The Practice of Christian Graces, Frontispiece – Table of contents
ECCLESIA ANGLICANA.
Read. Pray.
The WHOLE DUTY of MAN Plainly layd down for the use of the meanest Reader, with PRAYERS …
Take heed and beware of false Prophets.
Matt. 7.
The Practice of Christian Graces. OR The WHOLE Duty OF Man LAID DOWN In a Plaine and Familiar WAY for the Use of All, but especially the MEANEST READER. Divided into XVII. CHAPTERS. ONE whereof being read every LORDS DAY the Whole may be read over THRICE in the YEAR. WITH PRIVATE DEVOTIONS For Several OCCASIONS; Viz. For
MORNING
EVENING.
SACRAMENT.
The SICK, &c.
Times of PUB. CALAMITIES.
London, Printed by …. Maxwell for T. Garthwait at the little North door of S. Pauls. 1658.
Mr. GARTHVVAIT.
YOu needed not any Intercession to recommend this task to me, which brought its Invitations and Reward with it. I very willingly Read over all the sheets, both of the Discourse, and the Devotions annext, and find great cause to bless God for both, not discerning what is wanting in any part of either, to render it with Gods blessing, most sufficient, and proper to the great End designed, the Spiritual supplies and advantages of all those that shall be exercised therein. The subject matter of it, is indeed, what the Title undertakes, The whole Duty of Man, Set down in all the Branches, with those advantages of brevity and Partitions, to invite, and support, and engage the Reader, That Condescension to the meanest capacities, but with all, That weight of Spiritual Arguments, wherein the best proficients will be glad to be assisted, that it seems to me equally fitted for both sorts of Readers, which shall bring with them a sincere desire of their own, either present or future advantages. The Devotion part in the conclusion is no way inferior, being a most seasonable aid to every mans infirmities, and hath extended it self very particularly to all our principal concernments; The Introduction hath supplyed the place of a Preface, which you seem to desire from me, and leaves me no more to add, but my Prayers to God, That the Author which hath taken care to conveigh so liberal an Alms to the Corban so secretly, may not miss to be rewarded openly, in the visible power and benefit of this work, on the hearts of the whole Nation, which was never in more need of such supplies, as are here afforded. That His Allsufficient Grace will bless the seed sown, and give an abundant encrease, is the humblest request of
March 7. 1657. Your assured Friend. H. HAMMOND.
A TABLE Of the CONTENTS of the several CHAPTERS or PARTITIO…S in this Book. Which according to this Division, by Reading one of these Chapters every Lords Day, the whole may be Read over Thrice in the year.
PARTITION 1. OF the Duty of Man, by the light of Nature, by the light of Scripture: Of Faith, the Promises, of Hope, of Love, &c. page 1.
PARTITION 2. Of Humility, of Submission to Gods Will, in respect of Obedience, of Patience, in all sorts of Sufferings; and of Honour due to God in several wayes, in his House, Possessions, His Day, Word, Sacraments, &c. page 34.
PARTITION 3. Of the Lords Supper, Of Preparation before Receiving, of Duties to be done at the Receiving, and afterwards, &c. page 67.
PARTITION 4. Honour due to Gods Name; Of Sinning against it; Blasphemy, Swearing, Assertory Oaths, Promissory Oaths, Vnlawful Oaths Of Perjury, Of Vain Oaths, and the Sin of them, &c. page 98.
PARTITION 5. Of Worship due to Gods Name. Of Prayer and its several parts. Of Publick Prayers i… the Church, in the Family: Of Private Pray…er. Of Repentance, &c. Of F…sting, page 109▪
PARTITION 6. Of Duties to our Selves. Of Sobriety Humility; The great Sin of Pride, the Danger, the Folly of this Sin. Of Vain-Glory the Danger, Folly, Means to prevent it. O… Meekness, the Means to obtain it, &c. page 136▪
PARTITION 7. Of Contentedness, and the Contraries t… it, Murmuring, Ambition, Coveto…sness Envy; Helps to Contentedness. Of Dutie which concern our Bodies. Of Chastity, Help… to it. Temperance, Rules of Temperance i… Eating, &c. page 158.
PARTITION 8. Of Temperance in Drinking, False Ends o… Drinking, viz. Good fellowship. Putting away Cares, &c. page 177.
PARTITION 9. Temperance in Sleep; The Rule of it, &c. Of Recreation, of Apparel. page 197▪
PARTITION 10. Of Duties to our Neighbours. Of Justice, Negative, and Positive. Of the Sin of Mur…her. Of the Hainousness of it, The Punishments of it, And the Strange Discoveries thereof; Of Maiming, Wounds and stripes, page 206.
PARTITION 11. Of Justice, about the Possessions of our Neighbour; Against Injuring him as Concerning his Wife, His Goods. Of Malice, Covetousness, Oppression, Theft: Of Paying Debts, &c. page 226.
PARTITION 12. Of Theft; Stealing the Goods of our Neighbour. Of Deceit in Trust; in Traffick. Of Restitution, &c. page 238.
PARTITION 13. Of False Reports, False Witness, Slanders, Whisperings. Of Despising and Scoffing for Infirmities, Calamities, Sins, &c. Of Positive Justice, Speaking the Truth. Of Lying. Of Humility and Pride. Of Envy, Detraction. Of Gratitude. &c. page 251.
PARTITION 14. Of Duty to Parents. Magistrates, Pastors, &c. Of the Duty of Parents to Children, &c. page 278.
PARTITION 15. Of Duty to our Brethren and Relations; Husband, Wife, Friends, Masters, Servants. page 305.
PARTITION 16. Other Branches of our Duty to our Neighbour. Of Charity to Mens Souls, Bodies… Goods, &c. page 329.
PARTITION: 17. Of Charity, Alms-giving, &c. Of Charity in respect of our Neighbours Credit, Of Peace-making. Of going to Law: Of Charity to our Enemies, &c. Christian Duties both Possible and pleasant. page 358.
A TABLE of the PRAYERS.
Prayers for Morning 562
Prayers for Night 570
Collects for several Graces 577
A Paraphrase on the Lords Prayer 591
Pious Ejaculations out of the Book of Psalms 594
Brief heads of Examination before the Sacrament 598
Prayers before the Sacrament 613
Ejaculations at the Lords Table, &c 619
Prayers after the Sacrament 621
Prayers for the Sick 631
Ejaculations for the Sick 63…
Prayers for Publick Calamities 644