A Book for Beginners, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Directions about them that cannot reade.
I. AS for thoſe who cannot reade themſelves, (which in our days are but few, bleſſed be God, in compariſon with former Ages,) their Maſters, or their Miſtreſſes, or their Fellow-ſervants, or ſome good Neighbour, or Relation, are deſired to be ſo charitable, as to reade to them their duty about this matter; ſhewing them the neceſſity, and the ends of it; and praying them to mark and obſerve what is read.
II. Or if their Memories be very weak, tell them in ſhort, that they are bound by their Vow in Baptiſm to doe God's will, and keep his Commandments: and that this is one of his Commandments, that they ſhould commemorate his Love, by coming unto the Holy Communion; which will help them to doe the reſt of his will better.
III. Reade to them alſo their Baptiſmal Vow; together with their Duty to God, and their Duty to their Neighbour, as it is laid down in the Catechiſm: and ask them, if they intend to doe all this by God's gracious aſſiſtence.
IV. If they conſent to it, tell them they ought to go and receive Confirmation, as was ſaid before: and then go to the Holy Communion, to thank God for calling them into this ſtate of Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt, and for working ſuch a good will in them; and to promiſe Him that they will continue his faithfull Servants to their lives end.
V. And let them know, that if they can doe no more at the Holy Communion, but onelyonly give God thanks heartily for ſending his Son to die for them; and devote themſelves unto Him in reſolution of ſincere Obedience; it will be acceptable to Him: and in time they will underſtand more, and doe this Duty better.
VI. Therefore teach them, that the thoughts of their imperfections, and ignorance, ought not to diſcourage them from coming to the Communion: for the very doing of that which Chriſt commands, I mean, the Miniſter's taking Bread and Wine, bleſſing them, breaking the one, and pouring out the other, giving them to his people, and their receiving theſe in remembrance of his Death and Paſſion, is a thing in it ſelf gratefull to Him. And if they know thus much, and with honeſt hearts give thanks to God, and promiſe Him to be his faithfull Servants; He will take it kindly, and increaſe his Graces in their hearts.
VII. And that He may, tell them, that ſince they cannot reade, they muſt be the more diligent in attending to what is read in the Church or in private; and to the Sermons they hear preached: laying up the principal things they obſerve, carefully in their hearts; that they may find them there upon occaſion.
VIII. For which end Maſters and Miſtreſſes ſhould take care, their Servants may have time to go to Church: or rather, they ſhould ſee them go, and bring them thither; ſaying with the holy men of God, I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord.
IX. And if they would help them to learn ſome ſhort Prayer by heart, beſides the Lord's Prayer; it would be a means to poſſeſs them with a ſenſe of their Duty, and to make them more confident of God's gracious aſſiſtence in the doing of it. Inſtruct them, at leaſt, after you have read to them their Duty to God, and their Duty to their Neighbour, to ſay, Lord, have mercy upon me; and write all theſe thy Laws in my heart, I beſeech Thee: and this Collect,
O God, whoſe Bleſſed Son was manifeſted, that He might deſtroy the works of the Devil, and make us the ſons of God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant me, I beſeech Thee, that having this hope, I may purify my ſelf, even as He is pure; that when He ſhall appear again with power and great glory, I may be made like unto Him in his eternal and glorious Kingdom: where with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghoſt, He liveth and reigneth ever one God world without end. Amen.
X. There is reaſon Maſters and Miſtreſſes ſhould be at this pains with their Servants who cannot reade; if they conſider how much better Servants they will be to them, when they are become the Servants of God: and that they themſelves have a Maſter in Heaven, who expects they ſhould not merely uſe their Bodies well, but look alſo after their Souls; ſo far at leaſt, as to help them to the means of Chriſtian Inſtruction.
This is a thing indeed much neglected; and if their work be but well done, ſome Maſters and Miſtreſſes concern themſelves no farther. But ſuch perſons plainly declare, that they love themſelves better then God; elſe they would not be ſatisfied till God's work was done alſo, and carried on together with their own.