A Taste of the Truth, Part 4

A Taste of the Truth · Part 4

p. 1THE FIRST PART OF THE DIRECTIONS Shews how Private Christians, Learned or Vnlearned, are to serve God in all the parts of his Worship both in private and in publike: which contains in it five Generall Directions as followeth.

The first generall Direction shews, What things you are to know before you can perform any acceptable service unto God.

FIrst You are to know and believe these five principles of divinity, You are to know five divine truths before you can rightly call upon God.before you can expect upon good grounds to receive any thing from the Lord, that you wait upon him for, in prayer or any other duty; (a)(a)Rom. 10.14. Heb. 11.6.Rom 10:14Heb 11:6As first, That there is a God, which is an eternall spirit, and but one in essence, p. 2yet three in persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Secondly, That this God made you in Adam righteous, after his own Image, and so in a blessed condition. Thirdly, That you sinned in Adam, and so lost the Image of God, and became subject to curse and condemnation. Fourthly, That God hath not left you, in that cursed sinfull condition you are fallen into, but hath out of his meer love given Christ to be made a curse, The proofs of the six first answers in the Catechisme proves these five Truths.to free you from that curse you have deserved, by the breach of the Law. Fifthly, That when God draws you to come to him by his Christ for salvation, with an humble acknowledgement that you have sinned, and it profits you not, and with a resolution to live to him, that then you may, and ought to come boldly to him, through Christ, as to your heavenly Father in Christ with confidence to receive from him, what you ask of him for Christs sake, that is according to his will, (b)(b)Iob 33.27. Iohn 6.44. Matth. 6.9. Luke 15.18, 19 Heb. 4 16. 1 Ioh 5.14. You are to endeavour to know other particulars that you migh… sanctifie God in your drawing nigh unto him.Job 33:27John 6:44Matt 6:9Luke 15:18Luke 15:19Heb 4:161 John 5:14Nevertheles use all diligence to know all such things, as may further you to sanctify God in your drawing nigh unto him, in the dutyes of his worship, As first what God is, not only in his nature, and in the Trinity of persons: but also in all his holy attributes, (c)(c)Ex. 34.6.7 Neh. 1.5.Exod 34:6Exod 34:7Neh 1:5that you may alwaies act your graces upon him by them, and carry your self towards him sutably unto them, in your worshipping of him; Secondly, who, and what you are, that you should have liberty to serve God, to wit, sinfull dust and ashes, (d)(d)Gen. 18.27.Gen 18:27in your best estate, as you are in your self; Thirdly, what the worship of God is, namely a tendering up unto God, by Jesus Christ, that honour, homage, p. 3and respect, that is due from the creature unto the Creatour; (e)(e)Rom. 1.21, 22, 23, 25. Ephes. 2.18.Rom 1:21Rom 1:22Rom 1:23Rom 1:25Eph 2:18By which discription you may know what duties in these following directions, are parts of gods worship (for some of the duties that I have directed you in, are not parts, but furtherances and helps to Gods worship) To wit, Prayer, hearing of the word, Note these things about the worship of God.receiving of the Sacrament, and that in a speciall manner, because honour is immediatly tendered unto God by Jesus Christ, when these duties are rightly performed; Singing of Psalms also is a part of gods worship, in that, praise and glory is thereby immediatly given unto God. (f)(f)Ps. 115.1. Eph. 5.19, 10Ps 115:1Eph 5:19Eph 5:10And when you perform any of these holy dutyes aright, then you may be said to worship God; yea, when you read the word in private, or meditate upon it, or talk with others about it, or when you instruct others in it, by way of Catechizing, or examination or the like; you worship God so far as you do depend upon him for such grace and mercy for your self or others, through these duties, as these duties, creatures, or ordinances, you have to deal with, are not able of themselves to convey to you; Furthermore, when you love God, beleeve in him, fear him, rejoyce in him, obey him, or perform any duty to him, or for his sake, unto any of mankind, whether they be meer naturall creatures, or Christians by name, or in deed or in truth: Then you worship God, so far as you honour God in them, and rely upon him for grace, to do or receive some good by these duties that tend unto his glory. (g)(g)Acts 13.4…. Rom. 4.20. Matth. 5.16.Acts 13:4Rom 4:20Matt 5:16Fourthly, The nature of the duties you are to perform, that you may accordingly prepare for p. 4them; Though all duties be little and weak in themselves, yet they are great and weighty as they are means appointed of God, through and by which we are to receive the choicest mercies, that ever God bestowed upon his creatur…s; as prayer by Gods appointment is the great ordinance of God, whereby we have communion with him in this world, and whereby we receive from him what ever we want for this life or a better, so farre as it is for his glory and our good; yea it is the greatest of duties, in that all things are sanctified by it; (h)(h)1 Tim. 4 5.1 Tim 4:5Hearing is the great Ordinance of God, whereby the whole counsell and will of God revealed in the word, is made known unto us; (i)(i)Acts 20.25, 26, 27,Acts 20:25Acts 20:26Acts 20:27The Sacrament of the Lords Supper is the great Ordinance of God for our remembrance of Christ crucified; (k)(k)2 Cor. 11.24. Observe these generall rules about the manner how you are to perform holy duties.2 Cor 11:24They that remember little of the many things they have heard of Jesus Christ and him crucified, may see all in this holy Ordinance, yea, and receive all in it by faith that Christ hath purchased. Fiftly, the manner how you are to perform holy duties, not ignorantly nor doubtfully, but knowingly, being perswaded in your heart that God requires them of you; (l)(l)Rom 10.14 14.23.Rom 10:14Not rashly and inconsiderately, but reverently (fearing with a filiall fear, least you should offend God, (m)(m)Ps. 89.7.Ps 89:7and preparedly, (n)(n)Iob 11.13, 14.Job 11:13Job 11:14so as that God may have that honour from holy duties as is fit for a God to have: (o)(o)Rom. ….…1.Not proudly, but humbly: (p)(p)Luke 18.13 14.Luke 18:13Not prophanely with the love of any sin in your heart, (q)(q)Ps 66.18.Ps 66:18but purely, with a heart not only habitually, but actually sanctified: (r)(r)Lev. 10.3. Psal, 93.5. 1 Pet. 3.15.Lev 10:31 Pet 3:15Not slightly as if you did despise the Ordinances of God, (s)(s)Mal 1 6. … Thes. 5.…0.Mal 1:6but solemnly p. 5having high thoughts of God and of all the duties of his worship: (t)(t)Isa. 6.3. to 6. Psa. 84.5.Isa 6:3–6Ps 84:5Not distractedly by lodging of vain, worldly, unseasonable, impertinent thoughts in your heart, (u)(u)Psa. 117.113. Ier. 4.14.Ps 117:113Jer 4:14by wispering, gazing, listening, or doing, or minding any thing besides the duties of Gods worship you are about: but intentively (x)(x)Act. 26.7. Deut. 1….12.Acts 26:7Deut 1:12exercising all the faculties of your soul, and all the gifts and graces of Gods Spirit upon, and about God and his worship: yea, and the parts of your body about the service of God, so farre as bodily exercise is therein required: Having your eyes in the time of hearing upon the man, or the book of God, (y)(y)Luk. 4.20Luke 4:20your ears attentive to the voice of God in man: (z)(z)Rev. 2.11.Rev 2:11your eyes in the time of prayer upon God in heaven, or upon the hell of your own heart, as unworthy to look up to heaven: (a)(a)Luk. 18.13.Luke 18:13Not hypocritically with your body only, and the outwardly actings thereof, (b)(b)Mat. 15.7.8.9.Matt 15:7Matt 15:8Matt 15:9but sincerely with your soul and with all that is within you: (c)(c)Ioh. 4 24. Mat. 22.37.John 4:24Matt 22:37Not formally, but powerfully with inward actings of grace, as well as with outward actings of zeal, holinesse, or the like. (d)(d)2 Tim. 3.5.2 Tim 3:5Not wearily, as if the duties of Gods worship were a tedious and a grievous thing, (e)(e)Am. 8.5. Gal. 6 9.Amos 8:5Gal 6:9but mightily with all your strength of intention, and affection: (f)(f)Luk. 10.27. Deut. 10.12.Luke 10:27Deut 10:12Not securely and sleepily, (g)(g)Mat. 26.40.41.Matt 26:40Matt 26:41but seriously as becomes the worship of God in hand: (h)(h)Mar. 4.24Mark 4:24Not slothfully and lastly, (i)(i)Rom. 12.11Rom 12:11but laboriously, (k)(k)Ioh. 6, 27John 6:27following hard after God, (l)(l)Psa. 63.8.Ps 63:8and endeavouring to give him all the glory you can, grieving that you can give him no more, desiring to give him infinite glory sutable unto his infinitenesse: (m)(m)Psa. 69.9Ps 69:9Not in your own name as if your p. 6duties were your righteousnesse, or requitalls for benefits received, or amendments for faults or sins against God, or as your propitiations for your sins, or impulsive causes to move God to be gracious unto you: but in the Name of Christ, leaving your services with him to be tendered unto God: (n)(n)Col. 3.17.Col 3:17closing all the solemn duties of Gods worship alwaies with a giving up of your self, and of all you are and have, unto the Lord, to be at his disposall for his glory; (o)(o)Psa. 37.5.Ps 37:5Sixtly, what the rule is that you are to perform holy duties by, not your own will and phancy, nor mens inventions and precepts: but Gods word; you are to perform duty just so as God would have you in his word. (p)(p)Mat. 15.3 to 7. Gal. 6.16.Matt 15:3–7Gal 6:16Seventhly, for what ends you are to serve God, not for self ends (q)(q)Phil. 2.21. Mat. 6.24. Ioh. 5.44. Zac. 7.5 6.Phil 2:21Matt 6:24John 5:44that your secret sins might thereby be covered, that you might have the praise of men, nor meerly that your conscience might be satisfied: But for high ends (r)(r)Pro. 15.24: 1 Cor. 20 31. Psa. …2.1, 2.Prov 15:24Ps 2:1Ps 2:2that you might honour God, that you might have communion with him, and grace from him, to honour him withall; Acquaint your selves with these particulars as you are able to bear them, that you may understandingly remember them, and be in some measure fitted to serve God at any time, so as to sanctifie his name by your rehearsing of them in your heart as you fall upon duty.

p. 7The second Direction discovers to you after what manner you are daily to serve God, as also how you are to perform sundry and divers holy duties as you have opportunity and liberty thereunto, although you be not daily called unto them.

SEcondly, The particulars afore mentioned being known, understood, and mixed with faith: Come to Christ in the Gospel, not only to be saved by him, (a)(a)Mat. 11.28. Ioh. 6.37. Heb. 7.25.Matt 11:28John 6:37Heb 7:25but also to learn of him how to serve God in spirit and in truth, (b)(b)Ioh. 4.24.John 4:24and particularly how to pray, so as to sanctify God in Prayer: and being Christ that hath taught you how to pray, hath not tied you to a form of prayer, (c)(c)Mat. 6.9. Act. 4.24. to 31.Matt 6:9Acts 4:24–31but given you a perfect pattern to pray by; Therefore use all means, to understand the meaning of the Lords Prayer: for it containeth whatsoever you can ask at Gods hands, or give him thanks for; How you are to premeditate and pray every morning.And pray daily after this manner, which (I conceive) is but materially as Christ hath taught you; First, Every morning after you have awaked with God, (d)(d)Psa. 139.18.Ps 139:18and before you go about the works of your calling, or after you have separated your thoughts from the world, and devoted your self for the time unto God; p. 8(e)(e)Psa. 5 3. Dan. 6.10.Ps 5:3Dan 6:10Consider first what the great and dreadfull God of heaven, (f)(f)Psa. 104.34. Eccl 5.2.Ps 104:34Eccl 5:2and your mercifull and gracious father, hath done for you, his poor sinfull creature at all times, particularly what he hath done for you, the night and morning past; Secondly, wherein you have sinned against heaven, and before the Lord, generally at all times, particularly the by-past-night or morning, either in your dreams; thoughts, speeches, actions, omissions of, or failing in duty; Thirdly, What you would have God to do for you the day following (if you might have the desire of your soul, which ought alwaies to be according to Gods will) (g)(g)1 Ioh. 5.14.1 John 5:14for our King and his Kingdomes, the Queen, and her Royall seed; For the Magistrates, the Ministers and all in Authority; For all the Saints in generall, and particularly for the congregation and family you belong unto; Now your own spirit in the act of meditation (if you have a Gospel like spirit as every real Christian hath) (h)(h)Rom 8.9.Rom 8:9is able through the help of the spirit of Christ, and the word of God to tell you what those mercies are you are to praise God for, what those sins are that you are to confesse and bewail, and what those wants are that you are to intreat the Lord for Christs sake to supply. Fourthly, Consider that there is ability and free mercy enough in God, (i)(i)Rom. 10.12. Eph. 2.7. 1 Pet. 1.3.Rom 10:12Eph 2:71 Pet 1:3and righteousness and grace enough in Christ to assist you in all the duties of Gods worship, to pardon all your sins, to cleanse you from them, and to supply the wants of you, yours, and all Gods people, above what you are able to ask, or to think how you should ask, p. 9(k)(k)E…h. 3.20 Heb. 7.25.Heb 7:25These things being thought upon (as they may in a minutes time) Humbly kneel before the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (l)(l)Psa. 95.6. Eph. 3.14.Ps 95:6Eph 3:14and ask his spirit, (m)(m)Luk. 11.13. 1 Ioh. 1.9 Iam. 5.16. to 19.Luke 11:131 John 1:9Jas 5:16–19casting your self upon him for it; And then praise the Lord for all his mercies, above all, for the Lord Jesus Christ; particularly for the mercies of the by-past-night and morning; Humbly confesse and bewail your sins of all sorts, particularly the sins of the night and morning past: Fervently pray (exercising all the faculties of your soul, and all the gifts and graces of Gods spirit, in the very act of thanks-giving, confessing and prayer) for pardon of, and power against your sins, for faith, repentance, and all other graces necessary unto salvation, especially for a sufficiency of grace to honour God withall, the day following: And for a supply of all your wants, that are according to Gods will, that either you, or any you are to pray for, stand in need of; And so commit your self and services unto Christ, to be tendered unto God, (n)(n)Rev. 8.3.Rev 8:3beleeving that God will accept them in him, and that he will give you what you have asked according to his will (if you use all lawfull means, for the obtaining of the same) when it is most for his honour and your good, (o)(o)1 Ioh. 5.14.1 John 5:14and that his peace shall possesse your soul all the day long, if you walk with God in your calling, (p)(p)Phil. 4, 6. 2 Chro. 15.25. Ioh. 14.22.23.Phil 4:62 Chr 15:25John 14:22John 14:23and worship him continually in your heart; For you may love God, and fear him, in the midst of all your worldly businesses, and pray in your spirit unto him, and obey him, and trust and rejoyce in him, (q)(q)Psa. 62.8. 1 Thes. 5.16.Ps 62:81 Thess 5:16and further others to do likewise; Yea, p. 10while you sit at your work, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up, you may either be teaching of others (if there be any with you) or learning of others, (r)(r)Deut. 11.29. Eph. 4.29.Deut 11:29Eph 4:29you may either be doing or receiving some good that is for Gods glory, and the furthering of your own, or the salvation of others. Remembring alwaies after, or about the time when your prayer is ended, to take notice not only of your defects, and failings in prayer, to be humbled for them, and of the sufficiency of Christs righteousnesse, (which is yours (if you beleeve it) and alwaies the same (s)(s)Heb. 13.8. Rom. 4.3.Heb 13:8Rom 4:3) to cover them (t)(t)Rom. 4.7.Rom 4:7But also of your inlargements, to be thankfull unto God for them; being then and ever mindefull of the need you have of Jesus Ch…ist even in your best estate, (u)(u)Phil. 3.1. to 19.Phil 3:1–19that is, when your heart is enlarged, your faith strengthened, your conscience eased, your soul comforted, and as it were ravished with the light of Gods countenance lifted upon you.

And being you and every one may and ought to search the Scriptures, (h)(h)Rom. 35.4 1 Tim. 3.…5. What subiects of Scripture, you are often to read or meditate upon.1 Tim 3:5Read therfore or meditate daily of such a portion of Scripture, (having read and studied the Scriptures quoted in the Catechisme) as may inform, or minde you of your awaking with God, (i)(i)Psa. 119.147.Ps 119:147of the mercies you are daily and continually to blesse God for, (k)(k)Psa. 104.1 to 35. Psa. 22.9.10.Ps 104:1–35Ps 22:9Ps 22:10of the sins you are daily to bewail, (l)(l)1 Ioh. 3.4. Psa. 51.3, 4.51 John 3:4Ps 51:3Ps 51:4Ps 51:5of the wants of your self, and of all men you are daily to make known to God, (m)(m)Phil. 4.6.Phil 4:6of the promises of audience, (n)(n)1 Ioh. 5.14.15.1 John 5:141 John 5:15assistance, (o)(o)Luk. 11.13Luke 11:13acceptance, (p)(p)Eph. 1.6Eph 1:6of justification, (q)(q)Heb. 10. to 13.Heb 10sanctification, (r)(r)Ioh. 3.16.John 3:16and salvation, (s)(s)Rom. 10.13.Rom 10:13that you are to p. 11act your faith on, before, at, and after prayer: of the expressions you may use (if need be) in your entrance upon prayer, (t)(t)Hos. 14.2.Hos 14:2in your confessions, petitions and thanks-givings: of the carriage of your self, to God and man, in the calling you are in, or intended to be of: (u)(u)Mat. 7.12.Matt 7:12of the carriage of your self in all relations you are, or may be in: (x)(x)Phil. 1.27.Phil 1:27of the carriage of your self, when you are alone, (y)(y)Heb. 13 Psa. 139.1. to 24.Heb 13Ps 139:1–24or in company whether of superiours, equal…s, inferiours, ignorant, knowing, wicked, civill, hypocriticall, sincere, weak, or established Christians: (z)(z)Mat. 5.16.Matt 5:16of the carriage of your self, when things fall out by providence unexpectedly well, or ill with you, (a)(a)Iob. 1.21 Rom. 8.28.Job 1:21Rom 8:28of the carriage of your self, in your lying down, to take your rest: (b)(b)Psa 14.8. Psa. 139.3. Pro. 3.24.Ps 14:8Ps 139:3Prov 3:24of the manner how you are to order your heart, conscience, time, talents, and all your thoughts, speeches, sences, affections, and actions at all times, to wit, so as that thereby you may glorify God, (c)(c)1 Cor. 10.31.1 Cor 10:31Such Scriptures (I say) as are of these or the like subjects you are to read, or to meditate upon untill you be well instructed therein: to which kinde of Scriptures you may be further directed either by your table in your Bible, or by your Minister, or any neighbour that is an able Christian; Read afterward, the Bible, (d)(d)2 Tim. 3.16. What thing you are chiefly to observe in the word in or after you reading or hearing of it. 2 Tim. 3.16. Phil. 4 8.2 Tim 3:16Phil 4:8in order that you may understand both the history, and scope of the holy Scriptures, marking all things therein, but more especially the things that concerns your self, As for example, when you read any part of Gods word, Consider in, or after your reading of it, whether there be any thing in it, …hat instructs or teaches you where you are ignorant p. 12that you may learn it, beleeve it, an… practise it: That discovers or reproves any o… your sins either of judgement, or of practise whether of commission, in thought, word, o… deed, or omission of, or failing in duty, tha… you may renew your faith and repentance whereby they may be pardoned for time past and subdued for time to come: That furthers confirms, or comforts you in beleeving, tha… you may beleeve as God inclines you t… beleeve by his word and spirit, and go from faith to faith, as the righteousnesse of the Gospel is revealed unto you: that you may know the mysteries of the kingdome of heaven, an… the deep things of Christ that may establish yo… in beleeving, as God gives you to know an… understand them: That you may make Go… the joy of your salvation: as he gives you t… rejoyce in him; Meditate I say of these thing in, Pro. 2.2. Psa. 119.11. Isa. 42.23. Iam. 1.22.Prov 2:2Ps 119:11Isa 42:23Jas 1:22or after your reading of the word, tha… you may not only apply it for time present as I have now shewed you, but also that yo… may hide it in your heart, or write it in a book for time to come, whereby you may be kep… from your iniquities, that you are apt to b… overtaken in, when you are tempted there unto: Take the like course (as you have opportunity) after you have heard the word read opened, preached, repeated, or spoken of b… way of catechizing, or conference: For meditation after this manner is the life of al… means next unto Jesus Christ, and makes al… you have read, or heard (through the help o… the spirit) to be your own: yea it helps yo… to give God his own, that is, the glory that i… p. 13due to him from these duties; For your main drift in reading and hearing of the word, Mat. 7.24. to 28. Ioh, 13.17.Matt 7:24–28should be to know the will of God, for that end that you might honour God in doing it, and in suffering it in every thing as it shall be required of you. (*)(*)Mat. 28.2.Matt 28:2And before you enter upon this exercise, think of your many sins by reason of which God might give you over to a reprobate minde, (e)(e)Rom 1.28Rom 1:28and consider that you cannot teach your self without the spirits teaching, nor know the minde of God in the word, but by the spirit of God that did indite it, (f)(f)1 Cor. 2.14.1 Cor 2:14and so desire God for the Lords sake to pardon your sins, to pour out his spirit upon you, and to help you thereby to understand, remember, and to profit by the word, (g)(g)1 Cor. 12.7.1 Cor 12:7And after you have read and pondered upon the word, and seriously considered what a mercy it is to have Gods word to read and meditate upon, (h)(h)Psa. 147 19.20.Ps 147:19Ps 147:20to receive any benefit by it, (i)(i)Mat. 11.25.Matt 11:25to have a heart and a desire to obey it, (k)(k)Deut. 5.29. Eze. 36.27.Deut 5:29Ezek 36:27Blesse God for his good word, for any good you receive thereby, and for any inclination you have of walking answerable unto it, (l)(l)Phil. 2.13Phil 2:13and pray to him for the continuance and encrease of the same unto you, which you may do in your morning and evening prayer, if this exercise be immediatly before.How and upon what subjects you are some times to meditate.

Sometimes in stead of reading and meditating upon the word, ponder upon one of these or the like subjects; (m)(m)Psa. 42 5.11. Psa. 119.97.99 Psa. 104, 34,Ps 42:5Ps 42:11Ps 119:97Ps 119:99Ps 104:34First ask your self (For set meditation is a talking with ones self) whether you truly beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ, (n)(n)2 Cor. 23.5.Secondly whether you have added to your faith, since, as you conceive, God gave you to beleeve, vertue, knowlege, temperance, p. 14patience, godlinesse, brotherly kindenesse, charity, (o)(o)2 Pet. 17.8.Thirdly, whether you conceive that God may say of you (as he said of Iob) that you are perfect and upright and one that fears God, and eschewes evill, (o)(o)Iob. 1.8.Job 1:8Fourthly whether you dare die, or can die with comfort, in the present condition you are in: (p)(p)Phil. 1.23 When and in what cases you are to go to your Minister or to some experienced Christian for resolution. See the conclusion of the exposition of the right answer in the Catechisme.Phil 1:23And if your answer to your self be negative, teen be the more diligent in the use of all means that you may beleeve, and add those graces to your faith, and be upright, and prepared for death: But if your answer to your self, be affirmative, then be thankfull to God, and incouraged therewith to beleeve more, to grow in those graces you have added to your faith, to be more sincere, to be more desirous to be dissolved, and to be with Christ: or if you be unable to meditate and to speak with your self about these subjects, then have recourse to your minister, or to some able experienced Christian that they may confer with you about them, and the estate of your soul: making your requests to God before and after your meditation of this kinde, by praier and thanks-giving, according to the nature of the subject you are to meditate upon: As for example, when you are to meditate whether you unfainedly beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ, or no? Consider that you cannot know it, but as God shall give you to know it (q)(q)1 Cor 2.12 How you are to premeditate and pray before your set Meditation upon any subiect.1 Cor 2:12that when you do know it, you cannot of your self make a sanctifyed use of it, that your sins are and have been such, as might provoke God, to withhold the knowledge of it from you; After that desire God for the Lords sake, to forgive you your p. 15sins, to give you to know the grace he hath given you, if you have received any, if not, to give you grace to beleeve, and thereby to give glory to him, And if after your meditation, you finde that God hath given you by it to know that you are in unbelief, so as to quicken you to beleeve, or to know that you are in the faith, so as to move you to thankfullnesse and perseverance in it: Then praise God for the means and his blessing upon the same, whereby you come to a sanctified knowledge of your self, and pray to God to give you more and more grace to make a sanctified use thereof, Or if you remain doubtfull after your meditation, then consult with others, about your condition according to the advice already given you.

And seeing it is meet and equall, and the bounden duty of Christian people that live together in one house, That you are to attend, and how you are to attend family duties.to blesse God together for those mercies they enjoy together, to be humbled together for those sins they sin together, to endeavour together to know that God they professe together, and to pray for those mercies together, that they would enjoy together; (r)(r)Act. 10.2.Acts 10:2Therefore be conscionably carefull to attend family duties at all times as you have opportunity: And as you goe to attend duty, endeavour to take off your heart and thoughts from all things below, (s)(s)Col. 3.2.Col 3:2and to set them upon things above; praising God in your heart, as God is praised in words, confessing sin in your thoughts with sighs and groans, as sin is confessed in words, and praying in your spirit for what is prayed for in expressions so farre as you p. 16understand them to be according to Gods will; (t)(t)1 Cor. 14.16. See the next Direction about the manner how you are to sing Psalmes.1 Cor 14:16Attending the word with an approved heart to God, that you desire to know, and doe, and suffer his will in every thing. Beleeving that you shall have what you ask of God, that is according to his will, as if you did nothing but pray and beleeve: (u)(u)Mar. 11.24Mark 11:24and endeavouring in the use of all lawfull means to obtain what you pray for, (x)(x)Matt. 4.7. 1 Cor. 12.12, 13, 14, 25. Phil. 2.4. Heb. 3 13.Matt 4:71 Cor 12:121 Cor 12:131 Cor 12:141 Cor 12:25Phil 2:4Heb 3:13as if your praying and beleeving would avail you nothing. Willingly consenting together to watch over one another, and to observe each others waies for one anothers good: and mutually to perform all those duties that your relations calls you unto, and in such a manner as becomes a Christian family that belongs unto the great Family of heaven. And when you are to partake of any of the good creatures of God, How you are to premeditate and pray at me al times.for the strengthning and refreshing of your body, (y)(y)1 Tim. 4.4, 5. Act 27.35.1 Tim 4:41 Tim 4:5Acts 27:35consider that you are lesse (through your sins) then the least of Gods mercies, (z)(z)Gen. 32.10.Gen 32:10that the creatures are sanctified by the word of God and prayer, and that they can doe you no good without Gods blessing; for you doe not live upon meat and drink alone, (a)(a)Deut. 8.3.Deut 8:3but upon Gods blessing in the use thereof: After that pray to God for Christs sake to pardon your sins (in your spirit, if alone, in words if in company, and if you be called thereunto) and so to blesse the creatures to you, as that you may thereby be better fitted in body and minde to serve him in your place: And when you have refreshed your self with the good creatures of God, call to minde that your meat, (b)(b)Psal. 104.27, 28.Ps 104:27Ps 104:28and appetite, and the refreshings you receive thereby, are all blessings p. 17of God that you cannot of your self walk worthy off: Then give thanks to God for your meat, and stomack, and for the comforts you receive thereby, (c)(c)1 Thes 5.18.1 Thess 5:18and desire of God for the Lords sake to give you grace to improve them, and all other mercies for his glory. How you are to carry your self before, at, and after your hearing of the word.And when at any time you have an opportunity to hear the word preached, upon any occasion; (d)(d)Pro. 8.34. Iohn 10.27.Prov 8:34John 10:27commune with your own heart (that you may be prepared to hear, so as to glorifie God) before, or at the time of your going to attend the word, what your iniquities are by reason of which the word might be made unprofitable to you, and that the word will not profit you without Gods blessing: (e)(e)1 Cor. 3.7, 8.1 Cor 3:71 Cor 3:8And pray to God to blot out your sins, to give you a sound judgement, an honest, and good heart, and so to blesse the word to you as that you may profit by it; 1 Thes. 2.1… 1 Pet. 2.2. Prov. 2.1, 2. Rom, 10.14, to 18. 1 Pet. 2 19.1 Thess 2:11 Pet 2:2Prov 2:1Prov 2:21 Pet 2:19And behave your self so in hearing (hearing the word, then and alwaies, as the word of God, with an appetite to it, and a heart open to receive it, that you may beleeve it, and obey it; yea hear it as an Ordinance of God for the conveying of some spirituall good to your soul: and as seriously as if God spoke it immediately from heaven,) and attending all duties then performed, as one that is zealously desirous to glorifie God before all the people, by your reverent and holy behaviour, (f)(f)Lev. 10 3.Lev 10:3and so, as one that desires to have communion with God, while you are waiting upon him, And after you have heard the word, either be thinking of it, or speaking about it, that you may understandingly remember it, and apply it, and so receive benefit by it; (g)(g)Matth 13.19. to 24.Matt 13:19–24And what good (upon p. 18your calling of it to remembrance) you finde you have received, be thankfull to God for it, (h)(h)Col. 4 2.Col 4:2and humbled for your failings, and pray that God would strengthen you through Christ to improve it for his glory, your own comfort and the good of others.

And when you are called to spend some time in holy conference (i)(i)Luke 2.4.14, 15. Heb 3.13. Psal, 16.3. Mal. 3.16. Heb 10.25. Iude 20.Luke 2:4Luke 2:14Luke 2:15Heb 3:13Mal 3:16Heb 10:25Jude 1:20among your neighbour Christians, How you ate to behave your self before, at, and after your solemn conference with the Saints.not in a scismaticall, but in an humble manner to edifie one anothers souls, and to further the publike Ministery; call to remembrance about the time of your meeting, what your scruples are, wherein you are wounded in your conscience, or troubled in your spirit, or what you would have of God in that ordinance: What your sins are and have been, by reason of which you might live and die, under wrath and terrour: and how insufficient men, and means of grace are to confirm or strengthen you in the faith without the grace and strength of God; (k)(k)Eph 1.19.20.Eph 1:19Eph 1:20And intreat the Lord to discover your doubts and scruples to you, to take away your sin, to give you what you would have of him (as the occasion of the meeting is) so farre as it is for his glory and your good, and to make your conference and meeting, a means to bring you nigher unto salvation. And when you are met together, make your complaints, reveal your doubts, render a reason of the hope that is in you, make known the estate of your soul so farre as God hath given you to know it, or appoint some other to doe it for you, and joyfully receive satisfaction by them, as from the Lord; (l)(l)Luk. 22.32.Luke 22:32Answering the questions in meeknesse of spirit whether they be for, or against p. 19you, that are propounded to you for your good; and speaking your experience, and what you know and beleeve (as you have opportunity and liberty) for the setling and establishing of others; And so carry your self throughout the whole exercise, as one that is desirous to have peace spoken to you from the Lord, as one that would be cured of a doubting, unbeleeving heart, as one that would doe, or receive some good, that your meeting together may be for the better, and not for the worse: And after the end of the conference, and your calling to minde what God hath done for you, and what you have done against heaven and before the Lord: Magnifie the Lord for any thing he hath revealed to you for the establishing of you in beleeving: Blush, and be ashamed before him for your failings, and beseech him for the Lords sake to help you to give glory to him in beleeving, and living so, as becometh the Gospel of Christ.

And when God shall be pleased to perswade and inable you to write a Diurnall (for you may use your Christian libertie herein as God shall incline, and fit you hereunto; it is indeed the dutie of every Christian to observe the providence of God, (m)(m)Ps. 107.1. to 43.Ps 107:1–43but it is not the dutie of every one to make a book) of the passages of his providence for a memoriall of his dealings with you and yours, (n)(n)Ex. 17.14. Numb. 33.2. How a Christians Diurnall is to be made.Exod 17:14Num 33:2and for your furtherance in a holy life. Before you begin it, take speciall notice (having sought God for a blessing upon it) of the manifold providence of God over you, yours, the Church of God, the Nation, the King, and all in authority, at all p. 20times, when, and in all places where you have lived, as you are able to remember them, or can any way be rightly informed of them: As of publique mercies, by blessings or deliverances, (o)(o)Ex. 13.3. Exod. 16.33.Exod 13:3Exod 16:33or of private mercies, concerning your self, as about your parents, who, and what they were: Of the time, means, and manner of your conversion to the faith: (p)(p)Act. 2.36, to 42.Acts 2:36–42Of your temptations since, and issue out of them: (q)(q)2 Cor. 12.7.2 Cor 12:7Of Gods helping you to pray, and hearing your praiers: Of the promises you have made unto God in time of sicknesse, danger, and adversity, or upon any other occasion, of amending your life, and of performing such and such duties unto God or man: Of the protestations and covenants you have taken upon any solemn occasion at any time, and upon what grounds you have taken them: (r)(r)Ps. 116.1, 2.Ps 116:1Ps 116:2Of Gods love in Christ cleared up unto you, or withdrawn from you: (s)(s)Ps. 30.7.Ps 30:7Of Gods providing for, and preserving of you and yours: (t)(t)Ps. 22.9.10Ps 22:9Ps 22:10Of Gods delivering you from, and out of danger, sicknesse or the like: (u)(u)2 Cor. 1.102 Cor 1:10Of the men, means and instruments of your temporall and spirituall good; (x)(x)2 Tim. 1.16, 17, 18.2 Tim 1:162 Tim 1:172 Tim 1:18Orderly writing down (when you begin your diurnall) the most remarkable things thereof; And afterward observe daily (setting down in your book the most considerable things thereof) the carriage of God in his way of merciemercy and wrath: (y)(y)Neh. 9.7, to 38.Neh 9:7–38to the Churches of God, to the Nation, the King, and all in authority: to your self, as of the sensible presence, and absence of Gods favour to you in Christ: Of your temptations, and the grace you had to resist them: Of your being overtaken in presumptuous p. 21or secret sins, that you have promised, and praied against: (z)(z)Ps. 19.12, 13. Ps. 51.3, 4.Ps 19:12Ps 19:13Ps 51:3Ps 51:4Of your overcoming your own iniquities and those you are most prone to commit: Of Gods discovering to you the truth, and growth of your grace: (a)(a)1 Cor. 2.12.1 Cor 2:12Of Gods helping, and hearing you in prayer: Of the full purposes of heart you have had in time of sorrow, sicknesse and trouble, and of the vows you have made therein, or upon your undertake of a great journey or the like, of laying aside such and such sins, of performing such and such duties to God and man: of the protestations and covenants you have taken, and of the time when; and of the reasons why you took them: Of Gods care over you and yours, in preserving of you, in providing for you, in delivering you from, and out of trouble, sicknesse, and sorrow, in raising up instruments for your temporall, and spirituall good. Mark (I say) these and all the fearfull judgements of God upon severall sorts of sinners, How and when a Christians diurnall is to be made use of.by strange and suddain death, and all other observable passages of Gods providence, and the remarkable circumstances thereof, as of the places you have been brought unto, and how, and when: writing them down in your book, that when you are tempted, deserted, and given over to a doubtfull unbeleeving heart, and that when you have no heart, nor soul to dutie, either to beleeve, pray, or live to God: You may be (by your viewing over your diurnall) quickned to faith, praier, humiliation, thanksgiving and obedience; and inabled to speak by experience, of the wonderfull providence of God, (b)(b)Ps. 77.11.12. Ps. 106.7. to 47. Ps. 107.43.Ps 77:11Ps 77:12Ps 106:7–47Ps 107:43and as it were of the news of heaven, and p. 22of the whole world of your self (c)(c)Ps. 22.9, 10 2 Cor. 11 24. to 33.Ps 22:9Ps 22:102 Cor 11:24–33to Gods glory, and the edifying of your self and others.

And being you are continually to pray, day and night, in prosperity, and in adversity, in health and sicknes, and at all times, while you live, when you are troubled about any thing that possibly God may grant, and that you see your self and others to stand in need of.(d)(d)1 Thes. 5.17. Phil. 4.6.1 Thess 5:17Phil 4:6

How you are to p…emeditate andd pray upon all occasions.Therefore as often as you are moved to pray, either outwardly by occasions and friends, or inwardly by the spirit of God, and your own heart: Minde your self of your many sins, that might provoke God to deny you every thing you are about to ask, and of the power and willingnesse of God, for Christs sake to bestow more mercies upon you, then you are able to ask, (f)(f)Eph. 3.20.Eph 3:20and think of every thing that may further and quicken you in the duty of praier, according to the circumstances of the occasion, that moved you thereunto (For every occasion of solemn praier (Yea we are helped by the spirit, Observe these thing about premeditation.to pray in our hearts continually, by our thinking of a sin, of a misery, of a want, of a promise, of a mercy, &c,) ministers an occasion of premeditation, (g)(g)Eccl. 5.21.Eccl 5:21every premeditation before prayer of our sins, of Gods mercy to us, of a word and promise sutable to the occasion of our praying, and of the circumstances of the occasion it self, ministers matter of confession, humiliation, intercession, supplication, and thanks-giving) And then pour out your soul, before the Lord, as he shall by his spirit help your infirmities; And if you be inclined (For you may use your p. 23Christian liberty herein) in time of sicknesse, When and how you are to make a vow unto God for amendment of life or the like. Eccl. 5.4 5. Deut. 23.22. How you are to premeditate and pray before you vow a vow unto the Lord.Eccl 5:4Deut 23:22or danger, or upon any weighty cause, to make a solemn vow unto God, besides those implicite promises you make every time you call upon God, of amending your life, for to testify your hearts unfained desire to walk with him, and to use all means whereby your heart might cleave unto him: Consider before you make it, whether you be in a capacity to keep it, through the help of Gods grace, and whether the matter of the vow be according to Gods word, if not, you ought not in any wise to make it; Consider also before you vow unto the Lord, the greatnesse of your sin, by reason of which God might so give you over to sin and Sathan, as to break all vows and cords asunder, The insufficiency of a vow in it self, to help you to perform a duty you are slack in, or to keep you from a sin you are prone unto: The insufficiency of your self to pay your vow when you have made it, then desire God for Christs sake, to pardon your sin, to incline you to make that vow (if it be for his glory, and your good) that you are moved unto, to inable you through Christ to keep it, and to make it instrumentally helpfull (for a vow is but an help to Gods worship, and not a part of it) for to obtain the end for which it was intended: And so solemnly vow unto the Lord, How you are to observe the effect of your vowing and what duties you are thereupon to performtaking notice of the time, and of the occasion thereof, and if in processe of time, you finde that God gives you in some measure to keep it, and that he makes it successefull unto you for the end for which it was made. Then return thanks unto God answerable unto the successe p. 24thereof; But if otherwise you finde that you have broken your promise (as every one doth in part) and that your vow is unhelpfull unto you, for that purpose for which it was made; Then be made hereby humbly sensible of your sinfullnesse and insufficiency to any good work or word, and moved hereby to value and esteem Christ; Phil. 4.13.Phil 4:13and to put forth new acts of faith on him, that through him you may be strengthened to do all things.

How you are to premeditate and pray every evening.Lastly as you begun, so end the day with God, and make him daily after this manner your Alpha and Omega, (h)(h)Psa. 55.17.Ps 55:17In the evening as you have convenient time and place, solemnly call to minde what God hath done for you, yours, or any of his the day past, wherein you have transgressed the law of God, or disobeyed the Gospel, by committing of evill in thought, word, or deed, therein forbidden, or omitting of, or failing in dutie therein required what you would have God to do for your self the night following, for your friends, for all his people, (i)(i)Eph. 6.18. 1 Tim. 2.1, 2, 3.Eph 6:181 Tim 2:11 Tim 2:21 Tim 2:3particularly for the Churches and kingdomes wherein you live, and therein for our King, and all in Authority, how able the Lord is to supply all your wants: After that, give glory to God for his mercies, humbly confesse your sins, asking what you want for Christs sake, in your spirit, if not in expression; and so commit your self to God, and be not faithlesse but believe that his peace shall possesse your heart, (k)(k)Phil, 4.6.in the night season as well as in the day time; And as you did awake: so go to your rest with thoughts of God, and say; I will lay me down and sleep in peace, (l)(l)Psa. 4.8.Ps 4:8for thou Lord p. 25only makest me to dwell in safety (l).

Thus acquaint your self with God by praier and meditation, twice every day at least, and walk not as a stranger towards him, with whom you look to dwell for ever: (m)(m)Ioh. 17. 2 Thes. 4.17.John 17But be much in Gods worship, that you may be more and more acquainted with God. It is a sweet thing (and it ought to be our delight, (n)(n)Psa. 16.3.Ps 16:3) to live with or nigh good people, Much more to live with or nigh a good God, as they do that walk humbly with God, in the sincere performance of the duties of his worship; (o)(o)2 Cre. 15.2. Psa. 34.18. Psa. 145.18. Iam. 4 8. You will be inexcusable if you do not worship God twice every day at least.Ps 34:18Ps 145:18Jas 4:8And let me tell you that you will be inexcusable unto God, if you do not worship him by praier twice every day at least, as morning and evening, because you have nothing ordinarily to hinder you from it; How will you excuse your self (Let your conscience answer) from being one that forgets God, who is the giver of your life, (p)(p)Psa. 55.17 Act. 17.28.Ps 55:17Acts 17:28and time, (q)(q)Mat. 6.11Matt 6:11and of all you are and have, (r)(r)Iam. 1 17Jas 1:17and of purer eyes then to behold any iniquity, in any creature to allow of it, (s)(s)Hab. 1.13Hab 1:13If you do not worship God morning and evening, for some small continuance of …ime by prayer, confession, and thanks-giving, Gods glory requires it, your soul hath need of …t, that it might be more and more acquain…ed with the Lord, and that it might receive more and more grace from him to glorifie him …ithall.

p. 26The third generall Direction shews how you are to prepare for, and to keep holy the Lords day.

THirdly, As you are daily to worship God; So in a speciall manner on the first day of the week, most properly called the Lords day, (a)(a)Rev. 1.10.Rev 1:10because Jesus Christ did institute it in the room of the seventh day, to be kept holy by his people under the new Testament, as a day of thanksgiving for their redemption through him; (b)(b)Iohn 20.19, 26. 1 Cor. 16.1, 2. with 1 Cor. 11.23. Ps. 118.22. to 25. How you are every day to prepare for the Sabbath.John 20:19John 20:261 Cor 16:11 Cor 16:21 Cor 11:23Ps 118:22–25and therefore you are to be mindefull of it (c)(c)Ex. 20.8.Exod 20:8before it come, generally every day, so as to carry your self each day, as you did on the Lords day, I mean so as becometh holines: So as to appoint no meeting that day about your worldly businesse, either of pleasure or of profit; so as to prepare (if you be in communion with the Saints in that Ordinance) for the Lords Supper when it is administred; How you are to examine your self before the communionAnd (calling upon God for his assistance therein) if upon strict and impartiall ex…mination of your self, (d)(d)1 Cor. 11.28. About your knowledge.1 Cor 11:28you finde that you understandingly know the answers of the ten questions in the Catechisme, or such like principles of Religion, and the nature of, and the end for which the Lords Supper was ordained; to wit, for a continuall remembrance of Christs love in laying down his life for you: (e)(e)Luk. 22.19 Faith.Luke 22:19That you have been, and be still perswaded and inabled to come to Christ, to cleave to him, and to trust and relie p. 27upon him alone for salvation, with purpose of heart to live to him: ffIoh. 6.44. Ioh 3.16. Psal. 2 12. RepentanceJohn 6:44John 3:16Ps 2:12That you so repent, and loath your self for your sins, in the sence of Gods love, as that you resolve in the strength of Christ to leave them: (g)(g)Iob. 33.27. Rom. 7.24. Pro. 28 13. Clarity.Job 33:27Rom 7:24Prov 28:13That you humbly desire forgivenesse of those you have offended, and as heartily forgive, and love those that have offended you (though they should not forgive, nor love you) as you desire to be forgiven and to be beloved of the Lord: (h)(h)Mat. 5.12. Mat. 5.24. Desire after the Sacrament.Matt 5:12Matt 5:24That you desire Christ for nourishment for your soul, more then your ordinary food for your body, and hunger and thirst after union and communion with him; (i)(i)Iob. 23.12Job 23:12Then you may be said to have knowledge, faith, repentance, charity, and a desirst after the Sacrament in truth, and so to be in some sincere measure prepared (if you renew those graces) for the receiving of the Lords Supper, yet notwithstanding this you are to try and examine your self (if you be able) according to the clearer rules of triall set out by divers able men of God (k)(k)See Mr Rogers and Mr Dikes upon the Sacrament., (l)(l)1 Cor. 1.30. See the conclusion of the directions about a private fast. How you are to carry your self towards wicked persons that are through want of discipline admitted to the Lords table.1 Cor 1:30and to meditate upon your present sins, temptations, wants of, and weaknesses in grace, and of the sufficiency of Christ, signified and sealed in the Sacrament to help you against the power of sin, and the temptations of Satan, and to furnish you with a supply of grace that you want wholly or in part. And if you know of any wicked unworthy persons, in that Congregation you belong unto, that are (through want of Discipline) admitted to the Sacrament, then do you admonish them once and again, and after that (if they reform not) tell the Church of them, and if the Church continue p. 28to be remisse, and do not cast them out, then clear your own soul by professing against their sin, Mat. 18.15.16.17. Psa 101.3. 1 Tim. 5.22.Matt 18:15Matt 18:16Matt 18:17Ps 101:31 Tim 5:22and by telling them that they ought not to receive; And if after this they do come to that Ordinance (through the neglect of the Church) you may (notwithstanding their presence) receive the Sacrament, 1 Cor. 11.17. t3 34.1 Cor 11:17without being made partaker of their sin, Because it is not the meer presence of the wicked at the Lords table, 1 Cor 5.6.7.1 Cor 5:61 Cor 5:7that can or doth leaven or defile you, but your not doing your duty unto them, that is, your not endeavouring by all means to have them cast out.

And as you are generally every day to prepare for the Lords day: How you are the day before to prepare for the Sabbath.So especially the day before (m)(m)Exo. 16.22. to 31.Exod 16:22–31that you may order your earthly affairs in such a manner (for no worldly businesses are to be done on the Christian Sabbath, that may be done conveniently the day before, or left undone untill the day after (n)(n)Exo. 20.11.12.Exod 20:11Exod 20:12) as that thereby you may be neither kept from, nor interrupted in your sanctifying of the day: and so, as that you may have some more time to read, and meditate upon the word, and to pray, for the preparation of your heart, for the sanctifying of the Lord and his day, and for the performance of all the duties thereof, then ordinarily you have other evenings. And by how much the service of God is to be preferred before the service of man: by so much the more you ought to be carefull to rise earlier on the Lords day, How you are to begin it.then on other daies: And after your early rising, and communing with your own heart, what mercies God hath bestowed upon you, yours, or any of his, the week, night, p. 29or morning past, or from the foundation of the world to this time: (o)(o)Psa 63.… 7.2.3.4.Ps 63:7Ps 63:2Ps 63:3Ps 63:4what iniquities transgressions, and sins, you, yours, the Saints, or any of mankinde living, have sinned against heaven and before the Lord, the week, night, and morning past, or at any time, at, or from the fall of Adam, hitherto: (p)(p)Rom. 3.23Rom 3:23What your wants, the wants of yours, and all God… people are: That your God can supply them: Blesse God with your soul, and with all that is within you (q)(q)Psa 103.2. to 6. 1 Thes. 5.28. Eph. 5.20.Ps 103:2–61 Thess 5:28Eph 5:20for election, creation, redemption, vocation, adoption, justification sanctification, for the hopes of glorification you apprehend your self, or any you are to praise the Lord for, to have, and for all mercies, particularly for his mercies to you the week, night, and morning past: Mourn with godly sorrow for your own, and the abominations of others, more particularly for your own iniquities of the by-past-week, or Morning (r)(r)Psa. 22.3.5.6.Ps 22:3Ps 22:5Ps 22:6, cry mightily to God for a supply of all your wants (s)(s)Mat. 7.7.Matt 7:7, especially for those spirituall blessings in heavenly things, you see your self to stand in need of, for a blessing upon his word, sacraments and ministers, particularly for a blessing upon your own minister (t)(t)Col. 4.….Col 4and the ordinances you are to partake of that day, and for a heart to serve him sincerely to his glory, your edification and comfort, and the good example of others; Next, look to those worldly businesses that are of meer necessity, and that belong unto your present relations (*)(*)Mat. 1….1. to 14.Matt 1:1–14, Or if you have none, either betake your self again to praier (intreating the Lord to give you to beleeve, and to know that you do beleeve, to clear up his love p. 30to you in Christ, to beget and keep a holy and an heavenly frame of heart in you, that his Sabbath may be a delight unto you (u)(u)Isa. 58.13 Psa. 84.10.Isa 58:13Ps 84:10) or read and meditate of somerhing that may quicken you to beleeve that God so loved you as that he gave his Christ to die for you (x)(x)Gal. 2 20.Gal 2:20, and to rise again for your justification (y)(y)Rom. 4.25 See the second branch of the second part directions about your attending your own Pastour. Aow you are to behave your self in your going to the publike worshipRom 4:25; But remember so to order and end your works of necessity, and private devotions, as that you may take some small portion of food if need be, and be afterward in due season at the publike worship. And as you goe with the Master of the Family, and the rest of your house, or with any other, to the place where Gods name is publikely recorded, either be thinking, or speaking (z)(z)Isa. 58 13 Psa. 42.1, 2.84 t1, 2, 4, 6, 10. In your entrance upon it.Isa 58:13Ps 42:1Ps 42:2Ps 42:84of something that may further your self, and others to sanctifie the Lord in your hearts; And as the Minister begins to perform duty, so begin you in a holy manner to attend, or if he have begun, join with him and the people (having sought God in your heart, to help you therein) in that dutie they are ented upon; (a)(a)1 Cor 14.33. 1 Pet. 1.15.16 In your hearing the word.1 Cor 14:331 Pet 1:151 Pet 1:16behaving your self so in that, and in all other duties of Gods worship, as that you may hold forth your acknowledgement of Gods holinesse, that by your carriage the Lord may appear to be a holy God. And as you hear the word then, or at any other time, or place, mark, as all things, so especially the things that concerns you, (b)(b)See the Second direction about the manner how yau are to make use of the word when you read it, or near it.that instructs you, where you are ignorant, that reproves you, where you are sinfull, that exhorts you, where you are negligent, that opens your understanding, that inclines your will, that humbles your heart, that comforts your soul, that quickens you to beleeve, and love, and p. 31to live to God, that you may apply it, as you were before directed.

And when ever you hear the word, remember to hear it without respect of persons, and as an ordinance of God for your souls good, and think not better, nor worse of it, because of the person that speaks it, (c)(c)1 Thes. 2 13.1 Thess 2:13but prove all things, and keep that which is good: (d)(d)1 Thes. 5.21. In your attending all manner of prayer.1 Thess 5:21And as the Minister prayes, confesses, and gives thanks to God with outward expressions: So do you pray, confesse, and praise God with your soul, and all that is within you, saying Amen in your heart, to every full-sentence thereof, (e)(e)1 Cor, 14.15.16.and with your voice also at the close of the dutie, be it prayer, or praise.

And as you are called upon to sing Psalmes, endeavour then, and at all times when you are about to sing alone, or among others, In your singing of Psalms.to understand the matter of the Psalm that is to be sung, (f)(f)Psa. 47.7,Ps 47:7and approve your heart to God, that you desire so to glorifie him, and so to exercise your grace in your heart, and so to teach and admonish your self and others, (g)(g)Col 3.16.Col 3:16in the time of singing, as the matter of the Psalm you are to sing, doth direct you: As for example, Note well this example of the manner how you should sing Psalms.The matter of the first Psalm shews the happinesse of the godly, the unhappinesse of the ungodly, and doth direct you to blesse God, and to exercise your grace in your heart, and to instruct your self and others by beleeving in your heart, and singing with your voice, that the godly are blessed, and that the wicked are cursed: And indeed when you sing with understanding to your self and others, that they are happie that walk with God, and that they are p. 32cursed that walk contrarie to him: Then you praise God, and the way of God, and the law, and people of God, and then you teach your self and others, the matter of the Psalme: and you may then in the act of singing (if God give you grace so to doe) exercise your grace of faith, How you may exercise grace in your heart in the act of singing of Psalms.in beleeving that the godlie are in a blessed estate, that the wicked are in a cursed condition: your gra…e of humilitie, in humbling your self before God, that you have been wicked and ungodlie: your grace of praier, in desiring God for the Lords sake to give you grace to cease to be wicked, and to learn to be godlie: your grace of godlie fear, in trembling least Gods wrath should be poured out upon you, if you should any more sin wilfully against him: your grace of spirituall joy, in rejoycing that God hath given you to allow of his law, to account it just, holy, good, to take delight in it in your inward man, to wish and desire to obey it: your grace of internall new obedience, in resolving with full purpose of heart to have respect to all Gods Commandments; And thus you are to sing Davids Psalmes with Davids understanding, and with Davids spirit, and with grace in your heart to the glory of God.(h)(h)Psa. 47.7. 1 Cor 14.15. Eph. 5.19.Ps 47:71 Cor 14:15Eph 5:19

And when the Sacrament of Baptisme is administred, In your beholding the Sacrament of Baptisme administred.look up to Heaven for the infant with the Minister and the Congregation, and humble your self before the Lord that you have not so given up your self unto him, nor so walked with him as you are bound to do by your Baptisme (i)(i)Iob. 42.6.Job 42:6renewing your Covenant with him to walk more uprightly before him, (k)(k)Iob. 34 31 32.Job 34:31and p. 33beleeving that you shall as verily be cleansed from sin, sanctified and saved by the blood of Christ sprinkled in your heart by faith: as verily as you were baptized, or behold others sprinkled with water at their Baptisme; For it is a sign and a seal thereof unto you (l)(l)Rom. 4.11 12. Col. 2.13.14. In your receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.Rom 4:11Col 2:13Col 2:14And when you are to receive the Lords Supper with those who do in an orderly Gospel way hold communion at the Lords table: As you behold the bread broken and the wine poured out, remember with godly sorrow the greatnesse of your sin that pierced Christ even to the shedding of his hearts blood, (m)(m)Zac. 12.10. Isa 53.5. 1 Pet. 2.24.Isa 53:51 Pet 2:24and call to minde the great love of God, not only in giving of Christs body and blood for the nourishment of your soul (n)(n)Ioh. 3.16. Ioh, 6.55.John 3:16: But also in giving of that Sacrament to be a sign and an assurance thereof unto you (o)(o)Heb. 6.17, 18.Heb 6:17Heb 6:18, Remember (I say) this love of God with all thankfulnesse to him, and holy joy in him, expressed for the present in your love to him again, in your resolution to serve him in holinesse and righteousnesse all your daies (which is a reviewing of your covenant) in your distributing to the poor according to what God hath given you; And beleeve that God will as verily give his Christ to you for the strengthening and refreshing of your soul by his flesh and blood, and for the perfecting of his grace begun in you (p)(p)Ioh. 5.32, 32.54, to 57.John 5:32John 5:54–57as verily as the minister gives out the bread and wine for you; for they are not only a sign, but a seal thereof unto you, yea, beleeve that you and the Saints shall sit with Christ in his Kingdome as verily as you sit together at his table, Luk. 22.26. to 31.Luke 22:26–31for your sitting and fellowship together is a signification thereof p. 34unto you; And as your eye puts forth a naturall act in beholding (that is the bread and wine) your hand in taking, your mouth in eating and drinking, your stomack in digesting whereby the elements are made one with your body: How you are to act Faith in the time of receiving 1 Cor. 10.16.17.1 Cor 10:161 Cor 10:17So let your soul put forth spirituall acts of faith (as it did at your first beleeving) in beholding of Christ crucified, in receiving him withall his merits and the good things he hath purchased, in eating, drinking, and digesting the flesh and blood of Christ whereby Christ and your soul may be made as one; And as you behold, How and upon what you are to meditate in the act of receiving. 1 Cor. 11.24.1 Cor 11:24take, eat, and drink the bread and wine, do not only meditate of the horrible nature of sin, and of the wonderfull love of God, (as you were even now advised) but also of every thing that is sutable to the Ordinance that may set your faith awork, and all other your graces; As namely, how that Salvation is to be had by a Mediatour, as well as by Gods me…cy: That Christ was truly and verily man, as well as God, That Gods justice is infinite in that nothing cold satisfie it but the blood of his only begotten Son: That your soul naturally is in a desperate lost estate, in that nothing could redeem it but the blood of Christ; your soul cost no lesse then the life of Christ: Ioh. 10.15.John 10:15that God is ingaged not only to give Christ upon your beleeving and repenting: but also to give you to beleeve and repent, being the Sacrament is a seal of the Covenant of grace. Think I say of these things in the time of your receiving, and exercise your graces upon them, in the act of meditation: that you may give glory …o God in your drawing nigh unto him in this p. 35holie ordinance of his; And as you return from the publike Ordinances either be pondering upon the word with your self (q)(q)Luk. 2.19Luke 2:19, or speaking of it with others (r)(r)Luk. 24.14. to 18.Luke 24:14–18, that you may understandingly remember it, and make a holy improvement of it (s)(s)Luk. 8.15. In your return from the publike Ordinances, and as you abide at home.Luke 8:15, And after you in private considered well how gracious the Lord hath been to you in the means of grace, how you have come short of his glory and your duty in serving of him (t)(t)Iam. 3.2.Jas 3:2, and what you would have him to do further for you by his word and ordinances you have partaked of, Then glorifie God for his free grace and goodnesse to you, be sorry for the sin of your holy duties, and beseech him for Christs sake to help you more and more to understand the word, and to bring forth fruit with patience to his praise; In your eating, drinking, conference, preparation for, and attention unto family duties.And (having given thanks) as you tast how good the Lord is in your meat and drink, endeavour to make the word to your self in your thoughts, to others in your conference as delightsome to your souls as your ordinary food to your bodies (u)(u)Iob. 23.12Job 23:12, And (thanks being given to God) either be meditating of the works of God, or of the word of God to Gods praise and your comfort (x)(x)Psa. 77.12 Psa. 119.148.Ps 77:12Ps 119:148, or thinking of something whereby you may give an account of your profiting to the Governour of the family (y)(y)Heb. 13 17Heb 13:17, or to any that shall demand it (z)(z)1 Pet. 3.15.1 Pet 3:15, Attending family duties in a holy manner as you have been already shewed, And if there be no family exercises betwixt Sermons, then either betake your self to reading, meditation, secret prayer whereby your communion with God may be increased or unto holy coference with those whom you may edifie, or by whom you may be edified that p. 36your gifts and graces, and the profit you receive by the publike Ordinances may be improved to the uttermost for the honour of God and the good of one anothers souls; Take the like course in the evening and alwaies after your hearing of the word, when it is not improved in the family where you live, by repetition, examination, conference, or the like exercise. And so behave your self in your going again to the Church, In your return to the publike Worship again, and continuance at it.in your performing of duty while you abide there, in your return from thence, as you have been directed for the former part of the day: and so as that you may glorifie God before all the people by your godly carriage in all the duties of his worship (a)(a)Mat. 5.16.Matt 5:16.

And being the Discipline of the Church, for admonition, excommunication, and absolution, is to be exercised when the Church is met tagether (b)(b)1 Cor. 5.4. In your submitting unto and acting in the Discipline of the Church:1 Cor 5:4; Therefore as soon as God shall enlighten you of it, submit to it as to the Ordinance of Christ for the destruction of the flesh, that your soul m…y be saved in the day of the Lord (c)(c)2 Cor. 5.62 Cor 5:6, And so behave your self with godly fear in your assenting to the censuring of others, and in your being under the censure of the Church as you know or may know God in his word requires you, In your performance of Christian duties to others, after the publike is ended.and so as that you may appear to God to be willing to do or receive some spirituall good thereby to his glory. And take this day, if it may be with conveniencie, or any day when occasion is offered unto you, to admonish them that are scandalously sinfull (d)(d)Mat. 18.15 to 18.Matt 18:15–18, to make and maintain peace among your disagreeing neighbours (e)(e)Mat. 5.9. 1 Cor. 6.1. to 9.Matt 5:91 Cor 6:1–9, to visit the sick and them that be in any distresse of body or minde, administring p. 37to them temporall, or spirituall things according to their necessity, and your ability (f)(f)Mat. 25.35. to 39.Matt 25:35–39. Seeking God for a blessing upon these duties in your heart, if not in expression, with those you perform them unto: But remember so timely to finish these duties as that the necessary earthly affairs belonging to your place may be seasonably looked after, and so as that you may be prepared for, and be in due season ar Family duties: In doing all that you do in thought, word and deed, in a holy manner to Gods glory.Attending them in a holy manner as you were after directed; Afterward whether you meditate, or pray alone, or talk among others about the word and ordinances you have partaked of: whether you teach others or be taught of others: whether you eat or drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God (g)(g)1 Cor, 10.32., and to the edifiing of your own soul, and the souls of others (h)(h)1 Thes. 5.11.1 Thess 5:11, submitting then and alwaies to all the holy means of God which the chief of the family or any other shall use with you for the saving of your soul (i)(i)Eph. 6.1, 2, 3.5. Gen. 18 29. with Eph. 6.5. Heb. 3.13.Eph 6:1Eph 6:2Eph 6:3Eph 6:5Gen 18:29Heb 3:13: And as you are more knowing then others in the family, Take those that are ignorant apart every Lords day, or any day as you have opportunity, but more particularly on those Lords daies when the Governour, or Governesse of the family omit to perform those duties unto them, for to instruct them, 2 Tim. 1.2. Luk. 12.32. Iam. 5.20. 1 Thes. 5.11.2 Tim 1:2Luke 12:32Jas 5:201 Thess 5:11and to communicate such knowledge unto them as you conceive may be most for their edification: beginning and ending every such like duty with prayer and thanks giving, that you may upon warrantable grounds expect Gods blessing upon the same; Likewise as you are more ignorant then others, so to those that are p. 38knowing in your family not only on the Lords day, Pro. 2.3.4.Prov 2:3Prov 2:4but any day as you have liberty, and ask of them such things as you are ignorant of, or doubtfull about, and such things as are necessary for you to beleeve and practise; And when you are at any time deprived of the publike Ordinances, or necessarily kept from, or interrupted in your sanctifiing of the Lords day: (as you may many manner of waies, as namely by your being appointed to stay at home about necessary businesse, by your being sick, weak and unable to go to the publike, or the like) Spend so much of the day as conveniently you can prayer, reading, meditation, and singing of Psalms; And endeavour to get that knowledge by your attending family exercises, and by your conference with those that were ot the publike: That others got by their attending upon the publike Ordinances; And in the evening sometimes before you teke your rest, after you have remembred as well as you can what God hath revealed to you, and done for you the day past, what the sins of your holy duties have been, and what you would have of God (that is able to do more for you, then you are able to ask) for your self, yours, and all Gods people the night following; Make your requests to God by confession, praier, and thanks-giving, and so leaving your self with God, you may both lie down in peace, and sleep with confidence that the Lord will make you to dwell in safety (k)(k)Psa. 4.8. Note this generall proof.Ps 4:8, The fourth Commandement is a generall proof for all the duties I have advised you to perform in your preparation for, and in your keeping holy the p. 39Lords day (l)(l)Exo 20.8. to 12.Exod 20:8–12, for the substance of the Commandement remains the same for ever (m)(m)Mat. 5.15 18.Matt 5:15, though the circumstance of time be changed (and as it is probably conceived by Christ himself (n)(n)Ioh. 20.19.26. Rev. 1.10.John 20:19John 20:26Rev 1:10, from the seventh unto the first day of the week, in that we might honour the Son as we honour the Father; (o)(o)Ioh. 5.23.John 5:23in keeping the first da… of the week, holy unto the Lord, not only in remembrance of Gods goodnesse unto us in the creation, and of his love unto us in promising and sending of Christ, through whose blood we have redemption: But also in memoriall of Christs love unto us, who so loved us as that he died for ur (p)(p)1 Ioh. 3.16.1 John 3:16, and rose again as that day for your justification (q)(q)Mar. 16, 9. Rom. 4.25.Mark 16:9Rom 4:25, And if you either neglect any of the duties I have advised you unto, if conveniently you may perform them: or the Ordinances that conveniently may be had, or fail in the performance, or partaking of them, Then you break the Commandment by omission, and if you do the contrary, you transgresse the commandement by commission.

And that you may make conscience of sanctifying the Sabbath in the performance of those holy duties, I have advised you unto; consider first, how that the time of the Sabbath (which begins (as it is probably conceived) in the morning of the first day of the week, immediatly after the midnight of the seventh day of the week, and continues untill next morning, immediatly after midnight) is a part of that worship, homage, and honour which you owe unto God (r) and which you ought to spend in Gods service (so far as the infirmities of your nature, and your necessary occasions will permit p. 40you) from the dawning of the day untill late in the evening (f) Secondly how that one dutie is a help unto another; Your choicest duties in the morning are a preparation for Family duties, and as it were a setting of your heart in a holy frame: your family duties are a preparation for the publike worship, and as it were a keeping of your heart in a heavenly frame; And all the duties that you are to perform at, and after the publike worship, are but an improvement of the publike; Thirdly, how that by holy duties God is honoured, your communion with God increased: such graces also as ordinarily you want conveyed unto your soul, and such as you have, especially your knowledge increased day by day; So as that if you improve to the uttermost every Lords day, and the means of grace you partake of thereon, after that manner as I have shewed you, and for those ends God hath appointed them; you will be thereby in due time made wise unto salvation, though you have neither private nor publike helps or means of grace in the week season

p. 41The fourth Direction declares unto you, how you are to Worship God in the extraordinary duties of Fasting and Thanksgiving, both in your Person alone, and in the Family and Congregation you belong unto: As also in ordinary duties, as you are in more relations then ordinarily private Christians are; This Direction likewise shews you how you are to behave your self, as you are in an unmarried condition, and contains in it solutions to divers cases of Conscience, as you may see all along the margent.

FOurthly, When you are called to keep a private Fast (and have liberty thereunto) betwixt God and your self (a)(a)2 Sam. 12.16. Mat. 6.17.2 Sam 12:16Matt 6:17either by reason of a judgement felt (b)(b)Isa. 22.12. 2 Cro. 7.13.14.Isa 22:12Isa 22:2feared (c)(c)Est. 4.16.Esth 4:16or deserved (d)(d)Ion. 3.4.5Jonah 3:4Jonah 3:5or by a blessing desired and expected (e)(e)Iudg. 20.27.28. How you are to prepare for a priva…e fast.Judg 20:27Judg 20:28Remember it the evening before so as to end seasonably your worldly businesse (For you are not only to abstain from all manner of food (so far as your body will bear it) but also from worldly thoughts, speeches, and actions, and to keep the whole day in manner of the Sabbath holy to the Lord (f)(f)Lev. 23.27 28 to 33. Est. 4.16. Isa 58.13. Exo. 33.4.Lev 23:27Esth 4:16Isa 58:13Exod 33:4so as to meditate of the occasion that moves you to seek God by praier and fasting, and of the present sins you p. 42live in, that you may afflict your soul for them, (g)(g)Lam. 3.4. Isa. 58.5. How you are to begin it.Lam 3:4Isa 58:5and so as to seek God in your evening praier for the preparation of your heart thereunto, according to the occasion of the Fast; And after your timely rising, and thoughts of Gods goodnesse to you the night past: seriously call to minde how grear and terrible the Lord is, with whom you have to doe (h)(h)Dan. 9.4. 2 Pet. 2.4. to 0.1Dan 9:42 Pet 2:4: how good and gracious the Lord is and hath been unto you notwithstanding your by-past and present sins, iniquities, and transgressions (i)(i)Neh. 9.6. to 38.Neh 9:6–38how sinfull he, she, or they are and have been (if you be to keep a fast for another, whether a friend, a family, a town, a county, or a kingdome) notwithstanding the riches of Gods goodnesse unto them: How ready God is (through his free mercy in Christ) to pardon, spare, deliver, save, and blesse those with the blessings of this life and a better, that unfainedly repent and beleeve (k)(k)2 Cro. 7.13, 14. Psa. 130.4. Ezek. 33.11. Act. 10.43. Act 16.30.Ps 130:4Ezek 33:11Acts 10:43Acts 16:30and what the mercies and blessings are that you would have God to bestow upon you, yours, or any of his; This being done pray earnestly for a spirit of grace and supplication, whereby you may perform an acceptable fast to the Lord (l)(l)Zac. 12 10humbly confessing your sins of all sorts (m)(m)Neh. 9.2, Psa. 32.5.Neh 9:2Ps 32:5with their severall aggravations that make you and those you are to seek God for (according as the day of humiliation is for your self, or some other) unworthy of what you would have, whether it be the obtaining of a blessing, or the preventing, or the averting of a judgement; And crie mightilie to God for pardoning, and healing grace (acting faith on the promise as you pray) and more especially for what the p. 43occasion of the Fast calls you unto. After that, How you are to go on in it, in reading or meditating upon the wordread, or meditate upon some part of Gods word (n)(n)Neh. 9.3.Neh 9:3that may most dispose you to humiliation, and that is most sutable unto the businesse of the day: and endeavour more particularly to finde out the sins of your self, and those for whom you chiefly seek God, more fully acknowledging your iniquities with deep humiliation; In praier.and praying more fervently for pardon, help, and deliverance from evils felt, feared, or deserved, and for the obtaining of the blessings that you, and yours desire and stand in need of. And as soon as you have again reviewed your own sins, and the sins of those for whom you fast and pray. In renewing your Meditations and Praiers.Renew your humiliations, acknowledgments of sin, supplications for all sorts of mercies you stand in need of: particularly be importune with God for to give you, and those for whom you make your prayers grace and strength through Christ to break off your iniquities with righteousnesse, that the good things you desire may not be withholden from you because of them (o)(o)Ier. 5.25.Jer 5:25And having considered what God hath done for you while you have been waiting upon him in prayer and fasting: How you are to end a private? Fast by Meditation.How you have failed, and come short of Gods glory and your duty: whar your sins are that you have not been humbled for to this day (p)(p)Ier. 44.10Jer 44:10what the wants of your self are, and of those you are to pray for, conclude the day with a return of thanks according to what you have received, By praier and thanksgiving.with an humble acknowledgement of your failings: with a full purpose of heart in the strength of Christ (q)(q)Phil. 4.13.Phil 4:13to lay aside …very sin, p. 44and to take up every duty, and so to have respect to all Gods Commandements: with a determination to relieve the poor (r)(r)Isa, 58.7.according to what God hath given you, or if you be a receiver, to approve your self unto God that you have a willing minde thereunto: with praier for all men, particularly for the Governours, and the governed of the family, town, and kingdome where you live, and for such mercies as the day was set apart for; and so commit your self to God, and be confident that God will bring to passe what is for his glory, and his peoples good, (s)(s)Psa. 37.5. Pro. 16.3.Ps 37:5Prov 16:3And if your private fast be about the estate of your soul, that you might know whether you be under grace and Christ, or under sin and Satan (t)(t)2 Cor. 13.5. What you are to do if your private Fast be about the estate of your soul.2 Cor 13:5Then take speciall notice of the present sins you live in, of the grace you want, of the evidences you have of salvation, and of the severall things that make you to doubt your condition (u)(u)Phil. 2.12 1 Cor. 10.12.Phil 2:121 Cor 10:12that you may look up to God d…y and night for help therein, That you may thereby in processe of time sensibly discern the decay of the old man sin in you, and the increase of the new man Christ, and the graces of his spirit (x)(x)2 Cor. 4.16.2 Cor 4:16The removall of your doubts and the clearing up of your evidences for heaven (y)(y)2 Pet. 1.5. to 13. Note. How you are to begin and end a Family or a Congregationall Fast.2 Pet 1:5–13Take the like notice of the estate of your soul, when you receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

And when you are called by the like occasion to fasting and prayer in a Family, or in a publike Congregation (z)(z)Zac. 12, 12 Act. 14 23.Acts 14:23So prepare for it, and so begin and end it in your closet as you did your private fast, and with enlargements p. 45according to the occasions of the day: And let your whole carriage be such in all the duties of the day, whether it be in a family, How you are to ca…ry your self throughout the day.or in a congregation, as that you may appear unto God and man to be of a contrite and humble spirit (a)(a)Isa. 57.13Isa 57:13Preparing your self (if you be called to exercise in a family fast) according to the occasion of the day, and the nature of the duties you are to perform.

And when God shall be pleased to give you that you sought him for: let your thanksgiving be answerable in some sincere measure to Gods mercies, and to his return of your praiers ordinary and extraordinary (b)(b)2 Chro. 32.25.2 Chr 32:25And in keeping of a private day of thanksgiving, be mindefull of it the evening before, that you may timely lay aside your earthly affairs, so as that you may have a better opportunity then you have other evenings for the preparing of your heart for it by reading and meditating of such things as are sutable to the occasion of the day, How you are to prepare for a private day of thanksgiving.and by importuning the Lord in your evening praier, for a thankfull heart for Gods goodnesse to you; And after you have awaked right early with the Lord, How you are to begin it by Meditation.and solemnly meditated (according to the occasion of the day, be it for your self or some other) of the generall and particular causes you have to be thankfull through the free grace and goodnesse of God to you, and yours: To be humbled through the sinfullnesse of your natures and lives: To call upon God for the preparation of your heart to that heavenly duty of thanksgiving, through the insufficiency of your self either to pray to God for what you want, or to praise him for what p. 46you do receive from him; Make your requests to God by confession, By praier and thanksgiving.praier, and supplication, with thanksgiving in all humility, and joyfulnesse of heart, Then read (but remember th…t the necessary worldly businesse of your place be seasonably looked after) or meditate upon some part of Gods word (c)(c)Neh. 8.8.Neh 8:8as may quicken you to give God the praise that is due to his name; How you are to proceed in it by reading and meditating upon the word.And after you have in a serious way reviewed over all your sins that makes you and yours lesse then the least of Gods mercies: And all the mercies that you, yours, or any of Gods people have received from the Lord; By renewing your meditations.Pray fervently to God for Christs sake to blot out your sins, to subdue your iniquities, by reason of which he might deprive you, Prayers.and yours of all the mercies you do injoy both for you… bodies and souls; And thanksgivings.and pour out all manner of curses upon you in the room thereof; And praise the Lord with your soul, and with all that is within you for all his mercies, above all for his Christ, that is the greatest cause of thanksgiving that ever was or can be given to the sons of men (d)(d)Luk. 2.10 20 15.Luke 2:10particularly for those blessings you set the day apart for: intreating the Lord for Christs sake to give you, By singing of Psalms.yours, and all his to make a right use of his mercies, speaking to your self afterward in Psalms, and Hymns, and spirituall songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (e)(e)Ep. 5.19. Iam. 5.13.Jas 5:13delighting your self with the good creatures of God more then at other times (f)(f)Est 9 22. Neh 8.1….Esth 9:22Neh 8:1So as that you be not carnall, but spirituall therein, setting forth the praise of Gods bounty and goodnesse to you in your food, or apparell, liberty, livelyhood, p. 47and in all you are and have; Causing your poor, sick, hungry, naked, distressed, By setting forth Gods Gods praise with all you are, and have.disagreeing neighbours, especially those that are more visibly Saints, and those of your own kinred (g)(g)1 Tim. 5.4. Gal. 6.10.1 Tim 5:4Gal 6:10to blesse God with you, and for you, in visiting, feeding, cloathing, releeving them, and in making and maintaining peace and concord among them (h)(h)Mat. 25.34. to 41. Mat. 5.9,Matt 25:34–41Matt 5:9Or if you be a reciever, and not giver, manifest the willingnesse of your minde to give, if you had it, in giving your heart to God (i)(i)Pro. 23.26Prov 23:26in devoting your self to his service; And learn to be contented with your condition; (k)(k)Phil. 4 10Phil 4:10when God sees you fit to improve more for his glory, you shall have more; (l)(l)Psa. 34.9, 10.Ps 34:9Ps 34:10Humble your self therefore under the mighty hand of God, and cast your care upon him (m)(m)2 Pet. 5.6.7.and then be confident that he will never leave, nor forsake you (n)(n)Heb. 13.5 How you are to conclude a private day of thanksgiving.Heb 13:5And in the close of the day after you have seriously considered that you have more and more cause to blesse God, that the life of thanks-giving consists in a holy life (o)(o)Psa. 40.23Ps 40:23that your by-past and present sins, might provoke God to take away his mercies from you: or to curse them to you; that you cannot of your self walk worthy of the riches of Gods goodnesse towards you; (p)(p)2 Cor. 3.52 Cor 3:5Inlarge your self in due and solemn thanks-giving for all mercies but more especially for the present occasion you have of giving of thanks: Spread forth your cofessions with shame and confusion of face: pray for the Churches of God, the King, the State, and for the continuance and the increase of Gods goodnesse to you, yours, and to all the Saints, as need shall be; And promise and resolve in p. 48the strength of Christ to lay aside all your sins, to take up every duty you know, or may know God requires of you, and so to order your own conversation, and to further others so to order their life, as that you may by your good example cause your heavenly father to be glorified, (q)(q)1 Pet. 2.121 Pet 2:12And vvhen in like manner God shall give you an opportunity and a call to keep a day of thanks-giving in a family, How you are to behave your self in your closet betwixt God and your self, in your preparing for, and in your beginning and ending a day of thanksgiving, in a Family or in a Congregation.or in a Congregation: Let your preparation for it, and entrance upon it, and conclusion of it, be such, or to the like effect, as you have been directed to prepare for, to begin, and end a private day of thanksgiving. And so behave your self in all the duties of the day as one that is desirous to have God to inhabit your praises (r)(r)Psa. 22.3.Ps 22:3and as one who zealously covets to be skilfull in the heavenly work of Saints and Angels, who are wholly taken up in the divine praises of God, and will be for ever and ever. Preparing your self the Evening or Morning before (if you have a call to perform some of the duties of a day of thanks giving kept in a Family) according to the businesse of the day, and the nature of the duties you are to perform, How you are to prepare for a day of thanks-giving in a Family if you be to exercise in it.and in such a manner as m…y be most for Gods honour, and your mutu…ll comfort.

And as you are a private man that keeps servants, you ought to instruct them, and to pray with them, and for them, and to use all means to win their souls, (s)(s)Gen. 18.29. Pro. 11.30.Gen 18:29Prov 11:30Likewise as you are a private man and a Teacher of young children, you ought to perform the duties of parents unto them in point of instruction, praier and corre…ion, because they are under your charge, p. 49and you either do or ought to receive authority from their parents to teach and correct them in their stead.How you are as a Schoolmaster to perform the duties of parents in point of instruction: prayer, and correction.

It behooves you also to prepare your self for family-duties, that you may be enabled to pray in your family, Morning; Noon-time, & Evening in the absence of the Governour thereof: as also that you may be fitted for to worship God with all your house, as soon as the Lord shall call you to be a Governour of a Family

And as you are a Christian woman that keeps maids, you should teach them, How you are to prepare to perform the duties of a Master of a Family. Hest. 4.26.and pray ordinarily with them; yea, and Fast and pray with them upon extraordinary occasions (^t).

In like manner as you are a private Christian woman, and one that undertakes the education of young Children, you ought to instruct them in the principles of Christian Religion, and that continually, as you walk in your way, How you are as a Mistresse of Children, to instruct them and to pray with them.as you sit at your work, when you lie down, and when you rise up, Deut. 6.7. and to pray with them, and for them, as also to give them that correction that is due unto them: because they were committed unto you by their parents, for those ends, as well as for their instruction in any learning or art whatsoever.How you are to prepare to perform the duties of a Governesse of a Family. How you are to behave your self as you are unmarried. 1 Thes. 4.4.1 Thess 4:4

It is meet and equall also that you should prepare your self for the performance of the duties of Governesses of Families, that you may perform them when you are called unto them.

And as you are a private Christian Man or Woman, and as yet unmarried, endeavour to possesse your own vessell in holinesse, and beware not only of actuall fornication, and adulterie, p. 50but also of all unclean behaviour with your self, A sad example of one wounded in conscience about self-pollution.or any other; I have read of some that have gone Mad with horrour of conscience about wickednesses of that nature; I knew one in his sicknes, before his death, that cryed out in the bitternesse of his soul, to this purpose: O that all the unclean persons of the world knew in what a hell of torments I am in, about my being unclean with my self and others! O that I could speak, write, or send my minde to those whom I have moved to any kinde of folly and uncleannesse, or with whom I have sinned any kinde of sin or wickednesse! But I fear I must never hear of them untill I be tormented with them, and for them, in hell, in hell, in hell! O that I knew how to warn the world to beware of my wickednesse, to wit, of neglecting honourable Marriage, of following base and vile courses! Thereupon he did determine to use all means whereby those (whom he had provoked to sinne, and with whom he had been unclean) might know what bitter things God had writ against him, by reason of his own and his other mens sins: And did desire that all the Ministers of the land might know his sinne and wickednesse, (u)(u)Gen. 38.9.10. Rom. 1, 27.Gen 38:9Gen 38:10Rom 1:27As namely his being unclean with himself at times, for sixteen years together, his frequent tempting of others to uncleannesse, fornication and adulterie, and his sinning those sinnes sometimes with others, for that end that they might warne their people to take heed of it, and that they might advise them to Marrie in the Lord, not only to avoid fornication, but also all uncleannesses of bodie and spirit with themselves, or others; p. 51O then let it be your care to be holie in bodie and spirit, (y)(y)1 Cor. 7.34,1 Cor 7:34least you be likewise tormented in conscience here, and be hereafter cast into everlasting torments prepared for the devil and his angels; And that you may be holie; What means you are to use that you may possesse your vessell in holinesse.Be much in praier and fasting, and in exercising of faith in the promises of sanctification. Use (as your constitution is) a spare, wary, temperate diet: Be diligent in your calling, or in some honest labour to fit you for a calling: Take pains, rise earlie, wake late; wave all unnecessary communion with all that are not of your own sex: Doe not look upon them, (I mean in a wanton manner (z)(z)Mar. 5.28.Mark 5:28) nor talk with them, nor touch them; (a)(a)1 Cor. 7.1.1 Cor 7:1Be much in Meditation upon heaven, and heavenly things, and in ejaculatory praier unto God, that your busie phancie may be kept from vile, and base imaginations; And if God bestow the gift of chastitie upon you, in the use of these or the like means, then you may continue in your unmarried condition, so long as God shall incline you thereunto, and you may and ought to use the like means (as you have a need thereof) for the continuance of the same; When you may and ought to Marry.But if you finde your heart inclinable to Marriage notwithstanding the use of the means aforementioned for some terme of time, and that you must Marrie or else sin: (b)(b)1 Cor. 7.8. How you are to seek a husband or a wife by prayer and other means1 Cor 7:8Then resolve to Marrie in the Lord, assoon as God shall provide a wife or a husband for you; And being all things are sanctified unto us by the word and praier, (c)(c)1 Tim. 4.4, 5.1 Tim 4:41 Tim 4:5therefore solemnly seek God by praier and fasting for a wife, or husband that may be a meet help for you; And seriously p. 52consider (before you call upon God upon this oceasion) what your iniquities, transgressions and sins are, and have been (for I alwaies advise you, before all manner of solemn praier, to think of your sins, not that you might despair, and draw back through unbelief, as if you were to satisfie for them: nor yet that you might be sorrie for them, as one without hope of pardon. But that your heart might be kept humble and low in the sence of them, and that the memoriall of them might work a new desire in you, to be found in Christ, and a new affection in you unto Christ) by reason of which God might justly curse you in all the relations that you are, or may be in: And call to minde how unprepared you are to serve God in that relation you are seeking after, and how unfit you are to make choise of a meet help or guide for your self in his service; This being done, desire God for Christs sake to remember your sins no more, to direct you unto friends, and by friends unto one that may be a comfortable yoke-fellow for you, and to give you grace to carry your self so in your looking out for a wife or a husband, as that you may neither dishonour him, nor wrong your self, by irrationall, irreligious, untimely engagements, either in your affections, or in your promises; Afterward acquaint your parent or chief friends of our own sex, how God inclines your heart to Marrie, and be ruled by them in a rationall religious way: Advisedly (and not rashly) choosing a help or a guide (according to the direction of your friends, (d)(d)Deut. 7.3. 1 Cor. 7.36, 37.Deut 7:31 Cor 7:361 Cor 7:37and your own approbation (e)(e)Gen. 24.57, 58.Gen 24:57Gen 24:58) that may be sutable for you, p. 53both in regard of religion, age, disposition, and condition: Acquainting the party (if it be once upon treatie) and the parties friends, what they may expect from you, both for religion and all other matters: Demanding the like of them: Carrying your self religiously (for it is the weightiest matter that ever you went about belonging to this life) in the whole businesse, as becomes a servant of Jesus Christ: Preparing your self (from your first solemne thoughts of Marriage) to worship God in that relation according to his word; And if God doe bring it about, in causing you and the partie to love and to like each other, and both you, and your friends to accord together in all substantiall matters: Then Marrie in the Lord, according to the order of the Church and State, and give up your selves unto him, to serve him so in that relation, as becomes holinesse: When, and how husband and wife are to pray together.Praying together (before you bed together) for the forgivenesse of all your sins, that might provoke God to imbitter all relations unto you: For the favour and countenance of God upon you that is the happinesse of everie condition of life: For new hearts, new estate: For a sanctified use of the Married condition, that it may be a furtherance unto you both (and not a hinderance) in your serving of God; Praying afterward frequentlie, as you are a husband (according to the advise given you in the following Directions) for, and with your wife: Confessing unto God (among your other sin…) one anothers failings: Asking (for Christs sake) pardon of them, and power against them, and p. 54grace to preserve your first love, to bear each others infirmities, to cover them with love, to observe each others tempers, for one anothers good, to be chast, to love each others companie, to be faithfull each to other, to be industrious and provident one for another, to tender each others good name: More especially intreat the Lord to give you, and your wife grace to perform those duties to him, and one to another, that you know you are negligent in; Thus by praier you may tell one another of your failings, and yet not provoke one another to anger, but to godlie sorrow for the same: Thus you may exhort one another to dutie, and yet not stir up hatred one against another, but love one to another. O then continue in praier, and live, and love, and cease not to love, till ye cease to live.

How you are further to worship God as a husband or a wife, or as a father, or a mother: The Directions for Governours and Governesses of Families will shew you.

And being there is an occasion offered by these Directions to some weak Christians to propound some cases of conscience: Fight Queries, or cases of conscience briefly answered.Therefore I will endeavour briefly to answer these following questions.

Quer, 1 First, Must I alwaies prepare for praier, reading and hearing of the word, receiving of the Sacrament, and the like holie duties before I undertake to perform them?

Answ. Yea alwaies, untill you can perform them to Gods honour without preparation: (f)(f)Lev. 10.3. 1 Pet. 1.15. 1 Pet. 3.15.Lev 10:31 Pet 1:151 Pet 3:15as you can in some measure if you goe about your earthly affairs with an heavenly minde, without p. 55having your heart and affections taken off therewith from things above, and if you be continually mindefull of your dependance upon God for all you are and have.(g)(g)1 Cor. 15.10. Phil. 3.20. 2 Tim. 2.21,1 Cor 15:10Phil 3:202 Tim 2:21

Quer, 2 Secondly, What if I do not prepare for holy duties through forgetfulnes, want of watchfulnes: or cannot, through want of opportunity, or knowlege of them, before I am called to perform them; shall I omit them because of my unpreparednes?

Answ. No, Because it is a greater sinne wholly to omit, or to lay aside duties, then it is to fail in them (h)(h)Ex. 4.24.25. Iob 1514.Exod 4:24Exod 4:25through want of preparednesse or the like: But be sorrie for your unpreparation, and so fall upon holy duties, (if you doe not doubt of them (i)(i)Rom. 14, 23.Rom 14:23) unfainedly endeavouring to give God that glorie in them, that is in some measure fit for a God to have.(k)(k)1 Chron. 16.29. 1 Chron. 29.11, to 14.1 Chr 16:291 Chr 29:11–14

Quer, 3 Thirdly, What if when I doe prepare my self for holy duties, I finde my heart not fit for them: shall I for the present forbear the performance of them, because of my unpreparation?

Answ. In no wise, Because if you should neglect duties by reason of your unpreparednes in this case, you would be lesse fit for them the next time that you were to perform them, and so you might be tempted to omit them continually: (l)(l)Pro. 10.29 Iob 17.9. 2 Tim. 3.13, 14.Prov 10:29Job 17:92 Tim 3:132 Tim 3:14But prepare your self as well as you can for holy duties, that is one part of your dutie, and then go on in them with all zeal for Gods glorie: praying, hearing, receiving the Sacrament (if you be free from ignorance, and all manner of wickednesse that makes you altogether unworthie to come to the Lords Table) p. 56and performing the like holy duties, that you may be the better fitted to glorifie God by them the next time you are to performe them.(m)(m)2 Chron, 30.18, 19. 1 Cor. 11.28.1 Cor 11:28

Quer, 4 Fourthly, If I perform holy duties, by these or the like Directions you have given me; How shall I know whether I perform them in the strength of my parts and gifts, by the help of such and such Directions: or through the strength of Christ, and the help of the spirit?

Answ. If when you perform dutie, you look up to God for the help of his spirit, and depend upon him for the same, and be carried to him in dutie, so as to have your heart affected with him, and bettered by him, in your serving of him: Then you may be said to perform dutie in the strength of Christ, through the help of his spirit, and not in your own strength through the help of your naturall parts and gifts; (n)(n)Rom. 8 16. 2 Cor. 3.5. Phil. 4.13. Psal. 101.2. Iam. 1, 17. Luk, 24.31, 32.Rom 8:162 Cor 3:5Phil 4:13Ps 101:2Jas 1:17because they that are acted by naturall parts have not their hearts bettered thereby, but act from themselves, for their own peace and quiet of conscience, and not from the Lord unto his glorie.(o)(o)Isa. 58.1. to 8. Matth. 6, 1. to 11.Isa 58:1–8Matt 6:1–11

Quer, 5 Fiftly, How shall I know whether I perform dutie for God and the honour of his name: or meerly for my self and the satisfying of my own conscience?

Answ. If you perform holy duties, because God requires them, for that end that you might honour God in them, rejoicing that others are able to honour him more in them then your self, and do get strength by them, whereby you have communion with God in them: Then you have good evidence to your soul that God p. 57puts you upon dutie for his own honour, and not your self alone for your own peace; (p)(p)Psal. 27.8.4.42.1, 2. Psal. 84.4. Prov. 10.29. Mark. 9.23, 24. Ioh 5.44.12.43.Ps 27:8Ps 27:4Ps 27:42Ps 27:1Ps 27:2Ps 84:4Prov 10:29Mark 9:23Mark 9:24John 5:44John 5:12John 5:43For they that are acted meerly by self and naturall conscience, perform dutie more because their conscience requires them, then because God commands them, and no more nor oftner then they are for their peace and quiet of conscience, neither rejoicing in them, nor finding strength in them.(q)(q)Iob. 27.10.Job 27:10

Quer, 6 Sixtly, Being without faith it is impossible to please God, How shall I know whether I please God by my duties, when as I am scrupulous whether I truely beleeve in Christ, and so consequently whether my person be accepted of God, yea or no?

Answ. If you be united unto Christ (as you are if you have been drawn to Christ, and doe still cleave unto him (r)(r)Ioh. 4.44.15.4. Act 11.23.John 4:44John 4:15John 4:4Acts 11:23) then your person is and will be alwaies accepted of God through Christ, (s)(s)Eph. 16. Heb. 3.4, 16, 17, 18. Iude 5.Heb 3:4Heb 3:16Heb 3:17Heb 3:18Jude 1:5though you be not alwaies sensible of it: …nd if your person be accepted, then your holy duties that are performed according to Gods word, for Gods honour in Christs name are acceptable to God, notwithstanding your present scruples; (t)(t)Act 10.4.34. Ioh. 14.13, 14. Col. 3.17. 1 Pet. 2.5.Acts 10:4Acts 10:34John 14:13John 14:14Col 3:171 Pet 2:5because your doubtfulnes, whether your person and performances be accepted of God, is but a failing of your faith, and all the failings of your holy duties are covered by Christs righteousnes, (u)(u)Rom. 4.5, to 9. Rev. 8.3.Rom 4:5–9Rev 8:3and so they are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.(x)(x)1 Pet. 2.5.1 Pet 2:5

Quer, 7 Seventhly, Suppose I be for the present ignorant of the way of Christ, or doubtfull which of the Governments is the Government of Christ, that are now so much spoken of, and writ about; what shall I do in this case?

Answ. p. 58Wait upon God in the use of all means, both publike and private, ordinary and extraordinary, whereby you may know the Government of Christ, and that Gospel-order that Christ hath appointed his Disciples to walk in, for that end that you may submit to it, as soon as it shall be revealed to you, (y)(y)Ifa, 64.4. Prov. 8.34. Pro. 8.38. Pro. 2…3, to 10 Ioh 16 13. Mar 8, 38.Prov 8:34Prov 8:38Prov 2:3–10John 16:13Mark 8:38In the mean while walk uprightly before God, according to your present light (z)(z)Ioh. 7 17.John 7:17and perform all Gospel-duties as far as you can to all sorts of Christians that will suffer you to perform them, but especially to those that shew forth the vertues and graces of Christ in their life and conversation, (a)(a)Gal. 6.16.Gal 6:16Beleeving that Christ will be all in all unto you in the room of those Ordinances you are for the present (through your ignorance, or doubtfullnesse) deprived of (b)(b)Ioh. 6.67. to 0. Col. 3.11.John 6:67Col 3:11.

Quest. 8 Eightly, Suppose I live in a place (after the Discipline of Christ hath been in some measure made known unto me) where the Gospel is but seldome preached, where the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is not at all administred, and where the Government of Christ is not set up; what shall I do in this condition?

Answ. Diligently use all means in a godly, peaceable manner, and wait upon God in the same, where by you may live under an able Minister of the Gospel, and whereby you may belong unto a Congregation that hath all the Ordinances of Christ in it, thereunto appertaining; (c)(c)Ier. 3.12.13. Mat. 9.38.Jer 3:12Jer 3:13Matt 9:38And for the present improve such means of grace as you partake of or Gods honour and your souls good p. 59(d)(d)Mat. 13.1 2, 3, 4. Mat. 25.20.… to 31.Matt 13:1Matt 25:20–31and live upon Christ by faith without Gospel ordinances and order when you cannot have them, and in the use of them, when you have them: (e)(e)Ioh. 6.57 Rom, 1.17.John 6:57Beleeving that Christ will be all in all unto you, not only in the enjoiment, but also in the want of means when they cannot be had: That Christ will be your Minister and Prophet to teach you, (f)(f)Heb. 8.11Heb 8:11your Priest to make intercession for you, (g)(g)Heb. 7.25 1 Ioh. 2.12.Heb 7:251 John 2:12your Pastor and Shepherd, (h)(h)Heb. 13.20. 1 Pet. 2.25.Heb 13:201 Pet 2:25to feed you with knowledge and understanding, and to nourish up your soul with his own flesh and bloud unto eternall life, that it shall not perish: (i)(i)Ioh. 6.51, to 58.John 6:51–58your King, to set up his Government in your soul, to keep your inward man in order, to write his laws in your heart, to give you a heart after his own heart, a heart as willing to obey God, as God is you should obey him: To excommunicate and destroy the carnall corrupt part in you, that your soul may be saved in his day. (k)(k)Isa. 9 6, 7. Ezek. 36.…5. to 29.Isa 9:6Isa 9:7Ezek 36:5–29See the conclusion of the fifth part of the Directions for private Christians, and of the third and fourth branch of the Directions for Governors of families, about answers to Queries and Objections against the advise I have given you for all manner of prayer.

p. 60The fifth Direction shews what course ignorant, unlearned people are to take, that they may know God, and Worship him in Spirit and in Truth.

FIfthly, As you are unlearned, and capable of learning, use all diligence to learn to reade, You are to have a Bible and a catechisme of your own, that you may receive instruction at any time from any that are able to reade to you.and all means whereby you may know and understand the four fore-going Directions; And whereas the learned are advised to reade the Scriptures, doe you in the room of that meditate upon the word; For that end have a Bible and a catechisme of your own, and procure some now and then as you have opportunity to read to you the ten Questions and Answers of my Catechisme, or the Questions and Answers of any other Catechisme, that contains in it the like principles of divinitie: or some part of the word that may instruct you in the grounds of Religion necessarie unto salvation; After what order the word, and this or some other catechisme, and these Directions are to be read unto you.Afterward let them reade that part of the second Direction that teaches you how to worship God, morning, meal-times, and evening: as also the rest of that, and the other Directions, as you are able to bear them, and have an occasion to make use of them; above all let the word of God be often read, and opened unto you, that you may receive that by p. 61hearing, that others attain unto by reading; By how much you are made uncapable of the knowledge of God by being unlearned, The more ignorant you are, the more need you have to seek after knowledge. Prov. 2.3, 4, 5.Prov 2:3Prov 2:4Prov 2:5by having a shallow understanding, and a weak memory: By so much the more you have need to take pains with your self, and to get others to take pains with you, to bring you to the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ. And although there be no particular commands and examples in the Scripture for these particular Directions I now advise you unto: yet you are bound in conscience to follow them, both by the second chapter of the Proverbs, and by those Scriptures that require Parents to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and to command them, and their houshold after them; (a)(a)Eph. 6.4. Deut. 11.19. Gen. 18, 29. Eph. 6.1, 2, 9Eph 6:4Deut 11:19Gen 18:29Eph 6:1Eph 6:2Eph 6:9I never knew any in all my daies so uncapable of saving knowledge, (if come to years of understanding) but they could know so much of naturall and civil things, as the knowledge of God that might make one wise unto salvation comes unto. And whereas you may object, and say, Object. answered. 1 I cannot meditate and pray day and night, as you direct me, nor remember any thing but those praiers that I have been taught from my childehood, word by word, and sentence by sentence; As the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, The Belief, The Lords Prayer, The ten Commandments, &c.

Sol. 1 First I answer, You being unlearned cannot pray in latine formes of praier, so as to be accepted of God, Phil. 4.6.Phil 4:6because you cannot understandingly by them make your requests known unto God.

Sol. 2 p. 62Again I tell you by way of answer, That if you did but rightly understand the articles of the Creed, the Lords Prayer, and the ten Commandments, you might thereby in some measure know what to beleeve, what to pray for, and how to live; And therefore I counsell you to endeavour to know the true meaning of them, that you may distinguish betwixt the rules of faith, praier, and a holie life; For although the Lords Prayer (as I said at the beginning) contains all things in it that you can ask, or give thanks to God for: Yet the Belief, the Lords Prayer, and the ten Commandments, taken jointlie together are not a praier, neither ought you to say them together as a prayer, Rom. 14.23.Rom 14:23because you have no warrant from the word so to doe.

Sol. 3 Thirdly I answer, You may as easilie learn to pray (and I would you would make triall hereof) morning, noontime, evening, and at all times upon all occasions of solemn praier, by the Directions I have given you: as you may learn formes of private praier by heart, for all occasions as they are read to you out of a book; And if once you have these Directions in your memorie, you may pray by them through the help of Gods spirit with more sinceritie, then by any set form of praier whatsoever.

Sol. 4 Besides I ask you, Are you sensible of any merciemercy that you doe, or have received from the Lord? Are you sensible of any sin that you do, and have sinned against heaven and before the Lord? Doe you see your self to want any thing that you are perswaded that God is able and willing for Christs sake to bestow upon p. 63you? Then doe but humble your self before the Lord, morning after evening, In what cases mentall prayer (may be conceived) to be acceptable to God.and evening after morning, and time after time, and look but so many looks towards heaven with a thankfull frame of heart as you have received severall kindes of mercies: (b)(b)Isa. 45.22. 2 Chron. 20, 12.Isa 45:222 Chr 20:12Sigh but so many sighs with a contrite spirit as … have sinned severall sorts of sins: (c)(c)Ezek. 9.4. Psal. 75.11.Ezek 9:4Ps 75:11And breath but so many breathings, as you have particular wants that you would have God to supply; (d)(d)Lam. 3.56Lam 3:56And it is as acceptable praier to him that is a spirit, through Christ (if praied by one that is in Christ and unable as yet to pray otherwise) as if you used the best expressions (e)(e)1 Sam. 1.10, 12, 13, 27.28.1 Sam 1:101 Sam 1:121 Sam 1:131 Sam 1:271 Sam 1:28that the ablest Christians are furnished withall.

Object. 2 But you will say unto me; Ought not I to pray in words and expressions as well as in my spirit?

Answ. Yea, You ought to pray with your voice as well as in your spirit, assoon as God shall give you utterance, that your affections thereby might be quickened, and your minde kept from wandring; (f)(f)Ps. 5 2, 3. Act. 14.24. Mat. 26.39.Ps 5:2Ps 5:3Acts 14:24Matt 26:39therefore pray the Lords praier morning, evening, A brief paraphrase of the Lords Prayer.or any time when God and your own heart sends you to praier, if you can pray it with understanding according to these parentheticall paraphrases, or the like. Our Father which art in heaven (O Lord thou are the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, and through him the Father of all beleevers, (g)(g)Iohn. 20.17. 2 Cor. 6.18. Mat. 23.9.John 20:172 Cor 6:18Matt 23:9and (as I beleeve) my heavenly Father.) Hallowed be thy name. (Grant me and all thy people grace to acknowledge thy name to be holie to all the world, and to glorifie thee alwaies with all we are and have. (h)(h)Lev. 10 3. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16. 1 Cor. 10.31.Lev 10:31 Pet 1:151 Pet 1:161 Cor 10:31) p. 64Thy Kingdome come. (Let thy Christ raign and rule in our mortall bodies by his spirit and word, in despite of Satan and all other our enemies whatsoever. (i)(i)Psal. 110.1, 2. 2 Thes. 3.1.Ps 110:1Ps 110:22 Thess 3:1) Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. (Give us to know, and to doe thy will revealed in thy word here upon earth, as freely and as fully as the Angels doe thy …ll in heaven. (k)(k)Ps. 143.10, 103.20, 21. 1 Pet. 4.2.Ps 143:10Ps 143:103Ps 143:20Ps 143:211 Pet 4:2) Give us this day our daily-bread. (Continue our lives, and all blessings meet and convenient for us to make them comfortable unto us. (l)(l)Ps. 102.24, Prov. 30.8.Ps 102:24Prov 30:8) And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespasse against us. (Forgive us all our sins, and give us faith whereby we may beleeve and know that they are pardoned: (m)(m)Heb 8.12. Luk. 17.5.Heb 8:12Luke 17:5as freely as we desire to forgive one another our trespasses one against another, and the world their trespasses against us. (n)(n)Mat. 6.14, 15.Matt 6:14Matt 6:15) And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. (Keep us from being overtaken in any sin to thy dishonour, and our own discomfort either through the temptations of Satan, the world, or our own corrupted natures. (o)(o)Ps. 19.12.13. Ps. 140.3, 4 Zach. 3.2. Ioh. 17.15. Rom. 7.24.Ps 19:12Ps 19:13Ps 140:3Ps 140:4Zech 3Rom 7:24) For thine is the Kingdome, and the power, and the glory for ever. (Lord thine is the right to all, and soveraigntie over all, and thou art able (p)(p)Ps. 50.12. Dan. 2.47. Psal. …2.11. Eph. 3 20,Ps 50:12Dan 2:47Ps 2:11Eph 3:20to bestow these mercies upon us, that I have now asked for my self and all beleevers: and if thou wilt bestow them upon us, and give us the comfort of them, then thou shalt have the glory of them, as it is most due unto thee for ever, and ever. (q)(q)Isa. 42.8. 1 Chron. 29.10, to 14. Rev. 5.13-Isa 42:81 Chr 29:10–14Rev 5:13) Amen. (O Lord for Christs sake hear my praier, (r)(r)Dan. 9.19. Col. 3.17.Dan 9:19Col 3:17I desire to beleeve that thou wilt, (s)(s)Mark, 11.24. Iam. 1.6. 1 Ioh. 5.14.Jas 1:61 John 5:14let it be unto me according to my faith.) Yet do not tie your self unto it (I p. 65mean so as to pray no other praier at any time but onelyonly the Lords Praier,) but make use of the Directions I have commended unto you, and of all other means whereby you may more freely and fully, pour out your soul before the Lord in praier and thanksgiving; And venture upon the help of the spirit in your secret praier: fixing your minde and faith upon God in the flesh of Christ, who is God with us, all the while you are in praier; Beleeving (according to the promise (t)(t)Luk. 11.13. Rom. 8.26.Luke 11:13Rom 8:26) that you shall have the spirit, if you ask it for Christs sake, for to help your infirmities with sighes, and groans that cannot be uttered.

Object. Answered 3 But you may again object and say, (and the Christian that is book-learned may make the same querie) what if God have given me a gift of praier? or what if I have learned forms of praier by heart, for Morning, Noontime, and Evening? shall I neglect the gift of God which is in m…, and lay aside all formes of praier, for to follow these Directions?

I answer, Sol.You ought not to neglect the gift of God that is in you, and you need not to lay aside any thing that you have learned that may help you to pray as Christ hath taught you: But you may improve the same by these Directions for the furthering of your self to pray with more sinceritie, and lesse formality then formerly you have. You shall finde knowledge if you diligently seek it.What shall I say more? However ignorant, and unlearned you be, if you have a willing minde, and use all diligence to finde knowledge, p. 66you may be confident that you shall in due time be taught (by the teachings of the spirit) the things of God that are necessary to salvation.(u)(u)Prov. 2i 1. to 7.Prov 2

The end of the first part of the Directions which concerns private Christians.