Old Mr. Dod's sayings

19. Directions for the Lords day. Make the Sabbath the market day for thy soul. Lose not one hour, but be either praying, conferring, or meditating; think not thy own thoughts; let every day have its duties; turn the Sermon heard into matter of prayer; Instruction into petition, Reproof into confession, Consolation into Thanksgiving: Think much of the Sermon heard, and make something of it all the week long.

20. Directions for every day. First, for Morning. Every morning presuppose, 1. I must dye. 2. I may dye ere night. 3. Whither ⟨p. 7⟩will my soul go, to heaven or to hell? Secondly, for Night. Every night ask thy soul these questions. 1. Have I twice this day humbled my self before God in private? 2. How did I pray? in faith and love? 3. What have my thoughts been this day? 4. What have I been in my place and calling? 5. What have I been in company? Did I speak of good things? or did I hear, and with Mary lay up? 6. If God with the morning renewed mercies was I thankful? 7. If the day afforded me matter of sorrow, did I fret? or did I lye in the dust before God? 8. When you have done, where you have been failing, confess it with sorrow; the less work you will have to do when death comes. Thus every night reckon right with thy God. This hath been my daily course, and shall be my practice till I dye.

21. What we win by prayer, we shall wear with comfort.