and spirituall obseruation of the Sabbath wherevnto as one maine branch of piety in those times put for the whole the Iewes were inuited by promise of rich reward from God ISAI 58. 13 If thou turne away thy foot froÌ„ the Sabbath that is as the words following shew from prophaning it whereto by corrupt nature all are carried from doing thy will on my holy day and shalt call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honorable and shalt honour him not doing thine owne wayes nor seeking thine owne pleasure nor speaking thine owne words 14 Then shalt thou delight thy selfe in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride vpon the high places of the earth and feede thee with the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Some haue sought to antiquate and quite abolish now vnder the Gospell the authority of the fourth Commaundement as the Papists in their Catechismes expunge the second And Athiests and Blasphemers would as gladly haue the first and third â—azed out But both the deuotion and doctrine of our Church still directing vs to our ten Comandements * The same which God spake in Exod. 20. As see â—n our Church Catechisme and booke of Common Prayer viz in the Communion ministration of Baptisme and in particular to this * In the Homily of the time and place of Prayer sober minded Christians ought and will haue a due respect therâ—unto and as we celebrate in steede of the passeouer the Eucharist as the new Sâ—crament of the Gospell called for distinction from the former by St. Paul the a 1 Cor. 11.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lords Supper So likewise to obserue in place of the Sabbath this first day of the weeke as our Christian Sabbath and sanctified day of rest for holy worship called for like distinction by Saint Iohn b Reu. 1.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords day In which as that blessed Apostle then in banishment was rauished in the spirit and saw heauenly visions and reuelations So should we also labour who haue receiued the spirit to be in what we may that day wholy spirituall and heauenly minded so withdrawing our mindes and hearts as farre as wee are able except in cases of more vrgent necessities from all distracting whatsoeuer businesses or delights as that wee deuote our selues and be wholy taken vp in publique more priuate seruices of Gods holy worship Psa 92.1 2 heauâ—nly contemplations and workes of Christian charity as in an holy festiuall of reioycing before the Lord. Of which particulars so much hauing been written In the Homily fore-alledged of the time place of prayer and in the Practise of Pietie c. Exod. 20.8 Nehe. 13.22 I spare to adde more but onely exhort that without either superstition or prophanenesse wee so remember before hand to prepare for it euer when it commeth as God would haue vs to keepe it holy that God may remember vs in mercy and we receiue the blessing And thus also briefely for the obseruation of the Lords day the more solemne Christian Sabbath or day of holy rest T. NExt for direction touching Charitie that common and perpetuall Debt of Christians Rom. 13 8 1 Pet. 1 22. Rom. 12.10 owed generally to all but with tender and brotherly affection to true Beleeuers professing and giuing proofe of their precious Faith and walking in Truth which St. Paul termeth the More excellent way 1 Cor. 12.31 Col. 31 4 Rom. 13.10 Ephes 4.4 Ioh. 13.34 Vers 35. the Bond of perfectnesse and fulfilling of the Law tying vs thereto by so many bondes which our Sauiour himself stileth his New Commandement maketh knowne as the chiefe cognizance of his Disciples take notice of the fifteene properties hereof set downe 1 COR. 13. 4 CHARITIE or Loue suffereth long and is kinde or bountifull Charity enuieth not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 charitie vaunteth not it selte or is not thwarting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or doing frowardly it is not puffed vp 5 It doth not behaue it selfe vnseemely it seeketh not her owne things it is not easily prouoked it thinketh none euill 6 It reioyceth not in iniquity but reioyceth in the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7 It beareth or couereth all things it beleeueth all things it hopeth all things it endureth all things By which properties the meaning well apprehended shall we try our hearts and liues as we may doe also in the mutuall good offices of the bodily members 1 Cor. 12.26 it may bee feared we shall finde in vs much want of Charity which since it argueth by Saint Johns rule weakenesse 1 Ioh 4.20 at least in our loue to God wee had the more neede to pray that God who is Charity it selfe Ver. 16. would by his spirit of loue bestow vpon vs and more and more heate and enflame in vs this quickning and working Grace V. FVrther yet the exercise and excellency of this grace of Charitie being most obseruable in Christians carriage about their speciall Callings rules in Scripture are not wanting shall men consult with these Counsellers to guide Christians in such personall duties according to that generall charge Psal 119.24 as the maine and speciall foundation laid by grace of good order in humane societie 1 COR. 7.20 24. Let euery man in the same vocation wherein hee is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therein abide with God that is doing duties to men therein out of Conscience towards God More speciall directions of which kind applyed to those Domesticall subordinations wherein Families are established Ephes 5.21 that Each may submit to other in the feare of God according to his will we shall find 1 Of Husbands and Wiues the summe whereof comprised Coloss 3.18.19 And more vnfolded Ephes 5. and 1 Peter 3. consisting of feruent and faithfull loue in the Husband and due subiection and reuerence in the Wife is vsefully read by order of our Church in Marriage Solemnities to make both parties and their Neighbours also more mindefull of their duties 2 Of Parents and Children the summe whereof grounded on the fifth Commandement being in Children Honour and thankefull Obedience to their Parents In Parents wise and due care for nurture and education of their Children and euery way towards them Loue and tender kindnesse is by the same Apostle also both in Coloss 3.20 21 briefely touched and Ephes 6.1 2 3 4. more fully opened and by the Legall Promise annexed to the Praecept powerfully perswaded 3 Of Masters and Seruants the summe of the Masters duty which is to doe that which is iust and equal to their Seruants Knowing that they also haue a Master in heauen that regardeth euery mans carriage and respecteth no mans person being deliuered Ephes 6.9 and Coloss 4.1 But more expressely and at large the duty of Seruants as needing in those times most to bee remembred set downe as in other places so in these following COLOS. 3. 22 Seruants obey
in all things your Masters according to the flesh not with eye-seruice as men-pleasers but in singlenesse of heart fearing God 23 And whatsoeuer ye doe doe it heartily as to the Lord and not vnto men 24 Knowing that of the Lord yee shall receiue the reward of inheritance for yee serue the Lord Christ 25 But he that doth wrong shall receiue for the wrong that hee hath done and there is no respect of persons TITVS 2. 9 Exhort Seruants to bee obedient vnto their owne Masters and to please them well in all things not answering againe 10 Not purloyning but shewing al good fidelitie that they may adorne the Doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things 1 PETER 2. 18 Seruants bee subiect to your Masters with all feare not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward 19 For this is thanke worthy if a man for Conscience toward God endure griefe suffering wrongfully 20 For what glory is it if when you be buffeted for your faults ye shall take it patiently but if when you doe well and suffer for it yee take it patiently this is acceptable with God All which places sufficiently expressing the summe of Seruants duties both to Masters of all sorts and duties of all kindes with the manner also of due performance and the encouragement thereto I haue thought fitting to haue set downe to the end that such as want Bibles or be not able to vse them may better bee taught and minded of what belongeth to their places be encouraged by those gracious promimises which God hath made them to beare that yoke which God hath layde vpon them W. THe Nurture and good Education of ChildreÌ„ Youth being the foundation of their weldoing and their Parents and others hopes a weighty charge is layde on those that take on them the care discreetly and betime to teach and traine them vp in a right way according to that Counsell giuen by Solomon with the implyed reason PROV 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6 Traine vp or Catechist a Childe in the trade of his way and when he is old he shall not depart from it A speciall part of which discretion for towardly EducatioÌ„ being to be vsed need so requiring by reason of inbred and increasing corruption in seasonable chastisement Ephes 6.4 1 Sam. 2.29 1 Reg. 1.6 that they may not for lacke thereof as Elies sonnes and Adoniiah become an after griefe vnto their too indulgent Parents wise Solomon hath giuen for that purpose these quickning directions Pro. 13 24. He that spareth his rod hateth his sonne but hee that loueth him chasteneth him betime Pro. 19.18 Chasten thy sonne while there is hope implying that if hee once grow headstrong it will bee too late witnesse the complaint against an incorrigible child Deu. 21.18 And let not thy soule spare for his crying as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Psal 119.9 Shewing that chastisement may be need full for such as are rising to yeares of some discretion The reason hereof see Pro. 22.15 Foolishnesse is bound in the heart of a Childe or* Youth but the rod of correction shall driue it farre from him Agreeing hereunto also is that Pro. 29.15 The rod and reproofe giue wisedome but a childe left to himselfe bringeth his mother to shame And therefore finally that counsell againe Pro. 23.13 14. Withhold not correction from the childe or * The word is still the same as before youth for if thou beatest him with the rod hee shall not dye Thou shalt beate him with the rod and shalt deliuer his soule from Hell viZ. by withdrawing him hereby from euill and sinne that would bring him vnto hell All which places expressing both the ground of such chastisement which is the truest loue and the season betimes whiles there is yet hope and the necessity implyed in the cause and good consequent thereof to omit others I haue thought fit thus to set downe at large as to make Parents and Gouernours mindfull of this tedious duty so to this end chiefely that children may so learne and marke them as that correction being feared may be the more preuented or else if at any time deserued and needfully inflicted it may bee with more patience and profit endured X. TOuching Sports and Games since they be of so frequent vse and the abuse in these dissolute times no lesse common then the vse although the Scriptures speake little in particular of them See P. Martyr loc com clas 2. c. 12. and therefore I shall say the lesse yet to adde somthing to draw from the Excesse and withhold from the Abuse let mee remember them that are thereunto addicted of that one propheticall sentence of the wisest Solomon PRO. 21. 17 Hee that loueth Pastime or sport shall be a poore man and he that loueth wine oyle shall not be rich A true Prophecie oftentimes in regard of outward penurie experience prouing how such prodigall courses bring the belly to huskes and the backe to ragges Luke 15.16 17. Pro. 23.21 and the heart also comming home to it selfe to bitter teares But howsoeuer it fare with the outward state most certaine it is that whiles such as if they were made onely to spend their time on the earth Ps 104.26 Iam. 5.5 Amos 6.3 1 Cor. 10.7 as the great Leuiathan in the Sea so liue all in pleasure putting farre away the euill day and after the patterne of the Idolatrous Israelites sit downe to eate and drinke and rise vp to play they cannot chuse but haue poore and beggarly soules deuoid if not of sound knowledge yet of true and sanctifying grace and those fruits of grace which shew themselues in a well ordered life these pleasures being as thornes to choke the seed of the word Luk 8.14 their surfetting thereupon sorting them within that corrupt confederacie 2 Tim. 3.1.4 which make perilous the times and are branded with that deepe and deserued reproach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be louers of pleasure more then louers of God Howbeit in this I denie not the vse of all Recreations some whereof are required by a true necessity or yet of all Sports some whereof may bee exercised lawfully for due delight onely I would restraine the vse of both within the limits of the former lesson of Grace Tit. 2.11 12. which extending it selfe to all the passages of our whole life and being aptly applied to this particular will serue to discouer as by the negatiue branch of denying vngodlinesse and worldly lusts what recâ—eations and sports are allowed Christians viZ. such as bee not vngodly in their nature or the meere exercises of our worldly and sensuall lusts so in the affirmatiue of liuing soberly righteously and godly in this present world How these that be allowed may bee lawfully vsed viZ. Soberly without excesse for either affection or time and iustly without either wrong
Dauid and Daniel thrice a day yet at least Psal 55.17 Dan. 6.10 morning euening ordinarily to come before God on bended knees as well taught children to aske blessing Math. 6.11 and their daily bread of him our heauenly Father and moreouer often and still vpon more speciall occasions in secret Psal 62.8 to poure out their soules to God for such graces and blessings as they stand in neede of or to render humble thanks for his receiued fauours and benefits As helps to the weaker sort in which holy exercise and perhaps necessary In M. Hierons helpe to Deuotion and The Practise of Piety as Truckles are to young children to learne them to goe there want not many good wholsome formes of prayers already penned for seuerall purposes But knowledge in the word with a right vnderstanding of the Lords prayer and Psal 51. gotten into their heart to such as haue receiued of God the spirit of Grace and Prayer Zach. 12.10 will bee the best Schoolemaster to helpe their infirmities Rom. 8.26 and to teach them how to make suites to God no matter though in broken English so it bee with contrite and broken hearts according to the will of God so as he the searcher of the hearts Verse 27. may know and graciously accept them in Christ Iesus 3 Besides these there is one other duty of prayer which concerneth chiefely the gouernours of families of whatsoeuer estate or condition who would haue the commendations giuen Cornelius a Act. 10.2 of fearing God with all their housholds carefully to see performed in their families euery day morning and euening whereunto at times as their occasions callings may permit some b Deut. 6.7 reading in the word and c Col. 3.16 singing of Psalmes with Catechising and instructing of their children and seruants Act. 17.11 repetition of what they haue heard and such like holy exercises should be profitably adioyned especially on the Sabbath day For this as it will approue them a Gen. 18.19 children of Abraham and men of b Iosh 24.15 Ioshuah his godly resolution and make their houses rightly accounted as the faithfull ones by c 1 Cor. 16 19. Coloss 4.15 Saint Paul saluted as little Churches so will it not only free them from that execration made by the Prophet d Ior. 10.25 against such families as call not on Gods name but giue them farther hope of Gods blessing as sometimes c 2 Sā 6.11 on Obed Edoms house for the presence of the Arke vpon them and theirs and f Iob 5.24 Gods peace to rest and abide vpon their dwellings Which religious duty of family-prayer together with thanksgiuing or Grace alwayes at our meales by our Sauiours owne example Ioh. 6.11 1 Tim. 4.5 and his Apostles both prescript and president recommēded to vs howsoeuer either through ignorance it bee in Act. 27.35 many places vtterly vnknowne or out of prophanenesse or want of ability for performance it be wofully neglected in most families yet being a seruice so well pleasing vnto God and of such speciall consequence I cannot but heartily wish that it may be henceforward by all that would be held to feare God more conscionably practised yea euen among such ignorant ones and in such small poore families where through weaknesse and want of skill in any to reade they bee able to doe no more then kneele down with their folke and ioyne together in rehearsing the Lords prayer and praying God to blesse and keepe them and if they can get that also into their heads and hearts making vse of the 51. Psal before to that end proposed or of some other good forme of prayer The helpe to Deuotion The Practise of Piety such as those that are added in the end of our Bibles and booke of Common Prayer or which may bee found in other approued Anthors or if they want others these short formes which for Conclusion of these directions shall here bee annexed A short Morning Prayer for a Family O Most holy and glorious Lord God and in Christ Iesus our most gracious and mercifull Father as In thee we liue mooue and haue our being and from thee doe dayly receiue our well-being and all our good So is it meet and our bounden duty by humble suit vnto thy Maiestie and hearty thankesgiuing to acknowledge and professe the same vnto thy praise Wee therefore thine vnworthy seruants prostrating our selues here before thy foote-stoole doe render vnto thy Maiestie all hearty thanks and praise for all thy mercies and blessings continually bestowed vpon vs both in regard of our soules and bodies euer since we were born vntill this present and in particular we blesse and praise thy Fatherly goodnesse for safe keeping vs this night past by thy watchfull prouidence when wee could not keepe our selues refreshing vs comfortably with thy good blessing of sleep and raising vs vp againe in some measure of health and strength this day to doe thee seruice Now O Lord we beseech thee take vs into thy fauour and Fatherly protection and keepe vs continually in thy most holy feare Pardon graciously and forgiue vnto vs for Christ Jesus his sake all our sinnes past put them quite out of thy sight and purge them cleane out of our hearts and so sanctifie vs throughout with the grace of thy holy spirit that we may take no longer delight to walke after the lusts of our owne wicked hearts but may giue vp our selues hence-forward wholly in obedience to thy blessed will so doing in particular this present day the duties both of our generall speciall callings as that by thy blessing and prouidence being vpon vs wee may be preserued from all dangers that otherwise might befall vs and finde much comfort in thy seruice so as that at night wee may againe returne with reioycing and thankefull hearts to resigne and giue vp our selues both soules and bodies into thine hands Meanewhile and euer remember also we most humbly beseech thee most mercifull God and Father together with our selues thy whole Church on earth and all thine afflicted Children and in particular this Land and Christian Countrey wherein we liue Herein blesse the Kings most Excellent Maiestie together with the Queene and the Princes the whole Royall Family with the Nobles and all set in Authority and place of Charge or gouernment ouer vs either in the Church or Common-wealth Our priuate Friends also kindred and godly acquaintance who are by any bond more neere vnto vs or haue desired to be in our prayers remembred by vs. In speciall manner blesse O Lord this whole Family with all that belong thereto or are therein giuing vs all grace to liue in thy feare and to doe thee seruice so knowing our places and endeauoring with sincerity and singlenesse of heart to doe our duties that wee may bee for comfort each to other and all of vs in all things to thy glory