The Christian's daily practice of piety: or, Holy walking with God. As also, Scripture rules to be observed in buying and selling. Very useful for all sort of people that desires to make conscience of their ways here, and to fit themselves for their great account hereafter.

THE CHRISTIANS Daily PRACTICE of PIETY: OR, Holy walking with GOD. AS ALSO, Scripture Rules to be obſerved in Buying and Selling. Very Uſeful for all ſorts of People that deſires to make Conſcience of their ways here, and to fit themſelves for their great Account hereafter.

Licenſed according to Order:

London Printed for J. Deacon, at the Angel in Gilt-ſpure ſtreet, 1698. And Re-printed at Edinburgh, by the Heirs and Succeſſors of Andrew Anderſon, Printer to the Kings Moſt Excellent Majeſty. 1698.

THE CHRISTIANS Daily PRACTICE of PIETY.

1. BE ſure to get God, and the things of God next thy Heart when thou awakeſt. God, the World and Satan with his ſuggeſtions knocks to get firſt in. Open firſt to God, if Satan or the World hath poſſeſſion, out them ſpeedily, and let thy Meditation on God be ſweet; ſpend thy firſt thoughts on him, and thy Eternal condition, whoſe thou ſhall be at the opening of the Graves, and the riſing of the Dead: think alſo thou art on Night nearer Heaven or Hell; reſolve to do ſomething towards thy Salvation that day in mortifying ſome ſin, and getting nearer to Chriſt.

2. Before thou entertaineſt the World, get more ſolemnly to God, lift up thy heart unto him, firſt in thanksgiving for the Bed bleſſing, thy renewed life and ſtrength, and then pour out thy Soul in ſupplication to him for his grace to enable thee in thy duties, to reſiſt the temptations, and to be kept from the evils of that day, enlarge thy ſelf, as time and place will permit, read withal ſome potion of Scripture If thou canſt.

3. Alter thou haſt been with God, ſet a watch upon thy Heart, and keep it cloſe, that thy Heart 〈◊〉 not depart too far from God that day, by ſetting it over much on the Creatures, and thy Calling, but keep thy mind heavenly, and near to God, labouring hourly to keep the ſweet reliſh of God upon thy Soul which thou hadſt in thy morning Contemplation and Duty, leſt thy Mind and Affection cleave to the World, and ſo thou ſpend that day without God in the World.

4. When thy watch is ſet, then ſet upon thy lawfull Calling with Diligence and good will, doing every hours Work, as to the Lord, live not out of a Calling, nor idle in it, exerciſe as much Care as the weightineſs of the work requires; make Conſcience of ſpending the day well; judge a miſpent hour no ſmall ſin.

5. When thou art in thy Calling, avoid all juſt cauſe of offence to God and Man, in Word and Deed; do not provoke God to wrath, nor thoſe that dwell near thee; corrupt not any by thy wanton Carriage; wrong not any by unjuſt dealing; be courteous, peaceable, and harmleſs; do not eaſily take Offence, but be patient, long ſuffering, forgetting, and forgiving, as God for Chriſt's ſake forgives thee.

6. Set a ſolemn time a-part to pray in, and with thy Family twice in the day at leaſt, and let thoſe prayer-ſeaſons be when the whole Family can moſt conveniently aſſemble, and ſuffer none through ſickneſſe to be abſent: let not Evening Prayer-ſeaſon be deferred too late, leſt the Body be unable cheerfully to aſſiſt the Soul; and oft, through wearineſs and heavineſs, thou loſs the Duty and diſpleaſe God. In all theſe Duties be hearty, fervent, faithful and ſerious; ſpend alſo ſome of of the day in Meditation of Sin, of Chriſt, of Death, Judgment, and the Life to come.

7. Be careful all the day long of thy Diſcourſe, for thou muſt give an account of every idle Word, and by thy words thou ſhalt be juſtified, and by thy words thou ſhalt be condemned; let all thy Speeches be ſerious holy, in-offenſive, and edifying; weigh before hand what honour thy Diſcourſe will bring to God, what good to thy Friend, what good or hurt to thy own Soul; uſe not any fooliſh jeſting, or taunting reproachful Speeches; ſpend not many words in thy Buying and Selling, abhore all lies, tales, idle ſtories, wanton ſongs, and do not curſe nor ſwear, or uſe the name of God vainly: Let the matter of thy diſcourſe be either on the things of God, or the neceſſary works of thy Calling: talk not much of other Mens matters, back-bite none; If thou ſpeak of their Sins, let it be with Grief, and ſo avoid the ſame thy ſelf: if of their Godlineſs, let it be to imitate them: Remember God ſtands by, he hears, and write-down all thou ſayeſt.

8. Obſerve hourly Gods providential dealing with thee or o • hers▪ If God hath appeared to thee or others, in any eminent mercy, or judge, ment, note that, and remember to praiſe, fear, and love him for it; eſpecially obſerve what ſin he hath ſhewed thee, what hints of his love, what hopes of his glory; write theſe in a Book, but chiefly in thy Heart, for thy ſupporting in deſerting and dying times.

9. Have a care all day to the feet of thy Afflections, on what they are ſet; they will be apt to ſettle on the world and ſin, and withdraw from God and Duty, review them continually, ask thy ſelf often what thou loveſt, feareſt, deſireſt, where thou art, and on what, and recal thy ſoul if it be departed from God.

10. Take heed of letting looſe the Reins to unruly Paſſions; If thou be angry, ſin not, be eaſie to be intreated, again; let not the Sun go down on thy wrath: abhor railing, reviling, or ſtomaching any, in thy patience poſſeſs thy Soul.

11. When thou findeſt any temptations ariſing, be ſure to meet the Tempter in the ſtrength of Chriſt, with ſome Scripture commands, promiſe or threatning, which ſuits with the nature of the Temptation to repel it: and let not the Tempter get too near thee: If he be within thee, thou art like to be ſoiled: It's eaſier to keep out an Enemy, than to caſt him out when he is in; eſpecially eye the Tempter moſt, when he ſets on thee to intice thee into thy Conſtitution Sins.

12. Mark every hour the coming and going of the Spirit, and attend upon its motions, hear what it ſaith unto thee, and when thou feel'ſt more than ordinary of his preſence, than examine thy graces, mortifie ſin, cleave heartily to God, and delight thy Soul in him; withal, then labour for aſſurance of his love, (but omit not thy calling) when thou feeleſt the Spirit depart, let it not go too far before thou crieſt after it: O make thy moan to God ſpeedily for its income again.

13. Labour to add ſomething to every grace each day of thy life, and to take ſomething from thy ſin; build up thy knowledge in faith, love joy, and fear daily; lay conſideration to the root of all thy graces to quicken them, be as careful of the graces of thy Soul, as of the Children of thy Body, that each may have its meat in due ſeaſon; withdraw thy Soul from every Sin, lay the ax to the root of them, and be cutting about them every hour.

14. Have frequent and hourly recourſe to the Blood of Chriſt by acts of Faith, for renewed acts of pardon for thy renewed ſins, and keep open the flood-gates of Repentance, which muſt run dayly as thou ſinneſt daily; be perſwaded that thy work is never done till thy Life be done; alſo be frequently leaning on Chriſt, and drawing ſtrength from him, and help in every undertaking, making him thy All in the point of Acceſſion with the Father, and aſſiſtance in all thy lawful works and duties.

15 If thou fail into the ſin of a deep dye, lye not long in it, but apply thy ſelf to Chriſt for help; and though thou muſt go with ſhame to God by Chriſt for forgiveneſs, yet go ſpeedily and lye at the Throne of Grace, till thou haſt got ſome ſence of God's favour, and made up the breach which thy ſins made; till thy ſtrangeneſs to God by reaſon of that ſin be removed from thy ſpirit: when thou art wounded, it's not good to lye long from the Phyſitian.

16. Above all, take heed leſt thou fall into a cuſtom of ſinning; if one act or two may ſtand after Illumination of Grace, do not think too many will; betimes get out of the way of ſinning, the more thou yieldeſt, the more ſad thy caſe, and hard thy cure is.

17. Be doing or receiving good in all thy places God ſhall call thee: if thou art among thy Superiours in Grace and Knowledge, learn, if among thoſe that are weaker, teach them; ſuffer not ſin to paſs by unreproved, but be a faithful, yet a wiſe Monitor of thoſe about thee, and take reproofs thy ſelf kindly.

18. In the Evening of the day perform thy Evening Sacrifice of private and ſecret prayer, and praiſes for thy ſpecial graces mercies, and love▪ tokens received that day; then give up thy ſelf to God and his protection, kiſs his Son, and let him lye between thy Arms all night, meditate on him in the night watches, and take thy reſt ſweetly in the Lord.

Nullus Dies ſine linea:

SCRIPTURE RULES To be Obſerved in Buying and Selling.

Rules concerning Buying Commodities.

1. IF you would not tranſgreſs Scripture Rules in Buying: then firſt, take heed that you do not diſcommend thoſe Commodities that are very good, which you are about to buy, that ſo you may not bring down the price of the Commodity, and get it for leſs than it is worth; there is a known place of Scripture for this, in Prov. 20.14. It is nought ſaith the buyer; but when he gone his way, then he boaſtet • . People in Solomon's time they were wicked, when they came to the Market to buy any thing, the Buyer he would diſcommend the Commodity, and ſay, it was nought though it were very good and ſaleable; but when the ſeller was gone, then he would boaſt of what a good penny-worth he had bought, and the like.

2. Do not make vows and proteſtations, that you will give no more for a Commodity than what you have firſt offered, when afterwards you will give more. This is a very common thing with Tradeſmen: You ſhall have a man come to a Shop, and cheapen a Commodity, and the Buyer he will ſay, He will not give a farthing more, and the ſeller will ſay, He will not take a farthing leſs; and 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉 yet both the Buyer gives more and the Sell •• takes leſs: now this is no other than a palpabl • and downright Lie.

3. Do not give counterfeit money for thoſe Commodities you buy: This you have an Example o • in Abraham, when he was to buy the field in Mack • pelah of Ephron the Hittite, for a Burying-place in Gen. 23.16. ſaith Abraham I will give thee fou • hundred Shekles of Silver, current Money with th • Merchant; and therefore you tranſgreſs Scripture Rules, If you know you have braſs Money, o • Counterfeit Gold about you, and yet pay it away for Commodities; you ſin in doing ſo, though you your ſelf took it for Commodities.

4. Do not give for a Commodities leſs than in your Conſcience you think it is worth; it is an oppreſſion in buying, when you ſeek to bring a Commodity under its due value and worth. Abraham when he was to buy the Cave in Mackpelah of Ephron, ſaith he, I will give thee the worth of it in Money and ſo Davi • , when he was to buy the Threſhing-floor of Araunah the Jebuſite, 2 Sam. 24.24. ſaith he, I will buy it of thee at the full value of it.

5. Do not long defer the paying of theſe Commodities which you have bought, when thou haſt by thee wherewithal to pay it. There is an Excellent place for this in Prov. 3.27, 28. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to give it. Say not unto thy Neighbour, go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee. This Text is referred to works of Mercy, but hath relation to Buying and Selling, and Trading in the World. • f you owe a Man Money for a Commodity, you • ought to pay him, and not to let him come day • ter day for it, and go without it, when you have 〈◊〉 by you. 2 Kings 4.7. It is the Badge of a wicked man in Scripture, not to pay his Debts, in Pſal. 31.20. The wicked borroweth and payeth not again.

6. Do not engroſs a Commodity, that is, do not buy all of a Commodity into your own hands alone, that by that means you may ſell the Commodity at your own price; This is a meer oppreſſion, deſtructive to a Common-wealth, and to all Trading: The Scripture condemnes this in Prov. 11.6. It is ſpoken there of Corn-Mongers, ſaith the Text, He that withholdeth Corn, the People ſhal cu • ſe him; but bleſſing ſhall be upon the head of him that ſelleth i • . In Solomon's time there were Corn-Mongers, that when Corn was cheap, would go and buy up all the Corn in the Country, and would keep it up and ſell none till Corn was very dear; now ſaith the Text, He that doth thus the People ſhall curſe him for it; but bleſſing ſhall be upon the head of him that ſelleth it. Now it is no ſin in it ſelf to engroſs a Commodity, thereby to ſell it the cheaper; but, for a Man to engroſs a Commodity meerly thereby to advance the price of it, this is ſuch an oppreſſion, that the People ſhall curſe him for it.

7. Do not in your buying of Commodity take any advantage of the miſtake or overſight of the Seller; as, ſuppoſe you ſhould come to a Shop, and buy ſo many Yards of Cloth, or the like, and he ſhould give you more than is thy due, o • take leſs money of thee than is his due, you ſhould take no advantage of him in ſuch a Caſe, but reſtore it again: for if you take any more from hi • than you bought of him it is theft or if you give any leſs for the Commodity than you bargained for. It is Their. There is an excellent place for this in Gen. 43 12. Jacob, when there was a Famine in the Land he ſent his Sons down into Egypt to buy Corn, and Joſeph he knowing his B • ethren, filled their Sacks with Corn, and put the Money which they brought for the Corn in the mouth o • their Sacks again; and when they came home and found their Money in the mouth of th • ir Sacks, they told their Father Jacob of it: the • ſaid he to them, Go back again, and take double Money in your hand; and the Money that was brought again in the mouth of your Sacks, carrie it again in in your hands, for peradventure it was an overſight Here was a conſcientiouſneſs in Jacob.

8. Do not buy any Commodities on the Lord's Day: It is true, upon urgent occaſions to maintain Life either of Man or Beaſt, this is lawful, but to buy any thing that you may well be without till. Munday, in this caſe you may ſin if you buy any thing on the Lord's Day, in Neh. • 0.13. And Nehemiah entred into an Oath, and the people with him, that if any of the people of the Land brought Wa • es, or any Victuals, to ſell on the Sabbath day, that they ſhould not buy it of them. And as the Law did not give them leave to break the Iewiſh Sabbath, ſo neither doth the Goſpel give us leave to break the Chriſtian Sabbath; and therefore I cannot ſee but that is a ſin, for men to buy either Wine, or Beer, or Pepper, or Muſtard, or any other trivial thing which they may well be without) on the Sab • ath Day.

7. Do not in buying a Commodity, work upon • he neceſſity of a poor man, that hath need of Money, this is a great ſin in Tradſmen; they know • hat a poor man wants money, and he muſt ſell • ff his Ware, or elſe he cannot buy bread for his • amily, and therefore he muſt work upon his neceſſity, and will not buy the Commodity of him, • nleſs he will ſell it cheaper than he can afford it: Now this is a great Oppreſſion! In the 25th of Levit. 14. If thou buy any thing of thy Neighbour, • r ſelleſt any thing to thy Neighbour, thou muſt not • ſe Oppreſſion. There is an Oppreſſion in buying as • ell as in ſelling: It is a great Oppreſſion for rich • en to work upon the neceſſity of a poor Man, • o make him ſell cheaper than he can afford, or • ſe to buy nothing at all of him.

10. Do not buy thoſe things that are not fit to • e bought and ſold: as firſt. Do not buy ſtolen • oods, they are not fit to be bought: If thou know • ſt that the Goods that are to be bought are ſtol • n Goods, they are not to be bought, but to be • eſtored; the Receiver is as bad as the Thief, ſo • e buyer is as bad as the Thief. Secondly, Do • or buy Monuments of Idolatry, for they are not • t to be bought, as Croſſes, Beads, and Images, • d Crucifixes, and the like. Thirdly, Do not • uy Men for Slaves, this the Lord reproves in • mos 2.16. They ſold the Righteous for Silver, and • e poor for a pair of Shoes: And ſo in the 17th of • e • t Thou ſhalt not ſteall thy Brother and m • k • • erchandize of him. We ſhould therefore take heed, leſt we ſplit our Souls upon any of the Rocks; and let us labour that among all our b • ings, we buy that which Chriſt bids us by, Iſaiah 55 1. Ho, every one that chirſteth come y • unto the waters; and he that hath no monie, co • ye, and buy, come buy wine and milk with money, and without price.

Rules concerning Selling Commodities.

1. IF you would not tranſgreſs Scripture Rul • in Selling Commodities, then in the f • place, do not multiply words in Selling: T • Scripture affords many Examples for this, as Gen. 13.15. Abraham, As I told you before, wh • he was to buy the Cave of Machpelah of Ephron, told him that it was worth Four hundred Shekles Silver, and Abraham preſently gave him ſo mu • Currant Money with the Merchant: And ſo G •• himſelf takes upon him to be a Seller, in Za •• 11.12. If you think good, ſaith God, give my price, if not, forbear; multiplicity of Wor • is needleſs. In a multitude of words (ſaith S • lomon) there is Sin: Men ſhould not lav • and frollick in a Shop.

2, Do not commend and over-praiſe a Comodity, when you know in your Conſcience th • there is a fault in it: This is a vitious carria • in the Seller, when he ſhall uſe abundance of 〈◊〉 words to ſet out a Commodity, when it is 〈◊〉 good. As the Buyer ſhould not diſcommen • Commodity when it is good, ſo ſhould not the Seller over praiſe and commend a Commodity when it is nought.

3. Do not ſell thy Commoditys by falſe Weights nor by falſe Meaſures. Do not keep a deceitfull Ballance, or deceitfull Meaſure; This is commanded in Amos 8.5. They make the Ephah ſmall and the Shekel great, and falſifie the Ballances by deceit: And ſo in the 20th. of Prov 20. Divers Weights, and divers Meaſures, both of them are alike an abomination unto the Lord. Now this is ſpoken, not that the Weights and Meaſures in themſelves are an Abomination to the Lord, but only thoſe Men that doe uſe, and keep and ſell by thoſe Weights and Meaſures; and therefore the Lord gave a ſpecial Law for this, to all that did follow Trades in Iſrael in Deut. 25.14, 15. Saith God there, [Thou ſhalt not have in thy houſe divers meaſures, a great and a ſmall, that is, a great meaſure to buy, and a ſmall one to ſell by, Thou ſhalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and ſmall, but thou ſhalt have a perfect and a juſt Weight, and a perfect and a juſt meaſure ſhalt thou have, that thy days may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee: And ſo in Mic. 6.10. Is there yet, ſaith God, the treaſures of wickedneſs in the houſe of the wicked, and the ſcant meaſure, which is abomination to the Lord.

4. You are to make Conſcience in ſelling a Commodity, not only that you do nor ſpeak falſly but alſo that you do not ſpeak in an Equivocating, manner. It is an Obſervation that Luther hath upon theſe Words, Let no man defraud his Brother: Saith he. There are many Shop keepe that will not lye, but they will Equivocate ve • much: You ſhall have a Tradeſ-man, that ſell off a Commodity, he will get a Partner w • him, and he ſhall offer him ſo much for a Co • modity, and then he will tell the next man th • comes for that Commodity, that there was o • that offered him ſo much for it but even no • and then they will ſay likewiſe, It coſt me much, when it may be they had other thi • with it of greater value and price; and it may they had a great deal of time given them to p • for it; whereas the Buyer payes ready Mone • and many other Equivocating words they u • which is as bad as lying.

5. In ſelling a Commodity, do not work up the ignorance and ſimplicity of the Man that co • to buy the Commodity; but if you diſcern him be unskillful, rather uſe him the better, than • worſe: In Zech 1:9. ſays God there, In the ſame d • alſo will I puniſh all thoſe young men that leap i • the Threſhold, which fill their Maſters Ho • with violence and deceit; And ſo in 1 Theſ. 4. • Let no Men, ſayes the Apoſtle, go beyond, or fraud his Brother in any matter, for the Lord is avenger of all ſuch; and ſo in 2 Pet. 2 3. A • through covetouſneſs ſhall they with feigned w • make Merchandize of you, whoſe judgement ling • not. When Men ſhall work upon the Ignor • of the Buyer, and ſo advance the price of Commodity; this is a great ſin.

6 Do not imbaſe a Commodity from its primitive price and goodneſs, and yet ſell it at the full price as if it were Good, thereby to get the more by it; This the Scripture condemns in Amos 8.6. They ſell the refuſe of the Wheat. The Corn mongers in thoſe times they would pluck out the beſt of their Wheat, and yet ſell the worſt at the full price of the beſt; now this the Lord condemns: and ſo in Iſa. 1.21. They mingle wine with water, and droſs with ſilver: The Scripture condemns this, to imbaſe a Commodity from its primitive goodneſs, and yet to ſell it at the full value of the beſt.

7. Be not among the firſt that ſhall raiſe the price of a Commoditie: This I hinted to you before in Prov. 11.26 He that withholdeth Corn, the p • ople ſhall curſe him; but bleſſing ſhall he upon the head of him that ſeileth it.

8. Be not ſo eager in ſelling of your Commodities, that you cannot content your ſelves to ſell on the ſix days of the Week, but you muſt ſell on the Sabbath-day likewiſe; Be not like thoſe in Amos 8.5. ſaying, When will the new Moo • be over, that we may ſell Corn, and the Sabbath be over, that we may ſet forth Wheat? And ſo in Neh. 13.15. In th • ſe days ſaith the Prophet, I ſaw • n Judah ſo • e ••• a •• ng in W ne preſſes on the S • bba h▪ and br ngin • ln S • caves, and la • in • aſſ s, and all ma ner of Bu •• hens, which they b o • h • into Jeruſalem on the Sabbath, and I teſtified • gainst •• em in the day wherein they ſold Victual N • w this is againſt your common ſel •• g H •• ſ • s, and S ops of • ean Trades, that ſell by retail, that makes nothing of ſelling ſmall trefling things on the Sabbath day, but this is a great ſin.

9. When you are found out to be deceitful in your dealing, do not juſtifie your deceit; many men, if you come to them, and tell them tha • they ſell dearer than their Neighbours, they wil • tell you that they do not; or if you tell then that the Commodity is not good which you bough • of them, they will ſay, it is as good as they ca • afford for the price, and the like; this is co • demned in Ephraim, in Hoſ. 12.7. Ephraim a Merchant, the ballance of deceit are in h • hand, he loves to oppreſs, and yet he ſaith I 〈◊〉 become Rich, and I have found me out ſubſtan • and in all my labours they ſhall find no iniqui • in me, that is ſin: you ſhould not juſtifie yo • deceit.

10. Do not ſell thoſe things that are not ſal • able: As firſt, do not ſell ſpiritual things, for th • are not ſaleable; as in Acts 8.20. Simon M • gus, when he would have bought the gift of 〈◊〉 Holy Ghoſt with Money, ſaith Peter to him, T • monie periſh with thee, becauſe thou thoughtest 〈◊〉 the Gift of God might be purchaſed with Money▪ • condly, do not ſell Monuments of Idolatry, Croſſes, and Beads, and Images, and Crucifix and Conjuring-books, and the like, they are fit to be ſold, as in Acts 19.19. Many alſo of 〈◊〉 that uſed curious Arts, brought their Books t • ther, and burnt them before all Men, and • counted the price of them, and they found i • be 50000 pieces of Silver: This is ſpoken 〈◊〉 of Conjuring Books; and notwithſtanding were of ſo great a value, they would not ſell whem, but burn them. Thirdly, Do not ſell thy ſelf as Ahab did, to work wickedneſs; for you are not your own, but Gods, and therefore you muſt glorifie God in your Bodies and in your Sou • s, which are God's. Fourthly, you muſt not ſell ſtoln Goods. Fifthly, You muſt not ſell thoſe things that are for no other uſe. but for to commit ſin in the uſing of them. As for to ſell ſtuff to paint Harlot's Faces, is a ſin, becauſe it is for no other uſe, but to commit Sin in the uſing of it.

FINIS.

A Morning Prayer to be uſed in Families.

WE praiſe thee, O God, for thy many precious benefits beſtowed on us, for th • Creation of the World, and for the Redemptio • of Mankind by the Lord Jeſus: thou didſt ſafe •• take us from the womb, and haſte ever ſince car •• for us, thou haſt of thy ſweet mercy cauſed us 〈◊〉 be born within thy Church, where we have be •• early given to thee in Baptiſm. Thou haſt affor • ed us the means of Grace, and called us to 〈◊〉 hope of Glory.

But, O moſt merciful Father, we poor a •• miſerable ſinners, conceived in ſin and brou •• forth into iniquity, have gone aſtray from the • we have not cared to know thee, and to do 〈◊〉 will. but have done our own wills, and follow our fooliſh and ſinful inclinations: and do therfore deſerve thy wrath and curſ • .

O Lord; have mercy upon us, turn us 〈◊〉 thee, and grant us true Repentance and forgiveneſs of all our ſins, for Jeſus ſake: let it henceforth be our chiefeſt care to pleaſe thee, and ſ • thy Kingdom and Righteouſneſs: work in us a 〈◊〉 Faith, and a lively Hope, and a frequent Ch ••• ty: make us Humble, M • ek, Patient, Sober, Juſt, Kind and Loving to all Men, Submiſſ ••• and Obedient to them that are over us: and well Content and Thankfull in every condition of Life: Grant that we may daily grow in Knowledge, Loving, Fearing and Obeying thee: Creat in us clean Hearts, O God, and renew right Spirits within us.

O Lord, ſend thy Goſpel through the World pour out plentifully the Spirit of Truth, Hollneſ • and Peace on all thy People. Bleſs this Church and Kingdom, preſerve our King and Queen, and all the Royal Family; Guide our Judges and Magiſtrats, ſanctifie and aſſiſt the Miniſters of the Goſpel: Viſite all that are in Trouble, and ſanctifie their affliction unto them: be gracious to all our Kindred, Friends and Neighbours, bleſs and forgive all our Enemies.

We thank thee, O Lord, for thy care of us this night, watch over us this day, and Make us mindful that we are always in thy fight, that we may be in thy fear all the day long: bleſs us alſo, O God, in all our lawful imployments, and eſtabliſh thy work in our hands, and grant that through the whole courſe of our Life we may be Holy and Harmleſs in all manner of Life and Converſation, than when this ſhort and frail Life is at an End, we may be partakers of everlaſting life through the merits of Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, in whoſe Name and Words we pray, Our Father, &c.

An Evening Prayer for Families.

MOſt gracious God, what ſhall we render to thee for thy many and great benefits beſtowed on us? Though we have been unthankful and undutiful ſervants to thee our Lord and Maſter; Thou haſt continued thy care and kindneſs for us ever ſince me were born, and haſt preſerved us this day: let us never forget thy goodneſs, but grant that thereby we may be led to Repentance and Amendment of Life. Preſerve us from every thing that is diſpleaſing to thee. O Lord, keep us from curſing, ſwearing and lying from pride, ſtubborneſs and idleneſs: work in us an utter diſlike of all uncleanneſs, gluttony, and drunkenneſs of malice and envy, of ſtrife and contention, of deceit and covetouſneſs: Give u • grace to deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly in this preſent world. Cauſe us to underſtand and conſider the Laws and Life of Jeſus, that we may d • his will, and follow his ſteps. Let never th • cares of this life, nor the love of riches, nor ev • company, nor the corrupt cuſtoms of the world withdraw us from the obedience of thy Laws; •• ſtrengthen and eſtabliſh us by thy holy Spiri • that we may live and die thy faithful Servants.

O Lord ſend thy Goſpel through the Worl • pour out plentifully the ſpirit of truth, holin • and Peace on all thy people. Bleſs this Church and Kingdom, preſerve our King and Queen, and all the Royal Family; guide our Judges and Magiſtrats, ſanctifie and aſſiſt the Miniſters of the Goſpel, viſit all that are in trouble, and ſanctifie their afflictions unto them: be gracious to all our Kindred, Friends and Neighbours: bleſs and forgive all our Enemies. O Lord, be merciful to us, forgive us the ſins of this day, watch over us this night, and keep us ever mindful that we muſt ſhortly die, and that we may without delay turn to thee, and paſs the time of our ſojourning here in fear. Good Lord, hear us, and grant theſe our deſires, and what elſe thou knows to be needful for us, and that for the merits of Jeſus Chriſt, in whoſe Name and Words we pray, Our Father which art in Heaven, &c.

Grace to be ſaid before Meat.

O Lord, be merciful to us, and pardon our ſins: ſanctifie theſe thy good benefits, that we by the ſober and thankful uſe of them, may be enabled for thy ſervice, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Thanksgiving after Meat.

WE thank and praiſe thee, O Lord, the giver of all good, who haſt at this time fed our Bodies: ſtir up in us a greater care for our Souls: and grant that our ſhort lives which are ſo carefully ſuſtained by thy bounty, may be ſpent in doing thy will. Lead us ſafely through this vain and ſinful World, in which we are pilgrims and Strangers, and bring us into everlaſting reſt, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, Amen.

THe Contents of this Book is deſired to be practiſed by all good Chriſtians.

By yours R. Alleine.