A05817:486
The practise of piety directing a Christian how to walk that he may please God.The practise of pietie directing a Christian how to walke that he may please God.
London: printed for John Hodgets, 1613London: printed for Iohn Hodgets, 1613
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2 Sit down a while before thou goest to bed and consider with thy self what memorable thing thou hast seen, heard, or read that day more then thou sawest, heardest or knewest before, and make thy best use of them; but especially, call to mind, what sin thou hast committed that day against GOD or Man: and what good thou hast omitted: and humble thy self for both: If thou findest that thou hast done any goodness,* acknowledge it to be Gods grace, and give him the glory, and count that day lost, ⟨p. 399⟩wherein thou hast not done some good.
2 Sit downe a while before thou goest to bed and consider with thy selfe what memorable thing thou hast seene, heard, or read that day more then thou sawest, heardest or knewest before, and make thy best vse of them; but especially, call to minde, what sinne thou hast committed that day against GOD or Man: and what good thou hast omitted: and humble thy selfe for both: If thou findest that thou hast done any goodnesse,* acknowledge it to be Gods grace, and giue him the glory, and count that day lost, ⟨p. 399⟩wherein thou hast not done some good.
3 If by frailty or strong temptation, thou shalt perceive, that thou hast committed any grievous sin or fault; presume not to sleep till thou have upon thy knees, made a particular reconciliation with God in Christ for the same: both by confessing the fault, and by fervent praying, for the pardon of the same. Thus making thy score even with Christ every night, thou shalt have the less to account for; when thou art to make thy final reckoning, before his Majesty in the Judgement day.1
3 If by frailty or strong temptation, thou shalt perceiue, that thou hast committed any grieuous sinne or fault; presume not to sleepe till thou haue vpon thy knees, made a perticular reconciliation with God in Christ for the same: both by confessing the fault, and by feruent praying, for the pardon of the same. Thus making thy score euen with Christ euery night, thou shalt haue the lesse to account for; when thou art to make thy finall reckoning, before his Maiesty in the Iudgement day.1
4 If thou have fallen out with any in the day, let not ⟨p. 400⟩the Sun go down on thine anger that night. If thy conscience tells thee that thou hast wronged him, acknowledge thine offence, and *entreat him to forgive thee. If he have wronged thee, offer him reconciliation, and if he will not be reconciled, yet do thou from thy heart forgive him, Matth. 5.23: But in any case presume not to be thine own revenger. 2For in so doing thou doest God a double injury: First, in offering to take his sword of Justice out of his hand as though he were not just: having reserved the execution of vengeance to himself.3 Secondly, in usurping authority over his servant, without referring the cause to his hearing and censure, ⟨p. 401⟩being his and thy Master. Besides, thou art too partial to be a Revenger. For if thou be to execute revenge on thy self, thou wilt do it too lightly; if on thy enemy, too heavily. It belongeth therefore to God to revenge; to thee to forgive.
4 If thou haue fallen out with any in the day, let not ⟨p. 400⟩the Sunne goe downe on thine anger that night. If thy conscience tels thee that thou hast wronged him, acknowledge thine offence, and *entreate him to forgiue thee. If hee haue wronged thee, offer him reconciliation, and if hee will not be reconciled, yet do thou from thy heart forgiue him, Matth. 5.23: But in any case presume not to be thine owne reuenger. 2For in so doing thou doest God a double iniury: First, in offering to take his sword of Iustice out of his hand as though he were not iust: hauing reserued the execution of vengeance to himselfe.3 Secondly, in vsurping authority ouer his seruant, without referring the cause to his hearing and censure, ⟨p. 401⟩being his and thy Master. Besides, thou art too partiall to be a Reuenger. For if thou be to execute reuenge on thy selfe, thou wilt doe it too lightly; if on thy enemy, too heauily. It belongeth therefore to God to reuenge; to thee to forgiue.
And in testimony that thou hast freely forgiven him,1 pray unto God for the forgiveness of his fault, and the amendment of his life: and the next time that occasion is offered (and it lies in thy power) do him good, and rejoice in doing it: for he that doth good to his enemies, shows himself the child of GOD; and his reward is with GOD his Father.
And in testimony that thou hast freely forgiuen him,1 pray vnto God for the forgiuenesse of his fault, and the amendment of his life: and the next time that occasion is offered (and it lyes in thy power) doe him good, and reioyce in doing it: for hee that doth good to his enemies, shewes himselfe the childe of GOD; and his reward is with GOD his Father.
5 Use not sleep as a means, 1to satiate the foggy lithernesse of thy flesh: but as a medicine to refresh thy tired senses and members. Sufficient sleep quickeneth the mind, and reviveth the body: but immoderate sleep dulleth the one, and fatneth the other.
5 Vse not sleepe as a meanes, 1to satiate the foggy lithernesse of thy flesh: but as a medicine to refresh thy tyred senses and members. Sufficient sleepe quickeneth the minde, and reuiueth the body: but immoderate sleepe dulleth the one, and fatneth the other.
6 Remember that many go to bed, and never rise again; till they be wakened and raised up by the fearful sound of the last trumpet. But he that sleepeth and wakeneth with prayer; sleepeth and wakeneth with Christ. If therefore thou desirest to sleep securely, and safely, yield up thy self into the hands of God, whilst thou art waking, and so go to bed ⟨p. 403⟩with a reverence of Gods majesty, and consideration of thine own misery, which thou mayest imprint in thy heart in some measure, by these means and the like meditations.
6 Remember that many goe to bed, and neuer rise againe; till they be wakened and raised vp by the fearefull sound of the last trumpet. But he that sleepeth and wakeneth with praier; sleepeth and wakeneth with Christ. If therefore thou desirest to sleepe securely, and safely, yeeld vp thy selfe into the hands of God, whilest thou art waking, and so goe to bed ⟨p. 403⟩with a reuerence of Gods maiesty, and consideration of thine owne misery, which thou maiest imprint in thy heart in some measure, by these meanes and the like meditations.
Read a Chapter in the same order as was prescribed in the morning: and when thou hast done, kneel down on both thy knees at thy bed side, or some other convenient place in thy Chamber, and lifting up thy heart, thine eyes and hands to thy heavenly Father, in the name and mediation of his holy Son JESUS, pray unto him, if thou have the gift of prayer.
Read a Chapter in the same order as was prescribed in the morning: and when thou hast done, kneele downe on both thy knees at thy bed side, or some other conuenient place in thy Chamber, and lifting vp thy heart, thine eyes and hands to thy heauenly Father, in the name and mediation of his holy Sonne IESVS, pray vnto him, if thou haue the gift of praier.
1 Confessing thy sins, especially those which thou ⟨p. 404⟩hast committed that day.
1 Confessing thy sinnes, especially those which thou ⟨p. 404⟩hast committed that day.
2 Carving most earnestly (for Christ his sake) pardon and forgiveness for them.
2 Caruing most earnestly (for Christ his sake) pardon and forgiuenesse for them.
3 Requesting the assistance of his holy spirit, for amendment of life.
4 In giving thanks for benefits received, especially for thy preservation that day.
4 In giuing thankes for benefits receiued, especially for thy preseruation that day.
5 Praying for rest and protection that night.
6 Remembering the state of the Church, the King, and the Royal Posterity, our Ministers and Magistrates, and all our brethren visited or persecuted.
6 Remembring the state of the Church, the King, and the Royall Posterity, our Ministers and Magistrates, and all our brethren visited or persecuted.
7 Lastly, commending thy self and all thine to his gracious custody.
7 Lastly, commending thy selfe and all thine to his gracious custody.
