Ordinances with my heart and affections I must use the sacred name of God with all due reverence not profaning it by blasphemous idle or impertinent talk or by false common or needless swearing or by breaking my Holy Vows and Covenants nor any way giving occasion by my insincere profession of his name unto others to blaspheme or profane it I must honour the Lord in his day by spending it in his Worship meditating on and praising him for his wonderful works of Creation and Redemption Especially in the Publick Assemblies bearing my part devoutly in the Prayers of his Church attending to his word Preached and Read and Communicating in his Sacraments I must not think too highly of my self nor be proud of any thing I am have or can do seeing all is the undeserved gift of God I must not humour my passions but labour to be of a meek and quiet and docible Spirit I must make use of my reason in considering what I am and whence I came and whither I must go why I live and how I must dye and what shall become of me after death what I owe to God and men and my self and how I pay it I must often examine the state of my Soul and whether I be converted from the state of sin into the state of grace and all my thoughts words and actions whether they be conformable to the will of God I should often think of the vanity of this World and sinful pleasures the certainty of death the impartiality of judgment the glories of Heaven the terrors of Hell the comforts of a good Conscience and what I must do to be saved with the necessity of a Godly Life I must be heartily contented with my present lot and portion not murmuring or repining at God's dealings not ambitiously seeking a more high or plentiful condition not fretting at my wants or sufferings nor vexing my Soul with Worldly cares nor envying the more flourishing condition of others but conclude that best which God chuseth for me I must be a good husband of my time industriously improving it to the good of my self and others not wasting it unprofitably in idleness sports and vanities but labouring in an honest calling I must be chast and clean in Mind and Body entertaining no wanton thought or desire or look or dress shunning all lasciviousness and obscene discourse books gestures and enticements to lust and uncleanness I must be temperate and moderate in eating drinking sleeping recreations and apparel not pleasing my Appetite or wasting my Estate or loosing my time in any of them but using them onely in such a measure as may best preserve my bodily health to serve my Soul in serving God I must love my Neighbour as my self and do to all men as I would they should do to me that is all the good I can rendering to every man his due Especially I must love and do good to those that are of the Houshould of Faith and love every man the more by how much I see more of God's image upon him Above all I must labour to do good to mens Souls by teaching reproving exhorting comforting and Praying for them Not hurting grieving scandaâ—izing or tempting them to evil by advice countenance or example Parents must dedicate their children to God instruct and educate them in the knowledge and fear of God correct all vice in them and give them good example maintaining them and providing honest callings for them as they are able Children must love honour obey serve and as there is need relieve their Parents with all thankfulness Husbands and Wives must live in an holy mutual conjugal love to each other helping one another in serving God Educating their Children well Ruling their Servants and managing their necessary Affairs the Wife living in a quiet subjection to her Husband Masters must be kind and just to their servants instructing them in God's service as well as in their own and servants must obey and be faithful to their Masters All Superiors are to rule in Justice and Holiness seeking God's Glory and the publick good and all inferiors are to be subject to the higher powers paying tribute and obeying their just Lawes for Conscience sake not resisting but to taking it Patiently though they suffer wrongfully Ministers must fced and rule and watch over the Souls of their flocks and their flocks must freely contribute to their maintenance honour them in love and be obedient to them I must not take away anothers Life nor hurt his Body nor so much as be angry with him without a cause but must preserve as much as in me lyeth his bodily welfare even as my own I must not defile another's Wife nor be guilty of Fornication nor so much as look on any woman to lust after her but do all I can to preserve the chastity of all I must not wrong another of any part of his Estate by theft robbery fraud or deceit of any kind but must secure his right as much as my own pay my debts duely bargain honestly and make restitution and amends for every wrong I must not wrong another's good name or credit by false-witness slandering false-accusing tale-bearing reproaching back-biting but I must vindicate it as far as with truth I can acknowledging all the good I see in every man groundlesly suspecting no man I must not make or speak any lye but speak the truth plainly I must utterly cast off all selfishness and not be tempted by any desire of pleasing my self to covet any thing that is another mans I must love pray for and do good to my enemies not rendring evil for evil or seeking revenge but forgiving as God for Christ his sake hath forgiven me The matter of our Desires and Prayers I AM not able naturally either to understand the mysteries of Faith or to do the Spiritual duties which I am bound as a Christian to believe and do I must not therefore trust to my self but by frequent fervent and humble Prayer apply my self to God in the name of Jesus Christ for the help of his Holy Spirit to quicken my deadness enlighten my ignorance and strengthen my weakness Of my self I know not how to pray or for what to pray I must therefore learn of Christ who hath taught me thus to Pray Our Father c. I must with all Humility as an undone sinner approach unto God in a true sense of his right in me and dominion over me as my Owner and Governour and of his love to me as my Father so far reconciled unto all men in Jesus Christ that he pitieth us and hath as a gracious Father provided all things needful to make us happy and that he delighteth not in our death but would have us turn and live as his children happy in our Father's love and providence I must draw near unto him as a penitent dutiful and loving child heartily sorry that ever I offended him restlesly longing to be reconciled unto
and the Third day rose again to Life now to dye no more and having sealed the Covenant in his Blood he left instructions with his Apostles to admit men into it by Baptism and teach them how to keep it and promised them the gift of the Holy Ghost After some dayes he in their sight went up into Heaven and is glorified at God's Right-hand in Power and Majesty And as King ruleth and protecteth his Church Reigneth in the hearts of his subjects subdueth all his Enemies and is our Advecate with the Father rendering our persons and services accepted of him and prevaising for all good blessings on us Shortly after his Ascension on the day of Pemecost Christ sent the Holy Ghost the Eternal Spirit of the Father and the Son upon the Apostles to guide them into all saving truth to enable them to Preach to every Nation in its own Language to write the Holy Scriptures and to seal and confirm the truth of them by many Miracles and wonderful works and to encourage them to a constant suffering for Christ even unto death The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the very Word of God which Holy men of God spake and writ as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and they contain all things necessary to Salvation and are the standing Sealed Rule of Faith and Life The Holy Ghost is Christ's Advocate pleading his cause with men He is our Sanctifier enlightening opening softning changing and renewing our hearts and minds to receive and grow in knowledge and grace Making the word effectual for our conviction and conversion helping us to pray and stirring us up to goodness comforting us with a sense of its operations and strengthening us to withstand temptations and hold out in a Christian course unto the end All those that are regenerated enlightened and converted by the Holy Ghost are one Holy Church whereof Christ is the only Head All that outwardly profess Christianity and have been Baptized are to be accounded Holy by a visible separation and dedication to God till they cut themselves off by Schism or are justly cast out by Excommunication Christ's Church is not limited to any Nation or People but extends to all places is propagated in all Ages and containeth all saving truth and in this sense is Vniversal or Catholick All the Sanctified Members of this Mystical Body of Christ have Fellowship with the Father and Son by one Holy Spirit with Angels in their love care and Ministries with the glorified Saints in Heaven in their love and prayers and with one another on Earth in the same Faith and Hope and Love Word and Sacraments bound to hold the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of peace All these have in consideration of Christ's satisfaction a full pardon of all past sins given of God and Sacramentally sealed unto them in Baptism with an assurance of final justification and Salvation upon condition of their perseverance in Repentance and Faith At death the souls of the faithful rest with God in peace and happiness and the souls of the wicked go into an endless state of misery The bodies of all men shall be raised again after death and shall be again united to their souls All men shall after the Resurrection appear before the Judgment seat of Christ where the wicked shall be condemned to Everlasting torments but the Righteous shall be finally acquitted and go into Everlasting Life and Joy happy in the constant and perfect love of God praising him delighting in him amongst all Blessed Angels and Saints to all Eternity The heads of the Christian's Duty IF any man would be saved he must first be born again of the Holy Spirit be converted and become a new creature Holy in Heart and Life otherwise he cannot enter in the Kingdom of God The grace of God hath appeared teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly and Righteously and Godly in this present World I must not think my self to be my own so that I may live as I list but must humbly acknowledge there is a God above me whose I am and whom I am bound to serve all the dayes of my Life I must take the true God alone for my God even the Father Son and Holy Ghost and worship him as my Maker Redeemer and Sanctifier I must by a daily diligent reading studying and meditating on his word and considering of his works labour get a true knowledge of God and not content my self in ignorance of him I must worship God in Spirit and in Truth with the heart and soul sincerely I must stedfastly believe the whole Word of God the History for my instruction the Precepts for my direction the Promises for my encouragement the threatnings to affright me from sin bewaring of all temptations to unbelief or a false Faith I must live in a patient expectation and hope of what God hath promised neither despairing of mercy if I repent nor presuming of Mercy if I repent not I must love God as the chief good with the highest love chusing him for my only portion delighting in him as my only comfort willing to part with Life it self to enjoy him and making light of all things so I may please him loving his Image as far as I see it in every man especially in Jesus Christ my Saviour It is my duty to stand in awe of God's threatnings and judgments and to be very cautious and circumspect in all my wayes watching over my thoughts words and actions fearing to offend him in any thing neither fearing nor loving any thing else so much as to venture upon the least sin I must intirely trust and confide in God both in all wants and dangers whether of Soul or Body Conscientiously using such means as he alloweth Praying devoutly unto him for his Blessing and casting all my care for the success upon him not doubting of his never failing power and goodness I must walk humbly before God thinking meanly of my self renouncing all my own worth or merits acknowledging all that I am have or hope for to be of his gift taking patiently and thankfully all his chastisements and labouring to profit by them and confessing that he doth all things wisely and well I must behave my self uprightly and sincerely as in his presence and do all I do as unto him with a pure heart avoiding all guile dissimulation and hypocrisie not indulging the least evil thought inclination or desire keeping up high and honourable thoughts of him and preserving my Conscience tender and my heart soft and easie to take the impressions of his word and spirit I must shun all gross representations of God or likening him so much as in my thoughts to any creature I am not to worship him after my own conceit or fancy but according to the rules he hath given in his word not with a formal but a spiritual worship drawing near unto him in Prayer and praise and all his
love this world and mind Earthly things most and prefer not God his grace and Heaven before all earthly joyes and pleasures If I dare not trust in Christ alone nor forsake all for him nor am willing to obey his Lawes how hard soever they seem or what cost or loss soever they put me to If my heart and life be not throughly changed but I yet must have my own will and please my own appetite and senses and cannot want my own desires or cross my own inclinations If I keep any known sin unmortified and not cast off if I do not watch against all temptations and pray heartily and frequently for grace to conquer all sin If I delight not in God's Word and in all Holy duties and esteem it not my greatest priviledge to serve him If my greatest care be not to please him and if his command prevail not more with me than all the world besides If I cannot content my self with him alone nor suffer any the greatest evil for him If I have not resolvedly given my self up to be wholly at his disposal and to be made in all things conformable to his will If the case be thus with me I am in a state of sin and death and cannot be saved till I be converted and made a new man The Christian's Confession of his Faith with a full Resignation of himself to God and binding himself in Covenant with GOD. I Believe Lord help thou my unbelief I do most freely and heartily own and with humble admiration and reverence I do adore the great and dreadful and incomprehensibly Glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth Most joyfully do I accept of thee O Father Son and Holy Ghost for my only God Thou and thou alone art the inexhaustible Fountain of all Being Life Power and Goodness I acknowledge my total dependance upon thee for my Being Life Motion Vnderstanding and all things and it will be my happiness to enjoy thy love and blessing Thou O God art an Infinite Eternal and Immortal Spirit and the God and Father of Spirits who though unseen art every where present about me and within me by thy infinite power quickning upholding and protecting me by thine Infinite Wisdom providing for me ordering and directing me and by thy goodness blessing me To thee one Glorious God in Three Persons Blessed for ever do I freely and wholly give my self cheerfully dedicating and resigning my Soul and Body with all the powers and faculties of both to be wholly disposed of by thee in the service of thee O Blessed Trinity in Vnity Eternal Life Light and Love Power Wisdom and Holiness the Author of my preservation Sanctification and Salvation Thou in a wonder of condescending love offerest thy self as a gracious Father in Jesus Christ to all Believers Thou art the Maker of me and all the World I am nothing I have nothing I can do nothing I hope for nothing but from thy power wisdom and goodness to thee alone be the honour and praise of all I will more study my self and other creatures that I may learn to know admire and love thee more I can be proud of nothing glory in nothing but in thee in whom I live and move and have my being I am not my own I and all things are thine and unto thee I freely resign my self and all my concerns to use and dispose of me and them as it pleaseth thee Whatever thou dost with me thou canst do me no wrong no creature without thee can do me any good 'T is my perfection and happiness to know and love thee and delight in thee Thee alone I chuse for my portion and thou alone shalt ever be enough for me To thee as the Almighty Ruler of the World I heartily submit my self accepting thy Divine Will for my only Law by which my thoughts words and actions are to be all governed All thy Lawes I consent to as most holy just and good and most thankfully acknowledge that nothing can be better than to rest in thy will I will study thy will diligently do it heartily cheerfully submit unto it be well contented with and joyfully praise thee in whatsoever thou doest I will readily obey thy commands patiently bear thy chastisements and wholly confide in thy blessing and protection I confess Lord that I am born a corrupt thing and have added a thousand times more to that corruption I am fallen from that knowledge power and uprightness wherein thou madest Adam and am exceeding ignorant weak and wicked averse from truth and goodness inclined mightily to falshood and evil all this I sadly feel in my self it is an heavy burden unto me Except I be born again of thy Spirit be converted by thy word made a new man and a real change wrought both in my heart and life I must remain under thy wrath and curse Everlastingly wretched Our misery lying in our fall from thee our Creator to the creature and in our desire to please our selves more than thee our God our due portion is to perish by our own wretched choice and having chosen to sin with devils 't is but just we share with devils in Everlasting torments Having wilfully broken thy Laws we cannot hope for impunity from thee the just Governour of the World except some satisfaction be made unto thy Justice O the wonder even ravishing and astonishing wonder of thy rich mercy How should I ever be able to acknowedge thy unspeakable goodness in thy compassion to sinful men Early and freely didst thou promise us a Redeemer and a Saviour and I do very feelingly own thy faithfulness and truth in performing to the full that gracious promise How do I admire and adore thy wonderful wisdom in the rare contrivance of our rescue by sending thine own Eternal and only begotten Son to tender himself unto us for a Saviour and make us new and easie termes of peace and reconciliation Lord on the bended knees of my Soul I do accept thy mercy offering thy self again unto me as a reconciled Father desiring to love honour and obey thee for ever and humbly beseeching thee to own me amongst thy adopted children I do humbly admire and joyfully imbrace thine infinite love O blessed JESUS who being the great God blessed for ever yet humbledst thy self to be cloathed in our weak and frail nature to be born of a woman made under the Law to live a mean life in a wicked world to expose thy self to the temptations of Satan to suffer all indignities from sinners to shed thy precious blood upon a cursed tree and lie in a grave and undergo the condition of the dead for us sinful wretches Lord I am fully satisfied by thy rising again to life the third day that thou hast overcome the devil and death and given satisfaction to thy Father's Justice and finished the great work of our Redemption I know thou art now triumphant in Heaven invested with all power and glory on the Right-hand of thy