Memorials of Godliness and Christianity, Treatise 7
A Daily Direction.
AWake with God, and lift up thy heart to him, in thankſgiving, and petition.
2. Loſe no time unneceſſarily, but riſe as ſoon as thou canſt.
3. However keep thy bed, thy heart, undefiled with wicked thoughts.
4. Let not worldly matters take up thy mind, or words, unneceſſarily at the firſt of the day.
5. Squander not away precious time, in being too long in dreſſing thy body.
6. Defert not thy ſolemn prayers, upon any unwillingneſs, or ſlight pretence.
7. If thou foreſeeſt any inevitable diſturbance (as particularly abroad in ſome places) pray rather than fail, in thy bed, before thou riſeſt.
8. When thou findeſt any unwillingneſs or indiſpoſedneſs to pray, conſider,
I. The Neceſſity of Prayer.
1. Gods Commandement.
2. Good is not elſe to be expected, either
1. Not the thing deſired.
2. Not the bleſſing.
3. Leave is to be asked to uſe Benefits.
4. Help ſpecial wanted; againſt
1. Temptations dangerous to fight alone.
2. Snares, dangerous to travel alone.
5. Duties to be performed; we of our ſelves not having
1. Any heart to them.
2. Any skill for them.
3. Any ſtrength in them.
II. The Priviledges of prayer.
1. Eſteemed, in freinds and great men.
2. Purchaſed by Chriſts bloud.
3. No man can hinder it.
4. No unfitneſs of time or place.
5. To power out our whole heart, for ſelf and friends.
6. Not neceſſitated, to method, manner, proportion.
7. But ſpeak as to a Father, or Friend.
8. Of all life, heavenly imployment, nobleſt exerciſe of ſoul.
9. Special curſe, not to be heard.
III. Promiſes of all kindes.
1. General and particular.
2. For good, and againſt evil.
3. For our ſelves and others.
IV. Experiences, in Scripture, Story, Memory, of
1. Prayers anſwered.
2. Comfort by praying.
3. Grace anſwerable to praying.
9. Awaken, as much as thou canſt poſſibly, thy ſpirit, that thou maiſt pray, with all
1. Reverence and apprehſion of the glorious Majeſty, Perſons, Attributes of the Godhead.
2. Faith and holy confidence in Chriſt thy Mediator, and in the promiſes general or particular.
3. Fervency, from a deep ſence of wants, weakneſſes, importance of thy ſuites.
4. Humility, by reaſon of ſin; corruption, impotency.
5. Thankfuſneſs, for mercies and promiſes, abundant, all-ſufficient.
6. Charity, for others welfare; the Church, the Magiſtrate, the, Miniſter; thy freinds, thoſe that have begged thy prayers or have thy promiſe to pray for them; and for the afflicted.
7. Care to put away the throng of worldly thoughts before thou beginneſt, leſt they diſtract thy mind.
8. Watchfulneſs, how thou praieſt, or haſt praied, never reſting in the outward work done, without thou feel ſome inward affection and fruit of thy prayers.
10. If it be poſſible, let the next thing be to read ſomewhat of Gods Word.
11. Ever begin, and end it, with lifting up thy heart to God for his bleſſing, upon thy
1. Underſtanding, that thou maiſt ſee his truth and will.
2. Memory, that thou maiſt retain, what thou underſtandeſt.
3. Affections, that thou maiſt
1. Receive the Truth, in the love of it.
2. Be careful to practice it, without delay.
12. Be not in haſt, but read to learn, that thou maieſt be the wiſer, holier, happier, for that particular Word, and reading of it, therefore think of it a while with all ſeriouſneſs.
13. Uſually read from the beginning of a book to the end.
14. Strive not to read much at once: yet in ſtories (unleſs called away neceſſarily) break not off, till ſeen ſome iſſue of it.
15. Chooſe to read thoſe Books and Chapters moſt frequently, that are moſt eaſie to be underſtood, and moſt readily applyed to practice; As the Pſalms and Epiſtles, ſpecially the latter part of them.
16. Special difficulties, as ſoon as thou haſt time enquire of, from books, friends Miniſters eſpecially.
17. If indiſpenſſible interruption put thee from the uſual time of prayer or reading, take the next free time, with all diligence and watchfulneſs.
18. However do not dine, till thou haſt prayed ſolemnly alone, longer or ſhorter: and read at leaſt ſome portion of Scripture every day.
19. Unleſs on unavoidable neceſſity, be not abſent from family-Prayers.
20. Quicken thy ſelf to like zeal and faithfulneſs, as if thou wert alone, and call thy ſelf to ſome account, for the Word then read.
21. Having attended upon God, addreſs thy ſelf to the buſineſs of the day.
22. Allot for extraordinry buſineſs, the fitteſt time, and then be diligent to diſpatch it.
23. Having a ſpecial calling or outward imploiment, do ſomewhat at it every day (if poſſible) or take a ſtrict account of thy ſelfe, why not.
24. Think thou doſt not well, if the bulk of thy time be not taken up in thy ſpecial calling, from one end of the year to another.
25. Thy calling, conſiſting of divers imployments, look that one encroch not upon the other. And prefer the moſt important for the time preſent, and for the principal end.
26. Be watchful of thy diet, that thou neither eat nor drink out of ſeaſon, things hurtful, exceſſively, that ſo thou prejudice not thy ſelf, by what was given thee for good; and ſo be
1. Hindered in Gods ſervices, or thy own buſineſſes.
2. Hurt, in thy mind, through temptations; in thy body, by diſeaſes, paines preſent or future.
27. Let not thy mind be earneſtly bent, preſently before, at, or too ſoon after meales.
28. Yet take heed of the breaches of time, and interruption of thy buſineſs, by meals, &c. that they put thee not too far out of the way. But have a care to return again to thy imployments, as ſoon as is convenient. And particularly, if it may be, within an hour or leſs.
29. Once a day read over, and recollect in thy mind, theſe rules.
30. Whoever thou art look to thy thoughts, that they be,
1. Free from
1. Wicked Atheiſm, and denials of Fundamental Truths.
2. Pride, Arrogance, Self-Applauſe, though praiſed.
3. Laſciviouſneſs, Covetouſneſs, malice, envie, matters of provocation.
4. Impatience, grudging, diſcontent.
5. Lightneſs and …ity, froth and emptineſs.
2. Filled with apprehenſions, of God, Chriſt, Eternity, thy Calling, the Church; and thy own laſt account.
31. When thou comeſt into company, make account thou treadeſt among ſnares, which the Devil hath ſet to take thee. Look to thy ſelf firſt, and then to thy company.
1. That thou be not the worſe for them, but better for them.
2. That others be the better ſpecially not the worſe any way, by thy ſpeech, ſilence, actions, forbearance.
32. Bridle thy tongue ſo with conſideration, before thou ſpeakeſt, that thou afterward wiſh not any thing unſaid, in reference to what may befal, temporally or ſpiritually
33. Take heed of
1. All ungodly words.
1. Atheſtical.
2. Slighting or ſcorning Religion, Devotion.
3. Taking Gods name in vain in the leaſt.
4. Swearing falſly, unneceſſarily.
5. Mentioning God without Reverence.
6. Making jeſts of Scripture-phraſes.
7. Uſing them ſportingly.
8. Repeating others oaths.
2. All ſlanderous words.
1. Untruths.
2. Truths ſpoken maliciouſly, ſportingly, unneceſſarily, concerning others faults or imperfections.
3. Bitter provoking jeſts.
4. Railing ſpeeches, though provoked.
3. All ſcurrilous and laſcivious talk, one of the worſt ſigns of a rotten filthy heart.
4. All kind of lies, notwithſtanding any pretence.
5. All idle and vain words, not profiting thy ſelf or hearers.
6. All peremptory affirming news, unleſs infallibly aſſured of it.
7. All words of heat and anger, peremptory and provoking, in diſputing, though perſwaded, and even aſſured thou art in the right, unleſs in matters fundamental for ſaith or practice: yet even then, let thy paſſion not be unbridled; as ſerving to gain the hearers.
8. In thy promiſes to men (and much more in vows to God) be not over-haſty till thou haſt throughly weighed the poſſibility, and convenience, leſt thou be either
1. Inſnared in keeping of it.
2. Incur the blame of raſh or falſe, in breaking it.
9. In any diſputable Queſtion be moderate in aſſerting or denying, leſt an unexpected Argument put thee to ſhame, by forcing thee to alter thy ſentence, or contradiction without reaſon.
10. Boaſt not thy ſelf (neither ſpeak much) unneceſſarily of any thing already done by thee, or of any ability, ſpecially ſpiritual, or any future action, or undertaking.
11. Yet deny not the grace of God in thee, or toward thee for others, or by reſolutions of faithfulneſs to God or men.
34. Take a time (the firſt free ſeaſon when thy mind is in any fitneſs) to pray alwayes ſolemnly be tween dinner and ſupper, and let nothing hinder thee in it being at home, and neglect it not through unwillingneſs.
35. Whereever thou art, inure thy ſelf to ſhort, frequent and fervent ejaculations to God, both of requeſts and thankſgivings, which will be a bleſſed preſervative to thy ſoul, and gain more bleſſing than thou canſt imagine.
36. Particularly neglect not this upon any ſentible failing of thine, even in a ſinful thought, or any unexpected accident or news of importance.
37. Give not any one (ſpecially a ſtranger) power to undo thee, if he will be falſe.
38. Have not many friends, nor count them ſo, till thou haſt good trial of their faithfulneſs to God (being truly religious) and of their wiſdom.
39. To no friend impart another friends ſecret, without leave.
40. And whenever thou telleſt a ſecret, tell it as a ſecret, leſt they take it otherwiſe, and ſo reveal it.
41. Have now & then, that ſaying in thy mind (amici ſunt fures temporis) Friends are thieves of time.
42. Yet count the Communion of Saints, redeeming of time.
43. Remember that ſome time muſt be dedicated to preparation, to make way, 1. For favour in others minds. 2. For introducing a diſcourſe advantagiouſly; and that ſometimes it will ſeem loſt, through diſappointment of hope; which yet is to be counted wiſely and neceſſarily imployed, and the benefit perhaps will appear afterward.
44. Do nothing to another, which thou wouldeſt not have done to thee or thine.
45. Do that to another, thou wouldeſt have done to thy ſelf or thine.
46. Be ſure to take head of giving any ſcandal by thy behaviour, better thy hand or thy eye were cut off, &c.
47. Rejoyce with them that rejoyce (after the Apoſtles rule) and weep with them that weep.
48. If they require thy company, in any of their recreations, be ſure they be, 1. lawful, 2. reaſonable, 3. moderate, 4. of good report, therefore forbear games of lottery, gaming for gain, leſt thou or thy company, be 1. impatient, through loſs, at leaſt inwardly, 2. want what is ſo laviſht, 3. break into quarrels or oaths. Remember Recreation is no mans occupation.
49. Let thy company (if thou canſt) be ever ſuch as may either teach thee ſomewhat, or learn ſomething of thee.
50. Be ſure thou admit not any wicked or profane man to be thy familiar.
51. Let not thy preſence imbolden any in their ſin.
52. Allot ſome time for Meditation, and that of ſome divine thing.
33. Particularly, each day, think of thy laſt, whether thou art ready for it, which will not tarry for thee when it comes.
54. When thou heareſt any worthy ſaying, truſt not to thy brittle memory with it, but write it down, ſo haſt thou a double record of it
55. Willingly let no day paſs without writing ſome good note, of the Scripture, ſome Meditation &c. diſtinguiſhing the day.
56. Avoid ſtudy after Supper, unleſs on urgent occaſions, and dedicate that time to refreſh thy ſelf with the comfortable ſociety of thy friends and acquaintance.
57. Remember to break up company in time, leſt ſitting up late make thee either ſleep in the concluding duties, or loſe time the next morning.
58. Be…wen Supper and going to bed, read again ſomewhat of the Word, after the former preſcripts, as near as thou canſt.
59. Sleep not till thou haſt examined thy ſelf in all this, and in all thy actions, the day paſt to fit thee for prayer, petitioning for pardon and grace, &c. preſenting thanks, as in the morning.
60. Count that day loſt, wherein thou haſt not done and received ſome good, ſpecially ſpiritual.
61. Lay thy ſelf down and ſleep, as in Gods arms, commending thy ſoul to him; and compoſe thy ſelf to reſt, with the thought of ſome promiſe or heavenly thing.
62. Do every thing in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, looking for ſtrength and aſſiſtance in and through him, and preſenting to him, with the Father, and the holy Ghoſt, all honor and glory, obedience, love, truſt, and reverence, for ever, Amen.