live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world looking for the blessed hope and glorious Appearing of our Saviour JESUS Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity Or Prov. c 19.16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul. Or The fear of the Lord the practise of piety is the beginning is the perfection of wisdome and the praise of it endureth for ever Psal. 111.10 Prov. c 1.7 c. 9.10 Or Cor. c. vi 9.10 Be not deceived nor fornicators nor effeminate nor idolaters nor thieves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God. IV. I will not tell a lye I will not couzen or deceive any one in any matter I will never act againâ—t my conscience but carefully observe Psal. 36.38 Keep innocency and take to the thing that is right and that shall bring a man peace at the last V. I will obey my Superiours VI. I will not be idle VII I will be moderate and tender in the use of lawful things the Lord is at hand VIII I have made a covenant with my eyes and ears not to attend to vanity but by labour and temperance I will subdue my body O mercy of heaven that our breasts are the ark of the Divine Law and our bodies the temple of the Holy Ghost if any defile the temple of God them God will destroy 1 Cor. c. 6.5 9. Preserve therefore O Holy Father my body and soul in chastity Thy grace is sufficient for me I will be sure to check and resist the beginning and occasions of vice as dangerous company excess in eating and drinking sloth and idleness melancholy self-conceit a covetous eye and the like IX I will often pray O Lord set a watch before my mouth the awe of thy presence and future vindication and keep the door of my lips that I offend not in my tongue Psal 141.3 Psal. 34.12 13. Iames c. 1.26 Prov. 39.1 2. Eccles. c. 22.27 X. The sun shall not go down in my wrath I will first be reconciled to my offended brother or sister and then come and offer my guift and sacrifice of praise and supplication For saith the Lord in whose name I pray and confide if you forgive not men their trespasses neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses Mat. c. 6.15 and 5.24 XI I will often recite the Beatitudes Mat. c. 5. ver 1 to the 12. And often say God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble 1 Pet c. 5.3 XII I will love and cherish the Creatures of God. I will render no man evil for evil or railing for railing but in stead thereof prayers and charity and blessing I will live peaceably and courteously with all men for Christs sake who against all demerit hath loved me XIII Forasmuch as JESUS the King will say unto them on his right hand at the last day Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was naked and ye cloathed me I was sick and ye visited me I was hungry and ye gave me meat I was in prison and ye came to me I was a stranger and ye took me in for verily I say unto you inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me Matt. c. 25.34 I will therefore relieve the poor visit and pity and help thâ— sick and afflicted teach the ignorant direct and love the stranger easily pardon offenders hurt no body and do all the good I can through Jesus Christ my Saviour and Judge Amen XIV Whether I eat or drink or whatsoever else I do I sincerely desire and will carefully endeavour to do all to the glory of God and my own salvation through Jesus Christ my Saviour and Support Amen 1. Cor. c. 10.31 XV. I put my trust in the living God onely I am very well content I am very thankfull for my present estate Phil. c. 4.11 12. Hebr. c. 13.5 Moreover with an humble and serene mind I wait for my Dissolution in hope of everlasting life through Jesus Christ my Redeemer Amen God be mercifull to me a sinner Luke c. 16 17. SELECT LESSONS CHAP. V. I. I Will read often in secret or in the family for the preservation of piety and temperance and honesty through Gods help the Church-Catechism and also these Chapters of Holy Scripture Our Saviours Sermon on the mount Matt. c. 5. and c. 6. and c. 7. Another Sermon Luk. c. 12. and c. 13. Jesus Christ God and man. S. Ioh. Gosp. c. 1. Christs comforting his Church S. Iohns Gosp. c. 15. and c. 16. and c. 17. II. The Duties of a Christian man. Rom. c. 12. and c. 13. Gal. c. 5 and c. 6. Phil. c. 4. Col. c. 3 and c. 4. Ephes. c. 4.1 Thess. c. 4. and c. 5. S. Peters 1 Epistle S. Iames Epistle Deut. c. 6. Iob. c. 31. Ecclesiastes c. 12. Psal. 15. and 34 and 41 and 119 and 1. and Proverbs throughout III. The Duties of Governours and Governed as Kings and Subjects Priests and People Fathers and Children Masters and Servants Rom. c. 13.1 Pâ—t c. 2. and c. 3. Col. c. 3. Ephes. c. 5. and c. 6.1 Tim. c. 6. Tit. c. 11. and c. 3. IV. I will delight to read our Lords Parables as of the Publicane and Pharisee Luke c. 18. Prodigal Son Luke c. 15. Lost Sheep Luke c. 15. Ten Talenâ—s Luke c. 19. Widow and unjust Judge Luke c. 18. Wise Virgins Matt. c. 25. Two Debtors Luke c. 7. Kind Samaritane Luke c. 10. Rich man and Lazarus Luke c. 16. Sower Luke c. 8. V. I will also frequently review the Forty Great and Merciful Miracles of our Lord as so many excellent Subjects of his inexhaustâ—ble Praise and so many Pillaâ—s of our Hope and Devotion 1. Water made Wine Ioh. 2.1 10. 2. Lunatick dispossest Mark 1 21 28. 3. Peters mother in law cured of a Fever Luke 4.38.40 4. Stupendous Draught of Fishes at the lake of Tiberias Luke 5.1 11. 5. Leper cleansed Matt. 8.2 4. 6. Paralytick let down by the roof and healed Luk. 5.17 26. 7. The withered hand restored Luk. 6.6 10. 8. Good Centurions servant cured Luk. 7.2 10. 9. Widows son of Naim revived out of the bier Luk. 28.11 17. 10. Deaf and dumb and blind demoniack recovered Matth. 12.22 23. 11. Storm ceaseth at Christs word Mark 4.35 40. 12. Legion of devils sent out of a man into the swine Mark 5.1 21. 13. Bloody flux cured by the touch of the Lords garment Mark 5. â—22 34. 14. Jairus his daughter restored to life Mark 5.35 43. 15. Two blind men restored by Christs touch and a dumb devil cast out Matt. 9.26 32. 16. Rulers son healed at a distance Iohn 4.46 53. 17. Impotent at Bethesda healed with a word Ioh. 5.1 15. 18. Five thousand fed with five loaves and two fishes Mark 6.30 34. 19.
am also ready to make reparation of fame and credit together with an ingenuous and humble acknowledgement to all that I have slandered and calumniated namely to c. And accordingly I forthwith take order that Restitution and Satisfaction be made to them all to the utmost of my ability and that their Release and Acquittance for all injuries done to them be obtained or else most justly and verily presumed before I adventure to crave the benefit of Absolution If I am ashamed of such a Confession and Restitution I am not ashamed nor afraid to be the everlasting contempt and scorn of the most holy Creator and of all that is blessed I am not ashamed nor affrighted to be the companion of devils and all villanous men that ever lived in darkness horror and torment Let no father patron or master think of bettering the worldly condition of his successours by his own dreadful condemnation for finally concealing and retaining his illgotten estate or frauds IV. Moreover with a charitable heart according to the bâ—st of my understanding and enquiry imploring the assistance of Gods Holy Spirit I â—ave made my Last will and Testament disposing the goods and estate God hath given me for his greatest glory Namely amongst my Relations and likewise in a due acknowledgment of sundry precious benefiâ—s received by me in this Apostolick Church of which â— hope to continue a part to my lifes end and also for the poor Blessing Almighty God for enabling me to give them some relief and so to lend unto himself his own temporal blessings to obtain far better riches in heaven Amen I rest upon thy merits and upon thy word O Triumphant Saviour Forgive and ye shall be forgiven Give and it shall be given into your bosom good measure pressed down shaken together and running over Luk. c. 6.37 and c. 11.9 Amen Finally I have given my Relations and Friends the best advise and counsel I could for the good of their neverdying souls and for their well-living in this world V. Having thus rid my self of all the cares and troubles and concerns of mortality having now perfectly done with this world with a clear and humble heart I address my self to thy Grace Almighty and most merciful God and Father beseeching thee to instruct exerâ—ise and prepare me for the succeeding gloâ—ious and immortal life to which by the Chrisâ—ian Profession thou hast advanced my hope and awful expectation Hallelujah through the glorified Jesus Hallelujah to all Eternity Amen But I foresee the passage to this Beatitude to be very dark and Dismall full of Thorns and Tears full of Confessions Remorse and Contrition for the many faults of a short life and also full of disease and pains and anguish reaching unto dissolution insensibility stench and rottenness By all thy agonies and experience help me O holy Jesus through this terror Amen REPENTANCE· CHAP. XVI See CHAP. VI. §. 5. and CHAP XI §. 2. I. Consession I Have sinned O Lord I have dealt wickedly I have led an unequal untoward and polluted life I have sinned before thee when ashamed of humane view before thee my Father my Judge my Benefactor my Worship and my God. O absurd and stupid wretch In thought word and deed with all the powers and abilities thou hast given me with affection and design have I sinned against thee most Mighty and most Holy Ungratefully and basely grievously and presumtuously particularly c. have I sinned and Lord how often secretly and openly in the chamber as c. anâ— in publick as c. treading upon thy earth and covered with thy heavens yea â— have sinned in the House of God and in the midst of my Prayâ—rs and Invocations as c. Is this then the Image of God is this a Christian an heir of eternal Life â—his a Priest and Dispenser of the pure Word and Sacraments of the Lord Jesus Ah this is nothing but clay and dirt uncleanness and misery II. Contrition THe soul that is troubled and the spirit that is vexed cryeth unto thee O Lord. I Relent I grieve I am heartily sorry for this demerit and irritation of thy Divine justice I am ashamed I abhor my self I am perfectly weâ—ry of this corrupt life What shall I do whiâ—her shall I turn I am ashamed to look up to heaven that behâ—lds my vileness to heaven which I have abused and despised I will bowe my self to the earth and the grave that waits to hide and devour such a wretch I will sâ—ite upon my breast with the conscious publicane upon my breast the box and origine of all this mischief And do thou strike this rock O holy Jesus that the waters may freely flow that my tears may mingle with thy blood my humble and sincere repentance reach thy propitiation and remission Dissolve thou sinful clod tremble thou earth earth earth at the presence of the Lord at the presence and vindication of the God of Jacob who turned the â—lint stone into a springing well I wish for the tears of David pierced with the matter of Uriah the mourning of Jeremiah and the dejection of Manasseh I recollect and confess in particular unto thee my more grievous sins the rest are without number in the bitterness of my soul. Thus and thus have I done c. I give glory to thee as Achan I confess and am confoâ—nded at the enormity and presumption and villanous circumstances of my offences as c. I hide not my unrighteousness as Adam in the garden who led the way of sinning and of repentance I hide not I cannot hide but with tears and dread remorse acknowledge to thy most pure and omniscient Majesty my faults my follies yea rather my wilfulness my hardness my vices my criminal and deplorable life And lo here I judge and reprove and condemn my self at the bottom of thy throne and yet I am not enough abased He cannot fall too low whose merit is hell My deformation and destruction is only from my self from my perverse and incorrigible self my relief and salvation is from thee only Father thou knowest my sins and thou knowest my anguish It is not easy to transgress thy commands and reflect upon the transgressions My flesh trembleth for fâ—ar of thee and I am afraid of thy judgments O Lord. I dread that great day when the thrones shall be set the books opened and my shameful life recited and all my works of darkness exposed in perfect light I tremble lest the blessed Jesus who shed his blood for my redemption and hath so earnestly urged and offered me pardon and peace and eternal life should then condemn me and the mighty angels and holy men of all ages and nations newly clothed with immortal and illustrious bodies hiss me from the righteous Tribunal and the mouth of hell receive my body and soul into exquisite torments without light or pity My present horrour and confusion is great but what is this to everlasting burnings III. Supplication GReat
of this soul and body as calm and easie as their union was and as it shall be I pass I pass into Eternity O for the sake of Jesus who went through the same shadâ—s while the earth sinks down towards its earth most merciful Father Sanctifie Save and Receive this soul that trusteth in thee and fleeth to thee It is finisht HALLELVIAH PSALM CXXXIX CHAP. XXI O Lord thou searchest me throughout Mark'st every secret and recess My sitting down and rising up And all my thoughts before I guess Th' Eternal eye doth follow me Through every step at every stay And while I speak before they 're form'd Thy Spirit takes the words away Thy presence and I dread the thought Incloseth me on every part Is intimate and piercing far Beyond conceit of humane heart How can I shun thee Ray Divine Or whither shall I from thee slee Heaven is thy throne if I go there And hell I fear as hell doth thee If to the Western main I post The bound of nations and of day There shall the gleam of Providence Surprize and bless me in its way The night shall shrowd me and within The shadow of the earth I 'le lye But shadows clouds this whole globâ— Are glass and brightness to thy eye Thou saw'â—t me in the stove of life Thou saw'â—t me for thou laid'st me there A piece of strange and various art Worthy thy finger and thy care Fram'd and embroider'd in a cell Secret as night and deepest mines A draught too fine for microscope Compleat in all its parts and lines How num'rous is thy grace O God From that small embryo to this man More then the sands more then my faults Or what no artist reckon can Search me O Lord and sound my heart Examine every valve and string Amend the Motion and to bliss Direct it with a lasting spring THE TEN COMMANDMENTS EXPOUNDED Litterally in the direct and common sence both of Jews and Christians As also Spiritually and in great part from our SAVIOURS Sermon on the mount Matt. c. 5 c. 6 and c. 7 CHAP. XXII EXOD. CHAP. XX. I. GOd spake these words and said I am the Lord thy God Thou shalt have no other gods but me I believe I trust in I adore with deepest reverence of body and mind I worship according to what is revealed in the Holy Scriptures and I fear and obey above all things One God Eternal maker and governour of the world and infinitely more excellent then all his creatures Spiritually I desire to behave my self in all places as one that really believes and daily confesses and sincerely worships and fears one Almighty all-knowing Spiritual most excellent most righteous and most merciful God author and rulâ—r and judge of all II. Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven image nor the likeness of any â—hing that is in heâ—ven above or in the earth beneaâ—h or in the water under the earth Thou shalt not bow down to them nor worâ—hip them For I thâ— Lord thy God aâ— a jealous God and â—isit the sins of thâ— fathers upon thâ— children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my commandments I will not shew any sign or token of religious reverence trust and devotion to any idol or figure molten or graven or painted of the false Gods of the heathens I will not consult them or pray to them or thank and praise them as my protectors and benefactors nor will I build temples or altars to them nor offer sacrifice and oblations to them Nor will I make any idols for others to worship nor any ways confer to and meddle with the sacrifices and superstitions of Idolaters nor will I consult wizzards or use any inchantment Moreover I will not honour any creature angel or man or other as as Gods or as representations and and signs and memorials of the onâ— true God with the solemn worship supplication praises thanksgiving faith and relyance self dedication and obedience which I in duty render to the most blessed incorporeal and invisible Creator of all things but will avoid all occasions of such superstition and profaness Spiritually I put my trust and final hope and confidence in God only not in riches or strength or honour or wisdom nor in any creature in heaven or on earth To God I fly by humble prayers in all my concerns and distresses and upon his gracious providence I wholly rest for the direction and success of all lawful means I also beseech his Eternal wisdom to enlighten my understanding with most reverend and convenient conceptions of his infinitely perfect and glorious Majesty III. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain for the Lord wilâ— not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain I will not dare to invoke and alledge the great and reverend name of God to an untruth or to any light and trivial matter Nor will I dare to blaspheme and speak evil of Gods most holy and dreadful Majesty his eternity perfection providence and government Nor will I swear when lawfully called and urged to it but by the name of the living and omniscient God in certain knowledge and righteousness Spiritually I will always speak and discourse with great leisure care and awe concerning the power and the justice and the mercy of God. I will never mock or jest or play with the word of God or with any verse or phrase of it nor with any holy and solemn thing or person But take all heed that my talk within doors and without be innocent and profitable I will also frequently repeat my Sacramental vows and bend my words and actions thereunto the Lord helping me IV. Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work thou nor thy son and thy daughter thy manservant and thy maidservant thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seventh day wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day and hallowed it I will observe the rules of my religion Spiritually I will take care that I and all belonging to me do sanctifie the Lords day abstaining from woâ—ldly business except for charity and frequenting the publick prayers and sermons and sacraments and visiting the sick and relieving the poor and at home reading and meditating on the holy Scriptures I will also spend part of other holy days in prayers and praises of God in publick and in private Finally in my family I will daily use domestick prayers V. Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee I will obey I will reverence outwardly by all
signs of honour and inwardly by fear and awe of mind all my superiors spiritual and â—emporal my parents master and mistress priest and ruler according to their several degrees and authorities in all things not plainly repugnant to Gods word and when ever they command any thing contrary thereunto if I may not according to law righteousness and honour appeal to a superior power on earth I will patiently submit to their censures and penalties I will also readily pay my tithes and taxes I will reverence the aged the wise the noble and those that are in office Lastly I will commend and assist feed and maintain my parents as they need Spiritually I will not seek undutifully or idly to withdraw my sâ—lf from the command and power of my governours but make good my promises oaths and obligations to them in all things VI. Thou shalt do no murder I will not kill nor by any means hasten the death of my self or any other man but rather forwarn and prevent any imminent hurt and hazard Nor will I revenge or retaliate or bear in mind any injury unkindness calumny or reproach Nor will I go to war but upon an evidently righteous cause and commission and in the apparent danger of the publick Spiritually I will be grievous and troublesome to none I will not be angry without very just cause nor then will I let the sun go down in my wrath I will hate no body in the world but love all Gods creatures and I will readily forgive pity pray for and help both friends and enemies in their distress I will also use all prudence temâ—erance and lawful means to preserve my body in health as the engine of Gods glory till he call for it VII Thou shalt not commit adultery I will not commit adultery or fornication or be assisting thereunto nor will I use any unchast behaviour nor will I marry any of my kindred forbidden Lev. c. 18. Nor will I seek to be divorced but for great and necessary causes as adultery c. I will abstain from the foments of lust and cruelty as gluttony strong drinks bloud-eating c. Spiritually I will endeavour by temperance or fasting by diligence in my calling by prayer by reading the pure word of God by discreet and pious company and by modest apparel and profitable discourse to avert all unclean thoughts and desires and not suffer my eye to offend VIII Thou shalt not steal I will not steal any thing or person nor conceal any theft I will not deceive cheat and overreach in my dealing any person young or old simple or wise nor will I â—alsify my word or my trust nor waste or deny any goods lands writings or pledge of anothers which I have in my power Nor will I encroach upon or crush and oppress any body as by overworking the labourer defrauding or diminishing his wages or by undue usury and immoderate lucre for any lone service bargain or game Nor will I by violence or out of revenge seize any person or goods Nor will I give mischievous counsel to any Spiritually I will hurt no body but do as I would be done to yea do what good I can in the world IX Thou shalt not hear false witness against thy neighbour I will not bear false witness before a magistrate Gods ordinance Nor will I invent or spread abroad any slander and false report against any man. Nor for profit or out of fear friendship or obedience nor upon any account whatsoever will I tell a lye nor will I disclose the secrets of my friend but for righteousness sake Spiritually I will live honestly peaceably and courteously with all men without guile and hypocrisie without censoriousness without malice and pride and all their symptomes X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife nor his servant nor his maid nor his ox nor his ass nor any thing that is his I will not endeavour by indirect means and contrivances as threats quarrels fraud bribery flattery and enticements to procure any part of the estate goods or family of my neighbour For though unjust desires and thoughts are open and obnoxious to the Divine vengeance yet onely things done or words spoken are punishable by men and such are the breaches of these Ten Commandments in their Literal and General sense Spiritually Without envy and with very good content I thank God for my present estate imploring his blessing on my diligence to continue or advance it that I may be more charitable usefull beloved and reputable while I live Lord have mercy upon us and write all these thy laws in our hearts we beseech thee Amen Hebr. c. 8.10 FINIS