What Wesley Left Out

~895 words

undertake the doing of 
all thac duty which Chrift buile upon Be 


2334 


iy 


. foundation of believing:but we fhall beft dif. Pititve- 


« Cetnthe troth of our faith by thefe following 
-» fignes. S, Hierom reckons three. 
eas Signes of true Faith. 
r. An earneft and vehement prayer:for it is 
iF ble we ‘fhould heartily belteve the 
.< thmgs of God and the glories of the Gofpel, 
and not moft importumately defire them.For 
= every thing is defired according to our belief 
. Of irs excellency and pofhbitity. 
- +2, Todonathing for vain glory but whol- 
ly for the interefts of religion, and thefe Are 
ticles we believe 5 valuing nor atall the ru- 
mours of men, Sut the praife of God, to 
whom by faith, we have given up afi our in. 
teljJectual faculties. 

3. To be content with God for our Judge, 
for our Patron, for our Lord, for our friend, 


defiring God to be all ia all to us,asweare in 


our underttanding and affections wholly his. 
Adde to thefe. | 

4. Fo be a ftranger upon earth in our affecti- 

ons, and so have all our thoughts and 


principle defires fixed upon the macters of 
Faith, the things of Heaven. Forif a man 


were 


_— 


’ 
$ 


2 oon cla seas 
‘ 


HF. = dial = *o _ ee =a 


"334 Chap.4. | Of Faith. Se&.1, 


were adopted heir to Cafar, he would (ifhe . 
believed it real and effectve) defpife the pre- 
fent,and wholly be at court in hisFathers eyes 
and his defires would outrun his  fwiftelt 
{peed,and all his thoughts would fpend.them- 
{elves in creating Ideas , and little phanta-. 
ftick images of his future condition. Now God 
hath made us Heires of his Kingdom,and Co- 
heirs with Jefus:if we believed this,we would 
think and affect,and fiudy accordingly. But he 


. that rejoyces in gain,and his heare dwells in 


the world, and is elpoufed toa fair eftate,and 
tranfperted with a light: momentany joy,and 
is afflicted with loffes,and amazed with tem. 
poral perfecutions, and efteems difgrace, of 
poverty in a good caufe to be intolerable, this 
man either hath no inheritance in Heaven, of 


believes none; and believes not thatheisa _ -. 


dopted to be the Son God, the Heir of etet- 


nal Glory. 


- 8.8. James's figne is the beft. [ Shew me thy 
faith by thy works \Faith makes the Merchant 
diligent and venturous, and that makes him 
rich:Ferdinando of Arragon believed the fto- 
ry told him by Columbus y and therefore be 
furnifhed him with fhips, and got the welt 
Indies by his faith in the undertaker. But 


“Henry the feventh of England believed him 
not,and therefore trufted him not with fhip- 


ing, and loft all the purchafe of that Faith. It 


‘ istold us by Chrift (He that forgives fall be 


forgiven \ if we believe this, it is certain we 


Thall fcrgive our enemies 3 for none of us all 


but need and defire to beforgiven. No man 
can poffibly defpife or refufe to defire fuch 
excellent glories as are revealed to them 
that are fervants of Chrift; and. yet we = no- 

. ing 


Chap.4. Of Faith, Se&.r. 
thing chat is commanded us as 2’condition to 
obrain them. No man could work a dayes la« 
dor without faith: but becaufe he believes he 
fal] have his wages at the dayes or weeks 
€nd,he does his duty. Bur he onely believes 
who does that thing which other men in the 


like cafes do, when they do believe. He that . 


believes, money gotten with danger is better 
then poverty with fafecy,wil venture for it in 
unknown lands or feas: and fo wil he that be- 
lieves it better to get Heaven with labour, 
then to go toHel with pleafure. 

6. He that believes does not make ba&, but 
waites patiently tillthe times of refrefhment 
come, and dares truft God for the morrow, 
and is no more folicitous for next year, then 
he is for thatwhich is paft:and itis certain, 


¢hat man wants faith who dares be moeconfi- - 


dent of being fupplied when hehath money 


in his purfe, then when he hath it onely in | 


bils of exchange from God:or thatrelyes moe 
upon his own induftry then upon Gods pro- 
vidence, when his own induftry fails him. If 
you dare truft to God, when the cafe to ha- 
mane reafon feems impoffible, and truft tg 
-God then alfo out of choice,not becaufe you 
have nothing elfe to truft to,but becaufe he is 
the onely fupport of ajuft confidence, then 
-you give a good teftimony of your faith. 

"9. True faich is confident,and will venture 
all the world upon the firength of its per- 
fuafion, Will you lay your life on it, your 
eftate, your reputation, that the dodtrine of 
JESUS CHRIST istrue in every Article? 
‘Then you have true Faith. But he that fears 
men more then God, believes men more then 
hhe believes in God. 


g, Faith,, 


. 936 Chap.4. 


1 Cor. 3.5, 
Rom.8. 10. 


OF Faith. Seft.1, 
8, Faith, ifit be true, living, and jultify- 
ing cannot be feparated froma good life: it 


works miracles, makes a Drunkard become 


fober, a lafcivious perfon become chaft, a co- 


vetous man become liberal : 7 overcomes the — 


world, it workes righteoufaeffe, and makes,us di- 


ligently to‘do,and cheerfully to fufter whatfo. 

ever’ God hath placed in our way to Heaven. 

| The Means and Inftruments to obtain 

| Faith, are - | 
x, An humble,wiHing and docible minde,ot 

defire to be inftruéted in the way of God:For 

perfuafion enters like a fun

~201 words

in the time of your 
greateft weaknefle (contrary tothe perfwati- 


“018 of your beft underftanding) to be temp- 
“tations, and reject them accordingly. 


7. Itis a prudent courfe that in our healch 
and beft advantages we lay up parcicular ar- 
guments and iafiruments of perfwafion and 
confidence, to be brought forth and ufed in 
the great day ofexpence ; and that efpeci- . 
ally in fuch things in which we ufe to be moft 
tempted,and in which we are leaft confident, 
and which are moft neceffary, and which 
commonly the Devil ufes to affault us withal 
in the dayes of our vifitation, | ne 

8. The wifdom of. the Church of God ts" 
vety remarkable in appointing UI of 


oli- 


s. Avoid all curiofity of inquiry into parti. ti cto. 
_ culars, and circumftances and myfteries: for 


238, Chap.4. ‘Of Hopes Se& 2. 
~ Holidayes, whofe folemnicy and Offices have 
~-« no-other fpecial bufineffe but torecord the 
Article of the day 3 fuch as, Trinity Sunday, 
 Afcenfions EaSter, Chriftmas-day ;.and_ to thofe 
perfons who can onely believe, not prove 
or difpute, there is no better inftrument 
t0 caufe the remembrance, and plain noti- 
“on, and to endear the afte&ion and hearty 
affent to the Article, then the proclaiming 
‘and recommending it by the feftivity and 

joy of a Holy day. | 


Set. I I. 
Of the Hope of 4 Chriftian. 

Geek | ee differs from Hopein the extenfion 
Egat of itsobject,and in the intention of de- 
gree. Saint Aujtin thus accounts their dif- 
erences. Faith is of al

~99 words

1. Let your Hope be moderate, proportioned f 
to your ftate,perion and condition,whether it, 
be for gifts or graces, or temporal favours. It ;. 
is an ambitious hope for a perfon whofe dili-_, 
gence is like them that are leaft ia the King- :, 
dom of Heaven, to believe themfelves en- 
_dear'd to God as the greaveft Saints y or that: 
they fhall have athrone equal to S.Paulor the 4. 
bleffed Virgin Mery. A Scammerer cannot — 
with moderation hope for the gift of | 
Tongues, or a Peafant to become learned as |, 
Origen: or if a Beggar defires or hopesto be- :, 
come.a King, or asks for a thoufand ponada |. 
year, we call him impudent, not pallionaits : 
~ WH 


Sr a ey eR TON See ee ae ra ee te 7 


i 
AOE 


Chap.4. 0 f Fi Ope. 
nuxh leffe reaforable. Hopé that God will 
crown your endeavours with equal meafures 
of thatreward which he hideed freely gives, 
but yet gives according to our proportions. 
Hope for good fucceffe according toy cr noe 
much beyond the efficacy of the caufes and 
the infirament, ahd let the Husbandman 
hope for a goed Harveft, nor for a rich King 
dom, or a victorious: Army. | 


2

~564 words

wait upon God but five dayes longer. .- 
But deliverance ftayedfeven dayes, and yet * 


- came at laft: and take not every accident for - 
an argnment of defpair: but goon ftillinho- 
ping, and begin again to work ifany illacci= 


dent have interrupted-you, 


Means 0 »f Hope, and remedies againft 
—— -Defpatre a 
\The means to cure Defpair, ard to conti- 


. nue or increafe Hope, are partly by confide- 


_. Yation, partly by exercife. 


1. Apply your minde to the cure of allthe |, 


My. 


" propet caufes of Defpair: and they are weak- 
-nefs of fpirit, or violence of paffion. Hethat 


puxrs— 
Lunes 

isxeye 
Nuit. 


_ , be indifferent to all. 


reedily covets, is impatient ofdelay, and 
fperate in contrary accidents 3 and he chat 
is little of heart,is alfo little of hope, and ape 


“to forrow and fufpition. 


2. Defpife the ene of the World, and 
anges and events 0 
providence 3 and for the things of God the 
promifes are certain to bee Performed in 
a. se kinde 5 
"5 we 
re 


7 ra 
‘ 
. 


, 
i 
“4 
| i 
' 
bad J 
ah 
fr 


UF 


- 


Chap. 4. Of Hope. — Seh3. 243 


kindey and where. there is leffe variety of 
chance, there is leffe pofsibility of being. 
mocked : but he that creates to himfelf thou- 
fands of little hopes, uncertain in the pro- 
. -mife, fallible in the event, and dependin 
upon ten thoufand circumftances (as are al 

the things of this World) thal! often fail in 
"his expectations, and be ufed to-arguments 
of diftraft in fuch hopes. 

3- So long .as your hopes are regular and 
reafonable, though in temporal affairs, fuch 


as are deliverance from enemies, efcaping a ~ 


ftorm or fhipwrack, recovery froma ficknefs, 
ability to pay. your debts, &c. remember that 
there are fomethings ordinary, and fome 
_ things extraordinary to prevent difpair. In 
~ ordinary, Remember that the very hoping in 
« God is an endearment of him, and a means. 


: \to obtain the blefsing (I will deliver bim bea: 


caufe he hath put his truftinme. | 2. There are 
‘in God all chofe glorious Attributes and ex- 


cellencies which im rhe nature of things can : 


- pofstbly create. or confirm Hope. God is 
- ¥. Strong, 2. Wife. 3. True. 4. Loving. 
- There cannot be added another capacity to 
create a confidence ; for upon thefe premifes 
- we cannot fail of receiving what is fit for us. 
3. God hath obliged himfelf by promife that 


: we fhall have the | ge of every thing we. 


defire : for even loffes and denials fhall work, 
for the good of themthat fear God. And ifwe 
‘will craft the cruth of God for performance 
of the general, wee may well cruft his 


wifdome to choofe for us the particular. . 


_ * But the extraerdinaries. of GO D-are apt 
to fupply the defect of all natural and 
hurhang -poGibilities, - 1. “G O.D. hath in 

ek L2 ~ many 


aa 


a? | 244 
t : 
i 


/ 


: sien : aw \ 
Chap.4, § Of Hope > SeB2 


many inflances given extraordinary vertue 10. 


the active canfes and inftruments ; to ajawe 
_ bone to killa mulatude:. to 300 Mento de. 


ftroy a. great. Army ,. to Jonathan and his Ar- 
rgour-bearer co rout.a-whele Garrifon. 2.He 
‘hath given excellenc fufferance and vigoroiif- 


 nefs.to the fufferers,arming them with ftrange 


courage, heroigal fortitude,. invincible refc- 
lution, and glorious. patience: and. thus he 
layes. no more upon: us then we areable to 


bear: for when he encreafes- our fofferings, . 
he leflens. chem by increafing. our patience. 


3. His providence is. extraregular and produ. 


. ces. firange things beyond common.rules: 
and he that led Hrael through a Sea, and 
‘ made-a: Rock powre forth waters, and the 


Heavens to give them bread ange ‘5 and 
whole Armies to be deftroyed:with phanta 


~ ‘ftick noifes, and: the forcuné of all- France to 


be recovered and: intirely revolv’d by-the 
arms.and conduct of a Girle againft the tor- 


gent ofthe Englifh fortune and Chivalry’; can 


do what he pleafe, and fiill retains the fame 


, affections.to bis people,.and the fame provi- 


denee over mankinde.a$ ever: aud itisim~ 


--poffible-for that Man to defpair,. who remem: 
_ .  bers.that brs-Helper is Omnipotent, and: can do 
- whache pleafe: lec usreft therea while ; he 


can. if: he pleafe: And hes inftnitely lowing: 
willing:enough and he is iafenitely wife, chu- 
fing: betrer.for us.then: wee can. do for ouf 


felves. This.inalbages.and chances hath fap- 

. ported the affticted'people.of Gad and carri- 
+ ed: them-on: dry ground: through a-red:Seq. 
_ Ged: invites and:cheriffies the-hopescfMen : 


byall che variety of hisprovidence. 
4+ lf yoar cafebe brought.co the [aft extre- 
; 1 ae | mit, 


as ‘ 


~~ & 


_ 


WE Sa ST ge ee en ia eT SR ge Se ea Oe Cee eth PO ee ag Ee Ee my SR A Ree Oe ge 
a \ : _ = \ 
: ’ 

V 


Pa 


Chap.4. . Of Hope. . Seo, 245 
micy, and chat you are at the pits brink, even 
the very Margent of the Grave, yet then de- 
fpair not;at leaft put it offa litcle longer : and 
remember that whatfoever finall accident. 
takes -away all hope from you, if you fray a 
Bittle longer , and in the mean while bear it 
fweetly, it will alfo take away all defpair too. 
For when you enter.into the Regions of - 
death, you reft from all your labours and 
your fears. 
_§. Let them who are tempted to defpair 
Of their falvation, confider how much Chrift 
foffered to redeem us from fin and its eternal 
punifhment : and he that confiders this, muft 
needs believe, tht the defires which God 
‘Tad to fave us were not leffe theninfmire, — 
.and therefore not eafily tp be fatisfied with. 
out it. | : 
. 6. Let no Man defpair of Gods mercies to 
. forgive him, unleffe he be fure that his fmnes 
.  afe greater then Gods mercies.1f they be not, — 
‘we have much reafon tohope that the ftrong- 
. “eringredtent will prevail fo long as we are in 
_ the time and ftate of repentance, and wichin © 
_ the poffibilities & latitude of the Covenant 3. 
and as long as any promife can bat reflect up- 
‘on him with an oblique beam of comfort. 
Poffibly the Man may-erre in his judgement. 
ofcireumftances, and therefore let him féar: - 
bur becaufe itis not certainhe is miftaken, let 
him notdefpair. M fu 
. 7. Confider that God who knowsall thee- 
vents of Men, and what their final condition 
fhall be., who fhali be faved, and who will 
perifh, yer he treateth them as his own, calls - 
them fobe his own,oflérs fatr conditions a$ to 
his own, gives them blelfints, arguments: of 
5 2 = : : 


mercy 


b4$  Chap.4.. Of Hoe: = Seas 
mercy, and inftances of fear tocall them off 


from deaths and to call chem home to life, 


and in.all this fhews no defpair of happinefs : 


to them, and therefore much leffe fliould any 
Man defpair for himfelf, fincé he never was 
able toreade the Scrols of eternal predefti- 
nation.. Markie ee ae 
- 8. Remember that defpair helongs only to 
pafsionate Fools or Villains, (fuch as were 


1s a good difpofition towards it 5 fo is defpair 
a certain confignation to eternal ruine. A 


~~, Achitophel and Fudas) or elfe to Devils and | 
7. .damned perfons

~166 words

the 
fountain of all excellencies and Cceleftial a- 
mities. ST 
2. Lay fetters and reftraints upon the imagi- 
native and phanraftick part: becaufe our fan. 
cie being an imperfect and higher facultie is 


ufully-pleafed with the enrercainment of fha- 


dowes & gauds;and becaufe the things of thé 
world fillic with fuch beauties and phanta- 
flick imagery,the fancy prefents fuch objects 
as amiable to the affections,and ele&ive pow. 


- ers. Perfons of fancy, fuch agare women and — 
chifdren have alwayes che moft violent loves _ 


- but therfore if we be careful wich what repre- 
fentments we fil our fancy,we may the fooner 
rectify.our loves. To this purpofe, it is good 
thatwe tranfplant the inftruments of fancyinta 


religion:& for this reafon mufick was brought — 


into Churches, and ornaments,and perfumes, 


and comely garments , and folenmitics, 


and 


\ 


r 


tter enkindle and en- — 


Seft.3. 255 


286 Chapd.. Of Charhy w. Sek 


leffe difcerning fancy.being bribed withics 
‘proper objects may be inftrimmental tos 
-* more coeleftial and fpiritual love. | 
. 3. Remove folicicude or

~200 words

they be filled with one se la 
ignoble; carmot attend another t onghmore 
extellenc. We alwayeés contract a friendfhip 
and relation with thofe with whom we con- 
-_-verfe $ our very Conttey ts dear to us for out 
being init, and the ag ely of the fame_ 
Village, ind thofe thac buy and fell withs 
have feized upon fome portions of out love, 
atid therefore if we dwellin the affaires of the | 
- World, we fhall alfo grow in love with them). -- 
- ". - and all our love,oral-our hatred,al our hopes, 
of all our fears,which the eternal God, would, 
~ willin ef fecure to himfelf, and efteem 4. 
rriongft his treafures and precious things thal 
be fpent upon trifies and vanities. -") 
4. _Donot onely choofe the things of Gods - 
- but fecuré your inclitiatians and aptnefies for, - 
_ Godarid for Religion. For it will be a bar iy 
thirig fof aMan to do fucha perfonal violence 
rohis fittt defires, ag to choofe whatfoever he. - 
hath no minde to. A Man will many dies & 
tisfie thé importunity and daily folidjrations 
of his firft longings : and therefore there 1 
nothing cari fecute our loves to God , Dut 
ftopping the natural Fountains, and making 
Religion to grow neet the firft-defires of the 
foul. ae 


5. Converle

~222 words

of love:Love to God inchides 


love to our Neighbour,and therefore no pre. 


tence of zeal for Gods * glory maft make us 
ancharitable to our brother, for that ts juft fo 
~ pleafing to God, as hatred is an act of love. 


_* §. That zeal that concerns orhers, cam : 
fpend it felfin nothing bat arts, and actions, 


end charitable inftraments for their good: : 


and when it concernes the good of many ‘ 


“thatone flroald fofler » ic maft bee done 
by perfons of a competent authority, and 
_ ingreat necefsiry, m_feldome infrances, ac- 
cording to the Law of GOD_or Man ; but 
never by privateright, orfor rifling acci- 
dents, of in miftaken propofitions . 

’ Yealors in the Old: Law had authority [0 
" transfix and ftabfome certain perfons 5 but 
GOD gave them warrant 5 it was in the 
Cafe of Idolatry or fuch notorious huge 


_ times 5 the danger of which was infupport- 
_ able, and the cognizance of which was In> 


~~ fallible : And yer that warrant exp red wi 
... the Synagogue. a a ee 

6. Zeal in the iuftances of our own dutys 
and perfonal deportment ts more’ fafe then 
in matters of counfel , and actions betides 


“. : onrjuft duty, and tending towards perfect!- 


on: Though in thefe inftances there 1sn0t 

a direct fin, even where the zeal. is teaft wa 

ry, yet there“is-much trouble and fome dan- 

get: Cas, if ic be fpent in the roo sabes 
am 


=” 


Chaps. == Of Zea, Selh.z. chp 
vows of Chaftity,and reftraints of natural and 
#mnocent liberties.) | 

7. Zeal may be let loofe in theinftances 
of internal, perfonal, and {piricual actions, 
that aye

~312 words

glory of God,and the confufion af all Devils, proguim. 


and all that you hope or defire did depend 232°, 
upen every one action. tig ~ havefsi a 
8. Let zeal be feared in the will and choice, 2.0” 
aod regilgted with prudence and a foberun- _ 
deriianding noc in the fancies and affections; 20" 10-2 
for thefe.will make ic full. of noife and. empty 
of profit, but hat will make it deep and 
{moosh, material and devout, ; 
‘The fummeis-this: That, zeal isnot.a-di- ,,,.,,, 


: Tt 
rect. duty, no where commanded for. it felf, Revel.3.19 


‘and isaerhing buta forwerdnefle and.circum- 

+ ftance-of another duty, and therefore is-then 

- onely acceptable when itiadvances: the love 
_. -O0f Godand our. Neighbours,. whofe circum=, - 
ftance iv is.: That zeal is-onely. fafe, onely 
acceprable. which idcreafes charity'directly, 
and becaufe lave to our Neighbour, ahd:o-. | 
bediencero.God:.arethe avo great. portions, : 


~ 


\ 


' 
wer Oe 
wees wee ow 


ee ne 
“ae My vregeme “alee 


wed, ~ EE = 
mney: 2 ng ee toto 


i 

{ 

J. 
1, 
hi 
' 


# 2 Cori7. 
tf. 


_ Gf it mouft be expreffed in anger ) be ale 


Chap4. Of reading and hearing. Sect.4. 
of charit¥Wwe muft never account our zeal to 


be ina matter that relates to both; or feveral- 
ly, If it relates feverally.S, Puls zeal was ex- 
alah in preaching withant any offerings or 

tipend in travelling, in {pending and being 
fpent for his flock, in fuffering, in being wil- 
Jing to be accurfed: for love of the people of 
Ged,and his Countrey-men : Let our zeal be 


as great as his was, fo it be in affections to © 


others, but notat all in angers againft them 


In the firft then is no danger 5 in the fecond — 


there is no fafety. In brief; let’ your zeal 


wayes more fevere againft thy * felf, then 
againft others. ' . 


” The other part of Love to God is Loveto wr 


Neighbour, for which Ihave referved the Pare 
“graph of alms a ae 


> Ofthe external atttons of Religinn.2i 


a 
- Religion teaches us to prefeirriaiGod ow

~388 words

all other graces of the 
 Spiric.Icis all one to us whether by the eye or 
_ by the ear the Sprit conveyes his precepts 
to us. If we hear S. Paul faying to us, that 


[ Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge ‘I | 


or read it in one of. his Epiftles; in either o 
them we are equally & fufficiently inftru@ed. 


The Scr@prures read are the fame thing to us, | 


which the fame do&rine was, when it was 
- preached by the difciples of our bleffed Lords 
and we are to learn of either with the fame 


-_ difpofitions. There are ea oe ean reade 
eitin by the ear3. 


_ the word, and they muftta 
. and they that can reade, finde the fame word 
of God by the eye.Itis neceflary that all.men 


__ learn it fome way or other, and itis fufficient 


__ inorder to their pragtife that they learn it any 
way. The word of God. isall thofe Command- 
ments and Revelations, thofe promifes and 


threamnings, the ftories and fermons recorded. 
in the Bible : nothing elfe is the word of God, 


_ thatwe know of, by dny certain piftreanen 


a“ 


‘ 


Lied 


263 


Chap4:  ReadingerHearmg Sel&-4. 
The good books and fpiritual difeourfes, the 
fermons or homilies written.c fpoken by 
mien are but the word of men, or rather explica- 


tions of , and.exhorvations according to the 


Word of God: but of themfelves they are not 
the Word of God. In 2 Sermon, the Text 


onely isin a proper fence to be called Gods . 
Word: and yet good Sermons are of great 


fe and conventence for the advantages of 
cligion. He tharpreaches an hour rogerhet 


_againtt drunkénnefs withthe tongue of men 


or Angels, hath {poke no other word of God 
but this [ Be net drunk. with wine wherein there 
is excefs: | and-he that writes chat Sernion 


in abook, and publiffies that book, hath | 


preached to all that read it,a louder Sermon 
then could be fpoken in a Church, This I 
fay to this purpofe that we may feparate 


truth from errer, popular opinians from fab- | 


~ ftantiall Troths. For God preaches tone in 
- the Scripture, and by his fecret affiftances 
and {piricuall thoughts and holy motions: — 
Good men-preach te us when they by pope - 
Yar arguments, and humaye arts and comply: - 
ances expound and ‘prefs any of thofe do- .« 


&rines which God hath preached unto. usin‘ 
_his holy Word.- Bur _ i 


_Y. The Holy Ghoft is certainly the bef 


pture the beft fermonhs. 


“a. Allthe doétrine of falvation, is plainly 
fer down there, tHat the moft unleamed pet = 
18 


fon by hearing itread, may underftand al

~435 words

the plain doctrines 
of Scripture. . t . 
_ 4. What Abrabam in the parable faid con- - 
cerning the brethren of the rich man, is here. 
very proper : They have Mofes and the Prophets tke 1¢: 
fet them bear them: But if they tefufe to hear 27"3'- 
thefe, neither will they believe though one foould - 


arife from the dead ty preach unto them. ‘: 


' §- Reading the holy Scriptures is a duty ex- 


prefly * commanded us, ands called in Seri- rere 

pture [* Preaching: | all other preaching is ¢3.°"?" 
the effect of humane fkill and induftry , and bk? 
although of great befiefit, yet it is bucan-Ec- March.22. 


clefiaftical ordinance 5 the Law of God con- Vass. 
cerning Preaching, being expreffed in the Rev: 3 


2 Tim.3.16 


matter of reading the Scriprures,and hearing 
that word of God, which i, and-as itis there 
defcribed. : 2 eo. 

But this duty is recaced to practife in the 


slomie Rules. 


Rules for bearing or readingthe word = - 

1. Set apart fome portion of thy time ac- 

cording to the opporrunities of chy Se cee 8 

neceflary imploymeint, for the reading of ho- 
ly Scripture 3 and ifit be poffible, every day 

reade or: hear fome of itread:: you are fure 


‘that Book teaches all:truth, commandsalt 


holinefs, and promifesallhappines. 
2. When it is in your power tochufe, ace’ 


/ enftome. your felF fuch portions which are © 


mioft plain & certain duty, and which contain 
i. M the 


266 -Chap.4. ~-Of Hearing and Reading” Seé&t.4) 
the ftory of the Lifeand Death of our bleffed —_, 
Saviour. Read the Gofpels, the PfalmsofDa. 
vid;and ef py thofe portions of Scriprure 
which by the wifdom of the Church are ap- 

, Sete? be publikely read upon Sundayes 
nd holy. dayes,viz.the Epiftles and Gofpels. | 

. Inthechoiceef any other portions, youmay 
advife with a Spiricual Guide, that you may | 

- fpend your time with moft profic. : 
3. Fail nor, diligently to attend to the read- 
‘ing of holyScriptures upon thofe dayes wher« 
in itis moft publickly and folemnly read in 
Churches:for at fuch times, befides the learn- 
ing our duty, we obtain a bleffing along with 
ir, it becoming to us upon thofe dayes a part | 
of the folemn Divine worfhip. 
' 4. When the. word of God is read or 
| pocrd to you, be fife you be of a ready 
cart and minde, free from wordly cares and | 
thoughts, diligent tohear, careful to mark, | 
ftudions to remember,and defirous to.pradtife —. 
all thar is commanded, and to live according 
toic: Donothear for any other end but to 
become better in your life,and to be inftrna- .- 
éd in every good work, and to increafe in the | 
love and ferviceofGod. . 
5. Beg of God by prayer thathe would give | 
you the fpirit of obedience and profit, and | 
that he would by his Spirit write the word in ' 
your hearc, and that you defcribe it in your. 

- life. To which purpofe ferve your felf of fome 
affectionate ejaculations to that purpofe, be- 
fore and after thisduty. = st 

. Concerning fpiritual books and ordinary Set~ 
" . gms take in thefe advices alfo. - 
_ -@ Letnot aprejudice toany mans. a 
a Se Se 8 - fos 


Chap.4. theWordofGod. —_-- Se&t.4. 267 
fon

~430 words

if it be according to godli- 
nefs : but ( if occafion offer ir, or efpecially 
if duty prefent it to thee 3 that is, if it be. 
al in that affembly where thou art 
‘bound to: be prefent) accept the word 
preached: as a meflage from God, and 
the Minifter- as his Angel in that mini- 
ftration- = 3 ~ _ 
" 9, Confider and remark the dodtrine that 
is reprefented to thee in any difcourfe 5 and 

if the Preacher addes any accidental! ad- 
vantages » any thing to comply with thy 
weaknefs,‘or to pot thy fpiricincto action , or 
holy refolution, remember it, and make ufe 
of it; butif the Preacher be aweak perfon,  _ 
yet the text: is the dodtrine thou’ arc tore- 
member; that.contains all thy duty,ic is worch 
thy attendance to hear that fpoken often,and 
renewed upon thy thoughts,and though thou. 
beeft a learned man,yet the fame thing which — 
thou knoweft already , iffpoken by another, 
may be made active by that application. I can 
better be comforted by my own confidera— 
tions, if another hand applyes them, then 
if I doit my felf; becaufe the word of God — 
. does not work as a natural agent, but asa di- 
vine inftrument : it does not prevail by the 
force of deduction, and artificial difcourfings 
oriely, but chiefly by way of bleffingin the 
-ofdinancend in the miniftery of an appoint- 
ed perfon. At leaft obey the publick order, 
and reverence the conftiturion ; and give 
good example of humility, charicy and obe- 
‘dience, | , . 7 

~ 83 When Scriptures are read, you are only 
to.enquire with alee and modefty ae 


2 t 


(268 Chapa: OF Faftings $= S85} 


the meaning of che Spirit: butif Homilies ox 
- Sermons be made upon the words of Scrips. 
~ ture, you are to confider, whether all that be 
fpoken be conformable to the Scriptures. For 
although you may practife for humane rea- 


fons, and humane arguments miniftred from — 


the Preachers art, yet you muft practife no. 
thing bur the command of God, nothing bus 
the Doctrine of Scripture, that is,the text. ; 
_ g» Ufe the advice of fomefpiritual os other 
pnident man for the choice of fuch {piritual 
Books which may be of ufe and benefit for 
the edification of thy fpiric in the wayes of 
holy living; and. efteem that time well. a¢- 
counted for, that is peneently ad seo 
nately imployed; in hearing or reading-good 
"books and pious difcourfes ; ever. remembe?- 
ing that God by hearing us fpeak tahypin 
prayer, obliges us to hear him fpeak to us @ 
his Word, by what’ inftrument foever it be 
conveyed. ae Ae eee 


: 


"Of Fafting 


TCAnting,, if ip be confideried in it fel with 


E out

~238 words

is, it ought to be atoral faft fromall 


things during the ofemniey (ale a pro— 
bable neceffuy intervene.) Thus the Jews 
€at noting Nyon the Sabbach-dayes till 
their great offices were performed, thatis, a. 
Bout che fixth hour: and $. Peter ufed ir 25 
an argument, that the Apoftles in Pentecoft 
were not dmmk, becaufe it was but the third 
: Rou of the day, of fuch a day, which it was 
© Hor lawfull to eat or drink tillthe fixth hour ; 
+ and rhe Jews were ‘offendéd at the Dilciples 
* for pincking thé ears Of cotn upon the Sab_ 
if Bath early in the. morfing, becaufe it was be- 
fore the tinte in Which by theircuftoms they, 
efteeined It lawfitl to Break cheir faft. In imi- 
fation of this cuftorh ,. and in profecution of 
the teafon of it, the Chriftian Church hath re- 
ligidufly obferved' fafting before the Holy. 
! ropa anid the itidre devout petfons. 

~ @thongh wid Sut diy obligation at all Y¢foled: 
teat ordtink'tif chey had finifhed their mor- 
“Hing devotions: and furthet yet upon dayés of. 
pibtick humiliarion,which are defigned to be 
fpent wholly in Devotion,and for the averting 
Gods judgements (if they were ininiinent). 
fafting is comntdnded together with prayers, 


commanded (‘I'fay) by the Church, to this 


end,that the Spiriz might bé clearér ahd more 
Angelical whenir'ls quieted in fome propor- 
tions from the loads of flefh. . ae 

Tees oe M3. -. Faft- 


: 70 Chap4 Of Fatfing. ‘Se&:3i 


Ree tai a 


2, Fafting

~245 words

to commit that for which 
Tam now judging and condemning my felf. 
This is the beft faft : and the other may ferve 
to promote the intereft of this, by increafing 
the difaffection toir, and multiplying argu- 
ments againtt it. 3 
- 6. Hethat fafts for repentance, muft, du- 
ring that folenmity , abftain from all bodily 
delights and the fenfualiry of all his fenfes, 
a 


$ appetites 3 for aman muft not when © 


he mourns in his faftbe merry in his fporc; 
weep at dinner, and laugh all day after 5 have 


afilence inhis kitchen, aid mufick in his . 


chamber ; judge the ftomack, and feaft the o- 
ther fenfes. I deny .not:bat aman may in a 
fingle infiance punifh a particular fin witha 

roper ara eke ra ee ie 
his palste, he may c le to fajlo > fF ne 
have finned in foftnefs and in -his ek he 
may choofe to lye hard, or work -hard, and 
ule fharp infli@ions : but although this Dif. 
cipline be proper and particular, yer becaufe 
the forrow is of she whole. man, no fenfe muf. 


e7% 


rejayce, or be with any ftudy or purpofe | 


’ feafted and entertained foftly. This rule is in« 


tended to relate to the folemn dayes appoint 
ed for repentance publickly or privately: 
befides which in the whole courfe of our lif 
even in the midft of our moft feftival.an 


freer joyes we may fprinkle fome fingle in- © 
— ‘Ntances,and a&s of felf condemning, or puni- 


fhing : as to refufe a pleafant morfel, or a de= 
Ticious draught with a tacit remembrance of 
the fin that now returns to difpleafe my fpi- 
_— ME ? rite: 


a2 Chip4. | OfChriftimFafimg. - Sets, 
__ rit: and thongh thefe actions be ‘fingle, there 
is nq wadecency in them, becaufe a man may 
abate of his ordinary liberry and bold free- 
dom with preat prudence, fo he does i with- 
out fingularity in himfelfer trouble to-others: 
but he may not abaté of his folemn forrow : 
that may de caytion 5 but this would be foftnefs . 
efleminacy and undecency.. So , 
7. When fafting

~555 words

us, what in private we dofor our 
J “en Fafts ordained by lawfoll : authority’ 
afe hot to be neglected becatife dlotie they 
cafitiée db the thing inorder to which. they 
Were enjdyned: It thay be one day of Hu- 
riffiation will nor'obrain the: bléfitag , or a- 
Fone Kill the: Inff, yerlt moft not be de(pifed, 
_ Wiccan do any thing towards it. An-att o 
4 Fafting is an mit félf-denial, and thongh ix 

+ hop produce the habit, yéritis a good att. 

42. "Wher 'the principal end why a Faft is 
publickly prefcribed “is obtained by fome 

tHer infttument ina particular perfon 5 as if 

hé'fpitic of Fomication’ be cured by the rite 
of Marriage, ‘or by a gift of chaftity , yet thar 
perlon fo eafed, is not fteed ‘from the Fafts of 
thé Church by that alone, if tho fafts can 
prudehtly ferve any other end of Réligion, as 
thar of prayer, or repentance, or mortificati 
-9n0f fome other appetite : for when it is ine 

ae Mes co fires 


pare se ee . 
: a : o i 
* “ = Pry = 
et 
- a ee a 


= gees Sp ee ae. 
- . * al + Srey eee Om - = 
o 5 a é De fs = ge ay > 
Tt - 
ae _ 
‘gael fin - ; 
PES e ae 


fighpe PUR yt 
Cite af 


a eo 
« 
oT eee ed 


grep 


wa ‘Chap.4i 7 _ Of Fafting, Seft.s. | 


ftramental toany.end of the Spirit,it is. freed: 
from fuperftition, and thén. we: mufk have 
fome other reafon to quit us from the Obligae. 
tion, or thatalone will nop doit. - 
13. When the Faft publickly command- 
ed by reafon of fome indifpaficion in the par- 


ticular perfon cannot: operate to the end of 
the corhmandment, yet the avoiding offence, | 
and the complying with publick order is rea-: 
.  fonenough to make the obedience to bene- 
’ eeffary. For he thacis otherwife difobliged(as 
when the reafon of the Law ceafes » as-tohis. 
particular,yet) remains ftill obliged if he can- 
not do otherwife without fcandal : bat chisis 
- an obligation of charity, ngt of juftice.: 
14. Allfafting isto be ufed with prodence. 
and charity : for there is no end to which faft- 
ing ferves, but may be obtained by other in-. 
/ fruments,and therefore it mutt at, m9 hand be 
made an inflrumencof fcruple, or becomes 
_ enemy to our health,or be.impofed npon per-, 
fons that are fick or aged, oy to whom it 1510. 

auy fenfe uncharitable 5 fuch as are wearie 
Travellers or towhom.iu the whole -kinde 
of it,icisufelefs, fuch as are, Women with 
_ childe, poor people, and little children. But. 

in thefe cafes the Church hat j made provifion, 

ind inferred caution into her Laws, and they © 
are to be redueed to pra@ife according to cts 

~ ftome, and the fentence of prudent perfonss 
g.naftuo- with great latitiide, and without nicenefand 
sat Con- curiofiy : having this in our firl} care, that we 
Exitient col fecure our. vertue,and next that we feeure ous: 
vecutm health,thac we may the betrer exercife the la- 
peccfiatis ours of verme,teft out of too m veh aulterity 
mucutvo” we bring Our felves to that condition, that It 
firvamic be neceffary to be ind lgent to foftnelss eale 
andextreamtendernds,  «°—Ss_—sr5.et 


= i ae, a ¥ x? 
Se Se “To . peas 


ae 


_ the paffled day 5 but.eat ‘temperately aC-"Wae, 


_ Nefics of fafting,. may in' the next page alfo 


of vifage which is canfequent:to the daily. 


dW 


Chap.4. |. Of Fefiing. = = Seft.g.+ 278 
15. Let not intemperance be the Prologue 

or the Epilogue to your faft, left the faft be 

fo far from taking oft any. thing of the fin, 

thar ic be an occafion to increafe it; and o.4¢_ 

therefore when the faft is done, be care- ae 

full chat no fupervening act of glurtony, or 115 3. 

exceffive drinking unhallow the religion of 


ak py of 


uipare 


cording to the proportion of other meals, 
left gluttony keep either of the gates-toab=" | 
The benefits of Fafting

~152 words

the ‘Maker of Heaven and Barth: 
for: in: meniory of: God’ ref. from: thie! work 
of fix. dayas the fevenils was: hallowed ‘int0 
ay Sabbath rand she: ing iv'was,.a' cor 
fiffing .G OD: toi te? the: great. -Nalker of 
Beavaniaad Barihypand confequemlycto this’ 
ie‘ alfo was. diconfeffion of ‘his ‘gondne(S; hi 
‘Omnjpotenceand:his Wifdomalliwhich were! 
wricren with Sunilicamdn the gagar’ book of 
the Creatures: Lae ASS oat Wits cs ee ax 
Soi ony, As thet Igw:.of ther: Sabbaci: Was, 
bound upon Gods people, fo lang GOD 
\would have that to be the folemn manner fo 
Ae : r 


: > 
| F : es 


_=—eelinesee ~- 


Chap.d.Ofheeping F eftival dayes 8 God Selby 377, 
eonfeffing: thefe: iattributes; but when: the 
Pricftbosd being changed there was a change alfo ~ 
of he Law,the great duty remaih'’d-unaltera- 
ble in changed circumftances: We are eters 
; nally bound to confefle God Almighty to be

~166 words

dance to» 
God for joy:and anOx might be led to water, 
and'an Affe be haled out of aditch,and a man 
may take Phyfick, and-he may eat meat, and 
therefore there -were of neceflity fome to 
prepare and minifter it: and che performing 
there Jabours did rot confift in minutes, and. 
juft determined tages, bur they hadeven 
then, axeafogable latimde :f0, onely a5 ta 
exclude imnéceffary: labour ,.or fach.as did. 
not minifter socharity or religion-And theres. 
fore, this.is, to |heenlarged in the Gofpel,, 
whofe Sabbagh of welt is but a ciecumftapce, 
: a 


' Eg 
he 
co “ 
aa : 
€ 


_ 2 hes 


Chap Of Reaping voiborlretey Oe. SREP 
and aacefietys 2d the "pil adi and (pitied 
duties? Lipan eheChrittian Sabbath; necelfi- 
ty is to be ferved firft, then charity, am en 

religion ; fotithig is to ‘give place to charmty, 


jn great inSanees 4 anid] the ‘feéoid to the iit, 


jn alle anid ioe all cafes Gull is bo be wot ipped 
zm fpirit ad Thtyuth. Veta ete et 


\-91 “The Levay day being tte ‘réth peibtante! | 
Oferheat bibking, bul Ke'aday offoy fat 


vity, fpirivual Fejoyting and thanksgiving,and. 
therfore iris

~228 words

let them go by turns, 
aad be fipplyed otherwife as well ‘as they: 
. mmay:and provide on thefe dayes efpecially: 
that they be inftrudted in the articles of faichy 
and neceffary pares of theirdnty, == . 
9. Thofe who labor hard in the week,muft 
be eafed upon the Lords day; fuch eafe bein 
4 great charicy.and alms : but atno hand muft 
“they be‘ permitted to ufé any mmlawful games; 
day thing forbidden by the laws, any thing 
“that is Candalousy or ary thing tharis danges 


rous and apt to mingle ‘fn withits no games . 


promiptihg to wantonneffe, to drunkennes, to 
quarreling, toridiculous and: fuperftitious 


” > ¢uftoms, but let their refrefhments be inno- 


cent; and chagjtable, and of good report, and 
noréxelufive of'the ditties of religion. 
“8. Beyond: théefe botinds becauife néither’ 
God'nor man hath pafled any obligation upon 
m5, we mult pteferve our Chriftian liberty and 


Ys a 


, 58z 


Chap.4. Of keepingthe Lords day dye. Se&.6.: 
not fuffer our aged to be intangled with the yoke 


of bondage: for evena good agtion may be-— 
come a{nare to us, if we make itanoccafion’ 
of fcruple by a pretence ofneceffity, binding 


loads upon the confcience not with the bands- 


of God,but of men,and of fancy, or of opini-; x; 


on,or of tyranny. Whatfoever 1s laid ppon us 


by the hands of man, moft be acted and ace: § 
- counted of by the meafures ofa-man;buteur. 
beft mealure is this: He keeps the Lordsday. 
‘beft that keeps it with moft religion,and wi 


9. What the Church hath done in theartiele: ; 
of the refurreftion, fhe hath in fome meafure

~626 words

do: and they that can alfo 

keep the folemnity, muft do that too, when 

{ itis publickly enjoyned. 

| . The mixt agtions of religion are, 1. Prayer. 

| 2. Alms 3. Repentance. 4. Recetving the blef, 

| fed Sacrament, = | 


Ae i a i 
ee 


- Sect. 7° 
- Of Prayer. 


T Here is no greater argument in theworld 
of our fpiritual danger and unwilling- 
neffe to religion then the Backwardne® which _ 
moft men have alwayes, amd all se have 

_ fome.” 


Meee 6 . =] 


and his holy Son:.a.It is anact of pracé and 


rp8y Chap.4. Of Prajer. = Sey 


fometimes tofay their prayers :fo weary of 
their length, 'fo glad when they are done, fo 
witty to excufe and fruftrate an opportunity? 
and yet allis nothing but a defiring of God to 
give us the greateft and the belt things we 
can néed, and which can make’ us happy «it 
isa‘work {o-eafy,fo tiondtable,and,ro fo great 
parpofe, that in all the inftances of réligion 
and providence (except onély the incarnati- 


Ce pot Se 


far pees OS? 


2 ke Ae , and — He 


on ofhis Scn)God hath ‘not given us a gred- 
ter argument of his willingrieffe to have us fa. 
ved, and of onr umwilfingneffe to acceptiy — 


Nite condefcenfion, and. our ‘careleffenefle 


and folly, then: by, rewarding fo ,¢afya ‘duty, 


with fo great blefsings, ~ 


his poouneffe and our graceleffeneife,hisinfi=, 


oe, Sari lee 


< ee Mottoes to prayer . Saree i : 


' 


_ fideration’® its appendagés to vite C 
ar people’ ro pra 


: Seen alee . 


a 


: HM, 
‘often. But we nay conlis. 


der: That firft it isa city comnianded by God 


higheft honour that we duft aud aflies are ad? 


mitted to fpeak to the Eternal Gdd,to fun to- 


him as toa Father, tolay open our wantsst0 
complain of our burdens, to explicate ouf 
feruples, to beg remed¥& eafe, fupport and 
counfel,health arid fafety, déliverance & fal- 


yation: and 3. God hath invited us toit by — 


many gracious prombifes. of hearing us. 4. He 
hath appounce his moft glorious, Son te 
the ptefident of prayer; and ‘to make cont 
nial intercefsion for tis fo tte throne of grace. 
§. Hehath appointed an Angel'to prefent the 
Frayers of his fervants: and‘-6, @hrift oe : 
Pigs eee 7 p , € 


~ 


— 


ee re ste ee Te Ge gg eRe wR Gwe en, ae, wks  agy 


Sey 285 
_ them to his ownysand fandifies them,& makes . 


| 


Chap.4. OF Prayer 
them effective and prevalent: and 7. Hath 


_ putit into the hands of men torefcind or al< 


_ ter all the degrees of God which are of one 


~ kinde, (thatis, conditional, and concerning 
~ our felves and our final eftate , and many in- 


fiances ofour intermedial or temporal) by 


_ the power of prayers..'8. And the prayers of 


’ 


- men have faved cities and kingdoms from 
’ guine 5 prayer harhraifed dead men. to life, 


hath ftopped. the violence of fire, fhuc the 


- mouths of wilde beafts, hath altered the 
 courfe of nature, caufed rain in Egypt, and 
* growrh inthe fea,it made the Sun to go from 


ee INS 


Weft to Eaft,and the Meonto ftand ftill,and | 


s6cks and monntains to walk, and it cures dif- 
eafes without Phyfick,and makes Phyfick to 
do the work.ofinatore, and nature to do the 
work of grace, and grace todo the worke of 


_ -Gods and it dues miracles.of acctdent and e 
’, Vent: and-yet prayer.that does aif this, is of tt 
 &IE notbing bot.an.afcent of the minde v6 
> God,a.defiring things fitto’ be defired, and 
an exprefion of this defire to God. as we can, 
~ @hd as becomes us: and our unwillingneffe to 
“ -ptay, is nothing elfe but a not defifing what 


ag 


" we ought pafsionarely to lona for; or:ifwe'do 
' defire it; iris achoofh ratte 


f to miff our 
fatisfaccion and felicity; then to afk for it. 
' There-is no more to be faid'in this affair, 


_ :but that we reducée.it to:practife according to 
the foltowing Rules, | - a, 


nee ft pratife of Prager 
I. We muft be carefab:that-we never ‘afk 


Any thing Of God chac is finful, or thar ditedt- 
dy miniffers to fin; for that istoafk of God 
el = : | t 0 . 


N 


286. Chap4. - Of Prayét. ‘Se&.7; 


to difhionour himlelf and co undoe us:wé had 
need confider:what we prays for before it re 
turnes in bleffing ic muft be joynd with 


_ Chrifisintercefsion 5 and prefented to God: 


Let us principally afk of God power and af- 
fiftances to our duty, to glorifie God, to do 

ood works, tolivea good life, to dye in the 
fear and favour of God, and eternal: life:thefe 
things God delights to give, and commands 
that we fhall afk,and we may-with confidence 


_ €xpect-to be anfwered gracioufly 5 for thefe 


things are promifed without any refervation 
ofa fecret condition: if we afk them, and do 
our duty towards the obtaining them, we are 
fare never to miffe thém. ae te

~135 words

they want the comfort and bleffing of thofe & 6¢.1s- 


bleffings, or they become occafions of fad- 


der accidents to them, or ferve to upbraid 


’ them in their ingratitude or irreligion: and 


in all cafes, they are not the effects of 
prayer » or the frnits of promife, or in- 
flances of a fathers love 5 for. they. cannot 


~~ 


e 
. add 
we. Re. ne en a er en ate . ea ot 
’ 


eee erase ceived ELIS NAILS OA tee A OOO. v2 
ta 
3 — : coe pp rrr a ; 
. 3 z , eo ~ -< zy 17-25 4 a 
pi Co =F : 
= Cd 
; oo eee: 7 3 
7 : ’ 
- : 7 er 
__ extay " ny : 


f e 
ompegeepgns spy en” 


wr NEPvewery y= 
me *%. ow oy 
- a 
a a 


Mewnsgme ine tee 
cee - 5 
~~, 
tht oan 


8 
pS: 
ofa 
oat 
ht 
a2 
iid 
i 


' 
°- a 
ae 
“Fs 


, 388 Chap.4. Of Prayer. Set.) 
wiubout danger, or uled. without: acurfe and 
mifchief in theircompany.. * Butasall fin — 
is an-impediment to prayer,. fo. fome havea 
pte indifpofizion. towards acceptation j 

hare uncharitablenefs and wrah, Hype- 
érifie inthe prefent action , , Pride and Luft: 
_- + beeaiwfe thefe by defiling the body or:the — 

fpirit;: or by contradi@ing fome neeeflary — 

ingredient. in. prayer: ( fuch .as : are. Merey, — 

- Homiliry , Purity, and Sincerity ) do — 

defile: the prayer and -make i.a dire® fin . 

_Jin the circumftances or formality of the a — 
Giese a Oe 

| g.. “All prayer maft: be: made. with: Faith 

gakivsg Mt Hope:thacis, we mult certainly eke 

jamsep? We fhalt

~175 words

in all the degrees we 
fhall be put to. This circumftance of duty | 
our biefled Saviour taught, faying» Le Luke 18. 
men ought alwayesto pray and net to faint, | Al- 23% 

N wayes 


. 
= « Z 
rH : 
weisae: oe 4 
2 wes. 
Fe. eee = 
Aedjepey: 


250 


| Chap.4. : Of Prayer.  Se&7: 


Alvwayes to pray fignifies the frequent doing of 


the dury in general: but. becaufe we cannot 


¥ Thef. 
5-176 


Phil.t. 
; 4. 


portunity. 


alwayes afk feveral things, and we alfo have 
frequent need of the fame things, and thofe 
are fuch as concern our great intereft, the 
pereete comes honie to this very cifcum- 
ance; and S. Paul cals it, [praying without 
ceafing | and himfelf in his own,café gave a 
precedent : [For this caufe I befought the Lord 
thrice | and fo did our bleffed Lord , be went | 
thrice to God on the fame errand, withthe | 
fame Words in a fhort fpace, about halfa 
night; for his time to follicite his fuic was 
but fhore: and the Philippians were remem- 
bred by the Apoftle, their fpiritual Father 
alycayes in every prayer of his, And thuswe + 
muft alwayes pray for the pardon of our fins, _ 
for the afliftance of Gods grace, for charity, — 
for life eternal, never giving over til we dye: _ 
and thus alfo we pray for fupply of great tem- 
poral needs in their feverai proportions: in | 
all cafes being curious we do not give ovet — 
out of wearine(s, or impatiencé : For God of- — 
tentimes defers to grant our fuit, becaufe he © 
loves to hear us beg it, and hath a defigne to 
give us more then weask, even a fatisfaction 
of our defires, and a blefling for the very im

~119 words

but according to our need, fffictent to ex- 
preffe our wants, and to fignifie our importu- 


nity. God hears us not the fooner for our ma. 


ny words, but much the fooner for an earneft 
defire, to which, let apt and fufficient words 
minifter, be they few, or many, according as 


_athappens, A loug prayer anda fhort, differ 
te : a i noe 


N 


not in thei capacities of being accepted; for 


both of them take their value according to mit ' 
the fervency of fpirit, and the charity of the ft 
prayer. That prayer which is fhorc by reafon ae 
of an pupauese fpirit, .or dulnefs, or defpice jw 4 
of holy things, or indifferency of defires, is : 
very oftencriminal, alwayes imperfect : and 
thar prayer whichis long our of oftentations 
or foperftition, or a trifling fpirit, is as crimi- 
nal and imperfect as the other in their feve- 
ral mftances. This rule relates to private 
prayer. In publick, our devotion isto be 
meafured by the appointed oftice, and we 
are to fupport our fpitic with fpiricual arts, 
that our private fpirit may be a part of the 
publick fpirit, and be adcpted into the focie- — 
ty and bleflings of the communion of Saints

~368 words

they cannot do what they fhonld. Bat 


7 fone gerierally Cheatetsand Robbers carmot give 
ftitis,” almes of what they have cheated and robbed; 


Aug. 


icageap 


at 


a oe an. | 


aus. unleffe they canriot tell the perfons whont 


t 


| eles Merete the proportionsjand in 


°° fuch’ cafes t 


&y-are to give thofe unknowit 


© >rtions to the poor by way of refticacdorys — 


of it is nO-alitie: onely God is. the fupremie 


-. Lord to’ whom thofe ‘efcheats devolve, and — 


the poor are hig Receivers. > 
21 Of money unjoftly taken and yet volun 
tarily parted with, we may arid are bound to 
give almes: fuch as is money given and taken 
for falfe witnefse,bribes,fimouiacal contracts 
| oS  — becaufe 


Chap.4. Of Almes. Sect.g. 
becanfe the receiver hath no'right ta keep its 
nor the Giver any right to recall it,itis une 
juft money, and yet payable to none bur to 


30g i 


the fupreme Lord ( who is the perfon in-: 


jur'd) and to his Delegates, thatis, the poor. 
To which I infere thefe cautions. 1.If the per- 
| fon injur,d by the unjoft fentence of a bnb'd 


Judge, ot by falfe witneffe, he poor, he is the — 


proper abject and bofome to the refii- 
tution #8 to be made.2. In cafe of Simony,the 
| Church, to whom the Simony was injurious, 
| sthe lap into which the reftitution is to be 
| Powred, and if it be poor and out of repair, 
_ the almes or refticution (fhall I call it)are to 
be paid ro ir. 
| . 3° There is fome fort of gain that hath in 
{\ tno injuftice properly fo called , but itis 
unlawful and filthy lucre : fach asis money 
taken for work done unlawfully upon the 
Lords day, hire taken for disfiguring ones 
elf, and for being profefied jefters,the wages 
| Of fuch as make unjuft bargains, and of har- 
: of this money there is fome prepara- 
{ tion to be made before it begiven in Almes. 
| The money is infected with the plague, and 
muft paffe thorow the fire or the water be- 
| fe it be fie for almes: the perfon mift re- 
| Pent and leave the crime,and then minifier to 
| “e poor. 


Necret ep. ~ 
titde Sime» 
Dit. 


\ 


4. He that gives almes muft doit in mer- pose ne 


CY, that is,out ofa true fence of the calamity 


ofhis brother, firft feeling ic in himfelf in 52" 
i§ 


Ome proportion, and then indeavonriag to * 


| de himfelf

~1,154 words

the needs and 
with the perfonsof the poor, thofe excellent 
images of Chrift. = 
"3, Wharfoeveris foperftuous in thy efate 
- $sto be difpenfed inalms. He that hath tao 
costs si a to bim that hath none; that is, 
he that hath beyond his need myft give chat 
which ‘is beyond it: Onely among needs we 
are to reckon not onely what will fupport our 
life,butalfo what will maintain the decency 


ot ae 


‘of our eftate and perfon ; not onely in pre- - 
fent needs, but in all furure neceflities, and. 


yery probable contingencies, but no furthers 
‘we are not obliged beyond this, wnlefS we fee - 
very great, publick and calamitous neceffi-_ 
_ ties: bur yet, if wedo extend beyond our | 
meafures, and give more then we are able, we . 


have the Philippians and many holy perfons 


fot our precedent, we have 5. Paul for our . 


encouragement, we have Chrift for our Coum- 
feller,we have God for our rewarderfca great. 


- tyeafure in Heaven for our recompence and 
reftitution. But Ipropound it co the confi- 
deration of all Chriftian people, that they be 
not nice and curious, fond and indulgent to 
theméelves irrtaking accounts of their pe 
fonal conygiiences, and that they-make thet 


proportions moderate and eafy, according t0 © 


the order and manner of Shniditanity 5-498 


.  * 


Chap.4. Of Als. $8.8, 


the confequent will be chis,:that the poor - 


will more plencifully be relieved, themfelves 
will be more able co doit, and the duty will 
be leffe chargeable, and the owners of eftates 


- charged with fewer accounts in the {pending 


them. Ic cannot be denied, butin the ex- ~ 


pences of all liberal. and great perfonages mae 

ny things might te {pared : fome fuperfiuous 

fervants, fome idle meetings, fome unnecef- 

fary and imprudent feafts, fome garments too 

coftly, fome unneceffary Law-fuirs, fome vain 

journeys : and when we are tempted to fuch 

needle{s expences, if we fhall'defcend to mo- 
deration,and lay afide the furplufage,we fhall 
finde ic with more profit tobe laid out upon 
the poor members of Chrift, then upon our 
own wich vanity. Bue this is onely intended 
to be ah advice in the manner of doing alms : 
for I am not ignorant that great variety of 
clothes alwayes have been permitted to Prine 
ces and Nobility, and others in their propor 
tion;-and they ufually give thofe’ clothes as 
rewards to fervants, and other perfons need- 
ful enough, and then they may ferve their 
own fancy and their ducy too: but it is but 
reafon and religion to be careful, that they be 
given co fuch onely where duty, or prudent 
liberality, of almes determine chem ;: but in 
no fenee let them do it fo as to minifter to 
vanity, to luxury, to prodigaliry. The like 
alfa is to be obferved in other inftances. And 
if we once give our mindes to the ftudy and 


arts of almes, we fhall finde wayes enough to. 


make this duty eafie, profitable, and ufeful. 
3. He that playes at any game naift refolve 
before hand to be indifferent to win or lofe: 
bot if he gives.tothe poor - that he wins, it 
= is 


313 


314 


- abatements for our wanting fo many mealsin 


Chap.4. Of Almes. Sed. 
is better then to keep it to himfelf but it 
were better yet, that he lay by {o much as he 
is willing to lofe, and let the game alone, and 
by giving fo much almes, traffick for eternity. 
That is one way. : 


: 2. Another is, keeping the Fafting dayes of 
the Church 3 which if our condition bef 


as to be able to.caft our accounts, and make 


the whole yeer, (which by the old appoint- 
ment did amount to 1§3. and fince moft o 


_. them are fallen into defuetude, we may make 


up as many of them as we pleafe by volanta- 


ry Fafts) we may from hence finde aconfide- 


- yable relief for the poor. But if we bé ffot 


willing fometimes to faft that our brother 


may eat, we fhould ill dye for him. S. Martin 
‘ had given all that he had in the world to the ; 


oor, fave one coat, and that alfo he divided 
etween two Beggars. A Father in the mount 
of Nitria was reduced at laft ro the Inventaly 


- of one Teftament, and that book alfo ws 


tempted from him by the needs of one whom 


no 
he thought poorer then himfelf. Greater yet. i 


S. Paulinas fold: himfelf to flavery to redeem 
a young man, for whofe captivity his Mother 


wept fadly; and ic is faid thatS. Kathermé | 
fackt the envenom'd wounds of a Villain who | 
_ had injured her moftimpudently : And I fhall . 
tell you of a greater charicy then all thefe put 


together: Chrift gave himfelf to fhamean 


death to redeem his enemies from bondages_ 


and Death, and Hell, 


3. Learn of the frugal man, and onely4 . 


void fordid a@ions and turn good husband 


_ and change your arts of getting into provi- 


a 


* 


dence for the poor, and we fhall foon become 
| | | , fi 


or} 
td 
Po0r 
vt 


on 


t 


Chap. 4. | _OF Almes. Sect.8, 


rich in good works ; and why fhould we not 

doas niuchfor charity, as for covetoufnefs 3 

for Heaven, as for the fading world ; for God 

and the holy Jefus, as for the needlefs fuper- 
fluities of back and belly? — 

14. In giving almes to beggers and perfons 

of chat low rank, it is better to give little to 


315 


each-that we may give to the more,fo exrend- ; 


ing our alms to many perfons: burt in charities 
of Religion, as building Hofpitals, Colledges, 
and Houfes for Devotion, & in fupplying the 
accidental wants of decayed perfons , fallen 
from great plenty to great neceflity, itis bet. 
ter co unite our almes then to difperfe them, 
to make a noble reliefor maintenance to one, 
and to reftore himto comfort, then to fup- 
port onely his natural needs, and keep him 
alive onely, wnrefcued from fad difcomforts. 
1§. The precept of almes or charity bindes 


not indefinitely co all the inftances and kinds _ 


of charity: for he that delights to feed the 

oor, and {pends all his proportion that way, 
is not bound to enter into prifons and re- 
deem captives : but we are obliged by the 
prefence of circumftances, and the fpecial 
difpofition of Providence, and the pitiable- 
acth of an object, to this or that particular a& 
of charity. The eye is the fenfe of mercy, and 
the bowelsare its organ, and that enkindles 


pity, and pity produces almes: when the eye 


fees what it never faw, the heart will think what 
it never thought : but when we have an object 

prefent to oureye, then we muft pity, for 
there the providence of God hath fitted our 
charity with circumftances. He that isin thy 
fight or in thy-Neighbourhood is fallen into 
the lot of thy charity. | 

— - O82 16.1f 


316 Chap.4, | Of Almey. |“ $e8.8: 

Tukeat.ae 16, If thon haft no money, yet thou muft 
Chinde Rave mercy, and arc bound to pity the poors 
unotsro" and

~457 words

with me _ 
on the Table:and-he that receiveth Chrift in- 
to an impure foule or body, firft turns his ~ 
as a y CXCCl* 


Rar, eS 


354 Chap.4. Prepar. tothe boly Sacrament, Se&t.10 


excellent nourdhment into poyfon, and then 
feeds upon it. - 
- g, Every commumicant moft firft have ex. 
amined himfelf, thacis, tried. the condition 
and ftate of his foul,fearched out the fecrer 
Ulcers, enquired out its.weakneffes and in- 
difcretions, and all thofe apmeffes where it is 
expofed to temptation, that by findmg out 
its difeafes he may finde acure, and by dif- 
covering its aptneffes he may fecure his 
prefent purpofes of furure amendment, 
and may be arm'd againft dangersand temp- 
tations, ues a. s 
3. Thisexamination muft be a Mans own 
ad, and inquifition into his lifeybut then alfo 
it fhould lead a man of to run to thofe whom 
the Great phyfitlan of our fouis Chrift Jefus 
hath appointed to minifter Phyfick to our 
difeafes 5 that inall dangers and great acci- 
dents we may be aflifted for comfort and re- 
' medy, for medicineand caution. 
4. In this affair let no Man deceive him- 


felf, and is ork fuch a time which publick’ 


‘Authority hath appointed for us toreceive 
the Sacrament, weep for his fins by way of 
folemnity and ceremony, and ftill retain the 
affeGtion: but he that comes to this feaft 
muft have on the wedding garment, | that 
is, he muft have put on Fefus Chri and 
~ mutt have put offthe old man with bis affections 
and lufts; and he muft be wholly conforened to 
Chrift in the image of his minde : Kor . then 
we have put on Chrift, when our fouls are 
clothed with his righteoufneffe ,, when eve- 
ry faculty of our foul is proportioned and 
vefted according to the pattern of Chrifts 
life. And therefore a Man -muft not cee 

~ wom 


& 


Chap. 4. Prepar. to the haly Sacrament.Se&. X10. 355 


from his laft nights Surfet, and Bath, and 
then communicate: but when he hath begun 
the work of God effectually, and made fome 
pee in repentance, and hath walked = - 
me ftages and periods in the wayes of god- 
lineffe, then ler him come to him that is to 
minifter itand having made known the ftate 
of his foul, heisto be admitted: but tore- 
Ceive it into an unhallowed foul, and body, 
is to receive the duft of the Tabernacle in the 
waters of jealoufie; ic will make the belly to 
fwell, and the thigh to rot: it will not convey 
Chrift to us, but the Devill will enter and 
dwell there till with ic he returns to his dwel- 
ling of rorment.Remember alwayes that after 
a great fin or after a habit of fins,a Man is not 
foon made clean; and no unclean thing muft 
come to this Feaft. It is not the preparation 
of rwo or three dayes that can render a pet= 
fon capable of this banquet: For in this feafts 
all Chrift, and Chrifts paffion, and all his 
graces, the bleffings and effeés ofhis fuffe- 
ings are conveyed : nothing can fit us for 
this, but what can unite usto Chrift, and 
obtain of him to prefent our needs to his hea- 
venly Father: this Sacrament can no other. 
wife be celebrated but upon the fame terms 
on which we may hope for pardon and Hea- 
ven it felf. 
~ g

~141 words

yet we may be as fure of 
it, as of chat thing we fee and feel,and fmell 


and taft; bur yet isfo great, that we cannot 


underftand it. . : ; 

9. Thefe holy myfteries are offered to our 
fenfes, but not to bee placed under our 
feet.; they are fenfible, buc not commor: 
and therefore as the weaknefle of the Ele- 

ments addes wonder to the excellency of the 
Sacrament: fo let our reverence -and venera- 
ble ufages of them adde honour to the Ele- 
ments, and acknowledge the glory of the 
myftery, and the Divinity of the mercy. 
‘Let us receive the confecrated Elements 
with al devotion and humility of body aud 


- {pirits and do this honow to it thatice be 


sua, the firft food we eat,-and the firft be- 


verage we drink that day, unleffe it be 
in cafe of fickneffe, or other grear necefiity: 


_andthatyour body and foul both be prepa- 
“red to its reception with abftinence. from 


fecular pleafures , that you may better haye 
attended faftings and preparatory prayers. 
Forifever it be feafonable to obferve the 

| counfel 


i 
q 
: 


k 
{ 


A 


ee re ee 


| 


Fe me ge, ED ee pa te a ee, Ee EEE Te EG Oe ARE 


Chap.4. Receiving the holy Sacrament. SeG.8, 389 
countel of Saint Paul, that married perfons by pic-edice 
confent fhould abftain for atime that they rete 
| may attend to folemne Religion, icisnow. Te tic heiter- 
_ was not by S. Paw! nor the after ages of the DAY?! , 
' Church called a duty fo todo, but ic is moft 
reafonable, that the morefolemn ations of 
Religion fhquld be attended to without the 
mixture of any thing that may difcompofe 
the minde,and make it more fecular, or fefle 
religious. 
10, In the ad of receiving,exercife a&s

~362 words

and a means of many intermediall ~ 
bleflings, even all fuch as are neceffary for 
thee, and arein order to thy falvation : 
and to make all this good to thee, there 
‘is nothing neceffary on thy parr but a ho- 
ly life, and a true belief of all the fayings - 


360° 


Chap.4. Receiving the boly Sacraneat Sé&.10 
of Chrift; amongft which,indefinitely affent 
-to the words of inftitution >and believe that 


_ Chrift in the holy Sacrament gives thee his 


body and his blood. He that.believes not 
this, is not. a Chriftian; He that believes fo 


much, needs not to enquire farther, nor to 


entangle his faith by difbelieving his fenfe. 
34. Fail not this folenmity according to 
the cuftom of pious & devout people to make 
an offering to God for the ufes of religion aad 
the poor,according to thy abilicy. For when 
_ Chrift feafts his body, let us alfo feaft our fel. 
low members who have right to the fame 
promifes, and are partakers of the fame Sa- 


- crament, and parmers of the fame hope,and 


cared for under the fame providence,and de- 
fcended fiom the fame common parents,and 
‘whofe Father God is , and Chrift is their El- 
der Brother. If thou chanceft to communt- 
cate where this holy cuaftom is not obfer- 
ved publickly, fapply that wane by thy pri- 
vate charity , bur offer it to God at his 


Ly Table, acleaftlet thy private defigning 


itthere. | | 
12. When you have received, pray and 
give thanks. Pray for all eftares ofmen: for 


. they alfo have an intereft in the body of 


Chrift whereof they are members: and you 
Jit conjunétion with Chrift_ (whom then you 
have received ) are more fit to pray for them 
in that advantage, and in the celebration of 

that holy Sacrifice which then is Sacramen- 

tally PF ibaa gh to God. * Give thanks for 
the paffion of our Deareft Lord :remember al 
‘its parts, and all the inftraments of your 

Redemption 5 and beg of GOD that by 

ally perfeyerance in well doing you may 
: mn 


Chap.4. Receiving the holy Sacrament. Sedt.1c. 364 


from fhadowes paffe on to fubftances, from 
eating his body to feeing his face , from the 
_ Typical, Sacramental, and Tranfient, to the 
Real and eternal Supper of the Lamb. 
43. After the folemmity is done, let Chrift

~537 words

towards 
a perfect man in Chrift Fefus. | 
14. Do not inftantly upon your return from 
Church, return alfo to the world, and fecular 
thoughts and imployments 3 but let the re- 
maining parts of chat day be like a poff-Com- 
munion of an after office, entertaining yor | 
blefied Lord withall the careffes and fweet. 
nefs of love and colloquies » and entercour- 
fes of duty and affection, acquainting him | 
with all your needs, and revealing to him all 
your fecrets, and opening all your infirmi- 
ties; and as the affairs of your perfon or im- 
ployment call you off, fo retire again with 
often ejacolations and aés of entertainment 
to your beloved Gueft. | 
Qk Thé 


362 


Chap. 4. Rectiving the holy Sacrament. Sett.r0. 


The effetts and benefits of worthy 
communicating, = 


"When I faid that the facrifice of the croffe, 
which Chrift offered for all the fins and all the 
needs of the world isreprefented to God by 
the Minifter in the Sacrament, and offered up 
in prayer and Sacramental memory, after 
manner that Chrift himfelf intercedes for us 
in Heaven (fo far as his glorious Priefthood is 
imitable by his Minifters on earth) I muft 
of neceffity alfo mean , that all the benefics 
of that facrifice are then conveyed te all that 
communicate worthily : But if we defcend 
‘to parciculars ; Then and there the Chorch 
‘Is nourifhed inher faith, ftrengthned in her 
‘hope, enlarged in her bowels with an en- 
“creafing charity: there all the members of 
‘Chrift are joyned with each other, and all 
to Chrift their head; and we again renew 
_the covenant with God in Jefus Chrift, and 
God feals his part, and we promife for ours, 


and Chrift unires both, and the holy Ghoft - 


fignes both in the collation of thofe graces 
‘which we then pray for, and exercife and 
“receive all at once: there our bodies are nou- 
‘tifhed with the fignes, and our fouls wich 


the myftery: our bodies receive into them 


“the feed of an immortal nature, and our 
fouls are joyned with him, who is the firft 
‘fruits of the refarrection and never can dye: 
and if we defire any thing elfe and need it, 
‘here itis to be prayed for, ‘hereto be hoped 


‘for, here to be received; Long life and 
“health, and recovery from ficknefs, and com- 


_ Petent fupport and maintenance, and peace, 


anda 


- -- 


Be - mee TF hie oe KK Fr 


EN es 


Chap.4. Receiving the holy Sacrament. Se&.10. 363 
and deliverance from our enemi¢s, and con. 
tent, and patience, and joy , and fandified 
riches, or a cheerful poverty and liberry, and 
whatfoever elfe isa blefling 5 was purchafed . 
for us by Chrift in his deathand refurreai- 
on, and in his interceffion in Heaven : ard 
this Sacrament being that to our particulars, 
which the great myfteries are in themfelves, 
and by defigne to all the world, if we receive 
worthily we fhall receive any of thefe blef- 
fings, according as God fhall choofe for US 5 
and he will not onely choofe with more wif. , 
dom; but alfo with more affe@ion then we 
can for our felves, a ; 

After all this, ic is advifed by the Guides 
of fouls, wife men and pious, thar all per- 
fons fhould communicate very often, even