Being now thus grown into some intimacy with Christ;1 that no strangeness by neglect might accrue between him and Christ, he was careful to maintain it by a frequent and constant attendance upon him in his ordinances, both in private and in public. For his ordinary addresses unto God in private: 2he used prayer constantly, as mDavid, and nDani•l, thrice a day; morning and ⟨p. 36⟩evening with his family; and some other time of the day a part, either with his religious consort, if she were in the way, or in her absence, alone by himself. On the Lords-day his common course was, not as the manner of many. Yea the most, to lye longer in bed, and take their ease more on that day, then on others; but to get up early, that he might be an hour at least, if not more, sometime two, in private with God: after which he used to spend some time in prayer with his family: yet so, let me tell you, that the public might not be drowned and swallowed up in the private;5 (for it was ever his saying, that the private must yield and give way to the public) but that both he and his might be present in the congregation, as well at the public prayers and service of the Church as at the preaching of the Word: after which public performances also, his constant course was at his return home to repeat with his family, and press upon them, (which well he could do) those things that had in public been delivered unto them. And for the Week-days, once or twice at least, ordinarily he frequented the ministry of some of those of the best note about the City. And thus much of it I had from himself (the rest from those that conversed familiarly with him) when some half a year or thereabout before his decease, advising with me concerning some thoughts that he then had, of either abandoning, or abatement of his worldly employments, for the freer pursuit of spiritual things, which he most eagerly thirsted after, he related to me in particular ⟨p. 37⟩what liberty he had, notwithstanding his then present engagements by his trade and traffic, for the prosecution of the better part.
Being now thus growne into some intimacy with Christ;1 that no strangenesse by neglect might accrew betweene him and Christ, he was carefull to maintaine it by a frequent and constant attendance upon him in his ordinances, both in private and in publick. For his ordinary addresses unto God in private: 2he used prayer constantly, as mDavid, and nDani•l, thrice a day; morning and ⟨p. 36⟩evening with his fa•ily; and some other time of the day a part, either with his religious consort, if she were in the way, or in her absence, alone by himselfe. On the Lords-day his common course was, not as the manner of many. Yea the most, to lye longer in bed, and take their ease more on that day, then on others; but to get up early, that he might be an houre at least, if not more, sometime two, in private with God: after which he used to spend some time in prayer with his family: yet so, let me tell you, that the publick might not be drownd and swallowed up in the private;5 (for it was ever his saying, that the private must yeeld and give way to the publick) but that both he and his might be present in the congregation, as well at the publick prayers and service of the Church as at the preaching of the Word: after which publick performances also, his constant course was at his returne home to repeate with his family, and presse upon them, (which well he could doe) those things that had in publick been delivered unto them. And for the Week-dayes, once or twice at least, ordinarily he frequented the ministery of some of those of the best note about the City. And thus much of it I had from himselfe (the rest from those that conversed familiarly with him) when some halfe a yeare or thereabout before his decease, advising with me concerning some thoughts that he then had, of either abandoning, or abatement of his worldly employments, for the freer pursuit of spirituall things, which he most eagerly thirsted after, he related to me in particular ⟨p. 37⟩what liberty he had, notwithstanding his then present engagements by his trade and traffick, for the prosecution of the better part.
- 1Observance of Christ by attendance on him in his Ordinances.Observa•ce of Christ by attendance on him in his Ordinances.
- 2Ordinary. Private.
- mPsal. 55.17.
- nDan. 6.10.
- 5Public.Publick.
