crave of God those Aids and Supplies of his Grace which may enable me to honour him by a Holy Obedience for the time to come I must put forth in my Soul the Acts of Faith Mat. 5.6 brotherly Love and Charity and stir up in my Heart hungring Desires after Christ and the Participation of his saving Benefits in his Holy Supper Q. Why must you thus examine and prepare your self before you come to the Lord's Supper A. Lest I should receive it unworthily Q. What is the Sin and Danger of unworthy receiving A. 1 Cor. 11.27 28. He that receiveth unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord as the wicked Jews Acts 7.52 who were his Betrayers and Murderers and eateth and Drinketh * Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 render'd in the Marg. Judgment See v. 30 31 32. Judgment or Damnation to himself being for this Sin liable to temporal Afflictions yea to eternal Damnation in the just Judgment of God Q. When doth a man receive unworthily A. When he presumeth to come to the Lord's Table in the guilt of any known Sin unrepented of or wanting that Faith Love and Charity which are required in a worthy Receiver Q. If the Sin and Danger of unworthy Receiving be so great is it not safer to forbear than to come to the Lord's Table A. He that forbears to come to the Lord's Table incurs a greater guilt and Danger for to the guilt that would make him an unworthy Receiver Luk. 22.19 he adds the Contempt of Christ's Command and of the Benefits of his Bloud 1 Cor. 10.16 freely offer'd to him in this Holy Supper Q. What then must you do that you keep your self clear from this Guilt and safe from this Danger A. I must be very carefull and serious in examining my self and finding my self guilty 1 Cor. 11.28 31. I must judge and condemn my self that I may be graciously acquitted by the Lord and accepted as a worthy Receiver Q. If you rightly receive this Blessed Sacrament what Benefit shall you have thereby A. Mat. 26.28 God will seal to my Soul the Pardon of all my Sins in the Bloud of Christ with a Right to all the Blessings and Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace Q. If after you have received this Holy Sacrament you should return to your former sins what will your State and Condition be A. Luk. 22.20 Heb. 10.28 29. 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. VVorse than before For I shall greatly provoke the wrath of God by the Breach of a solemn Covenant ratifi'd with the Bloud of Christ Q. How must you demean your self then after you have received A. 1 Joh. 5.18 Col. 2.6 7. I must carefully keep my self from Sin that Sin especially to which I am most inclin'd and humbly walk with God in the ways of Holiness Psal 18.23 being diligent in every good Duty Q. What will be the Issue of this Holy Course A. I shall at length see my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ glorified in Heaven 1 Joh. 3.2 Joh. 17.22 24. who was Crucifiâ—d for me on Earth and shall for ever live and reign with him in Glory COL 11.6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving If any by reason of the Weakness of their Memory or want of Ability to read cannot learn by Heart the fore-going Catechisin that they may not be kept from the Lord's Table nor come unprepar'd I have comprehended the most necessary things in the following Abridgment Let such then when they can repeat the Creed the ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer learn this Shorter Catechism But if they learn this onely at their first Admission they shall do well for an Increase of Knowledge to endeavour to learn the other also for their greater Benefit in their after-receiving A Shorter Catechism for the Younger Communicants Q. WHAT Religion is the onely sure way to Salvation A. The Christian Religion Q. What doth the Christian Religion comprehend A. Faith Obedience Prayer and Sacraments Q. What is the Sum of your Faith A. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Q. What is the Rule of your Obedience A. The Law of God which is comprehended in Ten Commandments Q. Rehearse them A. God spake all these Words c. Exo. 20.1 17. Q. What is the Pattern of your Prayers A. The Lord's Prayer Q. Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6.9 13. Q. What are the Sacraments A. Seals of the Covenant of Grace Q. What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my People Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. Of what Vse are these to us A. By Baptism we enter into Covenant with God and renew it in the Lord's Supper Q. How else do they differ A. Baptism is a Sacrament of our New Birth the Lord's Supper of our Spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive them A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signifi'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. What is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Q. What doth the water in Baptism signifie A. The Grace of God's Spirit Q. VVhat doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Benefit of Baptism A. Regeneration or a New Birth Q. VVhat is Regeneration A. A Renewing of the Nature of man by the Spirit and Grace of God Q. In whose Name is Baptism to be Administred A. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are you bound by your Baptism A. To forsake my Sins believe in Christ and obey him Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Q. VVhat do they signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Christ a true Body A. Yes the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No They are but the Signs of his Body and Bloud Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie A. The Breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving of the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. God's giving of Christ and His Benefits to Believers Q. What doth the receiving eating and Drinking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. The
unworthy to come into Thy Holy Presence Assist me O God by Thy Grace to the duties of thy Service Grant that I may serve Thee acceptably Heb. 12.28 with Reverence and Godly Fear Oh send me not away without a Blessing And as Thou hast now brought me into Thy House in the End bring me to Heaven through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen At Departure from Church Forgive me O Lord all my wandring thoughts and want of due seriousness in thy holy service O let not my infirmities hinder thy Acceptance and deprive me of thy blessing Joh. 14.26 Teach me O Lord by Thy Spirit what thou hast taught me by thy word and grant that I may so remember and do thy Will that I may be Blessed in my Deed Jam. 1.25 and in my End Happy for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Confession and Prayer to be used after Self-Examination in Order to the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Lord my God Ezr. 9.6 I have just Cause to be asham'd to lift up mine eyes to Heaven or once to look up towards Thee whom I have so grievously offended by my sins Psal 58.3 51.5 For O Lord I have gone astray from the Womb yea I was conceived and born in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity It might have been just with Thee to have snatcht me from the Bosom of Mother and cast me into the Belly of Hell But O Lord Thou wast pleased to prevent me with the Gifts of Thy Grace and Fruits of Thy Goodness For before I was capable to know Thee or to discern betwixt Good and Evil Thou wast pleased by Thy Holy Baptism to admit me into Thy House and Family and to accept me for one of Thy Children Thou wast pleased to take me into a Holy Covenant with Thy self and to promise me the Kingdom of Heaven for mine Inheritance and Thou hast been very Good and Gracious to me from that Time to this very Day But O Lord my God I have grievously sinned against Thee by too great a Complyance with the World the Flesh and the Devil contrary to that mighty obligation which was laid upon me in my Baptism I have not O Lord so stedfastly believed Thy Truth and obeyed Thy Will as lought I have daily offended Thee by the Breach of Thy Holy Commandments and have justly deserved Thy Wrath and Hell-Fire I am no more worthy to be called Thy Son Luk 15.19 or to be accounted one of Thy servants But O Lord I am heartily sorry for my sins and stedfastly purposed by Thy Grace to lead a New life Psal 57.1 Be merciful unto me O God be merciful unto me and pardon all my sins for thy Names sake and seal that Pardon to my soul in the Blood of my Saviour Thou hast promised Pardon Acts 3.19 Joh. 3.16 O Lord to the truly penitent and to him that believeth in thy Son Jesus Christ life eternal Behold O Lord I heartily repent of all my sins and stedfastly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ putting my whole Trust in him alone for my Salvation Behold I give my self up intirely to him being desirous to live to him and willing to dye for him rather than by denying his truth or disobeying his Voice to dishonour him For his sake speak Peace to my soul in the Pardon of my sins and the Assurance of my salvation And O Lord so renew me by thy Grace and uphold me by Thy Spirit that I may not relapse into any of my former sins but continue to glorifie Thee by a holy Obedience all the days of my life Grant O Lord that I may love my Brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 that bear thine Image with a pure heart fervently and that whatsoever usage I receive in the World I may be in Charity with all men Behold O Lord I heartily forgive all them who at any time have done me wrong and I beseech thee to give them that still live in the guilt of their sins true Repentance and a gracious pardon that their Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus Draw forth my Heart O Lord in hungring desires after Christ and satisfie my Soul as with Marrow and Fatness with plentiful Communications of Grace from his fulness Fit me O Lord for a Holy Communion with him and raise me to a nearer Conformity to him in all his imitable excellencies that I may at length be made like to him and live with him in Glory Furnish me O Lord with all those Heavenly Graces and Holy Affections which may make me meet to Feast with my Blessed Saviour in his Holy Supper Therein seal up thine Everlasting Covenant of Grace to my Soul Communicate to me the benesits of my Saviour's Body and Blood and refresh me with the Holy comforts of thy Spirit And grant that all the rest of my life I may seriously endeavour to answer a renewed Obligation to Obedience by a constant Holy care to keep all thy Commandments Enable me O God by thy Grace to persevere to the end that I may be certainly Blessed for ever through the merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and for evermore Amen A Prayer before Receiving of the Lord's Supper GOod Lord pardon my sin and seal that pardon this day to my Soul in the Blood of my Saviour Give me a lively Faith in him that as I shall receive the Bread and Wine I may partake of the saving benefits of his Body and Blood in his Holy Supper Strengthen and refresh my Soul O God with Spiritual Food and preserve me both Body and Soul to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ my onely Lord and Saviour Amen At the receiving of the Bread say with your self O Lord I heartily accept thy Son to be my Saviour and as he gave his Body to be broken for me I give my self Body and Soul to him for ever O Blessed Jesus let me rather be broken in pieces than ever do any thing which may dishonour thee my Dear Redeemer At the Receiving of the Cup say Now Lord wash away all my sins in the Blood of my Saviour and save my Soul for thy Mercies sake Then having drunk of the Wine say How sweet is thy Love O Dear Jesus who hast shed thy Blood for my Salvation O let me rather shed my dearest Life-blood for thee than ever willingly sin against thee Behold Lord I now give my self up to thee and thy service O let me see thy Salvation Having Receiv'd say with your self Now O Lord thou art my God and I am thine both in Body and Soul by a perpetual Covenant sealed with the Blood of my blessed Saviour O let my soul be furnished with thy Grace and fill'd with thy Spirit that I may chearfully serve thee while I live and when I dye fully enjoy
a Sacrament of our New Birth and the Lord's Supper of our spiritual Nourishment and growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive these Sacraments A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signify'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. VVhat is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Joh. 3.23 Acts 8.36 38. Ezek. 36.25 26. Q. VVhat doth the VVater in Baptism signify A. The renewing Grace and purifying Virtue of the Spirit of God Q. What doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. Acts 22.16 The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Spiritual Benefit of Baptism A. A Regeneration Joh. 3.5 or a New Birth Q. VVhat mean you by Regeneration or the New Birth A. A Change of our Nature Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 which being depraved by Sin is therein renew'd by the Spirit of God Q. How is Baptism to be administred and by whom A. Mat. 28.19 By the Ministers of Christ in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Acts 2.38 39. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are we bound by our Baptism A. Rom. 6.3 13. To forsake our Sins believe in Christ and lead our Lives according to the Laws of God and Rules of the Gospel Q. Wherein stands the Lord's Supper and how is it to be celebrated A. Mat. 26.26 27. Luk. 22.19 20. In a solemn blessing breaking and cating of Bread and Drinking of Wine with Thanksgiving in Remembrance of Christ Q. VVhat is the Intent and Meaning of this A. 1 Cor. 11.28 The setting forth of the Death and sufferings of Christ whose Body was broken on the Cross and his Bloud shed for our Sins Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Mat. 26.26 27.28 Q. What do this signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Jesus Christ a true Body A. Yes Phil. 3.21 the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Luk 22.19 20. 24.39 Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No they are but the signs of his Body and Bloud and Pledges of the Benefits we receive thereby 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie 1 Cor. 11.24 Gal. 3.1 A. The breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. Christ's giving himself Luk. 22 19. with the Benefits of his Body and Bloud to Believers Q. VVhat doth the receiving eating and drunking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ Joh. 5.12 6.48 58. and his Benefits to our selves by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Remission of Sins and Ratification of the New Testament Q. What mean you by the New Testament A. Heb. 8.6 9.15 16. The Covenant of Grace under the Evangelical Administration which is now establisht as the last Will and Testament of Jefus Christ whereby he hath bequeath'd unto us an eternal Inheritance Q. What follows upon the Ratification of it A. Heb. 8.8 9.10 An assured Right to all the Blessings of the Covenant with a renewed Obligation to Obedience for herein Christ gives himself with all the Benefits of his Death to me and I give my self up to serve him all the Daies of my life Q. How must you receive this Sacrament A. Heb. 12.22 29. With great Reverence and Devotion in Remembrance of Christ crucified who is herein lively set forth before mine eies 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Gal. 3.1 as broken bleeding dying on the Cross Q. But that you may be meet to receive it and partake of the Benefits thereof what must you do A. I must examine my self 1 Cor. 11.28 concerning my spiritual State Q. Herein what must you chiefly inquire after A Whether I consent to the Covenant of Grace lead my life according to the Law of God and obey the Commands of the Gospel Q. Jer. 31.33 with Heb 8.10 What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my people Q. What does the Law of God require of you A. Exod. 20.2 3 8 12. To acknowledge the true God and worship him alone as God to fanctifie the Sabbath and honour my Parents Q. And what does it forbid A. Idolatry Exod. 20.4 5 7 13 17. and Abuse of God's Name Murder Adultery Thest Lying and coveting what is another man's Q. What does God in the Gospel require of you A. Mark 1.15 1 Joh. 3.23 2 Pet. 1.7 Repentance and Faith Brotherly Love and Charity Q. In examining your self concerning these Evangelical Graces what must you inquire A. 2 Cor. 7.10 11. Whether I am heartily sorry for all my sins and stedfastly resolved to lead a new Life Gal 3.21 22. Rom. 15.12 Acts 16.31 1 Pet. 1.22 4.8 whether I stedfastly believe the Promises of the Gospel and put my whole Trust in Christ for my Salvation whether I unfeignedly love the Children of God as my Brethren in Christ and am in Charity with all men Q. But wherein must you exercise this Charity A. Mat. 5.44 6.14 15. Rom. 12.20 21. Epb. 4.28 Gal. 6.10 In loving mine Enemies in forgiving of Wrongs in doing Good against Evil in releiving according to my Ability them that are in want and doing Good as I have opportunity to all men Q. But why are these Graces of Faith and Brotherly Love and Charity especially required for the right receiving of the Lord's Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Luk. 24.47 Mat. 18.34 6.14 Because the Bloud of Christ is therein exhibited for the Remission of Sins and without Repentance there is no Remission and if we do not from our Hearts for give them that have trespassed against us which is an Act of Christian Charity God will not forgive our Trespasses against him And lastly nothing can be more necessary than brotherly Love in the Lord's Supper which is a Feast of Loves and the Communion of Saints 1 Cor. 10.17 Gen. 43.16 wherein as the Brethren of Joseph with him we feast with our Elder Brother Jesus Q. When you have thus examin'd your self concerning your spiritual State what must you further do that you may rightly receive this Holy Supper A. 1 Pet. 5 6. I must cast my self down before God and with Sorrow in my Heart 1 Joh. 1.9 make an humble Confession of my Sins and earnestly implore Mercy in the free pardon of them in the Bloud of my Saviour 1 Thess 3.10 I must bewail my weaknesses and wants and earnestly
strengthening and refreshing of our Souls by Communion with Christ in the Graces and Comforts of his Spirit Q. Why was this Sacrament instituted A. To shew forth the Death of Christ Q. How must we receive it A. In Remembrance of him Q. But that you may receive it aright what must you do A. Examine my self whether I live in any Sin Q. Why so A. Because if I live in any known Sin I shall be an unworthy Receiver Q. What is the Sin and Danger of unworthy Receiving A. He that receiveth unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord and eateth and drinketh Damnation to himself Q. What must you then do A. Repent of my Sins and resolve to lead a new Life Q. But with what Graces must you be furnisht that you may be fit to come to the Lord's Table A. With Faith in Christ brotherly Love and Charity Q. Wherein must you specially shew this Charity A. In loving mine Enemies doing good to them that hate me and forgiving them that wrong me Q. If you rightly receive this Blessed Sacrament what Benefit shall you have thereby A. God will seal up to me the Pardon of my Sins and the Salvation of my Soul Q. But how must you demean your self after you have received A. I must carefully keep my selt from every known Sin and be diligent in every good Duty Q. What will be the Issue of this Holy-Course A I shall at length see my Saviour in Heaven and for ever live and reign with him in Glory Joh. 14.5 If ye love me keep my Commandments Self-Examination Directed by way of Example wherein The Qualification of a Worthy Communicant is disclosed by the Answer of a good Conscience to some Necessary Inquiries The Apostle's Precept 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a mau EXAMIN himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. The Christians Practice IHAVE now an Opportuni-of receiving the Blessed Sacrament of the LORD'S SUPPER I cannot neglect it without the Guilt of a great Sin the Breach of Christ's Command Luk. 22.10 who hath said This do in Remembrance of me yea the Contempt of Christ crucifid who therein offers himself freely with all the Benefits of his Body and Bloud to my Soul and the Resusal of the Renewall of my Covenant with God whereby as I am bound to a Holy Obedience so I am assured of everlasting Blessednefs And yet if I receive it unworthily I shall be guilty of the body and Bloud of the Lord 1 Cor. 11.27.29 and eat and drink to my self Judgment and become liable to Damnation Yet I know the neglect of my Duty is no way to escape this Danger But the way both to escape the Danger and to enjoy the Benefit is to Examine my self 1 Cor. 11 28. and so to come to the Lord's Table This then with the Help of God will I do I will here set my self as before God and as in his sight and Presence examine my self as he hath commanded Now the Lord direct and assist me in this Work that I may so know the State of my own Soul as that I may rightly dispose my self for the receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of Christ's Holy Supper and the Participation of the inestimable Benefits of his Body and Bloud This Holy Supper 1 Cor. 11.25 I know is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace or New Testament which is ratifi'd in the Bloud of my Saviour Now if I rightly receive this Sacrament I must heartily consent to this Covenant the Tenour whereof is this Jer. 30.22 Heb. 8.10 Ye sahll be my People and I will be your God Now Q. Examination of 1 Consent to the Covenant Psal 42. 11. 37.26 1. Do I heartily take God for my God and am I really willing to be one of his People Am I really willing to renounce all my Lusts and Sins and to love serve honour and obey God all the daies of my Life and do I rest satisfi'd in Him as my God and my Portion for ever A. O Lord my God! I have grievously sinned against Thee I have forgotten Thee Daies without Number Jer. 2.32 but now I return to Thee and here most seriously and heartily give my self up to Thee both Body and Soul to be Thine for ever I desire not to live a Day longer than I may serve and glorifie Thee I heartily rejoyce that Thou art pleased to give thy self to me Jer. 32.40 by an everlasting Covenant to be my God and Portion my Shield and exceeding great Reward Gen. 15.1 I thankfully take Thee to be my God and I rest fully satisfied in Thee as the chief est Good and my onely Happiness For whom have I in Heaven O God! but Thee Psal 73.25 And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides Thee But alas I am a guilty Sinner But having now a happy Opportunity of getting the Pardon of all my Sins seal'd to me in the Bloud of my Saviour I am resolv'd to review the Actions of my Life Lam. 3.40 and to make a diligent Search for the Discovery of my Sins that upon my penitent Confession of them I may obtain a gracious Pardon according to God's faithfull Promise who hath said He that cooereth his Sins shall not prosper but whoso confesseth and for saketh them Prov. 23.13 shall have Mercy Q. 2 Sin 2. What then are the Sins I am guilty of before God If I was sure I should not live to see the Light of another Day what Sin would make me affraid to die What Good have I omitted that I might and ought to have done What Evil have I committed Wherein have I transgress'd and offended God the Great Governour and Just Judge of the whole World in whose Hand my Life is Ah Lord How many are mine Iniquities and my Sins Joh. 13.23 Oh that God would make me to know my Transgressions and shew me my Sins And then as for these Enemies of my Soul Oh that as the Egyptians in the Red Sea they might be all destroy'd by my Saviour's Exod. 14.13 that henceforth I might see them again no more for ever For the finding of them out in Order to this End I will now make a diligent Enquiry And for the Discovery of my Transgressions I will lay the Law of God even the Ten Commandments before me and consider whether I have led my Life according to God's Law or not GOD hath said in his LAW Exod. 20.2 3 4 c. I am the LORD thy God c. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Thou shalt not make unto Thee any graven Image c. See Exod. 20. 1 17. Now 1. The Breach of 1. Commandment 1 Joh. 2.15 16. Have I so taken God for my God as to love and honour Him above all Have I not loved the World and the Things of the World Riches and Honours Pleasures and worldly Delights
have told a Lye shall not be believed when he speaks Truth God for one Lye struck Ananias and Sapphira with sudden death Act. 5.1 10. And yet the greatest punishment of Lying remains in Hell Rev. 22.15 For whosoever loveth or maketh a Lye shall be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 8.44 Lying is the Devil's sin and subjects man to his punishment Rev. 21.8 For All Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second death Lye not to excuse a Fault What will it avail you to seem innocent before men if you become doubly guilty before God To escape a rebuke from man will you venture to incur the wrath of God What folly is it for one to avoid the pricking of a Pin to run upon the point of a Sword Though God do not punish the fault are you sure he will pardon the Lye To presume is the way to perish Know God will not pardon it except you repent And what desperate Folly is it for a man to do that which he knowes before he shall either certainly repent or must Eternally perish Lye not for gain It s a woful gain which is acquired by the loss of God's favour and an immortal Soul Lye not at all He that tells a Lye strikes at God and stabs his own Soul When Lying shall mourn in Hell Truth shall fit triumphant in Heaven IV. Shun swearing and cursing as much as you do Hell and Damnation For if you become guilty of the sin Mat. 5.34 37. how can you escape the punishment Swear not at all saith our Saviour but let your Communication be yea yea nay nay Yea saith the Apostle Above all things Jam. 5.12 my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation For most certain it is Exod. 20.7 God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Curse none of God's creatures least God curse you It s the Character of a wicked wretch Psal 10.7.109.17 His mouth is full of cursing as he loved cursing saith the Divine Prophet so let it come unto him as he delighted not in Blessing so let it be far from him How dreadful will the State of Swearers and Cursers be when Christ Jesus the Judge of the world shall say to them Mat. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Let not your words then swell with the poyson of Oaths or Curses He that shoots these impoison'd arrowes up towards Heaven shall at length find they will fall down on his own head I saw saith St. John Rev. 16.13 three unclean Spirits like frogs come out of the Mouth of the false Prophet Surely an Oath or a Curse coming out of the Mouth of a Christian is as monstrous as if you should see a Toad coming out of the Mouth of a man If the Spirit of God be in the heart how can the Language of Hell fall from the lips V. Provoke not any to Anger and be not your self soon or long Angry A man in Anger is as a House on fire If a fire be kindled in a house you should endeavour to quench it but when there is none it s a great wickedness to kindle it He is a very mischievous Fool that sets his own house on fire When Anger is join'd with desire of revenge the house is set on fire of Hell Matt. 5.21.22 Rash Anger is a degree of Murder And therefore though provoked by an injury Be not hasty in thy Spirit to be angry Eccl. 7.9 for Anger resteth in the Bosom of Eools Anger in excess opens a door to the Devil where some evil there that is a just cause of anger Eph. 4.26 is done Be ye Angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devil He that lies down to sleep in his Anger hath the Devil for his Bed-fellow Consider there is none can so much provoke you to anger as you daily provoke God If he who is so great bear with you how much more ought you to bear with others If you become a Fire-brand on earth take heed least God make you one in Hell Know nothing does better become a Christian than the meekness and gentleness of Christ Put on therefore as the Elect of God Col. 3.12.13 Holy and Beloved Bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye VI. Flee youthful Lusts 2 Tim. 2.22 and endeavour to preserve a chast mind in a pure Body Defile not that Body with Lust which was washt with Christ's Blood in Baptism Know your Body is the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.19 c. which was consecrated by Baptism to his Holy Service Now 3.17 if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy Now the body of man is not left defil'd by fleshly lusts then the Temple of God by being turn'd into a loathsome stie for filthy swine As he therefore who hath call'd you to the Profession of Christianity is Holy 1 Pet. 1.15 so be ye Holy and pure both in Body and Mind For this is the will of God 1 Thes 4.3.4 5 7. even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that everyone of you should know how to possess his Vessel his * 1 Sam. 21.5 Body the Vessel of his Soul and for his Food in Sanctification and Honour not in the Lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God for God hath not call'd us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness If Saints 1 Joh. 3.2 ye are the Sons of God the Brethren of Christ and Heirs of Heaven Rom. 8.17 Col. 3.4 And when Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Now every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 keepeth himself chast even as he is †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chast and pure The happiness of such chast and pure persons in the presence of God in Heaven was represented to St. John in Vision I looked Rev. 14.1 5. saith he and lo a Lamb the Lord Jesus Christ stood on the Mount Sion and with him an Hundred Fourty and Four Thousand having his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads And I heard a voice from Heaven as the voice of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder and I heard the voice of Harpers harping upon their Harps and they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders the Angels and Saints in Heaven and no man