after their resurrection be for ever but because their being shall be in misery it 's therefore called a death not a life Mat. 25.46 Rev. 20.5 Q. Are not the spirits of Gods Children before the day of judgement made partakers of everlasting life A. The spirits of Gods children immediately after they be severed from the body are admitted into heavenly blessednes in the presence of the Lord but in proper speech they cannot be said to partake of everlasting life which in the Scripture signifies that perfect happines which the Saints shall in their persons receive after they be raised from the dead Phil. 1.23 Rev. 6.11 Mat. 25.46 Q. Where shall the Saints of God live that life everlasting which they shall partake of after the resurrection A. The Saints of God shall be made partakers of everlasting life in those heavenly places where our Saviour now sitteth at the right hand of God 1 John 1.3 Ephes 2.6 Q. May no man then look to enjoy ever lasting life upon the earth A. No the dearest Saint of God upon this earth lives to dâ—e shall never live for ever untill they be after the resurrection put into the possession of their abiding City where they shall be freed from all the sorrowes sicknesses afflictions griefs of this present life and shall inherit perfect joyes and happinesse in the presence of the Lord for ever Heb. 9.27 Heb. 13.14 Rev. 21.4 Ps 16.1 Rules for a Christian way 1 THat 's the narrow way that is and hath been of old set down in Scripture The way must be made no narrower nor broader then the word of God makes it he only is to appoint the way that brings us to the journeyes end John 5.39 2 In that way we must walk without turning either to the left hand by prophanesse or to the right hand by superstition Deut. 5.32 33. 3 That we may so doe we must continually take heed to our wayes according to the word of God Psal 119.9 and withall pray earnestly that we may not wander Psal 119.10 but may hear a voyce behind us saying This is the way walke in it Isa 30.21 4 We must turn into this way as soon as we can and be timely good that we may be greatly good 1 Kings 18.3.12 and when we be once come in we must never goe out Ezek. 18.24 Prov. 1.32 5 The speciall time and season of coming in is when God sends Ministers to make known his word unto us The sending forth of a faithfull Ministry is a not suffering of us to walk in our own wayes Acts 14.16 17.30 if therefore thou walkest in them afterward thou doest it whether God will or no Mat. 23.37 and shalt accordingly suffer for it Psal 18.26 6 In this narrow way there must be a continuall proceeding and going forward the path of the just being not as the morning cloud that vanisheth at the first heat Hos 6.4 but as the morning light that shines more and more unto the perfect day Proverbs 4.18 7 The paths of wisedome are indeed paths of pleasantnesse Prov. 3.17 and the longer we walk in this way the easier we shall find it Acts 26.29 it being made easie to us both by grace enabling us to walk acceptably Ezek. 36.27 and by faith flying to Christ because we cannot walk perfectly 1 John 5.4 and by use whereby the yoak more cumbersome at first comes to be born more quietly and contentedly at last Mat. 11.29 30. it will be our ease therefore if we make it our exercise to keep a good conscience towards God and man Acts 24.16 Psal 25.12 13. 8 This is the difference between good and bad men that the one comfort themselves with their state and condition Luke 12.19 the other with their way and carriage 2 Cor. 1.12 2 Kings 20.3 9 However Gods way be every where spoken against yet the singular comfort of it is felt by faith all the while we walk in it Mark 10.30 and then most when we have least of all outward comforts 1 Sam. 30.6 Heb. 10.34 Gen. 39.21 Acts 23.1 Job 13.15 16. 27.5 6. but then shall this comfort be perfectly felt and perpetually enjoyed when we come to our journeys end and even to that glory honour immortality and eternall life which they shall be possessed of who patiently continue in well-doing Rom. 2.7 10 Then shall they that say yee fooles now meaning such as walk circumspectly Ephes 5.15 say feelingly and full sorrowfully we fooles meaning themselves while they see clearly and when it is too late to help it their own everlastingly cursed condition and the happy estate of those that have been carefull of a holy conversation Wisd 5.4 Mal. 3.18 RULES FOR THE Christian-Day OR The Sabbath-Day OF THE New Testament 1 SEt in order thy affaires the day before the Sabbath and thy affections in order upon the morning of the Sabbath the former prevents upon the Lords day worldly works and the later distracting thoughts 2 The heart being purged and prepared there arises from thence a great difference between Sabbath and weekly services He that hears a Sermon on the week day leaves the world but upon the Sabbath a man takes leave of the world that is he sequesters himself even wholly from it and by meditation and prayer fills his heart with contrary that is with heavenly things hence while he hears the word hee 's much more affected with it because the heart is clear from the world and carried heaven and finds after a greater effect of it as fruit is much more and better in well prepared ground 3 The principall duty of the Lords day is repairing to the Lords house to the Assembly and Ordinances of God morning and evening Acts 20.7.11 there being therein 1 A publick profession that we are the people of the Lord Jesus while we leave all things one day in seaven that we may attend him and 2 A filling of our Cystern from God the Fountain that is a replenishing of our heads and hearts with those heavenly things whereby we shall be furnished and supplyed for future time and in speciall all the week after for a holy walking in the narrow way the generall rule of hearing being to hear for afterward Isa 42.23 4 But as the day is not so neither are the duties thereof ended when the publick meeting is dissolved but in private also it is meet that we should be mindfull of 1 Heavenly Meditations Upon the Lords day we should be in the Spirit Rev. 1.10 in a spirituall temper possessed and taken up with spirituall thoughts that the speeches and actions proceeding from us that day may be in a speciall degree the breathings Creatures of the Spirit of God 2 Christian and ghostly communications tending to the spirituall advantage of our selves and those with whom we converse Acts 20.11 Christians are to edifie one another Ordinary builders are to build other dayes they build and are built up most on the Lords day
thy House of prayer and have our conversation truly and wholly in Heaven and all heavenly exercises Have mercy upon us O Lord in regard of that light estimation that worldly and vain mis-spending of this precious time whereof we have been so often and so deeply guilty heretofore and put thy Spirit into us we beseech thee to incline our hearts for the time to come to keep this Statute Ezek. 36.27 and to cause us to observe this great Commandement And first of all enable us we pray thee unto a meet preparation for this dayes service help us for that purpose so to examine our ways and carriage the week past as to repent truly of what hath been amisse and to renew our Covenant for a better carriage the week following Assist us withall for the through purging of our hearts from those dregs and defilements which the world hath left behind it as also for the stirring up of our souls by heavenly meditations and prayer that so we may come with devout minds and hungring hearts into thy Sanctuary as those that being poor and blind and miserable and naked stand in great need of thy provision Grant moreover O Lord that coming in due time and in a reverent manner into thy Temple our care may be attentively and without distractions of mind watchfully and without heavinesse of heart devoutly and without dulnesse of spirit reverently and without uncomelinesse of carriage to abide in thy presence and for the whole time to attend thee in thine Ordinances Make us mindfull afterward of those private exercises reading repeating conferring meditating praying whereby the publick may be made more profitable to us and powerfull in us And let us not forget according to the time and ability we have to meditate upon thy Creatures but this being the day wherein it pleased thy Majesty to put thine hand first for the making of them let it be our day also wherein to thy praise and honour to remember them especially let us not forget upon this good day those labours of love and charitable works for our brethrens good which thou O Lord forgettest not Heb. 6.10 And while we doe good to their bodies let us not be unmindfull of that which is the greatest matter the doing of all the good we can unto their soules That all this may be done the better grant we may abstain the day throughout not only from vain pastimes and sinfull practises but also from those every dayes works and words and thoughts more then truly necessary whereby we shall use as our own any part of that sacred time which thou O Lord hast set apart wholly and only for thy self Help us O Lord our God without whom we can doe nothing by thine own strength thus to observe thine owne time Sanctifie us that we may sanctifie it unto thee and be our selves sanctified by it it being made to us as it is to all good observers a blessed day by all the exercises thereof blessed to our use and spirituall advantage And let this work of sanctification by the service of this day as a speciall means be continued still and more and more perfected in us till we come to that place where perpetually resting from all our labours we shall enjoy an eternall and all-satisfying Sabbath with thine own glorious Majesty and thy blessed Son and Lord of the Sabbath Jesus Christ and that for the same Jesus Christs sake To whom with thee O Father and the blessed Spirit for the Creation of the world this day begun for the Redemption of the world this day finished for the Sanctification of the world this day by the descending of the Holy Ghost fully manifested and ordinarily most effected we acknowledge to be due and desire to give all honour power might Majesty and Dominion both now and for evermore Amen and Amen A Prayer to be used before the Hearing of the Word especially on the Sabbath I Doe humbly and heartily thanke thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth for that I live by thy goodnesse and good providence in thy Church in a Land of uprightnesse wherein there is the means of grace and that in these last dayes wherein it hath pleased thee to speak unto us by thy onely Son and so to make known unto me a poor Babe in Christ onely because it seemed good in thy sight things hid from the wise and prudent yea from Kings and Prophets who heretofore have desired to see the things that we see and have not seen them and to hear the things that we hear and have not heard them withall I doe with sorrow and grief of heart acknowledge how unworthily and with how little fruit I have entertained that holy word of thine and blessed means of salvation which thou hast in so much mercy and plenty afforded not understanding what I have heard for want of marking it not remembring what I have understood for want of making account of it not delighting in what I have remembred for want of love unto it not practising what for a time I have delighted in for want of considering the end of Preaching and the necessity of practising not persevering in what for a time I have practised for want of a through resolution to hold out in a holy conversation O Lord I deserve not to escape but to be seized upon by some grievous heavy judgement for neglecting so great salvation Notwithstanding gracious Father since thou hast been pleased to work in my heart a love unto thy word and a loathing of my self for my light esteeming of it heretofore I beseech thee pardon my former neglect and for the time to come let the eyes of my understanding be enlightned that I may know what formerly I have been ignorant of yea let my heart be opened that I may receive remember and delight in that word of thine which formerly I have shut out let slip and not regarded Give me thy Spirit to cause me to walk in those Statutes of thine which formerly I have not observed and uphold me with thy constant Spirit that I may persevere unto the end in all holy courses This day in particular wherein thou offerest the means and callest me unto the hearing of thy holy word vouchsafe to free me from all pride of heart Jer. 13.15 distractions of mind tentations of Satan from all drowsinesse deadnesse and dullnesse of spirit and withall make mine heart by that good disposition which thou shalt work in it like well prepared ground fit in the most kindly manner to receive that seed of thy word which thou preparest for it Assist thy Servant and Minister who is to deliver thy message that he may speak as he ought to speak even that which shall be profitable to the soules of all thy people and powerfull upon my soule in particular and for that purpose Paul may plant and Apollo water but thou O Lord givest the increase let it please thee so to blesse
the exercises of Religion not without a gracious respect also to his bodily refreshing and necessity Now all these ends of the Sabbath being no ceremoniall things but matters of substance abiding in their strength throughout all ages therefore the Sabbath if so founded upon them is a thing morall and perpetuall Question 100 By this it appeares that a Sabbath that is a day of holy rest in every week is a thing not changed yea is unchangeable shew me now how the particular day comes to be altered so as that Saturday was the Jewes Sabbath and the Lords day ours Answer One day every week is to be observed that the work of Creation accomplished within the compasse of a week may be remembred but the day is now altered from the last to the first day of the week that the remembrance of that far greater work of redemption may be preferred which redemption being perfected in Christs resurrection the day of the resurrection is now become the Lords day that is the Lords Sabbath day Question 101. What Rules are to be observed for the sanctifying of the Sabbath Answer 1 Remember the Sabbath so as to be carefull of preparation for it that is set thy businesse in order the day before and thy heart in order at least the morning of the Sabbath and have not twenty things in thy house to be set in order on the morning of the Sabbath when thou shouldest be setting thy heart in order Eccles 5.1 1 Pet. 2.1 2 Attend carefully the publick service lest while thou art busie here and there about vain and impertinent things and thoughts many precious passages of the Sermon or of prayer passe away without any notice 1 Kings 20.40 Acts 10.33 1 Cor. 14.16 3 Consecrate the day privately and wholly unto God for it is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God thy heart thy tongue thy carriage that day must not be for thy self but for thy God Isa 58.13 14. Question 102. What helps are there for the sanctifying of the Sabbath in this holy manner Answer 1 Look to thy heart lest that rove and be divided from God with every dayes thoughts and be thou in the Spirit that is rapt up and ravished with spirituall meditations upon the Lords day Rev. 1.10 2 Look to thy company and conference for as worldly work is forbidden because it hinders a spirituall work so by the same reason are worldly words forbidden because they hindâ—r spirituall words that is such as are for God and thy soules good Exod. 20.10 Isa 58.13 Our words that day must not be our owne that is such as we have mind unto but such as are meet for the Lords day 3 Look to thy works and carriage this is not a day for the shambles the shop the warehouse the workhouse but for thee and other good Christians to be upon the Mount Tabor that is being lifted up above the world to be wholly busied in Religious exercises and Ordinances wherein Jesus Christ the King of the Church is to be seen in his beauty Isa 35.17 4 Look to thy Entertainment using friends if on the Sabbath day they be with thee friendly and rejoycing with them in the Lord in the sober use of the Creatures Prov. 18.14 Acts 2.46 But appoint not solemn Feasts upon that day that 's to make the Lords day thy friends day and take heed lest by unnecessary care for many things thou keep Mary from Christs feet that is thy well-affected Servant from a Sermon Luke 1.10.41 5 Watch thy self in thy contentments let not sleep or meat or pleasant talk or sport take away the time or thy heart from the Lord of that day and the end for which he appointed it They that live in pleasure on a Sabbath day are dead while they live to wit in regard of their deadnes and indisposition to heavenly things Luke 8.14.21.34 Hos 4.11 13.6 Question 103. By this is appears that the Sabbath is the principall time but are there not other times also and that in the week dayes wherein Christian duties are to be exercised Answer Yes a due respect is to be had unto Christian duties piety and charity all the week long for we ought to be devout Christians and therefore to fear God and give Alms and pray to God not this or that day but alwayes Acts 10.2 In particular a due regard is to be had to hearing reading conferring praying at all times Question 104. What reason is there of hearing the word continually Answer Because Ministers are to preach in season and out of season Sabbath day and week dayes therefore people are to hear So likewise think not others too carelesse that leave some other businesses to be at Christs feet sincerely but thy self rather to be carefull who art from thence unnecessarily Luke 10.39 40. Question 105. What Rule may be given them who have many businesses for their better guiding and setling as concerning the six dayes Sermons Answer The direction usefull for such may be comprehended under these three heads The Judgement must be well informed The Conscience well examined And the Providence of God well observed Question 106. How is the Judgement to be informed Answer Both generally and particularly 1 Of the generality that a man must by no means make lâ—ght of spirituall opportunities but redeem them rather and purchase them with abatement of outward things Mat. 22.5 Ephes 5.16 2 For particular opportunities a light may be given for our direction by a two-fold consideration Viz. 1 Of the state of Times Time for good exercises is still to be redeemed but specially when the times are evill that is the more corrupt and troublesome the more doubtfull and dangerous the times are the more earnest we should be to wait out and to make use of all spirituall opportunities 2 Tim. 4.2 3. Acts 20.28 30. John 12.35 36. 2 Of the nature of the opportunity when Christ goes by when there is a more speciall occasion a Minister that preaches with Authority and not as the Scribes then without the contempt of the lowest means and Minister but with a greater desire of this greatest means get up into a Tree as Zacheus did and lay all other ordinary things aside as Mary did to enjoy God in a more speciall manner the reason is because ordinary duties must yield to extraordinary as ordinary workes of piety are to yield to extraordinary works of mercy Mat. 12.1 2 c. the necessary exigence of our calling to extraordinary works of piety Acts 20.7 11. 3 Of our own state and occasions which must make Christians to straine above ordinary in three cases 1 At their first conversion the new converted Christians were every day in the Temple and new born Babes had need be oft at the breast Acts 2.42.46 1 Pet. 2.12 2 In the time of affliction and tentation as people spare time for their businesse to goe to the Physitian are blamelesse Psal 73.16 17. Job 33.23 Isa 40.4 Mat.
THE Protestants Practice Or the Compleat CHRISTIAN BEING The true and perfect way to the Celestiall Canaan Necessary for the bringing up of young and the establishing of old Christians in the faith of the Gospel The use whereof in Families will preserve them from the Errors of the Times By a Reverend Father of the Church of England Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart c. Pietas Sapientia summa est LONDON Printed by M. S. for Lodowyke Lloyd at the Castle in Cornhill 1656. To all the truly Religious Protestant LADIES AND GENTLEWOMEN In the County of Glamorgan or elswhere Most Noble Ladies AUGUSTUS being invited by a private Gentleman to his house and but slenderly entertained far below the Majesty of so great an Emperour instead of thanking him gave him a secret but a smart checke for it Nesciebam me tibi tam familiarem esse I knew not saith he before that we were such familiars Though Augustus like your Ladiships might justly taske and check me for my over-boldnesse in commending this Babe of Providence unto your Protection yet I am more then confident when I reflect upon your Ladiships candor and goodnesse not to mention any other of that golden chain of Heroine vertues wherewith you are in the highest measure beautified and adorned that the presumption of these my addresses unto your most noble Ladiships will be no lesse then favourably excused if not graciously accepted In regard whereof I cannot but conceive my selfe highly honoured at this juncture of time to be in a capacity to serve yee in presenting this Christian Orphan to your Ladiships most gracious tuition And indeed I should be very much wanting in my duty by being accessary to the worst of vices Ingratitude if upon the uninterrupted continuance of so many liberall expressions and indulgent effects of your favours and bounty towards me had I buried them all in silence by omitting the present opportunity so strangely offered as to the Dedication of this Treatise which together with all my best services I once more humbly recommend to your Ladiships Acceptation Perusall and Patronage not thereby presuming to informe yee of any thing you know not or confirme you in any thing you scruple at for I am too mean an Orator to give yee Characters correspondent to your Ladiships merits 't is as far above my ability as I am below your Eminency I must therefore doe by your Ladiships as the Ancient Heathen did by the Images of their Gods on whose heads when by reason of their height they could not place the Crownes offered to their Deities they humbly laid them at their feet ever vowing my constant prayers for your Ladiships Improvement of all vertues and saving graces in order to the eternity of glory it being the height of my Ambition so to prostrate my endeavours and expresse my self as I am Your Ladiships most humble Votarist Athanasius Davies To the READER Reader IF thou doest but enter into a serious consideration of the world the deceitfullnesse of Riches the shame of Pleasures the folly of Sports the inconstancy of Honours the danger of Greatness and the strict Account thou must one day give for All thou must needs with Solomon confess and acknowledge all this worlds Magnalia to be but Vanity of vanities and all but vanity Divert thy course then and doe as the Wise-men did goe another way Trade for spirituall Merchandize travel towards Heaven Labour far the meat that perisheth not search diligently for the Pearl of the Gospel Seeke the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof account nothing so precious as Gods favour nothing so fearfull as his displeasure nothing so hatefull as sin nothing so desireable as grace Remember thou art a Kings Son said Menedemus to his Pupill Remember thou art the King of Kings Son say I to thee Christian Reader Think not speak not act not any thing unworthy of thy selfe The consideration of this Dignity made Theodosius to thank God more that he was a Christian then a King Moses to refuse the Crowne of Aegypt David to desire the place of Gods Door-keeper and Paul to make a base accompt of all things in this world The consideration thereof I say made Abel to sacrifice his sheep Abraham his Son Joseph to fly Adultery and the 3 Children Idolatry Nehemiah Tyranny yea all Gods Children to abandon impiety See then that thou behave thy selfe in all things like thy self Beware of temporary faith partiall obedience mercenary love pretended zeal legall sorrow and feigned Humility these have the form not the power of godlinesse Except thy righteousnesse exceed that of the Pharisees thy spirituall sacrifice that of Cains thy confessing of sins that of Pharaoh's thy fasting that of Ahabs thy weeping that of Sauls thy reformation that of Jehn's thy compunction and restitution that of Judas thy believing that of Simon Magus thy fear and trembling that of Felix thou mayest have a name that thou livest and yet art dead thou mayest be said to travell towards Heaven yet never arrive thither Remember Lots wife Beware lest a promise being made thou seem to come short of it Work out thy salvation with fear and reverence Love Gods House honour his Ministers Messengers forsake not the publick Assemblies as the manner of some is Slight not Christs Ordinances desire to be with him pray heartily unto him depend on his providence be content with thine allowance patient under corrections and above all things reverence his sacred word meditate therein day and night let that be thy counseller the directer of thy wayes thy comfort in calamity a Lanthorn to thy feet and a light to thy paths there Old men may learn Instruction and Young men Reformation and all edifying knowledge to their eternall salvation Next to these sacred Oracles of God I commend unto thy reading this Breviary of Divinity intituled The Compleat Christian comprising the chief grounds of Christian Religion be not over curious and inquisitive to know the Authors name whose ability is much above his ambition The fear of envy some other ill consequences at present press a concealment and have denyed a subscription to the Book which if thou doest good Reader but diligently read and peruse thou shalt find it for Order Methodicall for Matter Judiciall for brevity compendious for plainness perspicuous for use precious Buy this truth therefore but sell it not read well this little Book and forget it not for thou shalt buy much for little cost and read much to thy great gain Let it be thy guide and thy counsell and thou shalt hardly doe amisse What further profit thou shalt reap therein give God the more praise and remember the Publisher in thy prayers who offereth both life labours to further thy salvation A. Davies EDitus è fausto puer est hic pectore parvus Et vium Coeli dulce repentè bibit Infantem pulchrum nutrivit docta
Minerva Atque Deus tenero mox benedixit ei Hunc peperit faetum Mater Sanctissima Nostrae Ecclesiae Mammas saxit ipse duas Haeres pariter mandns è pneumate sacro Nobilis est natu dignus habere gradum Tu graduatu eas subitò quo Trina potestas Permittit miseros te revocare viros Tu contra canctos reprobos sis lamine testis Durus in ignavos qui tua ditla negant Contra Schismaticos sis semper testis acerbus Illos quo pudeat de servisse fidem Denique qui temnunt Sanctâ—ssima dogmata Matris Contra illos firn è bella benigâ—ia geâ—as Indoctos doceas peccant Vulnera sana Et derisores corrige frange minis Vtilis es pueris puer es magnalia tractans Et magna Annoses fertilitate doces Aetatis suae 8â— Ed Davies GOds Spirit moved on that waters face Wherein was found this pretty Babe of grace As soon as there they did him but baptize He straight began Christs flock to catechize His Infant lisping is pure Eloquence His lips drop Honey his breath Frankincense Three of our Senses these may well delight And it's perusall the Internall fight And to the Sense of our true inward feeling Here is an Object for our sick soule healing Some Quere's quarrells breed some jests some sadnesse But these produce our inward peace and gladnesse These are Divine pen'd Catecheticall All Orthodox not one Schismaticall This is the marrow of Theologie And the Elixir of all Pietie Of Law and Gospel the pure quintessence And the true Marchâ—fit extract from thence It is the powder that turns brasse to gold Revives the New man dest oy the Oâ—d Aged 86. Ed. Davies THus Anchor'd may I live and dye Fraught with secure Divinity Whilst Babel-builders doe devise Unto themselves a thousand lies Weather cock soules that float upon The waters of Religion Whose Moon-like fancies are become The zealous bane of Christendome Willfully blind they tear and rent The seamlesse Coat of Christ intent To Sects they doe make that their sport Which ought to be their onely Foâ—t Dow-bak't prosessors who to shun Rome's Rocks into flat Atheisme run Unning'd and hovering they fall To Hellish errors these they call Religion reform'd mean while The Turk doth laugh the Jew doth smile But here with safety saile ne're here Shipwrack of Religion feare This Pilot Primitive may refine A two-three-four hour-glasse Divine Wherefore to thee fixt Protestant I give This Counsell read practice this Book live Tho Morgan On the solid Author and the Publication of this Piece MIstake not Reader here 's a Câ—techisme That 's Orthodox no Heresie no Schisme Nor new-light drops from the Seraphick pen Here 's milk for children yet strong meat for men Thus to all Readers all things he doth fly Low to the unlearned to the learned high Blush Sons of Impudence of little wit And lesse true Gospel-knowledge it â—s fit You should turn Catechumens No disgrace To sing your Palinode your looks to grace These lines we beg not Your Owle Eagle sight They 'll dazle you 'll one day confes his light Let either Ford or Bridge or Minster come And view 't here 's neither whey nor froth nor scum Concocted to Elixar here is Cream Sound nutriment in this pure Nectarstream Tho. Wilkins Vpon the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CAll for the Conjectors and let them try Each Species of Physiognomy Judge Intercisions Stars and Crosses all Speak this year to Books Climactericall What then this instar omnium doth comprise The Quintessence of all approv'd Excise Astrologers their Credit once may save Pry its Nativity and Judgement have Th' Ascendant with a Fortune Planets be see All dignifi'd none in their Cadency Who viewes this face of Heav'n they say may see This the Paragon of futurity Writers have their exit from hence must all Like the next year be turn'd Platonicall The revolutions inexpir'd Now try What you can guesse by your Ouroscopy Physitian try symptoms pulse and all Inspect each region of the Urinall Their doom in truth each tyn panized story Would wear an Age much more one Century Of Books this spares the labour and will lap The Gangraen'd and the luxuriant tap The blazing Meteor which did impend Did point the Babe this with a different end As a wise Pilot steers the way to Joy Where he transcended nothing can annoy Though Preachers silenc'd our heavenly passage To the port of rest each by his steerage Hath accesse to the Celestiall Throne Though to the Prototype High-Priests alone He that with the Interrogant did conspire To burn all Books in the Censorious fire Plutarch excepted would gladly reverse This Sentence command to bring his herse That he for one might make the Company If living would subscribe his destiny This to preserve As the diffused light Fill'd one Horizon and the other night At last it was contracted to the Sun The fourth day's work of the Creation So what the Universe hath bee 't grace or wit This Author hath Epitomized it Whitgift Gibbons Vpon the Author's Catechisticall Paraphrase of our English Church-Catechism THis namelesse blamelesse Author in each line Presents a piece o'th'Gospel Preach'd Divine Instructions all throughout 'T is best perus'd When unto practice in our lives reduc'd That Sermon is wel heard that Book well read Whose Subject Use and Doctrine's practiced These times pretend new lights reformed times But did we act those virtues shua those crimes This Author points us out then should we be The Great Exemplars of Christianity What Councils Fathers Schoolmen all Divines As well of Antient as of Modern Times Have studi'd writ read preach'd Catechiz'd This Author hath couch'd and Epitomiz'd This Author Moses like Anonymus To Pharaoh and his Daughter and to Us The Way unto All happinesse and blisse Mercurius-like describes which if we misse Who is most Ignorant cannot pretend Want of a Guide unto his Journey 's End May God a Blessing add and Sanctify This Bible to our Soules Eternity A PRAYER for the Sabbath OR LORDS DAY ALL possible praise and thanks be given to thee O most gracious God and mercifull father for all those most holy and helpfull means of grace which it hath pleased thee to appoint for the sanctification salvation of corrupt and sinfull man Amongst other means we blesse thee O Lord for this as for a principall and speciall means which contains many other in it even thy blessed Sabbath Magnified for ever be thy wisedome and goodnesse who fore-seeing how this wretched world would fill the hands yea and take up the hearts of us earthly-minded Creatures hast been pleased by a perpetuall Law written with thine own finger to set apart for thine own self for our souls one day in seaven wherein we being called out of the world and having our minds taken off from all earthly businesses on that day forbidden us may delight our selves in thee our God being joyful in
11.28 3 When in the course of the Ministry some special matter is in hand that more concerns their state and is more fit for their present use Acts 10.6.24 Shall not Cornelius leave all to wait upon Peter for that information which he so much needed 4 Of the state and condition of others about whom there are two Rules 1 Be amiable and make thy zeale as little offensive to others as may be 2 Judge not severely of others that be not come so far that are not so forward after spirituall opportunities as thou art Phil. 3.15 Mat. 9.15 Question 107. How is the conscience to be examined for the direction in this point Answer Conscience is to be lookt unto two wayes 1 If thou omit an opportunity watch thy conscience so well as that whilst thou pretendest an Ox a Farm a Wise necessarily hinders thee God that knowes thy heart may not come and say that the true cause of thy absence is because thou makest light of a Sermon or else such things would not have hindred or that is because of thy unbelief as if God would look to nothing committed against him while thou takest an opportunity for him be able to say if there be an absence that the Sermon was indeed esteemed only thy calling not thy coveteousnesse or unbelief hindred 2 If thou take an opportunity at a hard hand when those that be good will perhaps question it Luke 10.40 be able to say it is not because thou lovest not thy businesse and so art willing to cloke idlenesse with profession or because thou hast a lust to be abroad or in company to shew thy self or for the loaves John 6.26 or to maintain a credit among professours or out of an itching humor to divers Preachers 2 Tim. 4.3 Ezek. 33.32 and to see which Minister makes the best Musick but because thy conscience upon the best consideration is convicted of the necessity of that duty at that time Question 108. What direction is to be taken from the providence of God in this particular Answer If God crosse thee when spirituall opportunities are omitted in those outward things that caused the omission or if God prosper thee in outward things when thou strainest thy self to be about better things learn by the dealing of a gracious God to leave the world at fit times for thy soules good for such acts of providence are Gods notices to give a light to tender consciences in doubtfull cases Question 109. What Reason is there of reading the Scripture continually as well as on the Sabbath day Answer Because it is a blessed thing to read Scripture and because the time is at hand Rev. 1.3 that is no man knowes how near the time is when by speciall occasions and afflictions he shall be put to make speciall use of Scripture now it 's good to read that at every opportunity that is necessary to make our condition blessed when we shall be brought to extremity Question 110. But time and leisure is wanting to look into Scripture Answer The Eunuch when he was in his Chariot did not onely ride but read not onely in a Closet but in a Coach Acts 8.30 in a shop in a walk Love will find leisuâ—e Psal 119.97 in a businesse that must be waited upon some part of Scripture may be read it 's very hard if there be no leisure to look after eternall life and in the Scripture we think to have it John 5.39 Question 111. What speciall Motive is there to a daily reading and searching of Scripture Answer Because it is the honour and noblenesse of a Christian so to doe Acts 17.11 yea and the note also 1 Cor. 2.10 where the Spirit is it 's thus imployed it casts a shame and a suspition upon divers professors that howsoever they delight in hearing Sermons wherein there is a mixture of humane sufficiencâ— yet they let their Bible alone when they come home as if there were nothing in the bare and pure word of God worthy the inquiry but let that be accounted the heavenly Christian that accounts the Bible the sweetest Book and loves to be ever looking upon Scripture Promises no otherwise then upon the goodliest Pearls Question 112. What ground is there of the continuall practice of Christian conference Answer Because they that fear God speak not once a week but often one to another and the worse the times are by the worlds opposition more need they have to meet often together for their mutuall confirmation Mal. 3.16 Acts 1.14 15. 2.42 15.36 Question 113. What ground is there for daily prayer Answer 1 Gods Precepts 1 Thess 5.17 2 The example of Gods Children Psal 55.17 Dan. 6.10 Acts 10.30.2 3 The Lords Prayer wherein we are directed to pray every day for our daily bread Now if we must pray daily for outward things then much more for spirituall if for things concerning our good then much more for things concerning Gods glory we must therefore pray alwayes with all manner of prayer and supplication Ephes 6.18 Question 114. What Reason is there of daily prayer in the family Answer 1 Because not onely a man himself but his house also with him is to fear and serve God and that continually Acts 10.3 Josh 24.15 Dan. 6.20.10 Of which service of God prayer is so necessary a part that it is often taken for the whole service Joel 2.32 Zech. 8.21 2 Because those Families must needs be under the curse that are under the sin of Heathens that is who doe not acknowledge God in their Families by calling upon his name which calling upon God should be daily because God ought to be daily acknowledged and openly also with the whole Family because God ought to be openly acknowledged Jer. 10.25 3 Christian Families are called by the name of Churches Rom. 16.5 Now it 's a strange Church wherein there are not prayers and those publick and it 's a strange Family-Church that can live a day without having to doe with God and without making often acknowledgements of him Question 115. What time may there be for Family prayer where there be many businesses and where perhaps the Master of the Family must rise and be gone before the houshold be up Answer 1 Reserve a time Viz. That which in reason and experience thy occasions being considered will best suit with Gods businesse and thy businesse the first time of the day if it may be before the world have taken possession or the first time that may be For this remember two Rules 1 Make not more hast then good speed in the morning they that work together may pray together if the rest at that time cannot and so be blest together in their businesse 2 Pretend not in the evening that thou and thy Family are over-weary for wouldest thou have thy weary Servant provide thy supper and thou thy selfe not serve God with him by Prayer Luke 17.7 8. 3 Redeem a time Gain it from thy work and worldly
businesse or from thy sleep rise the earlier that thou and thy family may pray together in the morning Mark 1.35 work the harder that businesse being dispatcht thou and thy Family may have a time to read and to pray together in the evening Question 116. What Help or Motive is there for the establishing of a course of prayer in private Families notwithstanding all worldly businesses Answer There are these two helps 1 Have serious thoughts of God Take a time to hear and pray for God can tell very well what time thou hast yea make a time dispatch businesse out of the way for God can tell very well what time thou mayest have and whether it be thy worldly busines that hinders thee or an abominable lothnesse to be about any spirituall businesse 2 Have reverend thoughts of prayer Men have base and Atheisticall thoughts of Religious exercises to wit that so much time is lost in them without any good at all to be expected from them Hence it is that they are so willing rather to loose a prayer then a penny but look upon prayer as a familiar communing with the most glorious God Gen. 18. last as the supplyer of all our wants Luke 11.9 10. as a shelter from all danger Ezra 8.21 22. as the setler sanctifier prosperer of all businesse Gen. 24.12.15.27 I say conceive thus of it and neglect it if thou canst Worthy thoughts of better things will devise wayes to enjoy them but infidelity abandons duty Mal. 3.4 Question 117. Is not a speciall time also to be taken as there shall be occasion for speciall and extraordinary exercises Answer By all means come to fasting and humiliation from any work from any content Joel 2.16 1 Cor. 7.5 Be more willing to loose a day than a duty then such a duty although a day is no more lost in such a service than that day is lost that a man spares to get a thousand pound debt struck out or to get a pardon for his life Such godlinesse is great gaine Question 118. Hitherto of the applying of Gods word unto the duties of our generall calling shew me now what directions we may have from it as concerning our particular calling Answer Concerning that the word of God directs us three wayes 1 It shewes that every man must have a Calling 2 It guides a man for the choosing of his Calling 3 It teaches him how to behave himself in it Question 119. How doth it appear that every man is to have some calling or other Answer The first Adam and the second the two only innocent men that ever lived upon the earth had both of them a calling Adam drest the Garden and Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision Gen. 2.15 Rom. 15.8 And that all men generally ought to have a Calling appears by these three things 1 We be Christians and therefore must not live disorderly 2 Thess 3.10 12. but abide in a Calling 1 Cor. 7.20 2 We be Servants and therefore must not live idlely and licentiously that Christ our Master should find us sleeping or drinking 1 Thess 5.3 6 7. Mat. 24. end but waiting and working doing and so doing as belongs to us in our places Luke 12.36.43 3 We be Stewards and therefore must not live carelesly or improvidently for we must give an account of our stewardship Talents we have to Trade withall and from them yea if we have but one of them advantage is expected Neither will our Master be content to receive his own again but he must receive his own with usury Mat. 25.27 And in ill case are idle persons whether Beggars or Gentlemen yea in a damnable condition because God wil take not onely the abominable but the unprofitable Servant and cast him into outer darknesse and that most justly nothing being more unreasonable than that a man should be a Servant and that of God himself and doe no work Question 120. How may a man judge according to Scripture what Calling to make choise of Answer A man may judge of that two wayes 1 By his own gifts and disposition For we shall still find in Scripture that God either chose or made men fit for those employments to which he called them David that was to be a victorious King had courage and might 1 Sam. 17.26.32 2 Sam. 17.10 Solemon that was to be a glorious King had wisdome and a large heart Jehu was apparently a man fit to be what God called him to be a through Executioner 2 Kings 9.20 and Timothy was in sight a man fit to make a Minister of 1 Tim. 1.18 2 By Gods calling and disposing to wit by ordinary lawfull means and the motions and desires of men in the society wherein we live who taking notice of our gifts accordingly take order to dispose of us as Gen. 47.6 1 Kings 11.28 Question 121. May not a man in some cases change his Calling Answer A man may change his Calling in three cases 1 If there be a mistake and a man by his owne error or others over-ruling be fallen upon a Calling unsuitable to his gifts and crosse to his naturall inclination The reason of this is because all outward calls must be regulated by the inward Mans call must be corrected by Gods call and a mans employments should be sooner or later sutable to his Talent and endowments 2 Though a man be apt for the Calling wherein he is yet if he be able also for a greater he may for the publick good change a meaner for a more excellent Calling 3 When a mans Calling cannot maintain himselfe and his family he is inforced to change it for some other profit able Calling which he is able to manage out of respect to his own necessity But for a man to change his Calling for another below his gifts because he loves his ease and profit Or for another that is above his gifts because he desires a greater gaine and affects an estimation above his worth this is unlawfull and unjustifiable Question 122. How must a man be conversant about his Calling Answer 1 Providently Prov. 27.23 c. 2 Kings 20.23 Boaz had one to oversee his servants yet he comes to the field to oversee them and the overseers too Ruth 2.4 5. 2 Diligently Pro. 27.23 Lazinesse is next to idlenesse and doing sluggishly to doing nothing what a man undertakes he should doe it with all his power Eccles 9.10 with Genesis 31.6.40 3 Faithfully not trusting to our own toiling as if it were in our owne power to get wealth Deut. 8.18 but building upon Gods blessing Pro. 10.22 4 Moderately that is 1 Not hindring our selves in the exercises of Religion Luke 10.39 40. To be so busie as that the six dayes will not serve as to have no leisure for private and family prayer to have so much to doe with the world as to shut out God that he can say nothing to us nor we to him this is to be peny wise and to labour after the food
of God wherein you say God hath declared himself unto us Answer It is the holy Scriptures Rom. 1.2 Question How can the Scriptures be called the word of God seeing they are written by men Answer Although holy men wrote the Scriptures yet did not they write by their own power or in their own name but by the power of the Spirit of God and in the name of God himself and therefore what they wrote is to be accounted the word of God himself Hos 8.12 1 Pet. 1.20 21. 2 Sam. 23.2 Question What hath God in the Scripture declared himself to be Answer An eternall most gracious most wise most just unchangeable infinite and all glorious Majesty from whom all things have their being and by whom all things are Governed and preserved Isa 43.10 13. Jude 25. Exod. 34.6 Deut. 32.4 Num. 23.19 Question Who is God the father in whom you believe The Father Answer He is the first person of these three the Father Son and Holy Ghost who are the one and onely God Eternall 2 Chron. 6.18 Psal 119.91 Acts 17.28 1 John 5.7 Question Why is the first person in the blessed Trinity called Father Answer He is called so especially in respect of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord and secondarily in respect of all his Saints who are adopted to be his Children by grace in Jesus Christ Jer. 20.17 Ephes 1.5 Question Why doe you call God the father Almighty Almighty Answer Because he is abundantly sufficient to accomplish his will so that he can doe whatsoever he will doe Psal 115.3 Question Whereby doth the Almighty power of God appear Answer It appears by this Maker of Heaven and Earth that he is the Maker of Heaven and Earth Question Why doe you call God the Maker of heaven and earth Answer Because God did at first make and doth still preserve the heaven and earth and all things that are in them Jer. 42.5 Question Of what did God at first make the Heaven and Earth Answer God created that is made the Heaven and Earth of nothing in the beginning and then brought them into that order wherein they now stand in six dayes Gen. 1. Question What did God doe in the first day of the world Answer He made the light and divided it from the darknesse calling the light day and the darknesse night Gen. 1.3 Question What did God in the second day Answer He made the firmament and therewith he divided the waters calling it Heaven Gen. 1.7 9. Question What did God in the third day Answer He made the dry Land calling it Earth and Seas and all kinds of Grasse and Hearbs and Trees Gen. 1.9 10 11 12. Question What did God in the fourth day Answer He made the Son the Moon and the Stars and placed them in the Firmament of Heaven that they might divide the day from the night and be for signs and seasons and dayes and years Gen. 1.3 5. Question What did God in the fifth day Answer He made all such Creatures as live in the water and all kind of Fowles which fly about the earth Gen. 1.20 21 22. Question What did God in the sixth day Answer He made creeping things of the earth and all Cattel and Beasts of the Earth and last of all he made man to whom he gave dominion over the Fish of the Sea Fowles of the aire and every living thing that moveth upon the earth Gen. 1.24 28. Question Whereof did the Lord God make man Answer The Lord God made man of the dust of the earth Gen. 2.7 Question Is there no part of man which was not made of the dust Answer Yes there is an immortall spirit in man which the Lord God breathed into him after he had formed his body of the dust Gen. 2.7 Eccles 12.8 Question How many more did the Lord at first make Answer He made only one and that was Adam the father of all mankind Gen. 2.7 Question How was woman made Answer The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and whilst he slept the Lord God took out one rib of his and made a woman of it Gen. 2.21 22. Question How many women did the Lord at first make Answer He made onely one and that was Evah whom he gave to Adam for wife and so they two became the first Parents of all mankind Gen. 2.22 23. Question Were Adam and Evah our first parents created sinfull and miserable as we are now Answer No the Lord God created them holy glorious and upright in his Image according to his likenesse Gen. 1.26 27. Eccles 7.3 Question How did they become then sinfull and miserable Answer By breaking the Commandement of their God Question What Commandement was it that they brake Answer That Commandment whereby the Lord forbad them to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the knowledge of good and ill which was in the midst of the Garden of Eden wherein God put the man Gen. 2.17.3.6.2.8 Question Seeing the Lord God created our first Parents holy and perfectly able to fullfill his will how became they so rebellious as to transgresse his Commandement Answer The Devil by his subtilty deceived them and so caused them to transgresse the Commandement of their God in eating the forbidden fruit Gen. 3.1 2 3 4. Question Was this sin of our first parents a small offence Question No it was a great and most grievous sin and that in a three-fold respect 1 Because it proceeded from the belief of the Devils lye before and against the knowne truth of God 2 Because it proceeded from a causeless and wicked distrust of Gods goodnes to them as if he envying their happines had by his Commandements restrained them from a principall means thereof 3 Because it was a willfull act of disobedience even against their Creators revealed will Question What effect wrought this disobedience in our first parents Answer It made them subject unto death and so to him who hath the power of death which is the Devil Rom. 5.12 Gen. 2.17 Heb. 2.14 Question What death were our first parents subjected unto by sin Answer They were subjected to a three-fold death The first of sin The second corporall The third everlasting Question How did our first parents disobedience make them subject to the death of sin Answer By depriving them of that righteousnesse wherein they were created making their hearts inclinable to all wickednesse and working darknesse in their understandings perversenesse in their wills disorder in their affections readinesse in all the members of their bodies to serve uncleanesse and so wholly subjecting them to the Dominion of sin and death Gen. 6.5 21. Ephes 2.3.4.8 Pro. 1.24 25. 1 Pet. 2.11 Rom 6.19 Ephes 2.5 Rom. 6.17 Question What is that corporall death which sin brought upon our first parents Answer It is that death which is caused by the separation of the body from the soul when the body returneth to the ground whence it was taken