thee for ever Amen When you depart from the Lord's Table labour to feel your Heart inflam'd with love to God and Christ and fill'd with satisfaction and joy in his Love to you and to find your Soul fixed in a firm Resolution of Holy Obedience to your Lives end Take heed your heart do not entertain Earthly Thoughts and that you do not open your ears or loose your tongue to Worldly Discourse But meditate on the mercies of God to you in Christ on the Promises and Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace on the duties of Obedience whereby you must glorifie God on Earth and on the Glory and Blessedness reserved for you in the Kingdom of Heaven Being return'd home retire your self to give thanks to God for his Mercy in Christ A Thanksgiving after Receiving of the Lord's Supper BLESS the LORD Psal 103.1 O my Soul and all that is within me bless his Holy Name who hath sealed up to me this day the forgiveness of my sins in the blood of my Saviour who hath entertain'd me with Heavenly dainties at his Holy Table Grant O God that in the strength of this Spiritual Food I may walk before thee in the wayes of a Holy obedience till I shall at length attain to Eternal Blessedness through my only Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ Amen As oft as thou receivest the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper be sure to read thy Duty as a Child or Servant before declar'd and the Rules of good Life here following Grace before Meat Bless and Sanctifie thy good creatures to me O my God through Jesus Christ Amen After Meat Blessed be thy Name O my God for these and all other thy good gifts through Jesus Christ Amen In Company with others Before Meat God be merciful to us and bless us and give us a Sanctified use of these and all other his Blessings through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen After Meat Blessed be God for these and all his Blessings Give us Grace O Lord to spend the strength we receive from them in thy service to thy Glory and our Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen Christian Conversation IN Some necessary Cautions and Directions to Young People for the Government of their Thoughts Words and Actions Or RULES of Good LIFE I. HAve a great care of your Thoughts These are the springs of Action Though the thoughts of mens heart are secret and indiscernible they ost become very visible in their Lives Words and Actions are but the Apparel of the Thoughts These appear upon the open Stage of the world and proclaim what was before done in the secret Chambers of the Soul Evil Thoughts are the seeds of sin and vice which not suppress'd will as noxious weeds overgrow the whole Life These little sparks first kindle the fire of Lust and then of Hell Know thoughts are not free God's Law limits them nor are they hidden God's eye sees them Ps 139.2 Thou understandest my Thoughts afar off saith David Remember God's eye is upon your heart and so do not harbour any evil thoughts Heb. 13.2 Be not forgetful saith the Apostle to entertain strangers for thereby some have entertain'd Angels unawares Be careful say I not to entertain evil thoughts for so may you entertain the Devil unawares The Devil by evil thoughts insinuates himself into the hearts of men that he may corrupt their Lives and destroy their Souls Vain Thoughts though little regarded as the swarms of Flies that corrupted the Land of Egypt are very pernicious Exod. 8.24 Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem saith the Lord wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Psalm 119.113 how long shall thy vain Thoughts lodge within thee Cease not then till you can say with David I hate vain Thoughts but thy Law do I love II. Keep a constant watch against all evil words By evil thoughts you defile your own Soul by evil words you may defile others also The malignity of the heart is oft diffus'd by the tongue to the infection of many And therefore let David's resolution be yours Psal 39.1.4 I said I will take heed to my waies that I sin not with my Tongue Remember the wise and Holy God hears all the words you speak There is not a word in my Tongue saith Holy David but lo O LORD thou knowest it altogether Let your words be few therefore Eccl. 5.2 and free from Folly A fool's voice saith the wise man is known by a multitude of words Prov. 17.27 but he that hath knowledge spareth his words Think before you speak silence is usually safe whereas rash words oft recoile to the hurt of him that spake them Eccl. 5.7 However in the multitude of dreames and many words there are also diverse vanities but fear thou God Temperance of Tongue is a necessary virtue of true Religion And therefore saith the Apostle Jam. 1.26 If any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue but deceiveth his own heart this man's Religion is vain c. 3.2 But If any man offend not in Word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body Especially take heed of all filthy and impure speeches Remember how strict a charge is given you in the Gospel Eph. 2.29 Let no corrupt Communication come out of your Mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may Minister Grace unto the Hearers 31. Let all clamour and evil-speaking be put away from you And as for Fornications â— 4.3 and all Vncleanness or Covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints 4. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of thanks And that your words may be Holy keep the heart pure Mat. 12 34 35 36 37. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things But I say unto you saith our Saviour that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned III. Psal 119.163 Count it a great wickedness to tell a lye I hate and abhor lying saith David but thy Law do I love And he that loves God and his Law Prov. 12.22 must needs hate and abhor Lying For Lying Lips are an abomination to the LORD but they that deal truly are his delight Yea a Lyar is hated both of God and men men hate him because he seeks to deceive them and God hates him because he plainly despises him whom he knowes he cannot deceive The sin of Lying subjects men to punishment both from God and men The common punishment amongst men is this he that is known to
The Key of Knowledg Opening The PRINCIPLES of RELIGION And The Path of Life Directing The PRACTICE of true PIETIE Design'd For the Conduct of Children and Servants in the right way to Heaven and Happiness By T. W. D. D. Prov. 22.6 Train up or Chatechize a Child in the way he should go and when he is Old he will not depart from it Psal 119.9 VVherewith shall a Young man cleanse his way By taking heed thereto according to thy VVord LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near Mercers Chappel 1682. The Preface To all young Persons who desire a happy life here and in the end Eternal life in Heaven REmember thy Creatour in the Daies of thy youth * Eccles 12.1 is the wise Counsel of the wisest of men Solomon A multitude of young People neglecting this great Duty and never seriously thinking of that God that made them have run headlong into Hell fire And what a wofull thing is it for any to spend their time in vain Pleasures here and then to lie roaring in intolerable pains in Hell for ever and ever Take heed lest this be thy state who now readest these Lines Know tho' thou perceivest it not thou now standest upon the very edge and brink of Eternity The least touch of God's hand may send thee into another world Thou art a mortal Creature As sure as thou livest thou must at length die and then what shall become of thy Soul to Eternity When thy Body drops into the dust thy Soul which never dies will go to Heaven or Hell there to remain for ever and ever And how soon thou may'st die thou knowest not If thou vainly flatterest thy self with hopes of long life Luk. 12.20 God may say to thee Thou fool this night thy Soul shall be required of thee And then where art thou Do'st thou yet know thy State Thou wast born in Sin Joh 9.34 Eph. 2.3 being by Nature a Child of Wrath and Heir of Hell If thou art still in this state as thou certainly art unless thou art born again thou standest upon the Brink of Hell Joh. 3.3 and art every moment in danger of eternal Damnation Nothing but the Patience of God upon which thou do'st daily trespass by every Sin thou committest keeps thee out of the burning Lake Rev. 21.8 that place of torment which is prepared for Sinners And tho' thou canst eat drink and be merry and when the night is come lie down in thy Bed and sleep secure certain it is thou art all this while within an hand's-breadth of Hell-fire For what 's thy Life Psal 39.5 Behold saith David thou hast made my daies as an hand-breadth and mine age is as nothing before thee verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity And again saith he the wicked shall be turn'd into Hell Psal 9.17 So that while thou art in the guilt of Sin thou hangest by a brittle thread a frail Life over the burning Lake and by every Sin thou committest thou provokest God to cut this thread in two How canst thou live secure when there is nothing but this poor Paper-wall of a mortal body between thy Soul and Hell-fire Now if thou art not strangely stupid and one whom God hath already sealed up under hardness of heart to Damnation Rom. 2.5 Acts 28 27. thou may'st plainly perceive that thou art infinitely concern'd with all possible speed to take care that thy Soul may be saved that so whenever it shall please God to take thee hence by death thou may'st be for ever happy in heaven How happy would'st thou be all the rest of thy days if thou had'st but once secur'd the salvation of thy Soul and wast but well assur'd thou should'st be happy for ever But what shall I do to be saved Acts 16.30 What must I do that I may go to heaven when I die If I knew how to secure the salvation of my Soul it should be the first thing I would do Is this thy Enquiry and Resolve Art thou in good earnest Then know that this little Book is very happily come into thy hand For the very Design of it is to make plain the way to Heaven to thee and to tell thee what thou must know and do to be saved and give thee a plain direction for the doing of it so that if thou do'st not wilfully destroy thy self thou may'st certainly be everlastingly happy Know then that there are some things which God hath made necessary to be known and beleiv'd to Salvation and some things necessary to be done The knowledge of God and Christ and Obedience to the Gospel requiring Repentance Faith and Holy life are altogether necessary to Salvation For the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God who is the onely Saviour of lost men hath plainly declar'd that he will not save any but upon these terms And therefore tho' This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation 1 Tim. 1.15 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners yet it is no less certain that He shall at length be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming Fire to take vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1 7 8 9. who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power Now these things which are so necessary to salvation are here briefly comprehended in a short Scripture-Catechism which therefore I advise thee to get perfectly by heart Know the Answers are the very words of Scripture which is the very Word of God on which thou may'st safely venture thy Soul And when thou canst readily repeat these words with the mention of the places of Scripture where they are to be found thou wilt be able to give any man that asks thee 1 Pet. 3.15 a Reason of thy Faith or Hope by a ready mention of that Scripture on which it is grounded But that thy Hope may not make thee asham'd Rom. 5.5 rest not in the bare repeating of these words and bearing them in thy memory but be sure thou knowest well the meaning of the things required of thee for thy Salvation by thy own sense and experience as of Repentance and Regeneration or being born of the Spirit faith in Christ and Obedience to the Gospel Do the things and so shalt thou best know the meaning of the words for thy Souls good To do God's will is the only way to have a saving knowledge of his word Joh. 7.17 If any man saith our Saviour will do his Will he shall know my Doctrine to be of God Act. 3.19 Repent therefore and be converted break off thy sins with a hearty sorrow that thou hast thereby offended a good God and lead a new life Act. 16.31 Believe in the Lord
more than God Have I not lived in much Forgetfulness of God Jer. 2.32 and estrangement from Him Have I not feared men more than God Mat. 10.28 Have I not set my self up above God serving my own Will Joh. 5.30 Rom. 15.1 2 3. more than His and seeking to please my self more than him 2. Tho' I have not worshipped Idols II. Com. ave I not neglected the Worship of God or shew'd less Reverence to Him than the poor Pagans do to dead and dumb Idols Have I diligently attended the Ordinances of God's Worship and so demeaned my self therein as under his Eye Have I watch'd over my Heart and not suffer'd my Thoughts to wander from the Holy Service I have had in Hand Have I been very serious and sincere in the Service of God Isa 29.13 Have I not oft drawn near to God with my Mouth and honour'd him with my Lips when my Heart hath been removed sar from Him III. Com. 3. Have I not taken the Name of God in vain using it lightly and customarily in my Communications saying O Lord and O God when I have not thought of Him or abusing it in Oaths and Curses Mat. 5.34 Has my Heart accompanied my Tongue as oft as I have used the Name of God in my Prayers Have I never made a Jest of any Thing that is Sacred Have I endeavour'd so to adorn the Doctrine of God my Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 that the Name of God might not 1 Tim. 6.1 thro' me be blasphem'd by any 4. Have I remembred God's Day IV. Com. and disposed my self to the keeping of it Holy Have I with as much Diligence and Seriousness Constance and Chearfulness attended the Service of God and the blessed Means of the Salvation of my Soul on the Lord's Day as I have my worldly Business or Disports on my own Daies Have I not been soon weary of the Service and presence of God Mal. 1.13 Am. 8.5 wishing the Sermon ended and the Sabbath done that I might be let loose to my worldly Employments or Recreations Have I not oft spent the most part of that Day which is consecrated to the Service of God in idle Talk or worldly matters Isa 58.13 or carnall Delights without serious minding of the great Concerns of my immortal Soul V. Com. 5. Have I so honour'd and obey'd my Father and Mother my Master and Superiours as I ought to have done Have I not despised their Authority and refused to obey their Commands Phil. 2.14 Have I done all things without Murmurings and Disputings Have I hearkened to their Admonitions and received their Reproofs without Cavilling Tit. 2.9 or answering again 6. VI. Com. Mat. 5.22 1 Joh. 3.15 Tho' I have not been guilty of gross Murder or killing any body yet have I not been angry with my Brother without a Cause Have I not hated him in my Heart and so been a Murderer in the Sight of God Gal. 5.20 Prov. 12.18 Rom. 12.19 Col. 3.13 Have I not been given to Quarrelling and Contention Have I not given provoking Words And when I have thought my self wrong'd have I not born Malice in my Heart and meditated Revenge 7. VII Com. Have I not by wanton Looks or Gestures Words or Thoughts Mat. 5.27 28. committed Adultery in my Heart or by any vile Acts or Provocations of Lust made my self unclean in the Sight of God Eph. 4.19 Have I endeavour'd by Temperance and Sobriety to keep my Body pure and my Mind chast and undefiled Col. 3.8 Have no vile Lusts lodg'd in my Heart and has no filthy Communication at any time come out of my mouth 8. VIII Com. Have I injur'd any one by Theft Deceipt or Cousenage Have I been just and true in all my Trusts and Dealings Have I not wasted much Time in sloth Idleness and Vanity Eph. 4.28 Have I not wasted what I had in Sports and Gaming Have I not consented to or conceal'd the Frauds or Wrongs that have been done by others Psal 50.18 9. IX Com. Have I not been guilty of Lying and Slandering Have I not taken pleasure in hearing my Neighbour reproacht and evil spoken of behind his back Psal 15.3 Have I not abetted to the injuries done him by others by bearing false witness against him Have I not sometimes scoft at men for those Infirmities which I ought to have cover'd in Love 1 Pet. 4 8. Have I been carefull to keep my word and to perform all my Promises to every man 10. X. Com. Have I been truly content with my own State and Condition without coveting any Thing which is another man's Have I not envy'd others their Happier Estate and repin'd at the meanness of my own Condition Have I not more complain'd of the Wants and Evils I have sustain'd according to my Deserts than I have been thankfull for many undeserved Mercies and Blessings A. Jam. 3.2 I confess I have offended in many Things I am guilty of very many Transgressions in so much as if God should enter into Judgment with me Psal 143.2 He might most justly condemn me But I hope in His Mercy who hath promised Pardon to all that truly repent Acts 3.19 But Q. 3. Repentance Do I truly and heartily repent of all my Sins and am I stedfastly resolved by the Grace of God to lead a new Life A. I am heartily sorry for all my Sins which I have committed against that God to whom I owe my Life and Being and who hath been very good and gracious to me all my Life long and I do stedfastly resolve forthwith to forsake all my Sins and to endeavour to lead my Life in all Things according to the Holy Law of God and Rules of the Gospel for the Time to come and I do heartily beseech Almighty God to enable me by his Grace so to do Q. 4. 4 Faith in Christ Do I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Am I fully persuaded that He is the Son of God and Saviour of the World and that all He hath revealed and said in his Holy Gospel is most certainly true Do I heartily take Him for my Lord and Redeemer and trust in Him alone for my Salvation Jam. 2.18 And can I shew my Faith by my Works A. I do stedfastly Believe that God the Father sent his Son to be the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4.14 Acts 8.37 that Jesus Christ who died at Jerusalem is the Son of God and I do heartily take Him to be my Lord and Col. 2.6 Saviour and submitting my self to his Soveraignty I trust in Him alone for my Salvation Mark 1.15 I am fully persuaded that whatsoever He hath said or revealed in his Gospel is most true And I shall endeavour by God's Grace to persist in this Faith and to demonstrate the Truth of it by my Works Jam.
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-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
Glory now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Noon BLessed be Thy Name O Lord my God that Thou hast preserved me this Day hitherto Blessed be Thy Name for all the Blessings which Thou hast bee stowed upon me Forgive me all the Sins which I have committed and keep me the rest of this Day from all evil Grant O Lord that I may continue to serve Thee faithfully and truly this Day and all the Days of my Life that it may be well with me for ever and ever thro' Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour to whom with Thy self and Holy Spirit be Glory and Honour Power Praise and Thanksgiving both now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Night O Lord my God I humbly and heartily bless and praise Thy Holy Name for thy merciful Preservation of me this Day past and for all the Blessings which Thou hast bestowed upon me I bless Thee for my Health and Strength Food and Raiment Peace and Safety and above all for my Redemption by Jesus Christ and my Hopes of Salvation by Him Forgive me I beseech Thee all the Sins which either in Thought Word or Deed I have committed against Thee this Day Forgive me that I have neglected any good which I might and ought to have done or negligently done it I have forgotten Thee O Lord and I have done evil in Thy Sight But I am heartily sorry for all my Sins and do earnestly desire and seriously resolve to serve Thee better for the Time to come Remember not against me any of my past offences but be in Christ fully reconciled unto me And give me Thy Grace that I may henceforth walk in thy Ways and obey Thy Will in all Things Take me into Thy Tuition this following Night Keep me when I cannot keep my self Keep me O Lord from all evil Thoughts and hurtfull Lusts Keep me from the Power of Satan the Prince of Darkness Let Thy Holy Angels be my Guard and thy mighty Power my Defence Defend me from all Dangers and Disquiets Hide me under the Shadow of Thy Wings Psal 17.8 and keep me as the Apple of the Eye When I am awake let me remember that Thine Eye is upon me Psal 139.2 and that Thou see'st my down-lying and discernest my secret Thoughts Give me O Lord quiet Rest and Sleep and raise me up the next Day with renewed Health and Strength to do Thee Service Continue thy Favour to me through all my Life and in Death shew me thy Salvation Bless and keep Thy whole Church Continue Truth and Peace in this Land Bless and preserve my Parents in Life and Health Let all my dear Friends and Relations be Happy in Thy Love and Favour Bless me O Father and save me for Thy Mercies sake in Christ Jesus my Redeemer To whom with thy Self and Holy Spirit be Honour Glory and Praise for ever and ever Amen Prayers for Servants A Prayer for the Morning O Lord God I heartily bless Thy Holy Name for keeping me this Night past in Safety and raising me up with renewed Health and Strength this Morning Hadst Thou dealt with me O Lord according to my Deserts Thou might'st have sent me into the Land of Darkness and I might have made my Bed in Hell But O Lord as Thou hast mercifully kept me when I could not keep my self so take me I beseech Thee into Thy Holy Tuition and keep me henceforth from all Evil Pardon my Sin and preserve me to Thy everlasting Kingdom Direct me O God and lead me forth in Thy Fear and so bless and prosper me in all the Works and Businesses of this day Grant that I may faithfully and diligently discharge the Duties required of me in the Place wherein Thy Providence hath set me Keep me O Lord from all evil Thoughts which may defile my Heart and from all evil Words and Actions whereby I may offend Thee and deprive my self of Thy Blessing and Favour Grant that I may so remember Thine All-seeing Eye as to demean my self always as in Thy Sight studying and endeavouring to please and honour Thee in all things that at the last Day I may give up my Account with Joy Protect Thy whole Church by thy Power and bless all Thy People with Peace Bless this Land and preserve the true Religion Bless this House and Family wherein I live with all Temporal and Spiritual Blessings Bless guide and keep thy Servants to whom Thou hast committed the Care and Government thereof Give me Grace O Lord to look upon them as standing in Thy stead to me that by the Honour and Obedience which I yield to them according to Thy Command I may serve and honour Thee and according to thy Promise receive my Reward in Heaven Grant O Lord that the Beauty and Goodness of Thy Government of Thy Houshould the Church may appear in their wise and good Government of this House and Family committed to their Charge that this House may be to me and all that live therein as the Gate of Heaven and Way to everlasting Happiness Let thy Blessing O Lord crown all the Labours of thy Servants with good Success that whatsoever they do may prosper and man may have Occasion to say The Lord be magnified which hath Pleasure in the Prosperity of His Servants Psal 35.27 Bless all my Friends and Relations and all that have been Instruments of Good to me let all who have shew'd any Kindness to thy unworthy Servant be ever Happy in Thy Love and Favour Now O Lord be with me I beseech Thee this Day and bless me both in Body and Soul Put Thy Fear into my Heart that I may not sin against Thee Give me Health and Strength that I may chearfully serve Thee And when Thou hast finished Thy Will with me on Earth fulfill my Desire O Lord and make me perfectly happy with Thee in Heaven thro' the Merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To whom with Thy Self and Holy Spirit be Glory Power and Praise now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Night O Lord God who art Great in Power and rich in Mercy I Thy Poor Creature do here humbly cast my self down at Thy Footstool beseeching Thee for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake to forgive me all the Sins of the Day past yea all the Sins which I have ever committed against Thee Forgive me O Lord all my loose Thoughts all my rash Words all my irregular Actions whatsoever Thy pure Eye hath at any time seen amiss in me and be in Christ fully reconcil'd to me For I confess my Transgressions and am heartily sorry for my Sins Give me Grace O Lord for the time to come to serve and honour Thee by a better Obedience Heb. 8.10 Put Thy Laws in my Mind and write them in my Heart That I may know and do Thy Commandments Restrain me O God by Thy Grace from those sins to which I am most inclin'd and keep me from those Evils which I am
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
hath by Beast Take not his name who made thy mouth in yain It gets thee nothing and hath no excuse Lust and Wine plead a pleasure Avarice gain But the cheap swearer through his open sluce Le ts his Soul run for nought as little fearing VVere I an Epicure I could bate swearing VVhen thou dost tell anothers Jest therein Omit the Oaths which true wit cannot need Pick out of Tales the Mirth but not the sin He pares his Apple that will cleanly feed Play not away the virtue of that name VVhich is thy best Stake when griefs make thee tame Lie not but let thy heart be true to God Thy mouth to it thy actions to them both Cowards tell Lies and those that fear the Rod The stormy working Soul spits Lies and Froth Dare to be true Nothing can need a Lye A fault which needs it most grows two thereby Fly Idleness which yet thou canst not fly By Dressing Mistressing and Complement If those take up thy day the Sun will cry Against thee for his light was only lent God gave thy Soul brave wings put not those feathers Into a Bed to sleep out all ill weathers When thou dost purpose ought within thy power Be sure to do it though it be but small Constancy knits the bones and makes us stowre When wanton pleasures becken us to thrall Who breaks his own Bond forseiteth himself What nature made a Ship he makes a shelf Do all things like a man not sneakingly Think the King sees thee still for his King does Simpring is but a Lay-hypocrisie Give it a corner and the Clew undoes VVho fears to do ill sets himself to task Who fears to do well sure should wear a Mask Look to thy Mouth Diseases enter there Thou hast two Sconces if thy Stomach call Carve or discourse do not a Famine fear VVho carves is kind to two who talks to all Look on Meat think it dirt then eat a bit And say with all Earth to Earth I commit By all means use sometimes to be alone Salute thy self see what thy soul doth wear Dare to look in thy Chest for 't is thine own And tumble up and down what thou findest there VVho cannot rest till he good fellowes find He breaks up house turns out of doors his mind In Conversation boldness now bears sway But know that nothing can so foolish be As empty boldness therefore first assay To stuff thy mind with solid bravery Then march on gallant get substantial worth Boldness gilds finely and will set it forth Laugh not too much the witty man laughs least For wit is Newes only to Ignorance Less at thine own things laugh lest in the jest Thy person share and the conceit advance Make not thy sport abuses for the Fly That feeds on Duug is coloured thereby Pick out of Mirth like stones out of thy ground Profaneness Filthyness Abufiveness These are the scum with which course wits abound The fine may spare these well yet not go less All things are big with Jest nothing that 's plain But may be witty if thou hast the vein Towards great persons use respective boldness That temper gives them theirs and yet doth take Nothing from thine in service care or coldness Doth ratably thy Fortunes marr or make Feed no man in his sins for Adulation Doth make thee parcel-Devil in Damnation Scorn no man's Love though of a mean degree Love is a Present for a Mighty King Much less make any one thine Enemy As Guns destroy so may a little sling The cunning workman never doth refuse The meanest tool that he may chance to use Render to God his due part of thy time Treasure purloin'd cankers the whole Estate Sundays observe think when the Bells do chime 'T is Angels Musick therefore come not late God then deals Blessings If a King did so VVho would not hast nay give to see the show Let vain or busie thoughts have there no part Bring not thy Plough thy Plots thy Pleasures thither Christ purg'd his Temple so must thou thy heart All worldly thoughts are but thieves met together To cozen thee Look to thy Actions well For Churches are either our Heav'n or Hell Judge not the Preacher for he is thy Judge If thou mislike him thou conceiv'st him not God calleth Preaching Folly Do not grudge To pick out treasures from an Earthen pot The worst speak something good if all want Sense God takes a Text and Preacheth Patience He that gets Patience and the Blessing which Preachers conclude with hath not lost his pains He that by being at Church escapes the ditch Which he might fall in by Companions gains He that loves God's abode and to combine With Saints on Earth shall one day with them shine In brief acquit thee bravely play the man Look not on pleasures as they come but go Defer not the least virtue life 's poor span Make not an Ell by trifling in thy wo. If thou do ill the Joy fades not the pains If well the pain doth fade the joy remains The Confession G.S. in Psal 51. LORD to a sinner Mercy show Which since in thee so infinite Let all thy streames of Mercy flow And purifie me in thy sight My sins unmaskt before thee lye Who have deserv'd thy wrath alone VVhich I confess to testifie Thy truth and make thy Justice known In sin conceiv'd brought forth in sin Sin suckt I from my Mothers Breast Thou lov'st a heart sincere within VVhere wisdom is a constant guest Blot out my crimes O scparate My trembling guilt far from thy view A clean Heart in my Breast Create A Mind to thee confirm'd renew Nor cast me from thy Presence Lord Nor O! Thy Holy Spirit withdraw But thy Life-quickning Grace afford Inlarge my will t' embrace thy Law The Resolution G. S. in Psal 119. YOung man thine Actions by God's Precepts guide From these let not thy zealous servant slide Thy word writ in my heart shall curb my will Lord teach me how I may thy laws fulfil Those by thy tongue pronounc't I will unfold Thy Testaments by me more priz'd than Gold On these I meditate admire there set My Souls delight these never will forget O let me live t' observe thy laws mine eyes Illuminate to view those Mysteries Me a poor Pilgrim with thy truth inspire For which my Soul even fainteth with desire The proud is curst who from thy Precepts straies Bless and preserve my soul which them obeyes No hate of Princes from thy law deters My Study my Delight my Counsellers The Bible A. C. THis Holy Book like Heaven it self doth shine VVith thousand lights of truth Divine So numberless the Stars that well they may To Heaven's Gate make a Milky way Yet reason must assist too for in Seas So vast and dangerous as these Our course by Stars above we cannot know VVithout the compass too below Tho Reason cannot through Faith's Mysteries see It sees that there and such they be Leads to Heav'n's
Door and there does humbly keep And there through chinks and key-holes peep Though it like Moses by a sad command Must not come into th' Holy Land Yet thither it infallibly does guide And from a far 't is all descry'd Charms and Knots G. H. Who read a Chapter when they rise Shall ne're be troubled with ill eyes A poor man's Rod when thou dost ride Is both a weapon and a guide VVho shuts his hand hath lost his Gòld Who opens it hath it twice told VVho goes to Bed and doth not pray Maketh two nights to ev'ry day VVho by aspersions throw a stone At th' head of others hit their own VVho looks on ground with humble eyes Finds himself there and seeks to rise VVhen th' hair is sweet through Pride or lust The Powder doth forget the dust Take one from ten and what remains Ten still if Sermons go for gains In shallow waters Heaven doth show But who drinks on to Hell may go God's Greatness G. S. in 1 Sam. 2. GOD our secret thoughts displayes All our works his balance weighs Giants bows his Forces break He with strength invests the weak Who were full now serve for bread Those who serv'd infranchised Barren wombs with children flow Fruitful Mothers Childless grow God frail man of life deprives Those who sleep in death revives Leads us to our filent Tombs Brings us from those horrid Rooms Riches sends sends Poverty Casteth down lifts up on high He from the despised dust From the dunghil takes the just To the height of honour brings Plants them in the Thrones of Kings Man's Meanness G. S. Psal 8. LORD how illustrious is thy Name Whose power both Heav'n and Earth proclaim Thy Glory thou hast set on high Above the Marble-arched Sky The wonders of thy power thou hast In mouths of Babes and Sucklings plac't That so thou might'st thy Foes confound And who in Malice most abound When I pure Heaven thy Fabrick see The Moon and Stars dispos'd by thee O what is man or his frail Race That thou should'st such a shadow Grace Next to thy Angels most renown'd With Majesty and Glory Crown'd The King of all thy Oreatures made That all beneath his feet hast laid And that on Dales or Mountains feed That shady woods or deserts breed What in the Aery Region glide Or through the rowling Ocean slide Lord how illustrious is thy Name Whose Pow'r both Heav'n and Earth proclaim Humility G. S. Psal 131. THou Lord my witness art I am not proud of heart Nor look with lofty eyes Nor envy nor despise Nor to vain pomp apply My thoughts nor soar too high But in behaviour mild And as a tender child Wean'd from his Mothers Breast On thee alone I rest The word of God G. S. in Psal 19. GOd's laws are perfect and restore The Soul to life even dead before His Testimonies firmly true With wisdom simple men indue The Lord's Commandments are upright And feast the Soul with sweet delight His Precepts are all purity Such as illuminate the eye The fear of God soil'd with no stain Shall Everlastingly remain Jehovah's Judgments are Divine With Judgment he doth Justice join Which men should more than Gold desire Than heaps of Gold refin'd by fire More sweet than honey of the Hive Or Cels where Bees their treasure stive Thy servant is inform'd from thence They their observers recompence The World F. Q. O VVhat a Crocodilian world is this Compos'd of treacheries and imnaring wiles She cloaths destruction in a formal kiss And lodges death in her deceitful smiles She hugs the Soul she hates and there does prove The veryest tyrant where she vowes to love And is a Serpent most when most she seems a Dove Thrice happy he whose nobler thoughts despise To make an object of so easie gains Thrice happy he who scorns so poor a prize Should be the Crown of his heroick pains Thrice happy he that ne'er was born to try Her frowns or smiles or being born did lye In his sad Nurses Arms an hour or two and dye The Quip G. H. The merry world did on a day VVith his Train-bands and Mates agree To meet together where I lay And all in sport to jeer at me First Beauty crept into a Rose VVhich when I pluckt not Sir said she Tell me I pray whose hands are those But thou shalt answer Lord for me Then Money came and chinking still VVhat tune is this poor man said he I heard in Musick you had skill But thou shalt answer Lord for me Then came brave Glory puffing by In Silks that whistled who but he He scarce allow'd me half an eye But thou shalt answer Lord for me Then came quick wit and Conversation And he would needs a comfort be And to be short make an Oration But thou shalt answer Lord for me Yet when the hour of thy design To answer these fine things shall come Speak not at large say I am thine And then they have their Answer home The Rest F. Q. How is the anxious Soul of man befool'd In his desire That thinks a Hectick Fever may be cool'd In flames of Fire Or hopes to rake full heaps of burnisht Gold From nasty Mire A whining Lover may as well request A scornful Breast To melt in gentle tears as woe the world for rest VVhose Gold is double with a careful hand His cares are double The Pleasure Honour VVealth of Sea and Land Bring but a trouble The world it self and all the world's command Is but a bubble The strong desires of man's insatiate breast May stand possest Of all that earth can give but earth can give no rest The world 's a seeming Paradise but her own And man's Tormenter Appearing fixt but yet a rowling-stone VVithout a tenter It is a vast circumference where none Can find a Centre Of more than earth can earth make none posrest And he that least Regards this restless world shall in this world find rest The Retreat Return F. Q. Lord when we leave the world and come to thee How dull how slug are we But when at earth we dart our wing'd desire VVe burn we burn like Fire If pleasure becken with her balmy hand Her beck's a strong command If honour call us with her Courtly breath An hours delay is death If Profits Golden finger'd-charms inveigle's VVe clip more swift than Eagles Lord stop our Flight and turn our Course that we May fly as fast to thee Sunday G. H. O day most calm most bright The Fruit of this the next world's Bud Th' Indorsment of supreme delight VVrit by a Friend and with his Blood The Couch of time cares Balm and Bay The week were dark but for thy light Thy torch doth show the way The other dayes and thou Make up one man whose face thou art Knocking at Heaven with thy brow The worky dayes are the back part The burden of the week lies there Making the whole to stoop and bow Till thy release appear Man