of the Supreme and if we be wronged let us complain to God of the injury not of the persons and â—e will deliver thy soul from unrighteous Judges 7. Doe not believe thou hast kept the Law when thou hast suffered the punishment For although patiently to submit to the power of the sword be a part of obedience yet this is such a part as supposes another left undone and the Law punishes not because she is as well pleased in taking vengeance as in being obeyed but because she is displeased she uses punishment as a means to secure obedience for the future or in others Therefore although in such cases the Law is satisfied and the injury and the injustice is paid for yet the sins of irreligion and scandal and disobedience to God must still be so accounted for as to crave pardon and be washed off by repentance 8. Humane Laws are not to be broken with scandal nor at all without reason for â—e that does it causlesly is a despiser of the Law and undervalues the Authority For humane Laws differ from divine Laws principally in this 1. That the positive commands of a man may be broken upon smaller and more reasons then the positive commands of God we may upon a smaller reason omit to keep any of the fasting daies of the Church then omit to give alms to the poor only this the reason must bear weight according to the gravity and concernment of the Law a Law in a small matter may be omitted for a small reason in a great matter not without a greater reason And 2. The negative precepts of men may cease by many instruments by contrary customs by publick disreâ—lish by long omission but the negative precepts of God never can cease but when they are expresly abrogated by the same Authority But what those reasons are that can dispence with the command of a man a man may be his own Judge and sometimes take his proportions from his own reason and necessity sometimes from publick fame and the practise of pious and severe persons and from popular customs in which a man shall walk most safely when he does not walk alone but a spiritual man takes him by the hand 9. We must not be too forward in procuring dispensations nor use them any longer then the reason continues for which we first procured them for to be dispensed withall is an argument of natural infirmity if it be necessary but if it be not it signifies an indisciplined and unmortified spirit 10. We must not be too busie in examining the prudence and unreasonableness of humane Laws for although we are not bound to believe them all to be the wiâ—est â—et if by eâ—qâ—iâ—ing into the lawfulness of them or by any other instrument we finde them to fail of that wisdom with which some others are ordained yet we must never make use of it to desparage the person of the Law-giver or to countenance any mans disobedience much lesse our own 11. Pay that reverence to the person of thy Prince of his Ministers of thy Parents and spiritual Guides which by the customs of the place thou livest in are usually paid to such persons in their several degrees that is that the highest reverence be paid to the highest person and so still in proportion and that this reverence be expressed in all the circumstances and manners of the City and Nation 12. Lift not up thy hand against thy Prince or Parent upon what pretence soever but bear all personal affronts and inconveniences at their hands and seek no remedy but by patience and piety yeilding and praying or absenting thy self 13. Speak not evil of the Ruler of thy people neither Curse thy Father or Mother nor revile thy spiritual Guides nor discover and lay naked their infirmities but treat them with reverence and religion and preserve their Authority sacred by esteeming their persons venerable 14. Pay tribute and customs to Princes according to the Laws and maintenance to thy Parents according to their necessity and honourable support to the Clergy according to the dignity of the work and the customs of the place 15. Remember alwaies that duty to our Superiours is not an act of commutative justice but of distributive That is although Kings and Parents and spiritual Guides are to pay a great duty to their Inferiours the duty of their several charges and government yet the good government of a King and of Parents are actions of Religion as they relate to God and of Piety as they relate to their people and families And although we usually call them just Princes who administer their Laws exactly to the people because the actions are in the matter of justice yet in propriety of speech they are rather to be called Pious and Religious For as he is not called a just Father that educates his children well but Pious so that Prince who defends and well rules his people is Religious and does that duty for which alone he is answerable to God The consequence of which is this so farre as concerns our duty If the Prince or Parent fail of their duty we must not fail of ours for we are answerable to them and to God too as being accountable to all our Superiours and so are they to theirs they are above us and God is above them Remedies against disobedience and means to endear our obedience by way of consideration 1. Consider that all authority descends from God and our Superiours bear the image of the Divine Power which God imprints on them as on an image of clay or a coin upon a lesse perfect metal which who so defaces shal not be answerable for the losse or spoil of the materials but the defacing the Kings Image and in the same measure will God require it at our hands if we despise his authority upon whomsoever he hath imprinted it He that despiseth you despiseth me And Dathan and Abiram were said to be gathered together against the Lord. And this was S. Pauls argument for our obedience The powers that be are ordained of God 2 There is very great peace and immunity from sin in resigning our wills up to the command of others for provided that our duty to God be secured their commands are warrants to us in all things else and the case of conscience is determined if the command be evident and pressing and it is certain the aâ—â—â—on that is but indifferent and without reward if done only upon our own choice is an act of duty and of religion and rewardable by the grace and savour of God if done in obedience to the command of our Superiours For since naturally we desire what is forbidden us and sometimes there is no other evil in the thing but that it is forbidden us God hath in grace enjoyned and proportionably accepts obedience as being directly opposed to the former irregularity and it is acceptable although there be no other good in the thing that is commanded us but that it
restraint and penalty of Laws and although they are superiour to the people yet they are not superiour to their own voluntary concessions and ingagements their promises and Oathes when once they are passed from them The duty of Superiours as they are Judges 1. Princes in judgment and their Delegate Judges must judge the causes of all persons uprightly and impartially without any personal consideration of the power of the mighty or the bribe of the rich or the needs of the poor For although the poor must fare no worse for his poverty yet in justice he must fare no better for it And although the rich must be no more regarded yet he must not be lesse And to this purpose the Tutor of Cyrus instructed him when in a controversie where a great Boy would have taken a large Coat from a little Boy because his own was too little for him and the others was too big he adjudged the great Coat to the great Boy his Tutor answered Sir If you were made a Judge of decency or witness you had judged well in giving the biggest to the biggest but when you were appointed Judge not whom the Coat did fit but whose it was you should have considered the title and the possession who did the violence and who made it or who bought it And so it must be in judgments between the Rich and the Poor it is not to be considered what the poor Man needs but what is his own 2. A Prince may not much lesse may inferiour Judges deny justice when it is legally and competently demanded and if the Prince will use his Prerogative in pardoning an offender against whom justice is required he must be careful to give satisfaction to the injured person or his Relatives by some other instrument and be watchful to take away the scandal that is lest such indulgence might make persons more bold to doe injury and if he spares the life let him change the punishment into that which may make the offender if not suffer justice yet doe justice and more real advantage to the injured person These Rules concern Princes and their Delegates in the making or administring Laws in the appointing rules of justice and doing acts of judgment The duty of parents to their Children and Nephews is briefly described by S. Paul The duty of Parents to their Children Ephes. 6.4 1. Fathers provoke not your Children to wrath that is be tender boweld pitiful and gentle complying with all the infirmities of the Children and in their several ages proportioning to them several usages according to their needs and their capacities 2. Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord that is secure their religion season their younger years with prudent and pious principles make them in love with virtue and make them habitually so before they come to choose or to discern good from evil that their choice may be with lesse difficulty and danger For while they are under discipline they suck in all that they are first taught and believe it infinitely Provide for them wise learned and virtuous Tutors Pâ—tiâ—r mihi ratio vivenâ—â— honestè quà m ut optimè dicendi viderâ—tuâ— Quintil. lib. 1. cap. 2. and good company and discipline * Heb. 1â— 9. Crates apud Plutarch de libeâ— educand 1 Tim. 5.4 seasonable baptism catechism and confirmation For it is a great folly to heap up much wealth for our Children and not to take care concerning the Children for whom we get it It is as if a man should take more care about his shooe then about his foot 3. Parents must shew piety at home that is they must give good example and reverent deportment in the face of their children and all those instances of charity which usually endear each other sweetness of conversation affability frequent admonition all significations of love and tenderness care and watchfulness must be expressed towards Children that they may look upon their Parents as their friends and patrons their defence and sanctuary their treasure and their Guide Hither is to be reduced the nursing of Children which is the first and most natural and necessary instance of piety which Mothers can shew to their Babes a duty from which nothing will excuse but a disability sickness danger or publick necessity 1 Tim. 5. â— 4. Parents must provide for their own according to their condition education and imployment called by S. Paul a laying up for the Children that is an enabling them by competent portions or good trades arts or learning to defend themselves against the chances of the world that they may not be exposed to temptation to beggery or unworthy arts and although this must be done without covetousness without impatient and greedy desires of making them rich yet it must be done with much care and great affection with all reasonable provision and according to our power and if we can without sin improve our estates for them that also is part of the duty we owe to God for them and this rule is to extend to all that descend from us although we have been overtaken in a fault and have unlawful issue they also become part of our care yet so as not to injure the production of the lawful bed 5. This duty is to extend to a provision of conditions and an estate of life (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eurip. Eâ—ectr Me tibi Tyndareus vità graevis auctor annis Tradidit arbitrium nâ—pâ—â—s habeiâ—t avus Ovid in â—pist pro Hermione Parents must according to their power and reason provide Husbands or Wives for their Children (b) Liâ—â—ri sine consensu parentum contraheâ—e nâ—n debent Aâ—dremacha apud Euripidem ciaâ— peâ—â—ta fâ—â—t ad nuptias respondiâ— patâ—is suâ— esse sponsalâ—um sucâ—um curam habere Achilles apud Homerum Regis filâ—â—m sine patris suâ— consensu noluit dâ— cere H. â— H 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et Justinianus Imp. ait naturali simul civili rationè congruere ne filii ducant uâ—o es citra Parentum authoritatem Simo Terenâ—â—anus parat abdicatiâ—nem qâ—â—a Pamphilus câ—am ipso duxisset uxorem Isâ—â—â—smodi sponsalia fiunt iâ—rita nisi velint parentes At si sid sâ—quuta est copula nè temere rescindantur connubia multae suadent caâ—tiones pericula Lâ—beri autem quamdiu secundum leges patrias suâ—â—u is non sunt clandestinas nuptias si meant peccant centra quinâ—um praeceptum jus naturaâ—e Secundarium Propriè nâ— loquendo Parentes nâ—n habent 〈◊〉 fiâ—e potestatâ—m sed authoritatem g. habâ—nt jus jubendi aut prehiâ—endi sed non irritâ—m faciendi Atque etiam isla authoritas eâ— ercenda est secundum aequâ—m bonum seil ut nè moroâ—us difficâ—â—â— sit Pater Maâ—erâ—n vix habet aliquod Juâ—is praeter suasiâ—nes amoris gâ—atitudinis Si c. Pater filiam non collocasset ante â—5 annos â—â—â—ta nube â—poterat cuâ— voluerat
to him that gives them all that they have or need and unless He who was pleased to imploy your Lordship as a great Minister of his Providence in making a Promise of his good to me the meanest of his servants that he would never leave me nor forsake me shall enable me by greater services of Religion to pay my great Debt to your Honour I must still increase my score since I shall now spend as much in my needs of pardon for this boldness as in the reception of those favours by w ch I stand accountable to your Lordship in all the bands of service and gratitude though I am in the deepest sense of duty and affection My most Honoured Lord Your Honours most obliged and Most Humble Servant IER TAYLOR The Table CHAP. I COnsideration of the general instruments and means serving to a holy life by way introduction Page 1. Sect. 1. Care of time and the manner of spending it 4 23 Rules for imploying our time 7 The 5 benefits of this exercise 17 Sect. 2. Purity of intention or purpose in all our actions c. 17 10 Rules for our intentions 20 8 Signes of purity of intention 23 3 Appendant Considerations 27 Sect. 3. The consideration and practise of the presence of God 29 6 Several manners of the divine presence 30 10 Rules of exercising this consideration 35 The 5 benefits of this exercise 38 Prayers and Devotion according to the Religion and purposes of the foregoing considerations 41 Devotions for ordinary daies 42 CHAP. II. Of Christian sobriety 64 Sect. 1. Of sobriety in the general sense 64 5 Evil consequents of voluptuousness or sensuality 65 3 Degrees of sobriety 67 6 Rules for suppressing voluptuousness 68 Sect. 2. Of Temperance in eating and drinking 71 4 Measures of Temperance in eating 73 8 Signes and effects of Temperance 75 Of Drunkenness 76 7 Evil consequents to Drunkenness 78 8 Signes of Drunkenness 80 11 Rules for the obtaining temperance 81 Sect. 3. Of Chastity 84 The 10 evil consequents of uncleanness 88 7 Acts of Chastity in general 93 5 Acts of Virginal or Maiden Chastity 95 5 Rules for Widows or Vidual Chastity 96 6 Rules for Married persons or Matrimonial Chastity 97 10 Remedies against uncleanness 101 Sect. 4. Of Humility 106 9 Arguments against Pride by way of consideration 107 19 Acts or offices of Humility 110 14 Means and exercises of obtaining and increasing the grace of Humility 117 17 Signes of Humility 124 Sect. 5. Of Modesty 126 4 Acts and duties of Modesty as it is opposed to Curiosity ibid. 6 Acts of Modesty as it is opposed to boldness 130 10 Acts of Modesty as it is opposed to Vndecency 132 Sect. 6. Of Contentedness in all estates c. 135 2 General arguments for Content 137 8 Instruments or exercises to procure contentedness 142 8 Means to obtain Content by way of consideration 157 The Consid. applied to particular cases ibid. Of Poverty 164 The charge of many Children 173 Violent Necessities 174 Death of Children Friends c. 176 Vntimely Death 177 Death unseasonable 180 Sudden Deaths or violent 182 Being Childlesse ibid. Evil or unfortunate Children ibid. Our own Death 183 Prayers for the several graces and parts of Christian sobriety fitted to the necessity of several persons 184 CHAP. III. Of Christian Justice 191 Sect. 1. Of Obedience to our Superiours 192 15 Acts and duties of obedience to all our Superiours 193 12 Remedies against disobedience by way of consideration 198 3 Degrees of obedience 203 Sect. 8. Of Provision of that part of justice which is due from Superiours to inferiours 205 12 Duties of Kings and all the supreme power as Lawgivers ibid. 2 Duties of Superiours as they are Judges 209 5 Duties of Parents to their Children 210 Duty of Husbands Wives reciprocally 213 7 Duties of Masters of Families 215 Duty of Guardians or Tutors 216 Sect. 3. Of Negotiation or civil Contracts 217 13 Rules and measures of Justice in bargaining ibid. Sect. 4. Of Restitution 222 7 Rules of making Restitution as it concerns the persons obliged 224 9 As it concerns other circumstances 227 Prayers to be said in relation to the several obligations and offices of Justice 232 CHAP. IV. Of Christian religion 241 1. Of the internal actions of religion 242 Sect. 1. Of Faith 243 The 7 acts and offices of Faith ibid. 8 Signes of true Faith 245 8 Means and instruments to obtain Faith 248 Sect. 2. Of Christian Hope 250 The 5 acts of Hope 251 5 Rules to govern our Hope 252 12 Means of Hope and Remedies against Despair 254 Sect. 3. Of Charity or the Love of God 261 The 8 acts of Love to God 263 The 3 measures rules of Divine Love 266 6 Helps to encrease our Love to God by way of exercise The 2 several states of Love to God 271 viz. The state of Obedience ibid. The state of Zeal 272 8 Cautions and rules concerning zeal ibid. 2 Of the external actions of Religion 275 Sect 4. Of Reading or Hearing the Word of God 276 5 General considerations concerning it 278 5 Rules for hearing or reading the Word 279 4 Rules for reading spiritual Books or hearing Sermons 280 Sect. 5. Of Fasting 282 15 Rules for Christian fasting ibid. Benefits of Fasting 289 Sect. 6. Of keeping Festivals and daies holy to the Lord particularly the Lords day ibid. 10 Rules for keeping the Lords day and other Christian Festivals 292 3. Of the mixt actions of Religion 297 Sect 7. Of Prayer 297 1 Motives to Prayer 298 16 Rules for the practise of Prayer 300 6 Cautions for making vows 309 7 Remed against wandring thoughts c. 311 10 Signes of tediousness of Spirit in our prayers and all actions of Religion 313 11 Remedies against tediousness of Spirit 314 Sect. 8. Of Alms. 319 The 18 several kindes of corporal Alms. 321 The 14 several kinds of spiritual Alms. 322 The 5 several kinds of mixt Alms. ibid. 16 Rules for giving Alms. 323 13 Motives to Charity 332 Remedies against the parents of unmercifulness 335 1.9 Against Envy by way of consideration ib. 3.12 Remedies against anger by way of exercise 13 Remed against anger by way of consid 341 7 Remedies against Covetousness 344 Sect. 9. Of Repentance 352 11 Acts and parts of Repentance 355 4 Motives to Repentance 364 Sect. 10. Of Preparation to and the manner how to receive the Sacram. of the Lords Supper 367 14 Rules for preparation and worthy Communicating 370 The effects and benefits of worthy c. 375 Prayers for all sorts of men c. 381 The Rule and Exercises of HOLY LIVING c. CHAP. I. Consideration of the general instruments and means serving to a holy Life by way of Introduction IT is necessary that every Man should consider that since God hath given him an excellent nature wisdom and choice an understanding soul and an immortal spirit having made him Lord over the Beasts and but a little lower then the
ever in the unity of the holy Catholick Church and in the integrity of the Christian faith and in the love of God and of our neighbours and in hope of life Eternal Amen 2. For the whole Catholick Church O holy Jesus King of the Saints and Prince of the Catholick Church preserve thy spouse whom thou hast purchased with thy right hand and redeemed and cleansed with thy blood the whole Catholick Church from one end of the Earth to the other she is founded upon a rock but planted in the sea O preserve her safe from schisme heresie and sacrilege Unite all her members with the bands of Faith Hope and Charity and an externall communion when it shall seem good in thine eyes let the daily sacrifice of prayer and Sacramental thanksgiving never cease but be for ever presented to thee and for ever united to the intercession of her dearest Lord and for ever prevaile for the obtaining for every of its membres grace and blessing pardon and salvation Amen 3. For all Christian Kings Princes and Governours O King of Kings and Prince of all the Rulers of the Earth give thy grace and Spirit to all Christian Princes the spirit of wisdom and counsell the spirit of government and godly fear Grant unto them to live in peace and honour that their people may love and fear them and they may love and fear God speak good unto their hearts concerning the Church that they may be nursing Fathers to it Fathers of the Fatherless Judges and Avengers of the cause of Widowes that they may be compassionate to the wants of the poor and the groans of the oppressed that they may not vex or kill the Lords people with unjust or ambitious wars but may feed the flock of God and may inquire after and do all things which may promote peace publick honesty and holy religion so administring things present that they may not fail of the everlasting glories of the world to come where all thy faithfull people shall reign Kings for ever Amen 4. For all the orders of them that minister about H. things O thou great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls Holy and Eternall Jesus give unto thy servants the Ministers of the Mysteries of Christian religion the Spirit of prudence sanctity faith and charity confidence and zeal diligence watchfulnes that they may declare thy will unto the people faithfully dispense thy Sacraments rightly and intercede with thee graciously acceptably for thy servants Grant O Lord that by a holy life and a true belief by well doing and patient suffering when thou shalt call them to it they may glorifie thee the great lover of souls and after a plentifull conversion of sinners from the errour of their wayes they may shine like the stars in glory Amen Give unto thy servants the Bishops a discerning Spirit that they may lay hands suddenly on no man but may depute such persons to the Ministeries of religion who may adorn the Gospel of God and whose lips may preserve knowledge and such who by their good preaching and holy living may advance the service of the Lord Jesus Amen 5. For our neerest relatives as Husband Wife Children Family c. O God of infinite mercy let thy loving mercy and compassion descend upon the head of thy servants my wife or husband children and family be pleased to give them health of body and of spirit a competent portion of temporals so as may with comfort support them in their journey to Heaven preserve them from all evill and sad accidents defend them in all assaults of their enemies direct their persons and their actions sanctifie their hearts and words and purposes that we all may by the bands of obedience and charity be united to our Lord Jesus and alwayes feeling thee our mercifull and gracious Father may become a holy family discharging our whole duty in all our relations that we in this life being thy children by adoption and grace may be admitted into thy holy family hereafter for ever to sing praises to thee in the Church of the first-born in the family of thy redeemed ones Amen 6. For our Parents our Kindred in the flesh our Friends and Benefactors O God merciful and gracious who hast made my Parents my friends and my Benefactors ministers of thy mercy instruments of providence to thy servant I humbly beg a blessing to descend upon the heads of name the persons or the relations Depute thy holy Angels to guard their persons thy holy spirit to guide their souls thy providence to minister to their necessities and let thy grace and mercy preserve them from the bitter pains of eternal death and bring them to everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Amen 7. For all that lye under the rod of war famine pestilence to be said in the time of plague or war c. O Lord God almighty thou art our Father we are thy children thou art our Redeemer we thy people purchased with the price of thy most precious blood be pleased to moderate thy anger towards thy servants let not thy whole displeasure arise lest we be consumed and brought to nothing Let health and peace be within our dwellings let righteousness and holiness dwell for ever in our hearts and be express'd in all our actions and the light of thy countenance be upon us in all sufferings that we may delight in the service and in the mercies of God for ever Amen O gracious Father and mercifull God if it be thy will say unto the destroying Angel it is enough and though we are not better then our brethren who are smitten with the rod of God but much worse yet may it please thee even because thou art good and because we are timerous and sinfull not yet fitted for our appearance to set thy mark upon our foreheads that thy Angel the Minister of thy justice may pass over us hurt us not let thy hand cover thy servants and hide us in the clefts of the rock in the wounds of the holy Jesus from the present anger that is gone out against us that though we walk thorough the valley of the shadow of death we may fear no evill and suffer none and those whom thou hast smitten with thy rod support with thy staff and visit them with thy mercies and salvation through Jesus Christ. Amen 8. For all women with childe and for unborn children O Lord God who art the Father of them that trust in thee and shewest mercy to a thousand generations of them that fear thee have mercy upon all women great with childe * be pleased to give them a joyfull and a safe deliverance and let thy grace preserve the fruit of their wombs and conduct them to the holy Sacrament of Baptisme that they being regenerated by thy spirit and adopted into thy family and the portion and duty of Sons may live to the glory of God to the comfort of their parents and friends to the edification of
only of her own in capacity This was it which distinguished the mourning of David from the exclamation of Saul Seneca the confession of Pharaoh from that of Manasses the tears of Peter from the repentance of Judas For the praise is not in the deed done but in the manner of its doing If a man visits his sick friend and watches at his pillow for charity sake and because of his old affection we approve it but if he does it in hope of legacy he is a Vulture and only watches for the carkasse The same things are honest and dishonest the manner of doing them and the end of the designe makes the separation Holy intention is to the actions of a man that which the soul is to the body or form to its matter or the root to the tree or the Sun to the World or the Fountain to a River or the Base to a Pillar for without these the body is a dead trunk the matter is sluggish the tree is a block the world is darkness the river is quickly drie the pillar rushes into flatness and a ruine and the action is sinful or unprofitable and vain The poor Farmer that gave a dish of cold water to Artaxerxes was rewarded with a golden goblet and he that gives the same present to a Disciple in the name of a Disciple shall have a Crown but if he gives water in despite when the Disciple needs wine or a Cordial his reward shal be to want that water to cool his tongue * But this Duty must be reduced to Rules Rules for our intentions 1. In every action reflect upon the end and in your undertaking it consider why you doe it and what you propound to your self for a reward and to your action as its end 2. Begin every action in the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost the meaning of which is that we be careful that we doe not the action without the permission or warrant of God 2. That we designe it to the glory of God if not in the direct action yet at least in its consequence if not in the particular yet at least in the whole order of things and accidents 3. That it may be so blessed that what you intend for innocent and holy purposes may not by any chance or abuse or misunderstanding of men be turned into evil or made the occasion of sin 3. Let every action of concernment be begun with prayer that God would not only blesse the action but sanctifie your purpose and make an oblation of the action to God holy and well intended actions being the best oblations and presents we can make to God and when God is entitled to them he will the rather keep the fire upon the Altar bright and shining 4. In the prosecution of the action renew and reinkindle your purpose by short ejaculations to these purposes Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name let all praise be given and consider Now I am working the work of God I am his servant I am in a happy imployment I am doing my Masters business I am not at my own dispose I am using his talents and all the gain must be his for then be sure as the glory is his so the reward shall be thine If thou bringest his goods home with increase he will make thee ruler over Cities 5. Have a caâ—e that while the Altar thus sends up a holy fume thou doest not suffer the birds to come and carry away the Sacrifice that is let not that which began well and was intended for Gods glory decline and end in thy own praise or temporal satisfaction or a sin A story told to represent the vilenes of unchastity is well begun but if thy female auditor be pleased with thy language and begins rather to like thy person for thy story then to dislike the crime Qui suâ—atur ut maeâ—heâ—tâ—r maechas est magis quà m suâ— Arist. Eth. be watchful lest this goodly head of gold descend in silver and brasse and end in iron and clay like Nebuchadnezzars image for from the end it shall have its name and reward 6. If any accidental event which was not first intended by thee can come to passe let it not be taken into thy purposes nor at all be made use of as if by telling a true story you can doe an ill turn to your enemy by no means doe it but when the temptation is found out turn all thine enmity upon that 7. In every more solemn action of Religion joyn together many good ends that the consideration of them may entertain all your affections and that when any one ceases the purity of your intention may be supported by another supply He that fasts only to tame a rebellious body when he is provided of a remedy either in Grace or Nature may be tempted to leave off his fasting But he that in his fast intends the mortification of every unruly appetite an accustoming himself to bear the yoke of the Lord a contempt of the pleasures of meat and drink humiliation of all wilder thoughts obedience and humility austerity and charity and the convenience and assistance to devotion and to doe an act of repentance whatever happens will have reason enough to make him to continue his purpose and to sanctifie it And certain it is the more good ends are designed in an action the more degrees of excellency the man obtains 8. If any temptation to spoil your purpose happens in a religious duty doe not presently omit the action but rather strive to rectifie your intention and to mortifie the temptation S. Bernard taught us this rule For when the Devil observing him to preach excellently and to doe much benefit to his hearers tempted him to vain glory hoping that the good man to avoid that would cease preaching he gave his answer only I neither began for thee neither for thee will I make an end 9. In all actions which are of long continuance deliberation and abode let your holy and pious intention be actual that is that it be by a special prayer or action by a peculiar act of resignation or oblation given to God but in smaller actions and little things and indifferent fail not to secure a pious habitual intention that is that it be included within your general care that no action have an ill end and that it be comprehended in your general prayers whereby you offer your self and all you doe to Gods glory 10. Call not every temporal end a defiling of thy intention but only 1. When it contradicts any of the ends of God or 2. When it is principally intended in an action of religion For sometimes a temporal end is part of our duty and such are all the actions of our calling whether our imployment be religious or civil we are commanded to provide for our family but if the Minister of Divine offices shall take upon him that holy calling
purposes as thou shalt choose for me or imploy me in Releive me in all my sadnesses make my bed in my sicknesse give me patience in my sorrows confidence in thee and grace to call upon thee in all temptations O be thou my guide in all my actions my Protector in all dangers give me a healthful body and a clear understanding a sanctified and just a charitable and humble a religious and a contented spirit let not my life be miserable and wretched nor my name stained with sin and shame nor my condition lifted up to a tempting and dangerous fortune but let my condition be blessed my conversation usefull to my Neighbours and pleasing to thee that when my body shall lie down in its bed of darkness my soul may passe into the Regions of light and live with thee for ever through Jesus Christ. Amen VI. An act of intercession or prayer for others to be added to this or any other office as our devotion or duty or their needs shall determine us O GOD of infinite mercy who hast compassion on all men and relievest the necessities of all that call to thee for help hear the prayers of thy servant who is unworthy to ask any petition for himself yet in humility and duty is bound to pray for others For the Church O let thy mercy descend upon the whole Church preserve her in truth and peace in unity and safety in all stormes and against â—ll temptations and enemies that she offering to thy glory the never ceasing sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving may advance the honour of her Lord and be filled with his Spirit and partake of his glory Amen For the King In mercy remember the King preserve his person in health and honour his crown in wealth and dignity his kingdoms in peace and plenty and Churches under his protection in piety and knowledge and a strict and holy religion keep him perpetually in thy fear and favour and crown him with glory and immortality Amen For the Clergy Remember them that minister about holy things let them be clothed with righteousness and sing with joyfulness Amen For Wife or Husband Blesse thy servant my Wife or Husband with health of body and of spirit O let the hand of thy blessing be upon his or her head night and day and support him in all necessities strengthen him in all temptations comfort him in all his sorrows and let him be thy servant in all changes and make us both to dwell with thee for ever in thy favour in the light of thy countenance and in thy glories Amen For our Children Blesse my children with healthful bodies with good understandings with the graces and gifts of thy Spirit with sweet dispositions and holy habits and sanctifie them throughout in their bodies and souls and spirits and keep them unblameable to the comming of the â—ord Jesus Amen For Freinds and Benefactors Be pleased O Lord to remember my friends all that have prayed for me and all that have done me good here name such whom you would specially recommend Doe thou good to them and return all their kindness double into their own bosome rewarding them with blessings and sanctifying them with thy graces and bringing them to glory For our Family Let all my family and kindred my neighbours and acquaintance here name what other relation you please receive the benefit of my prayers and the blessings of God the comforts and supports of thy providence and the sanctification of thy spirit For all in misery Relieve and comfort all the persecuted and afflicted speak peace to troubled consciences strengthen the weak confirm the strong i◠〈◊〉 the ignorant deliver the oppressed 1. 〈◊〉 that spoileth him and relieve the needy that hath no helper and brings us all by the waters of comfort and in the waies of righteousness to the kingdom of rest and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen To God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ To the eternal Son that was incarnate and born of a Virgin To the Spirit of the Father and the Son be all honour and glory worship and thanksgiving now and for ever Amen Another form of prayer for the Morning In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Our Father c. I MOst glorious and eternal God Father of mercy and God of all comfort I worship and adore thee with the lowest humility of my soul and body and give thee all thanks and praise for thy infinite and essential gâ—â—ries and perfections and for the continual demonstration of thy mercies upon me upon all mine and upon thy holy Catholick Church II. I Acknowledge dear God that I have deserved the greatest of thy wrath and indignation and that if thou hadst dealt with me according to my deserving I had now at this instant been desperately bewailing my miseries in the sorrows and horrors of a sad eternity But thy mercy triumphing over thy justice and my sins thou hast still continued to me life and time of repentance thou hast opened to me the gates of grace and mercy and perpetually callest upon me to enter in and to walk in the paths of a holy life that I might glorifie thee and be glorified of thee eternally III. BEhold O God for this thy great and unspeakable goodness for the preservation of me this night and for all other thy graces and blessings I offer up my soul and body all that I am and all that I have as a Sacrifice to thee and thy service humbly begging of thee to pardon all my sins to defend me from all evil to lead me into all good and let my portion be amongst thy redeemed ones in the gathering together of the Saints in the Kingdom of grace and glory IV. GUide me O Lord in all the changes and varities of the world that in all things that shall happen I may have an evenness 〈◊〉 â—â—anquility of spirit that my soule may be wholly resigned to thy Divinest will and pleasure never murmuring at thy gentle chastisements and fatherly correction never waxing proud and insolent though I feel a torrent of comforts and prosperous successes V. FIx my thoughts my hopes and my desires upon Heaven and heavenly things teach me to despise the world to repent me deeply for my sins give me holy purposes of amendment and ghostly strength and assistances to perform faithfully whatsoever I shall intend piously Enrich my understanding with an eternal treasure of Divine truths that I may know thy will and thou who workest in us to will and to doe of thy good pleasure teach me to obey all thy Commandments to believe all thy Revelations and make me partaker of all thy gracious promises VI. TEach me to watch over all my waies that I may never be surprised by sudden temtations or a careless spirit nor ever return to folly and vanity Set a watch O Lord before my mouth and keep the
to express our apprehensions of his greatness in all great accidents in popular judgments loud thunders tempests earthquakes not only for fear of being smitten our selves or that we are concerned in the accident but also that we may humble our selves before his Almightiness and express that infinite distance between his infiniteness and our weaknesses at such times especially when he gives such visible arguments of it He that is merry and airie at shore when he sees a sad and a loud tempest on the sea or dances briskly when God thunders from heaven regards not when God speaks to all the world but is possessed with a firm immodesty 2. Be reverent modest and reserved in the presence of thy betters giving to all according to their quality their titles of honour keeping distance speaking little answering pertinently not interposing without leave or reason not answering to a question propounded to another and ever present to thy superiors the fairest side of thy dicourse of thy temper of thy ceremony as being ashamed to serve excellent persons with unhandsome entercourse 3. Never lie before a King or a great person nor stand in a lie when thou art accused Quem Deus tâ—git vâ—â—cundia pallio hujâ—â— maculas hoâ—nâ—bas non ostendâ—t Maimon Can Eth. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melus nor offer to justifie what is indeed a fault but modestly be ashamed of it ask pardon and make amends 4. Never boast of thy sin Obstare primum est velle nâ—c labi via Pudor est sâ—cundus nosse peccandi modum Senec. Hip. A Chione altem vel ab Helide diseâ— pudoâ—om Abscondunt spurcas haec moâ—umâ—nâ—a lupâ—s Matt. l. epist. 35. but at last lay a vail upon thy nakedness shame and put thy hand before theine eyes that thou mayest have this beginning of repentance to believe thy sin to be thy shame For he that blushes not at his crime but adds shamelesness to his shame hath no instrument left to restore him to the hopes of virtue 5. Be not confident and affirmative in an uncertaine matter but report things modestly and temperately according to the degree of that perswasion which is or ought to be begotten in thee by the efficacy of the authority or the reason inducing thee 6. Pretend not to more knowledge then thou hast but be content to seem ignorant where thou art so lest thou beest either brought to shame or retirest into shamelesness Ecclus. 3 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts of Modesty as it is opposed to undecency 1. In your prayers in Churches and places of religion use reverent postures great attention grave ceremony the lowest gestures of humility remembring that we speak to God in our reverence to whom we cannot possibly exceed but that the expression of this reverence be according to law or custome and the example of the most prudent and pious persons that is let it be the best in its kinde to the best of essences 2. In all publick meetings private addresses in discourses in journeys use those forms of salutation reverence and decency which the custome prescribes and is usual amongst the most sober persons giving honour to whom honour belongeth taking place of none of thy betters and in all cases of question concerning civil precedency giving it to any one that will take it if it be only thy own right that is in question 3. Observe the proportion of affections in all meetings and to all persons be not merry at a funeral nor sad upon a festival but rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep 4. Abstain from wanton dissolute laughter petulant and uncomely jests loud talking jeering and all such actions which in civil account are called undecencies and incivilities 3. Towards your parents use all modesty of duty and humble carriage towards them all your kindred be severe in the modesties of chastly ever fearing lest the freedoms of natural kindness should enlarge into any neighbourhood of unhandsomness For all incestuous mixtures and all circumstances degrees towards it are the highest violations of modesty in the world for therefore incest is grown to be so high a crime especially in the last periods of the world because it breaks that reverence which the consent of all nations and the severity of humane laws hath enjoyned towards our parents and nearest kindred in imitation of that law which God gave to the Jews in prosecution of Modesty in this instance 6. Be a curious observer of all those things which are of good report and are parts of publick honesty For publick fame Philip. 4.1 and the sentence of prudent and publick persons is the measure of good and evil in things indifferent and charity requires us to comply with those fancies and affections which are agreeable to nature or the analogie of virtue or publick laws or old customs It is against Modesty for a woman to marry a second husband as long as shee bears a burden by the first or to admit a second love while her funeral tears are not wiped from her cheeks Et meretriâ— abigit restem velâ—que sâ—râ—â— que Raráque si memini fornice rima patet Matt. It is against publick honesty to doe some lawful actions of privacy in publick theatres and therefore in such cases retirement is a duty of modesty 7. Be grave decent modest in thy clothing and ornament never let it be above thy condition not alwaies equal to it never light or amorous never discovering a nakedness through a thin vail which thou pretendest to hide never to lay a snare for a soul but remember what becomes a Christian professing holiness chastity and the discipline of the holy Jesus Tuta sit ornatrix odi quae saueiat ora Vnguâ—bus rapâ—â brachia figiâ— acu devâ—â—et tangit Dominae caput illa simúlque Plorat ad invisâ—s sanguinâ—lâ—ma câ—mas Ovid. and the first effect of this let your servants feel by your gentleness and aptness to be pleased with their usual diligence and ordinary coÌ„duct For the man or woman that is dressed with anger and impatience wears pride under their robes and immodesty above 8. Hither also is to be reduced singular and affected walking proud nice and ridiculous gestures of body painting and lascivious dressings all which together God reproves by the Prophet Naiah 3.15 The Lord saith because the daughters of Sion are haughty and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes walking and mineing as they go and make a tinkling with their feet therefore the â—ord will smite her with a scab of the crown of the head and will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments Prov 6.13 And this duty of modesty in this instance is expresly enjoyned to all Christian women by Saint Paul â— Tim. 2 5 That women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefastness and sobriety not with broidered hair or gold or pearl or costly array but
unwearied diligence and an undisturbed resolution having no fondness for the vanities or possessions of this World but laying up my hopes in Heaven and the rewards of holy living and being strengthned with the Spirit in the inner man through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen CHAP. III. Of Christian Justice IUstice is by the Christian Religion enjoyed in all its parts by these two propositions in Scripture Whatsoever ye would that men should doe to you even so doe to them This is the measure of communicative â—ustice or of that justice which supposes exchange of things profitable for things profitable that is I supply your need you may supply mine as I doe a benefit to you I may receive one by you and because every man may be injured by another therefore his security shall depend upon mine if he will not not let me be safe he shall not be safe himself only the manner of his being punished is upon great reason both by God and all the World taken from particulars and committed to a publick dis-interested person who will doe justice without passion both to him and to me If he refuses to doe me advantage he shall receive none when his needs require it And thus God gave necessities to men that all men might need and several abilities to several persons that each mâ—n might help to supply the publick needs and by joyning to fill up all wants they may be knit together by justice as the parts of the world are by nature and he hath made us all obnoxious to injuries and made every little thing strong enough to doe us hurt by some instrument or other and hath given us all a sufficient stock of self-love and desire of self preservation to be as the chain to tie together all the parts of society and to restrain us from doing violence lest we be violently dealt withall our selves The other part of justice is commonly called distributive and is commanded in this rule Rom. 13.7 Render to all their dues tribute to whom tribute is due custome to whome custome fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Owe no man any thing but to love one another This justice is distinguished from the first because the obligation depends not upon contract or express bargain but passes upon us by virtue of some command of God or our Superiour by nature or by grace by piety or religion by trust or by office 2 Pet. 4.10 according to that Commandment As every man hath received the gift so let him minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God And as the first considers an equality of persons in respect of the contract or particular necessity this supposes a difference of persons and no particular bargains but such necessary entercourses as by the Laws of God or man are introduced But I shall reduce all the particulars of both kindes to these four heads 1. Obedience 2. Provision 3. Negotiation 4. Restitution SECT I. Of Obedience to our Superiours OUr Superiours are set over us in affairs of the World or the affairs of the Soul and things pertaining to Religion and are called accordingly Ecclesiastical or Civil Towards whom our duty is tâ—uâ— generally described in the New Testament â—or Temporal or Civil Governours the Commands are these Rom. 13.8 Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and Let every soul be subject to the higher powers For there is no power but of God 〈◊〉 3. â— The powers that be are obtained of God whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God Pet. â— 13 and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation and Put them in minde to be subâ—ect to principalities powers to obey Magistrates â— and Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supreme or unto Governours as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that doe well For Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Governours thus we are commanded Heb. â—3 17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls Pâ—â—â—l 2 29. as they that must give an account and Hold such in reputation and To this end did I write that I might know the proof of you whether ye be obedient in all things said S. Paul to the Church of Corinth 2 Cor. 2.2 Our duty is reducible to practise by the following Rules Acts and duties of Obedience to all our Superiours 1. We must obey all humane laws appointed and constituted by lawful Authority that is of the supreme power according to the constitution of the place in which we live all laws I mean which are not against the law of God 2. In obedience to humane laws we must observe the letter of the Law where we can without doing violence to the reason of the Law and the intention of the Law-giver but where they crosse each other the charity of the Law is to be preferred before its discipline and the reason of it before the letter 3. If the general reason of the Law ceases in our particular and a contrary reason rises upon us we are to procure dispensation or leave to omit the observation of it in such circumstances if there be any persons or office appointed for granting it but if there be none or if it is not easily to be had or not without an inconvenience greater then the good of the observation of the Law in our particular we are despensed withall in the nature of the thing without further processe or trouble 4. As long as the Law is obligatory so long our obedience is due and he that begins a contrary custom without reason sins but he that breaks the Law when the custom is entred and fixed is excused because it is supposed Moâ—◠〈◊〉 odâ—oâ—â—runâ—â—ir potâ—staâ—â—m suam Lâ—gâ—â— mâ—â—â— sâ— vâ—â—nâ— Plaut 〈…〉 the legislative power consents when by not punishing it suffers disobedience to grow up to a custom 5. Obedience to humane laws must be for conscience sake that is because in such obedience publick order and charity and benefit is concerned and because the Law of God commands us therefore we must make a conscience in keeping the just Lawes of Superiours 〈…〉 5. câ—ap 7. and although the matter before the making of the Law was indifferent yet now the obedience is not indifferent but next to the Laws of God we are to obey the laws of all our Superiours who the more publick they are the first they are to be in the order of obedience 6. Submit to the punishment and censure of the Laws and seek not to reverse their judgment by opposing but by submitting or flying or silence to passe through it or by it as we can and although from inferiour Judges we may appeal where the Law permits us yet we must sit down and rest in the judgment
Laws of Religion and the Common-wealth O Lord I am but an infirm man and know not how to decree certain sentences without erring in judgment but doe thou give to thy servant an understanding heart to judge this people that I may discern between good and evil Cause me to walk before thee and all the people in truth and righteousness and in sincerity of heart that I may not regard the person of the mighty nor be afraid of his terrour nor despise the person of the poor and reject his petition but that doing justice to all men I and my people may receive mercy of thee peace and plenty in our daies and mutual love duty and correspondence that there be no leading into captivity no complaining in our streets but we may see the Church in prosperity all our daies and religion established and increasing Doe thou establish the house of thy servant and bring me to a participation of the glories of thy kingdom for his sake who is my Lord and King the holy and ever blessed Saviour of the world our Redeemer Jesus Amen A Prayer to be said by Parents for their Children O Almighty and most merciful Father who hast pâ—omised children as a reward to the righteous 〈◊〉 hast given them to me as a testimony of thy mercy and an ingagement of my duty be pleased to be a Father unto them give them healthful bodies understanding souls and sanctified spirits that they may be thy servants and thy children all their daies Let a great mercy and providence lead them through the dangers and temptations and ignorances of their youth that they may never run into folly and the evils of an unbridled appetite So order the accidents of their livâ—s that by good education careful Tutors holy example innocent company prudent counsel and thy restraining grace their duty to thee may be secured in the midst of a crooked and untoward generation and if it seem good in thy eyes let me be enabled to provide conveniently for the support of their persons that they may not be destitute and miserable in my death or if thou shalt call me off from this World by a more timely summons let their portion be thy care mercy and providence over their bodies and souls and may they never live vitious lives nor die violent or untimely deaths but let them glorifie thee here with a free obedience and the duties of a whole life that when they have served thee in their generations and have profited the Christian Common-wealth they may be coheirs with Jesus in the glories of thy eternal Kingdom through the same our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen A prayer to be said by Masters of Families Curats Tutors or other obliged persons for their charger O Almighty God merciful and gracious have mercy upon my Family or Pupils or Parishioners c. and all committed to my charge sanctifie them with thy grace preserve them with thy providence guard them from all evil by the custody of Angels direct them in the waies of peace and holy Religion by my Ministery and the conduct of thy most holy Spirit and consigne them all with the participation of thy blessings and graces in this World with healthful bodies with good understandings and sanctified spirits to a full fruition of thy glories hereafter through Jesus Christ our Lord. A Prayer to be said by Merchants Tradesmen and Handicrafts men O Eternal God thou Fountain of justice mercy and benediction who by my education and other effects of thy Providence hast called me to this profession that by my industry I may in my small proportion work together for the good of my self and others I humbly beg thy grace to guâ—de me in my intention and in the transaction of my affairs that I may be diligent just and faithful and give me thy favour that this my labour may be accepted by thee as a part of my necessary duty and give me thy blessing to assist and prosper me in my Calling to such measures as thou shalt in mercy choose for me and be pleased to let thy holy Spirit be for ever present with me that I may never be given to covetousness and sordid appetites to lying and falshood or any other base indirect and beggerly arts but give me prudence honesty and Christian sinceâ—ity that my trade may be sanctified by my Religion my labour by my intention and thy blessing that when I have done my portion of work thou hast â—llotted me and improved the talent thou hast instrusted to me and served the Common-wealth in my capacity I may receive the mighty price of my high calling which I expect and beg in the portion and inheritance of the ever blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Amen A Prayer to be said by Debtors and all persons obliged whether by crime or contract O Almighty God who art rich unto all the treasurie and fountain of all good of all justice and all mercy and all bounty to whom we owe all that we are and all that we have being thy Debtors by reason of our sins and by thy own gracious contract made with us in Jesus Christ teach me in the first place to perform all my Obligations to thee both of duty and thankfulness and next enable me to pay my duty to all my friends and my debts to all my Creditors that none be made miserable or lessened in his estate by his kindness to me or traffick with me Forgive me all those sins and irregular actions by which I entred into debt further then my necessity required or by which such necessity was brought upon me but let not them suffer by occasion of my sin Lord reward all their kindness into their bosoms make them recompense where I cannot and make me very willing in all that I can and able for all that I am obliged to or if it seem good in thine eyes to afflict me by the continuance of this condition yet make it up by some means to them that the prayer of thy servant may obtain of thee at least to pay my debt in blessings Amen V. LOrd sanctifie and forgive all that I have tempted to evil by my discourse or my example instruct them in the right way whom I have led to errour and let me never run further on the score of sin but doe thou blot out all the evils I have done by the spunge of thy passion and the blood of thy Crosse and give me a deep and an excellent repentance and a free and a gracious pardon that thou may est answer for me O Lord and enable me to stand upright in judgment for in thee O Lord have I trusted let me never be confounded Pity me and instruct me guide me and support me pardon me and save me for my sweet Saviour Jesus Christ his sake Amen A Prayer for Patron and Benefactors O Almighty GOD thou Fountain of all good of all excellâ—ncy both to Men and Aâ—gels exâ—end thine abundant favour and
any cause but after a long growth of a temperate and well regulated love it is to be suspected for passion and forwardness rather then the verticall point of love 2. That zeal only is good which in a fervent love hath temperate expressions For let the affection boyl as high as it can yet if it boyl over into irregular and strange actions it will have but few but will need many excuses Elijah was zealous for the Lord of Hosts and yet he was so transported with it that he could not receive answer from God till by musick he was recomposed and tamed and Moses broke both the Tables of the Law by being passionately zealous against them that brake the first 3. Zeal must spend its greatest heat principally in those things that concern our selves but with great care and restraint in those that concern others 4. Remember that zeal being an excrescence of Divine love must in no sense contradict any action of love Love to God includes love to our Neighbour and therefore no pretence of zeal for Gods glory must make us uncharitable to our brother Phil. 3 6 for that is just so pleasing to God as hatred is an act of love 5. That Zeal that concerns others can spend it self in nothing but arts and actions and charitable instruments for their good and when it concerns the good of many that one should suffer it must be done by persons of a competent authority and in great necessity in seldom instances according to the Law of God or Man but never by private right or for trifling accidents of in mistaken propositions The Zealots in the Old Law had authority to transfix and stab some certain persons but God gave them warrant it was in the case of Idolatry or such notorious huge crimes the danger of which was insupportable and the cognizance of which was infallible and yet that warrant expired with the Synagogue 6. Zeal in the instances of our own duty and personal deportment is more safe then in matters of counsel and actions besides our just duty and tending towards perfection Though in these instances there is not a direct sin even where the zeal is lesse wary yet there is much trouble and some danger as if it be spent in the too forward vows of Chastity and restraints of natural and innocent liberties 7. Zeal may be let loose in the instances of internal personal and spiritual actions that are matters of direct duty as in prayers and acts of adoration and thanksgiving and frequent addresses provided that no indirect act passe upon them to defile them such as complacency and opinions of sanctity censuring others scruples and opinions of necessity unnecessary fears superstitious numbrings of times and hours but let the zeal be as forward as it will as devout as it will as Seraphicall as it will in the direct addresse and entercourse with God there is no danger Lavora cente 〈◊〉 â—avesti a comparâ— ogni horat adora come 〈◊〉 tu havesii â— moâ—ir alâ—ore no transgression Do all the parts of your duty as earnestly as if the salvation of all the world and the whole glory of God and the confusion of all Devils and all that you hope or desire did depend upon every one action 8. Let zeal be seated in the will and choice and regulated with prudence and a sober understanding not in the fancies affections for these will make it full of noise and empty of profit Rom. 10.2 but that will make it deep and smooth material and devout The summe is this That Zeal is not a direct duty no where commanded for it self and is nothing but a forwardness circumstance of another duty Tit. 2.14 Rev 3.16 and therefore is then only acceptable when it advances the love of God and our Neighbours whose circumstance it is That zeal is only safe only acceptable which increases charity directly and because love to our Neighbour and obedience to God are the two great portions of charity we must never account our zeal to be good but as it advances both these if it be in a matter that relates to both or severally if it relates severally S. Pauls zeal was expressed in preaching without any offerings or stipend in travelling in spending and being spent for his flock in suffering in being willing to be accursed for love of the people of God and his country-men Let our Zeal be as great as his was so it be in affections to others but not at all in angers against them In the first then is no danger in the second there is no safety In brief let your zeal if it must be expressed in anger be alwaies more severe against thy self 2 Cor. 7.11 then against others ¶ The other part of Love to God is Love to our Neighbour for which I have reserved the Paragraph of Alms. Of the external actions of Religion Religion teaches us to present to God our bodies as well as our souls for God is the Lord of both and if the body serves the soul in actions natural and civil and intellectual It must not be eased in the only offices of Religion unlesse the body shall expect no portion of the rewards of Religion such as are resurrection Rom. 12.1 reunion and glorification Our bodys are to God a living sacrifice and to present them to God is holy and acceptable The actions of the body as it serves to Religion and as it is distinguished from Sobriety and Justice either relate to the word of God or to prayer or to repentance and make these kindes of external actions of Religion 1 Reading and hearing the Word of God 2. Fasting and corporal austerities called by S Paul bodily exercise 3. Feasting or keeping daies of publick joy and thanksgiving SECT IV. Of Reading or Hearing the Word of God REading and Hearing the Word of God are but the several circumstances of the same duty instrumental especially to faith but consequently to all other graces of the Spirit It is all one to us whether by the eye or by the ear the Spirit conveys his precepts to us If we hear Saint Paul saying to us that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge or read it in one of his Epistles in either of them we are equally and sufficiently instructed The Scriptures read are the same thing to us which the same doctrine was when it was preached by the Disciples of our blessed Lord and we are to learn of either with the same dispositions There are many that cannot read the Word and they must take it in by the ear and they that can read finde the same Word of God by the eye It is necessary that all men learn it in some way or other and it is sufficient in order to their practise that they learn it any way The Word of God is all those Commandments and Revelations those promises and threatnings the stories and sermons recorded in the Bible nothing else is the
God as wee can and as becomes us And our unwillingness to pray is nothing else but a not desiring what wee ought passionately to long for or if wee do desire it it is a choosing rather to miss our satisfaction and felicitie then to ask for it There is no moe to bee said in this affair but that wee reduce it to practise according to the following Rules Rules for the practice of Prayer 1. Wee must bee careful that wee never ask any thing of God that is sinful or that directly ministers to sin for that is to ask of God to dishonour himself and to undoe us we had need consider what we pray for before it returns in blessing it must be join'd with Christs intercession and presented to God Let us principally ask of God power and assistances to doe our duty to glorifie God to do good works to live a good life to die in the fear and favour of God and eternal life these things God delights to gâ—ve and commands that we shall ask and wee may with confidence exspect to be answered graciously for these things are promised without any reservation of a secret condition if we ask them and do our duty towards the obtaining them we are sure never to miss them 2. Wee may lawfully pray to God for the gifts of the Spirit that minister to holy ends such as are the gift of preaching the spirit of praier good expression a ready and unloosed tongue good understanding learning opportunities to publish them c. with these onely restraints 1. That wee cannot be so confident of the event of those praiers as of the former 2. That we must be curious to secure our intention in these desires that we may not ask them to serve our own ends but onely for Gods glorie and then we shall have them or a blessing for desiring them In order to such purposes our intentions in the first desires cannot bee amiss because they are able to sanctifie other things and therefore cannot be unhallowed themselves 3. Wee must submit to Gods Will desiring him to choose our imployment and to furnish our persons as hee shall see expedient 3. Whatsoever we may lawfully desire of temporal things wee may lawfully ask of God in praier and we may expect them as they are promised 1. Whatsoever is necessary to our life and beeing is promised to us and therefore wee may with certainty expect food and raiment food to keep us alive clothing to keep us from nakedness and shame so long as our life is permitted to us so long all things necessary to our life shall be ministred wee may be secure of maintenance but not secure of life for that is promised not this onely concerning food and raiment we are not to make accounts by the measure of our desires but by the measure of our needs 2. Whatsoever is convenient for us pleasant and modestly delectable we may pray for so we do it 1. with submission to Gods will 2. Without impatient desires 3. That it be not a trifle and inconsiderable but a matter so grave and concerning as to bee a fit matter to bee treated on between God and our souls 4. That we ask it not to spend upon our lusts but for ends of justice or charitie or religion and that they be imploied with sobriety 4. Hee that would pray with effect must live with care and piety For although God gives to sinners and evil persons the common blessings of life and chance 1 Iohn 3.31 Iohn 9.31 Isa 1.15 58.7 Mal. 3 10. 1 Tim 2 8. Psal â— 16. 66 8. yet either they want the comfort and blessing of those blessings or they become occasions of sadder accidents to them or serve to upbraid them in their ingratitude or irreligion and in all cases they are not the effects of praier or the fruits of promise or instances of a fathers love for they cannot bee expected with confidence or received without danger or used without a cuâ—se and mischief in their company * But as all sin is an impediment to praier so some have a special indisposition towards acceptation such are Uncharitableness and wrath Hypocrisie in the present action Pride and Lust because these by defiling the bodie or the spirit or by contradicting some necessarie ingredient in praier such as are Mercie Humilitie Puritie and Sinceritie do defile the praier and make it a direct sin in the circumstances or formalitie of the action 5. All praier must bee made with Faith and Hope that is wee must certainly believe wee shall receive the grace which GOD hath commanded us to ask and wee must hope for such things which he hath permitted us to ask Mark 11.24 Iam. 5.6 7. and our Hope shall not bee vain though wee miss what is not absolutely promised because wee shall at least have an equal blessing in the denial as in the grant And therefore the former conditions must first bee secured that is that wee ask things necessarie or at least good and innocent and profitable and that our persons bee gracious in the eies of God or else what God hath promised to our natural needâ— hee may in many degrees denie to our personal incapacitie but the thing bring secur'd and the person dispos'd thâ—â—e can bee no fault at all for whatsoever 〈◊〉 â—emains is on God's part and that cannot possibly fâ—â—l But because the things which are not commanded cannot possibly bee secured for wee are not sure they are good in all circumstances wee can but hope for such things even after wee have secur'd our good intentions Wee are sure of a blessing but in what instance we are not yet assured 6. Our praiers must bee fervent intense earnest and importunate when wee praie for things of high concernment and necessitie Rom 12.18 15.30 Col. 4.12 1 â—heâ— 3.10 Ephes 6 18. â—am 5.16 1 Pet. 1.7 Continuing instant in praier striving in praier labouring fervently in praier night and day praying exceedingly praying alwaies with all praier â—o S. Paul calls it watching unto praier so S. Peter praying earnestly so S. James and this is not at all to bee abated in matters spiritual and of dutie for according as our desires are so are our praiers and as our praiers are so shall bee the grace and as that is so shall bee the measure of glorie But this admitts of degrees according to the perfection or imperfection of our state of life but it hath no other measures but ought to bee as great as it can the bigger the better wee must make no positive restraints upon it our selvs In other things we are to use a bridle and as wee must limit our desires with submission to Gods will so also we must limit the importunitie of our praiers by the moderation and term of our desires Pray for it as earnestly as you may desire it 7. Our desires must be lasting and our praiers frequent assiduous and continual not asking
prayers a great part whereof we doe not hear our selves If they be not worthy of our attention they are farre more unworthy of Gods Signes of tediousnesse of spirit in our prayers and all actions of religion The second temptation in our prayer is a tediousness of spirit or a weariness of the imployment like that of the Jews who complained that they were weary of the new moons and their souls loathed the frequent return of their Sabbaths so doe very many Christians who first pray without servour and earnestness of spirit and secondly meditate but seldom and that without fruit or sense or affection or thirdly who seldom examine their consciences and when they doe it they doe iâ— but sleepily slightly without compunction or hearty purpose or fruits of amendment 4. They enlarge themselves in the thoughts and fruition of temporal things running for comfort to them only in any sadness and misfortune 5. They love not to frequent the Sacraments nor any the instruments of religion as sermons confessions prayers in publick fastings but love ease and a loose undiscipli'nd life 6. They obey not their superiours but follow their own judgment when their judgment follows their affections and their affections follow sense and worldly pleasures 7. They neglect or dissemble or deferre or doe not attend to the motions and inclinations to virtue which the Spirit of God puts into their soul. 8. They repent them of their vows and holy purposes not because they discover any indiscretion in them or intolerable inconvenience but because they have within them labor as the case now stands to them displeasure 9. They content themselves with the first degrees and necessary parts of virtue and when they are arrived thither they sit down as if they were come to the mountain of the Lord and caâ—e not to proceed on toward perfection 10. They enquire into all cases in which it may be lawful to omit a duty and though they will not do less then they are bound to yet they will do no more then needs must for they do out of fear and self-love not out of the love of God or the spirit of holyness and zeal The event of which will be this He that will do no more then needs must will soon be brought to omit something of his duty and will be apt to believe less to be necessary then is Remedies against tediousness of spirit The Remedies against this temptation are these 1. Order your privat devotions so that they become not arguments causes of tediousness by their indiscreet length but reduce your words into a narrower compass still keeping all the matter and what is cut off in the length of your praiers supply in the earnestness of your spirit for so nothing is lost while the words are changed into matter and length of time into servencie of devotion The forms are made not the less perfect and the spirit is more and the scruple is remov'd 2. It is not imprudent if we provide variety of forms of Praier to the same purposes that the change by consulting with the appetites of fancy may better entertain the Spirit and possibly we may be pleased to recite a hymn when a collect seems flat to us and unpleasant and we are willing to sing rather then to say or to sing this rather then that we are certain that variety is delightful and whether that be natural to us or an imperfection yet if it be complied with it may remove some part of the temptation 3. Break your office and devotion into fragments and make frequent returnings by ejaculations and abrupt entercourses with God for so no length can oppress your tenderness and sickliness of spirit and by often praying in such manner and in all circumstances we shall habituate our souls to praier by making it the business of many lesser portions of our time and by thrusting in between all our other imploiments it will make every thing relish of religion and by degrees tuâ—n all into its nature 4. Learn to abstract your thoughts and desires from pleasures and things of the world For nothing is a direct cure to this evil but cutting off all others loves and adherences Order your affairs so that religion may be propounded to you as a reward and praier as your defence and holy actions as your security and charity and good works as your treasure consider that all things else are satisfactions but to the brutish part of a man and that these are the refreshments and relishes of that noble part of us by which we are better then beasts and whatsoever other instrumeÌ„t exercise or consideration is of use to take our loves from the world the same is apt to place them upon God 5. Doe not seek for deliciousness and sensible consolations in the actions of religion but only regard the duty and the conscience of it For although in the beginning of religion most frequently and at â—â—me other tim 's irregularly God complies with our infirmity and encourages our duty with little overflowings of spiritual joy and sensible pleasure and delicacies in prayer so as we seem to feel some little beam of Heaven and great refreshments from the Spirit of consolation yet this is not alwaies safe for us to have neither safe for us to expect and look for and when we doe it is apt to make us cool in our enquiries and waitings upon Christ when we want them It is a running after him nor for the miracles but for the loaves not for the wonderfull things of God and the desires of pleasing him but for the pleasures of pleasing our selves And as we must not judge our devotion to be barren or unfruitful when we want the overflowings of joy running over so neither must we cease for want of them If our spirits can serve God choosingly and greedily out of pure conscience of our duty it is better in it self and more safe to us 6. Let him use to soften his spirit with frequent meditation upon sâ—d and dolorous objects as of death the terrours of the day of judgment fearful judgments upon sinners strange horrid accidents fear of Gods wrath the pains of Hell the unspeakable amazements of the damned the intolerable load of a sad eternity For whatsoever creaâ—es fear or makes the spirit to dwell in a religious sadness is apt to entender the spirit and make it devout and plyant to any part of duty For a great fear when it is ill managed is the parent of superstition but a discreet well guided fear produces religion 7. Pray often and you shall pray oftner and when you are accustomed to a frequent devotion it will so insensibly unite to your nature and affections that it will become trouble to omit your usual or appointed prayers and what you obtain at first by doing violence to your inclinations at last will not be leâ—t without as great unwillingness as that by which at first it entred This rule relies not only
to satisfie whom we have injur'd and to forgive them who have injur'd us without thoughts of resuming the quarrel when the solemnity is over for that is but to rake the embers in light and phantastick ashes it must be quenched and a holy flame enkindled no fires must be at all but the fires of love and zeal and the altar of incense will send up a sweet perfume and make atonement for us 7. When the day of the feast is come lay aside all cares and impertinencies of the World and remember that this is thy Souls day a day of traffique and entercourse with Heaven Arise early in the morning 1. Give God thanks for the approach of so great a blessing 2. Confess thy own unworthiness to admit so Divine a Guest 3 Then remember and deplore thy sins which have made thee so unworthy 4. Then confess Gods goodness and take sanctuary there and upon him place thy hopes 5. And invite him to thee with renewed acts of love of holy desire of hatred of his enemy sin 6. Make oblation of thy self wholy to be disposed by him to the obedience of him to his providence and possession and pray him to enter and dwell there for ever And after this with joy and holy fear and the forwardness of love address thy self to the receiving of him to whom by whom and for whom all faiths and all hope and all love in the whole Catholick Church both in Heaven and Earth is designed him whom Kings and Queens and whole Kingdomes are inlove with and count it the greatest honour in the World that their Crowns and Scepters are laid at his holy feet 8. When the holy man stands at the Table of blessing and ministers the rite of consecration then do as the Angels do who behold and love and wonder that the Son of God should become food to the souls of his servants that he who cannot suffer any change of â—essening should be broken into pieces enter into the body to support and nourish the spirit and yet at the same time remain in Heaven while he descends to thee upon Earth that he who hath essential felicity should become miserable and dye for thee and then give himself to thee for ever to redeem thee from sin and misery that by his wounds he should procure health to thee by his affronts he should entitle thee to glory by his death he should bring thee to life and by becoming a man he should make thee partaker of the Divine nature These are such glories that although they are made so obvious that each eye may behold them yet they are also so deep that no thought can fathome them But so it hath pleased him to make these mysteries to be sensible because the excellency and depth of the mercy is not intelligible that while we are ravished and comprehended within the infiniteness of so vast and mysterious a mercy yet we may be as sure of it as of that thing we see and feel smell and taste but yet is so great that we cannot understand it 9. These holy mysteries are offered to our senses but not to be placed under our feet they are sensible but not common and therefore as the weakness of the Elements adds wonder to the excellency of the Sacrament so let our reverence and venerable usages of them adde honour to the Elements and acknowledge the glory of he mysterie and the Divinity of the mercy Let us receive the consecrated Elements with all devotion and humility of body and spirits and do this honour to it that it be the first food we eat and the first beverage we drink that day unless it be in case of sickness or other great necessity and that your body and soul both be prepared to its reception with abstinence from secular pleasures Disâ—â—diâ—e alia is Qums tuliâ— hâ—stemaÌ„ gaudia necâ—e Venuâ— that you may better have attended fastings and preparatory prayers For if ever it be seasonable to observe the counsell of Saint Paul that married person by consent should abstain foâ— a time that they may attend to solemn Religion it is now It was not by Saint Paul nor the after ages of the Church called a duty so to do but it is most reasonable that the more solemn actions of Religion should be attended to without the mixture of any thing that may discompose the minde and make it more secular or less religious 10. In the act of receiving exercise acts of Faith with much confidence and resignation believing it not to be common bread and wine but holy in their use holy in their signification holy in their change and holy in their effect and believe if thou art a worthy Communicant thou dost as verily receive Christs body and blood to all effects and purposes of the spirit Cruci haremus sanguinem sugimus inâ—er ipsa Redemptoriâ— nostri vulnera figimus linguam Cyprian de caena Dom. as thou doest receive the blessed elements into thy mouth that thou puttest thy finger to his hand and thy hand into his side and thy lips into his fontinel of blood sucking life from his heart and yet if thou doest communicate unworthily thou eatest and drinkest Christ to thy danger and death and destruction Dispute not concerning the secret of the mystery and the nicety of the manner of Christs presence it is sufficient to thee that Christ shall be present to thy soul as an instrument of grace a pledge of the resurrection as the earnest of glory and immortality and a meanes of many intermediall blessings even all such as are necessary for thee and are in order to thy salvation and to make all this good to thee there is nothing necessary on thy part but a holy life and a true belief of all the sayings of Christ amongst which indefinitely assent to the words of institution and beleive that Christ in the holy Sacrament gives thee his body and his blood He that believes not this is not a Christian He that believes so much needs not to enquire further nor to intangle his faith by disbelieving his sense 11. Fail not this solemnity according to the custom of pious devout people to make an offering to God for the uses of religion the poor according to thy ability For when Christ feasts his body let us also feast our fellow members who have right to the same promises and are partakers of the same Sacrament and partners of the same hope and cared for under the same providence and descended from the same common parents and whose Father God is and Christ is their Elder brother If thou chancest to communicate where this holy custom is not observed publickly supply that want by thy private charity but offer it to God at his holy Table at least by thy private designing it there 11. When you have received pray and give thanks Pray for all estates of men for they also have an interest in the body
in mind and will to dye for the testimony of Jesus and to suffer any affliction or calamity that shall offer to hinder my duty or tempt me to shame or sin or apostasie and let my faith be the parent of a good life a strong shield to repell the fiery darts of the Devil and the Author of a holy hope of modest desires of confidence in God and of a never failing charity to thee my God and to all the world that I may never have my portion with the unbelievers or uncharitable and desperate persons but may be supported by the strengths of faith in all temptations and may be refreshed with the comforts of a holy hope in all my sorrows and may bear the burden of the Lord and the infirmities of my neighbour by the support of charity that the yoak of Jesus may become easie to me and my love may do all the miracles of grace till from grace it swell to glory from earth to heaven from duty to reward from the imperfections of a beginning and little growing love it may arrive to the consummation of an enternall never ceasing charity through Jesus Christ the Son of thy love the Anchor of our hope and the Author and finisher of our faith to whom with thee O Lord God Father of Heaven and Earth and with thy holy Spirit be all glory and love and obedience and dominion now and for ever Amen Acts of love by way of prayer and ejaculation to be used in private O God thou art my God eaâ—ly will I seek thee my soul tâ—iâ—steâ—h for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary because thy loving kindness is better then life my lips shall praise thee Psal. 63. I am ready not only to be bound but to dye for the name of the Lord Jesus Acts. 23. How amiable are thy tabernacles thou Lord of Hosts my soul longeth yea even fainteth for the courts of the Lord my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will still be praising thee Psal. 84. O blessed Jesu thou art worthy of all adoration and all honour and all love Thou art the Wonderfull the Counsellor the mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of peace of thy goverment and peace there shall be no end thou art the brightness of thy Fathers glory the express image of his person the appointed Heir of all things Thou upholdest all things by the word of thy power Thou didst by thy self purg our sins Thou art set on the right hand of the Majesty on high Thou art made better then the Angels thou hast by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they Thou O dearest Jesus art the head of the Church the beginning and the first-born from the 〈◊〉 in all things thou hast the preheminence and it pleased the Father that in thee should all fulness dwell Kingdomes are in love with thee Kings lay their Crowns and Scepters at thy feet and Queens are thy handmaids and wash the feet of thy servants A Prayer to be said in any affliction as death of children of husband or wife in great poverty in imprisonment in a sad and disconsolate spirit and in temptations to despair O Eternall God Father of Mercies and God of all comfort with much mercy look upon the sadnesses and sorrows of thy servant My sins lye heavy upon me and press me sore and there is no health in my bones by reason of thy displeasure and my sin The waters are gone over me and I stick fast in the deep mire and my miseries are without comfort because they are punishments of my sin and I am so evill and unworthy a person that though I have great desires yet I have no dispositions or worthiness towards receiving comfort My sins have caused my sorrow and my sorrow does not cure my sins and unless for thy own sake and meerly because thou art good thou shalt pity me and relieve me I am as much without remedy as now I am without comfort Lord pity me Lord let thy grace refresh my spirit Let thy comforts support me thy mercy pardon me and never let my portion be amongst hopeless and accursed spirits for thou art good and gracious and I throw my self upon thy mercy Let me never let my hold go and do thou with me what seems good in thy own eyes I cannot suffer more then I have deserved and yet I can need no relief so great as thy mercy is for thou art infinitely more mercifull then I can be miserable and thy mercy which is above all thy own works must needs be far above all my sin and al my misery Dearest Jesus let me trust in thee for ever and let me never be confounded Amen Ejaculations and â—ort meditations to be used in time of sickness and sorrow or danger of Death HEar my Prayer O Lord and let my crying come unto thee * Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble incline thine ear unto me when I call O â—eâ—r me that right soon For my dayes are consumed like smoak and my bones are burnt up as it were a fire brand My heart is smitten down and withered like grass so that I forget to eat my bread and that because of tâ—ine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me up and cast me down * Thine arrows stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore There is â—o health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bonâ—s by reason of my sin * My wicked esses are gone over my head and are a sore burden too heavy for me to bear But I will confess my wickedness and be sorry for my sin O Lord rebuke me not in thy indignation neither chasten me in thy displeasure Lord be mercifull unto me heal my soul for I have sinned against thee Have mercy upon me O God after thy great goodness according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences O remember not the sins and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy think thou upon me O Lord for thy goodness * Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and cleanse me from my sin * Make me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me * Cast me not away from thy presence from thy all-hallowing and life-giving presence and take not thy holy Spirit thy sanctifying thy guiding thy comforting thy supporting and confirming Spirit from me O God thou art my God for ever and ever thou shalt be my guide unto death * Lord comfort me now that I lye sick upon my bed make thou my bed in all my sickness * O deliver my soul from the place of Hell and do thou receive me * My heart is disquieted within me and the fear of death is