Delightfulness and the Sweetness of all Taste and serving every Man's Will was turn'd to that which every Man desired so and much more the H. Eucharist contains and confers to its worthy Receiver all Comfort and Contentment and fills the Soul of every-one with Graces suitable to his Condition and Necessities John 6. On this Truth S. Ambrose is most Divinely Eloquent saying Our Lord in the Eucharist is to us all in all If you will heal your Wounds he is the Medicine if you be Thirsty he is the Fountain if you be loaden with Sins he is Justice if you stand in need of Assistance he is Power if you fear Death he is Life if you will go to Heaven he is the Way if you fly Darkness he is the Light if you be Hungry he is Food Taste then and see how sweet our Lord is And looking upon this Communion as your last recollect your Thoughts and summon all the Affections of your Soul to entertain your Lord so that the Perfection of this may supply all the Defects of your former Communions and let your Intention be to Communicate that so you may be enabled to finish happily the great Journey which now you are entring upon between Earth and Heaven * ⎠* Read here to the Sick Party the Prayers before Receiving as in the Manual or Primer and after them what follows § II. At Receiving 1. As soon as the B. Sacrament enters your Chamber you must raise up your self as you are able and either on your Knees or with Humble Bowing of your Head adore your Lord and Saviour and with joyful Astonishment say to him What is Man that thou art mindful of him Or the Son of Man that thou visitest him (a) Ps 8.5 Whence is this to me that my Lord comes to me (b) Luk. 1.43 2. With a Contrite Heart say or hear the Confiteor and receive the Priest's Absolution and Blessing with a fervent Desire of the Remission of your Sins and Hopes of being restored to the Grace and Favour of God 3. When the Priest holds up the B. Sacrament towards you saying Ecce Agnus Dei c. Behold the Lamb of God c. Jo. 1.29 Humble your self in the Presence of Christ and say in Heart To the Lamb that was slain be Blessing and Honour and Power for ever and ever Apoc. 5.12 13. At the Repetition of Domine non sum Dignus c. acknowledge your great Unworthiness and beseech our Lord to make you Worthy of him saying Lord I am not Worthy c. But c. as before Chap. V. § II. Num. 3. 4. With great Reverence and Devotion open your Mouth and Heart to receive the Bread of Life and at the same time say in Spirit The Viaticum of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep me from my Ghostly Enemy and bring me to Life Everlasting Amen § III. After Receiving Desire the Sick Person to let his Thoughts and Affections accompany your Words and then read what follows I have found c. My Soul bless c. O Sacred Banquet c. as before Chap. V. § III. Almighty and merciful God vouchsafe I beseech thee to strengthen me thy Unworthy Servant with thy Grace by vertue of this Sacrament that in the Hour of my Death the Enemy may not prevail against me but with thy Angels I may have a happy Passage to Eternal Life thro' Christ our Lord. Amen Thou hast prepared in my Sight a Table against them that trouble me (a) Ps 22.5 O grant for thy Mercy sake that I may walk in the Strength of this Food unto the Mount of God (b) 3 Kin. 19.8 where I shall not Hunger nor Thirst any more c. (c) Apoc. 7.16 but shall be Inebriated with the Plenty of thy House c. (d) Ps 35.9 and shall have the Happiness to sit in the Beauty of Peace and in the Tabernacles of Confidence and in wealthy Rest (e) Isa 32.18 for all Eternity After this you may either leave the Sick Man to his own Thoughts or go on with reading the Prayers after Receiving as in the Manual or Primer CHAP. VIII How often the H. Eucharist is to be received Really and Spiritually SUch is the necessity of H. Communion that unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood you shall not have Life in you Jo. 6.53 Hence the Church commands under pain of Excommunication all and every one of the Faithful after they come to Years of Discretion and can sufficiently discern the Body of our Lord from ordinary Food to receive the H. Sacrament of the Eucharist Reverently at least once every Year and that at Easter intending by this Decree to prevent farther delaying a Duty on which the Soul 's Spiritual Life so absolutely depends And besides which Precept the Church Counsels and Admonishes such as are capable of understanding and relishing this Sacrament to receive the same holily and frequently especially on the more Solemn Feasts of the Year that by so doing they may not only Preserve but also Improve and Augment Spiritual Life and Health And tho' Christ in the Text above-cited mentions Communion in both Kinds yet both before and after it he attributes all that can be desired to Communion in one Kind saying He that eats this Bread shall live for ever Jo. 6.51 58. Consequently as a thing indifferent 't is left to the Church to determine the Administration of it either way according to Discretion See Luke 24. v. 30 31 35. Acts 3.42 c. 20. v. 7 11. Besides Communicating Sacramentally and Really at the Times aforesaid there is a way of Communicating Spiritually and in Desire by uniting your Heart to the quickning Flesh of our Blessed Saviour with Ardent Affections and Acts of Faith Hope and Charity relating to Christ as present in the H. Eucharist And it is to be used of Necessity when one should receive Sacramentally but cannot either thro' Indisposition or for want of Opportunity In which Cases God Almighty requires and accepts of the Will for the Work It may also be used at Pleasure and with much Profit as often as you hear Mass and are present when others Communicate really c. * ⎠* For farther Directions with Prayers both before and after Confession Communion and Confirmation I refer you to a Treatise entitled Instructions for Confession and Communion CHAP. IX Of Extreme Unction To be read to the Sick after he has received his Viaticum Is any Man sick amongst you Let him bring in the Priests of the Church and let them Pray over him Anointing him with Oyl in the Name of our Lord And the Prayer of Faith shall save the sick Man and our Lord will raise him up and if he be in Sins they shall be forgiven him James 5.13 c. THE H. Sacrament of Extreme Vnction thus recommended by S. James was Instituted by Christ our Lord * Mar. 6.13 as an Heavenly
me in thy Justice Psal 5.9 3. Whilst she kneels before the Altar let her Give thanks to God for the Blessings and Benefits he has bestow'd upon her and her Child Let her Offer her self and her little one to the Father of Mercies and let her Pray Devoutly with the Priest for a Continuation and a Holy Use of God's Gifts and Favours during Life that after Death she with her Child â—â—y come to Everlasting Bliss thro' the Merits of Christ and the Intercession of his Blessed Mother Lastly Whilst the Priest gives the Benediction saying The Peace and Blessing of Almighty God the Father Son and Holy Ghost descend upon thee and remain always let her Earnest Wishes go along with his Prayer and let her Seal them up with a hearty Amen CHAP. XIII Of Prayer You have not either because you ask not or because you ask amiss Ask therefore rightly and it shall be given you Jam. 4.2 3. Mat. 7.7 § I. Before Prayer Ecclus 18. Prepare thy Soul and be not as a Man that tempts God That is 1. Think seriously what you are going to do For You are about to treat with God concerning the only necessary Affair of your Salvation c. Dust and Ashes are about to Speak and Converse with the Lord of Heaven and Earth c. Gen. 18.27 2. Setting aside all other Business chuse such Time and Place as are most free from Noise and Disturbance and that may give you power without impediment to attend upon our Lord. 1 Cor. 7.35 3. Consider your self in the Presence of God who does not hear Sinners until they Repent Jo. 9.31 Deut. 30.1 c. * Ecclus 12.3 Therefore in case you are Guilty of Morral Sin endeavour to put your self in the State of Grace by an Act of Contrition saying My God I am confounded and ashamed to lift up my Face to thee because my Iniquities are multiplied and I have sinned grievously unto this Day Nevertheless in regard thy Mercy is such that in the time of Tribulation thou forgivest them that call upon thee to thee O Lord I turn my Face to thee I direct my Eyes And now Lord be mindful of me and take not Revenge of my Sins but let thy Mercy quickly prevent me Be merciful to my Sins for thy Names sake For not in my Justifications do I prostrate Prayers before thy Face but in thy many Commiserations Now therefore hear O God the Petition of thy Servant and his Prayers for thy own sake 1 Esdr 9. Tob. 3. Ps 78. Dan. 9. 4. Make your Intention to Honour God by Praying in Union of Spirit with the Prayers and Praises of the Church Militant and Triumphant for the general Good of Christ's whole Mystical Body and for some particular Benefit to your self e. g. the Overcoming of such a Vice the Obtaining of such a Vertue c. according to the Exigency of your Present Spititual Necessities James 1.5 c. 5. Cave the Divine Aid that you may Pray well and without Distractions purposing stedfastly by the Grace of God not to entertain any willingly and for that end say Open O Lord my Mouth to bless thy Holy Name Cleanse also my Heart from all Vain Perverse and Wandring Thoughts Enlighten my Understanding inflame my Affections and recollect my Senses that I may recite this Office or these Devotions Worthily Attentively and Devoutly and may deserve to be heard in Presence of thy Divine Majesty Amen Lord in Union of that Divine Intention with which thou on Earth didst Praise God I present these Hours or Prayers unto thee § II. In Prayer Attention Devotion and Reverence are Indispensibly requisite and I. Attention is a serious Application of Mind to the Sense of the Words so as to understand what you read and know what you ask And this is to Pray in Vnderstanding with the Apostle 1 Cor. 14.15 Now for Procuring and Securing of this Attention 1. You must pronounce your Words not hastily and in a hurry but leisurely and plainly so that your self may hear them distinctly but you must not be over-loud in Company lest you distract others 2. You must take Care to keep your Thoughts free from Worldly Business Vain Curiosities and Idle Fancies by recalling your Mind from Earth to Heaven as often and as soon as you perceive it wandring and straying abroad and by making a Pause now and then for Recollecting your self and Renewing your Attention to the Presence of God 3. Your Exterior Senses must likewise be diligently guarded that neither your Ears may hear nor your Eyes behold the Vanities to the Discomposure of your Mind Lastly All other Causes and Occasions of Distractions must be carefully avoided otherwise your Prayers will not please but provoke Heaven c. H. Devotion consists in exciting and producing Affections of the Heart suitable to the Senses of the Words you repeat Thus for Example in reading the Psalms which make up the major part of Church-Offices your Hearts must keep pace with your Mouths and your Affections must correspond to the Psalmist's Expressions By Fearing where he Fears by Loving where he Loves by Praising where he Praises by Sorrowing where he Sorrows by Petitioning where he Petitions by Humbling your selves where he Acknowledges his own Vileness by giving Thanks for Benefits bestowed on Christians Spiritually which he relates to have been conferr'd on the Israelites Corporally c. Thus teaches S. Augustine on Ps 30. Therefore after this manner let us lift up our Voices and Hands to our Lord in the Heavens (a) Lam. 3.41 and Pour ye out your Hearts before him (b) Psal 61.9 that so you may Pray in Spirit with S. Paul (c) 1 Cor. 14.15 and not incurr the Displeasure of Heaven with those Insincere Devotes whom God Almighty Reproves saying This People approaches with their Mouth and with their Lips glorifies me but their Heart is far from me Isa 29.13 III. Reverence consists in such Dress Posture and Comportment of Body as may most promote Attention and Devotion and may qualifie you best for testifying an Humble Subjection to and Dependance on the Majesty of God Like that of the Publican who standing afar off would not so much as lift his Eyes toward Heaven but knocked his Breast saying God be merciful to me a Sinner (d) Luk. 18.13 For the Prayer of him that Humbles himself thus shall pierce the Clouds (e) Ecclus 35.19 See Ps 101.18 But all such Exterior Carriage and Actions must be utterly forborn as diminish rather than encrease Attention as savour more of Humour than Devotion and as are Inconsistent with that Reverence which is required at Prayer § III. After Prayer The End crowns the Work of Prayer the Fruit and Merit whereof depends much on its Beginning more on its Progress and most on its End And therefore better is the end of Prayer than the beginning Eccles 7.9 Hence to conclude your Devotions well 1. Examine briefly how you have
Bed-rid Man after his Cure whom when Jesus found in the Temple he said to him Behold thou art made Whole Sin no more lest some worse thing chance to thee Jo. 5.14 CHAP. XIX Of Assisting Dying Persons Comfort him that lies a Dying in the Departure of his Spirit Ecclus 38.24 HE loves at all times that is a Friend and a Brother is proved in distresses Prov. 17.17 But no time is of greater Consequence than the Hour of Death and the Entrance into Eternity nor any Distress comparable to our last Agony Therefore he is our best Friend and kindest Brother who assists us most in those our greatest Extremities Now the best Service you can do an Agonizing Person is as follows § I. Admonish him to Pronounce often with a Contrite Heart the most Holy Name Jesus and Help him whilst he is able to make Acts of Faith Hope Charity and other Vertues after this manner I Believe firmly all the Articles of Faith which the Holy-Catholick-Apostolick and Roman Church Believes and Teaches I Hope that Christ our Lord for his Immense Goodness will be merciful to me and that I shall obtain Life Everlasting thro' the Merits of his most Holy Passion I Love God with my whole Heart and I desire above all things to Love him as the Angels and Saints in Heaven do Love him I am Sorry from my Heart for the Love of God that I ever Offended him or my Neighbour in any kind I Pardon from my Heart for the Love of God all my Enemies and those that have any way Molested me I Crave Pardon of all those I have at any time Offended either in Word or Deed. I Accept with Patience the Pain I Endure and the Anguish of my Sickness for God's sake in Punishment and Expiation of my Sins I Resign my self freely to the Pangs of Death for the Love of him that Died upon the Cross to Save me from â—â—dless Misery I Resolve if God Restores my Health to avoid Sin hereafter and to keep his Commandments as much as in me lies And I would rather Die in the State I now am in than Live to Offend my God any more § II. Exhort him to Pray at least in Heart as often as he 's able after this manner Have Mercy on me O God according to thy great mercy Psal 50.1 In thee O Lord have I hoped let me not be Confounded for ever Psal 30.2 Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth Psal 30.6 O God incline unto my Aid O Lord make haste to help me Psal 69.2 Be thou Lord God to me a protector Psal 30.3 God be Merciful to me a Sinner Luk. 18.13 Most Sweet Lord Jesus in Virtue of thy Passion receive me into the Number of thy Elect. Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit Acts 7.59 Mary Mother of Grace Mother of Mercy protect us from the Enemy and at the Hour of Death receive us Angel-Guardian Assist me All ye Holy Angels and Saints Intercede for me and Succour me These and such like Prayers you may suggest to a Dying Person according to his Capacity § III. During his Agony sprinkle him with Holy Water offer him the Crucifix to Kiss by Efficacious words put him in hopes of Eternal Life and place the Crucifix before him that in beholding it he may conceive hopes of his Salvation thro' him who Died upon the Cross Admonish the Domesticks and By-standers to join with you in Prayer for the Dying Party and then on your Knees read Devoutly the Recommendation of a Soul departting as in the Manual But when the Soul is at the point of leaving the Body then all present must Pray most earnestly for its happy Departure and one of the Assistants applying his Mouth towards the Ear of the Person Dying must pronounce in a Hain and Comfortable Tone Jesu Jesu Jesu and as often as it shall seem fitting he may repeat that Sacred Name as also the following Sentences Into thy Hands O Lord I commend my Spirit Lord Jesus Christ receive my Spirit c. as before 4. As soon as the Soul is gone out of the Body Pray thus Succour speedily O ye Saints of God hasten O ye Angels of our Lord receive this Soul and offer it in Presence of the Highest May Jesus Christ who has call'd thee receive thee and may his Angels carry thee into Abraham's Bosom Eternal Rest give her O Lord and let perpetual Light shine unto her Lord have Mercy on us Christ have c. Lord have c. Our Father c. Vers And lead us not c. Resp But deliver us c. V. From the Gate of Hell R. O Lord deliver this Soul V. Let her rest in Peace R. Amen V. O Lord hear my Prayer R. And let my Cry come to thee We recommend to thee O Lord the Soul of thy Servant N. that being Dead to the World he or she may live to thee and the Sins he or she has committed thro' Frailty of Human Conversation do thou mercifully Pardon and Wipe away Thro' Christ our Lord. Amen In the Interim let thy Passing-Bell be rung according to the Custom of the Place that they who hear it may pray for the Soul newly departed Afterwards let the Corps be order'd handsomly and placed in a decent Room with Candle-Light and let a small Cross be set between the Hands join'd on the Breast of the Dead Body or for want of a Cross let its Hands be laid over one another in form of a Cross and let it be sprinkled with H. Water and whilst it remains in the House let all present pray for the Soul of the Party deceased CHAP. XX. Of Burying the Dead Blessed be you to our Lord who have shewn Mercy to your Lord Saul and have Buried him And now truly our Lord will render you Mercy c. 2 Kings 2.5 6. See Tob. 12.12 IN going to and assisting at Funerals there is offer'd you an Opportunity to exercise Three several Acts of Charity viz. Edifying of your self Comforting of the Sorrowful and Praying for the Dead And § I. As to Edifying of your self There is no better a Preservative against Sin than the Remembrance of Death and therefore 't is written In all thy Works remember thy last things and thou shalt not Sin Ecclus 7.40 Neither is there any livelier Memorial of Death than a Funeral Wherefore it is better to go to the House of Mourning than to the House of Banqueting for in that the end of all Men is signified and he that lives thinks what shall be Eccles 7.3 Hence at Funerals follow the Advice of Ecclesiasticus viz. Son upon the Dead shed Tears c. and according to Discretion cover his Body and neglect not his Burial Remember the last things and forget not Imagin the deceased Party says to thee Be mindful of my Judgment for thine also must be so To me Yesterday and to thee to Day Ecclus 38.16 c.
their Tribulation and to make and keep ones self unspotted from this World James 1.27 3. Perfect Charity because if I should have all Faith and have not Charity I am nothing And if I should distribute all my Goods to the Poor and have not Charity it profits me nothing 1 Cor. 13.2 3. Therefore When you shall stand to Pray forgive if you have ought against any Man that also your Father who is in Heaven may forgive you your Sins Mark 11.25 Forgive thy Neighbour hurting thee and then shall thy Sins be loosed to thee when thou prayest c. Ecclus 28.2 c. But if you will not forgive Men neither will your Father forgive you your Offences Mat. 6.15 And if thou offerest thy Gifts at the Altar and there remember'st that thy Brother has ought against thee leave there thy Offering before the Altar and go first to be reconciled to thy Brother and then coming thou shalt offer thy Gift Mat. 5.24 25. Hence it appears that Charity towards our Neighbour ought always to accompany and sometimes take place of Divine Worship and God's more immediate Service Because to do Mercy and Judgment does more please our Lord than Victims And to love ones Neighbour as himself is a greater thing than all Holocausts and Sacrifices without Charity Prov. 21.3 Mark 12.33 See also Hosea 6.6 Mat. 12.7 Besides these three Conditions mention'd 1 Tim. 1.5 you must also have 4. A good Intention to which the Apostle directs you saying Whatsoever you do in Word or in Work do all things unto the Glory of God and in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ giving Thanks to God and the Father by Him 1 Cor. 10.31 Col. 3.17 5. True Devotion must inspirit the whole Body of your Religious Actions and make you serve God with a perfect Heart and a willing Mind 1 Par. 28.9 For God is a Spirit and they that adore him must adore in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 by offering Spiritual Sacrifices or Acts of Faith Hope Charity and other Interior Vertues acceptable to God thro' Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 without which all outward Respects and Signs of Godliness are no better than Counterfeit Piety and downright Hypocrifie See Ps 77.36 37. Ecclus 1.40 Luke 20.47 In fine To keep Sundays and other Feasts Holy you must not only serve God in Holiness and Justice but you must be also in all Conversation Holy Luke 1.74 75. and 1 Pet. 1.15 CHAP. XXIV Of Working and Business Whatsoever you do work it from the Heart as to our Lord and not to Men. Col. 3.23 § I. BEfore you take in Hand any Work or Business make the Sign of the Cross and let it be your Intention and Aim to please Him thereby who ought to be the Beginning Progress and End of all your Actions and for that Purpose say this short Prayer Lord God of Mercy give me Wisdom from thy Holy Heavens that she may be with me and labour with me that I may know and do what is acceptable to thee Wisd 9. § II. In all thy Works be quick and Infirmity shall not chance unto thee Ecclus 31.27 The Slothful Hand has wrought Poverty the Hand of the Strong gets Riches Prov. 10.4 In all thy Works be exquisite or exact give no stain to thy Glory thro' Negligence Ecclus 33.23.24 Hence it appears that Industrious and Diligent Labour is a great Friend to Health Wealth and Reputation and it is as Advantagious to Salvation when Sanctified with Spiritual Recollection 1. By calling to mind the Presence of God or the Subject of your Mornings Meditation 2. By using Jaculatory Prayers and Silent Elevation of the Heart to God 3. By Singing with Heart and Voice Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs whilst you are at Work Col. 3.16 § III. When you have finished your Work offer it to God its principal Author Phil. 2.13 together with the Labours and Pains undergone by Christ on Earth for us Men and for our Salvation and pray that what you have done may be acceptable to the Divine Majesty thro' the Merits of our Saviour's Works c. CHAP. XXV Of Eating and Drinking Whether you Eat or Drink or do any other thing do all things to the Glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 THE first Christians took their Meat with Joy and Simplicity or Sincerity of Heart praising God Acts 2.46 Do you in like manner And § I. Before Meat say Grace not for fashion-sake and meerly out of Custom but with that inward Devotion and outward Respect which is due to God in whose presence you are and to whom you speak for this Lesson Christ taught when looking up to Heaven he Blessed the Five Loaves and Two Fishes Mat. 14.19 * ⎠* What Virtue the Blessing of our Meat has you may see in the Annotations of the Rhemes Testament upon 1 Tim. 4.5 § II. At Table if thou be set in the midst of many stretch not forth thy Hand before them neither do thou first ask to Drink Vse as a frugal Man those things that are set before thee Leave off first for Manners-sake and exceed not lest perhaps thou Offend Watching and Choler and Torment to an Vnsatiable Man Sleep of Health is in a Man of spare Diet and his Soul with him shall be delighted Sober Drinking is Health to Soul and Body Ecclus 31. passim Eat what suffices but be not greedy in all Feasting and pour not out thy self upon all Meat for in many Meats there shall be Infirmity and Greediness shall approach even to Choler Because of Surfeit many have Died but he that is abstinent shall add Life both to Body and Soul Prov. 25.16 Ecclus 37.32 c. § III. After Meat say Grace again with Devotion and Reverence and let thy Soul magnifie our Lord for that he has filled the Hungry with Good Things and thee amongst the rest for no other end than that when thou hast Eaten and art Full thou may'st Bless the Lord thy God Luk. 1.53 Deut. 8.10 CHAP. XXVI Of Discourse If any Man think himself to be Religious not Bridling his Tongue this Man's Religion is Vain But if any Man Offend not in Word this is a Perfect Man Jam. 1.26 c. 3. v. 2. § I. B Before you fall into Discourse make your Intention to keep up thereby true Charity and Friendship with your Neighbour in Honour and Imitation of Christ's Holy Conversation on Earth with all sorts of People And then Pray thus Set O Lord a Guard to my Mouth and a Door to my Lips Decline not my Heart into Words of Malice that I fall not by Them and my Tongue destroy me Psal 140.3 4. Ecclus 22.33 § II. In Discourse speak nothing but what is Good Eph. 4.29 and Edisying * and better than Silence in regard that of every Idle Word that Men shall Speak they shall give an Account in the Day of Judgment For by thy Words thou shalt be Justified and by thy Words thou shalt be Condemned Mat. 12.36
find him Yet so if thou seek'st him with all thy Heart and all the Tribulation of thy Soul For a Sacrifice to God is an Afflicted Spirit A Contrite and an Humbled Heart O God thou wilt not despise Ezek. 20.43 Deut. 4.29 Psal 50.19 But this Sorrow for Sins past must proceed from the Love of God and not from any Worldly Respect because The Sorrow of the World works Death and kills many and there is no Profit in it But the Sorrow that is according to God works Penance unto Salvation that is stedfast Ecclus 30.25 2 Cor. 7.10 Such was the Sorrow of Magdalen when she water'd Christ's Feet with Penitential Tears c. in regard wherof Jesus said to Simon Many Sins are forgiven her because she has loved much But to whom less is forgiven he loves less * Luke 7.38 c. Whence S. John concludes He that loves not abides in Death that is in Deadly Sin unforgiven 1 John 3.14 Let us therefore love God c. (a) 1 John 4.19 And you that love our Lord hate ye Evil. (b) Psal 96.10 Because He that loves God and hates Sin praying shall obtain Pardon for Sins and shall not only purpose Amendment but also effectually refrain himself from them Ecclus 3.4 4. Make the following Act of Contrition in all Sincerity and with the Sentiments of a Heart truly Penitent My God and my All I detest all and especially such and such Sins of my Life past above all things detestable I am sorry from my very Heart and I wish I were more sorrowful for that I an ungrateful Wretch have offended thee whom I ought to have loved above all things I firmly purpose by thy Holy Grace to confess my Sins faithfully and to do the Penance that shall be enjoin'd me for the same as also to avoid all and especially such and such Occasions of Sin and never to offend thee more And in Satisfaction for my past Offences I offer unto thee together with the Actions and Sufferings of Christ all the Good I have done or shall do and all the Evil I have suffer'd or shall suffer hoping thou wilt accept thereof and pardon me for thy Mercies sake and the Merits of thy only Son out Dear Redeemer Jesus Amen And that you may nor be too remiss in a Duty that requires Pains * Ps 6.7 for farther Improvement of your Sorrow read in the Bitterness of your Soul the Psalm Miserere with the following Prayer of Manasses Lord Omnipotent who didst make Heaven and Earth with all their Ornaments who hast bound the Sea with the Word of thy Precept whom all things Dread and Tremble at the Visage of thy Power because the Magnificence of thy Glory is not Supportable and and the Wrath of thy Threatning upon Sinners is Intolerable but the Mercy of thy Promise is Infinite and unseachable because thou art our Lord most High Benign Long-suffering very Merciful and Penitent upon the Wickedness of Men. Thou Lord according to the Multitude of thy Goodness hast promised Penance and Remission to them that have sinned to thee and in the Multitude of thy Mercies thou hast decreed Penance for Sinners unto Salvation Thou therefore Lord God of the Just hast not appoinred Penance for the Just and them that have not sinned to thee but hast appointed Penance for me a Sinner Because I have sinned above the number of the Sands of the Sea My Iniquities Lord are multiplied my Iniquities are multiplied and I am not worthy to behold and look upon the height of Heaven for the Multitude of my Iniquities I am made crooked with many a Band of Sinful Affections and Habits that I cannot lift up my Head and I have no Respit Because I have stin'd up thy Wrath and have done Evil before thee I have not done thy Will and thy Commandments I have not kept I have set up Abominations and I have multiplied Offences And now I bow the Knee of my Heart beseeching Goodness of thee I have sinned Lord I have sinned and I acknowledge my Iniquities Wherefore I petition beseeching thee Forgive me Lord forgive me and destroy me not together with my Iniquities neither reserve thou for ever in thy Wrath Evils for me neither Damn thou me in the lowest Places of the Earth Because thou art God God I say of the Penitent and in me thou shalt shew all thy Goodness because thou shalt save me unworthy according to thy great Mercy and I will praise thee always all the Days of my Life Because all the Power of the Heavens praises thee and to thee is Glory for ever and ever 5. Say the Prayer before Confession as in the Manual or Primer and then Go shew your selves to the Priests * Luk. 17.14 to whom God has given the Ministry of Reconciliation * 2 Cor. 5.18 in vertue of Christ's Commission viz. Receive ye the Holy Ghost Whose Sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them c. Jo. 20.23 See also Mat. 18.18 § II. Of Confession Place your self on your Knees beside Christ's Minister like Magdalen at Christ's Feet Luke 7.38 make the Sign of the Cross ask Blessing and it being given say I confess to Almighty God and to you Father that I have very much sinned in Thought Word and Deed thro' my Fault thro' my Fault thro' my most grievous Fault Knocking your Breast with the Humble Publican Luke 18.13 thrice whilst you say Thro' my Fault c. Then having first acquainted your Confessarius with your State and Calling if he knows it not begin your Confession thus I accuse my self that since my last Confession which was so many Days Weeks or Months ago I have Here with a Contrite Heart you must declare the Sins you know or suspect to be Mortal one after another in that Course and Order you ranked them at your Examination for the help of your Memory Expressing exactly or as near as you can how often you have faln into each Sin whether it concern'd a light Matter or a Matter of Moment whether you committed it with Foresight or Reflection whether you stay'd in it long or only a short time and in Sins of Thought tell whether you gave full Consent thereto or Delighted in it or were only Negligent in rejecting it But these and such like necessary Circumstances you must unfold in as decent and few Words as possible relating what you are sure of as certain what you doubt of as doubtful without any Mixture of Impertinent Stories concerning Temporal Affairs as Losses Troubles c. without Self-Commendations and blaming or even naming of others without Concealing or Excusing your Sins either thro' Fear or Shame because He that hides his wicked Deeds shall not be directed But he that shall confess and shall forsake them shall find Mercy Prov. 28.13 See 1 Jo. 1.9 Hence according to S. Aug. The Confession of evil Works is the beginning of good Works Tract 12. in Jo. and more than
Body of our Lord 1 Kings 21.4 Mat. 12.3 4. 1 Cor. 10.16 3. Your Faces and Hands must be clean Your Apparel Modest and Decent and your whole Comportment exact in every Point of Exterior Reverence Of which hereafter Ch. XII § II. N. 3. §. II. At Communion 1. Kneel down on both Knees before the Altar cover your Hands with the Towel say the Confiteor to your self along with the Clerk deeply resenting your Sins To Misereatur vestri c. and to Indulgentiam c. answer Amen with Desires and Hopes of Pardon 2. Whilst the Priest holds up the B. Sacrament towards you and says Ecce Agnus Dei c. (a) Jo. 1.29 by a lively Faith you must discern the Body of our Lord (b) 1 Cor. 11.29 under the outward Appearance of Bread and doubt not to say in Heart Behold He whom my Soul loves stands behind our Wall looking thro' the Windows looking forth by the Grates or outward Symbols Cant. 2.9 3. Whilst the Priest repeats Domine non sum Dignus c. three several times you must humbly adore Christ in the B. Sacrament and with a deep Sense of own Unworthiness and of Christ's Powerful Mercy say thrice in a low Voice Mat. 8.8 Lord I am not worthy thou should'st enter under my Roof but only say the Word and my Soul shall be healed and of Unworthy I shall be made Worthy 4. When the B. Sacrament is offer'd you opening your Mouth conveniently and your Heart affectionately receive it with Profound Reverence in Remembrance of Christ's Passion and Death * Luke 22.19 and say not in Words but in Thoughts The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ keep my Soul to Life Everlasting Amen § III. After Communion Go not forthwith out of the Church fall not into Discourse with others gaze not round about spit not presently c. but banishing all Worldly Concerns quite out of your Mind continue for a time in Ardent Prayer and in Holy Contemplation Taste and see Ps 33.9 that our Lord is sweet giving Thanks to God for so singular a Benefit as also for our Lord 's most Sacred Passion in Memory whereof this Mystery is and will be Celebrated and Received to the World's end 1 Cor. 11.26 Hence immediately after Communion in Transports of Comfort and Joy you may say I have found him whom my Soul loves c. (a) Cant. 3.4 A bundle of Myrrh my Beloved to me he shall abide between my Breasts (b) Cant. 1.13 I live now not I but Christ lives in me Gal. 2.20 My Soul bless thou our Lord and all things that are within me bless ye his Holy Name Bless our Lord in supply of my Defects all ye his Angels mighty in Power doing his Word that fear the Voice of his Words Bless our Lord all ye his Hosts you his Ministers that do his Will Bless ye our Lord all his Works in every Place of his Dominion Ps 102. O Sacred Banquet in which Christ is receiv'd the Memory of his Passion is renew'd our Soul is fill'd with Grace and a Pledge of future Glory is given us Vers Bread from Heaven thou hast given us Resp Having in it all that is Delightful O God who under this Admirable Sacrament hast left unto us the Memory of thy Passion grant we beseech thee that we may so worship the Sacred Mysteries of thy Body and Blood that we may continually feel in us the Fruit of thy Redemption who livest and reignest World without end Amen Whilst the Priest gives the Benediction make the Sign of the Cross upon your self and say The Blessing of Almighty God the Father Son and Holy Ghost descend upon us and remain always Amen Then say the Prayers after Receiving as in the Manual or Primer Because to continue thus after Communion in Prayer and Thanksgiving is to imitate Christ and his H. Apostles who an Hymn being said went forth But to fail in this Duty is to imitate the Accursed Judas who having received went presently forth to betray Christ Mat. 26.30 Jo. 13.30 Lastly Take Care to spend the rest of the Day Holily according to the Rules set down Chap. XXII CHAP. VI. Of the Communion of the Sick EVery time you Communicate and especially in Sickness and in Danger of Death you must have Access to the Table of our Lord in such Disposition of Soul as if you were immediately to leave the World 1. Infirm Persons and such as are Sick of Lingring Distempers tho' they be not dangerously Ill both may and ought to Communicate frequently during their Indisposition that Vertue may be perfected in Infirmity and the Soul being strengthned by H. Communion may better sustain Bodily Weakness c. And these no less than People in Health must be Fasting when they Receive so as not to have taken any thing at all either of Food or Physick beforehand Likewise Before At and After Communion they must observe as near as they can the Directions given to Persons in Health Chap. V. throughout 2. But when a Man is so dangerously Sick that 't is probable it will be the last time he shall be able to receive the B. Sacrament then he may receive as his Viaticum altho' he be not Fasting and with all possible Care and Diligence Provision is to be made in due time lest such an one should Die deprived of so great a Good either thro' his own Inadvertency or the Neglect of his Tenders * ⎠* Before the Priest comes to administer Communion to the Sick his Chamber must be made clean and in it a Table must be cover'd with a clean Linnen Cloth on which the B. Sacrament may be decently placed H. Water and Hallowed Candles Wine and Water must likewise be prepar'd Besides a clean Linnen Cloth must be laid before the Breast of the Communicant and other Ornaments of the Room must be added according to each one's Ability CHAP. VII Of Receiving the H. Eucharist as your Viaticum Arise eat for thou hast yet a great Way to go 3 Kin. 9.7 AFter the Sick Man has used his utmost Endeavours to supply the Defects of his former particular Confessions by a general Confession of all or at least of the most grievous Sins of his whole Life and has perform'd the Duties of Penance with that Sincerity and Exactness which is requisite for a Dying Person then his Charitable Assistant may dispose him for his Viaticum by reading unto him this following Exhortation § I. Before Receiving Beloved Brother or Sister the H. Eucharist is our Viaticum or Voyage-Food given us from Heaven as Manna to the Israelites * Ex. 16.13 c. for our Spiritual Support and Nourishment during our Pilgrimage on Earth that we may not fail nor faint in our way but may pass successfully thro' the Wilderness of this Life and the Straits of Sickness and Death unto the Region of Bliss Wisd 16.20 21. And as Manna had in it all
their Function (e) 2 Tim. 2.3 4. * ⎠* Note here that at Four several times in the Year call'd Ember-Days our Bishops Administer this Sacrament Ordaining Priests and Deacons and other Ministers of the Church with Prayer and Fasting after the Example of Christ and his Apostles Luk. 6.12 13. Acts 13.2 3. And because it highly concerns the Laity to be provided with good Pastors you must not fail on those Days to Fast and Pray the Lord of the Harvest that he send forth Workmen not Loiterers * Mat. 20.6 into his Harvest and that they may rightly exercise the Power which our Lord has given them unto Edification and not unto Destruction 〈…〉 38. 2 Cor. 13.10 CHAP XI Of Matrimony This is a great Sacrament in Christ and in the Church Eph. 5.32 MAtrimony is an inseparable Conjunction or Joining together of a Man and a Woman for the end of Wedlock ordain'd and made by God himself * Gen. 2.22.24 Mat. 19.6 Sanctified by Christ and made a great Sacrament representing and resembling the Spiritual Union be-Christ and his Church Which gives Special Grace to Man and Wife eâ—â—bling them to discharge Holily their respective Duties towards one another and towards their Children See Chap. XXVII For Receiving and Retaining of which Matrimonial Grace the following Dispositions are necessary § I. Before Marriage 1. A good Intention is required which consists in Desiring and Resolving to Marry for one or more of the ends for which God Ordain'd and Christ Sanctified Wedlock As First and Principally for the love of Children and Posterity in which the Name of God may be Blessed for ever Gen. 1.27 28. Tob. 6.22 ch 8. v. 9. Secondly For the sake of mutual Society and Assistance of one another Gen. 2.18 Eccles 4.9 c. Thirdly For a remedy against Concupiscence and Sins of the Flesh 1 Cor. 7.2.8.9 2. A good Intention must be pursued and carried on with Vertâ—â—â—s Conversation and Modest Behâ—â—iour throughout the whole Sâ—â—â—es of Courtship as the best means to Succeed in the Choice of a good Wife or Husband For House and Riches are the Gifts of Parents but of our Lord properly a good Wife (a) Prov. 19.14 A good Woman is a good Portion in the good Portion of them that fear God shall she be given to a Man for good Deeds (b) Ecclus 26.3 Thus Sara was reserved and given to Tobie as the Angel declared to Raguel her Father saying Fear not to give her to this Man for to him fearing God is thy Daughter due to be his Wife therefore another could not have her Tob. 7.12 See Ecclus 7.27 Hence in the time of Courtship all Pretenders to Marriage and especially Women must imitate Sara's Conduct who Appeals to God as Witness of her Modesty and Integrity saying Thou knowest Lord that I never Coveted a Husband and have kept my Soul clean from all Concupiscence never have I companied my self with Sporters neither have I made my self partaker with them that walk in Lightness but a Husband I Consented to take with thy Fear not with my Lust Tob. 3.16 c. 3. A little before Marriage the Parties having prepared themselves diligently before-hand must go to Confession in order to put their Souls in the State of Grace necessary for Receiving Worthily the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony and they would do well to Communicate either before or after Marriage according as occasion best Serves § II. At Marriage Not only the State of Grace but also Interior Devotion and Exterior Decency and Reverence are necessary because Matrimony is a Holy thing and ought to be treated Holily by the Parties themselves and respectfully by all present thereat And as true Deuotion and pious Desires of those concern'd in the Marriage at Cana were the principal Invitations that moved Jesus and Mary to honour it with their Presence and induced Her to represent Affectionately and Him to supply Miraculously their want of Wine Jo. 2.1 c. so doubtless true Devotion and due Reverence are the best Means you can use for obtaining of the Mother and Son of God Spiritual Blessings upon your Nuptials § III. After Marriage According to the direction of the Angel Raphael and the Example of Tobie and Sara the new Married Couple are advised to be Continent for Three Days and Nights and give themselves that while to Prayer that God may give a blessing to them in the State of Life they have undertaken This done and the Priest's Benediction being receiv'd after Mass said for them they may Consummate their Marriage not like Brutes or Heathens but with the fear of our Lord and with the fear of our Lord must they likewise Celebrate the Marriage-Feast Tob. 6.17 c. c. 8. v. 4 c. 1 Thes 4.3 c. Tob. 9.12 * ⎠* Note here First That Parents must not Match their Children against their Wills nor Children Marry contrary to the Rational Sentiments of their Parents Gen. 24.57 c. 26. v. 34 35. Secondly That the Church prohibits the pompous Solemnities of Marriage in Advent and Lent as unseasonable Entertainments at those Times of Publick Mourning and Penance For Musick in Mourning is a Tale out of Time But Scourges and Doctrin are at all Times and especially in Advent and Lent Wisdom Ecclus 22.6 Thirdly That the want of due Preparations and Dispositions aforementioned is the occasion that many now-a-days are so unfortunate and miserable in the State of Wedlock Fourthly That they do well who keep the Anniversary-Day of their Marriage by reflecting then How they have complied with the Obligations of their State by Repenting for and Resolving to Amend what has been Amiss by craving Grace for better Management of their Vocation c. CHAP. XII Of Churching Women after Child birth I make others to bring forth Children says the Lord. Isa 66.9 'T IS a Pious and Laudable Custom in the Church for Women after Child-birth to come to Church and give God Thanks for their safe Delivery and receive the Priest's Benediction In compliance to which Custom the Child-bed Woman must do what follows 1. Whilst she kneels at the Church-Door with a lighted Candle in her Hand and the Priest reads over her the XXIII Psalm let her Reflect and call to mind How the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Month-end after her Delivery carried her little Son Jesus into Jerusalem to present him and â—er self to our Lord. Luk. 2.22 And let her Pray that what she now does in imitation of our Lady may find acceptance in the sight of God thro' Christ our Saviour 2. Whilst the Priest Conducts her into the Church saying Enter into the Temple of God Adore the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary who has given thee fruitfulness of Off-spring let her piously Resolve to do what he requires and let her say in Heart to God In the multitude of thy Mercy I will Enter into thy House I will Adore towards thy Holy Altar in thy Fear Lord Conduct
CHAP. XXII Of Fasting Sanctifie ye a Fast Joel 1.14 THE Conditions and Qualities of a Fast Holy and Acceptable to God are as follow 1. Your Fasting must proceed from a Sincere Conversion of the Heart and an Intention to Appease God's Wrath and Satisfie his Justice in the Voluntary Confession and Punishment of your Sins Now therefore says our Lord Convert to me in all your Heart in Fasting in Weeping and in Mourning Rent your Hearts and not your Garments and turn to the Lord your God because he is Benign and Merciful Patient and of much Mercy and ready to be Gracious upon the Malice of Repenting Sinners Joel 2.12 13. In this Disposition of Soul the Israelites Achab and the Ninevites Fasted and Humbled themselves and thereupon God had Mercy on them 1 K. 7.3 c. 3 K. 21.27 c. Jonas 3.5 c. 2. Your Fasting must be void of Self-will and Rigor towards others and accompanied with Self-denial and Works of Mercy When the Israelites enquired why God Almighty regarded not their Fasting The Prophet gave the Reason of their Disappointment saying Behold in the Day of your Fast your own Will is found and you exact of all your Debtors Behold you Fast to Debates and Contentions and strike with the Fist Impiously Do not Fast as until this Day that your Cry may be heard on High Is this such a Fast as I have chosen Wilt thou call this a Fast and a Day acceptable to the Lord Is not this rather the Fast that I have chosen Dissolve the Bands of Iniquity c. Break thy Bread to the Hungry and Needy and the Harbourless bring into thy House When thou shalt see the Naked cover him and despise not thy Flesh Then shalt thou Invocate and our Lord will hear c. If thou wilt cease to speak that which profits not and shalt fill the Afflicted Soul our Lord will give thee Rest always and will fill thy Soul with Brightness c. Isa 58. See also Zach. 7. Vtamur ergo Parcius c. Let us therefore on Fast-Days put a Restraint upon our Words Meat Drink Sleep Sports and set a stricter Guard over our Senses let us avoid Sin and the Occasions thereof let us exercise Charity c. 3. Your Fasting must be attended not only with Alms-deeds but also with Prayer its Individual Companion on all Occasions and Effectual when used with great Instance and Perseverance Deut. 9.8 9 18 19. Tob. 3.10 c. Judith 4.8 c. Thus Prayer is good with Fasting and Alms Tob. 12.8 And as a triple Cord is hardly broken Eccles 4.12 So these three Suffrages duly linked together are most prevalent 4. Your Fasting must be void of outward Shew and as reserved as possible When you Fast says Christ be not as Hypocrites sad for they disfigure their Faces that they may appear unto Men to Fast Amen I say to you they have received their Reward But thou when thou dost Fast Anoint thy Head and Wash thy Face that thou appear not to Men to Fast but to thy Father who is in secret and thy Father who sees in Secret will repay thee And like Privacy is to be observed in Alms-deeds and Prayer as you may see at large Mat. 6. * ⎠* Read the Preface and the Five next ensuing Paragraphs in the Instructions for Lent and they will give you a fuller Account of this Duty The Church commands us to Fast Lent Vigils or Eves Ember-Days c. for the Reasons given in the Abridgment of Christian Doctrin Chap. IX Prec 2. CHAP. XXIII Of Holy-Day Duties Keep Holy the Sabbath-Day and other Feasts Ex. 20.8 Lev. 23. Num. 28 and 29. Deuter. 16. throughout BEsides resting from Prophane Employments and Servile Labours the keeping of a Day Holy requires 1. Holy Actions 2. Holy Actors And 3. A Holy Manner of Acting § I. Holy Actions and Exercises are 1. Offering of and Assisting at the H. Sacrifice of the Mass for which see Chap. XIII 2. Administring and Receiving of the Sacrament John 7.22 23. Acts 20.7 11. especially of Penance and the H. Eucharist for which see Chap. III. and Chap. V. 3. Preaching and Hearing Sermons Mark 6.2 for which see Chap. 14. 4. Reading Expounding and Hearing the Scripture publicly Luke 4.16 c. Acts 13. Passim c. 17. v. 2 3. See Chap. 15. 5. Singing Psalms and Spiritual Canticles Ps 91.1 Col. 3.16 6. Making Offerings Contributions and Collections for the Use of the Altar (a) Deut. 16.16 17. Ex. 30.16 Prov. 3.9 c. Ecclus 35.4 c. for Maintenance of the Priest (b) Ezek. 44.30 1 Cor. 9.7 c. and for Relief of the Poor (c) Prov. 19.17 Tob. 4.7 c. 1 Cor. 16.1 c. 2 Cor. c. 8 and c. 9. Passim 7. Doing other Works of Mercy both Spiritual and Corporal Mat. 12.10 c. Mark 3.4 Luke 6.6 c. c. 13. v. 16. John 5.8 c. c. 9. v. 14 16. 1 Cor. 16.1 2. * ⎠* Note here that on Sundays and Holy-days are allow'd 1. Works of Necessity as Dressing and Cooking of Victuals Looking and Foddering of Cattel and such like Ex. 12.16 Mat. 12.1 c. Mark 2.23 c. Mat. 12.11 Luke 13.15 John 5.8 c. Act. 1.12 c. 2. Such Innocent Recreations as do not Prejudice our Devotions but refresh our drooping Spirits and enable us to serve our Lord in Cheerfulness Ps 99.1 § II. The Qualities of Holy Actors and the Conditions of Acting Holily are 1. True Faith without which it is impossible to please God Heb. 11.6 And therefore all that is not of Faith is Sin i. e. is Unsanctified and Unacceptable to God Rom. 14.23 2. A pure Heart and a good Conscience because every good Tree yields good Fruit and if the Root be Holy the Boughs also are Holy But the evil Tree yields evil Fruit and can no more yield good Fruit than Thorns Grapes or Thistles Figs. Mat. 7.16 c. Rom. 11.16 Hence the Sacrifices of the Wicked are abominable to our Lord the Vows and Devotions of the Just are acceptable Prov. 15.8 See Prov. 21.27 Ecclus 34.23 Gen. 4.4 Heb. 11.4 This Disposition of Heart and Conscience God himself presses most energically when he says To what purpose do ye offer me the Multitude of your Victims I am full Who fought for these things at your Hands Offer Sacrifice no more in vain Incense it Abomination to me The Sabbath and other Festivals as Solemnized by you I will not abide your Assemblies are wicked My Soul hates your Solemnities they are become tedious to me and when you shall multiply Prayers I will not hear for your Hands are full of Blood Wash you be clean take away the Evil of your Thoughts from my Eyes cease to do Perversly learn to do Good seek Judgment succour the Oppressed c. Isa 1.11 c. See also c. 58. v. 13 14. For Religion Clean and Vnspotted with God is this To visit Pupils and Widows in
37. Wherefore He that keeps his Mouth and his Tongue keeps his Soul from Distresses but he that is unadvised to speak shall feel Evils Prov. 13.3 c. 21. v. 23. Hence that you may not Offend in Words reflect now and then whilst you Discourse that God hears all you say and that one Day you must render him an Account c. * ⎠* If any one in your hearing utters Curses Oaths Provoking Language Detractions Immodest Words c. do not Smile but Frown upon him For The North-Wind Dissipates Rain and a Sad look Silences the Tongue that Detracts Prov. 25.23 Therefore in such a Case Anger is better than Laughter because by Sadness of the Countenance the Mind of the Offender is Corrected Eccles 7.4 whereas Smiling and Pleasant Looks would Encourage him and make you Guilty of his Wickedness But Hast thou heard unavoidably a word against thy Neighbour Let it Die together in thee that is never Divulge it while thou livest trusting it will not burst thee And believe not every such Word or Report For he that gives Credit quickly is light of Heart and Sins against his own Soul Ecclus 19.4.10 Again If thou hast been an Eye-Witness of thy Neighbour's failings The things which thy Eyes have seen utter not quickly in a Brawl lest afterwards thou canst not amend it when thou hast dishonoured thy Friend Prov. 25.8 by blemishing or taking away his Good Name a Commodity better than much Riches Prov. 22.1 and harder to be Restored than they for Volat irrevocabile Verbum Yet Restored it must be as much as possible else the Sin of Defamation cannot be forgiven any more than the Sin of Theft which is not forgiven unless Restitution be made § III. After Discourse call to mind and be Sorry for the Faults you have committed in Speaking and in Satisfaction for the same punish your Tongue by Silence or any other Mortification for a shorter or longer space of time according to the Measure of your Offence * ⎠* Read the Introduction to a Devout Life Part 3. Chap. 26 c. CHAP. XXVII Of Recreation A time to Laugh and a time to Dance Eccles 3.4 THE Service of Christ is a Yoke so Sweet and a Burden so Light Mat. 11.30 that even our Recreations and Pastimes do please him when they are Qualified with 1. A good Intention in seeking thereby to preserve our Health that we may be able to Serve God and our Neighbour with greater Vigour c. 2. Discretion in observing what the Time Place and Persons require and in complying therewith as far as Modesty and a due Regard to the Presence of God will Allow but no farther For the Apostle admitting of no Dispensation in the Case says Let your Modesty be known to all Men our Lord is nigh Phil. 4.5 3. Moderation in Regulating our Affection and Attention to Play and Sport so as not to make them Sinful and Vexations nor to spend more time therein than is Requisite for the necessary Relaxation of Mind and Body wearied with Prayer Study or Labour See more of this Duty in the Introduction to a Devout Life Part III. Chap. XXXI c. CHAP. XXVIII Of Family Duties Thus says the Lord Make your Ways Good and your Studies and I will dwell with you in this Place Jer. 7.3 A Well-Order'd Family is a compleat Corporation or Body-Politick consisting of a Head Governing and of Members Governed in a perfect Harmony of Affections Interests and Endeavours for the Spiritual and Temporal Welfare of themselves at Home and the Edification of their Neighbours Abroad Now that your Families may be such each Part thereof must know its proper Duty and comply therewith as follows 1. Let Women be Subject to their Husbands as to our Lord and as the Church is Subject to Christ so also Women to their Husbands in all things Because the Man is Head of the Woman as Christ is Head of the Church his Mystical Body Eph. 5.22 c. See also Gen. 3.16 1 Cor. 11.3.9 Women likewise ought to Love their Husbands and Children to be Wise Chaste Sober having a Care of the House to be Gentle c. that the Word of God be not Blasphemed Tit. 2.4 5. See also Tob. 10.13 Prov. 31. throughout 1 Pet. 3.1 c. 2. Husbands love your Wives as your own Bodies as Christ also loved the Church and be not bitter towards them For no Man ever hated his own Flesh but he Nourishes and Cherishes it as also Christ the Church Eph. 5.25 c. Col. 3.19 See also 1 Pet. 3.7 3. Children Honour your Parents in Heart by thinking well of them in Word by speaking to and of them respectfully in Work by doing for them what you are able and in all Patience without Murmuring or Uneasiness (a) Tob. 4.3 4. c. 10. v. 4. Ecclus 3. throughout c. 7. v. 29 30. Obey your Parents in all things for this is well-pleasing to our Lord (b) Col. 3.20 Eph. 6.1 2. Luk. 2.51 But to omit these Duties (c) Deut. 27.16 or act contrary to them (d) Deut. 21.18 c. Exod. 21.15 17. Lev. 20.9 Prov. 15.5 c. 19. v. 26. c. 28. v. 24. c. 30. v. 17. is highly Offensive and extremely Punishable 4. And you Fathers and Mothers Provoke not your Children to Anger by unreasonable Severity that they become not Discouraged but bring them up in the Discipline or Instruction and Correction of our Lord (e) Eph. 6.4 Col. 3.21 That is Teach them from their Infancy to Fear and Serve God and to Abstain from Sin (f) Gen. 18.18 Deut. 4.9 c. 11. v. 19. Tob. 1.10 c. 14. v. 10 11 17. And give them when faulty due Reprehensions and timely Chastisement (g) Prov. 13.24 c. 23. v. 13 15. c. 29. v. 1◠17. Ecclus 7.25 and c. 30. passim 1 Kin. 3.13 5. Servants obey in all things your Masters and Mistresses not serving to the Eye as pleasing Men but in Simplicity or Sincerity of Heart fearing God Whatsoever you do work it from the Heart as to our Lord and not to Men knowing that you shall receive of our Lord the Reward of Inheritance in Heaven Serve our Lord Jesus Christ in the Persons of your Masters and Mistresses in all things pleasing not gainsaying not defrauding but in all things shewing good Faith or Fidelity For he that does an Injury shall receive that which he has done Vnjustly and there is no acception of Persons with God Col. 3.22 c. Tit. 2.9 See also Eph. 6.5 c. Whosoever are Servants under Yoke let them count their Masters tho' Unbelievers worthy of all Honour lest the Name of our Lord and his Doctrine be Blasphem'd But they that have Faithful Masters let them not Contemn them because they are Brethren but Serve them rather because they are Faithful 1 Tim. 6.1 2. Servants be Subject in all Fear to your Masters not only to the Good and Gentle but also to the froward For if
doing well you sustain Sorrows suffering Vnjustly with Patience this is acceptable before God For unto this you are called because Christ also Suffered for us leaving you an Example of Innocent and Patient Suffering that you may follow his Steps c. 1 Pet. 2.18 See an Example of good Servants under a good Master Matth. 8.9 and also under an ill one Gen. 31.38 c. 6. And you Masters and Mistresses that which is just and equal do to your Servants forbearing Threats yet so as to keep them duly employ'd and under Subjection * Ecclus 11.7 c. 33. passim Prov. 29.21 knowing that both their Lord and yours is in Heaven and Acception of Persons is not with him Col. 4.1 Eph. 6.9 See also Deut. 10.17 c. 24. v. 14 15. Job 31.13 c. Tob. 4 15. Ecclus 4.35 c. 7. v. 22 23. c. 24. v. 25 c. Masters and Mistresses must likewise provide their Servants with Necessaries for Body and Soul not only in Health but also in Sickness after the Example of the good Centurion Luke 7.2 c. Particularly they must take Care they be instructed in the Mysteries of Faith and see they Pray Morning and Evening daily Hear Mass on Sundays and Holy-days Confess and Receive Monthly c. In which Duties if any one has not a Care of his own and especially of his Domesticks he I fear has denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 But above all things 't is necessary that Masters and Mistresses of Families be Vertuous themselves and imitate Holy David in the Regulation and Government of his House and Court Ps 100. throughout Because what kind of Man the Ruler of the City or House is such also are the Inhabitants therein Ecclus 10.2 That is if he be Religious and fears God they likewise do the same Acts 10.2 But a Prince or Master of a Family that gladly hears Words of Lying Swearing Detraction filthy Talk c. has all his Servants wicked Prov. 19.12 For which Cause a most severe Judgment shall pass on them that bear Rule Wisd 6.6 * ⎠* Note here that it is the Duty of Brothers and Sisters as also of Fellow-Servants 1. To live in Unity and Concord amongst themselves Gen. 13.8 Ps 132. Eccles 25.1 2. 2. To help and assist one another all they can Prov. 18.19 3. To Bear with and not Accuse one another to their Parents without great Cause Gen. 37.2 CHAP. XXIX A Morning Exercise The Wise Man will give his Heart to watch early unto our Lord that made him and he will pray in the sight of the Highest and will entreat for his Sins c. Ecclus 39.6 c. WHen it is time to Rise imagin you hear the Voice of Christ your Heavenly Bridegroom saying to you Arise my Love my Beautiful one and come Let thy Voice sound in my Ears c. Cant. 2.13 14. And in Compliance with so sweet an Invitation get up quickly to Converse with him in Prayer and let no sluggish Delays bereave you of the Opportunity he offers you Cant. 5.3 6. The first thing you do after you are up Adore the Divine Majesty on your Knees by these following Acts. 1. Give Thanks to God for all his Benefits in general and particularly for preserving you this Night from the Power of the Devil and from sudden Death affording you more time to work your Salvation in and to provide for Eternity 2. Offer to God your Soul and Body with all their Powers and Faculties beseeching him so to possess and govern them by his Holy Grace that you may live move and act in and for him only and may be entirely his both in Time and Eternity 3. Divide the present Day into four Parts allotting one to Devotion another to Business a third to Refection and the last to Recreation and forecast that each of those Affairs may be done in due Time and after such Manner as this Ritual appoints 4. Ask Pardon of God for your past Sins making a firm Resolution not to oâ—â—end Him either Mortally or Venially thro' deliberate Wilfulness and Malice but to overcome all Vice and especially that which you are most subject to by avoiding such and such Occasions thâ—â—f and by doing such and such Aâ—â— of the Vertue contrary thereto 5. Beseech God to strengthen your good Purposes with his Holy Grace and to assist you so that whatever you shall think say do and suffer this Day may be for His greater Glory your own Salvation and your Neighbour's Edification And to that Effect crave the Mediation of our Saviour the Patronage and Intercession of the Blessed Virgin of your good Angel of your especial Patrons and of the Saint of the Day CHAP. XXX An Evening Exercise I meditated in the Night with my Heart and I was exercised and I swept my Spirit Ps 76.7 AT Night before you go to Bed place your self on your Knees in the Presence of God and make the following Acts of Devotion 1. Give Thanks to God for all his Blessings and Benefits both Spiritual and Temporal bestâ—â—ed on you all the time of your â—â—â—e and especially for those you have this Day received 2. Pray for Light to Discover and Grace to Amend your Faults As before Chap. III. § I. N. 1. 3. Reflect from Hour to Hour since your last Examen how you have behaved your self at your Devotions in Business at Table in Discourse and Recreation How you have perform'd the Obligations of your State and Condition What Use you have made of God's Blessings and of the Crosses he has sent you How you have complied with your Mornings Resolution of withstanding the Temptations and Failings you are most subject to c. 4. Offer to God all the Good you have done acknowledging him to be the Sole Author of it 2 Cor. 3.5 Phil. 2.13 and be truly Penitent for the Sins you find your self guilty of tho' only Venial and purpose to Amend them lest neglecting small Faults you fall by little and little into great Disorders Ecclus 19.1 Make here the Act of Contrition set down Chap. III. § I. N. 4. 5. Take upon your self some Exterior Mortification as a Penance for your Sins and implore the Divine Mercy thro' the Merits of Christ and the Intercession of the B. Virgin of your good Angel of your especial Patrons and of the Saint of the Day to pardon your past Offences and preserve you from future Failings that henceforward you may Live holily and at last Die happily And perform all these five Acts as if you were to Die this very Night and might have no other Preparation besides them for Judgment * ⎠* The last thing you do before you go to Bed Read attentively the Subject of your next Mornings Meditation or Christian Thoughts for the ensuing Day of the Month and entertain your Mind therewith until you fall asleep and as often as you awake in the Night that whilst you sleep your Heart may watch to God Cant. 5.2 and when you awake he may be the Subject of your first Thoughts in the Morning Ps 62.7 Isa 26.9 And that whether you watch or sleep you may live together with Christ in God 1 Thess 5.10 The Conclusion And now I have set before you in the foregoing Chapters such a System of Religious and Moral Duties as I intended I shall here take my leave and bid you farewel in the following Terms I beseech you Brethren that you walk worthy of the Vocation in which you are called with all Humility and Mildness with Patience supporting one another in Charity careful to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace c. Eph. 4.1 c. Converse ye worthy of the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1.26 And according to him that has called you the Holy One that is according to Christ be you also in all Conversation Holy because it is written you shall be Holy because I am Holy And in fear and Expectation of the Day of Judgment converse ye the time of your sojourning 1 Pet. 1.15 c. 2 Pet. 3.10 c. For Good and Holy Conversation is the only way to save our own Souls and the best Argument we can use for Confuting and Converting the Adversaries of our Profession as you may see Tit. 2.7 8. 1 Pet. 2.12 c. 3. v. 1 2 16. Therefore that you may be perfect and entire failing in nothing Jam. 1.4 At the end of each Month examin how you have passed it over and see whether you have gain'd or lost Ground in your Way to Heaven during so considerable a part of your Time If you have gain'd thank God for your Improvement in Vertue If you have loft confound your self for your Backwardness and resolve to live better the next Month. Because He goes back who advances not in Vertue and whosoever pretends not to become better leaves off being good See Prov. 4.18 Ps 83.8 Apoc. 22.11 1 Kin. 2.26 Luke 2.52 A like Review of the whole Year ought to be made at the end thereof according to the Form prescribed in the 5th Part of the Introduction to a Devout Life Quod fui Domine ignosce quod sum Corrige quod ero dirige ne idem momentum sit mihi Paenae Initium Vitae FINIS