A27107:418
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
A27107:418
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.
In a word, apply all that thou readest in H Scripture, to one of these two heads chiefly; either to confirm thy faith; or to increase thy repentance; for as Sustine & Abstine, bear and forbear, 1was the Epitome of a good Philosopher's life, so Creed & Resipisee, believe and repent, is the whole sum of a true Christian's profession. One Chapter thus read with understanding, and meditated with application, will better feed and comfort thy soul, than five read and run over without marking their scope or sense, or making any use thereof to thine own self. If in this manner thou shalt read three Chapters every day; one in the Morning, and another at Noon, and the third at Night (reading so many Psalms instead of a Chapter as our Church Liturgy ⟨p. 145⟩appoints for morning or evening Prayers) thou shalt read over all the Canonical aScripture in a year, except six Chapters, which thou mayest add to the task of the last day of the year. The reading of the Bible in order will help thee the better to understand both the History and scope of the H. Scripture. And as for theb Apocrypha, being but penned by Man's spirit, thou mayest read them at thy pleasure, but believe them so far as they agree with the Canonical Scripture, which is indited by the Holy Ghost.
In a word, apply all that thou readest in H Scripture, to one of these two heads chiefly; either to confirm thy faith; or to increase thy repentance; for as Sustine & Abstine, bear and forbear, 1was the Epitome of a good Philosopher's life, so Crede & Resipisee, believe and repent, is the whole sum of a true Christian's profession. One Chapter thus read with understanding, and meditated with application, will better feed and comfort thy soul, than five read and run over without marking their scope or sense, or making any use thereof to thine own self. If in this manner thou shalt read three Chapters every day; one in the Morning, and another at Noon, and the third at Night (reading so many Psalms instead of a Chapter as our Church Liturgy ⟨p. 145⟩appoints for morning or evening Prayers) thou shalt read over all the Canonical aScripture in a year, except six Chapters, which thou maist add to the task of the last day of the year. The reading of the Bible in order will help thee the better to understand both the History and scope of the H. Scripture. And as for theb Apocrypha, being but penned by Man's spirit, thou maist read them at thy pleasure, but believe them so far as they agree with the Canonical Scripture, which is indited by the Holy Ghost.
But it may be thou wilt say, that thy business will not permit thee so much time, as to read every morning a Chapter, &c. O Man, remember that thy life is but short, and that all this business is but for the use of this short life; but salvation or damnation is everlasting. Rise up therefore every morning by so much time the earlier; defraud thy foggy flesh of so much sleep, but rob not thy soul of her food, nor God of his service; and serve the Almighty duly whilst thou hast time and health.
Having thus read thy Chapter, as thou art about to pray, remember that God is a God of choliness, whereof he warneth us by repeating so often,d Be ye holy, for I am holy. ⟨p. 146⟩And when he devoured with a sudden fire, Nadab and Abihu, for offering unto him incense with* strange fire, (like those now-a-days, who offer Prayers from hearts fraught with the fire of lust and malice:) the Lord would give no other reason of his judgment but this, I will be sanctified in them that come near me. 4As if he should have said, If I cannot be sanctified by them who are my servants, in serving me with that holiness that they should, I will be sanctified on them, by confounding them with my just judgments, which, their lewdness doth deserve. God therefore cannot abide any wilful uncleanness, or filthiness in them, who serve him: insomuch that he commanded the Israelites, That when they were in Camp against their Enemies, they should dig a hole with a paddle, 5and cover their excrements: his reason is, For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst o• thy Camp, to deliver th•e, and to give thee thine Enemies before thee: therefore thy host shall be holy, that he see no filthy thing in thee, and turn away from thee. If he will have Men to be so holy in time of war in the Field, how much more holiness expecteth he at our hands in time of peace in our houses? therefore saith Zophar in Job: 6If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hand towards God to pray: if iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let no wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle. 7For, as Isaiah saith, If there be any uncleanness in our hands, (that ⟨p. 147⟩
shut thy chamber-door, and kneel down at thy bed-side, or some other convenient place, and in reverent manner lifting up thy heart, together with thy hands and eyes, as in the presence of God, who seeth the inward intention of thy soul, offer up unto God from the Altar of a contrite heart, thy prayer as a morning-sacrifice, through the mediation of Christ, in these or the like words.
O Most mighty and glorious God, full of incomprehensible Power and Majesty, whose glory the very heaven of heavens is not able to contain:1 look down from heaven upon me, thine unworthy servant, who here prostrate my self at the afootstool of thy bThrone of Grace. But look upon me, O Father, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, cthy beloved Son, in whom only thou art well pleased. For, of my self, I am not worthy to stand in thy presence, or to speak with mine unclean ⟨p. 148⟩alips to so holy a God as thou art. For thou knowest that inb sin I was conceived and born, and that I have lived ever since in iniquity: so that I have broken all thy holy Commandments by sinful motions, unclean cthoughts, 8evil words, 9and wicked10 works domitting many of those duties of Piety which thou requirest for thy service, and committing many of those vices, which thou (under the penalty of thy displeasure)12 hast forbidden.13
O Most mighty and glorious God, full of incomprehensible Power and Majesty, whose glory the very heaven of heavens is not able to contain:
[Here thou mayest confess unto God thy secret sins, which do most burden thy conscience: with the circumstances of the time, place, person and manner, how it was committed, saying, But more especially, O Lord, I do here, with grief of heart, confess unto thee, &c.]
[Here thou maist confess unto God thy secret sins, which do most burthen thy conscience: with the circumstances of the time, place, person and manner, how it was committed, saying, But more especially, O Lord, I do here, with grief of heart, confess unto thee, &c.]
And for these my sins,1 O Lord, I stand here guilty of thy curse, 2with all the miseries of this life,3 and everlasting torments in hell fire, 4when this wretched life is ended▪ if thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts. Yea, Lord, I confess, that it is thy mercy which endureth for ever, 5and thy compassion which never fails, that is the cause that I have not been long ago consumed. But with thee, O Lord, 6there is mercy and plenteous redemption. 7In the multitude therefore of thy Mercy, 8and confidence in Christ's Merits, I entreat thy divine Majesty, that thou wouldst not enter into judgment 9with thy servant, neither be extreme to mark what I have hitherto done amiss: for if thou dost, then then can no flesh be justified in thy sight, ⟨p. 149⟩nor any living stand in thy presence. But be thou merciful unto me,10 and wash away all the uncleanness of my sin, 11with the merits of that precious blood, which Jesus Christ hath shed for me. And seeing that he hath born the burden of that curse, 12which was due to my transgressions. O Lord, deliver me from my sins, and from all those judgments which hang over my head, as due unto me for them: and separate them as far
and as thou dost add days unto my life; so, good Lord, I beseech thee, add repentance and amendment to my days, that as I grow in years, so may I increase in grace, and favour with thee, and all thy people. And to this end, give unto me a supply of all those graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me, and necessary for me with an increase of all those good gifts, wherewith thou hast already endowed me; that so I may be the better enabled to lead such a godly life, and honest conversation, as that thy Name may thereby be glorified, others may take good example by me, and my soul may more cheerfully feed on the peace of a good conscience, 1and be more replenished with the joy of the Holy Ghost. And hear, O Lord, according to my bounded duty, I give thee most humble and hearty thanks, for all those Blessings which of thy goodness thou hast bestowed upon me. And namely, for that thou hast of thy free love, according to thine eternal purpose, 2elected me before the foundation of the world was laid,3 unto salvation in Jesus Christ: for that thou hast created me after thine own Image, 4and hast begun to restore that in me,5 which was lost in our first Parents:6 for that thou hast effectually called me by the working of thy Spirit, 7in the preaching of the Gospel, and receiving of the Sacrament, 8to ⟨p. 151⟩the knowledge of thy saving grace and cobedience of thy blessed will for that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thine only begotten Son,
and that I may endeavour to keep faith and a clear conscience towards thee, 1and towards all men, in all my thoughts words and dealings. And so, good Lord, bless all my studies and actions, which I shall take in hand this day; as that they may tend to thy glory, the good of others, and the comfort of mine own Soul and Conscience in that day, when I shall make my final ⟨p. 152⟩accounts unto thee for them. Oh my God, keep thy servant, that I do no evil unto any man this day: and let it be thy blessed will,2 not to suffer the Devil, nor his wicked Angels, nor any of his evil Members, or any malicious enemies, to have any power to do me any hurt or violence. But let the eye of thy holy providence watch over me for good and not for evil: and command thy holy Angels to pitch their Tents 3round about me, for my defence and safety, in me going out,4 and coming in, as thou hast promised they should do about them5 that fear thy Name. For,6 into thy hands O Father, I do here commend my soul, and body, my actions, and all that ever I have, to be guided, defended, and protected by thee: being assured, that whatsoever thou takest into thy custody cannot perish, nor suffer any hurt or harm. And if I at any time this day, shall through frailty forget thee; yet Lord, I beseech thee, do thou in mercy remember me. 7And I pray not unto thee, O Father, for my self alone, but I beseech thee also be merciful unto thy whole Church, and chosen people, wheresoever they live upon the face of the earth. Defend them from the Rage and Tyranny of the Devil, the World and Antichrist. Give thy Gospel a free and a joyful passage through the world, for the conversion of those who belong to thine Election and Kingdom.
Bless the Churches and Kingdoms (wherein1 we live) with the continuance of Peace, ⟨p. 153⟩2Justice, 3and true Religion. Defend the King's Majesty from all his Enemies,4 and grant him a long life in health, and all happiness to reign over us. Bless our gracious Queen Mary, Prince Charles, the Lady Mary, the Lady Elizabeth and her Princely Issue. Increase in them all heroical gifts, and spiritual graces, 5which may make them fit for those places, for which thou hast ordained them. Direct all the Nobility, Bishops, Ministers, and Magistrates of this Church and Common-wealth, to govern the Commons in true religion, justice, obedience, and tranquility. Be merciful unto all the Brethren which fear thee, and call upon thy name; and comfort as many among them as are sick, 6and comfortless in body, or mind: especially be favourable to all such as suffer any trouble or persecution for the testimony of thy truth,7 and holy Gospel: And give them a gracious deliverance 8out of all their troubles,9 which way it shall seem best to thy Wisdom; for the glory of thy Name, the further enlarging of the truth, 10and the more ample increase of their own Comfort and Consolation. Hasten thy coming, O blessed Saviour, and end these sinful days. And give me grace, that like a wife Virgin, I may be prepared with oil in my Lamp, 11
IF when thou art about to pray, Satan shall suggest that thy Prayers are too long, and that therefore it were better either to omit Prayers, or else to cut them shorter: meditate, that Prayer is thy spiritual sacrifice, 1wherewith God is well pleased; and therefore it is so displeasing to the Devil, and so irksome to thy Flesh. Bend therefore thy Affections (will they, nill thy) to so holy an exercise; assuring thy self, that it doth by so much the more please God, by how much the more it is unpleasing to thy flesh.
2. Forget not how the Holy Ghost puts at down as a special note of reprobates: they call not upon the Lord, 1they call not upon God. 2And when Eliphaz supposed that Job had cast off the fear of God, 3and tha• God had cast Job out of his favour, he chargeth him that he restrained prayer […] God: making that a sure none of the […] and a sufficient cause of the other. On the other side, that God hath promised, that whosoever shall call on his name shall be saved. ⟨p. 155⟩4It is certain, that he who maketh no conscience of the duty of Prayer, hath no grace of the holy Spirit in him. For the spirit of grace and of prayer, are one: And therefore Grace and Prayer go together.5 But he that can from a penitent heart (morning and evening) pray unto God, it is sure, that he hath his measure of grace in this world; and he shall have his portion of glory in the life which is to come.
2. Forget not how the Holy Ghost puts at down as a special note of reprobates: they call not upon the Lord, 1they call not upon God. 2And when Eliphaz supposed that Job had cast off the fear of God, 3and tha• God had cast Job out of his favour, he chargeth him that he restrained prayer 〈…〉 God: making that a sure none of the 〈…〉 and a sufficient cause of the other. On the other side, that God hath promised, that whosoever shall call on his name shall be saved. ⟨p. 155⟩
3. Remember, that as loathing of meat and painfulness of speaking, are two symptoms of a sick body: So irksomeness of praying when thou talkest with God, and carelessness in hearing, when God, by his Word, speaks unto thee, are two sure signs of a sick Soul.
3. Remember, that as loathing of meat and painfulness of speaking, are two symptoms of a sick body: So irkesomness of praying when thou talkest with God, and carelesness in hearing, when God, by his Word, speaks unto thee, are two sure signs of a sick Soul.
4. Call to mind the zealous devotions of the Christians in the Primitive Church, who spent many whole nights and vigils in watching and praying for the forgiveness of their sins; and that they might be found ready at the coming of Christ. And how that David was not consenta to pray at Morning, at Evening, and at Noon, but he would alsob rise up at midnight to pray unto God. And if Christ did chide his Disciples, because they would notc watch with him one hour in praying, what chiding dost thou deserve, who thinkest it too long to continue in prayer but one quarter of an hour? If thou hast spent divers hours in seeing a vain Mask; or Play; yea, whole days and nights in carding and dicing, to please thy flesh; be ⟨p. 156⟩ashamed to think a Prayer of a quarter of an hour long, to be too long an exercise for the service of God.
4. Call to mind the zealous devotions of the Christians in the Primitive Church, who spent many whole nights and vigils in watching and praying for the forgiveness of their sins; and that they might be found ready at the coming of Christ. And how that David was not concenta to pray at Morning, at Evening, and at Noon, but he would alsob rise up at midnight to pray unto God. And if Christ did chide his Disciples, because they would notc watch with him one hour in praying, what chiding dost thou deserve, who thinkest it too long to continue in prayer but one quarter of an hour? If thou hast spent divers hours in seeing a vain Mask; or Play; yea, whole days and nights in carding and dicing, to please thy flesh; be ⟨p. 156⟩ashamed to think a Prayer of a quarter of an hour long, to be too long an exercise for the service of God.
Having thus read thy Chapter, as thou art about to pray, remember that God is a God of choliness, whereof he warneth us by repeating so often,d Be ye holy, for I am holy. ⟨p. 146⟩And when he devoured with a sudden fire, Nadab and Abihu, for offering unto him incense with* strange fire, (like those now-a-days, who offer Prayers from hearts fraught with the fire of lust and malice:) the Lord would give no other reason of his judgment but this, I will be sanctified in them that come near me. 4As if he should have said, If I cannot be sanctified by them who are my servants, in serving me with that holiness that they should, I will be sanctified on them, by confounding them with my just judgments, which, their lewdness doth deserve. God therefore cannot abide any wilful uncleanness, or filthiness in them, who serve him: insomuch that he commanded the Israelites, That when they were in Camp against their Enemies, they should dig a hole with a paddle, 5and cover their excrements: his reason is, For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst o• thy Camp, to deliver th•e, and to give thee thine Enemies before thee: therefore thy host shall be holy, that he see no filthy thing in thee, and turn away from thee. If he will have Men to be so holy in time of war in the Field, how much more holiness expecteth he at our hands in time of peace in our houses? therefore saith Zophar in Job: 6If thou prepare thine heart and stretch out thine hand towards God to pray: if iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, and let no wickedness dwell in thy Tabernacle. 7For, as Esay saith, If there be any uncleanness in our hands, (that ⟨p. 147⟩is, any sin whereof we have not repented) tho' we stretch not our hands unto him, and make many prayers, the Lord will hide his eyes from us, and will not hear our prayers. Therefore before thou prayest, let God see that thy heart is sorrowful for thy sin: and that thy mind is resolved (through the assistance of his grace) to amend thy faults. And then having washed thy self, and adorned thy body with appar•l which beseemeth thy calling, and the Image of God, which thou bearest;
And for these my sins,1 O Lord, I stand here guilty of thy curse, 2with all the miseries of this life,3 and everlasting torments in hell fire, 4when this wretched life is ended▪ if thou shouldest deal with me according to my deserts. Yea, Lord, I confess, that it is thy mercy which endureth for ever, 5and thy compassion which never fails, that is the cause that I have not been long ago consumed. But with thee, O Lord, 6there is mercy and plenteous redemption. 7In the mutitude therefore of thy Mercy, 8and confidence in Christ's Merits, I intreat thy divine Majesty, that thou wouldst not enter into judgment 9with thy servant, neither be extreme to mark what I have hitherto done amiss: for if thou dost, then then can no flesh be justified in thy sight, ⟨p. 149⟩nor any living stand in thy presence. But be thou merciful unto me,10 and wash away all the uncleanness of my sin, 11with the merits of that precious blood, which Jesus Christ hath shed for me. And seeing that he hath born the burthen of that curse, 12which was due to my transgressions. O Lord, deliver me from my sins, and from all those judgments which hang over my head, as due unto me for them: and separate them as far 13from thy presence, as the East is from the West: bury them in the burial of Christ, that they may never have power to rise up against14 me to shame me in this life, 15or to condemn me in the world which is to come. And I beseech thee, O Lord, not only to wash away my sins with the blood of thine immaculate Lamb; 16but also to purge my heart, by thy holy Spirit,17 from the dross of my natural corruption:18 that I may feel thy Spirit▪ more and more killing my sin in the power and practice thereof: so that I may with more freedom of mind, and liberty of will serve thee the everlasting God in righteousness 19and holiness this day. And give me grace, that by the direction and assistance of the same thy holy Spirit, I may presevere to be thy faithful and unfeigned servant unto20 my life's end: that when this mortal life is ended, I may be made a partaker of immortality, and everlasting happiness in thy heavenly kingdom. In the mean time, O Lord, whilst it is thy blessed will and pleasure, that I may continue to spend, and end that small number and remnant of days, which thou ⟨p. 150⟩hast appointed for me to live in this vale of misery:21 Teach me so to number my days, that I may apply my heart unto wisdom:
and as thou dost add days unto my life; so, good Lord, I beseech thee, add repentance and amendment to my days, that as I grow in years, so may I increase in grace, and favour with thee, and all thy people. And to this end, give unto me a supply of all those graces which thou knowest to be wanting in me, and necessary for me with an increase of all those good gifts, wherewith thou hast already endowed me; that so I may be the better enabled to lead such a godly life, and honest conversation, as that thy Name may thereby be glorified, others may take good example by me, and my soul may more chearfully feed on the peace of a good conscience, 1and be more replenished with the joy of the Holy Ghost. And hear, O Lord, according to my bounded duty, I give thee most humble and hearty thanks, for all those Bessings which of thy goodness thou hast bestowed upon me. And namely, for that thou hast of thy free love, according to thine eternal purpose, 2elected me before the foundation of the world was laid,3 unto salvation in Jesus Christ: for that thou hast created me after thine own Image, 4and hast begun to restore that in me,5 which was lost in our first Parents:6 for that thou hast effectually called me by the working of thy Spirit, 7in the preaching of the Gospel, and receiving of the Sacrament, 8to ⟨p. 151⟩the knowledge of thy saving grace and cobedience of thy blessed will for that thou hast bought and redeemed me with the blood of thine only begotten Son, 10from the torments of Hell, amd thrall of Satan; for that thou hast by faith in dChrist freely justified me,12 who am by nature the Child of wrath: 13for that thou hast in good measure 14sanctified me by thy holy Spirit, and given me so large a time to repent,15 together with the means of repentance.16 I thank thee likewise, good Lord, for my life, health, wealth, food, raiment, peace, prosperity and plenty: and for that thou hast preserved me this night from all perils and dangers of body and soul, and hast brought me lafe to the beginning of this day. And as thou hast now wakned my body from sleep; so I beseech thee waken my soul from sin, and carnal security: and as thou hast caused the light of the day to shine in my bodily eyes; so good Lord, cause the light of thy Word and holy Spirit, 17to illuminate my heart: and give me grace, as one of thy children of light, 18to walk in all holy obedience before thy face this day:19