Early religion. Urged in a sermon. the duties, wherein, and the reasons wherefore, young…

Inasmuch as 'tis usual in several Towns of the Country, for the Pious Young men, to Associate themselves in pious Meetings, for their mutual Assistance in the Affairs of Religion; and inasmuch as 'tis of singular Consequence, not only for Young men to be quickened by their Pastors unto such quickening Methods of Devotion, but also to have such Meetings under an Exact Regulation: I shall here annex a Copy of the Orders, Agreed, Used, and Signed by a Young mens Meeting in our Neighbourhood; that if God please, it may indeed prove a Copy, so far as the promoters of such things do find convenient, for the Imitation of many others.

INasmuch as 'tis usual in several Towns of the Countrey, for the Pious Young men, to Associate themselves in pious Meetings, for their mutual Assistence in the Affairs of Religion; and inasmuch as 'tis of singular Consequence, not only for Young men to be quickened by their Pastors unto such quickening Methods of Devotion, but also to have such Meetings under an Exact Regulation: I shall here annex a Copy of the Orders, Agreed, Used, and Signed by a Young mens Meeting in our Neighbourhood; that if God please, it may indeed prove a Copy, so far as the promoters of such things do find convenient, for the Imitation of many others.

Our Agreement. WE that through' the Grace of God, have been Awakened in our Youth to be concerned about the Things of our Everlasting Peace, and that would Remember our Creator therefore in the Days of our Youth, do now desire to give up our selves unto God in Christ according to the Terms of His New Covenant; professing with His Help, that according to the Duty and the Promise of that Covenant, we are willing with full purpose of Heart to cleave unto Him. And for our Assistance in the Designs of Early Religion, as well for the prevention of the Snares, which Young People frequently find in Evil Company, we Associate our selves, for the Observation of the Ensuing O••ers. ⟨p. 116⟩I. It shall be our Endeavour, to Spend the Two Hours, from Seven to Nine, on the Evening of every […] in Praying together by Turns; One to Begin, and another to Conclude, the Meeting; and between the Two Prayers, having a Sermon Repeated; whereto the Singing of a Psalm shall be annexed. II. If after the Stated Exercises of the Evening are over, there be any Residue of Time, we will Confer upon some Question of Practical Christianity; in order whereunto every one of us, in his Turn, is to be provided with a Question, although' the Answer to it shall be Left wholly Free unto every one, as he shall see cause to say More or Less concerning it. III. We resolve to be Charitably Watchful over one another; & therefore we engage, that as we will not unkindly divulge one another's Infirmities, but yet lovingly Inform one another of what we shall know or hear to be a Fault, so we will never manifest ourselves Offended at any of our Number that shall bestow a Christian Reproof upon us for any of our Miscarriages. IV. They that would be admitted into our Society, shall be First Proposed one Evening; and then, if they be allowed, they shall the next Evening be Present; when, if their Dispositions to be of us, do continue, One or Two of us appointed by the Rest, shall go with them unto the Minister of the Place, whose consent, and counsel about the persons to be admitted, being obtained, they shall then set their Names with ours in our Catalogue. V If any Person Enrolled among us do fall into any Scandalous Iniquity, we will admonish him of his Evil; & suspend him from coming among