so much our Deliverance exceeds the which was a Type and faint shadow of thâ— And therefore we being delivered ut of Hands of our Enemies must serve him wâ—â— out fear in Holiness and Righteousness beâ—â— him all the Days of our Life Commandment I. THE First Commandment requireâ— That we have the only true God a none other for our God and that 〈◊〉 worship and glorifie hima ccordingly Tâ—â— we acquaint our selves with him thâ— frequently of him love and highly Esteâ—â— him delight rest satisfied in him oâ—mit all unto him trust and depend uâ— him place our whole Happiness in 〈◊〉 looking upon all things as nothing wâ— out him honour and adore fear and verence him yield all Praises and Thaâ— Obedience and Submission unto him 〈◊〉 and acnoweldge him be zealous for hâ—â— walk humbly with him be carefull in things to please him and sorrowfull wâ—â— in any thing he is by our selves or othâ—â— offended II. The Second forbids us worshipping or giving any Religious Adoration to any Creature in Heaven Earth or Water which particular Places are named besides which there are none other or the true God In or before or by any Representation Likeness or Image who being infinite and invisible is not to be represented by any visible thing (w) Deut. 4.12 15 c. Isa 44.10 c. Rom. 1.23 and enjoyns the serving him by such means and in such a manner as is agreeable to his Nature and Word And this because he is our Soveraign and Proprietor tender of his own Worship will severely punish Idoâ—aters and their Posterity as those that hate him and be mercifull to true Worshippers as those that love him to many Generations III. The Third forbids us thinking or speaking prophanely vainly slightly of him careless irreverent Attendance upon him in his Worship unadvisedly crying O Lord or O God! c. without a due sence of him Cursing our selves or others Swearing by any Creature or by himself except before a Magistrate in weighty and true Cases which cannot otherwise be determined And requires of us a Holy and Reverent Respect unto and Use of his Name Attributes Ordinances Word Works all things whereby he makes himself known And this because the great Soveraign is most highly provoked by Prophaneness and Contempt of him and will deal with those that are guilty of it accordingly IV. The Fourth requires us with those under our Charge to consecrate keep Holy the Sabbath-Day That we bear it in mind to fit our selves for it Rest from those Works which are properly called Ours Set our selves apart for the Duties of it Spend it not in Idleness Worldly Recreations or Imployments except of necessity and mercy but in the publick and private Worship and Service of God in Prayer Hearing Reading the Word Religious Meditation and Discourse accounting the Sabbath the holy of the Lord honourable and honouring him therein (x) Isa 58.13 And this from 1. the Equity of it God's allowing us sâ—â— days of seven for our own warrantable Imployments and reserving but one for Himself 2. His challenging a special Propriety in it setting it apart from common to holy Uses so it 's Theft and Sacriledge to alienate it to any others than he allows 3. His own Example resting on it not from doing good or preserving what he had made but from creating any more diversities or kinds of Creatures And 4. from that Blessing he hath put upon it in advancing preferring inriching that Day above the rest in choosing ordaining setting it apart sanctifying it to be a Time for his Service and a means of Blessing to us in sanctifying it Which is not upon the Seventh but First Day of the Week from the Resurrection of Christ on that Day the Practice of the Apostles Primitive Christians and Church of God in all Ages since together with the Command of our Rulers in Church and State V. The Fifth requireth under the sweet Relation between Parents and Children the preserving the Honour and performing the Duties belonging to every one in their several Places Stations and Relations That Inferiors reverence and obey their Superiors that Superiors carry themselves worthily towards and be carefull of those under them that Equals render due Respect towards each other More particularly as to our Superiors in Family Church and State that we pray for them honour and reverence them chearfully submit to and obey them not envy or grudge the Preheminence God hath given them that we do not neglect or despise them for their wants or weaknesses but rather support assist them cast a covering of love over them stand up and plead for them against those that abuse disparage or speak evil of them To which obedience prosperity and length of days as God sees good is promis'd in the Old Testament and not reversed but rather confirmed in the New (y) Ep. 6.2 3. VI. The Sixth condemneth any hurt done threatned or intended to our own or other's Soul or Body Forbiddeth our being actually guilty of or of whatsoever tendeth to our own or others death Together with all sinfull Anger Strife Malice Hatred Revenge denying necessary means for preservation of life but not lawfull War necessary Defence or the Execution of publick Justice And requireth our Endeavours to â—ender all men's lives as safe and comfortable as we can VII The Seventh forbiddeth all Impurities and fleshly Pollutions in Thought Word and Deed unchastity in Mind Speech Behaviour And withall enjoyneth the shunning and avoiding all Occasions Provocations Temptations thereunto as to our selves or others VIII The Eighth forbiddeth all defrauding over-reaching dishonest Actions or whatsoever Abuses unjustly lessens or hinders our own or others Estate and requireth the lawfull procuring and furthering of the same IX The Ninth forbiddeth all false or evil speaking or surmising lying slandering back-biting dissembling reviling tale-bearing detracting from or prejudicing another's Esteem or good Name And requireth our defending preserving promoting advancing the same X. The Tenth forbiddeth dissatisfaction with our own Estate envying repining at desiring of any thing that is another's And requireth a full Contentment with our Enjoyments furthering of and rejoycing in our Neighbours The Lord's Prayer SO called from the Author our Lord Jesus Christ It 's a compleat Directory and Summary of all Prayer And contains 1 A Preface of Compellation the Person we pray to not Saints or Angels but God described by our common Interest in him our Relation to him his Habitation 2 Six Petitions The three first more especially respect God's Glory Advancement of his Kingdom Obedience to his Will which must be first sought The three last our own and others Temporal and Spiritual good 3 A Doxology or Conclusion for Confirmation containing Praise and Thanksgiving and Arguments for our Petitions for Thine is the King dom which we desire to come thy Power alone can effect these things the grant of them tends unto and will end in thy Glory Our Father Implies We ought to call
incur thereby The Purity and Holiness of Religion in the truly good is by the scurrilous Reflections and bitter Sarcasms of the profane made contemptible which is as foolish and malicious as if a Slave should reproach the Son of a King for being like his Father But oh how will these abject wretches be confounded they will chuse rather to be covered under the Ruins of the World then to be a Spectacle of Abhorrence and Scorn before that Vniversal glorious Confluence when the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with the holy Angels (h) Mark 8.38 Sin carries with it so much Shame and Horrour that many of the Poets believed there was no Fury like the Conscience of having done Evil To avoid the worm of which so insupportable many have found it as to cast themselves into the Fire that is not quenched And the Ease the obdurate gain by being delivered from the Remorse and Regrets the Reproaches and Rebukes of Conscience is far over-ballanced by the Loss that cannot be divided from it Namely the Loss of the Joys of Innocence and of the Sense of God's Favour and Hopes of a happy Futurity There 's not an eminent Man among the Grecians saith one of the Ancients that dies an Heathen or an Infidel though they lived so If there be Atheists in company there are none in Hell or alone They tremble at that in private and at Death which they laugh at among the Jovial Crew All sorts of men in all Ages that have gone before us into an Eternal State of all Conditions Perswasions Opinions Tempers Ages Dispositions upon Experience have found that whatsoever vain thoughts men in the Heat of their Youth and Lust entertain of Religion when they come to leave the World they give Testimony unto it They confess at last that it had been their Prudence and Interest to be good betimes and not to stay till Necessity or Experience force them to it And that a strict and serious Life is not the Humour of some conceited singular Persons but the opinion of all men when they are most impartial and serious That they are wise indeed who make hast and delay not to keep God's Commandments though they expect to save no more by it but their Souls Religion abridges us of nothing but sin which is Rank poison to our Souls and exchanges the momentary Pleasures of it for the perpetual peace of a good Conscience The Pleas sinners use for their vitious Lives are all such as any man who will be but faithfull to his own Soul may as easily answer as invent and see abundant Reason to be singular rather than sinfull and careless Ask them if they ever knew any carry the Comfort of his sins out of the World with him and what themselves will be like to think of their doings when they shall think them over at Death and in Eternity If the pleasures of sin for a season be worth the venturing endless Torments and if the number of sinners that run so great a hazard are well satisfied in their minds that it will moderate all their Sufferings to remember what they have enjoy'd That Hell is not so hot nor so lasting as to keep them out of it and to be preferr'd before the necessary means of their prevention which would bring them as near Immortal Joys as their next Heir is to their Earthly Inheritance and is the better Estate for being out of this World which is of so uncertain so short a continuance Did Heaven but stand in the same account with them now as it will when that great Gulph shall obstruct their passage they would pursue it with such vigorous and continued Endeavours as never proved unsuccesfull The difficulties of Religion are insuperable only to the slothfull the coward the inconsiderate who are not to be consulted with in our Christian warfare who have never made a thorough Trial of it nor duely considered its Reward who would attain the end without the means go to Heaven by descent without discomposing themselves in putting off Dispositions and Affections incompatible to that Holy place There is no Lion in the way to a resolved mind and if there were little David grappled with and slew both a Lion and a Bear and from thence was encouraged to enter the List with the Uncircumcised Philistin and overcame him 2. Beware of that infinite hazard of a Death-Bed-Repentance of venturing Eternity upon your last Breath Makè Religion your early your continual Business your Duty your Obligation which will administer a delightfull Reflection on your following years prove the truest Frugality and Improvement of Time the greatest ease quiet comfort and safety both of Life and Death Those that now load themselves with guilt under the delusion of Pleasure that gives them secret disquiet while they are laying it on treasure up shame and sorrow for the time to come horrour and despair for a dying-hour All men seek the Lord some time or other only wise men betimes while he may be found Old Age is the Lot but of a very few grievous and burthensome enough of it self but disconsolate and opprest indeed when men come to possess the Diseases and Infirmities of it together with the Iniquities of their Youth bitter if not fruitless Repentance for their mispending it Yet Death observes not the Course of Nature but the Determination of God Boast not thy self of to Morrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth (i) Prov. 27.1 Possibly this day may bring forth thy Death how then shall to Morrow bring forth thy Repentance or make thee another Tender of this day 's rejected Salvation Every day puts a Period to many Lives as well secured as ours and who have had the same Reason of Hope with our selves No man ever miscarried because his life was short but bad 't was no loss to Gideon that he returned from Victory before the Sun was up (k) Jude 8.13 There 's no danger of being wise and good too soon but all the wisdom to be learnt in another World comes too late to remedy any final miscarriage in this We may be instantly surprized by Death or a Disease that incapacitates us to call for Mercy in general much more to make our selves meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in life Such as delay shall have more cause to repent hereafter but less power and will Preparation for Death which requires the whole of man in his best vigour is oh how sad and deplorable usually delay'd till the melancholy Evening of Age or Twilight of Death The Trifles of this World divert them from that main Business to which all others should be subordinate No man hath a lease of his life as Hezekiah had (l) Isa 38.5 In Golgotha are Sculls of all sorts and sizes We see few Hoary Heads most Children die before their Parents The old Cammel saith the Arabian Proverb carries the young Cammels skin to the
universal Refuge But the goodly price of a Death-Bed-Repentance at which God is prized by most even then when Religion is at the lowest is rejected with Indignation and the Everlasting State purchased by it may be sadly called an Aceldama a Field of Blood It 's in vain to ask whether God cannot save a Man after a vitious life since his own Will seems to restrain his Power that he will not save men without a recovery to Holiness He is Holy Just and True as well as Mercifull The same word that informs us He is mercifull and gracious likewise tells us He will by no means clear the guilty (m) Ex. 34.6 7. That if we live after the flesh we shall die (n) Rom. 8.13 That He cannot lye nor deny Himself I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord wherefore turn your selves and live (o) Ez. 18.34 Implying except we turn to him his Mercy will do us no good What Reason have we to expect it which we have used to evil purposes and his dishonour that he should work Miracles for us while we despise the means Cause the Sun to stand still for us because we have trifled away our day Turn Stones into Bread for us who have been slothful and are ready to perish That he should stand ready for us with that grace at last which we have so long refused and rejected God is as peremptory for the Time and Season as for the Duty it self There 's a Time when he will not be found nor accept our Offering The Day of Grace lasteth not so long as the Day of his Patience The fruitless Fig-tree stood still in the Vineyard uncut down but presently withered away under that fatal Curse Never fruit grow on thee more (p) Matt. 21.12 Though he will pardon the Infirmities of the sincere yet there 's a certain Period set for the return of Sinners beyond which all their Industry is ineffectual (q) Gen. 6.3 Isa 6.9 10. Ez. 24.13 Rom. 11.8 Rev. 22.11 Jerusalem neglected the day of her Visitation and the things of her Peace were irrevocably hid from her Eyes Esau found no place of Repentance in his Father though he sought it carefully with Tears The foolish Virgins saw and were troubled that they wanted oil and endeavoured after it but too late the door was shut and no knocking powerfull enough for their admission The design of the Parable of the Vineyard (r) Matt. 20.1 c. so grosly abus'd where those that went into it at the last hour were rewarded equally with those that bore the burden and heat of the day was to teach the Jews that though God had chose them first to be his People yet at the Eleventh hour i e. in Gospel Times or end of the World He would call in accept of and reward the Gentiles as largely as they notwithstanding their repining and murmuring at this his Grace and Mercy the Reward being to all of Grace and not of Debt At least it 's no Advantage or Encouragement to those that are early call'd upon and ingaged yet refuse and delay coming in till old Age Adjourn their serving God to their going out of the World for those that went in at the Eleventh hour a time rather to discharge than admit Servants were not call'd before but found standing idle because no man had hired them And for the Thief upon the Cross that hath stole away so many Souls for the Devil it 's a bare Example Lu. 23.33 c. not confirm'd by any Premise It 's a fingle Example without a parallel in the whole Word of God It 's an extraordinary Example ranked among the Miracles Christ wrought when he left the World It 's an Example impertinently alledg'd to warrant delay in us who have the sound of the Gospel continually in our Ears yet wretchedly cheat our selves of the Remedy of our miserable Condition by adjourning the use of it to a late and uncertain Futurity which seldom or never succeeds well Vain Men to conclude an Vniversal Law from one single Instance a personal Grace and Privilege extended to that one Person that stood close to that Sacrifice that was offering it self up to God when the Conqueror was Triumphing over Principalities and Powers and making a shew of them openly upon the Cross Col. 2.15 and displaying the Power of the dying Mediator to forgive Sins in his lowest Humiliation The Scriptures that are an History of more than Five Thousand years have but this one Instance of one accepted upon a Death-Bed-Repentance and in that such an extraordinary Conjunction of Circumstances as will never fall out again No man professing Christianity hath any Reason to expect to fare as this Thief did till Christ come into the World and suffer again and that between two Thieves and he be alive at that time and place where he suffers and be one of the Thieves and the good one too exercising so many Acts of a true Repentance and lively Faith in Christ when probably first preached to him when he saw him in so despicable a state amidst insulting Infidels under all the Infamy and Misery of a shamefull and painfull Death and nothing to make such a greatness as he ascribed to him probable which will never be They dreadfully mistake themselves that crowd up Repentance into so narrow a Room as a Sick-Bed when men have scarce time to reckon up all the particular Duties that make it up That imagine the Tree that hath been always Barren should bring forth good Fruit now it is a cutting down That a man should live a life of Holiness when he is just a dying That a weak infirm Person of disabled disturbed faculties should build that in Three days which others notwithstanding all their Abilities and Diligence find hard enough to do in Forty years That those who have had the knowledge of God and been call'd upon all their lives to give up themselves to him should be accepted when they pour out to him instead of the generous Spirits of life the Lees and Dregs of it When the Blood cools in the Veins and the Spirits are ready to stand still the Season of the Pleasures of Sin are over and a man is no longer to live where they are to cast himself upon Religion when there 's nothing else to vie with it when all things else fail That he must take us in at Night though he hath in vain stretched out his hand to us all the day long As if this state were prepared only for a Stage for Men to act their Vices and Exorbitances upon and then God should remove them to Heaven that have but just begun to acknowledge him by some weak Devotion extorted even out of Necessity and given the Bulk of their Time to Sin That have sacrificed the Male of their Flock to Lust and even with impious Designs kept the corrupt thing for him That the easie Yoak the
Isa 53.9 Matt. 12.40 â—o sanctifie our Burial to â—weeten and perfume the Grave to us that in the strong Holds and Fortress of Death He might overcome and loose the Sorrows and Bonds of Death (r) Acts 2.24 1 Cor. 15.55 c. V. He Descended into Hell the third Day hâ— Arose again from the Dead Christ so humbled Himself that he was deprived of his Natural Life in the Estate of the Dead and under the Power of Death for Three Days that it might appear he was truly Dead but no longer that his Body might not seâ— Corruption (s) Matt. 12.40 17.23 John 2.19 Acts 2.31 He arose the third Day being the First Day of the Week for our Justification and quickening iâ— Grace as our Head as a Pledge and Means of our Resurrection as an Evidence Divine Justice was fully satisfied the Deâ— paid in that the Judge released him out oâ— Prison VI. He ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty Having continued upon Earth forty Day after his Resurrection to assure his Disciple of it and instruct them in all things pertaining to their Preaching the Gospel Having finished his Work on Earth over come and Triumphed over His and our Enemies Before many Witnesses he was â—isibly taken up into Heaven where in â—ur Nature and as our Head he is Advanâ—ed by the Father to the Height of all Majesty Power Dominion Honour Digâ—ity and Glory next unto Himself Haâ—ing Authority to Rule as King over all â—â—ings in Heaven and Earth making Conâ—nual Intercession for us that for his Pleâ—ary Satisfaction all his Members Persons â—nd Services may be accepted of God who â—eing the Father Almighty is both Willing â—nd Able to grant the same VII From Thence He shall Come to Judge the â—ick and the Dead At the last Day He â—all Descend from Heaven in great Power â—â—d Glory when He shall sit upon his â—hrone and all then alive and that Dyed â—efore shall be summon'd and stand before â—im and be Judged by the Law of Nature â—d Covenant of Grace When Sentence â—all be pronounced of Absolution to the â—â—ghteous first then of Conâ—mnation upon the Wickâ— (t) Mat. 25.41 c. VIII I Believe in the Holy Ghost Or Holy â—irit who proceedeth or is as it were â—â—eathed forth from the Father and the Son Who Inspired the Prophets and Apâ— stles works in us and assists us in thâ— which is good IX The Holy Catholick Church the Communiâ— of Saints I Believe that Christ hath a Sâ—ctified People Dispersed through and â—â—parated from the Rest of the World stylâ— the Catholick General or Universal Churâ—â— Called out of an Estate of Sin and Miseâ—â— into an Estate of Grace and Salvation aâ—â— Engaged to Holiness in Heart and Lifâ— Being that Body whereof Christ is tâ— Head Militant on Earth Triumphant Heaven X. The Forgiveness of Sins I believe theâ— is Pardon to be obtained Reconciliatiâ— to an offended God and Satisfaction maâ— to a Just God a Discharge from the Gâ— of all Sin Acquittance from the Challeâ— of the Law and Constituting us Righted before God through the Undertaking aâ— Merits of our Redeemer for all who Râ—pent forsake their Sins Believe in him aâ— thankfully subject themselves to all the Pâ—cepts of the Gospel XI The Resurrection of the Body I Belieâ— that at the Day of Judgment there shâ—â— be a general Resurrection both of the Jâ— â—â—d Unjust Their Bodies raised up and united to their Souls 1. The Just the Spirit of Christ and by virtue of Resurrection their Union with him as â—â—eir Head and as their Merciful Saviour â—â—d Redeemer Their Bodies shall be raiâ—â— Spiritual Incorruptible and like unto 〈◊〉 Glorious Body out of their Beds of â—â—st with great Joy and Triumph to be â—own'd with Everlasting Glory and shall â—â—ne as the Sun in the Firmament 2. The â—dies of the Wicked shall be raised in dishoâ—ur by him as an offended Judge and all come forth as out of their Prisons â—th great Fear and Trembling Horrour â—â—d Astonishment as so many Malefactors 〈◊〉 Execution as so many ugly loathsom â—rcasses to look upon Their Faces gaâ—ering Blackness and Darkness They shall â—ise to Everlasting Shame and Confusion of â—â—ce as well as to Everlasting Condemnation â—â—d Torment XII And the Life Everlasting I Believe there a future State after this Life of Endless appiness or Misery according to mens â—â—oce here of Good or Evil Life or Death â—hich God hath set before them either to â—â—turn and live or go on and perish everâ—stingly Amen I thereby acknowledge and â—â—fess stedfastly to believe the undoubâ— Truth and Certainty of this Creed in â—â—neral and of every Article thereof in â—â—ticular and to live answerable to this â—â—lief The Ten Commandments THey are a perfect Platform Summaâ— or Abridgement of the Law of Natâ— or Moral Law at first writ on Man's Heaâ— expounded by the Prophets and Apostâ— and are divided into Two Tables The 1 â—â—spects our Duty immediately to God whâ—â— to be worshipped for the true God in wâ—â— manner how we are to use and honâ—â— his Name the set Time of his publick Wâ—â—ship The Summ of this Table is Thou shâ—â— love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart 〈◊〉 with all thy Soul and with all thy Mind I 2 respects our neighbour his Honour a Dignity Life Chastity Wealth good Naâ—â— Propriety The Summ of this is Thou shâ—â— love thy Neighbour as thy self or whatsoeâ—â—â— you would that Men should do you do you e ven so to them this is the Law and the â—â—phets (v) Matt. 7.12 and 22 37 39. For understanding Them we must â—â—serve 1 The Law is Spiritual read the Powers of the Soul as well as Action of the Body 2 Where any Duty is â—â—manded the contrary Sin is forbidden 〈◊〉 where any Sin is forbidden the contraâ—â— Duty is commanded 93. In all Duties â—â—manded and Sins forbdden all of the â—e kind together with all the Causes â—â—ans Occasions Appearances Provocatiâ—â— thereunto are also commanded and forâ—â—en 4 What 's forbidden and comâ—â—ded our selves we ought to endeavour â—ay be avoided and eprformed by others Thou is used in every PRecept shewâ—â— God speaks to All and to all alike to â—â—y one in particular as if he named him Name â—he Preface contains the Reasons of our â—â—ing them â—s 1. His Surpeam Soveraignty over I am the Lord so we owe him all â—â—dience as we are his Creatures and Subâ—â— His Interest and Propreity inus Thy 〈◊〉 particular Engagern ent and Enâ—â—ment In such a manner as to none â—â—rs by taking us into Covenant a â—â—al Relationto himvelf His redeeming and delivering us out â—â—hraldom Which brought thee out of â—â—nd of Egypt A Place h of Servitude 〈◊〉 by how much Sin is worse than Suffering the Devil and his Angels power aâ—â—malice surpasses Pharaoh's and his Taâ—â— masters everlasting Troments in Hell â—â—ceed Temproal pains in the Brick-kill Fâ—nace
is disabled from all other things is fit to Compleat that There 's little support and less satisfaction in declining years besides a sober Reflection on our former Innocency our leaving Sin when so much Temptation and vigour to Commit it Nothing can sweeten that Sower and Crabbed Age like the savour of a past good Life That Religion hath been the Imployment that God hath had the Strength and Affections of our first and best Age. As Virtue and Goodness is the Excellency of Youth so is it the Comfort and Crown of grey Hairs which are only Honourable and Comfortable when found in the way of Righteousness Be not deceived God is not mocked as a man Sows that shall he also Reap for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting (k) Gal. 6.7 8. Their Prayer ALmighty and most merciful Father the great Creator of all things and Judge of all Men and of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation I am altogether unworthy to speak unto thee or to receive any good from thee yet thou maintainest and preservest me and affordest me means of being Eternally Happy with thee O Pardon all my Sins for thy Mercy sake for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake A new Heart and a new Spirit do thou give me that I may love and delight in that which is Good and hate that which is Evil and cleanse my ways by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Let me make that my Rule and Counsellor Settle in me a constant Desire and Endeavour to fear serve and remember thee my Creator in the days of my youth to give thee the chief and strength of my Time and Affections Root out of my Soul all Pride and Haughtiness stubbornness wantonness and uncleanness Plant in me Reverence and Obedience to those that in Age or Authority are before or above me Give me a good understanding to keep thy Commandments at all times even unto the end Prepare me for every Condition for whatsoever thou hast designed for me and give me Grace to behave my self well-pleasing in thy sight in every Station and Relation Let me run with Patience and Chearfulness the Race that is set before me without being dismay'd or drawn aside from thee by whatsoever Temptations or Discouragements I shall meet with in thy Service looking unto Jesus who for the Joy that was set before him endured the Cross despised the Shame and is set down at the right hand of the Majesty on High in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Another O Thou that art the Author of my Being and the Foundation of my Happiness by whom I am Maintained and Preserved and without whom I am unable to Continue a moment alive in the Land of the living I desire to humble and loath my self in thy Presence for the degeneracy of my Nature the vileness of my Heart and sinfulness of my Life that I have so much forgotten and neglected thee and my Duty to thee and provoked thee to forsake me and to make me Eternally miserable It 's of thy Infinite mercy I am not consumed that as yet I have time and space to make my Peace with thee O Pardon me and be reconciled unto me in and thorough my Lord and Saviour and give me Grace to spend the Remainder of my days in thy Fear to thy Glory Make me more and more sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of this Life and of the Eternity of the next that e're long thou wilt bring every work into Judgment with every secret thing whether it be Good or whether it be Evil. Let the Consideration thereof stir me up not to delay but to make hast to keep thy Testimonies to be Religious to purpose to serve thee in good Earnest not to live as most do but as thou requirest and obligest me to do and as e're long I shall wish I had done Let me not in a short life make way for Eternal misery but make it my Business to prepare my self to be happy for ever with thee that when so many Millions of careless Souls shall stand Trembling before the Judge of all the World I may be found in the number of those to whom he shall say Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray unto thee saying Our Father which art c. Duties of the Rich. DErive your Pedegrees and Dignities higher than Adam from Heaven The Body of Nobility consists in Blood the Soul in the Eminency of Virtue your Titles are vain if in that Inferiour to others Value not Rate not your selves by what God gives to his foes and denies his chiefest favourites the root and occasion of all our Miseries Esteem a great Estate less than a good Heart to use it and to be God's Servants a greater Honour than to have Potentates serve you Look on Prosperity as a Motive Engagement and Encouragement to Piety not a Privilege of loosness to satisfie Lust or display Vanity but of being better because more observ'd and your offences Exemplary You cannot be good or bad alone Hate Sin though grown into Credit and Fashion Cobwebs are never the more esteemed that grow over a Chair of State Beware of Pride Sloath Idleness fulness of Bread Time-wasting Sports and Recreations Curiosity Wantonness Tyranny and Oppression Let Lust fare never the better for all your Riches you are called to Self-denial Mortification Fasting and humbling your selves as well as the meanest Labour to see God's special love in Common Mercies often look up to and think of him with Praise and Thankfulness as the Author and Donor of all the goods you enjoy wean your Hearts from them be sensible of their short Continuance and secure to your selves true spiritual durable Riches Live as Dying Men with your Graves and Windingsheet always in your Eye Frequent the Indigent Sick and Dying and consider how insignificant the world is to them and will be to you Thoroughly understand the Dangers Temptations and snares of Riches and how much you have to answer for That you are but Stewards not Owners accountable for all your Comings in and Layings out Let your fruitfulness to God and the Publick be proportionable to your Possessions Do as much more good than others as you are better furnished Let your Servants be more religiously Instructed and Governed and have more time for serving God and your selves more Imploy'd therein than those that work for their daily Bread Be Sober and Temperate in using your Estates Invade not the right of the Poor suffer not Riot and Covetousness to feed upon their Portion Cut off all superfluous and exorbitant Expences that the stream of Charity may run the fuller into that one Channel the Providence of God hath cut out for it
will Reckon with them who Injure the unable to Resist no man makes an unjust gain without a certain loss He can never do or fare well who thinks there can be more profit in any thing than in obeying God Let no man go beyond to defraud his Brother in any matter because the Lord is the Avenger of all such (c) 1 Th. 4.6 Hereafter at the great Day of Recompence Here by making Injustice as a Canker-worm to Eat up all the other Increase Let your Meals be with Thankfulness Temperance Sobriety so as not to Disfit but Inable you for the Imployments of your Body and Mind Use Food as Physick sparingly for Health rather than Pleasure Season your Meals with a sence of God's Bounty and your unworthiness of the least Mercy Forget not to Pray and give Thanks but not with that carelesness and affected Brevity as too many do as if they intended rather a Scoff of the Divine Majesty than otherwise Wast not much Time in Recreations be sure they be Seasonable Lawful Harmless Moderate of good Report Conducive to Health to sweeten Rest and Labour Being necessitated to take the World iâ— your passage to Heaven walk through it aâ— fast as may be Remember all your Business by the way is to make your self and other Happy Seek rather to be than seem strict to do Courtesies than Profess them Look upon all things without Passion because without Interest not overmuch concern'd how the Scene varies knowing when the Play is ended the Conqueror puts off his Crown in the same Wardrobe where the Fool puts off his Cap. Take up your Cross daily (d) Luke 9.23 i. e. Bear the Evils of every day with composed Minds In vain and to no purpose we gather a stock of patience against the greatest Tribulations and resolve to bear them while in the mean time we are fretfull and angry for every trifling Loss or Accident that goes against our humours The wrongs and vexations we meet with in our intercourse with others as well as great Calamities are our proper Cross which our Christian Profession obliges us to submit to Carefully secure your duty and afterwards care no more but let God's Will take place Maintain a chearfull and sedate Temper of Mind under all outward dispensations though contrary to your particular hopes or desires as being secure of your Interest in him who hath the management and disposal of all Persons Times and Events the Hearts of all Men are in his hands and he hath engaged himself that they shall all work together for your good Associate your self with the most blameless serious practical Christians who will be stirring you up in your way and not play the Devil's Part to lead you out of it or provoke you to Evil. Improve your Company in receiving good from or doing good to them Assist and Encourage those whose faces are set Heaven-ward and rescue perishing Souls who are falling into the flames of an Intollerable Hell Keep your Tongue from Evil and your Lips from speaking guile Let your ordinary speech be for Edification not Applause without any thing like Oaths Imprecations vain Asseverations or Protestations Let no lying equivocating vain obscence scurrilous unchast frothy unsavory corrupt Communication or what may minister to Vice proceed out of your Lips but such as may Administer Grace to the Hearer Avoid Detraction or Inquiring into other mens Concerns He that loves Tale-bearers shall never be beloved or Innocent Speak Eviâ— of no man or any thing that may tend to his Disgrace Disparagement Disadvantage Be as much afraid to discover a Blemish in another's Eye as to suffer one in your own rather Charitably lick it out with your Tongue than deridingly talk of it Out of Piety to God and Compassion to their Souls let their Infirmities be the object of your Charity and Pity not mirth and derision Every one is bound to preserve his Brother's Reputation Let your Ear be the Sanctuary of your absent Friend's Name of your present Friend's Secrets let neither miscarry in your Trust Avoid those things your self which in others displease you Esteem those your best Friends that least spare you a watchful Conversation and faithful Admonitions are the most necessary and best expressions of Friendship Be of a mild compassionate affable courteous Temper and Behaviour not of a froward peevish churlish ruggid Carriage Put the best Construction on all things pity the Infirmities forgive the Injuries of all Men. Account that day lost wherein you have not done or received some good Take a view how you have spent the Day according to the fore-going Directions alone in Company in your general and particular Calling what Evil you have committed what Good received done or omitted what failings in your best Performances be humbled for every Miscarriage and thankful for every Mercy By daily summing up our Estate with God we shall know what we have to expect and answer for not letting our Score run so long but by making Even with him that we shall not be Ignorant of our Debts or fear an Audit or despair of Pardon Having waited upon God by Solemn Prayer and committed your self and yours to his Protection Close your Eyes with a Holy Confidence of it but not without a serious Meditation of your last Hour let the Night Represent to you the many Days of Darkness your Bed your Grave your Sleep your Death and so Compose your Soul as if you looked not to awake till the Morning of the Resurrection Thus on a pale sheet I extended shall Become e're long a lifeless Course and all These too much prized Trifles which Retard My Soul in her best flight without Regard Or Relish must be left Then in my Grave Where all things are forgotten I shall have A Cool and loanly Lodging on the Earth Lock't up from all this world 's miscalled mirth If thou O Blest Creator shalt Restore The Peace Ease Plenty I enjoy'd before Let not these over-valu'd Blessings move My Earth-bred Thoughts to slight the things above Here 's no Abiding City but thy Grace Can make the House of Death a Resting-place Morning Prayer ALmighty and most Merciful Father who knowest my down-lying and up-rising and art acquainted with all my ways Thou art of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation 'T is of thy Infinite Mercy that in stead of Praying unto Thee and Praising of Thee I am not Blaspheming thy Name in Endless Torments For I am of the degenerate Posterity of our first Parents and have daily broken Thy Laws and Commandments which are all Holy Just and Good O Remember not against me what I have done against Thee but what thy Son hath done and suffered for me and accept of me in him to the praise of thy Grace Work a Through Change in my whole Soul Inlighten my dark understanding that I may savingly know Thee Spiritualize my Affections that I may love Thee Bow and Incline my will wholly to submit unto
Thee Reform my life that I may serve Thee and be saved by thee Cleanse me from my secret Sins and let no Presumptuous Sins have Dominion over me Wean me from the world let my Heart my Treasure my Conversation be in Heaven Turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity Set a watch O Lord before my Mouth and keep the Door of my Lips that I offend not with my Tongue Let me delight in that which is Good eschew and abhor that which is Evil set thee always before me that I may not dare to Sin against Thee Make me peaceable and contented in my self useful and beneficial to others well-pleasing and acceptable unto Thee Mind me frequently of my latter end while I live let me live unto thee when I die let me die unto thee living and dying let me be thine Be very merciful to all Mankind especially those that are called Christians Inlarge and Bless thy Holy Catholick Church with more abundant Peace Purity and Concord Pardon the Crying Sins of these three Nations let us search and try our ways and turn unto thee our God make us a People peculiar to thy self zealous of good works Bless our Soveraign with all our Magistrates and Ministers let them discharge their Duty as those that must give an account Be with me this Day and all my Days where-ever I am and whatsoever I am doing let me awefully Remember God made me God preserves me God redeemed me God sees me and God will Judge me Never leave me nor forsake me Guide and direct me by thy Counsel Assist me by thy Holy Spirit Prosper me in all my ways and at last Receive me unto Glory through Jesus Christ in whose Holy Name and Words I further Pray Our Father c. Evening Prayer MOst Holy and ever Blessed Lord God Thou hast Commanded me to Pray and so it is my great Duty and hast stiled thy self a God hearing Prayers and so it is my great Privilege In Obedience to thy Command and in Confidence of thy Promises I desire in all Humility and holy Confidence to wait upon thee at this Time in and through my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for his sake beseeching thee for Mercy and Grace Mercy for the Pardon of my Sins without which I am of all Creatures most miserable and Grace for the sanctifying of my Nature and amendment of my life Search me O Lord and Try me and whatsoever is displeasing in me unto thee remove it thence and lead me in the way everlasting Let me value and mind the things that are not seen more than the things that are seen because the things that are seen are Temporal and those that are not seen are Eternal Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not to any Evil way Let not the Pleasures nor Troubles of this world allure or hinder me from serving thee with Chearfulness and Delight Prepare me for every Condition for every Change especially for my great and last Change give me Grace so to live that I may be neither asham'd to live nor afraid nor unfit to die that when thou shalt Call me hence thou may'st Receive me unto the Eternal Enjoyment of thy self in Heaven Be very Gracious and Merciful to all Mankind to all Jews Turks Pagans and Infidels bring them to the Knowledge and Obedience of the Truth Bless Prosper and Protect thy Church and every Member of it be with it unto the End of the World and let not the Gates of Hell prevail against it Reform whatsoever thou seest amiss in the Belief and Lives of Christians especially in these Three Nations Continue unto us Peace with the Gospel of Peace for thy Name sake Bless our Soveraign and all in Authority with Holiness here and Happiness hereafter Let all his Subjects live under him quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godliness and Honesty I et the Ministers of thy Gospel Preach both by their Lives and Doctrine and daily turn many unto Righteousness Let none of my Relations be Strangers unto thy self nor any of thine Afflicted Servants be forgotten by Thee Relieve them according to their several Necessities and the Riches of thy Grace in thy Son I Praise Thee for what thou hast afforded me Thy good Creatures thy Blessing with them thy Provision for me and preservation of me this Day and all my Days Let me lie me down and take my Rest and Sleep because thou Lord makest me to dwell in safety Whether I sleep or wake live or die let me be found thine own to thine Eternal Glory and my Everlasting Salvation through Jesus Christ who hath taught me when I pray to say Our Father which art in Heaven c. Grace before Meat BLess and Sanctifie most Merciful Father These thy good Creatures to my use and me unto thy Service give them strength to nourish me and me grace to serve Thee through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Grace after Meat BLessed be thy Holy Name O Lord for all thy Mercies for these thy good Creatures make them healthful for my nourishment and me thankful for all thy Mercies Inable me by them to live to thy praise through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen How to spend the Lord's Day REmember the Lord's Day before it come so as to prepare for it by suitable Meditations Go seasonably to your Rest to prevent heaviness or drowziness Prudently dispose and dispatch your Earthly Affairs that they may be off your hands and out of your mind as much as possible on that Day that so your Heart may be more free and fit for the Duties of it Seek Remission for the Miscarriages of the Week past that you may not come with guilt or trouble upon your Consciences before the Lord. Think not your worldly Business more worthy of your Early Rising than your spiritual Imployment Let your first Thoughts be not only Holy but suitable to the Day With gladness consider how Early your Redeemer arose what a Day of Mercy you are awoke to to wait upon God for Receiving and Exercising of Grace in order to Glory to Cast off the Distracting Thoughts and Businesses of the World and what a Happy opportunity of Good is put into your Hands to get more in one Day than this World can afford you in all your lives Spend it as a Day of Thanksgiving for the greatest Mercies Therefore let the manner of it and the frame of your Hearts be holy Joy Gratitude and Love stirred up by the exercise of Faith and Hope Inlarge your Personal Devotions on this Day and let not Secret Prayer be slubbered over slightly but performed with Seriousness Reverence Alacrity and sutable to the nature and end of the Day Go to the solemn Assembly with Joy and Gladness as to the receiving of a great Blessing with desires after and hope to speed not with unwillingness as to an unpleasant Task and Burden as Carnal Hearts that love not God his Grace or Service are weary of all they do and glad when it