above the Starry Sky In Joys to live which ne'er was seen by Eye So now what Christ commands you must obey Thanking Infinite Goodness that you may So happy be Faith being the first Command That is enjoyned see to it then you stand 8 Behold Mankind now posting down apace And can of nothing boast but Love and Grace Which God has freely set before his Face So needs must he on his dear Word relie And willingly obey it till he dye If he would live the Life he must believe The Bible is God's Word and must receive It all for Truth Testament Old and New God cannot lye 't was given us all for true Let 's then perform what 's there injoyn'd throughout And not dispute omit nor yet to doubt But with such Sorrow for our Faults Repent Bathing in Tears even till our Life is spent 9. For if we Sin and after don't repent But at our black Ingratitude relent The Threatnings of God's Book do aim at all Whâ—ch by Transgressions oftentimes do fall The Great shall have their due as well as Small God promising to those that do obey Glorious Rewards and can you thâ—nk that they Which disregard his Threatnings shall be Partakers of the same Felicity If th' promise you expect then hâ—s Threats â—ear A Faith in both begets true Love and Fear For whilst with a firm Faâ—th a Man believes The Promises and dreadful Threats he gives He will not dare to Sin but rather chuse To hope in God and Sin and Vice refuse 10. Love is an innate Duty which we owe To God from whom all Goodness now do flow Being so good so merciful and kind So apt to pardon ought he not to find Returns of Love He that with Love began Should he not have returns of Love from Man Yes it s a Duty which we ought to pay With all our Hearts to him and not say nay Making't our business and our whole imploy If that we would that blessed Place enjoy 11. A Second Duty which to him we owe Is filial Fear which we must bestow Let this our daily care lest we offend Be to commit no Sin at Man's command But let God's Fear the fear of Man withstand 12. You must relie on God and in him trust Being both knowing powerful good and just If Dangers threaten or Temptations smile Hope still in him and let them not beguile But to your utmost power their force resist Then God will with his Grace and Strength resist And in all Troubles which you shall be in To be deliver'd must not act one Sin 13. Endeavours use lawful in case of want If that woun't do no doubt but God will grant His Spirit to assist if strength you want In all Affairs observe a moderate Care And second thy Endeavours still with Prayer And for support God will then nothing spare CHAP. III. 1. The Duty of Humility 2. The Fruits of it 3. The Duty of Honour to God 4. Of Baptism 5. Of the Covenant 1. HVmility is another Duty Which is any Christians chiefest Beauty Without which Grace the greatest cannot be So happy here or in Eternity And that Humility is a true Sense Of our own weakness and God's Excellence 2. The thoughts of which should make us more submiâ—â— And fearful how we act or think amiss 'T will keep us from Conceit both vain and proud Of our own Works and not cry out aloud Making us patient till our God should please To lay aside his Rod and give us ease Making us thankful for his Chastisement And under every Providence content When it has these Effects then all may be Assur'd that they have true Humility For without it none can a Christian be As to partake of true Felicity 3. Honour to God with Tongue 's an other due Which we must give with Hearts and Hands most true At all times in his Church and on his Day In every Time and Act and Place and Way By Learning Reading following God's words And practising the Rules which it affords By Catechizing of the Ignorant As Servants Children and all such as want Instructing them to live in the true fear Of God taking them with you when you hear Sermons making them practise what they 'r taught That when they come from Church they be not naught 4. Inform your selves be sure of the Intent Of Baptism and the other Sacrament They being Covenants of God's free Grace Between himself and Adam's sinful Race Wherein he promises to pardon Sin And all the Trespasses we have been in To sanctifie us and at last to save Our Souls from Hell and raise us from the Grave And on condition to Eternal Life If Faith in Christ we use with holy strife With true Repentance and all Submission Of three things promised to have Fruition If th' Remnant of our Days we truly do That we promised solemnly and vow At Baptism to renounce Flesh World Devil Th' Articles to believe t' abstain from Evil The days to come and that with all our heart If we expect God to perform his part CHAP. IV. 1. Of the Lord's Supper 2. Examination before 3. Humility Repentance and Confession 4. Faith and Charity 5. Thanks 1. 'T IS every Christians Duty to receive The Sacrament to strengthen his belief That oftentimes the Death of his dear Lord He calls to mind even that which ' tdoth afford That purchas'd and also to renew The Covenant between the Lord and you In Baptism by Proxies but at Age You promise for your self so must ingage That Promise to perform lest for fear Even at the Lord's Supper you should appear To come unworthily with no intent That 's good for to receive that Sacrament 2. Therefore before you ' proach the holy place Examine well your self and know your case What Sins are unrepented of and what You have committed or may have forgot 3. For there you must confess both great and small And bending Knee be sorry for 'em all With grief for having forfeited your Word In all Humility before your Lord And then resolve a better Life to live For time to come and against Sin to strive 4. Having so done you firmly may believe Your Sins then pardoned and so receive The blessed Bread and Wine even with all Love To Men on Earth and to your God Above That Bread and Wine are symbols of his Blood And Body which he gave when here he stood These all must receive often and not some And must be so doing e'en till he come Which is but the performing of his Will Which till his Coming is our Duty still 5. Having received let 's thank God that permits Us to partake of such rich benefits CHAP. V. 1. Honour to God's Name 2. Worship 3 Prayer 4. Confession to him c. 1. THere 's always Honour due to God's great Name Which thou must not by Word or Thought prophane By Swearing falsly or by needless Oaths His Name prophane and on Mankind impose When Passions boyl and
sometimes Men do hear And makes them by a dismal Fate appear 3. What e'er thy Neighbour feels his very Sorrow Will eccho out thy Guilt e'en to Morrow 4. But if in Anger thou with Blows him treat Or bitter Slandering Words him worser greet If Hatred in thy Heart thou dost conceive Against him thy Duties then to grieve And make amends for what thou 'st done amiss Or else be sure God will thee never Bliss 5. See that Adultery thou ne'er commit Nor with untamed Lust to burn for it Will Body unto ruin bring and Mind The most part here or else be sure to find Them both reserv'd for a more dismal place Eternally to Burn in a sad case 6. Spoil not nor Covet Goods of any Man For such Extortion and Oppression can And will thee to that dismal Hell-pit damn 7. Much less may'st thou apply thy Hand to Steal Or keep back Servants Wages they 'll appeal To God for Justice do not then with-hold Anothers Right but pay th' Indebted Gold 8. Thou must not take by Violence nor Rob Thy Neighbour tho' some think it 's a good job It is Injustice what 's not thine to take Or Stolen Goods to buy or profit make Of such you know use no Deceit or Sleight In any Trust in Measure or in Weight 9. Sell not thy Bad for Good nor over-rate Thy Goods to Ignorants but rather bate Such silly Souls which know not how to buy Often deceived are by gainful Lye Of Necessity don't advantage make For what you get by that will make you quake At last for always such unlawful ways Will make you then for ever Curse the days 10. But if tho' art Guilty be sure to restore What Goods thou took unjustly heretofore Or else such unfair Deeds will prove much more Intollerable being put upon thy Score Granting the Person that you have wrong'd be dead What then the Justice is not with him fled You are alive and must the Wrong repair By making Restitution to his Heir But if t' a Multitude you 've done wrong And can't Recompence in such a throng Or Restitution to that Man so render Because you can't justly it remember Who you 've wrong'd this or that man therefore In such a case as that you must restore What was unjustly got unto the Poor To the full value of what e'er you took Or else for Pardon you in vain may look But if with Dives you your Conscience sell There will be no Repentance but in Hell Then all in vain th' abundance and the Pence Can not so much as ease for one poor Sense Procure for his loud Cries were all in vain For to procure Relief or end of Pain 'T is true the Man that 's wronged may if he please Forgive yea and discharge you with much ease CHAP. IX 1. Not to Defame 2. Not to bear False Witness 3. Nor despise 4. Nor Censure 5. Nor bear Ill-will 6. Nor Envy 7. How to make Reparation of those Offences 8. Nor Lye 9. What Behaviour 10. Respect to Betters 11. Duties to such as are in Want 12. Thankfulness to others 1. YOu must not lessen any Man's good Name By False Reports tho' h'may deserve the same Do not too hastily Credit give nor blame And be not over-forward of the Fame Tho' ill of him thou may'st for certain know Yet he as much of thee may hear Be slow Therefore to think him Guilty or yet tell His Failings tho' thou know'st them ne'er so well 2. Do not Backbite Rail or False Witness bear Tho' thou of him may Truth with Falshood hear 3. Despise not any tho' he 's very Poor Deformed or Foolish Begging at thy Door Nor yet because he is perhaps Prophane That 's not the way him then for to reclaim 4. Do no Man judge for if you do there 's still A Judgment just on you at last pass will 5. Wish not thy Brother evil in Estate Or Person neither in thy Heart him Hate But if some Evil to them both befal Express no Satisfaction in 't at all But if to him any such Harm do hap Then with Moses stand in and stop the Gap 6. Nor thou by spightful Wishes oughtest more To pine and envy't his abounding store 7. But if you Guilty be of some or all By causing his Credit thereby to fall By Slander Railing or by ill report Unto the Injur'd Party then resort Begging his Pardon if you can restore To him the same Good Name he had before 8. The Truth profess be sure to tell no Lye Tho' thou sure wer 't to get the World thereby Use gentle Courtesie to all and then Thou shalt be sure to have the Praise of Men. 9. Rail not at Railers nor seem Proud to be It 's odious both for God and Man to see Such Quarrelers with Brawling to begin Nor in thy Heart curse or revile thy King For Christ and his Apostles taught us all That we should for all Mankind mercy call So having taught and likewise practised thus Let Precept or Example work on us That we with them may always happy be In Joys so good to all Eternity 10. Your Betters reverence of great Renown For Piety whether in Cloak or Gown Or Eminence being of Sense or Fame Of Learning Wealth do not spoil their good Name To all that want afford a kind Supply According to thy best Ability If they want Knowledge give them what thou hast Thou mayst Communicate and yet not waste Thy Stock If Comfort give them what Relief Thou canst of hope t' asswage their present Grief If they want Reputation try to clear Their Credit and to make the best appear If 't is Money they ask what thou can'st spare Bestow they 'l pay thee back again in Pray'r 12. To all that doth thee good thou thankful must Be by putting up Prayers to God the just For them which thee admonished has of Sin Which thou perhaps had Headlong fallen in Or which thee kind Advice so often gave Thy self to God and Man as to behave Upon thy dreadful Journey to the Grave Be thankful then and ready to advise Another who is than thy Self less wise CHAP. X. 1. To the King 2. To Ministers 3. To Natural Parents 4. Parents Duty to their Children 5. Concerning Marriage c. 1. HOnour the King obeying His Commands And Tribute due pay thou with thine own Hands But if he doth command a Sinful Thing See God that thou obey and not the King 2. Have for Good Ministers a due respect Namely those which the Church and State protect Contribute to their Maintenance what 's fit Even all that 's due spare not to give one bit Pray for them that they no False Doctrine may Deliver but God's just Commands obey Such as they teach you follow in thy way Don't as they do but do still as they say 3. Honour thy Parents with such tender Love Being Submissive when they thee Reprove With Reverence and Thanks take their Advice For by
THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN In all his Stages in a plain and familiar Heroick Verse with Variety of Cuts proper to the several Chapters thereof c. By W. Beck M. A. Fitted for the Pleasure and Benefit of YOUTH London Printed and Sold by J. Bradford in Little Britain ADVERTISEMENTS BOOKS Printed and Sold by J. Bradford 1. YOuth's Travels Or The Vanity of Mans Age. Represented in Seven several Stages thereof from his Birth to his Death With variety of Pictures exposing the Vanities and Follies of this Age. By A. F. Price Two-Pence 2. A Mirror for Atheists wherein they may plainly see their Prodigious Follies Vast Extravagancies Notorious Impieties and Absurdities containing a compendious account of the egregious vicious Life and Eminently and Sincerely Penitent Death of John Earl of Rochester Wherein is briefly receited his Disputes and Arguments against God and Religion as the same were used at several Meetings Also the manner of his wonderful Conversion and his Godly Expressions during his Last Sickness Abstracted from the Remarks of the Right Reverend Dr. Gilbert Burnet Price Sticht in Blue Paper Two Pence 3. The Father's Blessing Penn'd for the Instruction of his Children With a Paraphrase upon the Lord's Prayer With Motives to Prayer By William Jole Minister of Sarrat in Hartfordshire Price Two-Pence 4. A Choice Drop of Honey from the Rock Christ Or a short Word of Advice to all Christians in order to a thorough Reformation Price stitcht Two Pence 5. The Triumph of Faith manifested to the World Or Abrahâ—m offering up his Son Isaac as a sweet Burning Sacrifice upon Mount Moriah to the Lord. Being a Dialogue between Abraham Isaac and the Angel that staved his Hand from Execution With a large Cut to it Price One Penny 6. A Dialogue between a Blind Man and Death By Richard Standfast late Minister of Christ-Church in the City of Bristol Also the Great Assize or Christs Certain and Sudden Appearance to Judgment Price 1. d. 7. The Grand Question Resolved What we must do to be Saved Being Instructions for a Holy Life By Dr. Burnet Price Sticht Two Pence THE Whole Duty OF MAN In all his Stages in a plain and Familiar Heroick Verse With Variety of Cuts proper to the several Chapters thereof With several Private Prayers and Thanksgivings annexed to it both for the Pleasure and Benefit of Youth By W. Beck M. A. Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the Way he should go and when he is Old he will not depart from it LONDON Printed and Sold by J. Bradford in Little Britain the Corner House right against the Pump 1700. A PREFACE To the Good and Honourable But more Particularly The Courteous READER SInce this Renowned Book has been by some in part impeâ—fectly turned into Lyrick or Jambeck Verse so that I thought it necessary to give you it compleat iâ— Heroick And seeing every Body now adays haâ— an Inclination either to Read or Write Verses and some by an unhappy Skill that way taking the advantage of the general humour have exercised their abused parts in the recommending of Vice with all the flourish of Wit adding to the natural propensity to sin the sweet taking Seducements of Poetry but since the Contagion rather spreads than decreases and because it becomes me to hope that many rather love the Vice for the sake of the Verse than the Verse for the sake of Sin Therefore I thought it not unworthy the Character of a Christian nor besides my duty as such for the Reformation of Manners in Youth to make and humbly present you with this little Version of The Whole Duty of Man in a plain and familier dress to be got by Heart by the Ignorant being divided into Thirteen Chapters one quarter of which being learned every Sunday the Whole in one Year may be compassed And it is measured out in Verse only to make it go down the smoothlier and stick the better upon the Memory for as Verse has been a great occasion of the breach of most Duties contained herein and a means of drawing too many from performance so I hope this may and will be as prevalent for the reclaiming as many since according to the Poet A Verse may find him whom a Sermon flies And turn Delight into a Sacrifice So if all Dignity and Renown and Parts and Vnderstanding of Birth and Fortune would but freely and conspicuously offer themselves for Patterns of Education and Conversation they must and would undoubtedly entice and make others to be good and the Honour of our Religion would soon be retrieved and brought again into Credit and our Off-spring be as promising and hopeful as our deceased and much Lamented Duke But since that there are too many Proud Covetous and Malicious Pluralists and also incroaching and intruding Vnnaturalized Foreigners which having ingrossed the Inheritance being more for the Fleece than the Flock Lording over it So that I as well as others in this Iron Age having nothing to support us but a feeble Quill are almost ready to be Interred in the Ruins of a low Fortune yet being desirous of giving a publick Testimony of the value I have for all that are good and more particularly for you which soars above the rest being unbyassed by the Customary Opinion of the World and so far from believing any to be undeserving because unfortunate that their very Indigency in a great measure entitules them to your Protection So humbly beseeching to accept of my weak Endeavours Prayers and Good Wishes in reliance â—n your Goodness I assume the boldness to subscribe my Self Your most Humble and Devoted Servant Will. Beck ADVERTISEMENT THe Author being Master of Arts of a long standing now either at his Lodgings at the Kings-Head and Grammar-School in Jermain-street St. James's or at any one 's own House if desired doth and will in a few Years exactly tho' not pedantickly teach Young Ladies and Gentlemen the Tongues and Sciences he having lately contrived and made a Compendious yet exact English Accidence Grammar and Rhetorick c. By which any of an ordinary capacity with the Author's assistance without a Miracle in a few Months may learn that which is so much wanting and desired to accomplish Ladies viz. to Write True English and good Sense either with or without the Latin Tongue The Accidence he promises God willing to publish the beginning of the New Year But the other will be dictated only to those that can write to be got by Heart against the next Day THE Whole Duty of Man c. CHAPTER I. 1. The Necessity of caring for the Soul 2. The Worth of the Soul 3. The Misery of the Soul 4. The danger of the Loss of the Soul 1. THE chief Intent of this Book is to show Those things which each Person is now to do Being in as plain and familiar way That Old and Young should never go astray And in the end of all most happy be And from Eternal Burnings then set free
So to be happy let all Mankind strive To run the Race of Vertue whilst alive And practise only what 's herein laid down That after Death he may receive the Crown That 's glorious and of immortal weight Which God doth give to those that lives the height Of this their Duty and likewise do run The Race before them that is now begun 2. How noble also is the Soul of Man He ought therefore to take what care he can Of it being so precious and so dear Seeing God's lovely Image it does bear He breathing into Man the Breath of Life Which must endure in spight of Satan's Strife Being so good so pure and excellent It must remain when Ages all are spent So like to God it is being made to be Blessed with him to all Eternity Why do we then such noble Souls defile As with the splendor of this World beguile And with all foul and sad polluted Sin Let e'en the dreadful'st Foes to enter in Pray then slight Worldly Wealth and Honours too And Satan's gilded Baits which will undo 3. How many Men now stand in greatest fear Of keeping and of losing Treasure here Which will not spare to be at any Charges To keep a float these their crazy Barges For if an Eye or any part endure Aching or Pain they streight seek for a Cure As first to know the Cause of the Disease And then what things can Cure or give them ease But why should any take so great a carâ— Of Body more than of his Soul most dear Which is of purer Essence and by Birth Innocent but the other 's from the Earth Base and corrupt whose Loss some more condole Here then the better part their precious Soul Which never can fade perish or decay Tho' Satan it invade 't will force its way But who can dwell in that Eternal Fire Where is not granted them the least Desire Either of asswaging present pain or grief Or any to come to for their relief But there to languish and therein to lie And burn in Flames to all Eternity And since we can't one Spark of Fire endure Should on our tender Bodies lie be sure W 'had better to our God betimes return Than evermore in scorching Flames to burn 4. The World the Flesh and Devil all do strive Poor Man of Happiness for to deprive Oh then let all call on that mighty Power For Grace strength ' gainst those which would devour Their precious Souls and let them always stand Fast whiles Breath obeying God's just command For he has always promised to those Which keep'm and on Providence repose To give them that good thing which they have chose Then for your holy help learn and read o'er This foll'wing Book your Sins for to disco'er And practise to be happy for your part The whole which done to others it impart For Verse may find him whom a Sermon flies And turn delight into a Sacrifice And make him open tho' h' has shut his Eyes CHAP. II. 1. Of the Light of Nature and 2. by the Light of the Scriptures wherein three great Branches of our Duty 's contained 1. To God as the belief of his Being 2. Of the Trinity 3. God's Attributes 4. The Immortality and Worth of the Soul 5. Of the Resurrection and future state 6. Of God's Commands 7. Faith in Christ 8. In the Holy Scriptures 9. In the Threatnings and Promises there 10. The Duty of Love to God 11. Of Fear to God 12 Of trust in God 13. Of Care 1. THe Light of Nature doth us plainly tell Not to do things which leads us down to Hell So let the Heathens now Examples be Which use the Moral Law yea more than we 2. But since the Light of Scripture doth exceed That Light as Christians we do always need Whose Precept's good if they be well applyed Will fill the Soul with Heavenly Food beside And it to Heaven will most surely guide Tho' Christ has to Mankind purchased Heaven and Happiness yet there is need Of something on our part still to be done Before that conquer'd Country be our own Or e'er we can that highest Bliss attain And tast the Comforts there and there remain For Prophets and Apostles do command Us to live Godly and t' our Promise stand Our Duty to perform to God and Man To be as just and right'ous as we can 1. Would we be saved then we must believe There is a God did all things being give That made the World and stretched out the Sky That 's a Spirit infinite Almighty Tho' Persons Three yet n'other God but one Since all Perfection is in him alone 2. Believe you must the blessed Trinity That in the Godhead there are Persons three The eternal Son and Holy Ghost Who made redeemed saved what Sin had lost 3. That God's gracious a Spirit just and wise Too pure and holy for our mortal Eyes To view all things ruling by h's Providence Is every where knowing the inmost sense Of every Heart and secret Thoughts of Men Yea more and better than any of them 4. Believe you must a Soul within your Breast There is which will be miserable or blest That after this Life will for ever last Then endless Sorrows or such Joys must tast In t'other World while we are in this Nothing of more value w'have than 't is Therefore it is our Duty whilst we re here To make Salvation still our chiefest care 5. For why our Bodies must not always rot In this dull Earth as things by God forgot No no be sure they all again must rise And see as Job saith with these very Eyes At the Last Judgment then the trembling Soul And Body shall be saved or perish whole For from Hell's Furnace there 'll be no return They which go there must then for ever burn Now then attend consider well the case As to avoid the Torments of that place By Faith it must be done with fervent Love To Christ which by our Actions you must prove 6. If Happy you would be there 's no'ther way Than to Love God and his Commands obey And to do these 't is fitting that you know What his Wâ—ll is which now remains to show Now the first Cause of all our Misery Was Adam's Sin for which he was to dye And aâ—l his Off-spring but th' exceeding love Of Christ did interpose and Death remove He on himself our Condemnation took Discharged all Debt and crossed the fatal Book So now if you 'l Repent and so but yield Sin to forsake you 'l have your Pardon seal'd 7. If you be but sincere and do relie On Christ by Faith who for all Sins did dye This do you must or else that weighty guilt Of Adam all your own and Christ's Blood spilt Will sink you but the lower into Hell In Everlasting Torments for to dwell For Christs the only Person that can can save Your Soul from th' second Death so as to have A place yea far