N01357:44
The A, B, C. of religion. Lessons relating to the fear of God, fitted…
The A, B, C. of religion. Lessons relating to the fear of God, fitted unto the youngest & lowest capacities. And children suitably instructed in the maxims of religion. : [One line from I John]
Boston, : Printed & sold by Timothy Green, at the lower end of Middle-Street, 1713
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
First. There is Prayer to God; they that are yet but in the Capacity of Children, may do something at it; may Pray without Ceasing. It is a Lesson which any one of you all may learn; there is nothing impracticable in it by the Lowest Capacity; Mat. VI. 6. Enter into thy Closet, and when thou hast shut thy Door, Pray to thy Father which is in Secret. Say not, my Child, I know not how to Pray. What? Hast thou fallen into so many Sins, and canst thou not Pray, For thy Names sake, Lord, Pardon ⟨p. 29⟩my Iniquity, for it is Great! Hast thou so many Ails in thy Soul, & canst thou not Pray, Lord, Heal my Soul, for I have Sinned against thee! Dost thou so much need a New Heart, and canst thou not Pray, Lord, Create in me a Clean Heart, and Renew a Right Spirit within me! Art thou Dying every Day, and canst thou not Pray, Lord, Let not my Death overtake me, before I have begun to Live unto God? Dost thou know of no Mischiefs, which thou art afraid of? Dost thou know of no Mercies worth asking for? Consult the Book of Psalms; Consult the State of thy own Soul; and thou canst not be such an awkward Thing, as to have nothing to say on thy Knees before the Lord.
Secondly. You have the Word of God; they that are yet but in the Capacity of Children, may perceive whose Word it is; that they have God speaking to them in it. He was a Young Child, who when the Word of God called upon him, said; 1 Sam. III. 10. Lord, Speak, for thy Servant heareth. One must be more Silly than a Child in the School-boys ⟨p. 30⟩boys Clothes, who Pays no Regard unto the Word of God. There is in this Word, that which the Angels themselves desire to look into; and there is that which be speaks Regards from the Lowest Capacity. Children, As soon as you can Read, you may take the Bible, and in Reading of it, think, This is the Voice of God; God now Speaks unto me. When you hear Sermons from the Ministers of God, you have to do with God in their Ministry, and may think; Here are Messages from God; God now Speaks unto me. The Lesson is a short one; I will bear what God the Lord will Speak!