WHEN God's Minister de­clares, as he is required to do, that he intends on such a day to administer the most comfortable Sa­crament of Christ's Bo­dy and Bloud; and in­vites you to it, besee­ching [Page 2]you to dispose your selves religiously and devoutly for it: you must consider, that it is your duty to prepare your selves, to come and partake of so great a Blessing; and not to think it enough that you have been present at Divine Service, and heard the Sermon, and then may turn your back on the Table of the Lord. Which is a very great disrespect to Him, and forgetfulness of Him, and cannot be excused so easily, as mens [Page 3]naughty hearts incline them to believe. For though God's Goodness. is such, that He prefers works of Mercy to your Neighbours, before Sa­crifice to Himself, when one of them must be o­mitted: yet He doth not make the same allow­ance for your Worldly buisiness, (which well may be let alone till another time;) much less for your vain Plea­sures or Recreations, which never ought to hinder or put by this or any other holy Duty [Page 4]in the season proper for it.

Come therefore, as oft as you are invited; and when God's Mini­ster, after Sermon en­ded, goes up to the Ho­ly Table to prepare this Heavenly food for you, (that is, to consecrate Bread broken and Wine poured out, that it may represent the Death of Christ to you; and to give it you, saying, Take, eat, and drink this in remembrance of Christ) do you stay in God's House, and draw [Page 5]near unto his Table, and thankfully receive it from him, for that end for which he gives it, in commemoration of Christ's Death and Passion upon the Cross for your sake.

It is the duty of God's Minister, to set the Bread and Wine apart, to present them unto God, to break the one and pour out the other, to bless them, and to give them unto you: And then it is your duty, to look upon this Bread and [Page 6]Wine, thus blessed, as representing Christ un­to you; and according­ly to receive them, not as mere Bread and Wine, but as things de­puted by Christ to be in stead of His Body and Bloud, and to commu­nicate them to worthy Receivers.

TO doe thus you are ingaged,

First, by the ex­press Commandment of our Lord Christ; which you find four times re­corded in the New Te­stament: by the three first Evangelists, Saint Matthew, XXVI. 26, 27. Saint Mark, XIV. 22, 23. Saint Luke, XXII. 19, 20; and by Saint Paul, in [Page 8]his first Epistle to the Corinthians XI. 23, 24, 25. All which places, especially the last, you will doe well to reade seriously. And then con­sider,

Secondly, that there is the greater regard to be had to this Com­mandment, [Doe this in remembrance of me,] which Saint Paul saith he received of the Lord, because it was his last and dying Command­ment, in the night when He was betrayed, just before the day of his [Page 9]Passion. We are wont, in other cases, to be in­clined to remember, and carefully perform the last desire of a dy­ing Friend: and there­fore what other ac­count can we give of it, if we live in a neg­lect of this Duty, so solemnly enjoyned, but that we are strangers, or, at best, very cold in our love to Him? which you had need to quicken, because,

Thirdly, your care in this Duty will be a means to make you ob­serve [Page 10]the rest of his Commandments bet­ter; which now, alas! are little regarded, be­cause little or no regard is had to this last Com­mandment; which our Lord seems to have ad­ded, when He left the world, for the security of all the other that He had delivered before. For the doing this hath a mighty power in it to stir up the love of Christ in our hearts. And the love of Christ constraineth us, (as S. Paul teaches, 2 Cor. [Page 11]V. 14, 15.) because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that He died for all, that they which live, should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him that died for them, and rose again. Doe this therefore in remem­brance of Him, which is such an efficacious means to make you al­ways doe well. Yea, more then this,

Lastly, it will be a means to make you ob­serve his Command­ments [Page 12] with love and delight: which if they be wanting, your Obe­dience will be little worth. For without Love, all that you doe will not be acceptable to Christ; and unless you delight in what you doe, it will not be ac­ceptable to your selves. But neither of these will be wanting, if you re­ligiously frequent this Holy Sacrament; where He is represented to you as desirous to save you, though it were by dying for you; saying, [Page 13]when this was first pro­pounded to Him, Lo, I come, I delight to doe thy will, O God. How can you then refrain, when you think of this, from expressing the same affection and the same joy; when it is so much easier for you to doe God's will, then it was for Him to suffer such things as he did, in obedience to it.

YOU will be the more inclined to this, when you consi­der the Ends for which this Commemoration of Christ's Death was or­dained. Which were such as these.

First, to profess that you are Christians, and believe that Religion which Christ hath sealed by his Bloud, to be the [Page 15]true and onely way to Happiness; and that you mean to continue in it, whatsoever it costs you, though it should ingage you, that is, to follow Him to his Cross.

Secondly, to give thanks to God the Fa­ther, for sending his onely begotten Son in­to the world, to be the Propitiation for our Sins:

And to God the Son, our Blessed Saviour Je­sus Christ, for humbling himself so low, as to [Page 16]die the death of the Cross; where He offe­red his own Body, to put away our sins by the Sa­crifice of Himself:

And to God the Holy Ghost, who hath brought us glad tidings from Heaven, since our Saviour's ascension thi­ther, that having pur­ged our sins by Himself, He sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; where He lives for evermore, and is mindfull of us and of his Promises, which He will certainly fulfill, as [Page 17]we see by these Pledges He hath left us of his endless Love. And therefore,

Thirdly, you bind your selves, by the re­membrance of these things, to be faithfull to Him; and to keep that Holy Covenant, wherein you are so­lemnly tied to be whol­ly His. For as the ve­ry coming to his Table, naturally signifies you are of his Family, and belong to Him: so be­ing there so kindly en­tertained by Him, you [Page 18]stand bound to behave your selves as his Ser­vants, or rather Friends; and engage so to doe. Now ye are his Friends, if you comply with his will in all other things, as well as in this of commemorating his dy­ing Love for your sake. So He himself tells his Apostles, in those me­morable words, XV. Joh. 13, 14. where He re­presents to them, in what consisted the greatness of his Love, and the sincerity of theirs. Greater love hath [Page 19]no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his Friends. Ye are my Friends, if ye doe whatsoever I command you. For,

Lastly, being thus of the number of the Faithfull, you have, in this Holy Sacrament, Communion with Christ in his Death and Pas­sion, and in the Merits of them. For though the things you receive be in themselves but Bread and Wine; yet by a Divine and spiritu­al grave they become [Page 20]the Body and Bloud of Christ to the Faithfull, who are thereby made partakers of all the Be­nefits which He pur­chased, by his Sacrifice which He made of Him­self for our Sins. Thus one of the Prayers af­ter the Communion ex­cellently instructs you, that God ‘vouchsafes to feed those, who duly receive these holy My­steries, with the spiri­tual food of the most precious Body and Bloud of his Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ; [Page 21]and doth assure you thereby of his favour and goodness; and that you are very Members incorporate in the mystical Body of his Son, which is the blessed Company of all Faithfull peo­ple; and are also Heirs, through hope, of his everlasting Kingdom, by the me­rits of the most pre­cious Death and Pas­sion of his dear Son.’

I need not adde that, by doing this in remem­brance of Him, you [Page 22]have Communion with all your Christian Bre­thren, (for it is already expressed;) and that you beg his gracious as­sistence, that you may continue (as it follows in the Prayer now men­tioned) in this holy Fellowship, and doe all such good works as He hath prepared for us to walk in: for this holy action being a Sacrifice of praise and thanksgi­ving, (as it is in the Prayer going before,) wherein Christ's Sacri­fice is commemorated; [Page 23]it is in its own nature the most powerfull Prayer (as all Sacrifi­ces were (1 Sam. XIII. 12.) more powerfull then any other can be) to supplicate for, and to impetrate (that is, obtain) the Divine Blessing upon us.

THIS may suffice, one would think, to excite all those who [Page 24]have any care of their future Salvation, or present satisfacion, to make it their buisiness to prepare themselves, to be worthy Receivers of such great Benefits.

And that is not hard to doe.

For, having learn'd your Catechism, or the short Instruction in the Common-Prayer-Book, to be learn'd by every person that is baptized; and then seriously con­sidered the Promise that was made at your Bap­tism in your name, [Page 25]which is there explai­ned: you should, in the next place, take the first opportunity to have the benefit of Confirmation. Wherein you both openly renew the solemn Promise and Vow made in your name at your Baptism, ratifying and confirm­ing the same in your own person, and ac­knowledging your self bound to believe and doe all those things which your Godfathers and Godmothers then undertook for you; [Page 26]and also, by the Lay­ing on of hands, have more of the Divine Grace imparted to you, to confirm and strengthen you in your Christian resolution, that you may continue his for ever.

After this you may, without any scruple, look upon your self as having a right to the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Bloud. And the best Preparation to it will be,

I. To endeavour faithfully to live ac­cording [Page 27]to your Bap­tismal Vow. And for that end, to call to mind every day how solemnly you did such a time, in the presence of God and such a Con­gregation, ratify and confirm that Vow; and also promised that, by God's grace, you would always labour to ob­serve such things as by your own confession you have, assented un­to.

They are these three. First, ‘that you should renounce the Devil [Page 28]and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, with all covetous de­sires of the same, and the sinfull lusts of the flesh; so that you will not follow, nor be led by them. Secondly, that you should be­lieve all the Articles of the Christian Faith. And thirdly, that you should keep God's ho­ly will and Command­ments, and walk in the same all the days of your life.’

II. Now those Com­mandments [Page 29]which you have promised to keep, you are taught after­ward contain your Du­ty towards God, and your Duty towards your Neighbour.

Your Duty towards God, you are instruc­ted, is this: To believe in Him, to fear Him, to love Him with all my heart, with all my mind, with all my soul, and with all my strength; to worship Him, to give Him thanks, to put my whole trust in Him, to call upon Him, to honour his holy [Page 30]Name and his Word, and to serve him truly all the days of my life.

Then follows your Duty towards your Neighbour, in these words, as you your self are taught to confess; My Duty towards my Neighbour is, to love him as my self, so doe to all men as I would they should doe unto me: to love, honour and succour my father and mother; to honour and obey the King, and all that are put in authority under him; to submit my self [Page 31]to all my Governours, Teachers, spiritual Pa­stours, and Masters; to order my self lowly and reverently to all my bet­ters; to hurt no body by word or deed; to be true and just in all my dealing; to bear no ma­lice nor hatred in my heart; to keep my hands from picking and stea­ling, and my tongue from evil speaking, lying and slandering; to keep my body in temperance, so­berness, and chastity; not to covet nor desire other mens goods, but to [Page 32]learn and labour truly to get mine own living, and to doe my duty in that state of life unto which it shall please God to call me.

All these things you promised, with your own mouth, before God and his People, (when you was con­firmed) that you would be carefull to observe: and must therefore make this the constant Rule of your life; and call upon God, by di­ligent Prayer, for his speciall Graces, without [Page 33]which you will not be able to serve Him.

Which if you doe sincerely, then,

III. I would advise you, every evening, before you go to sleep, to take some time to think how well you have kept your Reso­lution, and observed this Rule: And where you find you have faln short of it, or done contrary to it, to make a new Resolution to be more carefull the next day. And if you be able to set down in [Page 34]writing those Negligen­ces, or breaches of your Covenant with God, when you take notice of them; you will have the less to doe when the opportunity of com­municating approach­eth. For then,

IV. Lastly, you can with much ease exa­mine your selves before the Communion, and have a full account of your life and conversa­tion ready at hand. About which you will be lamentably puzzled, and long in drawing it [Page 35]up, if you do not con­stantly make some ob­servation how things go with you: but in this Method shall be able presently, and without any perplexity, to un­derstand certainly and clearly in what case you are. And so you have nothing farther to doe, by way of Preparation to the Sacrament, but onely, first, sorrow­fully to bewail your Sinfulness, and to con­fess your selves to Al­mighty God: and that, secondly, with a full pur­pose [Page 36]of Amendment of life, and of greater di­ligence and watchful­ness hereafter; especi­ally in those particulars wherein you have mis­carried. (For sorrow­full Confession and Af­fliction of spirit for your Sins, is not suffi­cient; but must end in this unfeigned Resolu­tion.) And if you find, thirdly, that your Offences are not onely against God, but also against your Neigh­bours; then (as you are directed in the Com­munion-Service) [Page 37]to re­concile your selves unto them: Being ready to make restitution and sa­tisfaction, according to the utmost of your pow­ers, for all injuries and wrongs done by you to any other; and being ready likewise to forgive others that have offended you, as ye would have forgiveness of your offen­ces at God's hand.

When all this is done, then you ought not to discourage your selves with a fancy of your Unworthiness to [Page 38]partake of that Holy Table to which you are invited. For you will always be unworthy in the strictest sense of the word: but are really worthy in God's ac­count, when you are thus disposed; and sen­sible, at the best, of your unworthiness of such great Blessings, as God, of his goodness, is desirous to bestow upon you.

BEsides those usuall Prayers, wherein you constantly recom­mend your self to God, and give him thanks for his daily be­nefits: it will be fit to make a particular appli­cation of your self to Him, for his gracious [Page 40]assistence and his bles­sing upon you in that holy Duty, after this manner.

O Lord, I most hum­bly abase my self before Thee, confessing that I am unworthy of any of those mercies which I en­joy, in common, with the rest of thy Creatures. For I have too much forgotten Thee my Crea­tour, and Jesus Christ my Redeemer; whom I have many ways offen­ded, either through ig­norance, or negligence, [Page 41]or wilfull sins. [Here mention the particulars out of your daily ob­servations.]

And yet, so great is thy Goodness, Thou art plea­sed to give me an opportu­nity to partake of thy ex­traordinary love and kindness in thy dear Son, the Lord Jesus. For I am invited by his Minister, to come and feast with Him at his Table, by a thankfull Commemoration of the offering He made, of his own Body and Bloud, upon the Cross for us.

And I am very desi­rous [Page 42]to go, if Thou wilt but be pleased graciously to pardon all my past of­fences, either against Thee, or against my Neighbour; and to ac­cept of my hearty sorrow for them, and unfeigned resolution to doe my en­deavour to amend them.

O be mercifull unto me, be mercifull unto me, I most humbly be­seech Thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ who died for me. And though I am unworthy so much as, at any time, to approach into thy presence; yet do [Page 43]not reject me now, but permit me to come, even unto thy holy Table.

For which if I am in any measure prepared, it is to be ascribed to thy grace, which hath wrought such good dispositions in me; and therefore will, I hope, still so assist me, that I may not be an un­welcome guest unto Thee: but be filled with such a lively sense of thy Love to me, and with such a sincere and ardent Love to Thee, and with such satisfaction of heart in being one of thy Ser­vants, [Page 44]that I may be more sorrowfull then ever that I have offen­ded Thee, and more stedfastly resolved to be strictly obedient to Thee.

And, O most gracious God, let me find, I be­seech Thee, all such god­ly Resolutions in me more confirmed and strength­ned by the heavenly Food Thou hast prepared for me. O that (as I stand already engaged by for­mer Vows which I have upon me, so) I may faithfully and chearfully obey thy holy will in all [Page 45]things, and daily in­crease in thy holy Spirit more and more, untill I come to thy everlasting Kingdom.

Hear me, O Lord, and help me so to per­form my Duty in every part of that holy action, which I am going to doe in remembrance of my Saviour, that I may not onely at present rejoyce in his Love to me, but be excited thereby to doe the rest of my Duty bet­ter, and with more de­light, all the days of my life.

[Page 46] Which I humbly beg through his Merits and Mediation; to whom, with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honour, glory and praise both now and for evermore. Amen.

THUS I have led you to the Ho­ly Communion; and now you will expect I [Page 47]should instruct your be­haviour there. I know no plainer or more na­tural method, then to direct you what to doe in every part of that Divine Service.

When the Sermon therefore is done, and you are conveniently placed, that you may lose no time, (while the Minister is making himself ready, and the Congregation that doth not receive is dismis­sing) repeat the Prayer above written, or some part of it.

[Page 48] When you see the Mini­ster going up to offi­ciate, say,

Blessed be the Lord for his Ministers, the Stewards of the Myste­ries of God: especially for those faithfull and wise Stewards, whom the Lord hath made, Rulers over his hous­hold, to give them meat in due season. XXIV. Matth. 45. 1 Cor. IV. I.

[Page 49] When he begins the Offer­tory, say,

Let every one of our Prayers, together with our Alms and Obla­tions, come up for a memorial before the Lord: whose holy An­gels I believe are pre­sent at these Solem­nities.

A poor Servant may adde,

The Lord accept of my poor Mite, who have little to offer, but my self, and all that I [Page 50]can doe; which I de­dicate to his service.

Then awaken your self to accompany the Minister in the Prayer for the whole state of Christ's Church, &c. and attend diligently to the following Exhortation, which begins with these words, Dearly beloved in the Lord: which the Minister ought to speak, and you hear, with much affection.

Then joyn as hear­tily and earnestly as you are able, in the [Page 51] General Confession; and receive the Absolution (with the comfortable words of Christ and his Apostles that follow af­ter) as you would do the most joyfull news in the world; stirring up your selves (as the Minister exhorts you, when he saith, Lift up your hearts) to bless and praise the Lord, together with all the Heavenly host, for such everlasting consolation and good hope, as He hath given us, through his grace in Christ Jesus.

[Page 52] For those precious Promises ought to be sweeter to you (as the Psalmist speaks) then the honey and the ho­ney-comb; far dearer then thousands of gold and silver. And now you may be assured (though unworthy to gather the crums under his Table) that, recei­ving the Creatures of Bread and Wine, ac­cording to Christ's insti­tution, in remembrance of his Death and Pas­sion, you shall be par­takers of his most blessed [Page 53]Body and Bloud. Un­to to which words, in the Prayer of Consecration, say secretly to your self, Amen, Amen.

When the Minister him­self Communicates, say,

The Lord hear thee. The Lord remember all thy Offerings, and ac­cept thy Sacrifice: Grant thee thy heart's desire, and fulfill all thy mind. The Lord fulfill all thy Petitions, both for thy self, and for us, [Page 54]and for all his people.

When you are going to approach to the Lord's Table,

Propound to your self, by way of Que­stion, the Invitation which the Minister hath given you, say­ing, Do I truly and ear­nestly repent me of my Sins? and am I in love and charity with my Neighbours? and in­tend to lead a new life, following the Command­ments of God, and wal­king [Page 55]from henceforth in his holy ways?

(And finding your self able to return the Answer of a good Con­science, resolve, as it there follows,) Then I will draw near with Faith, and take this Holy Sacrament to my comfort.

When you are placed there, say,

Lord, what am I, that Thou shouldst be thus gracious to me? What an honour is it, [Page 56]that I am invited hither to feast, at Thy Table, upon the Body and Bloud of my Blessed Saviour? To receive the pledges of his Love, and to engage my Love to Him? which I desire may abound more and more towards Him, and towards my Christian Brethren, and towards all men.

[Page 57] When the Minister hath delivered thee the Bread, concluding in these words, [—Feed on him in thy heart by faith with thanks­giving,] say,

I do believe, O Lord, that Thou art the Bread of life, which came down from Hea­ven, by whom we are nourished to eternal Life. And I thank Thee, with all my Soul, that Thou hast both taught us the way [Page 58]of God in truth; and also died for our Sins, and rose again to give us hope of that immor­tal Life. Blessed be thy Name, I have now, by thy own appointment, received the sacred pledge and earned of it: Wherefore my Soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour. Whose Grace I trust will be with my spirit; that I may rejoyce in the Lord alway, and ever delight in all well-doing. Amen.

[Page 59] Or this,

I believe, O Blessed Jesus, that Thou art the Lord of all; and give Thee most humble and hearty thanks, for calling me to the knowledge of thy Grace, and to Faith in Thee: beseeching Thee, that, as I have now received this new token of thy Love, (blessed be thy Good­ness,) so Thou wilt ever be my God, and by continuance in well-doing bring me [Page 60]to everlasting Life. A­men.

A shorter after the Bread.

I thank Thee, O Lord, for calling me into this state of Salva­tion, and for giving me this new pledge of thy continued Love. Assist me with thy Grace to doe my duty to Thee and to my Neighbour so faithfully, that I may abide in thy love for ever, through Jesus Christ, &c.

[Page 61] After you have received the Cup, when the Minister concludes, with those words, [— and be thank­full,] say,

I thank Thee, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, that Thou wouldst condescend to take our Nature upon Thee, and therein suf­fer for our Sins; yea shed thy precious Bloud upon the Cross for our Redemption. Glory, honour, blessing and [Page 62]praise be unto Thee, O Lord; to whom, in all reason, I ought hence­forth to live, and not unto my self. And therefore here I devote my self to thy faithfull service; and resolve, if need be, even to take up my Cross, and follow Thee. Assist me, good Lord, and make me par­taker of all the Benefits of thy Death and Pas­sion; according as Thou seest me sincerely resol­ved, in all things for ever to obey Thee. Amen.

[Page 63] Or this,

Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me bless his holy Name. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all his Bene­fits. Who forgiveth all thy Sin, and hath now filled thy mouth with good things: and who giveth thee hope of better in eternal Life. Sanctify me wholly, O Lord, that I may not fall short of it: but my whole, Spirit and Soul and Body, may be pre­served [Page 64]blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

A shorter after the Cup.

I thank Thee again, O Lord, for thy wonderfull Love in sending thy Son to lay down his Life, and in making me partaker of the Benefits of his precious Bloud shedding for us. Preserve in me for ever a sense of thy Love; and thereby preserve me holy and without blemish to the second coming of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

[Page 65] After you are gone from the Lord's Table, to your seat, say,

Blessed be the Lord, for his exceeding great grace and mercy to us in Christ Jesus. Blessed be the Lord, who hath called me into fellow­ship with Himself, and with his Son Christ Je­sus. Blessed be his Name, that I have now received the to­kens of his endless Love: in which I ought to rejoyce with­out [Page 66]ceasing, as more valuable then all the goods of this world.

It is my joy, O Lord, my highest satisfaction I have in this world, that I am beloved of Thee, who art able to make me more happy then I can conceive. O pre­serve me for ever in thy Love; and for that end preserve in me the same thoughts, resolu­tions, and devout af­fections, which I now feel in my heart.

Keep them alive by the powerfull assisten­ces [Page 67]of thy Holy Spirit; of which Thou hast gi­ven me an assurance in thy precious Promises, and in these sacred Pledges of thy Loving-kindness. For which I again most humbly thank Thee, and desire I may never forget how much I am indebted to Thee; but be still prai­sing Thee, and saying,

I will extoll Thee, my God, O King of Hea­ven; and I will bless thy Name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless [Page 68]Thee, and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.

While I live, will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises to my God, while I have any being.

My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever. Amen.

While others are Com­municating, you may say,

Preserve us all, O Lord, pure and accep­table [Page 69]Sacrifices unto Thee; that we may be all presented spotless before the presence of thy glory with excee­ding joy.

Or this,

As we, being many, are one bread and one body: (for we are all partakers of that one Bread, and have drunk of the same Cup:) so help us to keep the uni­ty of the Spirit in the bond of peace; and to love one another with a pure heart fervently.

[Page 70] Or this, Rom. 5, 6.

Now the God of pa­tience and consolation grant us to be like-min­ded one towards another, after the example of Christ Jesus:

That we may with one mind and one mouth glo­rify God, even the Fa­ther of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This may be added.

Let all the people praise Thee, O God, let all the people praise Thee.

From the rising of the [Page 71]Sun unto the going down of the same, let the Name of our Lord be praised.

Blessed be the Name of the Lord, from this time forth and for ever­more.

Ʋpon Christmas-day and seven days after you may adde this to your other Devotions.

More particularly I now remember, O Lord, thy stupendious Love, in sending thy Son so unexpectedly to [Page 72]visit us, when the World thought not of Thee, but were Stran­gers, or rather Enemies unto Thee. Blessed be the Lord, who hath so highly honoured our Nature, as to dwell among us, and to ap­pear in the likeness of sinfull Flesh. Preserve in me such a remem­brance of it, that I may never dishonour Him nor my self, by consen­ting to any filthiness either of the flesh or spirit: but alway be­have my self sutably to [Page 73]the relation I have unto Him, in righteousness and holiness before Him all the days of my life. Amen.

V;pon Easter-day and seven days after.

I bless Thee, O Lord, who hast fulfilled thy promise unto our Savi­our, that Thou wouldst not leave his Soul in hell, nor suffer thy Holy one to see Corruption. Bles­sed be God, who hath thereby confirmed our Faith in the Promises [Page 74]He hath made to us. This is the day [or time] the Lord hath made; I will rejoyce and be glad in it. This is the day when my Saviour was begotten again from the dead; and thereby hath begot­ten us again unto a live­ly hope of immortal Life. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. The Lord hath shewed us light; even the light of Life. I will offer to Him therefore perpetually the Sacrifice of righte­ousness, [Page 75]together with these Sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, for his Mercy towards us; which, I see by this, endureth for ever.

Ʋpon Ascention-day and seven days after.

Blessed be God, that I see Jesus, who was humbled a while and made lower then the Angels, for the suffe­ring of death, crowned now with glory and honour. Lift up my heart, O Blessed Jesus, [Page 76]to that high and holy place, where Thou art exalted; and keep it fixed there. That set­ting my affections on things above, where Thou art at God's right hand, I may never doe any thing that is un­worthy of my Christian Profession: but have my Conversation in Heaven; from whence I expect Thee, O Bles­sed Jesus, who hast told us, Thou art onely gone before, to prepare a place for us.

Where Thou art, O [Page 77]Blessed Lord, there let me be also: And at last change this vile bo­dy, that it may be fa­shioned like unto thy glorious Body, accor­ding to the working whereby Thou art able even to subdue all things unto thy self.

Ʋpon Whitsunday and six days after.

I rejoyce in the com­fort Thou hast brought us, O Holy Spirit of Grace: I rejoyce to [Page 76] [...] [Page 77] [...] [Page 78]hear (as Thou hast te­stified by the wonder­full Gifts bestowed on the Apostles) that my Dearest Saviour is alive; and that He lives for evermore; and will never cease his Love to us, till we be there where He is. O inspire me more and more with thy heaven­ly Grace, that being stedfast in this Faith, I may bring forth all the fruits of the Spirit; and not onely resist, but overcome all Tempta­tions in my way to [Page 79]Heaven. Guide me by thy Counsel, strengthen me with thy Might, sup­port me with thy Com­forts in all necessities, streights and dangers; that I may at last safely arrive at eternal glory. Amen.

Ʋpon the Feast of Tri­nity onely.

Adored be the in­comprehensible Majesty of the Eternal undivi­ded Trinity, in whose Name I was baptized; and whom I humbly [Page 80]worship with praises and thanksgivings, say­ing,

Blessed be thy Name, O God the Father Al­mighty, the Creatour of Heaven and Earth; in whom we all live, and move, and have our being.

And blessed be the Eternal Son of the Fa­ther, our Saviour and Redeemer, the Prince of Peace, who hath purchased an eternal Redemption for us.

And blessed be the Holy Ghost, the Com­forter, [Page 81]who inspires me with good thoughts, pious desires, and god­ly resolutions; and will conduct me, I hope, unto everlasting Life. Amen.

IF there be more time left, before all have communicated, (as there is generally on these great Festivals, and where many re­ceive [Page 82]upon other days) you may spend it in Meditating, as well as you are able, upon the Ends for which this Sa­crament was ordained. Turn to the Third Chapter of this Book, and there reade them in order;

I. Saying to your self, when you think that you have now so­lemnly owned your self to be a Christian, &c.

O Lord, truly I am thy Servant, I am thy Servant; I am sensible [Page 83]that I am not my own; for I am bought with a great price, and there­fore ought to glorify God in my body and in my spirit, which are God's.

And, Good Lord, as­sist me (as becomes one who names the Name of Christ) to depart from all iniquity.

II. And when you think of the next thing, (how thankfull you ought to be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,) you may easily turn those words you [Page 84]reade there into a Thanksgiving: or have some such short Ejacu­lation as this:

What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? e­specially for this, that He hath not spared his own Son, but delivered him up for us all?

III. To which you may give an Answer, when you think of the Third thing, [your Fi­delity to him] saying,

I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I [Page 85]will keep thy righteous Judgments.

I have inclined my heart to perform thy Sta­tutes always, even unto the end. CXIX. Psal. 106.112.

It is reasonable that whatsoever I doe in word or deed, I should doe all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. III. Coloss. 17.

IV. And when you think (lastly) of ha­ving Communion with Him, say,

[Page 86] What greater Happi­ness can I wish, then to be one with Christ? and to be made partaker with Him in the Merits of his Death? whereby I am sure that I shall partake with Him in the glory of his Resurrection.

By this I know that I dwell in Him, and He in me, because He hath given me of his Spirit.

O make me, Blessed Lord, more and more one with Thee, by ma­king me more perfectly of the same mind, spirit and disposition with Thee.

[Page 87] A Prayer at home on that day.

If you be by such means as these duly af­fected with our Savi­our's Love towards you, the remembrance of it will not presently slip out of your mind; nor will you be willing to part with it. And while it continues there, it will make all your Christian Duty easy and delightfull; and it will be a hard matter to persuade you to of­fend [Page 88]Him. Do not fail therefore to endeavour to preserve it, by affec­ting your heart again with such thoughts as these; repeating some time or other on that day the foregoing Me­ditations, and adding this Prayer.

I can never thank Thee enough, O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, for the in­numerable benefits I have received from thy boun­ty: And therefore ought to take all opportunities [Page 89]to bless Thee, and to speak good of thy Name; especially now that I have newly tasted how graci­ous Thou art, in giving thy onely Son, our Savi­our Jesus Christ, not onely to die for us, but also to be our spiritual food and sustenance, in that Sacrament which I have this day received.

When I think onely what a kindness it is, that I have my daily bread, and never want things convenient for the support and comfort of this present life; I find [Page 90]that I am indebted to Thee upon that account, exceedingly above all that I can express: But that Thou art pleased to admit me to thy own Ta­ble, and there entertain me with the blessed hope of being with my Saviour where He is, and rejoy­cing with Him for ever; Lord, how much doth it surpass the highest of my thoughts? and with what delight and satis­faction ought it to fill my heart?

Possess me, I beseech Thee, most mercifull Fa­ther, [Page 91]with such a lively sense of this Love, that I may never forget how happy I am, in being so nearly related to Christ Jesus: But always ac­count it such an honour to be one of his Ser­vants, that I may con­stantly and chearfully obey Him; and delight in this, and all other Duties of a Christian life.

It is a great favour, I ought to be sensible, that I may have the li­berty alway to resort un­to Him, as my most gra­cious [Page 92]Lord and Master; and enjoy Him not onely in the publick Offices of Religion, but here at home in these private ad­dresses unto Him. 0 that by all such means I may grow more like Him! and carry away such a resemblance of his Holiness, Goodness, Hu­mility, Meekness and Patience, that every bo­dy may see I have been with Jesus!

O that there may be such a pious sense of his Love, and such devout affections towards Him! [Page 93]left in my heart; that I may not content my self merely with my daily Prayers, much less with these present expressions of Love to Him: but it may he my constant care every day to approve my self unto Him so faith­fully in all well-doing, that I may not be afraid to appear again before Him, at the next invita­tion I have to his Table!

And let the hearts of all those who have this day devoutly attended on thy service be joyfull and glad in Thee. Help us [Page 94]all to keep our selves pure and undefiled, and to walk so steddily in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; that others, see­ing our good conversa­tion in Christ, may be in love with Religion, and glorify Thee our heavenly Father.

Have mercy also (as we have this day most humbly prayed) upon the whole Church. And so rule the heart of thy chosen Servant CHARLES our King and Governour; that in [Page 95]all his thoughts, words, and works, he may ever seek thy honour and glo­ry; and study to pre­serve thy people commit­ted to his charge, in wealth, peace, and god­liness. And grant also unto all them that are admitted into the fel­lowship of Christ's Reli­gion, that they may es­chew those things that are contrary to their Profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same, for thy dear Sons sake Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

[Page 96] If this seem too long, here follows a shor­ter.

I prostrate my self here again before Thee, O Lord of Heaven and Earth, to bless and praise Thee for all thy Mercies towards me; e­specially for those which Thou hast this day be­stowed on me.

I would not be so un­gratefull as presently to forget such a wonder­full Grace as Thou hast vouchsafed me: but de­sire [Page 97]most earnestly to have a lasting remem­brance of it in my heart, provoking me to love and to good works.

And for that end I now renew my humble supplications unto Thee, that Thou wilt constant­ly excite and assist me by thy Holy Spirit, to walk worthy of my high and heavenly calling in Christ Jesus; by such a sober, righteous and godly life, adorning his Doctrine in all things, that He may own me for his good and faithfull [Page 98]Servant at that great Day, when we shall see Him not in these shadows and figures of Him, but face to face.

And have mercy upon thy whole Church. Whose Prayers I beseech Thee to hear for every Member of the same: more espe­cially for our Sovereign, and all that are in au­thority under him; that by their pious care and watchfulness thy Church may joyfully serve Thee in all godly quietness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I. TAKE some time every day to call to mind how much you stand engaged to our Saviour Christ: first, by your Baptismal Vow; secondly, by your so­lemn Ratification of it at your Confirmation; and thirdly, by your renewing it lately at [Page 100]the Holy Communion, when you professed how much you were indebted to Him, both upon the account of his offering Himself upon the Cross for you, and of his giving Himself there again to you.

II. If these three come into your mind as soon as you awake in the morning, it will be a great security to you. And to make your self more sensible of your obligation, you may [Page 101]begin the day with this Reflection. I am not my own, but the Lord's. He hath bought me with a price, and I have de­voted my self again and again unto Him. There­fore I will glorify Him with body and Soul, which are his.

Or to affect your heart the more, you may put it thus. O how happy am I in being ingaged to serve such a gracious Lord and Ma­ster as Christ Jesus! I will never lose this Hap­piness by being unfaith­full [Page 102]to Him, and un­mindfull of his Love.

III. To keep your self stedfast in this Resolu­tion, reade seriously every day your Duty to God and your Duty to your Neighbour, as they are plainly set down in the Church-CATE­CHISM. [See p 29. of this Book.] And say at the end of it, This I have promised, this I have vowed when I be­came a Christian, this I have again confirmed; [Page 103]and this by God's grace I will faithfully perform.

IV. And resolve at the same time to be watch­full all that day: espe­cially in those things wherein you observed (at your last examina­tion of your self) you have been most de­fective, and most apt to be surprised. Excite your self therein to use greater diligence, and set a stricter guard up­on your heart; care­fully avoiding such pla­ces, [Page 104]company, and oc­casions, as have been wont to indanger you. And call your self to an account at night; ac­cording to the Advice p. 33. of this Book.

V. There is no body, sure, so imployed, but may find time for such short Exercises as these. In which if they would be serious, and not slubber them over too fast; they would find the happy fruit of them in their hearts and [Page 105]lives. And to make them the more effectual, adde this short Prayer, as oft as you can, every day.

Almighty God, who hast given thine onely Son to be unto us both a Sacrifice for Sin, and also an Ensample of god­ly Life; give me grace that I may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable Benefit, and also daily endeavour my self to follow the blessed steps of his most holy Life, through the [Page 106]same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

VI. If your buisiness be such, that you cannot every day reade over your Duty to God and your Duty to your Neighbour; do not fail to doe it once or twice a week. And pause a while at the end of every particular, say­ing, This is my Duty; this I will doe by God's grace. And at the end of all (to make your reading the more effec­tual) [Page 107]say, I heartily thank our Heavenly Fa­ther, that He hath cal­led me (upon these terms) into the state of Salvation: and I be­seech Him to give me his grace, that I may continue in the same un­to my life's end.

VII. Resolve also by this means to fit your self to receive the Holy Com­munion as often as you can: remembring that, as by Baptism you are made a Member of [Page 108] Christ, and enter into the state of Salvation; so by this Communion with Him, you conti­nue in that blessed state. Which they cannot just­ly pretend unto, who constantly neglect to doe this in remembrance of Christ. They give no sufficient testimony that they are of the Christian Society; nor have any reason to look upon themselves as li­ving Members of Christ, and in a state of Sal­vation.

[Page 109] VIII. And if you do not come up to your Reso­lution in every thing, but find rather you have severall ways fai­led in the performance of your Duty to God and your Neighbour; let not that hinder you from going to the Com­munion, when you have opportunity. But one­ly humble your self the more before God by unfeigned Repentance: and go to strengthen your Christian Resolu­tion, [Page 110]by receiving the spiritual Food which Christ hath prepared for you; and beseech Him to impart more spiritual strength unto you.

IX. And if you still start back again, let not that discourage you, nor make you think you shall ne­ver grow better. But hope in God rather, that by the constant and frequent use of this and all other holy means, you shall at last be stedfast and unmo­vable [Page 111]in well-doing. You will never be so, if you leave off to com­municate; but you will grow more and more careless in other things: and therefore continue to doe this, as Christ bids you; and doe it for this end, that you may tie your self faster to Him, and increase in power and strength to have victory, and to triumph over the De­vil, the World, and the Flesh.

[Page 112] X. And lastly, be not hindred by Doubts and Scruples (wherewith many are wont to perplex and dishearten themselves) from re­ceiving the benefit of frequent Communion. I have not room to con­sider them all in this lit­tle Book: but if any person cannot in this way which I have di­rected satisfy his Con­science, let him not fail to follow the Counsel which is given him in [Page 113]the Communion-Ser­vice, which is, to goe to his Guide, or some other discreet and lear­ned Minister of God's Word, and open his grief to him; that by the Mi­nistry of God's Holy Word he may receive the benefit of Absolution, to­gether with ghostly coun­sel and advice, to the quieting of his Consci­ence, and avoiding of all Scruple and Doubt­fulness.

IT will doe some ser­vice, perhaps, to well-disposed Souls, if I shew how easily some of their most common Scruples may be satisfi­ed, (if they will but advise with God's Mini­sters about them;) though I cannot insist upon all the causes of their Doubtfulness. I will bestow this Chap­ter [Page 115]therefore upon that buisiness.

I. We ordinarily hear this objected to us, when we tell men of their neglect of this Duty, I do not delight in that, nor in other ho­ly Duties; and there­fore to what purpose is it to doe them?

The plain Answer is this; If you prefer the doing of your Duty be­fore your Pleasure, or your Gain, then you cannot but take a ra­tional [Page 116]satisfaction (if you understand your self) in what you have done.

Nay, if you consider it well, you will have a high Satisfaction; proportionable to the greatness of the Plea­sure, or the worldly Advantage, which you denied for God's sake.

Who, you must re­member, is satisfied in your doing what you can, (especially when you are tempted ano­ther way;) and there­fore so should you be too:

[Page 117] Hoping that by con­stant practice of Ver­tue, He will give you that Delight in it which you desire.

I am sure this is the way to get it, if it be to be had.

II. Others complain of a great Dulness that is up­on them in holy Duties; which makes them have no list to them.

This doth not differ much from the former; and therefore I shall onely adde, that when [Page 118]you have taken all the pains with your self which I have directed in the foregoing Chap­ter, you ought not to be troubled at your Dulness: but ascribe it either to your natural Constitution, or to some present Indisposi­tion of body. Neither of which is in your power to remedy; but onely to submit unto and endure with pa­tience.

In short, let not this afflict you, much less hinder your Communi­cating; [Page 119]if by your re­ceiving the Holy Com­munion, you find that you are made more carefull in your con­stant Duty.

III. But the greatest Dis­couragement of all is this, I do not profit by the Holy Communion, nor grow one jot the bet­ter by receiving it so of­ten. Which language is not more common, then it is, for the most part, causeless. For as many people think they [Page 120]do grow better, when they do not; so others think they do not, when they do: be­cause neither of them know what it is to be better.

Examine your selves therefore by your Duty to God and your Duty to your Neighbour; and try whether they be better performed or no, since you received the Holy Communion.

Let poor Servants, for instance, examine whether they order themselves more lowly [Page 121]and reverently to all their betters; and be carefull to be just and faithfull; to govern their tongues also, and to abstain from evil speaking as well as stea­ling, &c. And more especially, whether they grow more contented in that state and condi­tion of life, into which God hath been pleased to call them. These are substantial signs of growing better, by which you make a true judg­ment of your selves: and either be rid of [Page 122]your Scruple, or know how to be rid of it, by endeavouring seriously to improve in such Vertues.

In like manner, Children should exa­mine themselves about the same Reverence and Lowliness; and whether they honour their Parents more then heretofore; and submit themselves to all their Governours, Teachers, and spiritual Pastours, or Masters.

And all Young peo­ple should examine, [Page 123]whether they keep their Bodies more strictly in temperance, sobriety, and chastity; because they have greatest tempta­tions to the Vices that are contrary to these Christian Duties.

And here it will be fit to mention one thing of which many com­plain, that they are trou­bled with the motions of carnal Lusts, unto which Youth is natu­rally prone.

The Answer is, that it cannot be otherwise, [Page 124]if they be in health: and therefore there needs the greater care and diligence to pre­serve themselves pure and undefiled. Which they may doe, though they feel such Motions, if so be they do not fol­low them, nor suffer themselves to be led by them to any act which God hath forbidden.

That's all you pro­mise in Baptism, to re­nounce the Lusts of the flesh, so as not to follow them, nor be led by them. Lusts, that is, Desires, [Page 125]you may have, and will feel, and they cannot be perfectly subdued: but they do not defile you, if they do not obtain your Consent to them. And all you have to doe, is, to refuse to follow them whether they would carry you; and to resolve not to satisfy them in any way, but that which God al­lows.

And after the same manner you must exa­mine your selves about your Duty to God. [Page 126]Whether you believe more heartily and firm­ly what Christ hath taught you in his Go­spel, and are verily per­suaded of it, so that you fear to offend Him; and esteem his Promises far above all Riches; and think your selves exceeding rich in Faith and Hope, though o­therwise you be poor and low in the World. These are the best signs of improvement.

BUT suppose a man frequently relapse into those Sins which he constantly resolves against, and solemnly promises to forsake; what shall he doe in that case?

To this I answer; I. That as it is his du­ty to judge and con­demn [Page 128]himself severely for it: so I think this ought to be a part of the Sentence he pro­nounces against himself, to judge himself un­worthy to partake of the Holy Communion. For so the Church would judge, if it knew what he was, and did exercise its di­scipline upon such Of­fenders.

II. And therefore, looking upon himself to be as vile as a Dog that returns to his Vo­mit, [Page 129]let him according­ly refrain from the Ta­ble of the Lord; till he be sufficiently hum­bled, and so sensible of his Sin, and of his Dan­ger, as to grow more carefull, and better re­solved.

III. Which it is to be hoped he will be, if he for this reason, and no other, forbear to approach thither; because he looks upon himself as too vile to enjoy such a privilege: not staying away out [Page 130]of carelesness, and loth­ness to take pains with himself, much less de­spair of God's Mercy; but merely out of a sense of his Undeser­vings, and by way of deep Humiliation, and to punish himself, for making no better use of his Saviour's Love and Kindness to him.

IV. If this will not doe, he must adde some extraordinary means of afflicting his Soul, as the Scripture speaks; by judging himself un­worthy [Page 131]to eat or drink, or enjoy any of the good things of this World: and according­ly casting down himself upon the Earth before God, with fasting, weeping, and mour­ning; bewailing and lamenting his sad con­dition, as we are wont to do a Friend, when we fear he is a-dying, or in great danger of it.

V. And if still he find he is not safe, he must after all advise with some discreet Mi­nister [Page 132]of God's Word, as with a Spiritual Physician; desiring to know what course to take, that he may get the mastery of those unruly Lusts which are too hard for him.

VI. And when he comes for this ghostly Counsel and Advice, let him not be ashamed plainly to confess his Sins, and to open the whole state of his Soul before him whom he consults: relating how, and by what means, he [Page 133]comes to be thus intan­gled in the Snare of the Devil, that he cannot get out of it.

VII. Be sure you con­quer the lothness you will find in your self to make this Discovery, for fear it disgrace you in his opinion. And convince your self, that you ought the rather to confess your Sins inge­nuously, that you may take shame to your self, and lay your self low in the presence of God and his Minister.

[Page 134] Doe it as a part of your Humiliation.

VIII. Whereby he will be able to judge what Remedies are most proper for your Cure, when he knows the cause and the root of your Disease. When you deal sincerely with him, he will be able to tell you of what nature and degree your Sin is, and whence it proceeds: whether it be from Idle­ness, or Ill company, or Carelesness in your De­votion, or Neglect of [Page 135]serious thoughts to quicken your belief, to call to remembrance your Obligations, and to put your self in mind of the great Account you must give; or from too much Confidence of your self, want of Fear and Caution, not watching over your eyes, or the door of your lips, and abun­dance of other such like things; which he may observe, and ac­cordingly give you his Directions.

[Page 136] IX. And be sure you submit to his Prescrip­tions, and be very care­full to follow them: for this is the last Remedy, which you ought to use with thankfulness to God for it, and with fear and trembling lest you should not be the better by it.

Suppose a man had the Falling-sickness, what would he not give, or doe, or suffer, to be freed from it, ra­ther then be in conti­nual danger of falling [Page 137]into the fire , or wa­ter, or other mischief? Make this your own case: for your fre­quent falling into Sin, notwithstanding your resolutions and ingage­ments, is far more dreadfull and dange­rous: and no means ought to be refused for a cure of so great an evil.

THIS Book being intended for Be­ginners, and such as may be supposed to have least knowledge of their Duty; I shall conclude it with a few Advices to Children, to poor Servants, and to all sorts of Young people.

The Duty of Chil­dren is comprehended in two words, to ho­nour, [Page 139]and to obey their Parents. Therefore re­member,

I. First, It is your Du­ty to Honour your Pa­rents; which is the first of all the Command­ments of the Second Table: And consists,

1. In an Esteem of them as your Superiours and greatest Benefac­tours; because, under God, they were the Au­thours of your Being, and took care of your Education, when you [Page 140]could not look after your selves.

2. In a reverent Be­haviour towards them, even when they do not perform their Duty; but provoke you to wrath, by their peevish crosness.

3. In requiting their Love, by supplying their necessities; if they fall into a low condi­tion, and you be able to support them. Reade I Tim. V. 4. XV. Matt. 5, 6.

4. In bearing with their Infirmities, either [Page 141]of body or mind; espe­cially in their old age, or declining years.

II. Secondly, Obey your Parents, (VI. Ephes. 1.) so as to be subject to them, II. Luk. 51. That is,

1. Be subject to their good Instructions and Admonitions; to which you ought to listen di­ligently.

2. To their Com­mands; when they bid you doe any thing that is not contrary to [Page 142]the Divine Command­ments.

3. To their Correc­tions also for your faults; to which you ought reverently to submit. XII. Hebr. 9.

4. And to their Di­rections also about the choice of your Calling; if you have not a natu­ral aversation to it.

5. But especially in the buisiness of Marri­age; in which Parents have always had a right to dispose of their Chil­dren. Not indeed to force them to marry [Page 143]one whom they cannot love; but to oblige them to endeavour to love those whom they recommend to their choice.

And when you can­not bring your self to a compliance with their desires in that point; you must with due re­verence and respect: dis­sent from them, and humbly beseech them to press you no far­ther.

If they will not har­ken to your repeated requests, you are not [Page 144]bound (or rather, you are bound not) to fol­low their directions in such a case. But, on the other side, do not marry any body else, without their consent: unless they be so unrea­sonable, that they will let you marry none at all; and you find a ne­cessity of it, to prevent your being led away, contrary to your Vow in Baptism, by fleshly Lusts.

In that case repair to the Magistrate or your Minister, (who are com­mon [Page 145]Parents,) and let them deal with them: and if they cannot pre­vail, I have no more to say about your Obedi­ence in this particular; use your liberty pru­dently, and with good advice of Friends, and due respect to your Pa­rents.

But (as the Com­mon-Prayer-Book ex­horts you in the Office of Matrimony) do not enterprise nor take in hand such a weighty thing as Marriage, un­advisedly, lightly, or [Page 146]wantonly, meerly to sa­tisfy carnal lusts and appetites; (like brute Beasts that have no un­derstanding;) but re­verently, discreetly, ad­visedly, and in the fear of God, duly considering for what ends it was or­dained: and then you cannot doe amiss.

Be carefull in the performance of these Duties; and God (be­fore whom such things are good and accepta­ble) will give you his Blessing. Reade III. Ec­clesiasticus, [Page 147]beginning, unto v. 17.

THough Servants be not now mere Slaves and Bond­men, as they were in the Apostles days; yet they are in a state of subjection, and are tied to such Obedience as we find enjoyned in the Apostolical Wri­tings; even for this [Page 148]reason, because they are now in a far bet­ter condition. Harken therefore to your Du­ty, as it is plainly set forth in the Holy Scrip­ture. And remember,

I. First of all, that you are bound to study to please your Masters and Mistresses, by doing as they bid you, in their buisiness wherein they imploy you. II. Titus 9. A branch of which is, (as you will find in that place) not to contra­dict [Page 149]them, and stand disputing with them. Much less ought you to I be saucy and irreverent in your Answers, or in your Behaviour towards them, 1 Tim. VI. 1.

II. Remember also to be Faithfull in your trust, and never to deceive them in the smallest matter; but be sure to shew all good fidelity, as the Apostle there tea­ches you. II. Tit. 10.

[Page 150] III. Part of which Fide­lity is, to be diligent in your buisiness, and to dispatch it as soon as you can: and to be solicitous also to doe your work well; which S. Peter and S. Paul seem to mean, when they bid you serve them with all fear, 1 Pet. II. 18. and with fear and trembling, VI. Ephes. 5.

IV. And both this Dili­gence, [Page 151]and Solicitude, and Trustiness, must be performed not onely when they have their eye upon you; but when their back is tur­ned, and they are ab­sent from you. VI. E­phes. 6. III. Coloss. 22. If you gad abroad, or slacken your labour and care, when they are not at home, or do not see you; you do not serve them as Christians, that study to please God, but as vile Slaves, and Men­pleasers, that mind no­thing [Page 152]but to avoid their anger.

V. Be content also with your Allowance; and submit to such Re­straints as they lay up­on you: which seems to be included in the Apostolical Precept be­fore mentioned, II. Tit. 10. For more then this, you ought to take their hard Words, nay and Corrections, pa­tiently. I cannot say, but you may seek a re­medy from your Go­vernours and theirs, if [Page 153]they abuse you; but a Blow that does no hurt, much more an angry Chiding, should not seem any great matter to you: But you had better bear it, saying nothing, or meekly praying them to spare you, then increase their wrath by answering a­gain angrily. Howsoe­ver all ill words are ut­terly unlawfull. Reade 1 Pet. II. 18.

VI. The Apostles also would have you to [Page 154]serve them with good will, VI. Ephes. 7. and whatsoever you doe, to doe it heartily, III. Co­loss. 23. One note of which is, when you go about your buisiness chearfully, and do not grumble at your work; much less grumble at this, that you are Ser­vants, and not as good as those whom you serve.

It is very uncomfor­table to your Masters, as well as your selves, when you go about your work with a dis­contented [Page 155]spirit and a sour heart, lowring and pouting, as we speak: which proceeds from hence, that you forget you are serving the Lord, when you are diligent in their buisi­ness, and look upon your selves onely as Servants of Men. This the Apostles correct, when they bid you be obedient to your Ma­sters as unto Christ: Not with eye-service, as men­pleasers, but as the ser­vants of Christ; doing the will of God from the [Page 156]heart: With good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men. VI. Ephes. 5, 6, 7. Where he four times (within the compass of 3 verses) puts you in mind of this, that you are doing God's will, and serving the Lord Christ; when you are doing their buisiness which they enjoyn you.

If you think of this, you will not goe about it heavily, and discon­tentedly: especially if you consider the motive [Page 157]whereby the Apostle incourages you; know­ing that whatsoever good thing a man doeth, (though in the meanest place,) the same shall he receive of the Lord, whe­ther he be bond or free. VI. Ephes. 8. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. III. Co­loss. 24.

I. IT is of the greatest consequence, to be­gin well. And there­fore at your first set­ting out into the World, take a special care, lest you con­tract any evil habit; especially of Idleness, the bane of Youth: and lest you entertain any prejudices against [Page 159]things, before you be able to judge; as we see too many have done against the Common Prayers of the Church; which they abhorr they know not why, merely from an early disgust they took to them, be­fore they could distin­guish between good and evil.

II. And check your de­sire of Pleasure, which now above all other times will intice you: and of Novelty also, [Page 160]which is comprehen­ded in the youthfull Lusts, as we render the words, spoken of in 2 Tim. II. 22. un­to which mankind is strangely prone in their inconsiderate age, loa­thing ancient forms, and craving new enter­tainment for their fan­cies.

III. Avoid Harlots, as you would the Plague: remembring the repea­ted cautions and admo­nitions, which the Wise man gives to his Son [Page 161]about this matter. Reade them seriously, II. Prov. 18, 19. V. Prov. 3, 4, 5. VII. the whole Chap­ter: and follow his counsels, lest thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consu­med, saying, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised re­proof; and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to them that in­structed me?

IV. In order to Chastity▪ [Page 162] be exactly temperate in meat and drink. Drink no wine; which will adde fire to fire: study hard; or use your selves to labour, and watch­ings: avoid all provo­cations to your carnal appetite.

V. Take heed what Friendships you con­tract: for Youth is prone to familiarity, and thereby drawn ea­sily into ill company.

[Page 163] VI. Reverence your El­ders, XIX. Levit. 32. 1 Pet. V. 5, 6. particu­larly your Tutors and Guardians, who are in stead of Parents. Which Reverence is to be ex­pressed not merely by your outward Behavi­our, and in your Lan­guage; but in desiring their Advice, harke­ning to their Coun­sels, enterprising no­thing without their Di­rection, and submitting to their Reprehension.

[Page 164] VII. In order to which, be sober-minded, as S. Paul exhorts you II. Tit. 6. Whereby he means either Serious­ness, and the study of Discretion; or Humili­ty and Modesty. Which Modesty is an excee­ding great ornament of Youth; an indication also of a good Mind, and a hopefull blossom of excellent fruit; as one of the Ancients speaks. But it doth not consist merely in [Page 165]your Looks; but in your low opinion of your selves, sense of your imprudence and weakness, and in a humble attention to the opinions and coun­sels of your Elders.

VIII. Finally, remember that Youth is like the Spring-time, which will soon be over; and if you onely play in it, and take no care to sow good seeds of Wisedom and Piety, you will lose the opportunity of [Page 166]making provision for a happy life.

Of this you are in great danger; because there is nothing to which young men are more prone, then to squander away their time. Be serious there­fore and considerate, that you may not be undone by the folly of Youth: which, as So­lomon notes, inclines men so eagerly to fol­low their own humour in every thing, that they do not love to have any check in [Page 167]their mirth and jollity.

That which will check them most is the thoughts of the future, especially the remem­brance (as he there ob­serves, XI. Eccles. 9.) of the account they must make. And there­fore I conclude with that advice,

Rejoyce, O young man, in thy youth, &c. But know that for all these things God will bring thee into judg­ment.

I. AS for those who cannot reade themselves, (which in our days are but few, blessed be God, in comparison with former Ages,) their Masters, or their Mistresses, or their Fellow-servants, or some good Neigh­bour, or Relation, are desired to be so chari­table, as to reade to [Page 169]them their duty about this matter; shewing them the necessity, and the ends of it; and praying them to mark and observe what is read.

II. Or if their Me­mories be very weak, tell them in short, that they are bound by their Vow in Baptism to doe God's will, and keep his Commandments: and that this is one of his Commandments, that they should commemo­rate his Love, by coming unto the Holy Commu­nion; [Page 170]which will help them to doe the rest of his will better.

III. Reade to them also their Baptismal Vow; together with their Duty to God, and their Duty to their Neighbour, as it is laid down in the Cate­chism: and ask them, if they intend to doe all this by God's gra­cious assistence.

IV. If they consent to it, tell them they ought to go and re­ceive Confirmation, as was said before: and [Page 171]then go to the Holy Communion, to thank God for calling them into this state of Salva­tion by Jesus Christ, and for working such a good will in them; and to promise Him that they will continue his faithfull Servants to their lives end.

V. And let them know, that if they can doe no more at the Ho­ly Communion, but onely give God thanks heartily for sending his Son to die for them; and devote themselves [Page 172]unto Him in resolution of sincere Obedience; it will be acceptable to Him: and in time they will understand more, and doe this Duty bet­ter.

VI. Therefore teach them, that the thoughts of their imperfections, and ignorance, ought not to discourage them from coming to the Communion: for the very doing of that which Christ commands, I mean, the Minister's taking Bread and Wine, blessing them, breaking [Page 173]the one, and pouring out the other, giving them to his people, and their receiving these in remembrance of his Death and Passion, is a thing in it self grate­full to Him. And if they know thus much, and with honest hearts give thanks to God, and promise Him to be his faithfull Servants; He will take it kindly, and increase his Graces in their hearts.

VII. And that He may, tell them, that since they cannot reade, [Page 174]they must be the more diligent in attending to what is read in the Church or in private; and to the Sermons they hear preached: laying up the principal things they observe, carefully in their hearts; that they may find them there upon occasion.

VIII. For which end Masters and Mistresses should take care, their Servants may have time to go to Church: or rather, they should see them go, and bring them thither; saying [Page 175]with the holy men of God, I and my house will serve the Lord.

IX. And if they would help them to learn some short Prayer by heart, besides the Lord's Prayer; it would be a means to possess them with a sense of their Duty, and to make them more con­fident of God's gracious assistence in the doing of it. Instruct them, at least, after you have read to them their Du­ty to God, and their Duty to their Neigh­bour, [Page 176]to say, Lord, have mercy upon me; and write all these thy Laws in my heart, I be­seech Thee: and this Collect,

O God, whose Bles­sed Son was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the Devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eter­nal life; Grant me, I beseech Thee, that ha­ving this hope, I may purify my self, even as He is pure; that when He shall appear again with power and great [Page 177]glory, I may be made like unto Him in his eternal and glorious Kingdom: where with Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Holy Ghost, He liveth and reigneth ever one God world without end. Amen.

X. There is reason Masters and Mistresses should be at this pains with their Servants who cannot reade; if they consider how much bet­ter Servants they will be to them, when they are become the Ser­vants of God: and that [Page 178]they themselves have a Master in Heaven, who expects they should not merely use their Bodies well, but look also af­ter their Souls; so far at least, as to help them to the means of Christi­an Instruction.

This is a thing in­deed much neglected; and if their work be but well done, some Masters and Mistresses concern themselves no farther. But such per­sons plainly declare, that they love them­selves better then God; [Page 179]else they would not be satisfied till God's work was done also, and car­ried on together with their own.

I. AS for those who are able to reade, I need not, sure, advise them to use that ability; but onely to use it well: avoiding vain and idle [Page 180](especially all filthy) Books, and being con­versant in those that are good and profitable; such as will improve their minds in usefull knowledg, or excite in them devout affections towards God, or direct them in the practice of Justice and Mercy, of Temperance and Cha­stity, and of all other Christian Vertues.

II. But above all other Books, acquaint your selves with the Holy [Page 181]Scriptures; which Ti­mothy (S. Paul says) had known from a child; and were able to make him wise unto Salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. III. 15. Which is a high commendation of the Old Scriptures, and a great incourage­ment to study those Ho­ly Books; from whence we may reap the greater benefit, now that we have the New Scriptures added to them, which contain the Faith in Christ Jesus, which [Page 182]the Apostle speaks of.

You do but pretend to love God, (which you acknowledge is a part of the Duty you owe Him,) if you do not seek after his mind and will, which is one­ly to be found in the Holy Scriptures.

III. And of all other parts of the Scripture, I have observed young people delight (as it is natural to doe) in reading the Historical Books of the Old Testament. Which [Page 183]truly are writ with such a spirit of Piety, as is to be found in no other History; designing vi­sibly these two things. First, to instill into the people a belief of Di­vine Providence, which governs all things; and presides not onely over Nations, but particular Persons: who there­fore ought to have God in all their thoughts, to whom all events are ascribed by the holy History. And secondly, to nurse them up in a sense of the difference [Page 184]of Good and Evil: the former of which always received remarkable te­stimonies of God's Fa­vour; and the other was ever attended with the effects of his severe Displeasure.

IV. Do not think there­fore that you have profitably read these Books, unless you come away from the reading of them more sensible of these two things, and more affected with them. Possessed, that [Page 185]is, with a more lively apprehension of God's overruling Power and Providence, whereby all things are disposed: and therefore resolved to commit your selves unto Him in well-do­ing; and to make that difference between Good and Evil that He doth; resting satisfied with what He is plea­sed to order, when you have taken care to or­der your selves so, as to avoid what He hates, and to follow that which He loves.

[Page 186] V. But above all other Books of the Old Te­stament, the Psalms are of most general use: and therefore ordered by our Church to be read over publickly once every month. Some of which you would doe well to get by heart, that you may say them upon all occasions, as anciently they were wont to doe: nothing being more ordinary then to hear the Husbandman chanting them as he [Page 187]followed the Plow, the Seaman as he sate at the Helm, the Wa­terman at his Oar, the Weaver at his Loom, the good Houswife at her Spindle or her Wheel; nay, the poor Ditcher sang them at his Spade, and the very Children in the streets. In short, they suckt these in with their Mothers milk, and from their very infancy, as soon as they could learn any thing, were taught a smattering of them, [Page 188]before they could speak perfectly: such a love they had to the sweet Musick of these Holy Songs.

VI. The very first of which will put you in mind of your Du­ty; and of the Hap­piness it will bring you if you doe it faithfully. Let that therefore, and the rest that are of most ge­neral use, (and relate not merely to David's present condition, or to some publick cala­mity,) [Page 189]be read most frequently, and pon­dered most seriously. Such are the VIII. XV. XIX. XXXIII. XXXIV. CIII. CIV. CXIX. CXXXIX. CXLV. with many o­ther, which every one may observe for his own use: particular­ly the VII Penitential Psalms; which are most proper when you are in a sad afflicted con­dition, or bewail any Sin you have commit­ted, to which they may be also appli­ed. [Page 190]They are the VI. XXXII. XXXVIII. LI. CII. CXXX. CXLIII.

VII. But when all this is done, you must chiefly reade the Books of the New Testament, or Co­venant made with us in Jesus Christ: to which the Books of the Old Testament re­fer you, as the per­fection of that Know­ledg which was but obscurely delivered by them. And first, the Holy Gospels, which mostly contain the Hi­story [Page 191]of our Saviour's Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, and As­cention: in all which principally observe the mighty power of God giving Testimony un­to Him, and declaring Him to be the Son of God. Whom there­fore you are bound to obey; and in order thereunto study what his Will is: which is most fully delivered in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in the V. VI. and VII. Chapters of Saint Mat­thew. [Page 192]Reade these at least once a week.

VIII. Then follow the Acts of the Apostles; which abundantly de­clare their authority, by whose Ministry we have received the Go­spel; and bid us attend to their Instructions, which are left us in their Epistles, as the words of men divinely inspired. And in these content your selves with those parts of them which are most easy and plain, and [Page 193]of general use and con­cernment: and meddle not presently with those which are hard and ob­scure, and which relate to some particular ca­ses, which now are not so well known, as to make their sense apparent to every one. For it is a very ill sign, when you stand puzzling your selves about some dark pas­sages in the Apostolical Writings; when there are plain ones in abun­dance to exercise your thoughts. I will di­rect [Page 194]you to some, that will be fittest for your Meditation. In the E­pistle to the Romans reade often the XII. and XIII. Chapters; with the XIII. of the first to the Corinthians; the IV. V. VI. to the Ephesians; III. and IV. to the Colossians; IV. and V. of the first to the Thessalonians; and (to omit others) the I. II. X. XI. XII. XIII. of the Epistle to the Hebrews; the whole Epistles of Saint James, and of Saint Peter.

[Page 195] And when you reade them, let it be with a design to grow better, rather then more know­ing.

And then think you grow better, when you are made more hum­ble; more sensible of God's love, and your own undeservings; more thankfull; more meek and patient; more submissive to God's Providence, and to your Governours, whether civil or spiri­tual, private or pu­blick.

[Page 196] IX. When you are thus disposed, by these and such like Christian Ver­tues, you may venture to reade the harder parts of Scripture; and not be in danger to wrest them (as those doe who are settled upon no principles) to your own destruction. For then you will not be forward to frame a sense of those places out of your own head: but confess your igno­rance; and look up­on them as containing [Page 197]things not necessary to be known: for all ne­cessary things are plain­ly set down; and per­haps some of those ve­ry things about which you trouble your selves, are else-where delive­red in clearer words. As you may be satis­fied if you take the next opportunity, to consult with those whose lips are to preserve knowledge.

Which is the best way to be resolved in such cases.

[Page 198] X. As for other good Books besides the Scri­pture, you may find some time to reade them. And the less you have on other days, spend the Lord's days and other Holy days the more seri­ously in this work. When I would advise you to reade V. VI. and VII. of Saint Mat­thew; with some part of the Whole Duty of Man. And when you have made some pro­ficiency in knowledg, [Page 199]reade Dr. Hammond's PRACTICAL CA­TECHISM; where you will find that Ser­mon of Christ's upon the Mount expounded.

XI. But whatsoever god­ly Book you reade, whether the Holy Scri­ptures or any other, be sure you indeavour to come away bettered by the reading of them. For if you get no good by them, that very thing will incline you, at last, to slight and neglect them: as many do, we [Page 200]see, the hearing of good Sermons, because they do not perceive, that they or others are at all the better for them; but after much hearing, there is little doeing of God's will.

But this the Scripture it self foretold, and hath exactly described such people, as are ever lear­ning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim. III. 5, 6, 7. and intended here­by to breed in every one of us a due caution, least we be of that unprofita­ble [Page 201]number. Which you must prevent, by being more serious, attentive and diligent in reading holy Books for that end for which they were writ: and hearing Ser­mons, not for fashion sake, but that you may be taught, or remem­bred of your Duty; and excited or directed to doe it with greater care and constancy.

XII. And if you meet with the very same thing over and over again, either in reading or hearing; do [Page 202]not therefore nauseate it, or grow weary of it, or pass it by hastily and carelesly: But rather look upon it as a very usefull Truth, of which you have great need, because it comes so of­ten in your way; and thankfully acknowledg­ing that God is very kind to you (in putting you so frequently in mind of that which is so necessary to your Salva­tion) give the greater heed to it, and ponder it with such seriousness, as a thing of that moment deserves.

IF every one had so much Humility, and such a hearty desire to be truly good, wrought in their Souls betime, they would reade and hear God's word to better purpose.

I. Therefore Parents should above all things instill this into their Children very early; how necessary it is, and [Page 204]how much it becomes them to be humble: and that by no means they grow conceited of their own parts or understan­ding; but be desirous to learn of every one, with simplicity and meekness, without any other design but to know their Duty.

II. This we may be sure would dispose them to receive benefit by the Holy Scriptures, and by all other good instruc­tions: For it is the ve­ry qualification which [Page 205] Christ requires to make a person fit to be one of his Disciples, that He first become like a little Child. XVIII. Matth. 3. There is no good to be done upon him in Christ's School, unless he first learn to be humble, subject to his Teachers, simple hearted, and without guile, conten­ted with a little, hear­tily in love with those that take care of him. And when he is thus freed from pride, am­bition, desire of Riches, or any thing else but [Page 206]onely of Knowledge (as little Children naturally are, till the seeds of those vices be stirred up in them by others) he will be a fit soil to receive Christ's heavenly Doc­trine.

III. And doubtless he had reason to say it, who told this Nation long ago, that it is for want of acquainting Child­hood and Youth with such plain Rules as this (which the Scripture it self delivers for our right understanding it) [Page 207]that the Scripture either seems obscure and diffi­cult to them, or that they mistake it, where it seems evident.

IV. For when they grow to mens estate, or are engaged in worldly bui­siness, or come to ho­nour, before they be acquainted with the Holy Scripture, and es­pecially these plain di­rections which it gives us for our profiting by it; one of these three things is the conse­quence of it. The see­ming [Page 208]difficulty of the Scripture either makes them to seek for other Rules, which they ap­prehend more easy; or 2. not to care for any Rule of Faith at all; or else 3. to transform this (which God hath given for the renewing his image in them) into the nature of their corrupt affections.

V. Let this Lesson there­fore, as He advises, of becoming like little Chil­dren, throughly be plan­ted in the hearts of Chil­dren, [Page 209]and then Know­ledg in other parts of Scripture will grow up with them: and Faith thus planted in humili­ty, while their hearts are tender, (and easy to be wrought on by this plain and familiar Precept) will take deep root, and increase more and more, as they do, in strength and stature. For though at the first their Faith be but as a grain of Mu­stard-seed, yet having in the Spring time got the start of Pride and desire of worldly wealth or [Page 210]greatness, it will after­ward flourish in all hea­venly knowledge, and fructify in every good word and work.

VI. And above all other pieces of Humility, it is absolutely necessary that Children be brought up to a great reverence of God's Ministers; and a high opinion of their Calling, Place and Per­sons. If Parents or Guar­dians would teach them to honour them as their spiritual Fathers, and to look upon them as men [Page 211]appointed by God to take care of their best part, their immortal Souls; and to bring Di­vine blessings to them; If they would tell them, Children, these are the men by whom you are baptized and made Chri­stians; by these you must therefore be instructed, and confirmed also in Religion, and assured more and more of God's blessing: it would have a mighty effect upon them, and dispose them for all the good they may hereafter reape by [Page 212]them. Whereas, those words of reproach or un­dervaluing which they now daily hear, must needs have the quite contrary effect; or at least for want of such Admonitions, and fre­quent inculcating the respect, honour and e­steem which is due to God's Ministers, they mind so little what they say, that when they be­come capable of it, they receive no benefit by them.