A27107:1003
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
London: printed for Edward Brewster, 1695
A27107:1003
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
London: printed for Edward Brewster, 1695
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
1. DEATH bringeth the godly Man's Soul to enjoy an immediate Communion with the blessed Trinity in everlasting bliss and glory.
1. DEATH bringeth the godly Man's Soul to enjoy an immediate Communion with the blessed Trinity in everlast•ng bliss and glory.
2. It translates the Soul from the Miseries of this world, the contagion of sin, and ••ciety of Sinners, to the City of the living •ed, the Celestial Jerusalem,1 and the company of innumerable Angels, and to the assembly and congregation of the first-born, which […] written in Heaven, and to God the Judge […] all, and to the Souls of just Men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.
2. It translates the Soul from the Mise•ies of this world, the contagion of sin, and ••ciety of Sinners, to the City of the living •ed, the Celestial Jerusalem,1 and the com•any of innumerable Angels, and to the assem•ly and congregation of the first-born, which 〈…〉 written in Heaven, and to God the Judge 〈…〉 all, and to the Souls of just Men made per•ect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new •ovenant.
3. Death putteth the Soul into the actual ⟨p. 398⟩and full possession of all the inheritance and happiness which Christ hath either promised unto thee in his Word, or purchased for thee by his blood.
3. Death putteth the Soul into the aactual ⟨p. 398⟩and full possession of all the inheritance and happiness which Christ hath either promised unto thee in his Word, or purchased for thee by his blood.
This is the good and happiness whereunto a blessed death will bring thee. And what truly Religious Christian that is young, would not wish himself old, that his appointed time might the sooner approach to enter into this celestial Paradise; where thou mayest exchange thy Brass for Gold, thy Vanity for Felicity, thy Vileness for Honour, thy Bondage for Freedom, thy Lease for an Inheritance, and thy mortal State for an immortal Life? He that doth not daily desire this blessedness above all things, of all others he is less worthy to enjoy it.
This is the good and happiness whereunto a blessed death will bring thee. And what truly Religious Christian that is young, would not wish himself old, that his appointed time might the sooner approach to enter into this celestial Paradise; where thou maist exchange thy Brass for Gold, thy Vanity for Felicity, thy Vileness for Honour, thy Bondage for Freedom, thy Lease for an Inheritance, and thy mortal State for an immortal Life? He that doth not daily desire this blessedness above all things, of all others he is less worthy to enjoy it.
If† Cato Uticensis, and Cleombrotus, two Heathen-men, (reading Plato's Book o• the Immortality of the Soul) did voluntarily, the one break his Neck, the other run upon his Sword, that they might th• sooner (as they thought) have enjoyed those joys: what a shame is it for Christian• (knowing those things in a more excellent measure and manner out of God's ow• Book) not to be willing to enter into these heavenly Joys? especially when their Master calls for them thither.2 If therefore there be in thee any love of God, or desire of thine own happiness or salvation, whe• the time of thy departing draweth near• that time, I say, and manner of Death which God in his unchangeable Counsel hath appointed, and determined before ⟨p. 399⟩thou wast born; yield and surrender up (willingly and cheerfully) thy Soul into the merciful hands of Jesus Christ thy Saviour. And to this end, when the time is come,3 as the Angel in the •ight of Manoah and his Wife, ascended from the Altar up to heaven in the flame of the sacrifice, so endeavour thou, that thy spirit in the sight of thy friends, may from the altar of a contrite heart, ascend up to Heaven, in the sweet perfume of this or the like spiritual Sacrifice of Prayer.
If† Cato Vticensis, and Cleombrotus, two Heathen-men, (reading Plato's Book o• the Immortality of the Soul) did voluntarily, the one break his Neck, the other run upon his Sword, that they might th• sooner (as they thought) have enjoyed those joys: what a shame is it for Christian (knowing those things in a more excellent measure and manner out of God's ow Book) not to be willing to enter into these heavenly Joys? especially when their Master calls for them thither.
O Heavenly Father, who art* the Lord God of the spirits of all flesh, and hast made us these souls, and h•stb appointed us the time,3 as to come into this World, so (having finished ourc course) to go out of the same: thed number of my days which thou haste determined, are now expired,7 and I am come to the utmost bounds which thou hast appointed, beyond which I cannot pass. I know (O Lord) that if thou enterest into judgment, 8no flesh can be justified in thy sight: And I (O Lord) of all others should appear most impure and unjust;9 for I have not fought that good •ight for the defence of thy Faith and Religion, with that zeal and constancy that I should: but for fear of displeasing the World, I have given way unto sins and errors; and for desire to please my flesh, ⟨p. 400⟩I have broken all thy Commandments, in thought, 10word, and deed; so that my sins have taken such hold on me, that I am not able to look up, and they are more in number than the hairs on my head. †If thou wilt straitly mark mine iniquities, O Lord, where shall I stand? *
Strengthen, O Christ,1 my Faith that I may put the whole confidence of my salvation in the merits of thy obedience and Blood. Increase, O holy Spirit, my patience, lay no more upon me than I am able to bear: 2and enable me to bear so much, as shall stand with thy blessed will and pleasure. O blessed Trinity in Unity, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, vouchsafe, that as my outward man doth decay; so my inward man may more and more by thy grace and consolation, increase and gather strength. O Saviour, put my Soul in a readiness, that (like aa wise Virgin, having theb Wedding Garment of thy Righteousness and holiness) she may be ready to meet thee at thy coming, with Oil in her Lamp cMarry her unto thy self; that she may bed one with thee in everlasting love and fellowship O Lord, ereprove Satan, and chase him away:f Deliver my soul from the power of the Dog. Save me from the Lyon's mouth. I thank thee, O Lord, for all thy blessings both spiritual and temporal, bestowed upon me: especially for my Redemption by the death of my Saviour Christ. I thank thee that thou hast protected me with thy holy* Angels from my youth up until now.10 Lord, I beseech thee give them a charge to attend upon me till thou callest for my soul; and then to carry her (as they did the soul ofa Lazarus) into ⟨p. 402⟩
Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.
IT is found by continual experience that near the time of Death (when the Children of God are weakest) then Satan makes the greatest flourish of his strength, and assails them with his strongest temptations. For he knoweth that either he must now or never prevail: for if their souls once go to Heaven, he shall never vex nor trouble them any more. And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can, and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the Judgments of God which are due unto them: thereby ⟨p. 403⟩to drive them, if he can, unto despair, which is a grievouser sin than all the sins hat they committed, or he can accuse them of.
If Satan therefore trouble thy Conscience more towards thy death,1 than in thy life;
1. Confess thy sins unto God, not only in general, but also in particular.
2. Make satisfaction unto those Men, whom thou hast wronged, if thou be•st able. And if thou dost injuriously or fraudulently detain or keep in thy possession, any Lands or Goods, that of right do belong to any Widow, or Fatherless Child, presume not, as thou tenderest thy Soul's health, to look Christ the righteous Judge in the face, unless thou dost first make a restitution thereof to the right owners; for the Law of God under the penalty of his curse, requireth thee to* restore whatsoever was given thee to keep, or which was committed to thy trust, or whatsoever by robbery, or violent oppression, thou tookest from thy neighbour, with a fifth part for amends added to the principal. 2And unless that like Zaccheus thou dost make† restitution of such Goods and Lands, according to God's Law, thou canst never truly repent, and without true Repentance, thou canst never be saved. But though by the temptation of the Devil, thou hast done wrong and injury; yet if thou dost truly brepent and make restitution to thy power, the Lord hath promised to be merciful unto thee, to hear thec Prayers of his faithful Ministers for thee, ⟨p. 404⟩to forgive thee thy trespass and sin, and to receive thy Soul in the Merits of Christ's Blood, as a Lamb without blemish.
2. Make satisfaction unto those Men, whom thou hast wronged, if thou be•st able. And if thou dost injuriously or fraudulently detain or keep in thy possession, any Lands or Goods, that of right do belong to any Widow, or Fatherless Child, presume not, as thou tenderest thy Soul's health, to look Christ the righteous Judge in the face, unless thou dost first make a restitution thereof to the right owners; for the Law of God under the penalty of his curse, requireth thee to*
3. Ask God for Christ his sake pardon and forgiveness. And then these troubles of mind are no Discouragements, but rather Comforts: Exercises, not Punishments. They are assurances unto thee, that thou art in the right way: for the way to Heaven is by the gates of Hell: that is, by suffering pains in the body, and such doubtings in the mind, that thy estate in this life being every way made bitter, the joys of eternal life may relish unto thee better and more sweet.
If Satan tell thee that thou hast no Faith,1 because thou hast no feeling; Meditate,
O Heavenly Father, who art* the Lord God of the spirits of all flesh, and hast made us these souls, and h•stb appointed us the time,3 as to come into this World, so (having finished ourc course) to go out of the same: thed number of my days which thou haste determined, are now expired,7 and I am come to the utmost bounds which thou hast appointed, beyond which I cannot pass. I know (O Lord) that if thou enterest into judgment, 8no flesh can be justified in thy sight: And I (O Lord) of all others should appear most impure and unjust;9 for I have not fought that good •ight for the defence of thy Faith and Religion, with that zeal and constancy that I should: but for fear of displeasing the World, I have given way unto sins and errours; and for desire to please my flesh, ⟨p. 400⟩I have broken all thy Commandments, in thought, 10word, and deed; so that my sins have taken such hold on me, that I am not able to look up, and they are more in number than the hairs on my head. †If thou wilt straitly mark mine iniquities, O Lord, where shall I stand? *if thou weighest me in the balance, I shall be found too light. For I am void of all righteousness, that might merit thy mercy;13 and loaden with all iniquities that most justly deserve thy heaviest wrath. Bu•, O my Lord, and my God,14 for Jesus Christ thy Son's sake, in whom only thou art well pleased with all penitent and believing sinners; take pity and compassion upon me, who am thea chief of sinners. Blot out all my sins out of thy *remembrance, andb wash away all my transgressions out of thy sight, with the cprecious blood of thy Son, which I believe that he (as an undefiledd Lamb) hath shed for the cleansing of my sins. In this faith I lived; in this faith I die: believing thate Jesus Christ died for my sins, and rose again for my justification. 21And seeing that he hath endured that Death, andf born the burthen of that Judgment, which was due unto my sins; O Father, for his Death and Passion's sake, now (that I am coming to appear before thy Judgment-seat) acquit and deliver me from that fearful Judgment, which my sins have justly deserved. And perform unto me that gracious and comfortable Promise which thou hast made in thy Gospel: ⟨p. 401⟩That whosoever believeth in thee, 23hath everlasting life, and shall not come into Judgment, but shall pass from death unto life.
Strengthen, O Christ,1 my Faith that I may put the whole confidence of my salvation in the merits of thy obedience and Blood. Encrease, O holy Spirit, my patience, lay no more upon me than I am able to bear: 2and enable me to bear so much, as shall stand with thy blessed will and pleasure. O blessed Trinity in Unity, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, vouchsafe, that as my outward man doth decay; so my inward man may more and more by thy grace and consolation, increase and gather strength. O Saviour, put my Soul in a readiness, that (like aa wise Virgin, having theb Wedding Garment of thy Righteousness and holiness) she may be ready to meet thee at thy comming, with Oyl in her Lamp cMarry her unto thy self; that she may bed one with thee in everlasting love and fellowship O Lord, ereprove Satan, and chase him away:f Deliver my soul from the power of the Dog. Save me from the Lyon's mouth. I thank thee, O Lord, for all thy blessings both spiritual and temporal, bestowed upon me: especially for my Redemption by the death of my Saviour Christ. I thank thee that thou hast protected me with thy holy* Angels from my youth up until now.10 Lord, I beseech thee give them a charge to attend upon me till thou callest for my soul; and then to carry her (as they did the soul ofa Lazarus) into ⟨p. 402⟩thy Heavenly bKingdom. And as the time of my departure shall approach nearer unto me, so grant, O Lord, that my Soul may draw nearer unto thee, and that I may joy fully commend my Soul into thy hands, as into the hands of a loving Father, and merciful cRedeemer, and at that instantd O Lord graciously receive my Spirit. All which that I may do, assist me I beseech thee, with thy Grace: and let thy holy spirit continue with me unto the end, and in the end, for Jesus Christ his sake, thy Son my Lord, and only Saviour: In whose Name I give thee the glory, and beg these things at thy hand, in that Prayer which Christ himself hath •aught me, saying,