve with our selves to redeem some time every