A threefold alphabet of rules, concerning Christian-practice the first precept of each letter concerning our duty toward God, the second towards our neighbour, the third towards our selves. N. N. 1681 Approx. 17 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-IV TIFF page image. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-04 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A62505 Wing T1126A ESTC R39718 18476730 ocm 18476730 107804

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A62505) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 107804) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1644:7) A threefold alphabet of rules, concerning Christian-practice the first precept of each letter concerning our duty toward God, the second towards our neighbour, the third towards our selves. N. N. 1 broadside. Printed for John Kidgell ..., London : 1681. Signed: N.N. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library.

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eng Christian life. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2008-01 Assigned for keying and markup 2008-01 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2009-07 Sampled and proofread 2009-07 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-09 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
A threefold Alphabet of Rules, concerning Chriſtian-Practice: The firſt Precept of each Letter concerning our Duty towards God, the ſecond towards our Neighbour, the third towards our ſelves.
A.

1. AWake with God in the Morning, and before all things, give him the firſt Fruits and Calves of your Lips. Firſt in confeſſing of ſins: Secondly in Petitioning of neceſſaries for Body and Soul: Thirdly, in thankfulneſs for Mercies received, eſpecially your late preſervation, reſt and protection of you and yours. Joſh. 24. 15. Pſal. 101. 2.

2. Account it not enough that your ſelf fear God, unleſs you ſee all in your charge do the ſame. Gen. 14, 14. and 18, 19.

3. Arm your ſelf againſt whatſoever the day may bring forth, and upon all occaſions think upon your happy Redemption, with much thankfulneſs for ſo happy a Conjunction of Juſtice and Mercy.

B.

1. Beware of occaſions of Sin, and wiſely inure your ſelf in ſubduing the leaſt ſin, that at leaſt the greater may be foiled. 1 Sam. 10.16.

2. Believe all that God hath ſpoken unto you out of his Word, but not all that Man telleth you, nor tell to another all that you hear, but only the Truth, and that neither all, nor allways. Eccl. 3. 7. Luke 2. 29.

3. Before you take in hand any thing, Counſel with Gods word if it be lawful, and then perform it with Prayer, that it may be as ſucceſsful as lawful.

C.

1. Carefully ſet your ſelf in Gods preſence all the day long.

2. Carry your ſelf unto all, as that the weak may be winned, the ſtrong comforted and the wicked aſhamed. 1 Cor. 10. 32. Col. 4, 5.

3. Conſider the dignity of your Soul, how beautiful it is to God and his Angels, ſo long as you keep it unſpotted, that ſo you may cleanſe your heart from the hrſt motions of ſinful thoughts, as Luſt, Anger, Envy, Pride, Ambition, Covetouſneſs, Sullenneſs, and the rather becauſe the leaſt Sin deſerveth Death. Mat. 15.18. Eph. 4.23.31.Ccl. 3.5.8.

D.

1. Dayly, Morning and Evening at leaſt, ſolemnly on your knees make Confeſſion and requeſts with thankſgiving unto the Lord: In the Morning think that day may be your laſt day: and when you go to bed you know not whether you ſhall riſe again, unleſs it be to Judgment: It is ſafeſt therefore to uſe Prayer, as a Key to open the Morning, and as a Bar or Lock to ſhut in the Evening.

2. Delight to do all the good to, and receive all the good you can from, Gods Children. Gal. 6. 10.

3. Diſtruſt not Gods Providence in any lawful undertaking, although you ſee the means wanting, neither when you have them let them be relied on more than God himſelf, but let him be pray'd unto for the proſperous uſe of them. 1 Chron. 16. 9. 12. 1 Cor. 3. 5. and 3. 7.

E.

1. Exerciſe your mind in meditating often on the works of God, as his Creating and Governing of the World, his proſpering and puniſhing the wicked, his bleſſing and correcting of his Children, his preparing unſpeakable Joys for the one, and unutterable torments for the other. But eſpecially on the Sabbaoth, add to theſe Meditations the Holy exerciſe of Prayer, Preaching, holy conferences and the like. Jer. 12. 2. Hab. 2, 1. 2. Mat. 15. 31. Exod. 20. 8:

2. Eſteem of every one better then your ſelf, and the more you excel another, be ſo much the more humble.

3. Examine your Thoughts well whether they tend, before you fulfil your own Deſires, if you find them unprofitable, curious, vain, or ſuch as you cannot yield a ſufficient, reaſon to God or man for, kill them in the Shell, let them not live or breath in you any longer. Rom. 12. 16. Phil. 2.3. Rom. 14.23. Prov. 6.14. Zach. 8. 17. Pſ. 49.3.

F.

1. Eear God and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole Duty of Man. Eccl. 12. 13.

2. Flie and avoid places and perſons Infectious, Wanton, Idle, unthriſty, and bad Company which are to the Soul as poiſoned and infected Air to the Body. Prov. 5. 8. and 6. 17. 18.

3. Follow with faithfulneſs and diligence your own buſineſs in the lawful and peculiar Calling wherein God hath placed yon, only be careful in your Earthly buſineſs to carry a Heavenly mind. Eccl. 1.13. Gen. 3.19. 2 Theſ. 3. 6.

G.

1. Grow up daily in the practice of every Commandment, and in the Faith of every promiſe of God, ſeeing God would have thoſe that are planted in his Houſe thrive, and be fruitful in their old Age. He that is not beſt at laſt, may fear whether ever he were good. 1 Cor. 10.32.

2. Give no offence to any man, whether within or without, for wo be to them by whom offences come. Rom. 14. 13.

3. Grieve for nothing in the world ſo much as for your own ſins, and in them, for nothing ſo much as in offending ſo loving a God, and that not only in committing of evil but in omitting of good. Rom. 7. 8.

H.

1. Humble your ſelf for your ſins that the Lord may raiſe you up, for he that judgeth himſelf aright, ſhall never be judged of the Lord. 1 Cor. 11. 31.

2. Honour all men in their places, but no man ſo much for his greatneſs as for his goodneſs, and thus ſhall you immitate the Lord himſelf who accepteth not perſons but in every Nation accepteth him that feareth him. Acts 10. 31.

3. Have ſpecial care to avoid the ſins which you have found your ſelf moſt inclined unto, and which hath in times paſt prevailed, for ſin is loth to be ſaid nay.

I.

1. Juſtify Gods wiſdom in all his proceedings concerning your ſelf and others, his Power in ſuſtaining, his Providence in maintaining, his Juſtice in puniſhing, his Love for correcting, his Bounty in promiſing, his Faithfulneſs in performing, his Grace in giving, his Mercy in taking away, and in every thing ſay from thy Heart bleſſed be the Name of the Lord.

2. In every Company do ſome good and receive ſome alſo, give no cauſe to be ill ſpoken of, neither do any hurt by Speech, Silence, Countenance, or Example; but in your praiſes be diſcreet, in admoniſhing brotherly, and wiſe in moving and holding up profitable Diſcourſe or Conference.

3. It is fearful to ſin, but much more to lie in it, therefore regiſter all your ſins dayly, bewail them, pray for Pardon of them, and ſtrength againſt them, contemn no ſin by counting it little, becauſe Gods Law hath condemned it, and Chriſt hath died for it. Pſal. 51. 3. Eph. 4. 26.

K.

1. Know God in Chriſt, which is Life everlasting, Kiſs ye the Son of God, leſt he be angry, and know your ſelf to be a Believer, and that Chriſt is in you, and you in him. Job 17. 3, Pſal. 2. 12.

2. Keep as your Vows with God, ſo your lawful promiſes with men, for Faith and Truth muſt kiſs each other in Chriſtian Converſation. Pſal. 15.4.

3. Keep out wandring and worldly thoughts, and unclean thoughts, as much as poſſible, narrowly watching your heart, for ſuch as you ſuffer that to be, ſuch will be your words, deeds and converſation, Prov. 4. 23.

L.

1. Love all things for Gods ſake, and God only for his own; and look you make him your Friend, whoſoever be your Enemy for it, this you ſhould do, if as an obedient Child you live in the Eye of your Heavenly Father.

2. Look on the Lives of the Wicked to avoid them, of the Godly to imitate them, upon the Life and Death of them both, as alſo your own not far off, to make you loath this world and long after the Life to come. Luke 21. 34.

3. Let your Meat, Apparel, and Recreation be Lawful, needful and moderate. Rom. 13. 13.

M.

1. Make no mention of God, or any word or work of his, but with Fear and Reverence, nor of any Man but with Love, and carefulneſs, uſing his Name as you would have him to uſe yours. Deut. 28. 58. Mat. 7. 12.

2. Mark other mens profitting in Religion to provoke your ſelf, their ſteps to make your ſelf more wary, their riſing to be thankful to God for them.

3. Meditate often on the four laſt things Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell.

N.

1. Never make more ſhow of Knowledge outwardly then inwardly you have in your heart, which God ſeeth, in which he deſireth Truth, nor pleaſe your ſelf with your anprofitableneſs, unfitneſs, unwillingneſs to good. Rom, 12. 21.

2. No man is owner but Steward of that which he hath; you muſt therefore impart of the Bleſſings you have, to thoſe that ſtand in need; wiſely, heartily, and in due ſeaſon.

3. Note your own ſpecial corruptions, whether they grow ſtronger or weaker, and how your ſelf can reſiſt them, and if any aſſault you more ſtrongly, pray, and make the matter known to God, who hath ſaid ſin ſhall not have Dominion over you. 1 Cor. 11. 28. Rom. 6. 14.

O.

1. Often ſpeak to the praiſe of God, never of your ſelf, becauſe many words want not ſin, ſpeak as few as you can, or rather none, then unprofitable. Prov. 17.27. & 10. 19.

2. Open not your Mouth to ſpeak of other men's Infirmities, eſpecially behind them, nor before them without grief and ſorrow. Jam. 1. 19. Pſal. 15. 3.

3. Of every idle word account muſt be given, and much more of every wicked word, and therefore let your Speech tend to edification. 2 Tim. 2. 3. Mat. 18. 11. & 12. 36.

P.

1. praiſe the Lord for every new Benifit beſtowed, and then by it promote his Glory, the Churches good, and your own Salvation; eſteeming of Graces given as ſpurs to Godlineſs, and pledges of eternal Life. 1 Theſ. 5. 18.

2. Prevent anger before it kindle, its wiſdom to quench the firſt ſpark of Fire before it begin to flame. Conſider firſt the Original of Anger, being Pride or ſelf-love, ſecondly, the curſed Fruits, by giving place to the Devil; thirdly Gods patience, fourthly Gods Image in your Brother, fifthly your own weakneſs in the ſame kind, ſixthly, the wrong is not remedied by Revenge, but enlarged, nor the wrong doer, amended but imitated. Eccl. 7. 11. Prov. 14. 17.

3. Prepare your ſelf for Death, and pull out his ſting, by firſt bewailing ſins paſt. Secondly by turning to God in time to come. Thirdly by purpoſing a new Life. None can die ill, that hath care to live well. Perſwade your ſelf if you live well, you ſhall do well; but if you die well, doubt not but you ſhall do better. 1 Cor. 15. 16.

Q.

1. Quiet your heart and be ſtill under the correcting hand of God: becauſe 1. He doth it. 2. For the beſt. 3. He will moderate it. 4. Supply ſtrength. 5. Seaſonably deliver out of it, Pſal. 39. 9.

2. Queſtion not whether others ſhould do you good, or you them firſt; it is praiſe worthy to be firſt in well doing, and if you do good to your Enemies your reward is with God, Mat. 5.36. Rom. 12. 20.

3. Quench not the Spirit, nor ſuffer any godly motion ariſing in your heart to paſs away but feed it by Reading, Meditation, Prayer, and Practice, 1 Theſ. 5. 19.

R.

1. Read ſomething dayly of Gods word for the increaſe of Knowledge, and add unto Meditation and Prayer, for all time thus ſpent is well redeemed, Pſal. 12. Deut. 6. 6.

2. Rejoyce in the good you know by any other, praiſe God for it, pray for the increaſe of it, but if you know any evil by any, mourn for it, and if you can by Brotherly love and admonition amend it.

3. Reform your Ears, Eyes, Mouth, and Hands, from hearing, ſeeing, ſpeaking or performing, any wicked and vain thing, knowing that die you muſt but how ſoon you know not, Job 31. 1. Pſ. 119. 37.

S.

1. Stick to God as well in adverſity as in proſperity: if you want neceſſaries humble your ſelf for them, if you have them be humble with them, and uſe them well leaſt you forfeit them, James 2. 2.

2. Seek reconciliation with your Neighbour, freely forgive thoſe that have offended you, and deſire earneſtly to be forgiven of all that have been offended by you. Mat. 5. 23. Pſ. 35. 14.

3. Study to approve both your heart to God, and your life to Gods Children in your particular callings, and eſpecially to ſuch as to home God hath joyned you, if as a Servant in obeying, if a Maſter in Ruling, if an Husband in loving, if a Wife in reverencing, Mat. 23. 26. Jer. 7. 9. Eph. 5. 35. & 6. 5. 6.

T.

1. Take heed of performing Holy duties for faſhion's ſake, without feeling profit, for this is Hyprocriſie, Heb. 3.22.

2. Thankfully require the good you get by any Man, either 1ſt by acknowledgment. Or 2. by hearty affection. Or, 3. by Prayer, Iſa.1. 11. Mat. 5. 8.

3. Think it the greateſt work in the World to die well, becauſe its a thing that muſt but once be done, and if not well done then thou art for ever undone: to die well you muſt inure your ſelf to it before hand. 1. by dying to ſin. 2. leaving the World in affection, before it actually leavth you. 3. in your laſt leaving of it, do it willingly, joyfully whereſoever, whenſoever or howſoever God ſhall call you, Rom. 12. 6. & 1.12.

V.

1. Vow to God and keep it, eſpecially ſtrive in performing the ſolemn Vow of your Baptiſm, and the Covenant which you renew at the Lords Supper. Eccl. 5.34. Pſ. 116.14.

2. Varience and diſcord with Men will not ſtand with your Peace with God, if you love God you will love Men alſo for God's Image or elſe for his Commandments ſake. Job. 1. 4. 20.

3. Uſe the world as not uſing it; That is not gained which is got with the loſs of the Soul. What will you pamper and prepare for your Body, that piece of dirt, and neglect your immortal Soul, which muſt ever live either in endleſs Joy or in an unquencherable Fire? Oh horrible Folly! 1 Cor. 7. 31. Mat. 16. 26.

W.

1. Wait upon the Lord and he will direct your way, become his Servant for this is the way to attain your ſureſt liberty, Pſ. 3 . 34.

2. Weep with them that weep, and fellow-feell the afflictions of the Bretheren in the World; Chriſt in Heaven accounteth the ſuffering of his Saints his own, and we his Members on Earth muſt do the ſame. Religion and Mercy are well match't by God, and by Man muſt not be divorced. Pſ. 69. 9. Ezck. 9. 4. Jer. 13. 17.

3. Wiſh not a long life, ſo much as a good life: he hath lived long who hath lived well. A ſhort life in Grace ſettleth into the Everlaſting life of Glory.

Sit Deo laus in ſecula ſeculorum. Amen. N. N.

LONDON, Printed for John Kidgell at the Atlas in Cornhill, 1681.