Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A26068
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A method of daily devotion fitted to the meanest capacities / by W. Assheton.
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Assheton, William, 1641-1711.
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1697
(1697)
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Wing A4035; ESTC R27663
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8,884
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48
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forgive them Comfort all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in Mind Body or Estate Give them patience under their Sufferings and a happy issue out of all their Afflictions These mercies and whatever else thou knowest to be most convenient for us we do humbly beg in the name and for the sake of Christ Jesus our only Mediator and Intercessor who hath taught us thus to pray Our Father c. Prayers being finished as you go first out of your Doors or as you return into the House say Lord Bless my going out and my coming in from this time forth for evermore Psal 121. 8. When you harness your Horses or take the Plough into your hand or begin any other Work say Prosper thou the work of my hands O Lord O prosper thou my handy-work Psalm 90. 17. HAving thus commended your selves to God you are now under his Care and Protection And may comfortably expect his Blessing upon you and yours Which he for his part will most certainly grant provided that you lead the rest of the Day according to this beginning In order to which be very careful First of your Thoughts IF any idle wandering and impertinent Thoughts any wanton lustful and lascivious Thoughts any envious murthering and malicious Thoughts shall arise in your hearts then presently reject them by thinking upon something else and say Lord cleanse the Thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit Secondly Take heed of your Words 1. BEware of horrid Cursing and profane Swearing And do not think to excuse such Extravagance by saying I was Provok'd or I am naturally Passionate It is my Temper and I cannot help it Which in plain English is this I have a mind to Curse and to Swear and I will do it Know therefore that God hath given you Reason and the Grace of his Holy Spirit whereby to curb your Natures and restrain your vicious Inclinations both in this and every other Instance 2. To be noted for Lying besides the Sin and Guilt in respect of God will make you useless to the World No Body will trust you Or if they can help it will ever meddle with you I advise you therefore Children and Servants when you have committed a fault do not dare to excuse it with a Lye but confess it freely And then both your Parents and Masters if they are prudent Persons will more chearfully forgive you 3. Let no filthy Communication proceed out of your Mouth Avoid all obscene lascivious Discourse as you would the Plague for 't is as infectious and kindles such a fire of Lust as without repentance will certainly bring you to the fire of Hell 4. Avoid that pratling Gossipping Humour of talking about other Mens matters and censuring their Affairs But study to be quiet and to do your own Business And if Religion will not restrain you then be admonished in point of prudence that Silence is soon answered For the better regulating of your Actions OBserve that Golden Rule of our Blessed Saviour Whatsoever you would that men should do to you do ye even so to them Matth. 7. 12. Let this teach you to be true and just in all your Dealings To be very punctual and exact in all your Promises and Bargains Not to go beyond or defraud your Brother in any matter for the Lord is the avenger of all such 1 Thess 4. 6. 2. Take heed of excessive Drinking which too often concludes your Bargains And if your head shall be stronger than your Neighbours then to abuse his Weakness and to impose upon him under such Circumstances is a very base and dishonest practice 3. Beware of immoderate Anger or as you phrase it of being in Passion the consequents of which are many times dismal and amazing For you may do that in the height of a Provocation which if it doth not cut you off in the midst of your Days will bring your gray hairs with sorrow to the Grave When therefore your Children or your Servants have committed a fault be not either too rash or too severe in your Censures but treat them with Reason and argue the Case calmly with them And if after fair Admonitions they will not regard you then it will be prudent to dismiss such Servants and correct your Children 4. Let young Persons be admonished to flee youthful Lusts and to take heed of all filthy polluting practices which are very displeasing to a pure and holy God Remember your Baptismal vow In which you did renounce the carnal desires of the flesh so that you will not follow nor be led by them Where observe You did not promise never to have those Desires for whilst you are young and healthful it cannot be otherwise But you only promised not to follow nor be led by them i. e. not to gratifie those Desires and Inclinations in any unlawful way not to be led and prompted by them to commit any Sin or to do any thing which God hath forbidden If therefore after Prayers Fasting hard Labour and other Methods of Mortification you are still troublesom and uneasy then make use of the last Remedy which becomes a Duty to those who cannot live innocently without it I shall commend it to you in St. Paul's words If they cannot contain let them Marry for it is better to Marry than to burn 1 Cor. 7 9. Marriage is honourable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. Being tempted to uncleanness or any other Sin lift up your heart unto God and say O Thou who art faithful do not suffer me to be tempted above that I am able but with the Temptation also make a way to escape that I may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10. 13. 5. Take heed and beware of COVETOVSNESS Luke 12. 15. For the love of Money is the root of all evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows 1 Tim. 6. 10. Be not deceived nor Thieves nor COVETOVS nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. From these and many other places of Scripture you are plainly convinced That Covetousness is a most perplexing and destructive practice And as such would more carefully be avoided by you were it not so difficult to convince you of your guilt For should I propose this Question to every Individual in the whole Parish Are you guilty of this Sin of Covetousness I should doubtless find a great number of frugal careful provident Persons but not a Covetous man amongst you all And therefore for your conviction I shall briefly shew you what Covetousness is and when a man may be truly said to be guilty of that Sin COVETOVSNESS is an irregular unlawful Desire of geting and keeping wealth Now your Desires are then irregular and unlawful when they do transgress those bounds and limits which Almighty God by his Laws hath prescribed to them For