A27107:711
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
A27107:711
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
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.
2. The chief Sum or Scope of the Holy Ghost in that Text.
3. The division or parts of the Text.
4. The doctrines; and in every doctrine the proofs, the reasons and the uses thereof.
A method of all others, easiest for the people (being accustomed thereto) to help them to remember the Sermon. and therefore much wished to be put in ⟨p. 275⟩practice of all faithful Pastors, who desire to edify their people in the knowledge of God, and his true Religion.
A method of all others, easiest for the people (being accustomed thereto) to help them to remember the Sermon. and therefore much wished to be put in ⟨p. 275⟩practice of all faithful Pastors, who desire to edifie their people in the knowledge of God, and his true Religion.
If the Preacher's method be too curious or confused, then labour to remember.
1. How many things he taught, which thou knewest not before: and be thankful.
2. What sins he reproved, whereof thy conscience tells thee that thou art guilty; and therefore must be amended.
3. What Virtues he exhorteth unto, which are not so perfect in thee, and therefore endeavour to practice them with more zeal and diligence.
3. What Vertues he exhorteth unto, which are not so perfect in thee, and therefore endeavour to practice them with more zeal and diligence.
But in hearing, apply every speech as spoken to thy self, rather by* God than by Man: and labour not so much to hear the words of the Preacher sounding in thine ear, as to feel the operation of the Spirit working in thy heart. Therefore it is said so often,† Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit speaks to the Church. And,3 Did not our hearts burn within as, whilst he opened unto us the Scriptures? And thus to hear the Word, hatha a blessing promised thereto. It is the acceptablest bsacrificing of our selves unto God. It is thec surest note of Christ's Saints; thed truest mark of Christ's sheep; thee apparentest sign of God's Elect; the very blood, as it were, which uniteth us to be the fspiritual kindred, brethren and sisters of the Son of God. This is the best art of Memory for a good hearer.
But in hearing, apply every speech as spoken to thy self, rather by* God than by Man: and labour not so much to hear the words of the Preacher sounding in thine ear, as to feel the opperation of the Spirit working in thy heart. Therefore it is said so often,† Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit speaks to the Church. And,3 Did not our hearts burn within as, whilst he opened unto us the Scriptures? And thus to hear the Word, hath
When the Sermon is ended, 1. Beware ⟨p. 276⟩thou depart not like the nine lepers, till that for thine instruction to saving health, thou hast returned thanks and praise to God by an after-prayer, and singing of a Psalm. And when the blessing is pronounced, stand up to receive thy part therein, and hear it,1 as if Christ himself (whose Minister he is) did pronounce the same unto thee;2 for in this case it is true; He that heareth you, heareth me: and the Sabbath-day is blessed, because God hath appointed it to be the day, wherein by the Mouth of his Ministers, he will bless his people, which hear his word, and glorify his Name. 3For tho' the Sabbath-day in it self be no more blessed than the other six days; yet (because the Lord hath appointed it to holy uses above others) it doth as far excel the other days of the week, as the consecrated bread, (which we receive at the Lord's Table) doth the common bread which we eat at our own Table.
When the Sermon is ended, 1. Beware ⟨p. 276⟩thou depart not like the nine lepers, till that for thine instruction to saving health, thou hast returned thanks and praise to God by an after-prayer, and singing of a Psalm. And when the blessing is pronounced, stand up to receive thy part therein, and hear it,1 as if Christ himself (whose Minister he is) did pronounce the same unto thee;2 for in this case it is true; He that heareth you, heareth me: and the Sabbath-day is blessed, because God hath appointed it to be the day, wherein by the Mouth of his Ministers, he will bless his people, which hear his word, and glorifie his Name. 3For tho' the Sabbath-day in it self be no more blessed than the other six days; yet (because the Lord hath appointed it to holy uses above others) it doth as far excel the other days of the week, as the consecrated bread, (which we receive at the Lord's Table) doth the common bread which we eat at our own Table.
2. If it be a Communion-day, draw near to the Lord's Table in the Wedding-Garment of a faithful and penitent heart to be partaker of so holy a banquet.
And when Baptism is to be administered, stay and behold it with all reverent attention, that so thou mayest, First, show thy reverence to God's Ordinance: Secondly, that thou mayest the better consider thine own ingrafting into the visible body of Christ's Church: and how thou performest the vows of the new Covenant. Thirdly, that thou mayest repay thy debts in praying ⟨p. 277⟩for the infant which is to be baptized (as other Christians did in the like case for thee) that God would give him the inward effects of Baptism, by his Blood and Spirit. Fourthly, that thou mayest assist the Church in praising God for grafting another Member into his mystical Body. Fifthly, That thou mayest prove whether the effects of Christ's death killeth sin in thee, and whether thou be raised to newness of life, by the virtue of his Resurrection: and so to be humbled for thy wants, and to be thankful for his graces. Sixthly, to show thy self to be a freeman of Christ's Corporation: having a voice or consent in the admission of others into that Holy Society.
And when Baptism is to be administred, stay and behold it with all reverent attention, that so thou maist, First, shew thy reverence to God's Ordinance: Secondly, that thou maist the better consider thine own ingrafting into the visible body of Christ's Church: and how thou performest the vows of the new Covenant. Thirdly, that thou maist repay thy debts in praying ⟨p. 277⟩for the infant which is to be baptized (as other Christians did in the like case for thee) that God would give him the inward effects of Baptism, by his Blood and Spirit. Fourthly, that thou maist assist the Church in praising God for grafting another Member into his mystical Body. Fifthly, That thou maist prove whether the effects of Christ's death killeth sin in thee, and whether thou be raised to newness of life, by the virtue of his Resurrection: and so to be humbled for thy wants, and to be thankful for his graces. Sixthly, to shew thy self to be a freeman of Christ's Corporation: having a voice or consent in the admission of others into that Holy Society.
3. If there be any Collection for the poor, 1freely without grudging bestow thine Alms, as God hath blessed thee with ability.
And thus far of the duties to be performed in the Holy Assembly.
AS thou returnest home, or when thou art entered into thy house, meditate a little while upon those things which thou hast heard. And as the clean Beasts which chew the Cud, 1so must thou bring again to thy remembrance, that which thou hast heard in the Church. And then kneeling down, turn all to a prayer, beseeching God to give such a blessing to ⟨p. 278⟩those things which thou hast heard, that they may be a direction to thy life,2 and a consolation unto thy Soul. For till the Word be made thus our own, and as it were, close hidden in our hearts: we are in danger lest Satan steal it away,3 and we shall receive no profit thereby. And when thou goest to dinner, in that reverend and thankful manner before prescribed, remember according to thine ability, to have one or more poor Christians, whose hungry bowels may be refreshed with thy meat:4 imitating holy Job, who protested, that he did never eat his morsels alone, without the good company of the poor and fatherless; That is the Commandment of Christ our Master, Luke 14. 13. Or at leastwise,5 send some part of thy Dinner to the poor, who lie sick in the back-lane, without any food. For this will bring a blessing upon all thy works and labours:6 and it will one day more rejoice thy Soul, 7than it doth now refresh his Body, when Christ shall say unto thee, O blessed child of God, I was an hungered, and thou gavest me meat, &c And for as much as thou hast done it for my sake to the least of these my brethren, I take it in as good part, as if thou hadst done it to mine own self.
AS thou returnest home, or when thou art entred into thy house, meditate a little while upon those things which thou hast heard. And as the clean Beasts which chew the Cud,