bind my Conscience without any dispensation to sanctifie the Morning and Evening of every day with that service to chuse other times of the day by the example of other holy men as Christian prudence zeal and opportunity shall give me and to intermix my lawfull employments with frequent recourses to God in pious ejaculations Quest What are the offences against the calling upon Gods name in prayer in this holy worship Answ. As all omissions of the duty and neglect of invocation upon God are chargeable as sins so all taking his holy name in vain by useless unsanctified interpositions of it in our vain discourses by blasphemies and bold expressions of God by cursings imprecations and by all kinds of unnecessary and customary swearing not onely by the names of God but by any thing else are offences against God and contrary to this Gospel-duty Quest Together with private prayer you mentioned private fasting as a christian duty fitly â—onjoyned with prayer the one being sanctified by the other And doest thou suppose thou art obliged to perform such a servâ—ce to God Ans. Yes by the care our Saviour takes for the more religious performance of it and other frequent expressions of the exercise of it by holy persons in the Gospel Quest But being a duty which ever stands in relation or becomes instrumental to some other holy office and ought to be designed by religious persons for various ends as holy occasions will be administred Which be the chief ends and opportunities for the exercise of the duty of private fasting Ans. These three especially First to excite a zeal and fervencie in prayer in pursuit of some remarkable blessing Secondly to assist the soul in the work of repentance and humiliation for sin Thirdly to mortify the lust of nature and to assist the spiritual part against the contentions of the flesh Quest Now the times and repetitions of this service of private fasting being left to christian prudence and piety How often ought a Christian to return to this service Ans. The more frequently the more acceptably to God Therefore it is religion to undertake it as often as the ends of the duty shall occurre Quest But besides this may not a more punctual advice be given of general concernment Ans. Yes forâ—â—much as the life of the best Christian is full of frailties and defects it is expedient that the return of this duty be certain and determinate and that some day or days in the week be set apart for a more strict and severe examination of life and repentance heightned with the holy exercise of fasting Quest Whether after all these exercises and severities of a christian life will recreations be allowed to be consistent with the holy yoke of Christ Ans. Yes if they be innocent and sinlesse short and transient not scandalous not expensive of time nor such as shall indanger a temptation to lose zeal in devotion or hinder the holy offices of serving God in their chosen periods Quest Having served God thus far thou hast made good progress in this condition of the Gospel yet still is there a further process to be made and that is as thou saydst by serving God with the exercise of thy talent to the good of others And what is the command of the Gospel and thy duty therein Ans. To be charitable merciful and affectionately studious and active to advance the good of all men in whatsoever capacity of help God by his goodnesse hath put me Quest An example of such a course of living the conversation of our holy Master hath presented to us in whose steps we must walk if ever we expect to be members of his Kingdom here or hereafter But because the actions of this service of God bâ— as various as the necessities of men What method wilt thou take to guide thy conscience therein Ans. To help and assist them that want me first as to my spiritual Secondly as to my temporal capacity Quest Instance in some partiticulars that may direct thee to the understanding of all the parts of serving God by relieving others as to thy spiritual capacity Ans. To admonish some inconsiderate sinner and to endeavour to recover him from the errour of his way to go to some ignorant understanding to instruct some doubtful spirit to counsell and confirm some drooping afflicted soul to comfort and many such like which are called the spiritual Almes Quâ—st Blessed employments and acceptable services to God Yet the Commands of Christ to serve God with thy temporal capacity are more frequent and forcible and crowned with greater promises of reward What are the actions of that service Ans. All supplies whatsoever to my brothers present necessity want and my Saviours enumeration of some principal of them in the description of the accounts that must be given at the last day will help me to the understanding of all the other holy exercises of christian charity Quest It is true those acts of mercy have the honour to be mentioned by our Saviour as the rule of his sentence of absolution or condemnatiou to mankind And what are they Ans. To relieve the hungry and thirsty to entertain the destitute stranger to clothe the naked to visit and help poor prisoners and sick persons and all other actions of mercy and doing good that hold proportion with these Quest O rich souls that have laid down their present interests at the foot of Christ and made advantage of their earthly enjoyments to prepare a foundation for the time to come Now because there cannot be a punctual designment what proportion of every mans estate may be sufficient for the discharge of this duty to Christ What is the safest rule herein Ans. That my almes be liberal and plentifully distributed beyond the result of a consultation with flesh and blood or the examination of worldly prudence Considering what vain expenses of pride revenge and unnecessary luxuries my carnal part would judge fit to be allowed for the satisfaction of my lusts and were now more nobly and religiously expended in the service of God Again considering what accidental losses by casualty deceits of men extraordinary charges and many other disimprovements I have patiently borne and otherwise provided for which if I had begun to choose to have served God with I might easily have been tempted to thoughts of utter undoing had I so bestowed them Quest What other considerations may be added to move thee to enlarge thy heart and hand in this service besides the bare injunction of it by Christ as a Gospel-duty Ans. That almes are acts of purest generosity and most rational noblenesse in themselves and have a blessing beyond other noble actions that the very disbursements are gains and the securing of an immutable estate and reall treasure That
fourth part A Manual of Forms of Prayers And lastly considering of what consequence it is to Religion to have children rightly seasoned with pious principles I subjoyned for that end A short Catechisme to be taught to them In all which if I may be instrumental to any persons obtaining the ends designed if I may bring any soul to a right christian life by the first to a judicious and lively hope in Gods mercy by the second to the peace and communion of the Church by the third to frequent addresses to the throne of grace by the fourth and any little ones to be disciples of Christ by the fifth I shall not repent my self of my adventure nor want incouragement to subscribe my self A poor Workman in Gods Vineyard W. SMYTH A Catalogue of some Books Printed for and sold by Edw. Dod at the Gun in Ivie-Lane AN entire Commentary upon the whole Old Testament in 4. Vol. in Fol. wherein the diverse Translations and Expositions literal and mystical of all the most famous Commentators both Ancient and Modern are propounded examined and judged of for the more full satisfaction of the studious Reader in all things which compleateth the Authours Comment on the whole Bible a Work the like to which hath never yet been published in English by any man written by John Mayer Doctor in Divinity The Expiation of a Sinner in a Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrewes Fol. by T. L. D. D. a learnded and Reverend Divine The Justification of a sinner being the main argument of S. Pauls Epistle to the Galathians Fol. Written by the Authour of the Expiation of a sinner Thomae Lushingtonii Logica analytica de principiis Regulis usu Rationis Rectae 8o The Angell-Guardian proved by the light of Nature beames of Scripture and consent of many Ancient and Modern Writers untainted with Popery by Robert Dingley Master of Arts laâ—e Fellow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford 8o America or an exact description of the West-Indies especially of those Provinces under the dominion of Spain in which not only the Nature and Climate of the place with the Commodities it affordeth is fully described but also plain and full directâ—ons given for the right ordering of the same so as to fit them for the use of the Inhabitantâ— and also for transportation the like never yet published in English faithfully related by N. N. Gent. in 8o Natures Paradox or the Innocent Impostor a pleasant Polonian History translated out of French into English by Major John Wright 4o Poems Songs and Sonets written by Richard Lovelace Esq 8o The Life and death of Mr. Carter with other Tracts written by his son Mr. John Carter Minister of Gods Word in the City of Norwich 8o Directions for writing of true English by Richard Hodges in 8o The Reign of King Charles faithfully and impartially delivered and disposed into Annals by H. L. Esq Fol. Judgement and Mercy or the plague of Frogs Inflicted removed delivered in nine Sermons by that late Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. Josias Shute 4o A CATECHISM Containing the CONDITIONS OF THE GOSPEL AND DIRECTIONS to a HOLY LIFE In all Parts of GOSPEL-OBEDIENCE The particulars contained in the several Exercises In the larger Catechisme THe Conditions of the Gospel 3 Of Faith 4 Of Repentance 11 Of Obedience 18 Publick worship 20 Sacraments Baptisme 21 Lords Supper 23 Sins against publick worship 29 Private worship 32 Sanctified affections 33 Private prayer 35 Private fasting 38 Recreations 40 Charity and Almes 41 Duelling 46 Christian justice 48 Duties of Magistrates and Subjects 49 Ministers and People 51 Duties of Family relations 52 Justice in dealâ—ng 54 Restitution 55 Vsury 57 Christian sobriety 58 of the mind 59 of the tongue 60 Chastity 61 Temperance 62 Drunkennesse 63 Satisfactions of doubts about the doctrine of Grace 65. ASsurance of grace and means to it 68 Whence rejection and reprobation 71 About Gods decrees 75 Comfort against infirmities 77 What Christ hath merited for us 79 Satisfactions about our Profession and Ministery 90. PRofession by new light of the Spirit examined 92 Profession by Scripture upon private interpretation examined 103 Profession from a plea of outward holinesse examined 110 The exceptions against the Ministery answered 114 The Calling of our Ministery proved to be lawfull 125 The present sufferings no argument against the truth of our Profession 132 Forms of Prayers 142 FIrst Form for a child 147 Second Form for a child of growth and for servants 150 Third Form for an ordinary shorter exercise 158 The largest form for private exercise 168 For the universal Church 185 For the Churches in these nations 186 For the afflicted 187 For Parents 189 For children 189 Before the Sacrament 191 In time of sicknesse 193 For a sick neighbour 196 For a woman with child 197 Before a Journey 198 At first entrance into the Church 199 An exercise for a great humiliation for sins 200 A Form for the Family offices morning and evening 211 The Lesser Catechisme for Children 229 THe Belief 232 Ten Commandements 234 Lords Prayer 239 The Reader is humbly desired before he reads these exercises with his pen to put out and interline according to this direction lest he loseth the sence of those places ERRATA PAge 3. line 3. read desertion p. 13. l. 25. r. deliberate p. 37. l. 9. r. guide p. 69. l. 21. put out by p. 78. l. 12. r. conscience p. 95. l. 5. r. profession p. 96. l. 19. r. great p. 98. l. 23. r. profession p. 104. l. 14. r. could l. 15. r. envious ends l. 25. r it is for but p. 106. l. 13. r. Jâ—gling p. 108. l. 21. r. grave p. 111. l. 3. r. smooth l. 15. r. ruining p. 113. l. 1. r. appeal l. 26. r. accidental p. 122. l. 1. r. condemn p. 123. l. 13. after of interline our p. 124. l. 3. r. Christian p. 126. l. 6. r. seal p. 128. l. 5. after profession interline without a Ministery p. 203. l. 8. r. duty l. 22. r. amendment p. 214. l. 8. r. godly p. 173. l. 15. after merits of interline thee p. 227. l. 21. after day past interline that THE CATECHISME For Direction of LIFE CAP. I. QUESTION VVHat is that most considerable thing thou canst propound to thy desires and about which thou shouldest chiefly exercise thy self all the days of thy life ANSWER How I may obtain eternal life Quest But forasmuch as no man can do any thing that may merit so great an happinesse Whence doest thou expect it to be obtained Ans. From no other cause but the free gift of God through his undeserved mercies in Jesus Christ for whose sake alone I am accepted to justification and salvation Quest What ground hast thou that God will vouchsafe so great a mercy to mankind Ans. His sure and infallible promises made to them every where in the Gospel and an honourable opinion of his goodness that as he hath
THE Safe way TO GLORY In several EXERCISES of General use By WILLIAM SMYTH M. Ar. R. of Cotton in Suff. LONDON Printed by Evaâ— Tyler for Ed. Dod at the Signe of the Gunne in Ivy Lane 1656. Christian Exercises I. GIving directions to an holy life with other conditions of the Gospel II. Satisfying Doubts concerning Grace and Gods acceptance of a sincere Christian III. Answering exceptions against this Church and Ministery with rules to discover false professions IV. Forms of Prayer of General use V. A Catechisme for children By W. SMYTH M. A. and R of Cotton in Suff. TO All those deservedly much Honoured Persons whom I serve in the Education of their CHILDREN AND To all my loving Parishioners of Cotton in Suff. whom I serve in the GOSPEL Are Humbly presented these ensuing Exercises By their unworthy yet Faithful Servant in all ingagements of duty and respect W. SMYTH A PREFACE Apologetical To the READER A Pretence to satisfy every Reader were as ridiculous as his attempt who studied to make a garment for the Moon that might fit her in every interchange and as unlikely to succeed as his enterprise who with a dish of one relish would satisfy every Palate I am so farre from that imagination that I thinke it a design elegible rather to displease some whom I cannot gain by declaring the truth then for some politick ends in silence to shew such a neutrality and indifferency of Spirit as might indulge a vitious and factious world I desire solemnly in this case to apply St. Pauls Expression to my self If I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ I know I shall displease most it s enough if I please the best Principibus placuisse viris c. and not dis-satisfy any mind that is not vitiated with prophanenesse prejudice or faction I account the acceptance of one good man of weight enough to out-ballance the contempt of a thousand and if I can administer an argument of piety to one sober mind it shall compensate the scorn and displeasure of ten thousand When it was objected to a Tragedian that Plato onely was present his answer was Et hic unus Plato plus est quam Atheniensis populus and that one Plato is more then all the people of Athens besides such an estimation I have of every honest pious person though of the lowest order Neverthelesse lest I should seem morose or Cynical I will endeavour to take off the exceptions of three sorts of Readers to whom I humbly tender this satisfaction First to my prudent Friendly-Reader 2. To the Learned-Reader 3. To the piously-affected yet differing in judgement First my Friendly-Reader will presently question my prudence in thus adventuring my self on the publick stage in this sad scene of Church-affairs He tells me there is danger in it for though such truths be as clear and necessary as the Sun yet like the Sun I must make my way through a Zodiack of inconveniences here the privy and sidepinch of a detracting Cancer there the poysonous sting of a malicious Scorpio every where the sharp arrowes the bitter invectives of the worlds Sagittarii For his satisfaction let him turn his eye on the foregoing leafe and that intimates my design and reasons for it which is to secure the beloved soules of my Parish and the tender plants of my family from the invasion of common errours which like an Epidemical disease propagate their infection every where and do inevitably without a great deliverance from heaven subject posterity to great departures from the faith of Christ So my full answer will be It is at all times the best prudence to serve God and in this case it is truer wisdome to be administring to the salvation of soules then to sell our duties to God for the unsafe hope of a worldly advantage If any soul fayles for want of any help that is in my caepacity it falls with its own infelicity and my sin The rule of the Schoole herein is without dispute Causa deficiens in necessariis est efficiens he pulls down that holds not up And a Christian who declines his duty for fear of suffering hath in a great measure betrayed his profession of Christ I cannot despaire but that many in the Nation I can hope that many of my Parish and I am almost assured that many of my family and near relations may be preserved in the Faith and directed in their judgements at least to the right rules of holiness by these poor exercises Now suppose the least If God shall please among all these to bring in but one soul by them and that but to some improvement of his knowledge only or if I wanted that yet if I have done a service acceptable to God I am recompenced for the worst evils my Prudent-Reader can object to me But my ingenious friend puts me upon another task He fears I must passe under the just censure of doing an impertinent and unnecessary thing That I have digged a pâ—t by the river {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} when the streames of the former and this present age have run full and luxuriant in exercises of this kind To which I answer that such Catechismes and institutions as have ordinarily been dispersed among the people have seemed to me to have pursued too great an interest of private opinion in decisions of controverted and notional points of Divinity but to have been too loose general in cases of conscionable walking with God and man They have also generally abetted the doctrines of transmarine Churches against the setled doctrine and discipline of their own Mother-Church secretly undermining the credit of our own Apostolick determinations rather then serenely driving at the scope of strict and severe holinesse Hinc illae lachrimae Hence our woe For the people through such writings and other like insinuations having been corrupted with false principles and trained up to siding and interests many of them I accuse not all knew little other use of their zeal but in opposition nor of conscience but in scrupling indifferents And while they were puzled with an obligation to look into the inextricable mysteries of Gods decrees and Counsels perplexed with the understanding of un-edifying controversies and cryed upon to the duties of getting Christ and getting Faith were in the interim made strangers to the holy practises of humility meeknesse charity tender-heartednes deep-christian-compassion justice peaceablenesse and the like Christian graces as by woeful experience it hath been made too evident to us Now such Abridgments of the doctrines of piety which have run in the Channel of our own setled doctrines as they have been few so have they been either long or above the capacities of those whose advantage I principally designe For being long they have discouraged many though of good capacities who willingly would have read them which might have been comprehended in some few hours but were easily tempted to decline those which required the
God is not only pleased to entertain them as acceptable sacrifices but as actually done unto himself And that he hath engaged his promises for as certain an increase in this life as any temporal blessing can be hoped for at his hand and for an infallible reward in the life to come Quest But are not thine enemies and such as hate injure and offend thee excepted from such acts of thy mercy and charity or how far is the command of the Gospel in these cases obliging as to them Ans. To forgive them whatsoever they have done against me from my very soul even as I would be forgiven at the hand of God To chuse to suffer ten thousand evils from them then to return one evill to them After the highest provocations from them to blesse them pray for them and to do good to them in all my capacities Quest Is not a justification of our right by duelling after injuries received consistent with this part of Christian holiness and what is your judgement therein Ans. That duelling is directly against the doctrine of Christ an unhappy custome grounded upon the mistake of true honour and valour and the duel iâ— self either voluntarily accepted or offered is a sinne against this duty of charity on either part both in him that exposeth his own and in him that seâ—keth anothers blood and the fall of either miserable Quest But suppose he hath injured thine honour mayest thou not endeavour thy reparation Answer By any lawfull means I may where neither passion nor revenge hath interest and if I cannot otherwise obtain it then it is an argument of the clearest noblenesse and magnanimity to trust God with the defence of my honour and to forgive the offender Quest Suppose thou hast injured a person and offered all just satisfaction to him and yet he pursues thy life upon refusall of a duell What is in that case safest to be done Answ. To prevent it as much as possibly I can tenderly regarding his sinne as much as mine own suffering after which being unavoidably assaulted if in my pure defence he or I fall my soul is safe as to his or mine own blood CHAP. VI Quest THe rules of the first part of obeying the Gospel of Christ by all immediate services to God being discovered the Gospel as you sayd requires further holinesse of them that will live up to the institution of Christ which is to live justly to men What is then the obligation of the Gospel as to that part of holy life Answ To do to all men as I would they should do unto me Quest Now because this Doctrine of Christ obligeth to a duty which consists of infinite particulars of divers kinds First mention how many sorts of Iustice a Christian is bond to observe Answ. These two the first is called distributive justice which respects the allowance of all just duties from inferiours to Superiours and back again from Superiours to inferiours The seâ—ond is commutative justice which respects honest proceedings in civill contracts and dealings Quest The duties of the Gospel-distributive justice being further various according as men have publick or private relations First what duties of justice are required of Christians as to their publick relations Answ. Such as the people ought to perform to the civil Magistrate and Spirituall Pastor and such as they ought to return to their people back again Quest What duties are required of a Christian by the Law of the Gospel to the Civil Magistrate Answ. To give to Caesar the things that are Caesars To yield obedience for Conscience sake To submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake and not to resist their power upon peril of damnation By all which a Christian stands obliged not to do nor consent to any act that may impair the honour safety estate or power of them that God hath set over him in Government Quest How may a Christian Magistrate live justly as to his Subjects Answ. By interesting his power in the maintenance of an holy Religion against all its opponents by a tender regard to their peace quiet enjoyment of their proprieties by taking care that Iustice be impartially distributed and that their Subjects be securely protected from enemies abroad and from the insolencies of unquiet spirits at home Quest What are the duties which justice requires to be paid to the spirituall Pastors of the Church Answ. To obey them in their spirituall guidances as having rule over us justly to pay to them their allowed carnalls from whom we have received spiritualls and to have them in esteem for their work and office sake Quest What is in this holy justice required of them to their cures Answ. Faithfully to feed the flock of Christ by life and Doctrine and in all parts of their offices to be ready to do and administer every thing that may conduce to their salvation alwayes expressing a greater care of their peoples souls then of their own advantages in their places Quest Thus if thou livest thou hast kept a good conscience and obeyed Christ as to thy publick relations What are now the duties that concern private relations where further distribitive justice is required of Christs disciples Answ. Such concern the Family that is the reciprocal duties of Husband and Wife Parent and Child Master and Servant Quest How do the Servants of Christ fulfill the righteousnesse of the Gospel as to the first relation Answ. When the Husband expresseth love respect tendernesse and sweet carriage to the wife living with her and providing for her when the wife gives meek submission reverence and tender love to him both together bearing with one anothers infirmities do live like good yoke-fellows in all religious exercises and imployments of their callings Quest How do Christians perform Gods will in just living as to the second relation Ans. When children honour and obey their Parents supporting their decayes and protecting them in their helplesse ages when Parents govern them by the rules of piety not discouraging nor provoking them by caustlesse anger and providing for them honest educations and callings and means of livelihood Quest How is the Gospel obeyed in the third relation Answ. When Servants conscionably perform their offices and labours as in the sight of God preserving their Masters interests and honour and when Masters endevour to keep them in Gods fear using them mercifully in their labours and restraints respecting their burthens and rewarding their faithfulnesse and toyls Quest O blessed State where Religion and Christian justice guids all interests and happy family where Christ rules But you said the Gospel also requires commutative justice in all bargains commerces and dealings whatsoever and what is that justice Answ. Not to make use of any mans
is thy goodnesse that I can still sing a song of praise for mercies when I might justly at this instant have been in sackcloth and ashes breaking my soule with sorrow for some great infelicity Especially my soul blesse the thee that my Redeemer liveth and that I still live capable of that redemption and have had another opportunity to sorrow for my sins in an hour of acceptance and am not desperately howling for them in a remediless eternity I praise thee for every portion of preventing and assisting grace for everie good thought desire and work I have done by the help of grace and for every comfort I have this day enjoyed They are thine O Lord thy Name be praised And now to the same protection that hath this day and all the dayes of my life preserved me I commit my soule and body and all that I have this night Lord cover me with the wings of thy power and fatherly mercies keep my soul in my integritie to thee and let me enjoy my natural rest as thy blessing free from all sad accidents and trouble through Iesus Christ my Saviour Amen Intercessions to be used both morning and evening which the supplicant may shorten by using an intercession of the lesser forms For the universal Church O Lord defend the borders and peace of thy whole Church from the invasion of the Turk and all other enemies abroad and from the great increases of Atheisme and ruining factions in its own bosom Direct all Christian Kings Princes and Magistrates to lay aside the interests of the world and to concurre sincerely to uphold the Kingdom of Christ Enlarge the borders of the Gospel that the nations that sit in darkness may see the great light of Christ and that the Iewes may be convinced to an acknowledgement of him Reduce all those to Christ that are departed from the faith bring into the way of truth all that have erred and are deceived and let all that profess the Name of Iesus agree in truth unitie and concord through Iesus Christ my Saviour Amen For the Churches of CRIST in these Nations O merciful Father bless the Churches planted in these Nations let them be precious in the eye of thy mercie and defend them with an especial protection Let them not have the reward of this peoples crying sins nor feel the effects of thy just deserved vengeance O disapppoint the designs of the enemies of their peace preserve a never-failing Ministerie to uphold thy wotship keep thine ordinances from contempt and though thine enemies have disturbed their peace and dishonoured their profession yet let them not have power totally to waste thy holy vineyard Let this poor people see their seducements that they may return from their follies and factions to serve thee with peace unitie and holy lives through the might of Iesus Christ Amen For the afflicted O most dear and gracious Lord who delightest in the exercises of mercie and art a strong tower for the distressed to flie unto I humbly beseech thee to give the comforts of thy countenance and ready help to all that are in distress and miserie Have mercie O Lord upon all that are now a dying assist their spirits in the difficulties of that hour Appear with comfort and peace to the soules that are oppressed with the heavie sense of their sins Raise up friends and supports for the desolate fatherless and diseonsolate widowes Pitie and help all prisoners captives and all that suffer banishment povertie and oppression hear their cries and help them Let these and all others that are in misery and heaviness find peace patience and contentmen in thee And grant that their light afflictions here through thy infinite mercies in Christ may be exchanged for an exceeding weight of glorie eternally hereafter for Iesus Christ his sake my Saviour Amen For Parents Look down O Lord with thy especial mercies upon my Parents and make them thy children by adoption and grace Accept of their repentance receive their prayers and assist them to do the will of Christ Comfort them in their ages and afflictions Teach them to number their daies and everie day to be providing for their departure in the peace of Christ Lord pardon all my acts of disobedience to them and give me an heart alwayes ready to honour obey and comfort them all their dayes through Iesus Christ my ever blessed Saviour Amen For Children O merciful Father as thou hast given me the blessing to have children born to me in the flesh so give them grace to be born to thee in the Spirit Make them true lovers of Thee and Religion and tender in the preservation of every circumstance of it Keep them in these common departures from the faith that they may not be seduced to errour and faction nor be betrayed by ill examples to prophaneness and Atheisme Let their estate in the world be neither too prosperous lest they forget thee nor too adverse lest they be discouraged let their educations and callings be honest and not subject to great temptations Lord make them just merciful sober and true followers of Christ in this world and partakers of his glories in the world to come through Iesus Christ my blessed Lord Amen Occasional PRAYERS A prayer to be used before the receiving the blessed Sacrament O Merciful Lord I being invited at this time to receive the blessed Sacrament to the performance of which I stand bound by my obedience to the Gospel and those many excellent ends for which it was ordained do humbly beseech thee to create in me a value esteem and desire of it proportionable to so great a blessing O make my soul hunger and thirst after my blessed Iesus and the excellent purposes of his death and passion which are communicated to me in that Sacrament Lord make me as willing to shew forth his death by this part of my Christian dutie as I would be to partake of the comfort of the same death to the salvation of my soul And then fit me with thy grace that I may be a worthy receiver of it Give me a beleeving penitent and charitable heart such as befits the entertainment of so great a guest especiallie give me grace to come with that reverence of soul and body that may signifie a discerning the Lords body And grant O Lord that the bread and wine that shall be blessed for me may spiritually become the communion of the Body and blood of Christ to the salvation of my soul through the same Iesus my blessed Saviour Amen In time of sicknesse Most merciful Father who hast pleased to visit me with sickness and to lay thine hand upon me make me to acknowledge my visitation to be an effect of thy particular and fatherly providence upon me that my soul may say thou of very faithfulness hast afflicted me Lord sanctifie it unto me and make me capable through thy grace of all those blessed ends which thou propoundest to thy self when thou correctest thy children