A Book for Beginners, Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. A neceſſary qualification to receive benefit by all this.
IF every one had ſo much Humility, and ſuch a hearty deſire to be truly good, wrought in their Souls betime, they would reade and hear God's word to better purpoſe.
I. Therefore Parents ſhould above all things inſtill this into their Children very early; how neceſſary it is, and how much it becomes them to be humble: and that by no means they grow conceited of their own parts or underſtanding; but be deſirous to learn of every one, with ſimplicity and meekneſs, without any other deſign but to know their Duty.
II. This we may be ſure would diſpoſe them to receive benefit by the Holy Scriptures, and by all other good inſtructions: For it is the very qualification which Chriſt requires to make a perſon fit to be one of his Diſciples, that He firſt become like a little Child. XVIII. Matth. 3. There is no good to be done upon him in Chriſt's School, unleſs he firſt learn to be humble, ſubject to his Teachers, ſimple hearted, and without guile, contented with a little, heartily in love with thoſe that take care of him. And when he is thus freed from pride, ambition, deſire of Riches, or any thing elſe but onelyonly of Knowledge (as little Children naturally are, till the ſeeds of thoſe vices be ſtirred up in them by others) he will be a fit ſoil to receive Chriſt's heavenly Doctrine.
III. And doubtleſs he had reaſon to ſay it, who told this Nation long ago, that it is for want of acquainting Childhood and Youth with ſuch plain Rules as this (which the Scripture it ſelf delivers for our right underſtanding it) that the Scripture either ſeems obſcure and difficult to them, or that they miſtake it, where it ſeems evident.
IV. For when they grow to mens eſtate, or are engaged in worldly buiſineſs, or come to honour, before they be acquainted with the Holy Scripture, and eſpecially theſe plain directions which it gives us for our profiting by it; one of theſe three things is the conſequence of it. The ſeeming difficulty of the Scripture either makes them to ſeek for other Rules, which they apprehend more eaſy; or 2. not to care for any Rule of Faith at all; or elſe 3. to transform this (which God hath given for the renewing his image in them) into the nature of their corrupt affections.
V. Let this Leſſon therefore, as He adviſes, of becoming like little Children, throughly be planted in the hearts of Children, and then Knowledg in other parts of Scripture will grow up with them: and Faith thus planted in humility, while their hearts are tender, (and eaſy to be wrought on by this plain and familiar Precept) will take deep root, and increaſe more and more, as they do, in ſtrength and ſtature. For though at the firſt their Faith be but as a grain of Muſtard-ſeed, yet having in the Spring time got the ſtart of Pride and deſire of worldly wealth or greatneſs, it will afterward flouriſh in all heavenly knowledge, and fructify in every good word and work.
VI. And above all other pieces of Humility, it is abſolutely neceſſary that Children be brought up to a great reverence of God's Miniſters; and a high opinion of their Calling, Place and Perſons. If Parents or Guardians would teach them to honour them as their ſpiritual Fathers, and to look upon them as men appointed by God to take care of their beſt part, their immortal Souls; and to bring Divine bleſſings to them; If they would tell them, Children, theſe are the men by whom you are baptized and made Chriſtians; by theſe you muſt therefore be inſtructed, and confirmed alſo in Religion, and aſſured more and more of God's bleſſing: it would have a mighty effect upon them, and diſpoſe them for all the good they may hereafter reape by them. Whereas, thoſe words of reproach or undervaluing which they now daily hear, muſt needs have the quite contrary effect; or at leaſt for want of ſuch Admonitions, and frequent inculcating the reſpect, honour and eſteem which is due to God's Miniſters, they mind ſo little what they ſay, that when they become capable of it, they receive no benefit by them.
A ſhort Prayer tor the Morning.
ALmighty God and moſt mercifull Father, I moſt humbly bow down my ſelf before Thee, to worſhip thy Divine Majeſty; by whom I was brought into the world, and have been preſerved and provided for all my life long, and now this laſt night (bleſſed be thy Goodneſs) protected from all Dangers; and raiſed up in health and ſafety to ſee the light of another day.
I thank Thee, O Lord, for theſe and all the reſt of thy Mercies; eſpecially for thy ſingular Love in Chriſt Jeſus: beſeeching Thee to awaken and preſerve in me ſuch a lively ſenſe thereof, that I may never prove ungratefull to Him; but conſtantly doe Him all faithfull ſervice.
Particularly this day I earneſtly implore the aſſiſtence of his Holy Spirit, to inable me to keep thoſe Vows that are upon me, not to follow nor be led by worldly and carnal Luſts; but to obey thy holy Will and Commandments, and to walk in the ſame all the days of my life.
Help me, Good Lord, in my place and condition, to perform my Duty towards Thee, and towards my Neighbour, with ſuch care, fidelity, and chearfulneſs, that I may with ſome confidence preſent my ſelf again before Thee in the Evening; and comfortably hope for thy continued good Providence over me.
To which I humbly recommend thy Church and Houſhold; beſeeching Thee to keep it in thy true Religion, and to defend it evermore by thy mighty Power, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. In whoſe moſt bleſſed Name and words I ſtill beſeech Thee to be mercifull to me, and to all thy people, ſaying, Our Father, &c.
A ſhort Prayer for the Evening.
I Thank Thee, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, that, by thy mercifull Providence, I am here proſtrate again before Thee: not onelyonly in health and ſafety of body; but in integrity of heart, I hope, and with ſincere purpoſes to continue always thy faithfull Servant.
Pardon, O moſt mercifull Father, whatſoever I have done or omitted this day, contrary to my reſolutions and obligations. Pitty my great weakneſſes; and accept of my honeſt endeavours to keep a good Conſcience void of offence, towards Thee, and towards Man.
Which that I may doe every day better and better, vouchſafe me the aſſiſtence of thy ſpecial Grace, to ſtrengthen me in the performance of all my Duty. That where I have been wont to ſlip, I may be more watchfull; and where I have been negligent, I may uſe the greater diligence; and ſo continue thy Child, a lively Member of Chriſt, and an Inheritour of thy heavenly Kingdom.
And hear the Prayers of thy whole Church, which have been made this day for every member of the ſame: eſpecially for our Sovereign Lord the KING; for all that miniſter under him, in holy or civil things; for all that are diſtreſſed in mind, body, or eſtate: beſeeching Thee to diſpenſe thy Graces and Bleſſings to every one of them ſutable to their ſeveral neceſſities.
And be my mercifull Protectour all this night: and, after a refreſhing Reſt, raiſe me up again in the morning with a thankfull heart to Thee for thy care over me; fully reſolved continually to mortify all my evil and corrupt Affections, and daily to proceed in all Vertue and Godlineſs of living, through Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour. In whoſe Name and words I commend my ſelf to thy mercy, ſaying, Our Father, &c.
A Prayer for one of riper years before the receiving of Baptiſm.
O Lord, the Creatour of the World, and Redeemer of Mankind, I fall down before Thee to acknowledge that I am thine; and to beſeech Thee, though I have offended Thee, to receive me into thy ſervice again.
Pardon, good Lord, all the Follies of my Childhood, with all the Sins, Negligences and Ignorances of my riper years. Let them all be done away in that Fountaïn, which Thou haſt ſet open for us to waſh in, and be clean.
I deſire to be admitted thither; and intend there to devote my ſelf intirely to Thee: renouncing the Devil, the World, and the Fleſh; and reſolving obediently to keep thy holy will and Commandments, and to walk in the ſame all the days of my life.
Vouchſafe me, O Lord, the aſſiſtence of thy Holy Spirit, that I may both ſeriouſly make, and faithfully keep, thoſe holy Vows and Promiſes. Preſerve in me a perpetual remembrance of them; that I may never, by any Sin, loſe ſo great a Grace as Thou intendeſt to beſtow upon me: but always continue a lively Member of Chriſt, and an Heir of his heavenly Kingdom. To which I beſeech Thee at laſt to bring me, through the Merits of Chriſt Jeſus. Amen.
A Prayer for one that intends to be Confirmed.
O Moſt Bleſſed God, by whoſe grace I was called into a ſtate of Salvation when I was Baptized, and from whom cometh every good thought, deſire, and purpoſe, which I have ſince felt in my heart; Aſſiſt me, I beſeech Thee, in the new dedication, which I am going to make of my ſelf unto Thee; whoſe I am, and reſolve to be to the end of my days.
Fill me, O Lord, with ſuch a lively ſenſe of the honour Thou doeſt me in admitting me into thy Service; that I may give up my ſelf, not onelyonly with the full, but with the moſt chearfull conſent of my heart, to believe and doe whatſoever Thou wouldſt have me.
And then be pleaſed to confirm me in thy Grace, and to ſtrengthen me with might by thy Holy Spirit in the inner man; that I may ever diſcern, and chuſe, and follow thoſe things which are acceptable in thy ſight.
Arm me, good Lord, againſt all the Temptations of the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil; with a will ſtedfaſtly reſolved never to yield to any of them; but to perſiſt faithfully in the performance of my Vow, which was made in my name when I was baptized, and which I now intend with my own mouth to ratify openly before … Church. Whoſe devout Prayers I beſeech Thee to hear for me, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer after Confirmation.
ALmighty and everliving God, who haſt vouchſafed to regenerate me by Water and the Holy Ghoſt; and alſo … farther certified me … the hands of thy Miniſter lately laid on me, of thy Favour and gracious Goodneſs towards me: Accept, I moſt humbly beſeech Thee, of my hearty thanks for ſuch great and undeſerved Benefits; and continue in me thoſe good thoughts, deſires and purpoſes which I found then in my heart, to perſiſt in faithfull Obedience to Thee for ever.
For which end be pleaſed daily to impart unto me more and more of the Holy Spirit, to preſerve me in thy fear and love; and to inable me to doe all the reſt of my Duty, not onelyonly towards Thee, but towards my Neighbour: Eſpecially to thoſe by whom, as thy Stewards, thy heavenly Myſteries are conveyed to us; that reverently attending to their Inſtructions, and receiving their godly Admonitions, and obediently following their Guidance and direction, I may be finally owned for one of thy good and faithfull Servants, at that Day, when the great Shepherd and Biſhop of our Souls ſhall appear again to our Salvation. To Him with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Ghoſt, be eternal praiſes. Amen.
They that need Prayers for other particular occaſions, may be furniſhed in a Book called the Devout Chriſtian, &c.
THE END.
The Contents.
Chap. I. Of the Duty. pag. 1.
Chap. II. Of the Neceſſity of this Duty. p. 7.
Chap. III. Of the Ends for which it was inſtituted. p. 14.
Chap. IV. Of Preparation for it. p. 23.
Chap. V. A Prayer for that morning when you intend to receive. Which may be uſed any time before. p. 39.
Chap. VI. The manner of Receiving. p. 46.
Chap. VII. Meditations and Prayers afterward. p. 81.
Chap. VIII. Directions for a godly Life, ſutable to this holy Communion. p. 99.
Chap. IX. Touching Doubts and Scruples. p. 114.
Chap. X. Directions in caſe of frequent Relapſes into Sin. p. 127.
Chap. XI. The Duties of Children. p. 138.
Chap. XII. The Dutier of Servants. p. 147.
Chap. XIII. Advices to all Young perſons. p. 158.
Chap. XIV. Directions about them that cannot reade. p. 168.
Chap. XV. Directions to thoſe that can reade. p. 179.
Chap. XVI. A neceſſary qualification to receive benefit by all this. p. 203.
A ſhort Prayer for the Morning. p. 213.
A ſhort Prayer for the Evening. p. 216.
A Prayer for one of riper years before the receiving of Baptiſm. p. 221.
A Prayer for one that intends to be Confirmed. p. 224.
A Prayer after Confirmation. p. 227.
The End.
End of the text · Simon Patrick, A Book for Beginners (1680)