that are your Masters according to the Flesh with Fear and Trembling in singleness of your Heart as unto Christ Eph. 6.5 III. You must be subject to them and serve them diligently and heartily Yea tho' your Masters are of a froward Disposition and hardly pleased you must notwithstanding be subject to them For saith the Apostle Servants be subject to your Masters with all Fear not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2.18 And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of Inheritance For ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.23 24. VI. You must be faithfull in your trust and not do them the least Wrong in any thing For he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respect of Persons Col. 3.25 Servants therefore must be carefull to preserve their Masters Right not purloyning but shewing all good Fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 V. You must be very carefull and diligent to do your Masters work and Will as well when he is absent as when he is present For God in the Gospel requires Servants to serve their Masters Not with Eye-Service as men-pleasers but as the Servants of Christ Eph. 6.6 Remember when you are not under your Masters Eye the Eye of God is upon you who will call you to Account for whatsoever you do Eccl. 12.14 VI. You must carefully shun ill Company and ill Courses as Fighting and Quarrelling Drinking and Revelling in your Masters Absence especially if you have any chief Place or Charge in the Family Who then is that faithfull and wise Servant saith our Blessed Saviour whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them Meat in due Season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so dâ—ing Of a truth I say unto you that he will make him Ruler over all that he hath But if that evil Servant shall say in his heart My Lord delayeth his Coming and shall begin to smite his fellow-fellow-Servants and to eat and drink and to be Drunken or to eat and drink with the Drunken the Lord of that Servant even his Lord that is in Heaven shall come in a Day when he looketh not for him and at an Hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder or * margin cut him off and appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 24.45 51. with Luk. 12.42 46. VII If ye are rebuked buffeted or beaten by your Masters tho' it be without just cause you must take it patiently For this is thank worthy if a man for Conscience-sake towards God endure Grief suffering wrongfully For what Glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your Faults ye shall take it patiently But if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God For even hereunto were you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his steps who did no Sin neither was guile found in his Mouth who when he was revil'd revil'd not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet 2.19 23. Thus you now know your Duty be carefull to do it and so in serving your Masters you shall serve God and the Reward you shall receive from Him will be infinitely better to you than the wages you expect from them Know it 's no small Glory to be a good Servant A Christian Servant is the Lord's Free-man Every Star shines in its own Sphaere A good Servant is in God's Eye more honourable and glorious than a bad King It 's a higher Honour a greater Glory to serve God than to Command over men If in the Discharge of the Duty of your Place you faithfully serve Christ here 2 Tim. 2.12 you shall reign with him in Heaven to whom be Glory for ever and ever Gal. 1.5 Amen A Catechism for Communicants WHEREIN The Nature and Vse of the Sacraments of the New Testiament are explain'd for the Instruction of those who are of competent Age to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Q. VVHAT doth God require of man in Order to his Salvation and eternal Happiness A. Deut. 32.46.47 The serious Exercise of the true Religion Q. Which is that true Religion which is the onely sure way to Salvation A. 2 Thess 2 13 14 15 The Christian Religion which was instituted by Christ himself and is prescrib'd in his Holy Gospel Q. What doth the Christian Religion comprehend A. Faith Obedience Prayer and Sacraments Q. What is the Sum of your Faith A. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Q. How must you manifest the Truth of your Faith Jam. 2.18 A. By Obedience Q. What is the Rule of your Obedience A. The Law of God which is briefly comprehended in Ten Commandments Deut. 27.9 10. Rom. 3.31 Deut. 10.4 Q. Rehearse them A. God spake all these Words saying I am the LORD thy God c. Exod. 20.1 17. Q. Have you kept all these Commandments A. 1 Joh. 1.8 Exod. 36.27 No I have not neither can I so keep them as I ought without the help of God's Grace Q. What must you then do A. Hos 14.2 Earnestly pray to God for pardon and Grace Q. What is the most excellent Pattern of your Prayers A. The Lord's Prayer Q. Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6.9 13. Q. In whose Name and Mediation must you make your Addresses to God in your Prayer A. Joh. 16.23 24. 1 Tim. 2.5 Mat. 21.22 Jam. 1.6 Rom. 12.14 Jum 5.16 In the Name of our onely Mediator Jesus Christ Q. But how must you pray that you may prevail A. I must pray in Faith with Fervency of spirit Q. What is the Ground of your Faith A. The Word and Promises of God Q. Hath God afforded you any special Helps of Faith A. Yes the Sacraments Q. VVhat are the Sacraments A. Signs of things not seen Rom. 4 11 Seals of the Covenant of Grace and visible Pledges of the Performance of all God's Promises Q. VVhy were they appointed A. That Faith might be relieved by Sight and Devotion assisted by Sense Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. Of what special Vse are these to us A. Acts 2.41 42 1 Cor. 12 13. By Baptism we have Admission into the Church and hold Communion with it in the Lord's Supper Q. But what 's their different Vse in respect of the Covenant of Grace A. By Baptism we enter into Covenant with God and renew it in the Lord's Supper Q. How else do they differ A. Joh. 3.5 6.48 58. Baptism is
2.18 and constant Obedience to His Holy Commands all the daies of my Life Q. 5. 5. Brotherly Love Do I entirely love all the Children of God as my Brethren in Christ even because they are God's Children bear His Image and are beloved by their Heavenly Father A. I have a Love for all men Rom. 13.9 and do Desire to love my Neighbour as myself 1 Joh. 3.14 but for those who truly fear-God I have a great esteem of them and a hearty Love to them Psal 16.3 I account them the onely excellent Ones in the Earth And the more excellency I see in them the more my Heart is endeared to them I chiefly delight in their Company and when I can enjoy mine own Choice psal 119.63 I am a Companion of them that fear God and keep his Commandments Q. 6. 6. Charity Luk. 6.37 Mat. 5.44 Rom. 12.21 1 Cor. 5.8 Am I in Charity with all men Can I freely forgive them that have wrong'd me and find in my Heart to do good to them who hate me and ahve done and would do me Hurt A. I thank God I bear no Malice in my Heart to any man I do freely forgive them who have wrong'd me and account it but a very small matter if my Lord will graciously be pleased to remit me a Debt of Ten Thousand Talents Mat. 18.23 35. to forgive to my fellow-fellow-Servant a Debt of an Hundred pence And God knows my heart if it lay in my power I could freely do Good to the worst Enemy I have in the World If he was in Danger I would do my best to preserve him If I knew him to be in any Extremity I would to my Ability Rom. 12.20 very freely relieve Him I know I more need mercy from God than any man can need Mercy from me and I am ready and willing to shew Mercy to any man Jam. 2.13 as I do expect and desire to obtain Mercy from God in the Forgiveness of my Sins and the Salvation of my Soul Q. 7. Defire of Christ 7. Have I an Appetite to my Spiritual Food Have I an earnest Defire to have Communion with Christ and to partake of his saving Benefits in his Holy Supper A. Without Christ alas I am an undone Creature Ah Lord God! What wilt thou give me if I go Christless Give me therefore O give me Christ or I die It is Pardon and Grace and spiritual strength and Comfort which he is pleased to communicate to Believers in his Holy Supper These I want these I earnestly defire 1 Cor. 15.10 I must have Pardon or perish Without Grace I can do no good Peace with God is an inestimable Priviledge without this I cannot hope to see His Face in Heaven I want Strength to do my Duties conquer my Corruptions bear my Burdens and withstand my Temptations And my Soul thirsts after those Holy Comforts which are far sweeter than all worldly Joys Psal 4.7 These are the Blessings I earnestly defire These are the Benefits of my Blessed Lord and Suviour Jesus Christ And I am willing to part with the Pleasures of Sin for ever to partake of these Holy Comforts and there is no Treasure in the whole World that I prize or desire in comparison of these inestimable Priviledges which I beseech God to communicate to me in this Holy Feast Psal 63.5 Luk. 1.47 Jude v. 25. So shall my Soul be satisfi'd as with Marrow and Fatness and I shall greatly rejoyce in God my Saviour to whom be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power both now and ever Amen Now if upon this serious Self-Examination thou canst from thy Heart make these Answers to these Questions doubt not but God will accept thee as a worthy Communicant and thou shalt beâ—◠〈…〉 Guest to the Lord's Table God in that Blessed Ordinance of Christ's Holy Supper will seal up to thy Soul the Pardon of all thy sins and that Covenant of Grace whereby he assures thee of a Kingdome of Glory for thine etenal Inheritance Conclude this Work of Self-Examination with that Confession and Prayer which is fitted for that Purpose Christian-Devotion IN Some short Forms of PRAYER PRAISE Prayers for Children A Prayer for the Morning O LORD God and my Heavenly Father I give Thee humble and hearty Thanks for that Thou hast preserved me this Night past and rais'd me up in Health and Strength this Morning whereas Thou mightest in the Darkness of the Night have cut me off for my Sins and cast me into everlasting Darkness in Hell Pardon O Lord all my past Sins and keep me from sinning for the time to come Guide bless and keep me this Day in Thy Fear and grant that I may demean my self alwaies as in thy Sight And seeing I must at length appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive according to my Works and must then give an Account of every idle VVord grant that I may keep my self this Day from all foolish-speaking evil-doing Especially grant that I may keep my Heart with all Diligence seeing out of it come those evil Things which defile both Body and Soul Keep me O Lord by thy Grace from all wanton thoughts Words and Looks and from all those fleshly Lusts which will defile my Soul and make me loathsome in thy Sight Oh keep me from my special sin and quicken me to every good Duty Keep me from mispending my precious Time in Vanity and Idleness seeing upon this little Moment of my Life depends an Eternity of Joy or Torment Sanctifie me throughout by Thy Holy Spirit and enable me by thy Grace to live to thy Glory Plant in my Heart a Hatred of Sin and Love to Holiness that I may delight to do Thy Will O my God! Psal 40.8 Joh. 4.34 and account it my Meat and Drink to be employ'd in well-doing Grant I may love Thee with all my Heart and Soul and serve Thee with all my Strength all the Daies of my Life that in the End I may be happy for ever Make me like Christ in meekness Patience Humility that I may be like to Him hereafter in Glory Keep me this Day from Sin and Danger and give me all things both for my Soul and Body which Thou seest to be needfull and good for me Make me ever Thankfull for Thy Mercies and truly contented with my Condition Do good O Lord Psal 125.4 to them that are good and convert Sinners from their evil waies that they may be saved Bless my Parents Give them Health Prosperity and Length of Days here and everlasting Happiness in Heaven Bless all my Friends and dear Relations give them Grace and all good things both for Body and Soul Bless me even me also O my Father with the Blessings of thy Love and guide me in thy Holy ways to Life eternal through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with Thy Self and Holy Spirit be all Honour and
could learn that Song but the Hundred and Fourty and Four Thousand which were Redeemed from the Earth These are they which were not defiled with women for they are Virgins these are they which follow the Lamb which way soever he goeth these were Redeemed from among men being the first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God Now if you desire to share in the happiness of this Virgins-Company in Heaven you must endeavour to prefer an immaculate purity here on earth To this end keep a strict guard upon your Senses Open not your ears to impure Speeches nor suffer your eyes to behold vanity For whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5.28 saith our Blessed Saviour For the prevention of this danger saith Holy Job Job 31.1 I made a Covenant with mine eyes why then should I think upon a Maid Wanton looks as flashes of Lightning and wanton Thoughts as sparks of Fire often kindle those Flames of Lust wherein both the Body and Soul is offer'd up as a Holocaust to Satan And therefore saith our Saviour Mat. 5.29 if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy Members should perish and not that thy whole Body should be cast into Hell But especially shun the company of a wanton woman which is as a Murtheress that lies in wait for the life of a man Prov. 7.13 18 21 22 23. Such was the Harlot of which Solomon speaks who caught the young man and kist him and with an impudent face said unto him come let us take our fill of love until the Morning let us solace our selves with Loves With her much fair Speech she caused him to yield with the flattering of her Lips she forced him He goeth after her straight way as an Ox goeth to the slaughter or as a Fool to the correction of the Stocks Till a dart strike through his Liver as a Bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for his Life Carefully shun therefore all occasions of falling into the company of such a woman Take the Counsel of Solomon Prov. 5.8 7.27 Remove thy way far from her and come not nigh the door of her house For her house is the way to Hell going down to the Chambers of death VII Shun Revelling and Drunkenness These are sins so inconsistent with the Christian Religion which oblige all that embrace it to Temperance and Sobriety that whosoever gives himself up to Revelling and Drunkenness does in effect renounce his Christianity And he is certainly a desperate wretch who for a little sensual pleasure will quit all his hopes of Heaven and sell the joyes of Paradise He that lives in these sins travels in the common Road to Hell Lasciviousness 1 Pet. 4.3 Lusts Excess of Wine Revellings Banquetings and abominable Idolatries were the sins of the Gentiles before their Conversion to Christianity How unworthy is it of a Christian to stain the Glory of his Holy Profession with the guilt of the sins and vices of Heathens Christians know there is a day appointed Act. 17.31 wherein they must give an account to God for the time they have spent in the world and for all the Actions of their lives And therefore saith our Saviour Luk. 21.34 Take heed to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with Surfetting and Drunkenness and cares of this Life so that day come upon you unawares Surfetting and drunkenness breed diseases in mens Bodies and shorten their Lives The punishment is here linkt to the sin whereas Temperance and Sobriety are a fair and pleasant path to Heaven by Surfetting and Drunkenness men take the foulest way that they may make the shortest journey to Hell Drunkenness is a vile debasement to a man No person that has but the heart of a Man would suffer himself to be so vilely abused and debased by another as by Drunkenness he abuses and debases himself A Sober Servant is to be preferred before a drunken Son A drunken Servant is no better than a very Beast In Drunkenness a man commits two or three sins in one For he at once abuses God's Blessings and his own Body and dishonours and wrongs any to whom he owes Service and Obedience which having transformed himself into a brute beast a raging Bedlam or a sensless stock he is not capable to perform How woful is it that he that is call'd to be a Christian should cease to be a man And how just is it that God should cut him off in his sin and cast him into Hell who has made himself uncapable to answer the end of his Calling as a Christian yea of his Being as a man Know you were born in a Night of darkness a state of ignorance and sin but by institution in the Mysteries of the Christian Religion you may perceive the dawning of a day of Light a State of Knowledge and Salvation by Jesus Christ Let the Apostle's Exhortation then prevail with you for a suitable demeanour Rom. 13.12 13.14 The night saith he is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the Armour of Light Let us walk honestly as in the day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof VIII Avoid ill Company The keeping of ill Company hath been the utter undoing of many Young men For while they have been carried on hereby in an idle licentious course of life they have destroy'd themselves Bodies and Souls for ever He that once engages himself in that society of sinners which is as the Corporation of Hell shall hardly ever recover so much freedom and honour as to become a Citizen of Heaven Happy is the man then that carefully keeps himself from evil Company yea this is the man who is pronounced Blessed by an Oracle of God Blessed is the man that walketh not in the Counsel of the ungodly Psal 1.1 nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful And therefore David to clear his Integrity thus makes his Profession Psal 26.4 5. I have not sate with vain persons neither will I go in with Dissemblers I have hated the Congregation of evil doers and will not sit with the wicked But Psal 119.63 I am a Companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy Precepts Man 's a sociable Creature and mutual converse is the delight and sweetness of Humane Life But then it greatly concerns us to make choice of good company For Prov. 13.20 he that walketh with wise men