The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 4
PARS IIII.
SECT. 31. DOMIN. 31. Of the Christian duties we owe to our selues.
Q. BBy your answers I vnderstand what you meane by the immediate worship of God, both inward and outward: Now tell me wherein consisteth the mediate worship of God, or rather seruice, or obedience to him?
A. In such duties as, by Gods command, wee owe to our selues, and our brethren.
Q. VVhat duties owe we to our selues?
A. 1. To prouide for the good of our Soules, improuing our naturall faculties by Art and Industrie: but especially by séeking after the gifts of God's Spirit, and vsing all meanes to encrease them in vsus.
2. To prouide for the good of our bodies, by sobriety, wholsome dyet, comely rayment, moderate exercise and physicke.
3. To prouide for our good name, by taking vertuous and honest courses, and following after such things as are prayse-worthy, and eschewing the contrary.
4. To prouide for our estate; by first, Carefull getting; secondly, Frugall sauing; thirdly, wisely vsing the goods of this life, and discréetly managing our priuate affaires.
SECT. 32. DOMIN. 32. Of the common duties wee owe to our Neighbours.
Q. VVhat duties, by Gods commandement, are wee to performe to others?
A. They are either
General and common duties of al christians one toward another: Or,
Speciall dueties proper to certaine estates, callings of mē.
Q. VVhat are the generall duties of all men (especially Christians) one towards another?
A. They are comprised in these two Vertues
Innocencie,
Charitie.
Q. VVhat doth innocencie require?
A. That wee hurt not, nor wrong any man in
Person,
Goods,
Name.
Q. VVhat doth charitie require?
A. That we do all the good we can to our brother; abounding in good workes, which may bee reduced to foure heads; vz. workes of
Humanitie.
Meekenesse.
Friendship.
Zeale.
SECT. 33. DOMIN. 33. Of the speciall works of Humanity.
Q. VVhat are the speciall works of Humanitie?
A. To bee compassionate towards our brother; feed the hungrie; cloath the naked; harbour the stranger; relieue the oppressed; redeeme the captiue; defend the fatherlesse and widdow; visit the sick; and burie the dead.
SECT. 34. DOMIN. 34. Of the speciall works of meeknesse.
Quest. VVhat are the speciall workes of meekenesse?
A. To beare one anothers burdens; forgiue one another all priuate iniuries, and wrongs; to endeauour to make peace betweene others, and (if it be possible) to hauehave peace our selues with all men.
SECT. 35. DOMIN. 35. Of the speciall workes of friendship.
Q. What are the speciall works of friendship?
A. 1. To preserue (as much as in vsus lyeth) the life of our brother, by counsell, aide, and assistance.
2. To endeauour to preserue his good name, and credit, by affording him our true testimony and iust defence; commendation of his good parts, and couering his infirmities.
3. To endeauour to preserue, and better his estate, by dealing truly with him in all bargaines, and contracts, lending him fréely, and contributing liberally to his necessities, according to our meanes and ability.
SECT. 36. DOMIN. 36. Of the special works Christian of Zeal.
Q. What are the speciall workes of Zeale, or holy and Christian louelove towards our brother?
A. To séeke to winne him to Christ; and to labour his eternall saluation.
1. By instructing him in the Truth.
2. Conuincing his errors.
3. Admonishing him of his duty.
4. Reprouing his faults.
5. Compassionating his falls.
6. Reioycing at his recouerie.
7. Comforting him in all temptations and afflictions.
8. Auoiding all scandalous carriage before him.
9. Giuing him good example.
SECT. 37. DOMIN. 37. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours.
Q. Besides these generall duties, you mentioned speciall duties to men in respect of certaine estates, and callings. VVhat meane you by states?
A. The condition, qualitie and degree of men. who are in a 3-fold respect, & order, or ranke
1 Superiours
In generall, ouer inferiours.
To speciall
1 Kings ouer their Subiects.
2 Fathers ouer their children.
3 Husbands ouer their Wiues.
4 Masters our their seruants.
5 Pastours ouer their flock.
2 Inferiours
In generall to Superiours.
In speciall
1 Subiects to their Prince.
2 Children to their Fathers.
3 Wiues to their husbands.
4 Seruants their Masters.
5 Flocks to their Pastours.
3 Equalls in all respects.
Q. What are the duties of superiours in generall toward their inferiours?
A. 1. To carrie themselues with that grauitie and discretion towards them, that they may deserue respect and reuerence from them.
2. To respect them in their place; not despising their aduised admonitions, nor sleighting their iust exceptions and complaints.
3. To employ their eminent gifts, (in what kind soeuer they are) to the glorie of God, and good of them.
4. To countenance and encourage them in good courses, and discourage them in the contrary.
5. To shine before them in good example of life and conuersation; which is a dutie of all Christians, but more especially concerneth superiours, because their example preuaileth most either way.
SECT. 38. DOMIN. 38. Of the duties of inferiours towards their superiours.
Q. What are the duties of inferiours in generall towards their superiours?
A. 1. To yéeld them that reuerence which is any way due to their persons or places.
2. To hearken to their sage counsels and admonitions.
3. To make vse of their gifts, and benefit themselues by them.
4. To recompence them for the good they receiue by them, at least by a thankfull acknowledgement.
5. To imitate their vertues, and follow their good example.
SECT. 39. DOMIN. 39. Of the duties of equals.
Q. What are the duties of equals?
A. To conuerse friendly, ciuilly, and curteously one with another
Friendly, in mutuall office of louelove.
Ciuilly, in saluting, taking leaue and the like cōmendable complement.
Courteously, in honour, one going before another.
SECT. 40. DOMIN. 40. Of the Christian duties of Kings toward their Subiects.
Q. What are the duties of superiours in speciall, and first of Kings towards their Subiects?
A. 1. To make wholesome and godly Lawes and Edicts for the
1. Establishing of Religion.
2. Execution of iustice.
3. Preseruation of peace.
4. Welfare of
Church.
Cōmon-wealth.
2. To appoint officers vnderunder them; men fearing God, and hating couetousnesse.
3. To call assemblies (as oft as it is needfull) ecclesiasticall, and ciuill, for the better ordering of the affaires of Church and Common-wealth.
4. To see (as much as in them lyeth) that all the subiects, in their places discharge their dutie.
5. To preferre, and reward those that deserue well in Church, or Common-Wealth.
6. To punish all sorts of delinquents with indifferencie, and equity.
7. To defend their Subiects against violence, and wrong both by
Law.
Sword.
8. To prouide the best they can for their subiects after their death, by taking care for their successor.
SECT. 41. DOMIN. 41. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King.
Q. What are the speciall duties of Subiects?
A. 1. To make supplication in speciall for their Prince.
2. To honour his Person.
3. To obey his Lawes.
4. To feare his power, and submit themselues to it.
5. To beare armes for him in time of warre, if their age, and sexe permit.
6. To doe him faithfull seruice in their seuerall place, and office; séeking by all meanes to preserue his
Life.
State.
Honour.
7. To pay willingly all dues vntounto him.
8. To obey his inferiour Officers, and Ministers.
SECT. 42. DOMIN. 42. Of the duties of Christian Parents.
Q. What are the duties of Christian Parents?
A. 1. To blesse their children.
2. To instruct them in the grounds of Religion.
3. To excite them to vertue by
Prayses.
Promises.
Rewards.
4. To deter & reclaime them from vice by—
Rebukes,
Threats,
Moderate chastenings.
5. To bring them vp in good nurture, and fit them for some calling.
6. To allow them competent maintenance, by their life time.
7. To prouide for them after their death, as they are able by leauing their substance, and goods to them.
8. To defend them from iniurie.
9. To hauehave a care of disposing them in marriage, if they are thereunto inclined.
SECT. 43. DOMIN. 43. Of the speciall duties of children.
Q. What are the speciall duties of children?
A. 1. To pray in speciall for their Parents safety, and happinesse.
2. To hearken to their counsels, and instructions.
3. To yeeld them all reuerent respect.
4. To obey them in the Lord.
5. To endure their rebukes, and moderate chastenings.
6. To couer their infirmities.
7. To comfort them by their vertuous disposition, and towardlinesse.
8. To aide them (according to their power) if they stand in néede of their helpe, or reliefe.
SECT. 44. DOMIN. 44. Of the speciall duties of Masters.
Q. What are the speciall duties of Masters?
A. 1. To take speciall care that their seruant serue God, and liue in good order.
2. To prouide for them (as parts of their family,) such things as are néedefull, and fit.
3. To vse their power ouer them moderately, knowing that they also hauehave a Master in heauen.
4. To reward them agréeably to their deserts, paying them their wages in due season, and otherwise gratifying, them as it shall séeme fit, and they deserue.
SECT. 45. DOMIN. 45. Of the speciall duties of Seruants.
Q. What are the speciall duties of Seruants?
A. 1. To doe their Masters true, and faithfull seruice.
2. To obey them; and submit themselues vntounto them, though they are froward.
3. To pray for their Masters safetie, wealth, and happinesse.
SECT. 46. DOMIN. 46. Of the duties of married folke.
Q. What are the duties of married folke?
A. They are of two sorts,
Common to both.
Proper.
Q. What are the common duties?
A. 1. To dwell together.
2. To expresse all entire, and loyall affection one to another.
3. To bend their endeuours to helpe each other; and both to ioyne for the good of the familie.
SECT. 47. DOMIN. 47. Of the duties of the Husband.
Q. What are the proper duties of the Husband?
A. 1. Wisely to gouerne his Wife, as béeing her head.
2. To nourish and cherish her, as his owne flesh.
3. To instruct her in the points of Religion.
4. To protect, and defend her from iniurie and wrong.
SECT. 48. DOMIN. 48. Of the duties of the Wife.
Q. What are the proper duties of the Wife?
A. 1. To yéeld reuerent respect to her Husband, of what condition soeuer he be.
2. To obey (as a Wife) in all things submitting her selfe to her Husband.
SECT. 49. DOMIN. 49. Of the duties of Pastors.
Q. What are the duties of godly Pastors?
A. 1. To increase their Talent of knowledge by the study of the holy Scriptures, that they may the more sufficiently discharge their dutie to their Flock.
2. To conceiue and deliuer holy formes of Prayers, and thanksgiuing in the name of the whole Congregation.
3. To preach the Word of God
Sincerely.
Faithfully.
Diligently.
Discréetly.
Zealously
4. To administer the Sacraments rightly, and duly.
5. To exercise such ecclesiasticall discipline as appertaineth to them according to Gods Word, and the Canons of the Church.
6. To conforme themselu… to the holy and decent orders of the Church, performing all rites, and ceremonies enioyned by it; as reading the Litturgie, marrying, burying, &c.
7. To lead… a strickt, and exemplary life.
SECT. 50. DOMIN. 50. Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastor.
Q. What are the duties of the flocke towards their Pastor?
A. 1. To pray with, and for their Pastour, that his Ministery may be effectuall among them.
2. To heare their owne Pastor diligently.
3. To obey him in the Lord.
4. To hauehave him in reuerent account, and estimation for his works sake.
5. To yéeld him sufficient and comfortable maintenance by paying duly, and willingly their Tithes, and offerings where the Church hath so well prouided; according to Gods Law and where it hath not, to supply the defect by voluntarie contributions.
6. To ayde and assist him against such as oppose his Ministerie.
SECT. 51. DOMIN. 51. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of personall callings.
Q. What are the speciall duties of men, in respect of their personall callings?
A. 1. To prepare, and fit themselues for some lawfull calling, most agréeable to their gifts, meanes, and inclinations.
2. To enter into it lawfully, and discreetly, not vnaduisedly, nor by indirect meanes.
3. To walke in it worthily viz:
1. Religiously, in all workes of their calling, hauing a reference to God.
2. Wisely spending their time in necessary and profitable workes of their calling; not curious or superfluous.
3. Diligently, and assiduously; not liuing idely, vponupon other mens labours.
4. Uprightly, vsing no vnlawfull meanes of gaining.
5. Ingenuously; frée from couetousnesse, and basenesse.
6. Decently, within the compasse of their calling, not excéeding in apparell, retinue their table, or other expense.
7. In-offensiuely, giuing no scandall to their calling by their vicious life, and conuersation.
4. To leaue if willingly when either God calls them to an higher, or more necessary, or profitable calling; or disableth them for this; or authority remoues them: Otherwise to hold it constantly, to the end.
SECT. 52. DOMIN. 52. Of the speciall Antidotes, or preseruatiues against sinne.
Q. What are the speciall preseruatiues against sinne, and meanes to increase sanctifying grace?
A. 1. Frequent, and feruent Prayer, with thanksgiuing.
2. The exercising our selues in reading, and hearing the holy Scriptures, and meditating vponupon them day and night.
3. Often receiuing the blessed Sacrament, with due preparation before, and holy vowes, after.
4. Conferring with godly Pastors, and other Religious Diuines, touching our spirituall estate and following their holy counsells, and directions.
5. Conuersing with the best sort of Christians, and imitating them in the best things.
6. Often visiting the sicke lying vponupon their death beds, and making vse of their godly speeches, and behauiour at their departure.
7. Reading; or if we are not able to reade, hearing read deuout
Treatises, or discourses
Sermons.
Meditations.
Histories, &c.
8. EueryEvery night examining
Our faith by the Créede.
Our desires, by the Lords Prayer.
Our thoughts, words, & déeds by the Decalogue.
9. Obseruing what temptations wee are most subiect to; and arming our selues against them.
10. Auoiding all occasions of sinne; especially flying cuill company.
11. Resisting the first motions to sinne, and killing the Cockatrice in the egge.
12. Employing our selues continually about some lawfull work, that the Deuill finde vsus not idle.
13. The consideration of the dreadfull Maiesty of GOD in whose presence and eye wee are alwaies.
14. The consideration of the infinite goodnesse of God whom we grieuously offend by the least sin.
15. The consideration of God's fearefull iudgements vponupon sinners in former times, and in our memory.
16. The pricking our conscience with the remembrance of our former sinnes; especially such as hauehave layen heauiest vponupon vsus, saying to our selues in the words of the Apostle, or the like. What fruit had we in those things whereof wee are now ashamed?
17. The consideration of the certainty of our death, and the vncertainty of the time.
18. The consideration of the strickt account we are to make at the day of Iudgement.
19. The consideration of the euerlasting, and vnsufferable torments of the wicked in hell.
20. The consideration of the eternall, and vnconceiueable ioyes of the godly in heauen.
Who so doeth these things shall neuer fall.
HEB. 13. VERSE 20. 21.
20. The God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus, the great Shepheard of the sheepe, through the blood of the euerlasting Couenant,
21. Make you perfect in all good workes, to doe his will, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ, to whom be praise for euer and euer, Amen.
foreign.
FINIS.
End of the text · Daniel Featley, The Handmaid to Private Devotion (1626)