true piety thou art at the same time an enemy to charity For the promoting therefore true piety in young persons and comers in I have offered my endeavours in the ensuing Discourse That if this present Generation after all their cultivating should bring forth no fruit nor admit of any melioration yet the seedlings and young plants might draw in a more benigne juyce and shoot up and bring forth more and better fruits It is a general complaint that Relations prove so bad and indeed to find a man faithful in all Relations is to find a rare Jewel Nothing more honours God and the Gospel then when those that profess it live up to the duty commanded them in their Relations as nothing dishonours God more shames the Gospel ruines families then undutifulness and unfaithfulness in Relations No plainer proof of our sincerity in our Religion then this is Thou canst not be a good Christian if thou art not a good Child a good Servant a good Master or Mistris a good Subject a good Husband or Wife The same God that commands to be a good Christian commands thee to fill up the duties of the other also as he calls thee to them and one great cause of the neglect of these duties and the decay of them is the neglect of Catechizing in private families which till it be conscientiously practised all publick preaching and chatechizing will be the less successful Vpon whose account soever the neglect of this doth lie I am sure it will not be found light one day and one mans omitting his duty will be no excuse then for thy neglecting thine I have here offered a plain short Catechisme of the heads of second Table Duties I made choice of this Authour as one who lies liable as I know of to no exception the Catechism having been reprinted several times with good approbation and also because his answers are for the most part the words of Scripture pertinently quoted and applyed Vpon which account as the duties herein pressed come with more authority so the learner is accustomed to Scripture phrases and language for want of which and the unbounded libertie many give to their fancy we have so many uncouth wild extravagant and offensive expressions even in Religious performances Which however weak ones may account the height of devotion yet riper judgments and sober Christians know them to be nothing else but the statulency of fancy I exhort thee therefore Christian Reader to hold fast the form of sound words get thy heart stocked with sound knowledge and take heed of phraseologie in Religion which is a minting and coyning new expressions and differencing our selves from others by an affected stile or form of speaking and making people believe we have attained more light then others when as indeed when these notions come to be examined and weighed in the ballance of Truth they are worth no more then the trash and trumpery that the Cardinals Sumpter horses carried a story so well known it needs but naming And this is all will be found among the Enthusiasts of this Age the Behmenists Paracelsians Familists c. Thus I have in brief with plainness of heart given thee an account of this Work which I shall pray to God may be acceptable to his people and successfull to their spiritual edification in Knowledge Faith Love and obedience Amen Thine in the Lord Jos Church The Christians daily Monitor To the performance of personal and relative Duties c. §. 1. Of Humility HUmility is a foundation grace to encrease this grace compare thy self With the brute creatures that have onely sense yet they keep the Law of their Creation With the fallen Angels that sin only against Gods power thou sinnest against his Grace With thy self What thou shouldest have been if man had not fallen what thou art now by sin what thou mightest have been if thou hadst not neglected thy duty With others inferiour in means superiour in growth that have fewer mercies and more thankfulness With the Holy Angels who serve God chearfully readily sincerely fervently constantly With Jesus Christ Who was meek and lowly in heart who for our sakes humbled himself and was obedient to the death of the Cross and then thou wilt abhor thy self in dust and ashes §. 2. The best Physitian Christ our heavenly Physitian exceeds all earthly Physitians in seven things 1. He never leaves any work behind him for others 2. He never undertakes any cure but he finisheth it 3. He doth all freely without desert in us or reward from us 4. There is nothing in him but hath a healing vertue in it his eye his lips his hand his blood his garments c. 5. He cures Nations as well as Persons 6. He cures Death as well as Diseases 7. He alwayes makes his Patients the better not only after but by their sickness Oh! I am sick of sin Lord shew thy Art One touch of thine will break and heat my heart O rare Physician that shedst thy blood And givest thy life to do poor sinners good §. 3. Successfull begging The way to be heard in prayer and not to loose our labour is 1. To ask in faith Mark 11.24 that is believing God is able and willing to bestow good things on us 2. To ask in sincerity for right ends Jam. 4.3 3. To ask fervently as Jacob who wrestled with God and prevailed Gen. 32.28 4. Seasonably while the door is open Isa 55.6 Seek the Lord while he may be found 5. Constantly pray continually 1 Thes 5.17 or without ceasing 6. Patiently Psal 40.1 He that can pray to God withall this cost Is sure his labour never shall be lost Who asks in sound faith zeal fixt patience And season alwayes hath sure recompence Stay not at one or two or four or five But get all six and then be sure thou 'lt thrive §. 4. The Heavenly care From Dr. H. There are five things considerable in that Promise he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 There are five things considerable in that Promise he careth for you 1 Pet. 5.7 1. God cares for his people when they think he doth not 2. He so cares for them as he cares for none else comparatively 3. He cares for them when none else care for them 4. He cares for them when those that should care for them neglect them 5. He cares with others to bless their care and make it successfull Q. But must Gods Children cast off all care A. No they must use a care of prudence and providence a Godly care but they must take heed of worldly immoderate heart-breaking heart-corroding distrusting care Martha with many things distracts her mind Mary in one thing all content doth find Lord cure my cares that I thy word may hear Lord choose for me the troubles I shall bear §. 5. The Dutiful Aid God hath in wisdome so framed our bodies that one part cannot say to another I have no need of thee So it is in the Political
Reliligion Prov. 3.13 compared with 21.24 Qu. How must sleep be used An. Love it not least thou come to poverty Prov. 20.13 §. 2. The Magistrates Duty Quest What is the principal duty of the Magistrate An. To beautifie the house of God Ezra 7.27 a To advance True Religion and this belongs to all in Authority according to their place even from the King to the meanest Officer Qu. How must he carry himself among the people An. As a Minister of God for their good Rom. 13.4 Qu. How shall he procure it An. By being for the praise of them that do well and for the punishment of evil doers 1 Pet. 2.14 Qu. What kind of men are fit to be Magistrates An. Men of courage fearing God dealing truly and hating covetousness Exod. 81.21 §. 3. The Subjects Duty Qu. What is the Subjects duty An. To be subject for conscience-sake Rom. 13.5 b Knowing Magistracy to be Gods Ordinance Qu. What else An. To pray for Kings and all that are in Authority 1 Tim. 2.2 Qu. What besides Ans Not to curse the King so much as in a thought Eccl. 10.20 Qu. Is there any other duty An. We must not joyne our selves with them that are seditious Prov. 24.21 c These three last duties flow from the first subjection for Conscience-sake he that is so will pray will neither in heart curse nor in act rebell §. 4. The Ministers Duty Qu. What is the Ministers Duty An. To take heed to his Ministry that he hath received that he do fulfill it Col. 4.17 Qu. How may that be done An. Several wayes Qu. What is the first An. By watching continually over the flock Isa 62.9 Act. 20.28 Qu. What is the second An. By being diligent to know the state of his flock Prov. 27.23 d This Rule of Solemon may fitly applyed to this matter since every Minister is a Shepheard Qu. Why must he be carefull to know the state of his flock An. That he may pitty the ignorant admonish the unruly comfort the feeble minded bring again that was driven away Heb. 5.2 1 Thes 5.14 Ezek. 34.16 Quest What is the third An. By giving attendance to reading 1 Tim. 4.16 Qu. What is the fourth An. By not being entangled with the affairs of this life 2 Tim. 2.4 Qu. What is the fifth An. By being instant in preaching the Word 2 Tim. 4.2 and administring the Sacraments as occasion shall require Qu. What is the sixth An. By Catechising Gal. 6.6 Qu. How else An. By being an example to them that believe 1 Tim. 4.12 Qu. What is the punishment of a negligent Minister An. God will require the peoples blood at his hands Q. How many things are chiefly necessary for him that is to be a Minister An. Two First that he hold fast the Faithful Word Tit. 1.9 Secondly That he be able to exhort with wholesome Doctrine and convince them which gain-say it 1 Tit. 10. §. 5. The Peoples duty Qu. What is the peoples duty in regard of such a Minister An. The peoples duty hath five branches Qu. What is the first An. To obey and submit themselves Heb. 13.18 e To the soundness of Doctrine and power of Exhortation Qu. What is the second An. To have him in singular love â—nd to reverence him 1 Thes 5.13 Qu. What is the third An. To make him partakes of all â—heir goods Gal. 6.6 Qu. What is the fourth An. To pray for him that utterance may be given him that he may speak the word as it ought to be spoken Eph. 6.19 Col. 4.4 Qu. What is the filth An. To receice no accusation suddenly against him Tim. 5.19 f It was a direction given especially to Church-Rulers but may be applyed to private men Qu. Why must the people thus carry themselves to their Minister An. For three causes Qu. What is the first An. Because he worketh the Lords work 1 Cor. 16.10 Qu. What is the second An. Because he watches over their souls and must give an account thereof Heb. 13.17 Qu. What is the third An. Because otherwise he shall do his duty with grief which is unprofitable for the people Heb. 13.17 i The Lord seeing the grief of his soul will punish those that caused it §. 6. Houshold Duties Qu. What is the duty of the Master of a Family for matters of Religion An. To command his Children and and his houshold to keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18.19 k For this end he must have Religious Duties in his Family as Prayer Reading Catechising Holy Conference he must also bring them to the Ministry of the Word in the Publick Congregation Qu. What is his duty for outward things An. To make provision for those of his own Houshold 1 Tim. 5.8 Qu. What is the Wives duty in these things An. To be a help unto her husband Gen. 2.18 l Both in matters of Religion and in outward things Qu. What is the mans duty in regard of his Wife An. To dwel with her as a man of knowledge and to love her as his own body 1 Pet. 3.7 Eph. 5.28 Qu. What is the womans duty to her husband An. To submit her self to him as unto the Lord Eph. 5.22 Qu. How is that An. Willingly and chearfully in all lawful things Qu. What is his duty whom God hath made a Father An. To bring up his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6.4 Qu. What is the mothers duty Ans To nourish her Children and instruct them 1 Tim. 5.10 Prov. 31.1 Qu. What is the Masters duty in respect of his Servants (m) By Servants are meant those that are employed by us in our business whether they dwell with us or otherwise An. To do unto them that which is just and equall Col. 4.1 Qu. What is childrens duty to their Parents An. To obey them in the Lord Eph. 6.1 Qu. What is the reason to encourage them to it An. Fourfold Qu. What is the first An. Because it is right and equall Qu. What is the second An. It is well pleasing to God Col. 3.20 Qu. What is the third An. It is the first Commandment with promise Qu. What is the fourth An. That it may be well with them and they may live long in the Land Qu. What is Childrens duty to each other An. To see that they fall not out Gen. 45.24 Qu. What is the servants duty An. In singleness of heart and all good faithfulness to please their Masters yea though they be froward Ephesians 6.5 Titus 2.10 1 Pet. 2.18 §. 7. The Duty of single Persons Qu. What is required of Persons unmarried An. If they cannot abstain they must marry 1 Cor. 7.9 n It is a general Commandment appertaining to all sorts of men Qu. How must they marry An. Onely in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 o With Consent of Parents and with Care had of Religion §. 8. The Duty of Neighbours each to
THE Christians DAILY MONITOR To the performance of Personal and Relative Duties With a Resolution of some Cases of CONSCIENCE Published for the benefit of Young Persons By Joseph Church Together with so much of Mr. Samuel Hierons Catechisme as concerns second Table Duties LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the sign of the Bible upon London Bridge 1669. TO Mrs Elizabeth Papilion Eldest Daughter to Mr Thomas Papilion The Authour wishes increase of Grace and Peace THe intent of this Dedication is not to tell the World how hopefull and towardly a Child you are but partly for mine own sake to testifie my sense of those many kindnesses I have received from your Parents which I cannot see any possibility I should ever require and the least I can do is to acknowledg Lowâ— Parents do accept from a poor hand a small kindness that is shewed to their Children Even God himself our Heavenly Father because our goodness extends not to him accepts of what we do to his Children and because my thankfulness cannot ascend I was willing that it should descend ever judging it a true principle If I cannot do the good I would to do what good I can But for your sakes also do I Dedicate this small Book to you 1. To lay an obligation upon you to answer the means you enjoy in a good education that the prayers pains and cost your Parents are at with you may not be lost 2. That you might have a Daily Monitor of your Duty to God and Man You are not sure to have Father or Mother alwayes with you or Ministers but these things if they sink into your heart will abide with you to comfort and counsel you I do therefore exhort you to a frequent and serious râ—â—ding of them with prayer unto God that they may be blessed to you and if no other should gain by them yet if you do I shall not altogether repent my pains But if others should gain by them and you not you and I both shall have cause of grief and shame Pardon my plainness with you I speak not this as distrusting the Grace of God in you which I pray may grow up with you more and more and abound in you but as one I love in the Lord to warn you and admonish you that you may not begin in the spirit and end in the flesh Some of these things you have heard discoursed to you and some of them in publick and there are some that I have collected from others which owe nothing to me but the meer order and form of them of which I have given an account by prefixing the two first letters of their names I know you have many other usefull and spiritual Books by you let not this take you off from them nor them or this make you neglect the reading of the Scriptures and the orderly reading of them according to an example you have daily before your eyes For all other Books are written to give light to the Scripture and to stir us up to the practise of those duties there laid down I shall trouble you no further now but commend you and this Treatise to the blessing of the Almighty And Rest Your Souls and your Faiths Servant in the Lords Work Jos Church TO THE READER Christian Reader IT was not because the World needed Books that I appear in Print or if it did there are blessed be God enough others more able and fit to supply its wants But one great inducemâ—nt to me to Print was the need I stood in of the Press to ease me of the labour of transcribing these things for my own near Relations and Friends and were there not a kind of necessity of multiplying the number of Copies beyond what would have served my particular occasion to any one will make use of that ingenious Invention of Printing I could very well have been contented to have been consined within the limits forementioned I would intreat thee therefore to consider that these things were first written and laid together for the private use and benefit of some young persons And my touching upon so many subjects and with brevity was with respect to that age for variety and brevity do most please them and if any think by brevity I am guilty of obscurity let it put them upon meditation and beating things out in their own thoughts or else enquiry of others what such a thing means before they condemn me But I am not conscious to my self of that crime for though I have endeavoured to speak pertinently and shortly yet I have also done it plainly I have ventured at some cases of conscience which I observed did frequently occur among sober good Christians not that I think my self able for that kind of divinity but if by any means I might provoke some of my able Brethren to travel in that so much wanted and desired work of Casuistical Divinity And if I have not wrote what may give full satisfaction yet I hope I have taken the safe way and said that may stay the violence of the distress if rightly applyed till they meet with that interpreter of a thousand that shall speak a word in season to him that is weary I am very sensible that whosoever doth appear in Print layes himself open to the lash of every mans tongue Some will criticize some will censure others will deride and scorn but all these shall hurt themselves more then me I do not expect better measure then those that were far my betters had before me and have at this day It is vastly more comfortable to have a mans words and name reproached innocently then to censure and wrest proudly and uncharitably what is well meant and upon examination will be found well-spoken if it be but well taken To please all is impossible to please men in their sins is wicked and to please good men in these dayes wherein there is such a consumption of charity is very difficult As for those that are learned if any such should stoop so low as to peruse these things it may be if they find no beams of light they may find some sparks of fire to kindle their affections and to beget some ardour and fervency of desire to add to their knowledge practise as for any other fire of contention and strife I trust they shall find none I should think the worse of my self as long as I live if I should be really guilty of that O that we could all avoid studium partium the espousing particular opinions and interests and labour after an universal charity to all that love our Lord Jesus Christ and silence our own private sentiments which might cause a publick disturbance which we must not expect till we see more piety For the Schooles have long ago told us Rivulus charitatis oritur ex foâ—â—e pietatis That the stream of charity to our Brother comes from the fountain of piety towards God If therefore thou art an â—nâ—my to
keeping us from sin for Sorrow follows sin as the shadow doth the body 3. It preserves from lying and continuing in sin he that observes this order if he falls in the day through infirmity he rises the same day by repentance and evens his recknings with God through the mediation of Jesus Christ 4. It will keep us from foul and heynous sins from conscience-wasting sins which a man falls not ordinarily into but by degrees lessening his care and remitting in his duty as we see in David and Solomon The observing this daily order stops the disease in the beginning quenches the fire in the spark kills the Serpent in the Egg. 5. It makes a mans life very comfortable and joyfull The more carefully and constantly a man walks with God the more peace and joy he will find and retain By this means we shall be more fit for holy duties and to perform them in a right manner hereby we shal the more easily prepare our selves for a holy Communion By this way also we shall with more success manage our spiritual Conflict even to triumph over Satan Hereby we shall realize the profession of Religion we have been so solemnly dedicated to in our baptism Lastly hereby we are fit to live in all times and thus living we shall be fit to dye What need he that hath thus orderly walked with God fear Death since he knows he goes to that God with whom he is at peace §. 12. A Direction to Christians how to carry themselves in Evil dayes especially in in times of fear and danger 1. It highly concerns every man to examine and prove himself whether he be in the Faith or no how the case stands between God and him Lam. 3.40 Hag. 1.5 If we will not try our selves we shall be tryed and wo unto us if we be found too light 2. We should be every day weaning our hearts from the world Things that hang on a pin easily fall off but things that are glued are hardly severed inordinate love to any worldly thing makes the cross ten times heavier and it is like a heavy burthen on a sore back Let not thy heart so cleave to these things that judgements should rend and tear them from thee but let thy affections be so mortified that they may fall off easily as Elijahs mantle when he went up to Heaven 3. Be twice as much exercised in Religious Duties as before When Judas was plotting Christ went to the Passover When Haman was revelling Esther with her Maids were praying It is good to be well employed when God is riding circuit in his judgements Blessed is that Servant who when his Lord comes is found so doing 4. Labour to keep a good Conscience that though thou hast trouble without thou mayest have peace within No comfort like a good conscience it is a continual feast it is like that good Woman Prov. 31.12 It will do thee good and not evil all thy dayes no torment like a bad one for it is like that evil Woman Prov. 19.13 that is a continual dropping but drops fastest in a rainy day 5. Inure thy self to some hardiness Delicate persons can hardly suffer Soft flesh if it be pinched soon swells They that know not how to lay aside their fashions how will they endure the want of the necessities of Nature We should therefore deny our selves somewhat in meat drink and apparel and pleasures and abase our selves least the Lord abase us 6. Make sure of the favour of God It will be very sad to have God and man against us both at once The wrath of a King is like the roaring of a Lion But who knows the power of Gods anger 7. Make much of the Promises and get them in thy heart and labour to have them in a readiness upon all occasions Thy word saith David hath comforted me in my affliction God uses more words in promises then in any dispensation of his will when he threatens he speaks shortly when he promises he speaks largely 8. Get into thy heart the sound and experimental knowledge of the Truth and a fervent love to it It is the truth that thou art like to suffer for and a man can never suffer for that he doth not know much less for that he doth not love 9. Labour to better thy Knowledge in the Doctrine of Afflictions to know the nature usefulness end of them how to judge rightly of them how to bear them how to improve them fix in thy mind such things as these There is no Son of God without Chastisement That no Affliction comes but by the will of God That by Afflictions we are made both serviceable and conformable to Christ That all troubles losses strokes are proportioned to our strength that they all are for our profit and good the more we believe these things the more comfortable and couragious we shall be in evil dayes 10. Christians should by holy confeâ—â—nce edifie and comfort one another Mal. 3.16 They should improve the communion of Saints for instructing strengthning encouraging one another 11. Meditate often of the attributes of God the former experiences of Gods dealing with his people and the joyes of heaven and the reward is set before us as Christ did Heb. 12.1 as Moses did Heb. 11.27 and Paul Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 12. Spare no sin unmortified Entertain no Dalilah no Herodias for in an evil day it will work more woe and bitterness then we are aware of It will fill thee with tormenting fears and racking doubts One fire-ball will burn thy house one sin unrepented of will burn thy soul Do not hide iniquity in thy heart when God is making inquisition for it 13. In an evil time the prudent shoulâ— keep silence There is a time to speak and a time to be silent Many times ouâ— speaking dishonours God gratifies enemies discovers corruption discredits religion endangers our persons Wâ— should therefore pray to God to set watch before our lips especially in evâ—â— times and endeavour our words may be few true and spiritual 14. But we must not be silent as tâ— God in ceasing to pray unto him for iâ— is his Command Call upon me in the day of trouble and he expects wheâ— his chastning is upon us we should pouâ— out our prayer unto him and that iâ— affliction we should seek him early thaâ— we should pray oftner and better The nearer Christ came to his suffering the more earnestly he prayed Go then and enter into thy Chamber and shut thy door Get under the wings of the Almighty and say with David Thou art my hiding place Psal 32.7 I fly unto thee Lord to hide me Psal 143.9 15. With other exercises of piety joyn â—harity exercise mercy forgive thy â—nemies be reconciled to thy brethren â—isit the sick and imprisoned plead the â—ause of the widow give a portion to even and also to eight for thou knowâ—st not what evil shall be upon the earth â—ccles 11.2 Therefore saith the Coâ—â—tous heart