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
's neither show'r nor cloud Repentance F. Q. 'T is not to cry God mercy or to sit And droop or to confess that thou hast fail'd 'T is to bewail the sins thou didst commit And not commit those sins thou hast bewail'd He that bewails and not forsakes them too Confesses rather what he means to do Praise G. H. King of Glory King of Peace I will love thee And that love may never cease I will move thee Thou hast granted my request Thou hast heard me Thou did'st note my working breast Thou hast spar'd me Therefore with my utmost art I will sing thee And the cream of all my heart I will bring thee Though my sins against me cry'd Thou didst clear me And alone when they reply'd Thou didst hear me The Offering Since my sadness Into Gladness Lord thou dost convert O accept What thou hast kept As thy due desert Had I many Had I my For this heart is none All were thine And none of mine Surely thine alone Yet thy favour May give savour To this poor Oblation And it raise To be thy praise And be my Salvation Light A. C. Hail active nature's watchful life and health Her joy her ornament and wealth Hail to thy Husband heat and thee Thou the world's beauteous Bride the lustry Bridegroom he Say from what Golden quivers of the Sky Do all thy winged arrows fly Swiftness and Power by Birth are thine From thy great Sire they came thy Sire the word Divine 'T is I believe thine archery to show That so much cost in colours thou And skill in painting dost bestow Upon thine antient arms the gaudy Heavenly bow Swift as wing'd thoughts their light carrier do run Thy race is finisht when begun Let a Post-Angel start with thee And thou the Goal of earth shalt reach as soon as he Thou in the Moons bright chariot proud and gay Dost thy bright world of Stars survey And all the year doth with thee bring A thousand flowry lights thine own Nocturnal spring Thou Scythian like dost round thy lands above The Suns gilt tent for ever move And still as thou in pomp dost go The shining Pageants of the world attend thy show Nor amidst all these triumphs dost thou scorn The humble glow-worms to adorn And with those living spangles gild O greatness without pride the bushes of the field Night and her ugly subjects thou dost fright And sleep the lazy Owl of night Asham'd and fearful to appear They skreen their horrid shapes with the black Hemisphere At thy appearance fear it self growes bold Thy sun-shine melts away his cold Enconrag'd at the sight of thee To the Cheek colour comes and firmness to the Knee Ev'n lust the master of a harden'd face Blushes if thou be'st in the place To darkness Curtains he retires In sympathising night he rowls his smoaky fires When Queen of Beauties thou list'st up thy head Out of the Mornings purple bed The quire of birds about thee play And all the joyful world salutes the rising day All the worlds brav'ry that delights our eyes Is but thy several liveries Thou the rich dye on them bestow'st Thy nimble pencil paints this landshape as thou go'st A crimson garment in the rose thou wear'st A Crown of studded Gold thou bear'st The Virgin-lillies in their white Are clad but with the lawn of almost naked light The Violet like a little Infant stands Girt in thy purple swadling bands On the fair Tulip thou dost dote Thou cloth'st it in a gay and party colour'd coat But when firm bodies thy free course oppose Gently thy source the Land o're flows Takes there possession and does make Of colours mingled light a thick and standing lake But the vast Ocean of unbounded day In th' Empyraean Heaven does stay Thy Rivers Lakes and Springs below From thence took first their rise thither at last must flow Success G. S. Psal 127. Unless the Lord the house sustain They build in vain In vain they watch unless the Lord The City Guard In vain ye rise before the light And break the slumbers of the night In vain the bread of sorrows eat Got by your sweat Unless the Lord with good success Your labours bless For he all good on his bestows And crowns their eyes with sweet repose Hope A. C. Hope of all ills that men endure The only cheap and universal cure Thou captives freedom and thou sick mans health Thou loosers vict'ry and thou beggars wealth Thou Manna which from Heav'n we eat To ev'ry tast a several Meat Thou strong retreat thou sure intail'd Estate Which nought has power to alienate Thou pleasant honest flatterer For none Flatter unhappy men but thou alone Hope thou first fruits of happiness Thou gentle dawning of a bright success Thou good preparative without which our joy Does work too strong and whilst it cures destroy Who out of tortures reach dost stand And art a Blessing still in hand Whilst thee her Earnest-money we retain We certain are to gain Whether she her bargain break or else fulfil Thou only good not worse for ending ill Brother of Faith 'twixt whom and thee The joyes of Heaven and Earth divided be Though faith be Heir and have the first Estate Thy portion yet in moveables is great Happiness it self 's all one In thee or in Possession Only the future's thine and present his Thine's the more hard and noble bliss Best Apprehender of our joyes which hast So long a reach and yet canst hold so fast Good Conscience Q. A Conscience pure unstain'd by sin Is Brass without and Gold within The Holy Heart F. Q. The Royal Off-spring of a second Birth Sets ope to Heaven and shuts the doors to Earth If Earth Heavens Rival dart her idle Ray To Heaven 't is wax and to the world 't is Clay If earth present delights it scorns to draw But like the Jet unrubb'd disdains that straw No hope deceives it and no doubt divides it No grief disturbs it and no errour guides it No fear distracts it and no rage inflames it No guilt condemns it and no folly shames it No sloth besots it and no lust inthrals it No scorn afflicts it and no passion galls it It is a Carknet of immortal Life An Ark of Peace the lists of sacred strise A purer piece of endless transitory A shrine of Grace a little Throne of Glory A Heaven born Off-spring of a new born Birth An earthly Heaven an ounce of Heavenly earth Man's Life F. Q. Our life is nothing but a winters day Some only break their fast and so away Others stay dinner and depart full sed The deepest age but sups and goes to bed He 's most in debt that lingers out the day Who dies betime has less and less to pay Man's Folly I. C. Lord what a foolish thing is man How fond is he of toyes How does he spend that little span Of his in empty joyes But for that precious soul of his He takes no further care
crave of God those Aids and Supplies of his Grace which may enable me to honour him by a Holy Obedience for the time to come I must put forth in my Soul the Acts of Faith Mat. 5.6 brotherly Love and Charity and stir up in my Heart hungring Desires after Christ and the Participation of his saving Benefits in his Holy Supper Q. Why must you thus examine and prepare your self before you come to the Lord's Supper A. Lest I should receive it unworthily Q. What is the Sin and Danger of unworthy receiving A. 1 Cor. 11.27 28. He that receiveth unworthily is guilty of the Body and Bloud of the Lord as the wicked Jews Acts 7.52 who were his Betrayers and Murderers and eateth and Drinketh * Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 render'd in the Marg. Judgment See v. 30 31 32. Judgment or Damnation to himself being for this Sin liable to temporal Afflictions yea to eternal Damnation in the just Judgment of God Q. When doth a man receive unworthily A. When he presumeth to come to the Lord's Table in the guilt of any known Sin unrepented of or wanting that Faith Love and Charity which are required in a worthy Receiver Q. If the Sin and Danger of unworthy Receiving be so great is it not safer to forbear than to come to the Lord's Table A. He that forbears to come to the Lord's Table incurs a greater guilt and Danger for to the guilt that would make him an unworthy Receiver Luk. 22.19 he adds the Contempt of Christ's Command and of the Benefits of his Bloud 1 Cor. 10.16 freely offer'd to him in this Holy Supper Q. What then must you do that you keep your self clear from this Guilt and safe from this Danger A. I must be very carefull and serious in examining my self and finding my self guilty 1 Cor. 11.28 31. I must judge and condemn my self that I may be graciously acquitted by the Lord and accepted as a worthy Receiver Q. If you rightly receive this Blessed Sacrament what Benefit shall you have thereby A. Mat. 26.28 God will seal to my Soul the Pardon of all my Sins in the Bloud of Christ with a Right to all the Blessings and Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace Q. If after you have received this Holy Sacrament you should return to your former sins what will your State and Condition be A. Luk. 22.20 Heb. 10.28 29. 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. VVorse than before For I shall greatly provoke the wrath of God by the Breach of a solemn Covenant ratifi'd with the Bloud of Christ Q. How must you demean your self then after you have received A. 1 Joh. 5.18 Col. 2.6 7. I must carefully keep my self from Sin that Sin especially to which I am most inclin'd and humbly walk with God in the ways of Holiness Psal 18.23 being diligent in every good Duty Q. What will be the Issue of this Holy Course A. I shall at length see my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ glorified in Heaven 1 Joh. 3.2 Joh. 17.22 24. who was Crucifiâ—d for me on Earth and shall for ever live and reign with him in Glory COL 11.6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in Him rooted and built up in Him and established in the Faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with Thanksgiving If any by reason of the Weakness of their Memory or want of Ability to read cannot learn by Heart the fore-going Catechisin that they may not be kept from the Lord's Table nor come unprepar'd I have comprehended the most necessary things in the following Abridgment Let such then when they can repeat the Creed the ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer learn this Shorter Catechism But if they learn this onely at their first Admission they shall do well for an Increase of Knowledge to endeavour to learn the other also for their greater Benefit in their after-receiving A Shorter Catechism for the Younger Communicants Q. WHAT Religion is the onely sure way to Salvation A. The Christian Religion Q. What doth the Christian Religion comprehend A. Faith Obedience Prayer and Sacraments Q. What is the Sum of your Faith A. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Q. What is the Rule of your Obedience A. The Law of God which is comprehended in Ten Commandments Q. Rehearse them A. God spake all these Words c. Exo. 20.1 17. Q. What is the Pattern of your Prayers A. The Lord's Prayer Q. Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6.9 13. Q. What are the Sacraments A. Seals of the Covenant of Grace Q. What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my People Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. Of what Vse are these to us A. By Baptism we enter into Covenant with God and renew it in the Lord's Supper Q. How else do they differ A. Baptism is a Sacrament of our New Birth the Lord's Supper of our Spiritual Nourishment and Growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive them A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signifi'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. What is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Q. What doth the water in Baptism signifie A. The Grace of God's Spirit Q. VVhat doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Benefit of Baptism A. Regeneration or a New Birth Q. VVhat is Regeneration A. A Renewing of the Nature of man by the Spirit and Grace of God Q. In whose Name is Baptism to be Administred A. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are you bound by your Baptism A. To forsake my Sins believe in Christ and obey him Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Q. VVhat do they signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Christ a true Body A. Yes the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No They are but the Signs of his Body and Bloud Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie A. The Breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving of the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. God's giving of Christ and His Benefits to Believers Q. What doth the receiving eating and Drinking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. The
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
most apt to commit Help me to withstand Temptations and make me wise to avoid all Occasions of sin Seeing my life is but short on Earth Lord suffer me not to sin my Soul into Hell Bless all those I am bound to pray for my Friends and Kindred in the Flesh Do good to all that are good and requite all those who have done me Good let all the Benefits I have received from them be redoubled into their own Bosoms Bless this House and Family wherein I live Preserve thy Servants to whom Thou hast committed the Care and Government of the Family and all that belongs to them in safety Grant Lord that I may so shew all good Fidelity to them that I may find Favour with Thee who alone canst make me truly Happy for ever And now Blessed be thy Name O Lord who hast as well appointed the Night for Rest as the Day for Labour Keep me I beseech Thee this Night from all Evil. Give me that comfortable Rest and Refreshment which may fit me for the Duties of the following Day And grant Lord that where after a few days I shall sleep in the Dust my Soul may rest with Thee in Glory through the Merits of my Blessed Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ to whom with Thee O God the Father and God the Holy Ghost be Glory and Majesty Dominion Power and Praise now and for evermore Amen If thou art weary and sleepy or not being able to Read canst not learn the foregoing Prayers by Heart rather than lie down at Night like a Beast and rise up in the Morning and go out to thy Work without any serious Remembrance of God or pious Acknowledgment of thy Dependance on Him Acts 17.28 in whom thou livest movest and hast thy Being and without whose up-holding Hand thou canst not subsist a Moment without dropping into Dust and if in thy Sins into Hell Kneel down on thy Knees and say At Night Blessed be Thy Name O Lord God who hast kept me this Day past Forgive me I beseech Thee all my Sins and keep me from Sin and Danger this Night and raise me up refresht with quiet Rest and Sleep to serve Thee better the following Day to Thy Glory and my Salvation thro' Jesus Christ my onely Lord and Saviour Amen In the Morning Blessed be thy Name O Lord who hast kept me in Safety and refresht me with Rest and Sleep this last Night Now be with me I beseech thee and keep me this Day from all Evil. Guide me in all my ways and bless me in all my Works and bring me in the end to everlasting Life in Heaven thro' Jesus Christ my Lord and Redeemer Amen A Prayer for the Lord's Day O Most Holy and Glorious Lord God Thou art great in Thy Self and yet good to man Thou art gloriously exalted above the greatest of Kings and yet hast a gracious Regard to the meanest of Thy Creatures The Heavens O Lord are the Work of thy Hands and Thou hast made the Earth and all things therein Thou art great in Power Dreadfull in Majesty and glorious in Holiness Psal 8.4 Lord what is man that Thou remembrest him or the Son of man that Thou regardest him 39.5 Verily every man at his best State is altogether Vanity And yet how wonderfull are Thy Works 107.8 O God which thou hast wrought for the Children of men For man thou hast made the World and replenisht it with a rich Variety of Creatures both for his Use and Delight Thou hast appointed all things to serve him that he might with more chearfulness and Delight serve Thee For man thou hast sent and slain Thine own Son that guilty lost man whom Thou mightest have justly thrown into everlasting Darkness in Hell might for ever live with Thee in a Paradise of Divine Pleasures in a Heaven of Bliss and Glory O Lord grant that I thy poor Creature may so love Thee and serve Thee here that I may at length enjoy Thee fully and praise Thee eternally in heaven In Order to this End I bless Thy Name O Lord that Thou hast appointed a Day of Rest from all worldly Labours that I might attend upon Thee in the Duties of thy solemn Worship and Service O Lord make this Day of rest to be to me a day of spiritual Refreshment and holy Delight Grant that I may this Day hear the Voice of my Saviour calling to all that labour and are heavy laden to come to Him that he may give them Rest Mat. 11.28 and make me so sensible of the Burden of my Sins that I may betake my self to Him by a hearty Repentance and lively Faith and may obtain a Holy Rest in the Remission of my sins and the salvation of my soul Keep me this Day O Lord from Vanity and Idleness from foolish-speaking and evil-doing and make me very diligent and serious in the Duties of Thy service that I may not let slip a happy opportunity of insuring my salvation nor mispend that Time which Thou vouchsafest me for the Good of my soul but seriously employ it in the Duties of true Piety for the getting and encreasing of Knowledge and Grace and treasuring up for my self Glory in Heaven Keep me O Lord from all vain worldly and wanton Thoughts which may take off my Minde from a serious Attention to Thy Word and hinder me from joining with a Holy Devotion in Thy worship Grant that I may enter into Thy House as into Heaven and demean my self there as in Thy sight and Presence and Lord send me not away without Thy Blessing Grant O Lord that to Day Heb. 3.13.18 even while it is called to Day I may hear Thy Voice Thy word with a serious Resolution to obey Thy will in all Things lest Thou swear in Thy Wrath that I shall never enter into Thy Rest O let me not go from Thy House Gen. 28.17 the Gate of Heaven into everlasting Darkness in Hell But Lord speak to Thy servant this day those words which may effectually conduce to my salvation Grant I humbly beseech Thee that I may so serve Thee this Day and all the dayes of my Life that in the End I may be truly Blessed for ever through the Merits of my onely Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with Thy self and Holy Spirit Be Glory and Honour Dominion and Power Thanksgiving and Praise now and for evermore Amen A Prayer before Reading the Holy Scriptures OPen my Vnderstanding O Lord Luk. 24.45 2 Tim. 3.15 that I may understand the Scriptures which are able to make me wise to Salvation Grant that I may so believe Thy word as to do Thy will and walk in that way which will bring me in the end to Life eternal Eternal through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer at the first Entrance into the Church LOrd Luk. 18.13 be merciful to me a sinner and forgive me my sins that make me
unworthy to come into Thy Holy Presence Assist me O God by Thy Grace to the duties of thy Service Grant that I may serve Thee acceptably Heb. 12.28 with Reverence and Godly Fear Oh send me not away without a Blessing And as Thou hast now brought me into Thy House in the End bring me to Heaven through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen At Departure from Church Forgive me O Lord all my wandring thoughts and want of due seriousness in thy holy service O let not my infirmities hinder thy Acceptance and deprive me of thy blessing Joh. 14.26 Teach me O Lord by Thy Spirit what thou hast taught me by thy word and grant that I may so remember and do thy Will that I may be Blessed in my Deed Jam. 1.25 and in my End Happy for ever through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour Amen A Confession and Prayer to be used after Self-Examination in Order to the Receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper O Lord my God Ezr. 9.6 I have just Cause to be asham'd to lift up mine eyes to Heaven or once to look up towards Thee whom I have so grievously offended by my sins Psal 58.3 51.5 For O Lord I have gone astray from the Womb yea I was conceived and born in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity It might have been just with Thee to have snatcht me from the Bosom of Mother and cast me into the Belly of Hell But O Lord Thou wast pleased to prevent me with the Gifts of Thy Grace and Fruits of Thy Goodness For before I was capable to know Thee or to discern betwixt Good and Evil Thou wast pleased by Thy Holy Baptism to admit me into Thy House and Family and to accept me for one of Thy Children Thou wast pleased to take me into a Holy Covenant with Thy self and to promise me the Kingdom of Heaven for mine Inheritance and Thou hast been very Good and Gracious to me from that Time to this very Day But O Lord my God I have grievously sinned against Thee by too great a Complyance with the World the Flesh and the Devil contrary to that mighty obligation which was laid upon me in my Baptism I have not O Lord so stedfastly believed Thy Truth and obeyed Thy Will as lought I have daily offended Thee by the Breach of Thy Holy Commandments and have justly deserved Thy Wrath and Hell-Fire I am no more worthy to be called Thy Son Luk 15.19 or to be accounted one of Thy servants But O Lord I am heartily sorry for my sins and stedfastly purposed by Thy Grace to lead a New life Psal 57.1 Be merciful unto me O God be merciful unto me and pardon all my sins for thy Names sake and seal that Pardon to my soul in the Blood of my Saviour Thou hast promised Pardon Acts 3.19 Joh. 3.16 O Lord to the truly penitent and to him that believeth in thy Son Jesus Christ life eternal Behold O Lord I heartily repent of all my sins and stedfastly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ putting my whole Trust in him alone for my Salvation Behold I give my self up intirely to him being desirous to live to him and willing to dye for him rather than by denying his truth or disobeying his Voice to dishonour him For his sake speak Peace to my soul in the Pardon of my sins and the Assurance of my salvation And O Lord so renew me by thy Grace and uphold me by Thy Spirit that I may not relapse into any of my former sins but continue to glorifie Thee by a holy Obedience all the days of my life Grant O Lord that I may love my Brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 that bear thine Image with a pure heart fervently and that whatsoever usage I receive in the World I may be in Charity with all men Behold O Lord I heartily forgive all them who at any time have done me wrong and I beseech thee to give them that still live in the guilt of their sins true Repentance and a gracious pardon that their Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus Draw forth my Heart O Lord in hungring desires after Christ and satisfie my Soul as with Marrow and Fatness with plentiful Communications of Grace from his fulness Fit me O Lord for a Holy Communion with him and raise me to a nearer Conformity to him in all his imitable excellencies that I may at length be made like to him and live with him in Glory Furnish me O Lord with all those Heavenly Graces and Holy Affections which may make me meet to Feast with my Blessed Saviour in his Holy Supper Therein seal up thine Everlasting Covenant of Grace to my Soul Communicate to me the benesits of my Saviour's Body and Blood and refresh me with the Holy comforts of thy Spirit And grant that all the rest of my life I may seriously endeavour to answer a renewed Obligation to Obedience by a constant Holy care to keep all thy Commandments Enable me O God by thy Grace to persevere to the end that I may be certainly Blessed for ever through the merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to whom with thy self and Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory now and for evermore Amen A Prayer before Receiving of the Lord's Supper GOod Lord pardon my sin and seal that pardon this day to my Soul in the Blood of my Saviour Give me a lively Faith in him that as I shall receive the Bread and Wine I may partake of the saving benefits of his Body and Blood in his Holy Supper Strengthen and refresh my Soul O God with Spiritual Food and preserve me both Body and Soul to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ my onely Lord and Saviour Amen At the receiving of the Bread say with your self O Lord I heartily accept thy Son to be my Saviour and as he gave his Body to be broken for me I give my self Body and Soul to him for ever O Blessed Jesus let me rather be broken in pieces than ever do any thing which may dishonour thee my Dear Redeemer At the Receiving of the Cup say Now Lord wash away all my sins in the Blood of my Saviour and save my Soul for thy Mercies sake Then having drunk of the Wine say How sweet is thy Love O Dear Jesus who hast shed thy Blood for my Salvation O let me rather shed my dearest Life-blood for thee than ever willingly sin against thee Behold Lord I now give my self up to thee and thy service O let me see thy Salvation Having Receiv'd say with your self Now O Lord thou art my God and I am thine both in Body and Soul by a perpetual Covenant sealed with the Blood of my blessed Saviour O let my soul be furnished with thy Grace and fill'd with thy Spirit that I may chearfully serve thee while I live and when I dye fully enjoy
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
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
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
Jesus Christ and trust in him alone for thy Salvation Mat. 12.21 Submit thy self to him and seriously endeavour to do all those things which he requires of thee in his word and Gospel and thou shalt be saved and inherit life Eternall What Duties God requires of thee whether as a Child or a Servant I have plainly shew'd thee from the word of God Read thy Duty oft and never sail to do it This is the way to bring down God's Blessing upon thee and to become happy in his favour When thou comest to be of a competent Age that of sixteen years is the ordinary time prepare thy self for the right receiving of the Blessed Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Know that in thy Baptism a solemn Covenant was sealed whereby thou wast obliged to forsake the World the Flesh and the Devill and to believe in God Iack. 1.74 75. and serve him in Holiness and Righteousness all the days of thy life Now know if the Vanities and Pleasures of this world gratifying thy natural appetites and Inclinations have drawn off thy mind and heart from the Remembrance Love and Service of God thou hast broken thy Baptismal vow For in stead of forsaking the World for God thou hast forsaken God for the world and thereby gratified thine own Flesh and Satan to the certain hazard and hindrance of the salvation of thy Soul But in the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper God is pleased to invite thee to renew thy Covenant with Him for thy Re-instatement in thy forfeited Felicity and thy more firm establishment in a happy state of Grace and Salvation For herein upon thy hearty Repentance and stedfast Faith in Christ he will seal unto thee the free and full Pardon of all thy past Sins and a Right to all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and Felicities of the Kingdom of Glory Oh think it a happy Opportunity wherein thou may'st begin the world anew with God and be in as fair a State of Favour with him and have as firm a Hope of Happiness in Heaven as if thou hadst never sinn'd against him For the Bloud of Christ is exhibited in its Virtue in that Sacrament Mat. 26.28 to cleanse thee from all Sin 1 Joh. 1.7 Isa 1.18 so that tho' thy Sins were as Scavlet or Crimson thy Soul shall become as white as wool or snow in Salmen in the sight of God And moreover hereby thou mayst expect a Communication of those graces and comforts of the Spirit of God which may enable thee to that chearfull obedience to his holy Commands which will fit thee for the fruition of all the Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace and prepare thee for all the Felicities of the Kingdome of Glory That thou may'st not fail of these inestimable Benefits do not neglect this Blessed Ordinance but when thou hast an opportunity to receive it seriously prepare thy self for it For this purpose get by heart the Catechism for Communicants And when the time of the Administration approaches withdraw thy self from all Company into thy private chamber or some convenient place and there setting thy self as in the sight and presence of Almighty God seriously set upon the necessary work of Self-Examination This I have made very plain and casie to thee in that Pattern or example of it which I have set before thee Read it only with a serious attention and Self-application and thy work is done For hereby thou may'st clearly discern thy Spiritual State which is the great end of Self-examination And when hereby thou discoverest thy Sins and Defects humbly and heartily bewail them before God and earnestly beg Mercy and Grace stedfastly resolving to lead a new Life and to honour God by a better obedience for the time to come This thou may'st doe in the use of that Confession and Prayer which is here fitted for that purpose Fall down on thy knees therefore and with all the seriousness humility and devotion thou canst make thy Confession and Prayer to God and so may'st thou with safety and comfort go to the Lords Table that the Pardon of thy sins and the Promises of the Covenant may be seal'd up to thy Soul in the Bloud of thy Saviour and that all thy Defects and VVants may be supply'd from his abundant Grace and so thou mayst be furnished with strength for his service and filled with comfort and Joy in the hopes of his Salvation Having thus seriously engag'd thy self in a holy course of life persevere in it to the end Know now Heaven is before thee Hell behind thee it 's wofull to draw back to Perdition and therefore persevere to the saving of thy Soul Heb. 10.39 To this end be instant in Prayer Rom. 12.12 and endeavour to make a constant Progress in Piety to grow in knowledge and Grace 2 Pet. 3.18 whereby thou wilt daily make a nearer approach to the Kingdome of Glory Let no day pass without Prayer Consider in the morning it was God that kept thee the last night and if he do not keep thee and sustain thee thou canst not live another day And why should he keep thee if thou wilt not praise him for thy preservation nor pray to him to preserve thee Go not out then without Prayer lest God be angry and either cut off thy life from the Earth or shut thee out of Heaven At night kneel down on thy knees to pray before thou liest down on thy bed to sleep lest presuming to sleep in the guilt of sin thou should'st awake in the flames of Hell Make thy peace with God therefore by a hearty sorrow for the sins of that day with an earnest Prayer for pardon So mayst thou lie down in peace Psal 4.8 and sleep in safety under God's protection But still think this night this day may be my last and so demean thy self as if at the end thereof thou wast to appear before God in judgment For thy help in this holy course I have here furnished thee with certain Forms of Prayer and praise do thou add Spirit and life to them by offering them up daily with a holy fervour of affection to God The tongue may repeat the words but 't is the heart must make the Prayer For that 's no Prayer to God which is not offer'd up with a holy motion a pious affection of the heart and Soul of man Pray then that thou mayst have grace to live well and then live as thou prayest and live for ever And that thou may'st so live here as that thou may'st for ever live with God in glory diligently observe those Rules of good life which I have given thee out of the word of God Read them often on the Lord's Daies and especially on those daies on which thoureceivest the Holy-Sacrament of the Lord's Supper and therein renewest thy resolution and obligation to honour God by a Holy life Live according to these Rules carefully shun every known sin and
neglect no known Duty that thou may'st be able to say with St. Paul herein do I exercise my self to have alwaies a conscience void of off ence Act. 24.16 hoth toward God and toward men And that thou mayst proceed in this path of Piety with more pleasure I have furnisht out a short Banquet for thy Entertainment with Holy Delight in a brief Collection of some few pieces of Divine Poems which may serve to imbellish the memory and delight the mind Having thus begun and proceeded Heb. 6.4 endeavour to go on to Perfection Not to go forward still in Gods way is to go backward The path of the just is as the shining light Prov. 4.18 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day To this end daily read the Holy Scriptures wherein God has revealed his will to man unfolded the mysteries of Grace and made plain before us the path to eternal Life and Glory This is God's Book and therefore to be read with Reverence and preferr'd before all other Writings in the world On the Lord's Day especially spend some time in reading God's word And when thou takest this Blessed Book into thy hand lift up thy heart to Heaven and pray for the Illumination of the Spirit Eph. 1.17 18. Act. 8.30 that thou mayst understand what thou readest Meditate on what thou hast read and heard and endeavour to turn it into practice and improve it to thy comfort and joy in the hope of glory And thus I have shew'd thee the Way to Heaven a plain path to an eternal Paradise If thou lovest thy soul delay not to enter into it and walk in it Doubtless there are thousands of young people who sometimes resolved to repent and lead new lives but being loath so soon to leave off the Pleasures of sin alas they were surpriz'd with Death and must now suffer eternall pains in Hell Be warn'd be wise be good betimes and be happy for ever Assure thy self by setting with seriousness upon the Practice of true Pietie thou shalt not loose the pleasures of life but exchange them for purer and sweeter So much joy springs up in a truly pious Soul in the sense of God's Favour and in the hopes of Heaven that it far exceeds all the Pleasures and Delights of this world and the delight of well-doing surpasses the pleasures of sin Heb. 11.25 Prov. 14.9 10.23 Psal 40.8 Eccl. 7.6 that are but for a season They are Fools that make a mock and sport of sin but 't is the speech of a serious Saint I delight to do thy will O my God! yea thy Law is within my heart The laughter of a fool and such is the Sinner that laughs while he stands on the brink of Hell and Destruction is but as the crackling of thorns under apot 't is but a flash of vain mirth which will end in bitter pangs of long-abiding Sorrow What reason has he to laugh here that shall weep and mourn in Hell But the joy of a good man is as the Day-break of eternal Bliss Psal 34.8 1 Pet. 2 3. Oh taste and see then that the LORD is good and gracious He that may freely drink pure wine will never be persuaded to quench his thirst with puddle-water He that pursues the pleasures of Lust and sin seeks to quench his thirst at a vile puddle when in the Practice of true Piety he might daily drink of the wine of Paradise Such are those holy Comforts and Joys which spring up in a pious Soul in communion with God and Christ Certainly a Holy life is the happiest life of man on earth and the certain way to everlasting happiness in Heaven Thus live then and when thou diest be happy for ever Jude v. 24 25. Now unto him that is able to keep thee from falling and to present thee faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the onely wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and power both now and ever Amen The TITLES of the several TRACTS or PARTS of this Book I. A brief Compendium of Scripture-Catechism exhibiting the first principles of the Oracles of God II. The Scripture-Monitor declaring the duties of Children and Servants III. A Catechism for Communicants for the Instruction of those who are to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper IV. Self-Examination shewing the Qualification of a worthy Communicant V. Christian Devotion in Forms of Prayer and praise for Children and Servants VI. Christian Conversation or directions for leading a good Life VII Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver or some choice Pieces of Divine Poesie for the Vse and Delight of young people A Brief Compendium of Scripture-Catechism Exhibiting The first PRINCIPLES of the OR ACLES of GOD * Heb. 5.12 § 1. Of God Q. WHAT must you do that you may be happy for ever A. Know God and serve him 1 Chron. 28.9 Q. What is God A. God is a Spirit and the Father of Spirits John 4.24 with Heb. 12.9 Q. But what is he for Excellency and Dominion A. The King eternal immortal invisible the onely wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 Q. Are there more Gods than One A. There is but one God 1 Cor. 8.6 Q. But how many Persons are there in the Godhead A. There are three 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. By what names are they called A. The Father the Son and the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 Q. Are these three but one God A. These Three are one 1 Joh. 5.7 Q. By what name hath this one true God manifested himself to men A. By the name of God Almighty Exo. 6.3 Q. Is he not as well Merciful as Mighty A. The LORD is Merciful and Gracious Psal 103.8 Q. What is he for Counsel and Execution A. Great in Counsel and Mighty in work Jer. 32.19 Q. What great work hath God done A. God made the World and all things therein Acts 17.24 Q. Is he then Lord of all A. He is Lord of Heaven and Earth Acts 17.24 Q. And doth he govern all as King A. His Kingdom ruleth over all Psal 103.19 Q. Is it he then that hath made us and all men A. It is he that hath made us and not we our selves Ps 100.3 Q. And are we all sustain'd in life by him A. In him we live and move and have our being Acts 17.28 Q. And doth he give us all we have A. He giveth to all Life and Breath and all things Acts 17.25 § 2. Of Man Q. OF what did God at first form man A. The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground Gen. 2.7 Q. In what likeness did he make him A. God created man in his own Image Gen. 1.27 Q. Wherein was man made like to God A. In Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness Col. 3.10 with Eph. 4.24 Q. When God had thus made man where did he put him A. Into the Garden of Eden Gen. 2.15 Q. And what Charge and Command did he give him
that are your Masters according to the Flesh with Fear and Trembling in singleness of your Heart as unto Christ Eph. 6.5 III. You must be subject to them and serve them diligently and heartily Yea tho' your Masters are of a froward Disposition and hardly pleased you must notwithstanding be subject to them For saith the Apostle Servants be subject to your Masters with all Fear not onely to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2.18 And whatsoever ye do do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of Inheritance For ye serve the Lord Christ Col. 3.23 24. VI. You must be faithfull in your trust and not do them the least Wrong in any thing For he that doth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respect of Persons Col. 3.25 Servants therefore must be carefull to preserve their Masters Right not purloyning but shewing all good Fidelity that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 V. You must be very carefull and diligent to do your Masters work and Will as well when he is absent as when he is present For God in the Gospel requires Servants to serve their Masters Not with Eye-Service as men-pleasers but as the Servants of Christ Eph. 6.6 Remember when you are not under your Masters Eye the Eye of God is upon you who will call you to Account for whatsoever you do Eccl. 12.14 VI. You must carefully shun ill Company and ill Courses as Fighting and Quarrelling Drinking and Revelling in your Masters Absence especially if you have any chief Place or Charge in the Family Who then is that faithfull and wise Servant saith our Blessed Saviour whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them Meat in due Season Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so dâ—ing Of a truth I say unto you that he will make him Ruler over all that he hath But if that evil Servant shall say in his heart My Lord delayeth his Coming and shall begin to smite his fellow-Servants and to eat and drink and to be Drunken or to eat and drink with the Drunken the Lord of that Servant even his Lord that is in Heaven shall come in a Day when he looketh not for him and at an Hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder or * margin cut him off and appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth Mat. 24.45 51. with Luk. 12.42 46. VII If ye are rebuked buffeted or beaten by your Masters tho' it be without just cause you must take it patiently For this is thank worthy if a man for Conscience-sake towards God endure Grief suffering wrongfully For what Glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your Faults ye shall take it patiently But if when ye do well and suffer for it ye take it patiently this is acceptable with God For even hereunto were you called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an Example that ye should follow his steps who did no Sin neither was guile found in his Mouth who when he was revil'd revil'd not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 1 Pet 2.19 23. Thus you now know your Duty be carefull to do it and so in serving your Masters you shall serve God and the Reward you shall receive from Him will be infinitely better to you than the wages you expect from them Know it 's no small Glory to be a good Servant A Christian Servant is the Lord's Free-man Every Star shines in its own Sphaere A good Servant is in God's Eye more honourable and glorious than a bad King It 's a higher Honour a greater Glory to serve God than to Command over men If in the Discharge of the Duty of your Place you faithfully serve Christ here 2 Tim. 2.12 you shall reign with him in Heaven to whom be Glory for ever and ever Gal. 1.5 Amen A Catechism for Communicants WHEREIN The Nature and Vse of the Sacraments of the New Testiament are explain'd for the Instruction of those who are of competent Age to receive the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Q. VVHAT doth God require of man in Order to his Salvation and eternal Happiness A. Deut. 32.46.47 The serious Exercise of the true Religion Q. Which is that true Religion which is the onely sure way to Salvation A. 2 Thess 2 13 14 15 The Christian Religion which was instituted by Christ himself and is prescrib'd in his Holy Gospel Q. What doth the Christian Religion comprehend A. Faith Obedience Prayer and Sacraments Q. What is the Sum of your Faith A. I believe in God the Father Almighty c. Q. How must you manifest the Truth of your Faith Jam. 2.18 A. By Obedience Q. What is the Rule of your Obedience A. The Law of God which is briefly comprehended in Ten Commandments Deut. 27.9 10. Rom. 3.31 Deut. 10.4 Q. Rehearse them A. God spake all these Words saying I am the LORD thy God c. Exod. 20.1 17. Q. Have you kept all these Commandments A. 1 Joh. 1.8 Exod. 36.27 No I have not neither can I so keep them as I ought without the help of God's Grace Q. What must you then do A. Hos 14.2 Earnestly pray to God for pardon and Grace Q. What is the most excellent Pattern of your Prayers A. The Lord's Prayer Q. Rehearse it A. Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mat. 6.9 13. Q. In whose Name and Mediation must you make your Addresses to God in your Prayer A. Joh. 16.23 24. 1 Tim. 2.5 Mat. 21.22 Jam. 1.6 Rom. 12.14 Jum 5.16 In the Name of our onely Mediator Jesus Christ Q. But how must you pray that you may prevail A. I must pray in Faith with Fervency of spirit Q. What is the Ground of your Faith A. The Word and Promises of God Q. Hath God afforded you any special Helps of Faith A. Yes the Sacraments Q. VVhat are the Sacraments A. Signs of things not seen Rom. 4 11 Seals of the Covenant of Grace and visible Pledges of the Performance of all God's Promises Q. VVhy were they appointed A. That Faith might be relieved by Sight and Devotion assisted by Sense Q. How many Sacraments are there A. Onely two Baptism and the Lord's Supper Q. Of what special Vse are these to us A. Acts 2.41 42 1 Cor. 12 13. By Baptism we have Admission into the Church and hold Communion with it in the Lord's Supper Q. But what 's their different Vse in respect of the Covenant of Grace A. By Baptism we enter into Covenant with God and renew it in the Lord's Supper Q. How else do they differ A. Joh. 3.5 6.48 58. Baptism is
a Sacrament of our New Birth and the Lord's Supper of our spiritual Nourishment and growth in Grace Q. How oft must we receive these Sacraments A. Baptism but once the Lord's Supper often for we can be but once born but must be oft fed Q. What must we consider in the Sacraments A. The outward Signs the Things thereby signify'd and the spiritual Benefits thereof Q. VVhat is the outward Sign in Baptism A. Water Joh. 3.23 Acts 8.36 38. Ezek. 36.25 26. Q. VVhat doth the VVater in Baptism signify A. The renewing Grace and purifying Virtue of the Spirit of God Q. What doth the washing of the Body with water signifie A. Acts 22.16 The cleansing of the Soul from Sin Q. VVhat is the Spiritual Benefit of Baptism A. A Regeneration Joh. 3.5 or a New Birth Q. VVhat mean you by Regeneration or the New Birth A. A Change of our Nature Tit. 3.5 1 Cor. 6.11 which being depraved by Sin is therein renew'd by the Spirit of God Q. How is Baptism to be administred and by whom A. Mat. 28.19 By the Ministers of Christ in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Q. VVho are to be Baptiz'd A. Acts 2.38 39. Converts to the Christian Religion and the Children of Christians Q. To what are we bound by our Baptism A. Rom. 6.3 13. To forsake our Sins believe in Christ and lead our Lives according to the Laws of God and Rules of the Gospel Q. Wherein stands the Lord's Supper and how is it to be celebrated A. Mat. 26.26 27. Luk. 22.19 20. In a solemn blessing breaking and cating of Bread and Drinking of Wine with Thanksgiving in Remembrance of Christ Q. VVhat is the Intent and Meaning of this A. 1 Cor. 11.28 The setting forth of the Death and sufferings of Christ whose Body was broken on the Cross and his Bloud shed for our Sins Q. VVhat are the outward Signs in the Lord's Supper A. Bread and Wine Mat. 26.26 27.28 Q. What do this signifie A. The Body and Bloud of Christ Q. Hath Jesus Christ a true Body A. Yes Phil. 3.21 the same Body which was crucified on Earth is glorified in Heaven Q. Luk 22.19 20. 24.39 Is the Bread in the Sacrament the very Body of Christ and the Wine his Bloud A. No they are but the signs of his Body and Bloud and Pledges of the Benefits we receive thereby 1 Cor. 10.16 Q. What doth the breaking of the Bread signifie 1 Cor. 11.24 Gal. 3.1 A. The breaking of Christ's Body in his Crucifixion Q. What doth the Minister's giving the Bread and Wine to the Communicants represent A. Christ's giving himself Luk. 22 19. with the Benefits of his Body and Bloud to Believers Q. VVhat doth the receiving eating and drunking signifie A. Our receiving and applying of Christ Joh. 5.12 6.48 58. and his Benefits to our selves by Faith Q. What are the Benefits of this Holy Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Remission of Sins and Ratification of the New Testament Q. What mean you by the New Testament A. Heb. 8.6 9.15 16. The Covenant of Grace under the Evangelical Administration which is now establisht as the last Will and Testament of Jefus Christ whereby he hath bequeath'd unto us an eternal Inheritance Q. What follows upon the Ratification of it A. Heb. 8.8 9.10 An assured Right to all the Blessings of the Covenant with a renewed Obligation to Obedience for herein Christ gives himself with all the Benefits of his Death to me and I give my self up to serve him all the Daies of my life Q. How must you receive this Sacrament A. Heb. 12.22 29. With great Reverence and Devotion in Remembrance of Christ crucified who is herein lively set forth before mine eies 1 Cor. 11.24 25. Gal. 3.1 as broken bleeding dying on the Cross Q. But that you may be meet to receive it and partake of the Benefits thereof what must you do A. I must examine my self 1 Cor. 11.28 concerning my spiritual State Q. Herein what must you chiefly inquire after A Whether I consent to the Covenant of Grace lead my life according to the Law of God and obey the Commands of the Gospel Q. Jer. 31.33 with Heb 8.10 What is the Tenour of the Covenant of Grace A. I will be their God and they shall be my people Q. What does the Law of God require of you A. Exod. 20.2 3 8 12. To acknowledge the true God and worship him alone as God to fanctifie the Sabbath and honour my Parents Q. And what does it forbid A. Idolatry Exod. 20.4 5 7 13 17. and Abuse of God's Name Murder Adultery Thest Lying and coveting what is another man's Q. What does God in the Gospel require of you A. Mark 1.15 1 Joh. 3.23 2 Pet. 1.7 Repentance and Faith Brotherly Love and Charity Q. In examining your self concerning these Evangelical Graces what must you inquire A. 2 Cor. 7.10 11. Whether I am heartily sorry for all my sins and stedfastly resolved to lead a new Life Gal 3.21 22. Rom. 15.12 Acts 16.31 1 Pet. 1.22 4.8 whether I stedfastly believe the Promises of the Gospel and put my whole Trust in Christ for my Salvation whether I unfeignedly love the Children of God as my Brethren in Christ and am in Charity with all men Q. But wherein must you exercise this Charity A. Mat. 5.44 6.14 15. Rom. 12.20 21. Epb. 4.28 Gal. 6.10 In loving mine Enemies in forgiving of Wrongs in doing Good against Evil in releiving according to my Ability them that are in want and doing Good as I have opportunity to all men Q. But why are these Graces of Faith and Brotherly Love and Charity especially required for the right receiving of the Lord's Supper A. Mat. 26.28 Luk. 24.47 Mat. 18.34 6.14 Because the Bloud of Christ is therein exhibited for the Remission of Sins and without Repentance there is no Remission and if we do not from our Hearts for give them that have trespassed against us which is an Act of Christian Charity God will not forgive our Trespasses against him And lastly nothing can be more necessary than brotherly Love in the Lord's Supper which is a Feast of Loves and the Communion of Saints 1 Cor. 10.17 Gen. 43.16 wherein as the Brethren of Joseph with him we feast with our Elder Brother Jesus Q. When you have thus examin'd your self concerning your spiritual State what must you further do that you may rightly receive this Holy Supper A. 1 Pet. 5 6. I must cast my self down before God and with Sorrow in my Heart 1 Joh. 1.9 make an humble Confession of my Sins and earnestly implore Mercy in the free pardon of them in the Bloud of my Saviour 1 Thess 3.10 I must bewail my weaknesses and wants and earnestly
have told a Lye shall not be believed when he speaks Truth God for one Lye struck Ananias and Sapphira with sudden death Act. 5.1 10. And yet the greatest punishment of Lying remains in Hell Rev. 22.15 For whosoever loveth or maketh a Lye shall be shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven Joh. 8.44 Lying is the Devil's sin and subjects man to his punishment Rev. 21.8 For All Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second death Lye not to excuse a Fault What will it avail you to seem innocent before men if you become doubly guilty before God To escape a rebuke from man will you venture to incur the wrath of God What folly is it for one to avoid the pricking of a Pin to run upon the point of a Sword Though God do not punish the fault are you sure he will pardon the Lye To presume is the way to perish Know God will not pardon it except you repent And what desperate Folly is it for a man to do that which he knowes before he shall either certainly repent or must Eternally perish Lye not for gain It s a woful gain which is acquired by the loss of God's favour and an immortal Soul Lye not at all He that tells a Lye strikes at God and stabs his own Soul When Lying shall mourn in Hell Truth shall fit triumphant in Heaven IV. Shun swearing and cursing as much as you do Hell and Damnation For if you become guilty of the sin Mat. 5.34 37. how can you escape the punishment Swear not at all saith our Saviour but let your Communication be yea yea nay nay Yea saith the Apostle Above all things Jam. 5.12 my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Earth neither by any other Oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation For most certain it is Exod. 20.7 God will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain Curse none of God's creatures least God curse you It s the Character of a wicked wretch Psal 10.7.109.17 His mouth is full of cursing as he loved cursing saith the Divine Prophet so let it come unto him as he delighted not in Blessing so let it be far from him How dreadful will the State of Swearers and Cursers be when Christ Jesus the Judge of the world shall say to them Mat. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels Let not your words then swell with the poyson of Oaths or Curses He that shoots these impoison'd arrowes up towards Heaven shall at length find they will fall down on his own head I saw saith St. John Rev. 16.13 three unclean Spirits like frogs come out of the Mouth of the false Prophet Surely an Oath or a Curse coming out of the Mouth of a Christian is as monstrous as if you should see a Toad coming out of the Mouth of a man If the Spirit of God be in the heart how can the Language of Hell fall from the lips V. Provoke not any to Anger and be not your self soon or long Angry A man in Anger is as a House on fire If a fire be kindled in a house you should endeavour to quench it but when there is none it s a great wickedness to kindle it He is a very mischievous Fool that sets his own house on fire When Anger is join'd with desire of revenge the house is set on fire of Hell Matt. 5.21.22 Rash Anger is a degree of Murder And therefore though provoked by an injury Be not hasty in thy Spirit to be angry Eccl. 7.9 for Anger resteth in the Bosom of Eools Anger in excess opens a door to the Devil where some evil there that is a just cause of anger Eph. 4.26 is done Be ye Angry and sin not let not the Sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the Devil He that lies down to sleep in his Anger hath the Devil for his Bed-fellow Consider there is none can so much provoke you to anger as you daily provoke God If he who is so great bear with you how much more ought you to bear with others If you become a Fire-brand on earth take heed least God make you one in Hell Know nothing does better become a Christian than the meekness and gentleness of Christ Put on therefore as the Elect of God Col. 3.12.13 Holy and Beloved Bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye VI. Flee youthful Lusts 2 Tim. 2.22 and endeavour to preserve a chast mind in a pure Body Defile not that Body with Lust which was washt with Christ's Blood in Baptism Know your Body is the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.19 c. which was consecrated by Baptism to his Holy Service Now 3.17 if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy Now the body of man is not left defil'd by fleshly lusts then the Temple of God by being turn'd into a loathsome stie for filthy swine As he therefore who hath call'd you to the Profession of Christianity is Holy 1 Pet. 1.15 so be ye Holy and pure both in Body and Mind For this is the will of God 1 Thes 4.3.4 5 7. even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that everyone of you should know how to possess his Vessel his * 1 Sam. 21.5 Body the Vessel of his Soul and for his Food in Sanctification and Honour not in the Lust of concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God for God hath not call'd us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness If Saints 1 Joh. 3.2 ye are the Sons of God the Brethren of Christ and Heirs of Heaven Rom. 8.17 Col. 3.4 And when Christ who is our Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory Now every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 keepeth himself chast even as he is †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chast and pure The happiness of such chast and pure persons in the presence of God in Heaven was represented to St. John in Vision I looked Rev. 14.1 5. saith he and lo a Lamb the Lord Jesus Christ stood on the Mount Sion and with him an Hundred Fourty and Four Thousand having his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads And I heard a voice from Heaven as the voice of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder and I heard the voice of Harpers harping upon their Harps and they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders the Angels and Saints in Heaven and no man
had straight forward gone To endless death but thou dost pull And turn us round to look on one VVhom if we were not very dull VVe could not choose but look on still Since there is no place so alone The which he doth not fill Sundayes the Pillars are On which Heaven's Palace arched lies The other dayes fill up the spare And hollow room with vanities They are the fruitful Beds and Borders In God's rich Garden that is bare VVhich parts their ranks and orders The Sundayes of man's Life Threaded together on time's string Make bracelets to adorn the wife Of the Eternal Glorious King On Sunday Heaven's Gate stands ope Blessings are plentiful and rife More plentiful than hope This day my Saviour rose And did inclose this Light for his That as each Beast his Manger knowes Man might not of his Fodder miss Christ hath took in this piece of ground And made a Garden there for those VVho want Herbs for their wound The Rest of our Creation Our great Redeemer did remove VVith the same shake which at his Passion Did earth and all things with it move As Sampson bore the doors away Christ's hands though nailed wrought our Salvation And did unhinge that day The brightness of that day VVe sullied by our foul offence VVherefore that Robe we cast away Having a new at his expence VVhose Drops of Blood paid the full price That was required to make us gay And fit for Paradise Thou art a day of Mirth And where the week dayes trail on ground Thy Flight is higher as thy Birth O let me take thee at the bound Leaping with thee from seven to seven Till that we both being toss'd from Earth Fly hand in hand to Heaven The Church G. S. in Psal 84. O how amiable are Thy abodes great God of war Happy men who spend their dayes In thy Courts there sing thy praise Happy who on thee depend Thine their way and thou their end One day in thy Courts alone Far exceeds a Million In thy house contemn'd and poor I had rather keep a door Than with wicked men possess All that they call happiness O thou Shield of our defence O thou Sun whose influence Sweetly glides into our hearts Thou who all to thine imparts Happy O thrice happy he VVho alone depends on thee The Young Man's Mirth F. Q. * Eccl. 11.9 Young man Rejoyce what jolly mirth is here Let thy heart chear thee what delicious chear In thy Young dayes thy cares will relish sweeter Walk thy own wayes thy cares will pass the fleeter Please thine own heart carve where it likes thee best Delight thine Eyes and be a joyful Guest But know withall the day will come whereon Thy Judge will doom thee for the deeds th' hast done O what a Feast O what a reckoning 's here Thy cates are sweet the shot 's extreamly dear Grace G. H. My Stock lies dead and no increase Doth my dull Husbandry improve O let thy Graces without cease Drop from above If still the Sun should hide his Face Thy house would but a Dungeon prove Thy works nights Captives O let Grace Drop from above The Dew doth every Morning fall And shall the Dew out-strip thy Dove The Dew for which Grass cannot call Drop from above Death is still working like a Mole And digs my Grave at each remove Let Grace work too and on my Soul Drop from above Sin is still hammering my heart Unto a hardness vold of love Let suppling Grace to cross his Art Drop from above O come for thou dost know the way Or if to me thou wilt not move Remove me where I need not say Drop from above Contentment R. S. I dwell in Grace's Court Enricht with Virtue 's rights Faith guides my wit Love leads my will Hope all my mind's delights In lowly vales I mount To pleasure's highest pitch My honest meanness Honour brings My poor Estate is rich My Conscience is my Crown Contented thoughts my rest My heart is happy in it self My Bliss is in my Breast Enough I reckon wealth A mean the surest Lot That lies too high for base contempt Too low for envies shot My wishes are but few All easie to fulfil I make the limits of my power The bounds unto my will I feel no care of Coin VVell-doing is my wealth My mind to me an Empire is VVhile Grace affordeth health Prosperity F. Q. Take heed thou prosperous sinner how thou liv'st In sin and thriv'st Thou that dost flourish in thy heaps of Gold And Sums untold Thou that hadst never reason to complain Of Cross or Pain VVhose unafflicted Conscience never found Nor check nor wound Believe it Prosper thy deceitful lease Affords thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Thy Golden heaps are nothing but the price Of Paradise Thy flatt'ring pleasures and thy aery joyes But painted toyes Thy peaceful Conscience is but like a dog Ty'd in a clog Believe it Prosper thy deceitful Lease Allows thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Thy heaps of Gold will stand thee in no steed At greatest need Thy empty pleasure will convert thy laughter To groans hereafter Thy silent Conscience when inlarg'd will roar And rage the more Believe it Prosper thy deceitful lease Affords thee neither wealth nor joy nor peace Paradise G. H. I bless thee Lord because I GROW Among thy trees which in a ROW To thee both Fruit and Order OW What open Force or hidden CHARM Can blast my Fruit or bring me HARM While the inclosure is thine ARM. Inclose me still for fear I START Be to me rather sharp and TART Then let me want thy hand and ART When thou dost greater Judgments SPARE And with thy knife but prune and PARE Ev'n fruitful trees more fruitful ARE. Such sharpness showes the sweetest FREND Such cuttings rather heal then REND And such beginnings touch their END Several sins F. Q. Drunkenness It is a Thief that oft before his face Steals man away and layes a beast in 's place Cross sin It is a show'r which e're we can get in And find a shelter wets us to the skin Sin of Infirmity Is like the falling of an April-show'r 'T is often rain and sun-shine in an hour Sin of Custom Is a long show'r beginning withthe light Oft-times continuing till the dead of night Sin of Ignorance It is a hideous mist that wets amain Though it appears not in the form of rain Crying sin It is a sudden show'r that tears in sunder The cope of Heaven and alway comes with thunder Sin of Delight Is like a feather'd show'r of snow not felt But soaks to th' very skin when e're it melt Sin of Presumption Does like a show'r of hail both wet and wound With sudden death or strikes us to the ground The sin of Sins It is a sulph'rous show'r like that which fell On Sodom strikes and strikes to th' pit of Hell Lord let thy saving Grace thy servants shrow'd Till we arrive where
To fit it for immortal bliss Such thoughts too serious are Himself to every pleasure gives And drowns his soul in lust In all destructive sins he lives 'Till levell'd with the dust Give me O Lord that pious care And that obsequious love That all my actions may declare I seek that place above Where we from sin exempt shall be From sorrow and from tears And where no trouble we shall see Nor be disturb'd with sears Christ Crucified R. F. Behold and see if ever any pain Did match his sorrow who for us was slain Lo God bleeds on the Cross high Heav'n descends In blood to make man and his Maker friends When guilty man lay doom'd Eternally To Death and Hell ev'n God himself could dye And smile upon those wounds that spear that grave Which our Rebellion merited and gave This love exceeds all height yet I confess 'T was God that did it how could it be less Death J. D. Death be nor proud though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful for thou art not so For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow Die not poor death nor yet canst thou kill me From rest and sleep which but thy picture be Much pleasure then from thee much more must flow And soonest our best men with thee do go Rest of their bones and souls delivery Th' art slave to fate chance Kings and desperate men And dost with poyson war and sickness dwell Hard pains or poppy make us sleep as well And better then thy stroke why swell'st thou then One short sleep past we wake Eternally And death shall be no more death thou shalt dye The Resurrection I. D. At the round earth's imagin'd corners blow Your trumpets Angels men arise arise From death you numberless infinities Of souls unto your scatter'd bodies go All whom one floud did and fire shall or'ethrow All whom war death age agues tyrannies Despair law chance hath slain and you whose eyes Shall behold God and never tast death's wo. But let them sleep Lord and me mourn a space For if above all these my sins abound 'T is late to ask abundance of thy Grace When we are there Here on this lowly ground Teach me how to repent for that 's as good As if th' ' adst seal'd my pardon with thy blood The Judgment-Day R. C. Hear'st thou my Soul what serious things The Prophets say the Psalmist sings Of a strict Judge from whose sharp ray The world in flames shall fly away O that fire before whose face Heav'n and Earth shall find no place O those eyes whose angry light Must be the day of that dread night O that trump whose blast shall run An even round with th' circling sun And urge the murm'ring graves to bring Pale Mankind forth to meet their King Horrour of nature Hell and Death When a deep groan shall from beneath Cry out We come we come and all The caves of night answer one call O that book whose leaves so bright Will set the world in severe light O the Judge whose Hand whose Eye None can endure yet none can fly Yet thou giv'st leave dread Lord that we Take shelter from thy self in thee And with the wings of thine own Dove Fly to thy Sceptre of soft love Mercy my Judge mercy I cry With blushing cheek and bleeding eye The conscious colours of my sin Are red without and pale within O let thine own soft bowels pay Thy self and so discharge that day If sin can sigh love can forgive O say the word my soul shall live O when thy last frown shall proclaim The flocks of goats to folds of flame And all thy lost sheep found shall be Let come ye blessed then call me Heaven G. F. Behold this house where man doth now reside The flow'rs pour out their odours in his way To serve him all the creatures take a pride The winds do sweep his chambers ev'ry day And clouds do wash his rooms the ceiling gay Starred alost the gilded knobs imbrave If such a house God to another gave How shine those glitt'ring Courts he for himself will have And if a sullen cloud as sad as night In which the Sun may seem imbodied Depur'd of all his dross we see so white Burning in melted Gold his watry head Or round with Ivory edges silvered What Lustre super-excellent will he Lighten on those that shall his sun-shine see In that all glorious Court in which all glories be If but one Sun with his diffusive fires Can paint the Stars and the whole world with light And joy and life into each heart inspires And ev'ry Saint shall shine in Heaven as bright As doth the Sun in his transcendent might As saith may well believe what truth once sayes What shall so many Suns united Rayes But dazle all the eyes that now in Heav'n we praise Here that bright band that now in triumph shines And that before they were invested thus In earthly bodies carried Heavenly minds Pitch round about a Throne most glorious Their sunny tents and houses luminous All their Eternal day in Songs employing Joying their end without end of their joying While their Almighty Prince destruction is destroying Full but yet never cloy'd with what might whet And dull the keenest craving Appetite Where never Sun did rise nor ever set But one Eternal day and endless light Gives time to those whose time is infinite Speaking with thought obtaining without see Beholding him whom never eye could see And magnifying him that cannot greater be How can such joy as this want words to speak And yet what words can speak such joy as this Far from the world that might their quiet break Here the glad souls the face of beauty kiss Pour'd out in pleasure on their beds of bliss And drunk with Nectar-Torrents ever hold Their eyes on him whose Graces manifold The more they do behold the more they would behold Happiness F. Q. I love and have some cause to love the earth She is my Makers creature therefore good She is my Mother for she gave me birth She is my tender Nurse she gives me food But what 's a creature Lord compar'd with thee Or what 's my Mother or my Nurse to me I love the Air her dainty sweets refresh My drooping soul and to new sweets invite me Her shrill-mouth'd quire sustain me with their flesh And with their Polyphonian notes delight me But what 's the air or all the sweets that she Can bless my Soul withal compar'd to thee I love the Sea she is my fellow-creature My careful Purveyor she provides me store She walls me round she makes my diet greater She wasts my treasure from a forreign shore But Lord of Oceans when compar'd with thee What is the Ocean or her wealth to me To Heaven's high City I direct my Journey Whose spangled Suburbs entertain mine eye Mine eye by contemplations great attorney Transcends the Crystal pavement of the Sky But what is Heav'n great God compar'd to thee Without thy presence Heav'n's no Heaven to me Without thy presence earth gives no refection Without thy presence sea affords no treasure Without thy presence air 's a rank infection Without thy presence Heav'n it self 's no pleasure If nor possest if not enjoy'd in thee What 's earth or sea or air or Heav'n to me The highest honours that the world can boast Are Subjects far too low for my desire The brightest beams of Glory are at most But dying sparkles of thy living fire The proudest flames that earth can kindle be But nightly Glow-worms if compar'd to thee Without thy presence wealth are bags of cares Wisdom but folly joy disquiet sadness Friendship is treason and delights are snares Pleasures but pain and mirth but pleasant madness Without thee Lord things be not what they be Nor have they being when compar'd with thee In having all things and not thee what have I Not having thee what have my labours got Let me enjoy but thee what farther crave I And having thee alone what have I not I wish nor Sea nor Land nor would I be Possest of Heav'n Heav'n unpossest of thee FINIS