THE MAP OF THE Little WORLD, ILLUMINATED WITH RELIGION Being a Practical Treatise, directing Man to a Religious Scope, and right Measure, in all the Periods of his Life; With Devotion suitable.  
To which is added an Appendix, containing a GOSPEL MINISTERS Legacy, to his Flock, in some Sermons, upon 2 Pet. 1. 12, etc.  
By PATRICK STRACHAN Minister of the Gospel at St. VIGEANS.  
EDINBURGH, Printed by John Reid, to be sold by Thomas Brown & John Vallange their Shops, over against the Parliament-Closs, Anno Dom. M. DC. XCIII.   

Unto the Right Honourable, and truly NOBLE JAMES EARL of PANMURE, Lord MAUL, BREGHIN and NAVARRE, etc. My most Generous PATRON.  
May it please Your Lordship,  
IN Your Goodness to accept of this small Testimony, of my bounded Duty, for Your Lordship's Patrociny, and Singular Kindness to me and mine, in a constant Course of Favour, which hath still issued from Your Noble Ancestors, without the least Umbrage in your Noble Person, and your most Honourable Lady: Who, though the Daughter of a Prince, and One of the greatest Peers of this Ancient Kingdoms doth add to Her Natural Splendour, th● Lustre of a Condescending and Courteous Mean, as if her Ladyship were of a lowe● Extract. I cannot but express the Thankful Sentiments, I Entertain of the Favou● of your Noble Predecessors, and of you● Honourable and most Worthy Mother● Whose approved Conduct, Prudent, C●vil and Edifying Way, hath not only Engaged me, but all who have had the Honour of her Ladyship's Converse, to loo● upon her as a Woman among a Thousan● But I know your Lordship needs no borrowed Rays, from the Applauses 〈◊〉 Men; And therefore I shall not insist; B● only to Beg your Favourable Acceptant of this small Mite of my Gratitude's which, though Weak and Unworthy; yet presumes to Kiss your Noble Hands, because of its general Design, to Advance that Glorious Religion, which if it were not opposed by the Lusts of Men, and if left to its own Innocence and Native Power, would transform the World from a Chaos of Confusion, to a wondrous Light: So Wishing the Blessings of the LORD'S Right and Left Hand to your Lordship, and Noble Family; I shall add no more, but that I am in all sincere Duty,  
My LORD, Your Lordships Humble Devoted Servant in CHRIST, Pat: Strachan. From my Study at St. Vigeans, 14 July, 1693.   

TO THE READER  
Courteous Reader,  
IF thou shall be pleased to peruse this little Treatise, with the Denvedness and Charity wherewith I have laboured to digest and publish it, I hope it will meet with little Censure for this is forbidden, Jam: 3. 1. And it is very much contrary to the Gospel Spirit, and argues too much pride, Self conceit in the Censurer, and a very malevolent humour, that will not allow the offer of a little Mite, for the building of the Lord's House by another, without Disdain and contempt, and because self is so natural & ready (like the Ivy) to twist itself in with the best of our Essays; I here solemnly renounce it, so that if this weak Work may be any wise useful to the Church and promotive of the Glory of GOD, I have my End & Reward, It is not calculated to the Luxurient fancies of Men, nor to any sphere of more sublime Judgements, but only that it may be helpful to such of lower Capacities, I send it forth without affection, not with the Excellency of words of Man's wisdom, but in the simplicity of the Gospel; And therefore I humbly commend it to the Acceptance of GOD, it being but a small thing to be judged by Man, such as read it let them do it with Humility, denyedness and simplicity, And I hope they shall not regrate their pains, and if it can do any good, it's better done than undone, and may possibly drop upon some and afford them a little Oil to their Lamps, to take the blessed Rod of the King's High Way to lead them through the Labyrinth of Time, and after all the windings and Traverses of the Stages of our Life, happlly bring us by a safe Conduct to the Land of Joy and Peace, which that it may contribute to, is the earnest Wish of  
Thy Servant for CHRIST's Sake. P. S.   

The Contents The Entrance.  

Period 1.  
OF our beginning, and bygone life. page 1  
The prayer. Ibid  
Stage 1. 2  
Of the Formation of the Infant. 3  
Of the propagation of the Soul. 5  
Of Original sin. 7  
Of Infant Baptism. 10  
Stage 2d. Of the care of Parents. 12  
Of Regeneration. 13  
Of Confirmation. 16  
Stage third, of the evils incident to Children 18  
A brief Reinforcement of the duty of Parents 25  
A prayer of parents for their Children. Ibid  
A prayer of a Child. 27  
Stage 4 which Resumeth the instructions for Children. 29  
The prayer. 36   

Period 2.  
Stage 1. Which considereth the portraiture and lineaments of Youth. 37  
The evils incident to Youth. 43  
Directions for the recovery of Youth. 49  
The motives. Page 58  
The prayer. 60  
Stage 2d. Of man's entering into a settled state with suitable Directions. 63  
The necessity of domestic devotion: 72  
A morning prayer to be used in a family 75  
The evening Prayer. 77  
Suitable prayer for the bygone stage. 79  
Stage 3d. which divideth into three courses. 80  
Course first, of the ordering thy person, family, etc. 82  
The means and methods to manage this state of life aright. 85  
Which are 1st. Wisdom. Ibid  
2ly Prudence. 86  
3ly. Providence. 87  
4ly. Government. 88  
5ly. Improvement. Ibid  
Motives to manage this state of life. 89  
The prayer. 113  
Course 3d. What fine your labour in virtue and piety, etc. hath come to. Ibid   

Period 3.  
Of what is to come in the declensians of Nature 119  
Stage first, Of a serious Recollection of thyself, etc. 120  
What now remains to be done. 128  
A continuation of this Stage, to the outmost Extent of man's life. 131  
The Prayer. 138  
Stage 2d. Of the 4 last things. 139  
Of Death; ibid.  
Prayer in order to Death. 148  
Of Judgement. 149  
The Prayer. 155  
Of Hell. 156  
The prayer. 159  
Of Heaven. ibid.  
The prayer. 163  
A Lamentation for the decay of Religion. 167  
The Prayer. 176  
A Vindication of the Forms of Devotion used in this Treatise. Ibid  
Prayers according to the days of the Week 179  
Of Psalmody. 189  
Of the Doxology. 190  
A Vale to the World. 195  
Devotion suitable. 204   

In the Appendix.  
SErmon I. Of the compact Chain of our Holy Religion, etc. page 1.  
Sermon II. The duty and diligence of the Apostolic Curate described, etc. page 10.  
Sermon III. of the expediency and usefulness of the means for the advancement of practical Religion, etc. page 26.  
Sermon iv Of the practical knowledge of Death and the Information, that the LORD giveth some of his favourites thereof, etc. page 36  
Sermon V Of the endeavours, which faithful Ministers have, to make their labours useful after their decease, etc. page 45.  
Sermon VI Concerning the truth, and excellency of our Holy Religion, the infallible proofs thereof, and the duty of such as own it. page 55.    

ERRATA.  
IN the Entrance. § 3. Line● 6. for Delegate, Read Delicate. Page 9 L. 3. for Vitotum R: Votitum, P. 22. L. 16. for feed, R. fed. P. 34. L. 5. for Daughter, R. Daughters. P. 40. L 14 for Restrain, R. Restraint. P. 72. L. 19 for E●au, R. Isaac. P. 104 L. 16. for When, R. First, Then. P. 176. L. 24. for Invincable-rable, R: Invincible.   

THE MAP OF THE Little WORLD Illuminated with RELIGION  

The Entrance.  
MAN, the Masterpiece and Model of Nature, and the Mirror of all that's Rare and Excellent in Nature, is, upon good ground, called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; the Little World, being the Abridgement, and curious draught of the Greater World, whom GOD hath stated upon the Frontise piece of the Universe, as the Image of his Maker to Rule and Act therein as Lord and King under GOD: He 〈◊〉 such a rare work, as declareth his Author, Psal. 8 5, 6. and Psal. 144. 3, For GOD made Man upright. Ecc. c. 7. 29. And if he were not a little clouded with clay, he had not been a little lower, but equal with the Angels, Being, as to his Creation, the Son of GOD, Luke. 3. to the end, fearfully and wonderfully made, Psal. 13● 14 Much higher than other Animals, ar● above a senseless clod; with an elevated countenance, (os homini sublime dedit. Ovid.) a Noble Air and M●an, as a King's Son, much higher than all the rest.  
§. 2. And if we can with Appelles' dash, lineament this portrait; we shall find it very admirable in its Organ's, and all its parts; with such Vivacity in its eyes, much more Sprighty and Lucide than the sparks of a Diamond; such a subtle sense in its Ear, Taste and Smell, which maketh its Body, Sp'rituous and Lively; with a special Ray of Glory above other Creatures, in the faculty of speech; to communicate its mind, and converse with GOD and Man: which is called the Glory of Man Psal. 57, 8. and Psal. 108. 1. With such Agility in its Limbs, with such strength in its Thigh, with a strange circling of its Blood; and such an adequate Symmetry, proportion and Contexture of the Whole, that there is no schism or blemish in the Body; the Breviary of all Philosophy, the Library of Nature and Pattern of Art.  
§. 3. But if we will draw nearer and look in to that, which is unseen, except by its Issue; we shall yet find much greater wonder and glory, carrying Judgement, Reason and Memory in the head, and affections in the heart: this living Soul in Man, is not only a Breath, Crasis, or Humour, but an immaterial spirit, and delegate piece of all the Works of GOD; Capable to reflect upon, and deliberat with himself; and to know, love, choice and enjoy GOD, with the power of fancy and inward sense; which, as a forge, suggests matter of Reason and Council to work upon, and like an intelligence, to stir the universe, as by a common soul.  
§. 4. But alas! sin sullied this sublime Creature, and the fall hath taken away his understanding: Man is now either void orc orrupt, in his intellectuals, and so is like the beast that perish. O quantum mutatus est! how far has he changed and degenerated! Lucifer by fall turned devil, and Man turned Brute and slave to the dev● and being so rare a work is now become the worst through sin: nam corruptio optim● pessima: The light in him now is darkness, and how great is that darkness? If we follow sin to its Rise, we will find it of the devil, who sinned from the beginning, who corrupted the first Man with contagious infection, and a spreading leprosy, and invenomed the Root, which made ●owre the Branches: so Man's marred, stripped of his Native beauty, exposed in soul and bodv, and open to wrath and misery; he now is become homo nihili, worth nothing, and lighter than Vanity; whereby this little Ma● is all mangled and deformed.  
§. 5. But Religion illuminateth it again, and as the natural Sun makes the Heaven's pleasant, and the Earth fruitful, so the Son of Righteousness, the second Adam, ariseth with healing in his wings, Mal. 4. 2. With a Heavenly pencil draweth again more steady impresses of the Image of God, & makes him to partake of the Divine Nature, and the Life of GOD: and he now becomes more apt for a communion with GOD, to be translated from Glory to Glory by the spirit of GOD; Which the Religion of the Holy JESUS effectuateth, as a lightsome horizon, to influence him again with Heavenly Rays; by the spirit and word of GOD, to raise him up for Grace and Glory; and, if well improved, makes the new Creature's face shine like Moses; it transfigures him with his Saviour, Mat. 17. 2. and puts him in Heaven while on Earth, and makes Him to converse in Heaven Phil. 3, 20. And meet for the Inheritance with the Saints in Light.  
§ 6. This new creatire, is not only form of GOD, but also for GOD; he is GOD's Workmanship, and must work for his Life, and work out his Salvation; For which, he must consider, that he hath an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, a great work ado, and must therefore improve his Time and Talents for that End. Hoc age, do this, is both the Voice of Scripture and Providence; A Man without a Calling, both General and Particular, is but like a Drone in a Hive; and GOD may say to such, Why stand ye here all the day Idle? Yet we may get our Wages, if we listen to the Call after much Loitering, Nam prestat sero sapere quam nunquam; It's high time to awake out of sleep▪ Rom. 13. to the end; And since our Life is but a Vapour, and like a Blob upon the Water, may soon vanish, and our present, Now, goeth away with the thought, and our Interim may soon alter; We shall find Work enough shaped for us, both by Nature and Religion. To be well Employed in our Time, we must be active to Recover and Provident (as Apelles drew his Picture) to work for Eternity; There is no time to be idle (the necessities of Nature and Moderate Recreation being allowed) and there can be nothing more persuasive to set us on Work than the uncertainty of time, and that there is no Work in the Grave, Ecc: 6. 10. Time passeth, like a little turning rivulet into the Ocean, unto an Unchangeable Eternity; Our Lease is not only Annual, but Diurnal, we are Temporary Tenants in this World, and every hour of the 24, and every minute of the Hour, may determine our Horoscope. This great dyal of Nature, Time, passeth away, but never standeth still, nor goeth back, without a Miracle; Time rides a Career amongst Mortals, and sends its Harbinger, Death, with his black Rod, where the Sovereign Ruler appoints it; We know not what a Day may bring forth, and should not boast of to morrow, Prov. 27. 1. It is good then to watch and be diligent, since we know not the hour.  
§ 7 It cann●t then be impertinent, seriously to warn the World, to look to the Periods of their Life; Which is the great Scope and Design of the following Treatise, to lead the Christian through the Labyrinth of Life, that he may well consider how short his time is, with the Psalmist, Psal: 86. 47. And follow the Thread of the Word of GOD, to direct him in all the Stages and Periods of his Life, which is here set before thee, in the following Periods.  

Period first, Of our Beginning, and bygone Life, and the Stages thereof.  
Period second, Of our present Time, and the State of Our Growing Age, and the several Stages thereof.  
Period third, Of the future Age, (or, what is to come in the Declensions of Nature,) and the Stages thereof. With a Vale to the WORLD.    

Period first, Of our beginning and bygone life, and the Stages thereof.  
MAn's Age is but a Span, and but an Instant 'twixt our birth and our death. Man comes to the World and knows not how, and goes to a World of Eternity and knows not, when; He lives, he groans, he acts awhile, and dies; And it takes a great part of the short Span of his time, 'ere he well know where he is, how he is, and what he hath to do. He lives long the life of a Brute, as it were without reason. It's fit then, when he gins to reflect, & to act as a rational Creature; that he consider, what he is, and review the bygone time. Yesterday can not be brought back, But time may be Redeemed: His life is but a dream, yet he may gather some good out of it, When he awakes, if he consider;  

The Prayer.  
ANd Thou, O LORD, who only Remains unchangeable, in all the stages and Changes of time, and the inexpressible permanence of Eternal ages, World without end. Fix the heart of unconstant Man upon thee alone; Our Soul is the Daughter of an high House; Give us Grace with the Psalmist to say unto thee, LORD thou art my LORD, Psal. 16. 2. Keep us O GOD in thy Name, and make us pure and clean to be fit for Thee: Keep our Immortal Soul in life, and still upon wing to Flee to its Centre and repose, for where shall it Flee to be happy but to Thee, thou only has the words of Eternal Life: O JESV, the Powerful attractive of Hearts, who makes all Generous Souls sigh after thee, draw us to thee; for this is our Rest and only repose, which sweeteneth all the acerbities of time, and Bitterness of this World, here will we dwell for ever, and If we Change upon the Wheel of time, we roll indeed, but in Thee we can not be moved nor Removed. Amen.  
Come I now to consider the stages, and several Turns of the first Period of our Life.   

STAGE First.  
The Contents.  
OF the Formation and Production of the Infant, of the propagation of the Soul, and of sin, of Infant Baptism and the right that the Children of Church Members have unto it: The duty to be extended to Infants, as Care, Provision & Prayer for them, to study their Nature and Humour, and acting accordingly, Grave example, and a serious & timeous dedication of them to GOD; which (for more distinct & clear uptaking thereof) shall be considered by a Particular account of the purpose, and doctrine of the first Stage, in the first period of our life.  
§. 1. Let Naturalists, and Ancient or modern Masters of Medicine, discourse of the Formation of the Child in the womb, Job and the Royal Psalmist draweth this unseen Embryo best with a Divine Pencil. Job 10. 8. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about, thou hast fashioned me as the Clay; Has thou not poured me out as Milk, and croudled me as Cheese? Thou hast Clothed me with Skin and Flesh, and fenced me with Bones and Sinews. And Psal. 139. from 13. Thou hast possessed my Reins, thou hast covered me in my Mother's Womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and Curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth, and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when yet there was none of them. Man's a wonder before the World see him, lying in the dark Cells of the womb; and if he consider from what he Flows, and his little Chamber in the womb and how nourished there; It may humble him; he flows from Blood, and lives on Blood, and dwells amongst Blood and Ordurs. Thy very nature may humble thee: For, as it proves the Wisdom and power of the GOD of Nature, who can extract a quintessence out of Dullest matters, so doth it bid thee look unto thy Original. All the Earth being of one Blood, Acts 17. 26. And there being no differance 'twixt the Prince and the Peasent; and that GOD, who teacheth Art to extract Rarities, who by nature brings Silk from a Worm, a Pearl from a Shell, and precious Minerals from Dust and Rubbish; doth make this Rarity; Man, Ex Humo, Eccle. 12 7. For Dust thou art, and to Dust thou shalt return; thou comes from the womb, and goes to thy long home, the Grave; If thou boast of thy Pedigree: Go to the House of Rottenness, and look to the worms, that makes thy Flesh to shrink; and learn to confess with Abraham, that thou art Dust and Ashes, Gen: 17. 28. And with Job, abhor thyself in Dust and Ashes, Job: 42. 6. And if thou shall consider, that thou art not only Dust, but fallen in the Dust, and comes forth with a Contaminate Blood, dying in thy sin, and no Eye pitying thee, Ezek: 16. 1. it may further abase thee, and not suffer thee to be proud when thou liest in the Dunghill, all besmeared with filth and uncleanness: Consider then thy rise and thy fall, and learn to be humble, else thou art proud of nothing, or worse than nothing.  
§ 2. Next, As to the Propogation of the Soul, and how the dust body comes to be animated, not only with vital spirits, but with a rational Soul; I shall leave the curiousity of this also to Philosophers; For although some will have the Soul ex traduce, because, if not so, Man doth not beget a perfect Man, and commonly Children Patriscent follow the ill of the Parents, and they are Fatherlike; there is not only vitium Gentis & familiae, of the Nation and Family; but also personae, of the Person: Yet its safest to join with the universal Church, that the soul is infused, according to that of St. Aug: Creando infunditur & infundendo Creature; By creation it is infused, and by the infusion of the Soul it is created. And this common Vote is not infringed by the sentiments of some Private Men; For although Man begetteth not a Soul, yet he begets a spiritu● Organ and Embryo, disposed for the Soul a● so doth he beget Man Virtually.  
And the Scripture favours this Infusion, as Solomon sayeth, Dust shall return to Dust, and the spirit to GOD that gave it: He gave it not as He doth many things; by the use of means, but peculiarly, GOD, no● man, gave the spirit, Ecc. 12. 7. And our Saviour in proving the Resurrection assert● that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Yet live in a separated state from the Body: and such as believe the immaterality and immortality of the Soul, (which is the common belief of, al● most, the whole World) cannot but acknowledge this; so St. Paul reasoneth with Philosophers at Athens, Acts 17. How long it is ere the Embryo in the Womb receive the soul is something quisquus to determine, though some of the Ancients, have been positive as the following distich doth declare.  

Sep in lacte dies, ter sunt in sanguine terni;  
Bis seni carnem, ter seni membra figurant. 
That is. 
Seven days in milk, and n●ne in blood,  
Twelve days the flesh, thrice 6 the rest conclude.     
§. 3. But leaving this to Philosophy, to discuss; as to Religion, since our spirit or soul is the daughter of an high house, no lower than Heaven, and the product of the Father of Spirits, it is fit that we labour as much as we may in the use of the means to deliver her out of the bondage of corruption; she groans with the load of flesh, 2 Cor: 5, 3, In this Tabernacle we groan being burdened. And the natural body hath an Animal spirit, to lust after sin, as St. James sayeth, the spirit in us lusteth to Envy, Jam. 4. 5. But this spirit evaporateth in pleasure, and that sore must be mortified, that our soul may be saved in the day of the LORD, 1 cor: 5. 5. But the rational, though it be hugely darkened, and alienated from the life of GOD, Eph: 4. 18. Yet hath it reason, tho much mastered by the brutal part; and by that Reason, and the faculty even of a natural conscience, it cannot but groan under the burden of sin.  
§. 4. Now that the soul is contaminate, and participant of original sin with the Body, and how it is propagated and corrupted, are purposes that we should rather yield to▪ with humble Faith, then with canvasing Curiosity labour to comprehend: Since the Scripture is positive in the thing, That the imaginations of the heart of man are evil, and only evil a pu●●tia, Gen: 6. 5. The thoughts of his heart 〈◊〉 only evil continually; And without wre●ing that of Psal. 51. 3. and 5. Verses. 〈◊〉 must confess Original Sin; And our Saviour, Joh. 3. 6. sayeth, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and inferreth the necessity of Regeneration from this Disease: If we Compare this then with that of Gen. 6. 3. My spirit shall not strive with Man, for that 〈◊〉 is flesh; We may easily perceive that Man in his whole Compositum, is Corrupt and Carnal: And the Apostle St. Paul Concludes the whole World under sin, And guilty before GOD, Rom. 3. 9 and Rom. 7. 23. he descrives unto us a Man, inter Regenerandum, convinced by the Law, and entering the doors of a new Life, groaning under the power of sin and death, wretched under that corrupt Body of sin and death till he be delivered; This is also, the Doctrine of the Orthodox and primeval Church, and what has been said against it by the Manicheans and Pelagians, is fully refuted by that great Dr. Aug: concluded against by General Councils, and the Current of the Catholic Church all along: Yea, the sensible amongst the Heathens, as Pliny and Tully, have acknowledged this, and found out the Disease by their own Sentiments Confessing, that, Nitimur in vitetum, etc. Now to Dive into that deep Gulf, how original sin comes in, (since no sin is of GOD) whether by the breath of Eve corrupted by the Serpent, or by the poisonous quality of the Tree of Knowledge, whose fruit, though sweet, possibly was Venomous, which GOD forbade Man to eat of under the pain of Death; And GOD may make poison to be in Nature for good and Holy Ends. Whether by these ways or any other Way; or by permissive providence, leaving Man under the faculty of Free Will, to make his own Election, or whether the Soul was infused void of Original Righteousness? Or by the first Contact with the Body? (as our Countryman Dr. Baron De prop: pecc: doth very pertinently clear) is a business improper for this Treatise to enlarge upon: Yet it is best for thee, O Man, humbly to believe and sensibly acknowledge, what thou feel's that thou may Cleanse thyself from all filthiness of flesh, and spirit, 2 Cor: 7. 1. And that You may be sanctified throughout Soul, Body and Spirit, as the Apostle prays for the Church of the Thess: 1 These 5. 23. And labour by all means to dig out this root of bitterness from thy Soul and Heart, and make use of the salutary means, thy Saviour hath prescribed for this end.  
§. 5. Now this gets an excellent open Entrance by early Baptism, and bringing the Children from the Womb to the Font, to be washen in this saving Flood, in the Laver of Regeneration, from the guilt and filth of sin; Which mercy, according to the Tenor of the new Covenant, is allowed of GOD, to Infants; For, as Circumcision in old, which was a seal of the Covenant, Rom: 4, 11. was conferred on Infants; so Baptism upon that same ground may be thought to belong to Children of believing Parents; Or, at least, reputed to be so, or if one of the Parents believe they are federally holy; as St. Paul sayeth, 1 cor 7. 14. Else were your children unclean, but now they are holy; And St. Peter tells the Jews, that the promise belongs to them, and their children, Acts, 2, 39: CHRIST himself took little Children and blessed them, and said, suffer Little Children to come to me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven, and he laid his hands on them, and blessed them; If his blessing belong to such, Why not Baptism? Which is among the first of his Blessings: And we find from Scripture that GOD hath sanctified some in the Womb, and from the Womb; why may he not than sanctify His own institution of Baptism to Infants? and the sooner the better, this Antidote be applied against the poison of the Serpent, it doth also much inhanse this Truth, that it is, and hath been the practice of the Universal Church, in and since the Apostles times. For we read that some have been baptised and their whole house, of which probably Children were a part, And altho' some Sectaries have opposed this, and have denied Infant Baptism, yet neither is their grounds nor practice to be laid, against the General Vote of the Church, well instructed by the word of GOD, and it is no small defence and warland for Infant Baptism, that it is not now a question in the Church: and it is so fully asserted and proved, that it were superfluous, and like lighting a Torch at Noon, to add any thing upon the head, since none but fanatics that follow the fume of their fancy, who deny CHRIST's Offices, Ministers, Ordinances and Institutions, will be so bold as to contradict it: And therefore it concerns Parents, Religiously to go about the Baptism of their Children, and remember the great obligation they stand under, for their pious Education: And of Children baptised, to reflect upon it when they come to any Knowledge, and to improve it well by the Instruction of their Parents and Tutors, whose serious Instructions, grave Example, and earnest Prayer for Young Ones, may help to instill and drop in such Counsels into their easy and blank minds as may leave some Relish; as a Vessel may still keep something of the taste and smell of the first liquor, according to that Ancient observe, quo semel est imbuta, etc. and this stage of our life may be reckoned to the fourth year of our Age.   

STAGE Second.  
The Contents.  
Of the particular care of Parents and Governors, as to Children from four years old to twelve, of studying their nature and genius, and the in●●●ling and drooping in some clear and common principles of Religion; with the consideration of Regeneration; and when the Children come to be about twelve years of age, of their solemn Confirmation.  
§ 1. As the Children grows so should the care of their Parents increase towards them; its dangerous to suffer the evil of their Nature to take rooting, for than it will turn tenacious and obstinate, it's better to take the little Foxes that hurt their tender Gardens, Cant. 2. 6. and by Religious conduct, use the best means to Eradicate the corruption of their Nature, and to correct that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and disorder that is naturally in them, by frequent and gradual dropping of good counsel into their hearts, especially by fixing in them the common notion of a GOD, and fearing of Him, of honouring their Parents: And withal to acquaint them with their Baptismal Dedication; and, in as much as is possible, to open up unto them the m●sterie of their redemption through Jesus Christ, and that, not only, they know to Repeat the Law, the Creed and Lords Prayer: But also to make them, according to their capacity, to understand these. Thus entereth Knowledge into their Hearts, as a little Drop by frequent falling makes a cavity and hollowness in the stone.  
§: 2. Although the Spirit of GOD, the Author of Regeneration, like the wind, bloweth when, where, and how he pleases Joh. 3. v. 8. And calleth some sooner, some later, yet is it not improper to set it down here, for that same LORD that Blessed Babs, can Sow the Seed of Grace in their Hearts. And of this Regeneration, I shall only remember Man, of the Necessity, Nature, and Evidence thereof. First, as to the necessity: Our Saviour is very positive. Job. 3. v. 2. and 3. Except a man be Born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD: and no outward exercise of Religion can avail us without the New Creature, the Old-man must be Crucified, and the Newman form and Nourished, ere we can be fit for the Kingdom of GOD. And 2ly. We cannot better take up the Nature of it than by considering the Author, and the manner of his Operation in producing this Work: It is only the Spirit of GOD that doth it, so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3. 8. Of His own Will begatt He us, that we should be a kind of first Fruits of His Creatures. Jam: 1. 18. This New Creature than is clearly the Product of the Spirit of GOD, Who doth this work mediately, by the use of means, especially by the Word o● Truth, and other holy Engines, that he is pleased to make use of; Yet is not this Work produced of any means, but by the concourse of the principal Agent; the Word illuminats and persuades, but there's more than Moral Suasion in this Work; for GOD's promise in the Covenant is, to put his Laws in our inward parts. Jer: 3. 33. They receive by their Conversion a heavenly seed, which abideth in them that will not suffer them to sin as the wicked do, John 3. 9 Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin for His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of GOD. Yet as to the production of this new Creature, it may be so secret for a time, like the Infant in the Womb; so clouded and overpowered by Temptation and Corruption, that it doth little appear, and it takes a long time ere it become perfect in degrees, and visibly complete as to parts, althô the Child, though little and weak, is potentially a perfect man, Parents, then and Governors should with St. Paul travel in birth, till Christ be form in their Children. 3ly, As to its Evidence, the Apostle manifests it fully, 2, cor: 5. 17: Behold all things are become New, The man is wholly renewed in Quality▪ though not in Substance, so that he may very well say, Ego non sum ego. He hath a more generous spirit, with Caleb, a better heart with David, a more shining face with Moses, and the lips of the Righteous feed many: And though no man ca● make this Change, yet is he exhorted to make him a new heart, Ezek. 18 31. Th●● is, to use the means, and well to consider that the spirit of GOD begets this ne● Creature by the word of Truth, Jam: 1 18 That such may be a kind of first fruits of H●● Creatures, and for himself to show forth● His praise, Who hath called them from darkness to Light.  
§. 3. It is very promotive of Grace also, when Children comes to this state of Life, that they be Confirmed, after they can give any account of their Creed, and of their Prayers according to the Blessed Pattern, The LORDS Prayer; For, we read frequently in the Acts, of Confirming the Disciples after they were Prose●●ted to the Christian Religion, whereby the new Plantation was fixed, and by a sort of personal Covenanting with GOD, they were Engaged to His Service by their Voluntar Consent. This is the practice of the Universal Church; Which, if simply done, and not elevated unto a Sacrament, is laudable and promotive of the Ends of Religion. And though it be quarrelled with, by some in this Nation; Yet, if it could be got well done, in every particular Parish: Since the Bishop may not be always Vacant, it may be thought no Disorder, for the Parish Minister every year as Occasion offers to do this in the presence of the Parents and famous Witnesses, personally and particularly to join them to the LORD: And if there were not, alas! too great incuriousness about matters of Religion, a mean so helpful to the ends thereof, may be put in use. So, to conclude this Point, I shall Reinforce my earnest Exhortation to Christian Parents, in behalf of their Children, for this particular instance of their Care for their Souls; and to remember Gospel Ministers of their duty as to this. And since through the unsetledness of the Times, it can not be so well made eflectual, let both Pastors and Parents double their Diligence, in bearing in the Principles and Practices of Religion, into the tender Hearts of their Children, by Prayer, and other laudable means, for that Holy End.   

STAGE III.  
The Contents.  
Of the evils incident to Children in this Stage● their Life; Some Rules for the Ordering● their Life; With a Reinforcement of t● care Incumbent to those that are over th● with suitable Devotion.  
§. 1. IT is a sad Complaint of the Spi●● of GOD, Gen 6. 5 That the Imagination's of the thoughts of the heart of man 〈◊〉 evil, and only evil continually, and that 〈◊〉 pueritia, from his Childhood; Which, 〈◊〉 we consider aright, Man shall find that 〈◊〉 hath all the Dimensions of the Body's sin and Death, Rom: 7: to the end. 〈◊〉 tho, where Grace comes, this Canaani●● not ejected, though dejected, this corrupti●● hath invenomed our whole Nature, 〈◊〉 hath its seat in our Heart, and never ceaseth to foam and to boil like the Bottom●● pit; It is a deep thing that no Huma●● Engine can reach, for; The heart is dec●●ful above all things, Who can know it? Je●● 17. 9 This disease doth alienate us from t●● Life of GOD, Eph: 4 18. It hardeneth ou● heart, depraveth our will, perverteth ou● affections, infecteth our Senses, and inflameth our Appetite after eull. O man search and dissect this disease, and thou shall find the Poison of Asps, not only under thy tongue, but in thy heart, Rom: 3. 11. And the very nature of the Serpent in all thy Faculties. Which, if reflected upon aright, may through the Grace of GOD begin the Rise, and kindle the first sparks of Regeneration.  
§. 2. Although it be hard to Enumerate all the evils of Childhood; Yet to the help of any considering Man in his Reflection, I shall hint at some Blemishes thereof: Some have mentioned Vitium naturae gentis, & personae. The common Vice of Nature, and the more particular evils of the Clime and Person: All have the common disease, which vents itself in Nations, Families, and Complexions, in a different manner. So, some Natures are more mild, some more fervide: In some the Irascible, in others the Concupiscible appetite, doth Predomine. This would be well considered, that man may be the more fitted to correct the corruption of this inconsiderate time of his Age: But the more particular errors of this Circumstance, are Ignorance, Idleness, Careleness, Inconsidera●ness and Falseness whereby Man is Inclined to Lying, Ch●●ing and Stealing; So that this indisc●● Fool hath some Wisdom to do evil, 〈◊〉 he be simple to good. As also Envy, 〈◊〉 Spirit that is in us, sayeth St. James, lust●● to Envy, and St. Augustine after him sai●● Vidi zelantem puerum, a sort of Emulati●● and Envy in Young Ones, together wi●● evil custom; Especially in speech, whe●● by a man, alas! lays aside his Glor●● and soon learneth to speak the Language of Hell. As also, how prone is the Nature of man in this Circumstance to lea●● and use sinful Childish Tricks? In thin●● belonging to Nature, which fair Nature hath put a Veil over, to hid the●● from the Eyes of Curiosity. And a●● these are Nursed by an inconsiderate min●● and an unactive Conscience: But wha●● need I mention these evils? Since th●● poor Stripling is exposed naked to all evils under the Sun. So that, Man●● when he hath any power to reflect, is to consider the mercy of GOD, that ever he hath been reduced to any Sense and Judgement. For,  
§. 3. If he shall now delineat himself, he shall find the Root, the rise, the spruteing of these evils in him; Ignorance is the ●●ause of all our wander; he is born blind, ●nd like a whelp, seethe not till such a day; ●s long ere the scales fall off his eyes, and ●s by a merciful miracle of Grace that ●ver he sees. He's ignorant of GOD, ●hat rude conceptions and Ideas doth his ●ind and fancy conceive of the Deity? ●ot considering GOD in his Spiritual and ●oly Nature, and excellent Properties, the Eternal, and first Being, the infinite Rea●on, and Light of all the rational World: And so good that, if known, Man cannot ●ut adore, fear, love, and choice him, ●hen he beholds him in the mirror of ●is word and works, and in the express i●age of his person, Jesus Christ. He is also ignorant of himself, tho' (nos●e teipsum) be a common principle; He knows not whom he represents, being the image of the invisible GOD; tho much eclipsed by sin, Yet there remains some sparks and scintils of it in his Rational Nature, Which, if by Grace improved, may reduce this wand'ring Creature to the paths of Righteousness. He is also ignorant of the way to Salvation; and his eyes will be no sooner opened, but he'll have reason to cry out, What shall I do to be saved? Acts 20. 37. although he may think at first, the way to 〈◊〉 straight, (for so indeed it is, sayeth our Savio●● Yet shall he see his corruption to be 〈◊〉 cause that it is so difficult: and if throu●● GOD's blessing he shall consult Grace●● he shall find the way so strait and pla●● that a wayfairing Man, though a fool, shall 〈◊〉 err therein. Isaiah. 35 8.  
§. 4. I shall not enlarge upon the oth●● evil incident to our Nature, Since if th●● of Ignorance were Removed, and Co●●scence awaked to any exercise, man sha●● find it highly rational to correct the re●● for, when Light comes in, it will make 〈◊〉 ashamed of those things we have taken pleasure in; When we feed the Brute in Darkness and forgot the Soul, and left it lyin●● maimed and dying in its Blood. Th●● light will easily discover the preferance of love to Envy, Truth and Honesty to falsehood; And make the man, when he finds himself naked to hid his eyes from himself, and bestow the more abundant honour upon his more uncomely parts; this light will discover the Leopard's spots, of ill custom, and turn the man from black to white. It will reduce the straying sheep, and let him see where he is, what he is, and what he shall do.  
§. 5. Solomon gives unto such an excellent Direction, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom: And the LORD's word makes the simple wise, sayeth the Psalmist: This parents and teachers should mainly inculcate upon young and tender Hearts; And as man has by Education, The advantage of these Instructions: So he would be also taught to moderate and Govern his passions, and to Rule his own Spirit, especially ro guard against any peculiar and personal infirmity of his nature, and to strangle the Eruption thereof by Discretion: And withal to learn to bow his knee betimes, and seek Grace from GOD, who giveth liberally and upbraideth no man: For which he is to consider the advantage of Early piety, and to weaken sin, ere it come to an habit. Isaac had the advantage of good education, but his sons were more pregmatick, and possibly lost much of his pious instructions, yet doubtless Jacob was well principled from the beginning, which made him so anxious for the Blessing. Abijah came only to the Grave in peace, of all the Sons of Jeroboam; Good Josiah was tender hearted in his Tender Age, Timothy was instructed in the Scriptures from a Child, 2 Tim. 3. 15. St. John was a young Disciple, yet much beloved of his Master. Some get their call● in the morning, and have much of their work done ere the heat of the day; and man should receive this Call, lest GOD pursue him with the Rod. It's a sad thing to be Satan's Slave from the womb: No Creature loves to be fettered, and were no● man a dull brute, he would cast off the Chains of Satan. It's high time to awake out of the sleep of sin, and by actual care to Restrain the Power of his natural Corruption. This Age, if it do no● answer, It's education will after cry out O mihi Praeteritos, etc. Because he did no● obey the voice of his Teachers, Prov. 5. 13. For shall he let his body Grow, and the Spiritally in a trance? To have nimble Limbs and a lazy spirit: Man must therefore begin at the heart, where the Root of the evil lies: for out of the heart comes all evil, says our Saviour: He must therefore Wash, Watch, Keep, Guard, cleanse, and purify the heart, and seek the Blessing of the Covenant, Jer. 4. 14. Psal. 51. 10. Man in this Circumstance must shun evil Company, and not listen to the black art of Knowing the tricks of sin. He would have great care that things be right in the first Region, for if there be an error in the first concoction, the soundness of Grace will be much Obstructed by our natural diseases: O then present thy soul and sores to GOD, and seek the Balm of Gilead to heal thy soul, but beware of hypocrisy, to pray and sin, and sin and pray, and thus Run thyself into a Circle, thus to fall into Satan's Labyrinth, from whence the Out-gate is difficult, as the Ingress is dangerous. Rather begin thy General Calling as a Christian, and prepare thyself to Climb up to the Zenith of a more perfect age.  
§. 6. And the Rudeness of this Inconsiderate age, should of itself enforce the Duty of Parents and such as are Over Children, to make Conscience of their Education, Deut: 1. Compared with Eph: 6. to be much in Prayer for them, and to teach them to be serious. And pray in the Forms following.  

The Prayer Of Parents for their Children.  
O LORD, who hath granted me Children, give the Blessing, and grant them graciously, as thou did to Jacob: LORD make them thy Children; For, better for them never to have been born, than not to be born again. It had been better for me that I had been barren, then that they be not fruitful to Thee. I have cast them upon Thee from the Womb, an● dedicate them to Thee; LORD, accept of the● for his sake who became the Son of Man, an● in the days of his flesh was very kind to Litt●● Ones; heal the Corruption of their Nature● save them from the snares of Sin, and Satins Open the Eyes of their mind early, that th● may know thee, O GOD; Put something 〈◊〉 them that may put them up to Thee; Sancti●● their Education, save them from the unlawf● tricks of sin, and be Thou their Tutor an● Governor, take them, LORD, by the bea● and by the hand, and lead them in a plain path● prosper them in a course of virtue, and never lea● them nor forsake them; And LORD gi● them that blessing that they never forsake The● lest they fall in a ditch, and Ruin: Be thou 〈◊〉 GOD their Portion in the Land of the Living● and make them so happy, and us in them, tha● thev may be Inclined to a Lawful Calling, and serve Thee, both in General and Particular. Sanctify their Baptism, and bless it to them i● all the Periods of their Life, that they mav be so devouted to Thee, that they may be amongst the number of these Little Ones, that shall see Thy Face for ever, Amen.   

The Prayer of Children.  
O Thou Eternal Creator, Who made me fearfully and wonderfully in the Dark ●ells of the Womb, and hast now brought me 〈◊〉 the light, and stated me upon the stage of time, 〈◊〉 act my part: and given me the advantage of ●e light of the Glorious Gospel, through the ●iety of my Parents, good Education and In●●uction, Grant me the Grace to do what is ●●ght in Thy sight, and Religiously answer the ●●ains and Means 〈◊〉 for my Good, save me ●●om Idleness, Negligence, and Indiscretion, ●●d all the Evils that follows, and flow from 〈◊〉 blind mind; Give me to awake, and seek ●hee in the morning of my Day; How si●ly hath ●●y degenerate Nature made me? How little differ I from a Brute, and how much obscure I the Light of Reason, by follv, flesh, sense and sin? LORD give me now as much Light as to see how weak and Vile I have been, and to know what thou wilt have me to do; remember not against me the Vanities of this inconsiderate Age; But shape and sharpen me for Thyself, that I may, by Thy Grace, leave the darknessess and shadows of my twilight-time, and look up to Higher Regions, of Reason and Religion, and so begin to be serious in this indiscreet Period 〈◊〉 my time, and put away Childish things: 〈◊〉 me to feel the motions of the Rational 〈◊〉 and not to be only acted by the natural Spi●● O my Soul, listen now to the Light of 〈◊〉 LORD, open now all the windows of thy 〈◊〉 to the beams of His Light and Life, Aw●● thou that sleepest, that CHRI●● may Give thee Light: LORD lose me 〈◊〉 my pleasant fetters of nature, and sin, 〈◊〉 grant me solid Judgement and pure affect●● Put too thy hand and lift me up; And then 〈◊〉 I walk at liberty in the ●ath● of thy pre●● Thou hast brought me through the weakness a Brittle age, and ●●as! I have been a cap●● slave, LORD Redeem me for thy mercy's sake, and Give me so much of solid G●● as may help me to keep my feet, in after tr●● of following Periods; And put my soul on w●● and grant me the Gentle Air of Heavenly bre●● Now to live in a better and a more Solu●● element, and breathe a more free Air, for 〈◊〉 ligion and Virtue. Amen.  
§. 7. Now are we to look upon Ma●● as come through the Stage of Infan●● Childhood, and the pedagogy of sor●● discipline, and education, and to ha●● arrived at, or about twelve years of Age; have now learned something of Art, and ●●tered upon the threshold of Science, and ●ade capable to think, Reflect, and ex●rcise the faculties of his mind bv speculation & study: In which stage, Parents and Overseers should look well to the Genius ●f Children and their proper gift, since ●●ery one hath his Peculiar gift of GOD, which 〈◊〉 should manure with most natural and ●●easant inclinations: For it's hard to act ●gainst tide, invita Minverva, this makes ●ut ●oil and labour to little purpose, and without proficiency: And although Superiors are not fully to be concluded by ●●e swing of their Child's inclinations, ●et are they carefully to observe their ●ay in their after Education, and Act accordingly, in the Observing the methods of the Stage following.    

STAGE Fourth. From the 12 to the 18 Year of Man's Age.  
The Contents.  
Resumeth the Doctrine and Instructions for Children; And further presseth home the special concerns of their life, w●● the Reinforcement of the Care and Du●● of Parents and Overseers, with a Tra●●tion from Child hood to Growing A●● and entrance upon the Limits of You●● with some Rules and Motives direct●● and pressing this.  
§. 1. IT is now high time for the● O Man, to lift up thy Eye● higher than the firmament, and 〈◊〉 mind thy Creator, look well then tha● thou consider thy bounden duty 〈◊〉 GOD, the timous dedication and giving up of thy name to Him, and to po●der thy early engadgement and Baptismal Vow: and as Baptism is the L●ver of Regeneration, thou art to look, 〈◊〉 it hath any influence upon thee: and 〈◊〉 thou finds any thing of the motions of a● new life within thee: if Baptism has ha●● lowed thee: and if thou does seriously consider that thou art washed that thou mavest begin now to escape the polutious of the World through lust, and that as new born Babes, thou desire the sincere milk of the word that thou mayest grow thereby, and if thou, hast learned the Language of Canaan, to speak with GOD and for GOD, if thou hast attained to any discretion to put on Modesty, humility, and patience? If thou hast learned to govern thy homour propassions, and passions? If thou yet knows any thing of the Vanity and Deceitfulness of the World and the necessity of renuncing the same? If these things be in thee, O Child of Man, than thou layest a good foundation against the time to come, and for thy progress in Piety and Virtue.  
§. 2. And for Parents and Overseers, Let me in all modesty, inquire of you, if your heart approves you as to your Duty to your Children and Pupils, in order to their Religious education: Some are ready to boast of Blood and Kindred, Friends and Riches, and other worldly privileges: but the great bussiness is, to look well they be illuminated with the Rays of Grace and the beauties and properties of Religion: As also if you have used the rod with discretion, for he that spareth the rod hateth the Child, sayeth Solomon: Which must be used, not out of passion, but from good Principles to holy ends; For, this is an instance of your Tender love of them, since GOD Himself, the Father of us all, hath said, Whom I love I Chastise, that we may be Zealous and Repent, Rev. 3. 21. And ●e chasteneth every 〈◊〉 whom He Receiveth, Heb: 12. 6. Folly is knit to the heart of the Child, till the Rod of Correction take it out: And it is far better for your Children to feel the Lash of your Rod, then to be stricken and wounded with the effects of their own after miscarriage, when their own Iniquity find them out.  
§. 3. And it is an excellent Mean for your children's happiness, that you study their genius and proper Gift (as I before hinted) that so ye may prepare them to enter such Callings as may make them most useful in their Generation: That their Calling be laudable and approved, as little liable to snares as possible; a Calling, that may most naturally dispose them for a course of Virtue; And therefore they would be instructed to be Industrious, Honest and diligent in the Exercise thereof: And of whatever Rank they be, it is a greater blemish then obscure blood, to be idle in their Generation: So that even, the Noble and Rich, as they have a High and Noble general Caling, So must they act in some particular Calling and Exercise, in these more Eminent Spheres, GOD has placed them in. And if ye find your Child's genius so disposed, it may be very helpful, and behoveful for their Comfort in this Life, and that to come, to give them to GOD, and separate them for the Holy Tribe, by the Holy and Honourable Calling of the Gospel Ministry; Wherein, if Men would answer their Character, they might get Esteem and Respect, and with their Master, Grow in favour with GOD and Man.  
§. 4. Neither is the Female Sex to be neglected as to this Religious Education: The Daughters are to be directed as well as the Sons; For, as they have Interest in the Covenant, 2 Cor: 6. to the end. I will be a Father unto you (sayeth the LORD) and ye shall be unto Me Sons and Daughters: So, when our Sons are as plants grown up in their Youth, and our Daughters as Corner Stones polished after the similitude of a Palace, it is a great token of the Happiness of a People, Psal: 144. 12. 15. Our Daughters are not born or bred to be idle: For, beside their General, they have a particular Calling to be Employed in; For which end, and to illuminate their life, they are to be very careful, and such as Oversee them, that they be neither like a gadding Dina, nor a painted Jezebel; or like the Daughter of Midian, who were a stumbling block, by the counsel of Balaam, to the People of GOD; They must shun the way of the prostitute Woman in the Prov: and learn to do virtuously after the Copy of the gravest Matrons: And to attire themselves with modesty, and Veil themselves with shamefacedness, and learn Humility, which is a foundation Grace, and to beware of pride and vanity; since this may make them like the daughters of Zion. Isa▪ 2. 24. and bring baldness and a Scab upo● them in stead of Beauty; They would labour also to refine & Purify all their Passions by giving Christ, who is fairer than the So●● of Men, The first and highest place in their love; and to Espouse themselves to such a Blessed Husband, ere they think upon their Nuptials: That when by the Approved methods of GOD, and their Parents they begin a conjugal state, they may enter the Marriage bed, White as Swans, and Purer than the Snow of Lebanon. They would learn also to moderate all their affections, speech and way, with the Spirit of meekness, for, a meek and quiet Spirit is the Ornament of a Woman; 1 Pet. 3. 4. And this being observed, let them be as virtuous as they can, both in a single and married life; Let reason rather than Romances be their Study, let them Deck their minds, ere they adorn their Body; Let them consider that they are the Weaker Vessel, and under subjection, and still think it to be unsuitable to their Sex and way, to be Imperious, and not to keep within the Sphere, in which GOD hath placed them, lest they make Clamour, Noise, and in discretion which doth much blot and Blur their delicacy.  
§. 5. And now by way of transition, from the bygone time to the present: (For in this Stage of Man's life; its high time for him to begin to reflect upon bygone, and to consider where he is, and that he ascends to an higher Horizon) I shall leave all what I have said in order to the first Period of our life, and the Stages thereof, and take Man in his ascendant, by the hand, and lead him by Religion in this second Period of his life, and the Various Circumstances and Stages thereof.  

The Prayer  
AND thou O Great Father of the World, who by the wise providence Carries Man from the Womb to Youth, in the weak beginnings of his life: and darker Rudeness of unjointed Judgement, who pities his infirmities, and provides for his healing and help, b● the expresses of Purest reason. Sanctify this Period of his life, Principle and ballast this new Vessel well with the sweet Odours of Religion, that there be not? any thing wrong in the first Region, and no error and misdiet in the first concoction; that so Man may be shaped and form for thyself, and Prepared for Felicity in the lustrous and lightsome Steps of thy holy Religion. Amen.     

Period second, Of our Present time, and the State of our Growing Age.  

STAGE I. Which commenceth from the 18 year of Man's age, to twenty two, or thereabout.  
The Contents.  
Considereth the portraiture and lineaments of Youth, and the evils incident to that age, with some directions and motives for the Right ordering of this circumstance of our age; and some hints of particular Directions as to Our Natural, Spiritual and Moral Capacity, for the help of youth: Now entering more visible upon the Stage, in the open View of the World. With suitable Devotion.  
§. 1. NOw come I to consider, a very turbulent and dangerous part of Man's Age: Let man now consider what he is now arrived to? almost at the top of the wheel, and may be a little look back to the darker Region of his Childish years, and how long he hath been buried in Oblivion, without true sense & solidity, his many Unmanly and Unchristian Infirmities. It hath been enquired concerning Childish follies: See Dr. Tailor's Ductor dubitantium, Pag: 800. How long they are excused, as Inevitable Errors, and Invincible Ignorance: But since our Original sin makes us Culpable & miserable before GOD, I think it best to reflect with grief upon bygon infirmities; and to labour in our growing Age and Youth-hood (which I have guessed to begin about the eighteen year of Man's Age) to correct ourselves of bygon infirmities, and prepare to act more wisely and solidly, in the more grave and settled state of Life.  
§. 2. Youth now i● his Morning Rise having the timous season to begin a course of Virtue and Duty, having put off childish habits & childish things & being now dissintangled from these trifles, must act like a Man. God doth make some embrace his Yoke from their Youth, & by his Grace makes the motion and life of the New Creature appear in them and their way; and such a Youth is like to be useful in his Generation to GOD, the World and himself: and O how happy is such a 〈◊〉 whom GOD takes by the heart and by the hand betimes, and fitteth him with good inclinations, and warm tender Affections, to love GOD and fear Him. And to remember his Creator in his Youth, Ecc: 12. 1. Whereby much sin and folly in him is prevented and such corruptions as make the way to Life difficult, if not impossible, to Man; Thus, many seek to enter in at the straight gate, and are not found able, & like that young Man in the Gospel, Mat 19 6. Who probably had some good in him, and came to CHRIST sincerely and not as the Pharisees did, to tempt him; Yet, Because the Idol of the World was lurking in his heart, he went away sorrowful from CHRIST: But the Youth that hath reminded his Baptism Vow, is put in a fair way to make progress in Virtue and Duty.  
§ 3. But alas! Youth is in a sharp fever with a frenzy, till GOD cool a●d c●re him, some are rather Gazers then Discerne●s; a sort of Animal, that but stairs on the World and knows not well what he is doing? Like a Bullock or wild Colt unacquainted with the easy yoke of duty: He Evaporates in Air and Vanity, like an imaginary Prince thinks himself None such, & who but he? he towers up in't the Air, there to build a Castle, and propose to get a name through fancy, without the methods of Fame and Virtue, No considering that he lies like a silly fool exposed to all temptation.  
§. 4. The Wisdom of GOD pronunceth that Childhood and Youth are Vanity, Ec● 11. 10. And the Psalmist praveth tha● the Errors of his Youth be not Remembered, Psal. 25. 7. The most of Youth, without Restrain, are evil; there may be some better natures and Humours, but all have the Common Corrupt nature, which makes its Eruptions, like Aetna, and giveth Cause of Regrate all the following life-time. Great Augustine, (who of a profligate youth became the Oracle of Doctors) because of the extravagancies of his younger Age, is very full and particular in his confessions. Youth is wise in its own conceit, and so the Greater Fool, he's a little Gay, with warm blood strength and health, so that he is ready to think himself invincible; and being of uncertain Humour, concludes himself without a change. But what's thy strength, O Young Man, to the strength of a horse, Behemoth or Leviathan? A Lion or a beast of Prey may soon devour thee, a Feverish disease may soon consume thee, and Death, thou so little thinks upon, may turn thy White and Red Complexion into Black and Pale Dust. The strength of the horse may fail, but such as trust in the LORD shall renew their strength, Isa: 40 29. It is good then for Youth to pray for the Influence of that CALL, that raised Lazarus from the Dead; For, if Grace intervene not, There is a Law in the Members which rebels against the law of the mind, which leads the Youth Captive to the power of sin and Death, Rom: 7. 23.  
§. 4. But I must descend to more minute Particulars concerning Youth; For, this is, in many, a very unruly part of their Age, very confused in the Rational Part; And man in this State is altogether lighter than Vanity; Who lives much by Fancy and Imaginations, and is not so careful to ●ress the Soul, as to attire the Body. Yet a Ro●e hath a greater gloss and beauty than all his artificial Decorement: O it is sad to be proud of that which hides his nakedness, and discovers that he is fallen! Let this painted Spectacle appear in view, he is like a Will● Ass snuffing up the wind; Some are L●● quacious, others Tongue-tied; Yet, what is wanting in words, is made up●● Vaunts and vain Glory; they look 〈◊〉 high that they are like to fall in a Ditch Some act as in a dream, and roave as in● Fever with an unjointed Judgements and a Scopeless Life, their Tongues are th●● own (sayeth their way) who is LORD over them? They think Religion either's fancy or a Superstitious restraint of thei● lusts; And say, Come let us break his Bond● asunder: And do all they can, to ru● on Precepieces, and a fatal fall. Yet som● (as has been before observed) are mo●● tractable: To show that there is an Election, and that GOD has His Jewels amon● a heap of Stones; Some are taught o● GOD from their Youth, and are under● His Discipline and the Life of Grace● spruting forth in little buds; Which makes them serious at their Studies, Pio●● in their Devotion, solid in their Conversation, and, in stead of all the Gaiety from without; They cloth themselves with Humility, Charity, and Holiness; and act by the Principles of Wisdom and Discretion.  
§. 5. But alas! This Light shines but in few, for the most take pleasure to live in darker Regions. Now this Particular consideration shall be, 1. To observe the evils incident to this State of Man's Age. And 2ly. The Directions and Motives for his Recovery.  
§. 6. As to the first, I condescend upon  

First, The ignorance and prejudice of the Mind of Youth, against all Virtue; And Inclinations to Vice, carried on with great Inconsideration.  
Secondly, Pride and Vanity.  
Thirdly, Stoutness in sin, with an aptness to follow the ill customs of the Generation.  
Fourthly, Idleness, and omissions of Duty and good Exercise.  
Fifthly, A sleeping and unexercised Conscience.   
§. 7 First, The Philosopher as well as the Divine observes Praejudicia Juventutis: Great prejudice against Virtue: And Experience may teach any Man, that his imaginations have been evil from the beginning: And if there be any thing of acquired Knowledge, which is learned in the School: Yet Speculation without Grace and saving Knowledge is not warm light, and doth not nourish the tender Plants: For, though the man were as learned as Plato or Aristotle, he is but rude and dull as to that Knowledge which tends to Salvation: And the fums that come from the forge of his lusts, darken the heart, and the head; and if he hath the Advantage of the Gospel Light, surely his Ignorance flows from Supine Negligence or self Conceit and seest thou a man wise in his own Eyes; there's more hope of a fool than of him GOD gives Grace to the humble, but youth, for the most, is so swelled with self Conceit and vanity, that he will n●● bow himself to learn to wise to Salvation▪ But its better for him to learn of the Royal Psalmist, to ●eek the gift of right Understanding: And at the wisest of King's to dig and labour for Wisdom, as the Principal thing, as the greatest accomplishment, either of Youth or Riper year● And no Man that looks to his Instinct, but finds it naturally tending to that which is Evil. Till the Old Man be Mortified, sin lives and Reigns without control, especially, the sin that agrees with our present frame; Concupisce not now rides in a hot Career, sets up the Brute, and puts down the Man: It Corrupts the affections, and blasts the Plants of Zion with corrupt Breath; It makes the Man Degenerate, and by giving place to carnal, quencheth the Flams of Seraphic and Divine Love: It makes the Man a brute Who might by Grace be made an Angel. Awake then out of sleep: For if thou live after the flesh, thou shalt die, Rom, 8. 15.  
§. 8. 2ly. As to Pride and Vanity, much incident to youth, Because he knows not well where he is, and hath such complasancy in his present Circumstances, as not to consider what mav fall out to a mortal Man; Pride and vanity may soon be laid with Herod's; And a little time of a Disease, may Make him more feeble than an Infant: Solomon saw much of this vanity, and saw no cure for it, but by Religion, and the consideration of our account at Judgement; Pride is devilish, it turned Lucifer to a Devil; And the higher any towers up the more subject is he to a vertiginous fall, His 〈◊〉 as well as his Brains prove Air, but GOD hates the proud; and Agur prays LORD Remove from me vanity and lies. Prov. 38. 8. Let no man then Glory in Strength, Wisdom, Riches, or Beauty; but let him that Glorieth Glory in the LORD. Jer. 9: 23. 24. This vanity makes a man walkin● vain show, and act the worst part of the Scene, to play the Fool.  
§. 9 3ly. Stoutness in sin, etc. Hear●● ye stout hearted, says the Prophet, you must stoop  GOD look upon you. This is a Natural & contracted hardney of heart, that alienates Man from the Life● GOD, Eph: 4 18. His blindness make● him bold; Yet he hath not only an Angel; with Balaam, but the Great GOD for his Enemy; Consider this thou that forgets GOD, lest he tear thee in pieces wh● there is none to deliver, Psal: 50: 22. A●● make your stout heart turn into a fecher Mind, for who can stand against GOD when He is angry? Yet alas! how licentious is this state of Age? And do speak 〈◊〉 as their tongue were indeed their own, b●● GOD will break this fool-hardiness & ma●● thee either contreet, or crush thee: Neve● then be stout in sin, except thou think 〈◊〉 master thine Enemy, If thou Kick aga●● the pricks, CHRIST can cast thee do●● and turn a stout hearted Saul, into a humble Paul, to cry out LORD What wilt Th●● have me to do, Acts 9 6.  
§ 10. 4ly. Idleness and emissions of Duty, 〈◊〉 Youth's very prone thereunto, to for●● GOD (when he should remember his Creator) as he dwelr in a Land of Forgetfulness; Wherein he passeth much of his time ere he consider the great use thereof; He lets the Night come on him, Wherein no man can work Joh. 9 4. And may drop into the Grave, Where no bussiness is. Eccles: 9 10. His Life is but a Digression, if he work not while it is called the day, and work not for Eternity: Our Life is but a Minute and for a Day; O that thou knew in this thy Day, the things that belongs to thy Peace.  
§. 11. 5lv, A sleeping and unexercised Conscience, This is a great Disease in Youth, which occasioneth bad conduct, Youth is subject to Inconsideration, layeth not things to heart as he should do, his Conscience lieth under a heap of humours; And so is void of Action, and neither informed or Employed: He looks not to the Rule, nor reflects upon his way; whereas he should first consult the Word, and thereby awaken and inform his Conscience to have his bosom Monitor, Vigilant; And the Witness within him honest; And judge impartially, according to the Rule: Man cannot want Conscience, because there is a GOD; But Conscience may sleep, be bride● deadned, and to Government, useless and unactive, (as Tertullian long ago hath observed) because it is not a God, noscc teipsum know thyself: The Heathens Lesson is very fit for a Christian. The benefit of S● Acquaintance, tends much to right Discretion and the Government of our Life● Which makes many invert that of S● Paul, I know nothing by myself, for want of reflection, they can curse, swears lie, and work abomination, and their● heart never smites them: So they are lef● to themselves, and put under the sadd●● plague, of getting success in sin. Better 〈◊〉 have the Way hedged with Thorns, lea●● thou run to ruin, and labour so to guid● thyself that thy Heart condemn thee not, and to exercise thyself with St. Paul, to have 〈◊〉 Conscience void of Offence towards GOD and Man.  
§. 12. Many other things may be aded, as rashness, 〈…〉, and following vain customs; 〈…〉 into a calling and course of life 〈◊〉 with no Deliberation, but merely from fondness and folly; drive like Jehn, in the pursuit of their carnal love, and enter into a married sta●e so rashly and indiscreetly, that thev may have leisure enough after, to regrate▪ and so youth runs himself into inextricable difficulties: But quod faciendum semel deliberandum diu. And he should engage in this warefare with good advice: but of the most of these, I may have occasion to speak to, after this.  
§. 13. And so I come to the second thing, to wit, The directions and motives for his recovery, and the ordering this state of Age.  
1. As long as Man climbs to the top of the Wheel, and Ascends to the height of his Temporary Horizon, he should take leisure to look back on his bygone life, and view well that he act contrary Good to these evils , that he be Considerate, Knowing, tender▪ hearted, busy in good Exercise, rhat his Conscience be awaked, & himself humble, even clothed with humility which lays a good foundation for the Reception of Grace in his after Age, that he learn to change Vain thoughts● into Deliberation; and Passions to rule them by a quiet Mind, peaceable by patience and Moderation, and the sooner he listens to the Call of GOD, it will be easier for him, that with great Aug: he be alarmed with that of the Apostle Rom 13. 11. It is 〈◊〉 time to awake out of sleep: Memory may decay in old Age. But Youth must remember, hear Children the instruction of Wisdom Prov 6. 7. And since some a●● snatched away in their younger yea● some sin away, and some play away their time; Youth should not think i● too soon to be serious, since posibly h● may not live till he think it time to b● serious.  
§. 14. It is Good for youth that is ready to stare upon rarities, to take Wisdom from the example of such as miscarry lest he himself become an Example; and all sad accidents to others, should make us listen to that of Solomon: Fellow the way of good men: Better to be A monument of mercy than of wrath. He must impartially correct● the errors of his bygon life, and not be sparing in his own case to cry out, with Judah against the Harlot, and yet be the man himself that is defiled, Gen. 38. 24. He must consider how he hath carried in all relations, what sentiments he had of Religion, what was his Temptation, inclination, humour and fancy: what was his gift, and what little good he hath done: And if he Consider well, he may acknowledge that he hath not obeyed the voice of his Teachers, and that his Religion hath but Come by fi●s, and that Possibly, he hath harboured, and does harbour some predominant sin; and if he were serious he would find out the Dalilah that hath possessed his heart, and know where the strength of his sin lies, and pray, with the Psalmist, LORD who knows his errors? Psal. 19 12.  
§. 15 It is high time then to smite thy thigh, and knock thy breast, and to be humble for thy bygon errors; which thou may know to be a sincere repentance for them that if thou were placed in the former circumstances, thou wouldst not react these follies; And that thou dost not relish them with wont affection: And since they have not ruined thee, show thy zeal & revenge against these thy former Idols; keep no reserve, lest thy Religion be Partial and Unpleasant; look back with grief, and redeem it with Duty, sell not thy time for nought, be no more beguiled with toys, look back with Repentance, and before thee with Prudence.  
§. 19 It is more than time, also to consider thy Baptismal Engagement. Whereby thou art sworn to GOD, gets his mark and his Cognizance of Christianity; Thou must renunce sin and Sata● GOD can make thy Baptism Effectual but 'tis by Faith, Repentance and Obedience, that it works in the Adult; Tho● must give the Answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3. 21. to thy Baptism as St. Peter speak● thou must wash in the Laver of Regeneration, till it produce the new Creature. An● draw Virtue, as a living Member from thy Blessed Head.  
§ 16. Who is now wise to consider these things? look how the LORD trains thee in his Providence from Childhood to Youth, GOD may bring thee hom● with the voice of the Rod: look the● what Influence Providence hath upon thy Younger heart, if it be humbled and 〈◊〉 to receive the Blessings of Religion.  
§. 17. And yet; more particularly to direct this ingoverned Age, that needs solidity to keep it from Reeling, 〈◊〉 the Scripture teacheth thee, 1, to remember thy Creator in the days of thy Youth; It is a part and a great part that lays the foundation of practical principles, Memento 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vere & memento Mori: both to remember how to live and how to die. And 2ly. the Scripture bids thee flee youthful lusts, 2 Tim: 2, 2, 1 What these lusts are thou reads not there, but certainly youth hath its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. proper lusts, the vice of their age, of their nature, person and Nation. Yet if thou look to the contrary Virtues which the Apostle there commends, as Righteousness, Grace, Faith, Love etc. Thou shalt find, Injustice, Ambition, Animosity, Carnality, unruliness, Facileness, Broils, Tumults, Contests, and Duels that produceth dearfull deaths, all which are against Charity which the Apostle there commends, but thou must follow after Faith, Love, and Peace.  
Secondly, Eat idleness and evil Company, beware of the Tavern and Stew, If sinners entice thee, consent thou not, It is a Token that GOD hath called thee, If thou choice a Right Calling; It is time for thee now to think how to live: Every minute of our short day has its Work; Consider then well what Work thou, puts thy Hand to and what Calling, by the Advice of these that are Wiser than thyself, may through GOD's Blessiing serve thee in this World, and not Impede thy general Calling as a Christian; Let thy Calling not be ensnaring but approved, propone not so much Gain as Contentedness: And (as I hinted before) Oeteris paribus, the Holy Calling, of serving under Christ, our great Apostle, and high Priest, is very ; For 〈◊〉 makes Heaven and the Golden Way that tends to it, the greatest Study and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o● the Candidate; It gives him a Prospect to view the Embellished Toys of a vain World, and occasion to Contemplar GOD, and see Things invisible: It make● the Man, if he answer his Character, 〈◊〉 Man of GOD, a guide to the Blind● Strength to the Weak, and, according to his measure, a Saviour; For in so doing, he shall save his own Soul and them that hears him: And if through the badness of the Soil, he do not always succeed In his Ministry; Yet though Israel be not gathered, his Reward is with his GOD. 'Tis true, the prejudiced and ignorant World may have other Sentiments, but it knows not the Use, End and Rewards of this Rank of Men: But taking pleasure in their own way, they may Ra●e it according to the Relish of their corrupted ; And this should not discourage any Engaging or engaged in it; since our Blessed LORD was so raited; that the Prophet says, When we see him, there is no beauty in him, that we should desire him. 4ly. Beware of passion, that it predomine not, either in the Irascible or Concupiscible Appetite: Be not too intent upon trifles; but learn to be  in thy florid Age, eat rashness and feed not upon wind; Particulary, guard against Carnal Love, which hath been the great bane of many: Wise Solomon was entangled with it, though in the first 7: Chap: of the Prov: he giveth sound counsel against this Delirium and Vanity: If in due time with good advice, thou affect a suitable Mate carry as the Cherubs, with the Propitiatory in the midst, & like the Sun and Moon who never meet, but by the disposition of nature and issues such influences as refresh the earth. 5ly. It is good to season and sweeten thy Humour betimes with Religion, thy Ghostly Enemy hath an evil eye upon thy Genius, and and if he can prostrate thee to a carnal fancy, he gains his point; for if passion and fancy predomine, the better part is put low: But I writ unto you, young men, because ye have overcome, (or should overcome) the wicked one, 1 Joh. 2. 13. And to soil Satan at first, is our great advantage; Thy thoughts are but indigested till thy heart be established with Grace. Consider thy Talents and gifts, and the rise of the morning of thy life, that thou may manure them; & found well that in thy after life thy building totter not; look back what you have been; you lie a while in the womb, sleeping in a dark Cell, on the Breasts, the dug was your care, while at School, the ferula was your fear and the play your pleasure, thc School was to thee a Prison, and the play house 〈◊〉 palace, begin therefore well with God, for a careless mind now, may make thee stupid all thy days. If thou labour to hid thy sins and thinks to Repent after, thou beguiles thyself, because thou cannot promise to thyself a day after; and though that day should come thou art not sure that GOD will give thee Grace: principle well and act accordingly. guard against the vice of the time, and of your age and person, be constant and sincere in duty; and never undertake any business of consequence, without advice: Moderate your Recreations, and neglect not the Vnum necessarium, the one thing needful.  
§. 19 And for motives to press this timeous duty of youth; consider. 1. That Early fruit is a seasonable sacrifice to GOD; It is a good thing to begin with GOD, and the sooner thou gins, the Work is the more easy, but if sin take rooting, it is not so soon eradicated; And makes the Sinner, like the Ethiopian, that can not change his hue: But timous beginning in Grace breeds a great deal of Facility to serve GOD, and makes Christ's yoke easy: Grace gives thee a comely Feature, and Joseph thereby was better adorned than his Coat made him; It makes thee Splendid and Honourable, it breeds a satisfying and  Joy to the Soul, it sweeteneth all the accrbities and tediousness of Discipline and other Encumbrances; And though Youthful lusts may make it at first a little difficult, yet if thou flee them, and mortify them, and follow after Godliness; The difficulty will over, and Religion will become thy delight. 2ly▪ Remember thy Creator, and consider the examples of Youth that have done so; St. John writes to Young Men, as well as to Fathers, and Timothy knew the Scriptures from his Youth; Youth must consider that, though he bloom & blossom, yet a little blast may much wrinkle and whither him, as the Flower gins to hang its head, and loss much of its beauty and smell, till it fall amongst the portion of weeds: But▪ early Piety is a savoury sacrifice to GOD, to bring to him thy first Fruits. To be sanctified from the Womb is extraordinary, and in the Womb singular, and to be sanctified in Youth, is rare: Ye● many Young Men and Virgins gave u● their lives for Christ; and wilt thou no● sacrifice thy sins for him? O but a ne● Heart is pleasant in a Young Breast! A●● a new sprung Rose sends forth a fragran●● smell: And in thy Youth thou hast th●● Advantage of warmer affections; Car●● and Encumbrances ceaseth upon year●● but Youth is free to care for the things of 〈◊〉 LORD; The Young Disciple had war●●est affections, and, if thy love be fix●● for the right Object, it may be a war●● Season to produce Fruit. Suffer not 〈◊〉 therefore to prepossess thine heart, whi●● may trouble thee all thy days, and mak●● thee possess the sins of thy Youth to th●● sorrow; And with the Psalmist, have reason to pray, Remember not the errors of my Youth, Psal: 25. 7.  
§. 20. And, For the further advancement of the Piety of Youth; Let the rising Generation consider. 1. The Glory and Dignity of Adoption. 2ly. The Luster and Fragrancy of Grace. 3ly. The Guidance of the Spirit. 4ly. The Guardianship of Angels. 5ly. Their Inheritance. 〈◊〉. Then, the Glory and Dignity of Adoption; 'Tis no small matter for to be the Children of GOD, I'll make him my first born higher than the Kings of the Earth. CHRIST became the Son of Man, that thou mightest become the Son of GOD: He was humbled, that rhou mightest be Exalted, and except thou Receive him, thou hast no tittle to Adoption. Joh. 1. 12. Close with Christ, and then thou may lift thy heart and head as high as Heaven, and Glory in thy high descent, though thou dwell in a house of Clay: be then of a noble Spirit with Caleb. 2ly. The lustre of Grace, which makes thy face to shine with Moses, and makes thee altogether Lovely; O what excellency, and virtue is in the new heart! How Beauteous are its Rays up-upon the life! Man thereby becomes like himself, and Masters all brutal Passions; Grace is a Ray of GOD, it is all in light, life and love; If it could be seen, it would be fairer than the Sun. It puts such a principle in thee, that though sin may infest, yet it shall not prevail because the Seed of GOD Remains in thee, and makes the Righteous man more excellent than his Neighbour. Prov. 12 26. 3ly. The guidance of the Spirit; which is not only the Character, But the Privilege of the Children of GOD: The wayfairing man hath an unerring guide, and though thou should not lean to a Fanatic and Enthusiastic Spirit, yet in the use of the means, thou must Rely upon the gracious conduct of GOD's Spirit; For, If thou be led by the Spirit, thou art the Son of GOD. Rom. 8 14. 4ly. The Guardianship of Angels. The elder Children guard the younger: If thou walk in GOD's way, they get charge over thee. Psal. 91. 11. They rejoice at thy conversion, delight in thy duty▪ and keep thee in all thy ways. 5ly. The inheritance, All is yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is GOD'S; 1 Cor. chap. 3 to the end. Heirs and Coheirs with CHRIST, and have interest in that inheritance that is incorruptible, with the Saints in light; which should make the World be little in thine eye.  

The Prayer.  
O LORD, I am now in a dangerous Stage of my Life Ready to run Round in a Circle of sin to my own Ruin! O ancient of Days, take me by the Heart and hand in the morning of my life, to noon tide, anoint me with Fresh Oyland guide me by Thy Word and Spirit for Man that understandeth not is like the beast that perish: Create in me a clean heart and let me do nothing unworthy of my Birth and hopes, give me the faculty to open mine eyes to look up to Thee, and deliver me from Unbelief and youthful follies; It hath pleased Thee to call some of the worst of Youth; give so much Grace as may illuminate and direct an inconsiderate mind, water the little and tender plantation of my heart; influence me with such Heavenly motions, as may awaken me out of my first sleep wherein I have alas, slumbered too too long, possess Thy own purchase, and let not Satan or any lust get peaceable residence, where Thy holy fee● have trod: Give me to see the Rarities and Glories of the New World of Grace, make me a miracle and a monument thereof, that I may rejoice that once I was darkness and now am light in the LORD, restore me to a Right Mind cast out of it all dregs of sin, and turn it from a den of thives to a Temple for Thee; give me Grace not only to remember, but serve my Creator and with solid Judgement swear under thy banner and Vow an inviolable fidelity to thee my LORD and Master, that I may grow in Grace as in days, that in due time I may be perfected.   
Amen.   

STAGE second. From the 22 to the 30 Year of our Age.  
The Contents.  
After some Introduction, the settled life of 〈◊〉 Christian in this Period, is considered, particularly as to the Marriage and a lawful Calling; with helps and directions suteable● & motives to excite him to duty in this Stag● of his life, with some practice of Devotion, especially to the Meaner sort, as to the hallowing of their House and calling.  
§. 1. THe Race of Man's life Rolls on a wheel, and the Spoke that is ascendant, Immediately goes down and declines; thou shouldest therefore run that thou mayest obtain, improve well the present, because bygone is past, and thou knows not what's before thee: But this thou art sure of, that time passeth as a thought, and Eternity cannot be comprehended with thy thoughts; thou spends thy time here in an Imaginary world: But eterni●● is solid and cannot alter.  
§. 2. It will be fit then in this Stage, if thou hast come to any solidity. 1. to look back to thy former ways; 2ly. To consider what frame thou art now in, as to thy present Circumstances: After which, it being now the ordinary time that man gins to think upon a settled life: Consider to enter there-into (especially a married state) with great deliberation, and be careful, that thou manage and exercise thy particular Calling, by the Rules and measure of Religion; with means to conduct, and lead you in the Right path, and with Seasonable Motives to persuade thee into the duties of a foris-familiated Life, and the Employ of thy Calling: All which are summed up with some serious Reflection and suitable Devotion.  
§. 3. First, I thought upon my former ways sayeth the Psalmist, Psal, 119. 57 Thou will not get that which is passed, again, nor the Res Gesta, the thing done, undone: But by Repentance, so the Psalmist prays, Let not the errors of my Youth be remembered. Look that thou leave not an error in the first Region, lest thy following Life be not so healthful: If thou leave any Intemperate Work behind, it may turn to A root of Bitterness, Heb. 12. 15. Thou must found well, and bring up your Work upon a right Base; For, alas some are unhappy for want of Education a●● Instruction; some abuse and neglect●● and improve only as to Gifts, but not●● Grace; They learn a profession but 〈◊〉 Christ: Let thy heart therefore be ev●● in the Covenant, thy Faith real, thy Repentance unfeigned, and thy Engagements ; And then thou may ha●● some clearness and peace as to Religio●● and Virtue.  
§. 4. 2ly. Look to thy present Ten●● and Temper; O if thou hadst known, e●● thou in this thy day; Said Christ, wi●● weeping Eyes to Jerusalem, Luke 19 2●● To day if you will hear his Voice, Psal. 81. 〈◊〉 the end: It is now high time to be wis●● than before; Thou hast Work enoug●● ado both for Time and Eternity: Bull therefore an A●k to save thee, though th●● World mo●k thee, as it did Noah●● Seek first the Kingdom of GOD, and oth●● things will be added to thee. Remembers Hoc opus hoc age, is our Motto, There 〈◊〉 much to be done, and much to be undone in Order to Religion: Indulge not sin, Especially guard against a course of sin: Forecast dangers and be as frugal in duty as possible, which will help to fasten thee at the Root, which will not be soon shaken with Temptation.  
§. 5. And with this premonition thou must act under GOD for thyself, and thou hadst never more need of right Conduct than now: This being the ordinary time that Man sets out to a settled Life, and under GOD, good Example, and the Conduct of the Holy Word and Spitit, he doth begin to think upon a relative and a conjugal Life; And set up in the Exercise of his particular Calling: It will be fitting that he be led by the Hand, as to both these, by sound and solid Direction; And the influence of Motives to excite him to Duty.  
§. 6. As to the fifst, it will not be amiss to speak a little to these particulars following. First, That thou lay a solid Foundation by Religion. 2ly. That thou enter into such a serious and lasting state of Life, with the good Advice of GOD, & under him, of those of Experience. 3ly. That thou propose the most pheasable means and good Ends for the Comfort and Contentment of thy Life. 4ly. That thou fall upon the most clear and approved Methods to attain these Ends. And Lastly, When engaged in this Relation of conjugal Life, that thou carry well therein, and behave as a solid Christian in thy Family. First, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that bui●● it, Psal: 127. 1. See that thou marry i● the Lord, and that thou set him befo●● thee, that he may be at thy Right-handed and keep thy Heart still in His Hand● that thy choice may be dexterous an● fortunate; learn to be a Christian an● Espouse Christ ere thou be a Husband o● a wife; for Religion is the bond, the Ble●●ing, the beauty, and the thrift of thy Relation, and will have a greater influence upon the peace, and prosperity 〈◊〉 thy family, and the sweet converse 〈◊〉 the married twain Psal. 128 2. And ma●● them live together as Heirs of the grace 〈◊〉 Life. 1 Pet. 3. 7. 3ly. Thou shouldest no● enter rashly unto this Covenant; Consider what thou does: Seek Counsel at Go● and good men, especially of thy Parent●● Let not Pride, haste, passion, and indiscretion, engage thee to make such an adventure, and if the Council of GOD and good men be wanting, thou mayest be fond this night, and faint to morrow; and begin to repent when it is too late, and canst propose no Remedy, but that which is desperate. 3ly. Have a Right design before thee; Marry Rationally and with discretion, consider the ends for which GOD has appointed Marriage: And never think to accomplish them, except thou shape out fit means to obtain them; beware of Being unequally yoked. Let thy match be suitable, if thou wouldst have it profitable: Consider how thou shalt live in that Relation, that thou may live well in It. Bewar of the Snare of Poverty, nor too greedily look after gain; Keep the middle mean, and that is to propose an honest and unchargeable way of living; Say with Agnostus: Give me neither Poverty nor Riches, but what's convenient for me. Be not too confident, in that thou art, Perhaps, young and strong to provide for thyself: For thy youth may soon fade, and thy strength decay; a laudable seeking after a creditable way of living is rhy duty that thou have some talon and stock; to use well, which may, by the Blessing of GOD, be improved, and thy Family provided. 4ly. That thou fall upon most clear and approved methods to attain these ends; Besides what is already hinted, thou art to engage in this settled state with consent of Parents, if they be living, for if thou oughtest to honour or obey thy Parents, as GOD's Word directs. Eph. 6. 1. Then thou 〈◊〉 not be but culpable: If in this thou co●● contrary to their will: And if the Scepture gives it as a note of Profane E●● that by his Marriage, he was a grie●● heart to Isaac and Rebekah: Whe●● Jacob followed his Father's Cou●● thou shalt find it most agreeable to foll●● jacob's Rod, and if thy parents should 〈◊〉 too tyrannical and self willed in this, 〈◊〉 imped thee for their own ends, or as 〈◊〉 Apostle to the Hebrews, sayeth in the 〈◊〉 of Chastisement, for their own pleasure yet shouldst thou be very submiss: B●● they be unreasonably wilful, thou ha●● fuge in the Church, which hath po●● to call Parents to an account of their t●●ciousness: But this point is so fully h●●led by Divines, and determined by 〈◊〉 Church, that I shall not enlarge this trea●● upon it; Only I would commend this ●●siness to be orderly done, with all th●● necessarily previous to its consummat●● and with suitable solemnities in the 〈◊〉 of Gods' Church, and not after some ●●sual Caruse, nor done like a thing 〈◊〉 dares not hold up its face; but doth 〈◊〉 and sneak in corners, as the persons eng●●ing were ashamed that it should be kno●● 〈◊〉 the World; whereas they must give an ●●count of it before GOD, Angels and Men. And make that suspected to the people which they should approve themselves 〈◊〉 to their own Consciences, and to the regular Church; The Blessing whereof is not 〈◊〉 be despised by any private Man. 5ly. ●o carry Christianly in this Relation, ●hat Man or Wife make conscience of ●●eir mutual duties; and the main thing ●hat concerns the Husband is Religious and Conjugal Love to his Wife, which the Apostle so fully presseth. Eph. 5. Gives the Man an excellent Pattern of the free, sincere, full and constant Love of CHRIST to ●he Church: And the great Specific of ●he Wife's duty is Reverence and Obedience to her Husband as the head: For this Rational and Religious Love of the Husband, Will last, when the heats of passion shall expire and vanish; And that Reverence and Obedience of the Wife to the Husband, as it will Endear his Heart to her more and more, so shall it make her to be taken among the number of the Godly Women, especially Sarah, 1 Peter, 3 6. Who reverenced her hnsband, and Called him LORD. So that these things being observed, they may be freer for a good Understand●● among themselves, to govern their Fa●●ly with Discretion, and their Affairs 〈◊〉 Frugality and Virtue. 2ly. As to y●● entrance into the Exercise of your Piacular Calling, be well advised that it quadrate with thy General Calling, as a Chri●●an; Be as virtuous as thou may, but 〈◊〉 not thy Bussiness hinder thee from working out the Work of thy own Salvation: ●●gin and end the Day with GOD, a●● seek first the Kingdom of GOD a●● His Righteousness, Mat. 6. 20. And ne●● say that thou hast not time, For, if th●● improve thy time with Frugality, th●● will never want leisure to seek and se●● GOD: It is to be feared thou wants Wi●● and there lies the root of the evil. Th●● would also take care to Employ thy se●● well in an approved Calling: Beware 〈◊〉 the snares thereof, keep a good Conscience, let the Word of GOD, and no●● Interest rule thy Conscience; Be hone●● in thy Calling, beware of fraud an●● sneaking ways, and work not in th●● Calling to be called a Cheat; Take right●● Measure, true Balance, and the same Weights; otherways thy Tricks are an Abomination to the LORD. Consult the most approved Proportions for thy gain: ●nd if thou be engaged in the laborious Work of the Husbandman, let Grace ●uide thy Georgics; And consider that in 〈◊〉 beginning, such a Calling paid Fruits ●o GOD, Gen: 4. 3. He makes the ground ●●st up to thee, and brutish Animals ●eed thee, Cloth thee and serve thee: The LORD brings food out of the Earth, Psal: 104. 14. And makes the senseless Clod and Tur● produce Corn and Grain; And all thy Labour without His Blessing will not profit thee; Thou canst therefore have no excuse to neglect Religion in thy most busy Employment. It will be good also that thou be a keeper at home, and be not like a Bird that wanders from his Nest. Let no sinful diversion, (especially the Tavern) take thee away from thy Trade: And (if thou inclines to Religion) follow not the guise of the Times, be not carried about with every wind of Doctrine: Rather follow the Faith of the Orderly Church, For, it is very dangerous, for love to a Sect, to cut the Church, and break the Staves of Beauty: For, as long as thou reels with this giddy humour, thou canst not well fix in a solid course of Religion. And Lastly, Beware of Discord and Division, in thy family; For, 〈◊〉 consumes the Substance thereof, mak●● many careless and desperate, is an Encomy to all th●i●t; For, A house divi●● cannot stand.  
§. 7. And for the management, b●● of thy conjugal Relation, and callings must here in the beginning of thy settlement, Recommend unto thee, domestic devotion and family worship; a du●● that none of the seed of Jacob should ●●cline, it being their Father's practice, wh●● house was a Bethel to GOD, a little Te●●ple for the LORD of Glory; who h●● this duty brought down to him from 〈◊〉 famous Grandfather, Faithful Abrah●● who is commended for the Religious G●●vernment of his Family, whose steps 〈◊〉 sau treased a man much of Contemplation at home: And though Jacob h●● Greater encumbrance, and a more numberous family; Yet his house, as well 〈◊〉 person, was consecrated to GOD. a●● not only the Jews, but also Christia●● should follow the Steps of these Vener●● Patriarches to be lively portraitures of th●● virtues, as Images of their nature. A●● this duty is so proper to the family, th●● before the Church was enlarged, 〈◊〉 Master or Father of the House was ●●iest, and did officiate in the daily Sacrifice at home: And when the Church 〈◊〉 made more ample, it is constitute of familys, which, if Heterogenius to the ●ody, they are but useless and corrupt members: Whereas the Families of the Faithful are blessed of GOD: And His ●rath powered out upon such families as all not upon His Name, Jer: 10. 25. Joshua, that great Captain of the LORDS ●ost; did not suffer his military Affairs 〈◊〉 hinder him, and his House to serve GOD, though all Israel should neglect it; David after him, in the midst of a Blooming State, under the burden of a Crown and Country: Yet walked Righteously in his House; And every Tribe & Family is called to pray and mourn a part, Zech: 12. 13. And the Gospel hath set up this Duty clearly, Christ hath promised to be among the midst of two or three convened in his Name; And we read of the Church being in particular Houses, and the Centurion feared GOD with all his House, Acts 10 2. And Christ hath made 〈◊〉 a Royal Priesthood, and a Holy Generation. And this doth rather prepare for, than invade, a settled order of a Priesthood; Private and Public duty doth not interfere and Clash; Thou must not only pray for thy Family, but pray in thy Family. Is the LORD the GOD of all the Families of the Earth, and not of thine? Shalt thou wish GOD a Catholic service, and cut of thy Family by schism This were to join thy House to another GOD, or else to have none at all. Let all Houses than that Smoke, Smoak with Sacrifices to GOD, for the House of the Godly is under a special Protection, his Eyes are open to their Prayers; GOD is a Shadow and Covert over the Roof of such Families: It's good To declare his Faithfulness every night, and his Loving Kindness every morning, Psal:; 92. 2. Let the People praise Thee, O LORD let all the People praise Thee. And Lastly, This Duty of Family Devotion may be called Ezekiels Sign and Mark, that saves from the destroying Angel, and if any trouble fall out, GOD knows how to deliver the Godly out of Temptations. This Family worship, is the great Characteristic of a Christian, it makes thy House thy Home, and gives thee Repose in thy Peregrination, it makes thy house a Dutyful Tenement to the Great Landlord, it pays due Rent to GOD, it is the Bond and Beauty of thy House, and makes thy Family, like Jerusalem, compact together.  
§. 8. Let every Christian then Regard Domestic duty, which is so necessary and useful to guide the family, and to consecrate and cover thy house, which if thou Rule well with discretion and good Government, thou shall find some leisure, if it were but as long as to take thy Brakefast, thou may conveen thy family, and join together and seek GOD, it would never hinder thy business, but rather advance it; if thou pretend thy ignorance, it is much to be imputed to thy own fault, and the neglect of thy Soul: And if you say it is not, the custom of many of your Rank: Alas! You are ready to follow an evil custom, but to imitate what is good you have neither heart nor hand: yet I am loath to leave thee in such neglect, and therefore for meaner Capacities, I shall subjoin the Practice of Domestic Devotion, and family Worship.  

The Morning Prayer.  
O Eternal and ever blessed GOD, our blessed Creator, Preserver, and Redeemer, the fountain of Life, and the Father of Lights, the Keeper of Israel, who never sleeps nor slumbers, this poor family falls down before Thee this Morning, and with all humble Devotion praises thy exalted Name, for all thy mercies to Mankind and to us, and that Thou has protected and refreshed us the night bygon, and raise● us up this morning in any health and hope, Glory to Thee, who hast given us time to rcpent, LORD give us Grace to repcnt, and to work o● the work of our own Salvation: LORD heal o●● corrupt nature, sweeten our humour, and seas●● our heart with Grace, slay our corruptions an● give our heart a right set with Thy healing ha●● perfect our Faith, and guide us by Thy Spirit: Uphold us with Thy Arm; Refine and ●●our hearts and passions, set a Watch at the d●● of our lips be at our right hand & we shall nev●● be moved, give us to set Thee always before 〈◊〉 and while it's called the day that we harden 〈◊〉 our hearts, but hear thy Word and Voice, th●● we may spend the rest of our days in Thy 〈◊〉 and sincere Obedience, save us from sin and Satan, the deceits of the World, and all dangers of Soul and Body: LORD bless our Fami●● with Grace, Peace, Comfort and Contentments Heal the Church, rule the public Government of Chureh and State: Bless the Parish with●● Gospel Blessing, strengthen our Pastor, prepa●● us for Death and Judgement, guide us all our days by Thy Council, in Thy fear, grant us a blessed and happy End, and hereafter receive us unto Thy Glory, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD, in whose Name and Words 〈◊〉 pray; Our Father. etc.  
And in the evening again, labour to Recollect yourselves, and ere you give slumber to your eye lids, seek out a habitation for the mighty GOD of Jacob, that he may dwell in your heart and house. And Pray after this manner.   

The Evening Prayer.  
O Most Gracious GOD, and Father of mercies, we thy unworthy servants, come this Night before the Throne of thy Grace to present our Evening oblation, through the perfect sacrifice of thy Son our Saviour, once offered, and still effectual through his containued Intercession, in presenting that meritorious blood on our behalf: We adore thee Our Good and Gracious GOD, and gives Glory to thy name confessing our sinfulness, Original and actual, and our escapes in thought, word and deed. We have sinned: Alace! we have sinned against thy mercies, and the warnings of thy word and Rod; In the sight of an allseeing GOD: LORD give us Repentance and Remission, and from henceforth guide us in the paths of Righteousness for thy Name sake. LORD watch over us this night, that we may be Refreshed under the Cloud of thy covert, and have matter of rejoicing in thee, in the morning: prepare us for all duty, and all trials, and our last trial: Be with us to the end, and in the end of our life, and hereafter receive us into thy Glory. Lord let thy Kingdom come, have mercy on the World, heal the Christian Church, and in this Nation; power out a spirit of Grace, truth, peace and charity upon it, be with all our friends, and all that fear thee, give us Charity to give and forgive as thou requires: We commit ourselves and all ours, to thy keeping through Jesus Christ our LORD. The grace of our LORD JESUS, The love of GOD the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with us for now and ever. Amen.  
§. 9 If thou can read, or if there be some few to sing a Psalm, GOD's Word and Praise may help to Hallow your House, if not, fail not to make use of these Prayers till thou get better, and be more dexterous in Devotion: and wait on GOD in the way of Duty; Eat Idleness and Sin, and wand'ring from your house, which will obstruct this work, and consider that it is good to begin well, and to bring forth fruit in this Season: Use makes perfection, and ye can not breathe a free Air till you dwell in the Wholesome Regions of Religion. Make progress under the Gale of the Spirit; Stir up the faculties of reason to be holy & happy in the flower of your age, and you shall find that Dimidium facti qui bene cepit, habet: that a Good beginning is a great progress, for true Wisdom hews her Pillars and builds her house. Prov. 9 1.   

The Prayer.  
O LORD, through thy providence, I am now come to some consi●●ence of age, I thank thee for the happy opportunities I have Enjoyed of the light of thy word, teaching me to be wise, sober, solid, Just and honest: And had I improved well, I had been an expert soldier of CHRIST; Pardon my F●●lours wherein I have been shaken by temptation; I desire now to stand under the Guard of the whole Armour of GOD. LORD thou has led me by thy invisible hand through a labyrinth of Childhood and Indigested youth. It is a mercy I have not spleeted upon Rocks, and ruined; but by Grace I stand. LORD unite my heart to fear 〈◊〉 Name, I know that difficulties attend me, 〈◊〉 the credit of my course, the assistance of my C●●tain, the honour of my engagement; and 〈◊〉 comfort of my Reward, do animat me, 〈◊〉 to faint; for in due time I shall Reap, thro●● JESUS CHRIST.  
Amen.    

STAGE Third. Which commenceth from the 30 to the 〈◊〉 year of our age, or there about: which being a very material part of our Life, I shall, for clearness sake, consider in three courses.  
1. Of the Ordering thy person, Famil●● and walking in the paths of Vert●● and Religion.  
2. A Discourse to several Ranks of peopl●● with all seriousness and modesty.  
3. What fine your labour in Virtue, Piety, Good Government of your lif●● and family, and the progress of your Religion, the ordering of your House, and the setting forth of your Children's to Laudable and Lawful callings and settlement, hath come to?  

COURSE first.  
The Contents.  
Of the Right methods of Religion and Virtue, for the Ordering of our person, our Families, And General and particular calling, in this long and serious course of our life, with means and motives for the furthering of these ends; and suitable Devotion.  
§ 1. HAving led thee hitherto, to some digested and settled Course of Life; and helped thee by the Light and guidance of Religion, out of the darker cells of Minority, to clearer Air: And from the beginning of thy Majority (a very difficult scene of thy Life) to the consistence of thirty Years of thy Age, wherein, if ever thou look to be Virtuous, thou wilt make some ground of Hope bud f●rth: This is a time wherein thou must either appear to be a man and a Christian; Or a Mushroom and a Grape of unsavoury fruit; ●ook, first then, to thy bygone way, if thy work be begun and carried on hitherto, or yet any solid Work of Grace, very imperfect and scarce well founded: For, experience, an●● perhaps thine own senses, if exercise●● will make thee feel thy proneness to 〈◊〉 off, and delay: Make ●ound work therefore, and follow the straight Line of Religion and Morality. Redeem misspe●● time, cleave to the LORD with full purpose of Heart, and because thy Heart 〈◊〉 inconstant, say with the Psalmist, Un●● my Heart O LORD to fear Thy Nam●● Psal: 36. 12 Serve thy Generation; an● carry worthily in it. 2ly. After this Reflection, see what form thou now are it● If thy Heart be Right and steadfast in th● Covenant, if thou be free of visible Blemishes, Deut: 32. 5. Which are no● the spots of GOD'S Children: If thy lif● and family begin to blink with an● lustre, If thou be thriving in Virtue an● piety, if thou carry Creditably, and be reputed to have an Honest and Religio●● family, and Grace and Peace beautify the same 3ly. If thou grow in Grace? For, Grace being a principle of new life, i● may lie hid in the Root for some Seasons, as a Plant or a Tree in Winter, after which verdant greenness doth appear: So is it with Grace, it may lurk in the Heart, and then come forth with greater Life and Fruit: And this will distinguish betwixt a Real and Counterfeit Christian, his Light, Life and Fruit, will declare that the Seed of GOD remains in him; And this you may perceive by the decay of sin, and the greater vigour of Virtue in thee; And it is with thee as it was with the House of Saul and David; The House of Saul waxed weaker and weaker, The House of David Stronger and Stronger; Thou must be as Joseph, a fruitful Bough, both in thy General and Paricular Calling; Water thy Garden every Morning, for the refreshing of thy tender Plants, Learn the Art of Mortification; For, If ye live after the flesh ye shall die: But if through the Spirit, ye mortify the deeds of the Body, ye shall live, Rom: 8. 13. And if thou seek a proof of this Growth; thy strength the show of thy Countenance, thy Diligence & a constant use of the Means will discover it. It will also serve much to thy good carriage, to suit the dispensation of the Wise Providence of GOD: For every Dispensation hath a Voice, and the Rod is teaching; and no affliction springeth out of the Dust: Carry even in prosperity, and steadfast in Adversity, let Humility guide the first, and Patience the second. Know with St. Paul, how to 〈◊〉 exalted, and how to be abased, bewa●● of tumour and leanness, behold the em●●tiness of the Creature, and the Satisfaction of Grace, follow thy Saviour as we●● to Calvary a● to Mount Tabor, and keep closely with Him in searching Winter, 〈◊〉 well as in pleasant Summer. 4ly. L●● well that thou have not a name only of Religio●● but that thou be fixed well in a Course of Pie●● For, Inconstancy is not only Un-christian● but Unmanly: Yet, it is feigned by some● that it being banished from Heaven sought a place of Residence in some lower Regions, and could not find any, No● not in the very mutable Planet of th● Moon▪ because it orderly keeps its Cour●● of Change and Height: Then it seeks 〈◊〉 place in the Earth, but can find none, for the Seasons have their Periods, and the very Beasts have their appointed times: But at length it invades the Heart of Man: So some change their GOD, change their Religion, change their Calling, and become, in short time, so unlike themselves that thou may think they had come from another Soil, and transfused into themselves the nature of a Chameleon, to change with every Colour. But it is very unsuitable to Religion, and below Humane Nature, to be a Weathercock: It is for want of Ballast and good Government, that Shipwreck is made either of Faith or good Conscience. But learn, O Man, to be solid in thy Generation, and say with the Psalmist, My Heart is fixed, my Heart is fixed, Psal, 108. 1. Be constant in the Exercise of thy general and particular Calling, manure thy Talon, lest thou spleet upon the snares of Poverty, which the Prophet Agur deprecateth, Prov: 30. 8.  
§. 2. This being a very pregnant Stage of thy Life, thou shall therefore make use of all approved Means and Motives, to manage it well; And as to the Means, they may be Reduced to these heads following. First, Wisdom. 2ly, Prudence. 3ly, Providence. 4ly, Government. 5ly, Improvement.  

First, WISDOM.  
§ 3. This will prove an Excellent Mean, to guide our Heart and Life; It is the Mistress of our Mind, and the Eye of our Life. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore, with all Getting▪ get Wisdom: Dig for it as for a Treasure, it will Illuminate and Enrich thy Life, i● hath right Taste of Things. Sapientia a sapore● is the great gust of our Reason and religion, it makes a Man take right measures, and cast right Account, and nu●●ber well; Whereof Solomon gives a h●● in taking his measures of Men and W●●men, Ecc: 7. to the end. If thou we●● so wise as to reckon every day, it wou●● give great Light to thy Life, It is 〈◊〉 Gift of GOD, to be sought of Him, 〈◊〉 the chief Blessing, as Solomon did; And 〈◊〉 thou listen to His Counsel, it is the ●●ginning of Wisdom to fear GOD, and 〈◊〉 departed from iniquity, Job. 28. to the 〈◊〉 It makes thee walk accurately and 〈◊〉 lowsly as a fool, it makes thee wise 〈◊〉 Salvation, it gives thee a s●ore of Oyl●● thy Lamps with the wise Virgins; 〈◊〉 makes thee simple to do eull, and 〈◊〉 to do Good, it is the straight Line of 〈◊〉 Life, and the excellent guide of thy 〈◊〉 Who then is a wise Man? let him sh●● it forth in a good Conversation, wi●● Meekness and Wisdom.   

Secondly PRUDENCE.  
§. 4. And Prudence is the Product a●● Practice of Wisdom, it lets not thy W●●dom lurk and sweem in Speculation, But 〈◊〉 puts it to action, it makes the Man provident and frugal, it gives him a holy subtlety to foresee and forecast dangers, ●nd choice the proper means to accomplish his ends: it makes him know when to scatter and when to gather; and in fine, to order his affairs with Discretion.   

Thirdly PROVIDENCE.  
§. 5 Providence is near of kin● to Prudence, and the very exercise of it; the only Wise GOD showeth his Wisdom in His Providence, and ordereth the World with excellent Judgement: so should every wise Man learn to order the little World, which is himself; and this Providence consists well with thy Trust in the Care of thy Heavenly Father, it makes the Man a good Stewart of his time and Talents, it makes thee better than an Infidel, to provide for thy family, and elevates thee above the Brute, to care for thy Soul, and provide for Eternity: It gives thee some setlement in an uncertain World; It makes thee to be careful for nothing, but by Prayer to make thy Request known to GOD, Phil: 4: 6.   

Fourthly GOVERNMENT  
§ 6. This yet helps thee to a more active life, without which thou art like▪ City without Senators and Walls. Wa●● of Government puts people in a tumu●● but the Government of t●y prince, mak●● thee peaceful and steady, it makes thee rule thy heart, thy passions and thy lips, by the purest policy, and thy family by the best Oeconomy, it so ordereth the house, that such as go by or come in may not call it the house of a sluggard. For here GOD gets his Rent, every member therein gets its due, and the head 〈◊〉 not to the hand or foot, I have no need of thee, and every Organ keeps its place; So every one in his Calling abides with GOD.   

Fiftly IMPROVEMENT.  
§ 7. This is the right use of the talon 〈◊〉 is it laid up in a napkin, nor God thought to be a hard Master, but a GOD that love and prospers the diligent, it makes thee improve thy time and occasions, that thou mayest have something to render to GOD, and something to render to others, and to keep for thyself.  
§. 8. And if thou carry on all these with Humility and Gratitude, thou does well, and it will help to put thee amongst the LORDS Jewels: For, To him that ordereth his Conversation aright, I will show the Salvation of GOD, Psal: 50. 23.   

Secondly, The MOTIVES.  
§. 9 And to press this more home, in this pregnant Stage of thy Life; 1. Frugality and Virtue, and a Course of Religion in thy settled State and Calling, doth so much approve itself and thee, that sober Men, cannot but commend thee. For, let us fancy two sort of Men upon the Stage, & there behold their Mean and Air, and hear the legend of their Life: One looks very demur but very bare like, and perhaps you shall hear him talk of his pedigree and his Relation to Families of good Accounr; And talk much of his Labours and losses; When possibly he hath either hid his Talon in idleness, or profusly spent it in superfluities: Not, but that a virtuous Man may come to misfortnne, but many misguide their Fortune, and make themselves unfortunate; Which ordinarily is attended, with want of the Exercise of Religion; And such a Man, whatever be his pretences, in 〈◊〉 evil sense, he cares not for to Mor●● what ever be his descent, he carries 〈◊〉 Character of one, useless in his generati●● that hath not made Right use of M●●mon, to fit him to serve GOD, nor co●●fortable to himself, and useful to his ●●neration. But the other who has walk●● in a solid way, as to Religion, and frugally in his Calling; he is known in 〈◊〉 Streets as a virtuous and honest Man, 〈◊〉 poor Bless him: He is a Boaz or a Jo● 〈◊〉 his Generation; His Children hono●● him, his house shines; and all the Co●●trey about him, respect him. 2. Th●● the proper time of your labour and diligence: and if thou do well now, thou sh●● have more ease, and eat the fruit of t●● labour hereafter; and as it will prove t●● solid engagement with GOD, and that t●● work is both well founded, and th●● virtue advanced hitherto. So if th●● miscarry in this Period; it is to 〈◊〉 feared thou will not do well hereafter▪ Except thou vainly think to recover thy loss by late Repentance; and do thy work when thou cannot do any▪ Leave not thy bussiness to a peradventure, 〈◊〉 upon the Rock which cannot be moved, make sure your interest Spiritual and secular, not by Dreams, but by virtue; since this is the high time for your bussiness, & thou may be shortly put Ab agendo: And as the well doer now eats the Fruit of his labour, hath his family in a right frame and his Children round about his table. Psal. 28. 3. So hath he a nearer Prospect of Heaven; and if he hath any thing of the generous Spirit of Caleb and Joshua, he may get a taste of the first fruits of the promised land, and a Viaticum to carry him through his declining age, and shall find one grape of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer; and by experience Know that Religion and virtue, as it hath praise in the work, so giveth joy in the end.   

The Prayer.  
LORD there is much of my course run out, though it be not finished, and when I look back, I find that I have lived under the shadow of death, I have sleeped too long in the morning and slumbered in the Noon of my Age, and even have been lazy in the afternoon; I desire to awake. CHRIST be my life and light, I have been dreaming through the dulness of my flesh and sense: Alas! this clod of flesh hath almost smuthred me and made me slugish: But in Thee O LORD I can only thrive, LORD give me Grace to do my best in time and wait till Th● lose my fetters, not that I, through Dispondenc● would go out of the World, but wait thy leisure and be kept from the evil of the World and 〈◊〉 as well as I can for Eternity.  
Amen.    

COURSE Second.  
The Contents.  
An Application to Persons of Higher and Me●● Stations, with an declaration what the pr●● duties of each of these are, beside the com●● instances of Religion; with means and moti●● secretly twisted in with the several discourse  
§. 1. ALthough this Treatise hather yet had the Utterance to ●●ress Persons, but only to mention and p●●pose the evils, and the duties of the by●● Stages of our Life, leaving it to Men all Ranks (if they shall peruse 〈◊〉 to make application themselves. Yet hope it shall not be judged impertin●● (ere I leave this pregnant stage of our liin all humility to address four ranks ● Men. 1. The Nobility and persons of Quali●● 2ly. The Gentry. 3ly. The Clergy. 4ly 〈◊〉 Commons.  

First, The Nobility.  
§. 2. If it may be pertinent to interrupt ●our honours, I would adventure to speak in behalf of GOD and your splendour, to show you in this Map how Religion doth illuminate your Sphere, to make you (as St. Luke calls Theophilus,) Most excellent, for it is not unknown to you, that you are under a higher Elevation than a great many about you, And that it is so with you by the disposition of Providence, who might have infused your Soul in an Embryo of your meanest vassals and Tenants. But the LORD hath brought you to this Earth with more splendour, and made you personages of honour, and quality to get respect and deference from others, yet there is no respect of persons with God, & your high places puts you in a greater Arreer, and makes you liable to the searching Eye of the Almighty, and the more you have received from GOD above others, you have the more to account for to Him, and your Coronet will be rather a blemish, than a Ray of honour, if your eminency be nor fixed on the Rock, and your life set your place, and though your elevated s●tion hath put you above many for did a●● sore Employs, yet are ye the more o● noxious to snares and Temptations, fo● ye guide not well, your hearts will s●●● with pride and ambition: and your he●● plod your ruin, and your hands beco●● heavy to oppress; although that you be put 〈◊〉 a higher Sphere, yet your difficulties to 〈◊〉 truly Religious may be stronger, for 〈◊〉 many mighty not many noble are called. saye●● St. Paul, 1 Gor. 1, 26. Which is 〈◊〉 written to seclude you, but to make yo● circumspect, and that according to 〈◊〉 Prophet, You be taught not to glory 〈◊〉 your power; seeing that the subtle ene●● that assailed the first Man and King 〈◊〉 Mankind, will not ●ease to pursue yo● over whom by reason of your fallen N●●ture, he hath greater advantage, that 〈◊〉 the frogs in Egypt entered Pharaohs Chamber, the serpent may slily slide into your● and defile your well garnished Room, and craul into your decked bed, and di● vide 'twixt you and your honourable Co●● sort; and put your family out of Frame.  
§. 3. With this Advertisement, Re● member that as GOD hath made you great, He expects great things from you● ●d ye will felicifie your high place by ●inning with Rays of Religion, which ●hall further particular ●i●e in a fourfold ●espect. First, Your personal Capacity. ●y, Your Domestic demeanour. 3ly. How 〈◊〉 behave in your Religion, as to the Ministers ●d Institutions of Christ. 4ly. As to the Country and Common Wealth, whereof you are Peers ●d Patriots ..  

First, Your Persenal Capacity.  
§. 4. Beside ●ll unquestionable Duties incumbent to Christians of all Ranks, it 〈◊〉 particularly required of you, to be eminent in some peculiar personal Properties; Abraham shined in his Faith and Obedience, Isaac in his Contemplations, Jacob ●n his Power with GOD, Moses in his Meekness, Joseph in his Chastity, Job in ●is Righteousness and Honesty, Joshuah in his Courage, Caleh in his Generous and Noble Spirit, David in his Faith, and Chearefulness, being the sweet Psalmist in Israel; And all GOD'S Worthies have had their own Feats and Glorious Adventures: But let your Noble Persons observe these Properties. 1. Humility. 2. Generosity, 3. Affability and Condescendance. First, Humility, For GOD resists the proud, and gives Grace to the Humble, and Sa 〈…〉 temptation to Adam smelled much 〈◊〉 Pride, ye shall be as Gods: But the mo●● Humble you are in your high place, yo●● are the liker GOD, who, though he be the hi●● and Holy One that Inhabiteth Eternity, y●● He dwells with the Humble Spirit, and your Saviour shinned in this Virtue signally, and left you an example to follow His Steps, which if you do, GOD will● exalt you with Him, and increase you● fame; As He gave him a name above every name, Phil: 2. 8. And the greater ye are, ye have received the greater Recepts fro● GOD, and therefore ye should be humble because ye have nothing but what 〈◊〉 given you; And GOD may take it from you, and you from it: Let the pride of Pharaoh who said, who is the LORD, and Nebuchadnezars' Ostentation; Is not this great Babel which I have built for the glory of my name? Be●shezar in the fervour of a Feast, Herod, under applauses, as to a GOD; let these warn you: For, though 〈◊〉 be Gods, and all of you Children of the Most High, yet ye shall die like Men: Ye are eminent because of your place and Authority, yet ye are mortal Men, and though we worship you with Civil Honour, ye● your Glory may be Eclipsed, if ye guide it not with Humility, to the Glory of GOD. 2ly, Generosity, Who should be generons but the Noble Man; this makes you truly Noble: And as a favourable Constellation, to refresh the Country about you; This breeds you Respect and Followers: And what is more, it cheers and dilates your own Spirits, if it be guided with frugality; It makes you both Good and Great, it suits your Character, and gives you more Glory than your Fortune; And the Sun as soon looseth its Light as you, thus qualified, can loss your Honour and Respect; For, the liberal Soul deviseth liberal things, and is liberally rewarded sayeth the Prophet. 3ly, Affability, Your Wisdom conducts your Character betwixt the Luminous Lines of Humility and Generosity, and to know when to appear and when to be Private; And the discretion of such as address you, should teach them to keep their distance, since familiarity sometimes breeds contempt: Yet your Courtesy oblidgeth you to a serene aspect, a Noble Air and Mean in your way, and rather win Men with Condescendance than turn Sullen like Saturn: And such as are truly great, they delight to diffuse themselves, though they be not profuse: The great GOD allows us to come boldly to the Throne of Gra●● (providing we come as we ought) an● with a pleasant Countenance, he behold ●eth the upright. Fellow GOD then, and ●how yourselves ready to receive other●● who, perhaps, address you, because provi● dence hath made them to have need o● you.   

Secondly, As to your domestic Capacity.  
§. 5. Look not upon it as presumption in one that honours your house, an● wishes a Blessing to it, humbly to ment●● on the mean that can obtain the Blessing and that is to have your House qualified to entertain GOD: And although your quality requires a Retinue of many servants, yet Government that rules Kingdoms should guide your families, and that which is most essential for this end, is Piety and Devotion, and courteous Hospitality for the entertainment of Human Sosciety. The daily sacrifice must be offered for the sanctifying your house; The most private family indeed may have its hindrances, and you●s much more; But as Abraham Governed A numerous family and David walked with a perfect heart in his house at home; So if you Rule your house with authority, It may be as easy and usual therein as to manage and settle the Oeconomie thereof: And since GOD in his providence makes so many bring in your revenues: It is very agreeable, you should pay your Rent to GOD, in having a qualified person set a part for that end, and then you may upon good grounds say with Mi●ah, Judg. 17. 1. Now I know that the LORD will Bless me, since I have a Levit, and an Altar for Devotion in my House. And though some of that Rank has mscatried, yet it should not hinder the Constant course of your good Carriage to GOD, since CHRIST himself had a Traitor in his family. And also it very much Suits that Generosity which provides your house for the Entertainment of humane Sosciety, that frugally you be Hospital, which as it conciliats Respect to you, (for, honour est in honorante, says the Philosopher,) So will it serve to banish penuriousness and Churlish Nabal-like humour out of the hearts of those who see your Noble deportment, and so help to advance mutual kindness amongst Neighbours; and the country made serene as a new Region, wherein the life, not only of humanity, but of Christianity may appear.   

Thirdly. As to the Demeanour of the Noblemen towards the Institutions of CHRIST and His Ministers.  
§. 6. I Make only my humble address here to such Persons of Quality, who have espoused the interest of that glorious Cause of Reformed Religion's Wishing also that such as lie under the bondage of Rome, may awake that CHRIST may give them Light, and i● they were not Biased by their Education and misinformed by the corrupt principles of the vain pretences of Rome, and strangley tenacious of the Traditions of their Fathers, as the Pharisees before them; they could not but open their Eyes to the Light of pure and primitive Christianity: But as to you, my Lords, who are under a more favourable Constellation of Scripture-Light, pray, consider what freedom you are under! In being delivered from the Onerous loads of numberous Ceremonies, peevish Abstinences, and the necessity of Auricular Confession; Beside the great Ignoranc this way would keep you in, and the straitning of the Spirit of Liberty, in serving GOD in Spirit and Truth. And since ye have united yourselves to Catholic Truth, propagated by Christ and His Apostles, be sure you labour even after the Periods, almost of, 17 Ages, to show your Zeal and Respect to the Ordinances and Ministers of Christ. As to the first, Although they be accounted by many, as in old, to be foolishness; for The Jews sought after a sign, and the Greeks after Wisdom, 1 Cor: 1-22. And now adays Men despise the Ordinances; And Athenian-like, long after some new thing: Yet there is a secret Virtue in these Institutions, which only the simple and humble feel and perceive; And GOD by the foolishness of Preaching may save Souls, and the Gospel is the Power of GOD unto Salvation, to such as believe: For, GOD is in His Ordinances and Day, though perhaps many know it not: How strange was that Stratagem of a Rude & Illiterate Man at the first Council of Nice? In convincing and clearing of a Philosopher, by a bare recital of the Creed, When Learned Men could not gain gro● of him: Listen not then to the Wisdom the world but seek after that humble 〈◊〉 dom that makes your face to shine: B●● yourselves and honour your place by 〈◊〉 mility in kissing the holy Jesus, who not power nor by might, but by his Sp●● thtough weak means and mean Instruments, bringeth to pass, great effects: Lo●● To King David in old, and to Canst an●● that prime Gentleman of Christiani●● Theodosius and others: And let yo●● Worldly honour give place to 〈◊〉 mean things of Christ, which are 〈◊〉 busked with the Glittering splendours 〈◊〉 vain World, and let the power 〈◊〉 Crucified Saviour, humble, inde●● and heal your hearts. 2ly. As to the 〈◊〉 nisters of Christ, who although they may●● but mean men, yet behold their Ma●● in and with them, i● they do not disp●● rage's their Character by miscarriage, 〈◊〉 Respect them for their works sake. Possib●● they have not that well bread mean, 〈◊〉 address that becomes you. Their breeding not having been at Court, but in 〈◊〉 College and Cloister; And perhaps they halt as to worldly policy and prudence yet if they Carry well in their Holy caling, it is your honour to Countenance and encourage them in assisting their Discipline, and thus shall ye Rank yourselves in that Glorious Sphere in helping the LORD in his Servants, against the Powers of Darkness.   

Fourthly: As to your Carriage as Peers, and Patriots in the Nation.  
§. 9 As it is much becoming your place to shine in your Orb, with a public Spirit; So will it much advance your honour to keep yourselves within the line of Loyalty, and warm the Country by your befriending it in the higher courts, to shun biguitry, and to labour to advance a solid Religion and Government, and consider well what has been the constant course and Polity of the universal Church: That men of yesterday be not flattered in that fancy, that they will reform the World, and that doubtless they are the People, and Wisdom doth dwell with them. I shall detain your Honours no longer, but pray GOD to bless your Persons and Families, with the Blessings of His Right Hand, that as you may be useful in your Generation, so you may leave unto your Noble Offspring the best Inheritance of excellent Examp● and Eminent Virtue,  
Amen.    

Secondly, To the Gentry.  
§. 10. Religion is so necessary to the H●● nour of your House, that it is essential 〈◊〉 make you truly Gentlemen; GOD ha●● taken you from the common Toils of th●● World, & hath given you proper Orbs 〈◊〉 shine in, which are only made luminous by Religion and Virtue; It's great H● nour to fear GOD, and makes you tr●● lie Generous, with Caleb; And as Stars 〈◊〉 shine in your Orbs: For GOD will not fail 〈◊〉 Honour them that Honours Him, 1 Sam: 〈◊〉 30. when I shall speak to those of more A●● cient. And 2ly, Those of a more Rece●● Rise. Let the first consider the Providence of GOD, that hath Entailed a●● Inheritance upon them; Ye should then be thankful and shine in Religion and Virtue, and walk worthily in your Generation; Which tends so much to the Honour of your House, that the neglects of it may provoke GOD to shake its Foundations, and to Cause it vomit you out; For this end, you must walk within the paths of Equity & Frugality, which ●an be best measured, & promoted by Religion. For first, Justice is such an even ●ine▪ that it will justify you in all the Traversing turns of your life: beware of all rigid and rigorous Courses; defraud not, give every man his due, oppress none. ●nd let your Generous virtue mitigate the Rigours of the law, since in some cases Summum Jus may be Summa injuria, look well whether Recognitions and other Subtle Tricks of Law, will weigh well in the balance of Equity. 2ly. Fellow frugality, GOD having put a fortune and opurtunity in your hands; Beware that ye provoke not an Exterminating Angel to enter your doors: and if you build your house with stones, unpolished by Virtue, it will not stand, and as it is a disgrace to lose that which your Progenitors have put in your hand, so will it be a greater imputation to your person, if your family fall by sin and wickedness: And so that which Copstons all, is, to manifest the excercise ●f Undefiled Religion in your house and life. Beware therefore of Sensuality, pride, passion, and ommission of du●y, and learn to respect the Ordinances and Ministers of Christ, for your Souls Good; For, I know not by what unlucky fa●● some Gentlemen are readier to take up 〈◊〉 pikue at Christ's Ministers than at a●● Rank of People in the World; So th●● the Laird and Minister stands seldom i● even Terms. I shall not absolutely purg● some of my Tribe from want of that Prudence & conduct that becomes their Character: Yet though he be an Angel, as to h●● Office, he is subject to passion in the Body, and therefore he should be looked upon, because of his holy Office, under the protection of GOD, with a Noli me tangere, and touch not mine Anointed; and do my Prophet's 〈◊〉 harm, P●al: 105. 15. And it hath been found a stain and loss to some Honourable Families, to encroach upon the Ministers. And for you of the other seize, consider by whose Hand ye are put into this Capacity, and ponder by what means ye have Crept up a little higher tha● your Fathers in coming from the Camp, the Ship, the Shoap, the Trade, and the Plough, etc. To be ranked in among the rolls o● Lairds and Heritors: For, though such are to be respected, who improve their Talon well, and advance by Virtue; Yet, consider that your House ●e laid on a good Foundation, since an ●heritance got hastily, and by, perhaps, ●●accountable means is like to run the ●●e of Jonah's Gourd, to spring up and ●ther in less than a day. It is good then ●r you, to be well poised in an even ●allance, to look to yesterday, and what 〈◊〉 Morrow may bring forth, And if ●ou be proud, because under a greater ●ad of Earth, GOD, who raised you ●om the Dust, can Reduce you thither a●ain, so that what ever you think of your ●lves, see that you carry not by pride ●nd ostentation, to conciliat Respect from ●●e world, for it is by virtue and humility, ●hat man riseth to the favour of God and Man.   

Thirdly, To the Clergy.  
It is Not to Reflect upon any of that Character: For in that I would ●ave many Copartners in this evil and wanton age; Neither is it to inform my Brethren, Desiring rather to be taught myself from the mouth of GOD by you. It is only to Remember you, that your Office Oblidgeth you to a Retired and abstracted life: and though I should not desi●e you to Retire from your duty, for Action is the life of your Calling, yet I would warn you to shun avocations from, and Impediments of your duty, for no converse (except It be with the gravest) can hav● such influence upon your heart as to leav● the World and Contemplate God. wher● by, in all the tempests of this life, yo● may by faith and devotion sweem Cal● lie, as a fish in troubled waters: and wh●● you make GOD your study, you c●● the better read the state and case of me● and I assure you, by your conversing 〈◊〉 Heaven, you will be fit to come do●● from the Mount, with the will of GO● in your mouth, and the Tables of the La● in your hand, with Moses; and when 〈◊〉 are at the greatest distance from th● World by this habitual contemplation of GOD, and things spiritual and E●ternal; you may be the more capable 〈◊〉 serve the ●●terest of him that is invisibl● and the happiness of the Immortal Soul 2ly. What ye speak to People must be 〈◊〉 the Oracles of GOD and the word o● Faith which you preach; from the knowledge of the Scriptures, make CHRIST near to your people; and there shall y● find the mind and will of the Eternal GOD, for the directing of their Faith, Worship and manners; And if you conclude ●ell from the Scriptures, you may say ●ith St. Paul, we have the mind of Christ. ●nd thus be a voice with the Baptist, and monitor with St. Paul, to warn every man 〈◊〉 all Wisdom, that you may present them peract in Christ. Col. 1. 28. 3ly. Because ●ou have fallen in bad times: Arm your ●elves with patience and courage; Endure ●ardness as the Soldiers of CHRIST. 2 Tim. 〈◊〉 3. For if ye be reproached for the ●ame and Ministry of CHRIST: Happy ●re ye. Make the Cavils of this World ●our Crown, consider what indignities ●nd reproaches your Blessed Master met with: that now when his Religion is out of request, you may comport with your ●lights and strive the more to avouch his way, because abandoned by so many; wrap yourselves up in your Calling, where ye shall be secure, as in a Sanctuary, From the strife of Tongues; and whatsoever men do, to diminish and cry down your Character, yet labour ye to magnify your office, with St Paul, for it is both holy and Honourable, and at length the Reprover in the Gate, shall be thought more wise and happy, than him That perisheth in the way.   

Fourthly, To the Commons of all sorts.  
As you are to be careful of all th● common concerns of your Religion, an● particular duties of your Calling & Relations, in approving yourselves in yo● sphere, both to God & man; so particular● I would Recommend to you 1st. Mor● honesty. 2ly. Civility and discretion Labour then first to be morally honest, an● think not that ye can be Religious, b● external duties, public or private; you neglect morality: for GOD seethe a● your ways, and hath showed unto thee, 〈◊〉 man what is good. Study then honesty i● your principles, your ends, your words● your bargains; Buying and Selling. A●● with Conscience; beware of Covetousness and deceit, knowing that such a● turn aside to crooked ways, GOD will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Psal. 115. 5. And may put a secret Moth into your hidden things of dishonesty. 2ly, Learn to be discreet and Civil, for both Morality and Religion teacheth this Lesson: And is the best discipline in the World, to guide you in your Carriage to GOD and Man. The Heathens by the light of Nature, did polish and Civilize themselves, how much more thou in following the even Line of Righteousness? Which teacheth us, that Whatever things are Just and Honest, and of good Report; and to cast away that barbarous Rudness that hath so much, through sloth and carelessness, debased the life of the most. Learn good Manners in the right Government of thy Tongue and passions, by the patience and precepts of the Prince of Peace, And though perhaps, thou can not be so accurate, as those that have the best Education, Yet must thou have as much Religion, as can not only Sanctify, but Calm thee, and fit thee for those sweet & serene Regions, where there is nothing of boisterous passion, and licentious talk. And in thy passage thither, there be two Rocks, that you are Carefully to guard against. First, The sin of rash swearing and cursing. 2ly, The sordidness of sensuality and drunkenness. First, What canst thou propose unto thyself by Rash Swearing? except it be, that thy corrupt nature Glories to be wickeds' and swagered out in profanity, till thou fall into the borders of blasphemy: By this thou makes thyself to be looked upon as an ingoverned and an indiscreet person, & a son of Belial in thy Generation And by your Cursing you discover mu●● of the Nature and Venom of the Separate much contrary to that sweetness and gentleness that becomes thy Religion: Th●● proves hereby an Execrable Execution●● and involves thyself in the sad curse, d●●nunced by the Prophet; As he loved cursi●● so let it come upon him, Psal: 110. 17. And though it may please thy vendictive humou● for the time, yet thy curses, like a stingless Wasp to others, recoils and returns with malignant venom, upon thine ow● pate. 2ly, As to Sordid Sensuality, Although, alas! there be too much cause of complaint of this in persons that should be better bred, yet there are many that show this shame without shame; And they are so prone to this upon Occasion, that even Charity almost doth not hinder others to think, with regrate, that their bell● is the● God, and their shame their Glory; And that your filthy Vomits, re●ling Staggering, and distracted Deliriums makes you, not only like the eliot's in La●edemon, that were exposed to public view, as spectacles, to make the younger abhor the Vice; But puts a note upon you (if ye do not repent) of a dismal fate, that you shall not inherti the Kingdom o● GOD, 1 ●or: 6. 10. Learn then to temper your Life with Temperance, knowing that fair Nature is soon satisfied; And Religion teacheth thee, Not to be drunk to excess, but filled with the Spirit, Eph, 5. 18.   

The Prayer.  
AND Thou O LORD, the sovereign Judge of all the Earth, and the Great Master of all Lords tenants, and Tenements: therein, follow this humble Application to all Ranks of Men, with Thy Majestic Power, that though many may be ready rather to redicule than read these lines; yet O GOD of Wisdom give them to have their second thoughts; that they may through Thy Grace shun the dreadful Handwriting of Mene Tekel against them, and be by the power of Thy Spirit made Citizens of Zion.  
Amen.    

COURSE Third  
The Contents.  
What fine your labour in Virtue, Piety, good government of your life and Family, and the progress of your Religion, the ordering of your house and the setting forth of your Children to laudable and lawful Callings and Setlements, hath come to?  
§ 1. I Hope I have not need much to insist here, since as to the settling of your Family and the Education of yo● Children, I have already discoursed; 〈◊〉 that now it remains principally, that y●● be instructed in your present duty. A●● for this there be these things worthy 〈◊〉 your enquiry and observation. First, W● Product and fine your work is come to, both as your general and particular Calling. 2ly. W●● course ye are upon, as to the setting forth, & 〈◊〉 religious and rational settlement of the Childr● that God has given you? 3ly, If you have religion disposed of all your spiritual and secular Con●●n to good and holy Ends.  
§. 2. First, In this Course of thy lif● its time to stand and pause, look about yo● behind you and before you; its high ti● now to know where ye are, and what y●● are, and if ●e have gathered any Stock Grace and Virtue; and in fine, what the Product of your general and particular Calling?  
§. 3. And for the Resolution of the first Quere, thou must look what thou has done: since every one must give an account of himself to GOD, and thou knows not how soon; Yea, though thou should neglect, GOD hath a Register, Let conscience therefore read the legend of thy life, & seriously digest the scenes & acts thereof, that so thou may attain to some clearness as to thy state and case; and be the Better prepared for following duties and trials. To think on thy former ways. Psalm 119. 59 Recapitulate and Recognize thy former do, that thou mayest take a more serious account of thy errors, failours and ●ollies, that you May retract what is amiss, and it is high time now seriously and unfeignedly to Repent and to correct what hath been wrong, & to put yourself in a better dress for your following Life, and for Death and Judgement, which are to follow that; And if thou has been so happy, by Grace to do any Good, you are to keep warm the Nursery of your Virtues: Take the little. Foxes that hurt the Vineyard and seek to serve GOD with full purpose of Heart, and a settled and solid Course of Duty. And if thou lean upon GOD'S Direction, and not to thine own Understanding: The LO●● hath fully showed thee what 〈◊〉 good, Mic: 6. 8. And here it will be very pertinent for thee to regrate thy former ●●rayings, and sad omissions, O 〈…〉 rmer life is but like a Dream. Learn therefore O man, to be sober and Vigilant, and build suitable Work; Work out your Salvation, and by the diligent use of the means, and practice of Virtue, Make your Calling and Election sure: Look to the frame of thine Heart, the state of thine Affairs, and the Case of your Family, and particular Calling; And do not satisfy thyself so, as not to acknowledge that thou might have done more than thou has done, and to take that Check from the Apostle, that Whereas ye might have been teachers of others, ye had need to be taught the first principles of the Oracles of GOD, Heb: 5. 12. If a Man now be scrious, he will easily see great blanks in his Life; And great emptiness in what he has done, particularly as to Devotion and Charity; Which our LORD declares will be a great Charge against the World in that day he will Judge it. And if thou will be convinced, thou shall find that thou has much ado, & that the most part does less than they should do, for there is much Work behind thee to undo; To put away all superfluety of naughtiness, as St. James sayeth, Jam: 1. 21. we cannot indeed get Yesterday again, nor undo sin once done, but there is yet time for thee to take such wise measures, as to undo thy sins by Repentance, and make up thy failoures through Faith in the perfect satisfaction of Christ, who says himself, I have done the work which Thou gavest me to do Joh: 17, 5.  
§. 4. 3ly, Look how thou hast ordered thy family, the oeconomy whereof if it be guided by Grace and Peace, doth very much advance Religion and Humane society: for if Families were walking in the clear Orb of Religion, it would lay the foundation of Righteousness in a Nation, if the Husband were dutiefull to the Wife of his bosom, and the Wife respectful to the Husband of her Youth, if the Children were obedient to their Parents, and the Parents careful for the spiritual and secular concerns of their Children, if the servants were dutiefull to their Masters, and the Masters gave what is just and right to them, than would a golden Age revive, and the Land shine as a lamp, and especially if the Parents labour to ripen their Children to Religion and Virtue, and to settle them in a course of life that may tend to contentment, and by all means labour to promote love, peace and comely order of the●r station, and of the Church of GOD, that from their house, as a Bethel● they go up to the Temple, and there receive instruction and offer sacrifice, and return home with the b●●ssing of the Gospel of peace, and that it be the great care of younger & elder to shun idleness & unnecessary digressions, ill company, divisive & destructive Employments, having such a great work ado, as to commend Religion by their ways, and walk worthily in their Generation.  

The Prayer  
LORD, who knows his errors? cleanse thou me from secret and known sins. I know enough of myself to humb●e me: But thy Eyes, which are as flames of fire, sees more in me than I can observe: Accept, Good LORD, the humble designs I have had, to do well, and pity my faint performance; make up my wants through him who is perfect, in whom thou aquiesces, and I repose. I find great dissatisfaction in any thing in me that has been contrary to thy Eternal will and holy word: LORD, now I aim no lower than to centre my soul in thee, I have been but too slow, give me the wings, and alacrity of an Angel, to do thy will: I can never be well till I be at thee, O help me GOD.   
Amen.     

Period third,  
Of the future Age, or what is to come in the Declensions of Nature. And the Stages thereof.  
MAN is now to be looked upon, as enterring his declining Age; For, as he riseth in his Youth, and maketh progress in the Augment of his Life from the 30 year thereof, to the 50: So hath he much ado when he gins to hang his Head, and to decline, from the 50 year of his Age, to the End. His gloss and sprightful Feature, is now much failed, and he looketh out with the aspect of old Age, And grey hairs are here and there upon him, Hos: 7. 9 And except some be swelled with a load of Flesh, and have a Ruddy Tincture from the Cup; and there are others that do Remain longer undecayed, through a more vigorous Constitution, yet shall they begin to find some declining in all the Organs, and therefore from what we have seen in our by gone time, and what we see in our selves, and others: We may learn to know our frailty and not look upon ourselves, as Impregnable Forts: O Then labour now to be solidly serious to do thy duty, and encounter the defficulties of this Period of thy life. And for your help I shall take up this remanent part of it, in some following stages.  

STAGE First.  
The Contents  
Of a serious recollecttion of thyself, after a● impartial trial of thy former life● And. 2ly. what now is to be done, the excrcise and duty of man, particularly suitable to this Period from 50 to 70, and from that to the end of his life.  
1. EVery man should know himself, and every Good man is intent upon this study; he should now be so solid as to recollect himself, and to draw his life as in a little Map, and that so impartially, that the Blemishes as well as any virtue may appear. Thou has an impartial and penetrating Eye, to see thee, a perfect Rule to direct thee, which if thou follow, thou hast a well informed conscience 〈◊〉 admonish thee, and the Wisdom of GOD to make thee Cast a Right account of thy life; for which thou art with a pious curiosity to inquire into these particulars following. 1. If thou hast unfeignedly repent of all thy former Sins? 2ly. If there be yet any Residive humour of folly in thee? 3ly If thou findest any thing of true grace and Divine Nature in thee? 4ly. If thy heart do not condemn thee? As St Paul says. 1. Cor. 3. 4. I know nothing by myself, yet am I not hereby justified. 5ly. How thou art resolved to encounter the Trials of this Stage. 6ly, If thou has defeated all delays and finds thy thyself now intent upon the one thing necessary. 7ly. What's the product of thy particular and General calling.  

First, If thou hast unfeignedly repent of all thy former fins?  
§. 2. There is a Repentance to be repent of, which comes by fits like Pharaob's; when Judgements are upon the patiented; but when the paroxysm is over, he falls into a Relapse, and so (as some Divines have observed) The life of such a one is but the riding of a round, to sin and repent, and repent and sin: and thus run into a Circle, and ruin. But true Repentance fixeth such a remorse and sense of the evil of sin in the heart, as to make the Pe●tent cry, woe unto me that I have sinned; 〈◊〉 beholds it to be a bitter and evil th●● to offend GOD; It is wrought by Go● Sorrow, and carried on with reven●●gainst sin, to abhor that which he lo● although he were stated in the same cir●● stances: It humbleth the Soul and ●●eth it cry with Jeremiah, Oh that 〈◊〉 head were a well of Water, and my 〈◊〉 fountains of Tears, which if they be ●●ing makes the penitent express his 〈◊〉 with Groans unutterable; It reforms thinner and makes him Cautious there●● and labour with the greatest sincerity, act the opposite Virtues, 1 Cor. 1. 7.  

Secondly, If there remain an● Resid●● Humour of folly in thee.  
§. 3 The Serpent is not soon slain, 〈◊〉 the body of sin easily mortified, the 〈◊〉 of bitterness is hard to be eradicated, 〈◊〉 rooting out the sin of thy nature, 〈◊〉 son, & inclinations; requires the 〈◊〉 ask●●ful Surgeon, or to cut off thy 〈◊〉 Hand, or pluck out thy right Eye, if 〈◊〉 offend thee; And if thou be since●● Christ will learn thee the holy A● Mortification: Thou must not com●with flesh and blood, nor relish any carnal guit: For, To be carnally minded is death, and if thou live after the flesh thou shall die: but if through the Spirit, thou mortify the deeds of the body, thou shall live, Rom. 8. 13: Thou must cleanse, from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, 2 Cor: 7. 1. And wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved, Jer: 4. 14.   

Thirdly, If thou partake of the Divine Nature.  
§. 4. That this is a property of the Godly, is asserted by St. Peter, 2 Pet: 1. 4. For, although no man can partake of the infinite Essence of GOD, which cannot be divided, nor communicated to any Creature; Yet do Believers partake of Heavenly Qualities, which makes them, in some measure, like their Heavenly Father: And frees them from the Disposition, Fashion and Estate, wherein unregenerate men live and perish: And the free and absolute promises of GOD, such as, That we shall be Sons and Daughters to him, and GOD will take away the Stony heart, and give a Heart of Flesh; have a great influence upon the Renewing of our Nature, and the Sanctifying and Glorifying of our ritrit, and making it Godlike, in its measure and Capacity. And to resemble him in Heaven lie Wisdom, Holiness and Uprightness, especially in Humility and Charity towards miserable Sinners, with a Zeal for the LORDS Honour, and such eminent Perfections as were transcends antly and without measure in the Man● Christ. Thus the Life of GOD is begun in the Heart of Man by Regeneration, and advanced by the Operation of Grace and Virtue: And the impure lump is Illuminated, and made Perfect and Holy as our Heavenly FATHER is Holy and Perfect; And the Love of GOD shade abroad in the Heart, doth wonderfully cheer and warm that new Life, and makes it grow and come to Perfection: So that we deserve not the name of Religion, nor have we warrant to expect to see GOD, and to be with Him for ever in Glory, if we do not be like GOD in the Operation of His Grace, and Goodness, in the Land● of the Living. Heaven certainly must be begun in us, ere we be possessed Citizens thereof, Phil: 3. 20. Our Conversation must be above, till we come to a more intimate Communion with GOD for ever.   

Fourthly, If thy Heart do not condemn thee.  
§. 5. If our Heart Condemn us, GOD is greater than the heart, and knoweth all things, John, 3. 20. By the Heart here, is meant the sound and solid reflections of the Spirit, upon our Life and Way, by the exercise of Conscience; which the Apostle calls Heart, to distinguish it from humour, Misperswasion, and melancholy apprehensions, when the Conscience is once awakened. And still there is a difference betwixt Gravamen spiritus & dietamen Conscientiae: But it is the Heart and well informed Mind of a Christian, that makes him either Conscious or Cordial, according to the Frame of his Life: If thou wouldst then be approved at the Bar of this Deputy of GOD, you must act according to his Word, and after serious search, correct what is amiss; till you attain unto serenity and clearness of mind: Yet I would not have you to seek satisfaction so much in yourself, a● in the Goodness of GOD, and the Merit of Christ; acquiesce in his Salvation by a humble believing, and penitent Heart; and lean not to your own Understanding. If thou be not satisfied as yet, consult a knowing Guide, whose Office it is, a●● thy full information, to give thee Ease 〈◊〉 clearness: For, The Priest's lips should prese●● Knowledge, Mal: 2. 7.   

Fifthly, How thou art Resolved to encounter the Trials of this Period.  
§. 6. The longer man lives, he is 〈◊〉 more subject, to infirmities, and beca●●● of our rudeness and many Indisposition we are subject to the Rod, and Discipli●● of the Holy JESUS: Man in the beginning of his Life, is much inconcerned, in 〈◊〉 Youth like a Bullock, unacquainted wi●● the Yoke; and in his after life he ha●● need to be kept under, by Fatherly Chastilement; and so is subject to personal, domestic and public Trials: B●● he hath this for an Antidote, that the Spirit of GOD, in the Word, represents these Trials very favourably, as instances of Fatherly Love and Mercy, Heb: 12. 6 Whom I love I chastise, sayeth the LORD Kev: 3. 19 And count it all Jo● when ye fall into divers temptation's, sayeth St. James, Jam: 1. 2. It is the great Concern then of a Christian, to hear the voice of the Rod, To let patience have its perfect Work, Jam: 1. 4. To be of a contented ●ind, to guard against Melancholy Despondency; to kiss the Rod, to humble ●nder the Mighty Hand of GOD, and to ●mprove the Rod as well as the Word, ●or the purpoles of Religion 〈◊〉 But now in ●is declining Age, he enters into broken ●aters, and therefore should have a well ●uilt Ark, and Cast his Anchor within ●he Vail; Which, in all the Tossing and Troubles of this Period, remains sure and steadfast, Heb: 5. 4. He must arm with pa●ience, and have his Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, Eph: 6. 15. that so through Faith and patience he then, may inherit the promises, Heb: 6. 12.   

Sixthly, If all Delays be defeated, and thou be now intent on thy Work.  
§. 7. 'Tis dangerous to delay till now, yet the Nature of Man is prone to pro 〈…〉 and put off till to morrow; but if thy Work be undone; th●● will be undone for ever. There are many wants and defects indeed, for which thou hast an All sufficient Help to recover thee; yet must thou be diligent in the ●use of the Means, and GOD that prevents with free Grace, can cure it, to His Glory.   

Seventhly, What is thy Stock and Store, in Grace and Virtue.  
§. 8. A Virtuous Man brings his Work to some fine, and thou should have provision against evil days; found well upon a Rock, that will stand out the storm; Labour to be Rich in Faith and good Works, and to have fresh Oil for thy Lamps, and the Weddlng Garment neatly wrought: Thy Heart and House in order, that Trials and Death do not surprise thee, and the cry be at midnight, Matth: 25. 6. when thou art Sleeping; and sudden destruction come, when thou says, Peace. And after this serious Recollection, thou must ponder aright,    

Secondly, What now remains to be done?  
§. 1. EVEN the Work that GOD hath given thee to do. Look then to thy great bussiness, Proficiency; and wherein thou are short, double thy diligence. See that thou has First, The methods of thy Life ordered unto Salvation. 2ly. Thy Progress and middle Work betwixt Youth and declining Age: And then how you are prepared to enter the Vltima or the last things. It is clear then, thou should be now serious and seek first the Kingdom of GOD with all Seeking, and persevering Constancy: Be faithful unto Death, and the LORD will give thee the Crown of Life.  
§ 2. But particularly, there are three things ought to be done. 1st. That thy house and Affairs be in as good Order as possible. 2ly that you may work out the work of your own salvation. And 3ly, that you Give all diligence to make sure your Calling and Election.  
§ 3. First, that thy house and affairs be in as good order, as possible: To manage thy Earthly concern with Discretion that thou may leave to thy Issue a good example, and a 〈◊〉 the portion, which GOD hath 〈◊〉 thee; with a Blessing: Lest through thy Neglect thou render those behind thee destitute and despicable, without a settled calling and course of virtue; And if through incident accidents, thou has been hurt in thy Estate, GOD can make any remnant, be like the Widows Cruse, for thee and thine; If thou improve dispensations to the best: And to all that desire to thrive, I cannot but Recommend a discreet Charity; The merciful man disperseth and gives to the poor, lends to GOD; And his seed shall be well behind him, as in Psal. 37. and 112 But thy great work is; 2ly. to work out the work of thy own salvation. Phil: 2. 1. That thou put on the copstone, as well as lay the foundation, that thou perfect thy Faith and Repentance, Charity and other Graces, to have thy soul ●rim'd with the Wedding Garment, and thy Lamps full of Oil, till the cry come, Behold the Bride Groom cometh: That thou fight that fight of Faith; that so upon good Ground thou may expect the Crown of Righteousness, that will be given all those who love Christ's appearing. 3ly. That thou give all diligence to make thy Callling and Election sure: which is not obtained by listening to humour and instinct, but by that diligence that becomes a Christian, in the exercise of faith And good works; for it is not by the Revolving the leavs of destiny, but by a diligent search of the Book of GOD, and by a life suitable thereunto, that thou canst secure thy peace and thy soul; for, there is no peace layeth my GOD to the wicked.    

A Continuation of this STAGE. From 50 to 70. and to the uttermost extent of Man's Life.  
§. 1. Although many fall ere they arrive to this stage of Life, Yet since GOD hath given it, and does give it, to some to teach the length; thou art seriously to consider thy Duty, and how thou may improve it to the best, which through Grace may be done; If 1. thou labour to arrive at any pitch of Wisdom 2. If thou be well resolved to encounter and endure incident personal afflictions; 3ly. What account thou can give of thyself to GOD and Man. 4. If through CHRIST helping thee thou labours to perfection. 5. If thou be running thy Race in the good fight of Faith. 6ly. If thou be bu●ie now in ripening thyself for Heaven, 7ly. If thou daily prepare for Death, and have thy. Soul fixed upon wing to flee to yonder Regions, where CHRIST is? And last of all, to consider the means and motives to advance these.  
§. 〈◊〉. First, If now thou hast arrived ●o any pitch of Wisdom. The Apostle James Gives a full direction as to this, Who is a wise Man among you? let him show forth by a good Conversation with Meekness Wisdom. For as the Fear of GOD is beginning of Wi●dom, so it completes Wisdom foreseeth and is provident, Forageth with vain confidence; Wisdom makes thee a wise Virgin to provide 〈◊〉 in thy Lamps; it directeth and clear● your affairs, it puts thy house and Soul order, and it keeps a clear account by good conscience, since GOD is the J●d● and knoweth all things: And now its h●● time that thy Wisdom appear to ma●● thee wise unto Salvation, otherwise i● but, worldly wit, For true Wisdom is Simplicity, heavenly sincerity and accurate walkin● which as it makes thee useful in thy Ge●●ration● So makes it thy face to shine, a●elevates thee to a clearer orb, there to R●main as a fixed Star.  
§. 3. 2ly. What resolutions thou● h●● to encounter incident personal afflictions Afflictions spring not out of the dust, bu● they attend dust & ashes; they flow from many causes: And now in thy declining age, thou art to encounter with the decay of a frail Body, occasioned By obstructions, Rehums, distillations, and manifold distempers, which requires a great deal of fortitude and firmity of mind, to ●●dure and improve; together with all incident trials from without, that are appointed for thee, which thou should sweeten by ●●e consideration of Christ's sufferings. ●rm thyself with patience, and poise thy ●elf with Christian Contentment, in all ●he counterbu●s of trial, know with the Apostle, How to be abased, and how to be ex●lted, through Christ strengthening thee. Phil. 4. 12.  
§. 4ly. What account thou can give of thyself to GOD and man. Every one must give account of himself to GOD: inquire then if thou hast any register of thy diurnal and Annual accounts; if thy conscience doth report to thee, that thou art serious in Religion, and dissintangled from any affection to sin, and false way; which if thou find, as it will afford great peace, so will it commend thee to Men, especially to such as deserve the name of Men, and thou shalt, by such accuracy, deservedly get the name of a good, wise and honest man, and go off the Stage of time, with a Euge and an applause, well done good and faithful servant, enter into thy Master's joy. Matt. 28. 21.  
§. 5. 4ly. If thou through CHRIST helping thee, labours to perfection. It is t●● nature of Grace still to grow, and such 〈◊〉 are planted in the LORDS house, by 〈◊〉 hand off GOD, bring forth fruit in th● old age, there is no time for sloth, 〈◊〉 Man be now as to his outwardframe, mu●● ab●agendo, yet the Spirit is losing and nearer Heaven, and hath more of Heav●● and so the inner Man is renewed day 〈◊〉 day, and thou canst do all things throu●● CHRIST strengthening thee; if thy dut● be lame, and thy graces weak, thou m●strive to make them up, and labour 〈◊〉 square thyself by Religion, for that 〈◊〉 which lieth four square; let no part 〈◊〉 thee be without its policy, that thou maattain unto that perfection that can 〈◊〉 reached here.  
§. 6. 5ly. If thou be running thy Ra● in the good fight of Faith? Thou must no● stop till thou come to the end, and obtain the prize, and though thy limbs be no● weak, thy faith should be strong, an● thy Soul vigorous, to take Heaven 〈◊〉 Violence.  
§. 7. 6ly. If thou be busy now in ripening thyself for Heaven; As thy Soul should be purified, so should it be ready and all in white, with the holy Vesture of the Wedding Garment, that thus adorned thou mayest meet the Bridegroom; The world now may clog thee, but it should be little in thy Eye, for it is empty, and nothing can satisfy thy Soul but GOD, and thy thus continuated Grace must take fire with the sparks of Divine Love, till it be consummate in Glory, and thou attain to the Regions of Love, Life, Peace, and Joy.  
§. 8. 7ly If thou daily prepare for death, and have thy Soul upon readiness. Thou must now wait the Gail of Grace, with a Calm and comfortable Air, to conduct thee to thy father's house: death hath already entered thy windows, ceased upon thy faculties and loosed thy Tabernacle, and there remains but little of animal and Vital Spirit in thy ●ead and heart; Thou shouldst now have thy Loins girt up, and be ready to shake of thy fetters when thy Master calls, that thou mayest resolutely render up thy Soul into the hands of a Faithful Creator. And,  
§. 9 8ly, Come I now, to consider the Means & Motives to advance this. Beside all that has been said, the great ●ean now to be used, consists in Consideration, Action, and Devotion: To con●ider well where ye are, and whither ye tend; If every thing relating to Eternity, be well ordered 〈◊〉 disposed; If Faith and Repentance 〈◊〉 had their perfect Work; And if n●● thou be disposing thy ●elf by Heave● Mindedness, that with thy Eyes clo● upon the World, thy faith; as a prosp● beholds in the Heavenly Visions of so● and serious Contemplation, the Glori●● thy Father's House. To which thou m● add sincere Devotion, and by a consta● Course of lively Prayer, labour to atta● unto the Land of Praise. For which 〈◊〉 thing can be added by way of Moti● more useful, than the consideration 〈◊〉 thy Heavenly Aid, to help and assist th●● in duty; with the proposal of that grea● Recompense of Reward, that is laid u● for thee in Heaven; with all that Lov● the appearing of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  
§. 10. And although in this stage of thy Li●● (to which few attai●n) thou must make use of thy stock, and live upon it as a Be● doth in Winter upon honey; & though through the Infirmity of Old Age the outward Organs be much weakened, & the inward faculties not as before, yet must thou bring forth fruit in old age Psal: 92. 14. & as much as possible Guard against that which is called Dottleness; by dissentangling thyself ●rom the cares and affairs of the World, and labour, by wisdom and wariness, to keep thyself from the weakness of a Crazy Brain, and a fible mind; that thou do not much affect converse, except that with GOD, who is the Ancient of days, that thou lean not to thy memory; but learn of St. James To be swift to hear and slow to speak; and that through the direction of GOD, Thou follow the Patriarches in old, and the Primitive Fathers under the new dispensation, as Polycarp, St. John's disciple, who Vigorously Endured his Trial in the 86 year of his Age 
* Eus: Hist: li●. 5. Cap. 15. : and to seek in to the GOD of Wisdom, that thy Judgement and intellectuals be clear, which is a mercy that should be much sought after by all: that thus, the strength of thy mind may be fresh after the toils of thy life, and that thou esteem the mercy of GOD, that has lengthened thy days on earth, against long and everlasting Eternity; And that though GOD for Holy ends may remove some, who are hopeful in the very Bud, and Alas! Tho' many hasten their own fate, and shorten their days, by misdiet, Passion and foll● Yet if thou persevere in the way of right● ousnses, thou shall have the advantage of great experi●nces, and have a fre● and nearer prospect of the promised land every hour looking for Eternity, an● with old Simeon, waiting the LORD's pas● and not only Die with Christ in thy arm● but in thy heart.  

The Prayer.  
LORD Help thy servant, and all such 〈◊〉 thou art pleased to bless with a long life, 〈◊〉 attain unto that pitch of purity and preparati●● as may make us ripe Fruit to GOD: that 〈◊〉 may come to the Grave in Good old age, a●● Shock of Corn in full maturity: give us by t●● Grace under the Burden of old age, that 〈◊〉 may be unburdened of the body of sin and dea●● that after all the travels of our life; We may r●● our Ark under the Pavilion of Thy Eternal Majesty.  
Amen.    

STAGE Second OF The Quatuor Norissima, or feur Last things: and how Man is to improve himself in the Consideration of th●se.  
§. 1. IT is a great Mercy while we last and endu●e, that the last things be minded: For the longest Day will come to an Even; and these last things are so new that they never change, except that the last Enemy, Death will be destroyed, 1 Cor: 15. 26. It suits well then with a Christian, to be well settled as to these. Tria sunt omnia, said some of the Philosophers, but four things are necessary, sayeth the Scripture, and it is the Vnum N●●ssarium, The one thing needful to know the●e practically: for what more certain than D●ath? What mo●e searching than Judgement? W●a● more dreadful than Hell? And what more comfortable than Heaven? Take then a View of them, for thy Christian pr●fi●.  

Of Death.  
§. 2. All the World sp●ak of Death, but I know not by what a pleasant, yet a●e unhappy Charm, few seriously lay it to heart. Betwixt our Birth & our Dea●● there is but a thought or an instant, it 〈◊〉 happy then to awake, and go to the House● mourning, and see the end of all things, Ecc. 7. 〈◊〉 All things die, Empires and Kingdo● decay, the four Monarchies are out of D●● The whole Creation groaneth, Rom: 8. 22. T●● Universe is but an Universal hospital, 〈◊〉 Grave a common Mother, where the greatest Potentats lay down their power a●● crowns, and all Mankind put of their gl●ry; for, Dust we are and to Dust must we ret●●●▪ All have sinned, all must die.  
ss. 3. I shall only mention this comm●● Theme, (that it may be practically improved) by a short discourse of Dea●● an● a right preparation for it.  
ss. 4. First, in discoursing of Dea●● thou art to consider, what it is. 2ly. 〈◊〉 it is, 3ly. How it is, 4ly. When it is. 〈◊〉 Its sting and strength. 6ly. The victory ●ver  
ss. 5. What it is. Although there be nothing more obvious than Death, yet would 〈◊〉 require one from the dead, to inform t●● World of it, but Abel y●t speaketh, a●● CHRIST cries by his Word and Spiri● that Death is the Term of thy Tempora● ●ife, the dissolution of thy earthly Tabernacle, and a separation of the Soul ●om the Body; It is a long sleep, it makes strange Change upon Man, it turns the 〈◊〉 House to Rubbish, it sets thee off ●e Stage of time, to the darker Regions ●f the dead, it layeth strength, Beauty, ●ortune, and all the commodities of life ●n the dust, it destroys Nature, and though its Conquest be but over Dust, yet this King ●f Terrors Reigneth till the Resurrection.  
§. 6. 2ly. Why it is? All have sinned all ●ust die. In the day thou eatest thereof thou shall ●urely die. By one Man sin entered into the World, and Death by sin. The Vltimus Conatus, and ●last effort of Death is, to dissolve nature; Soul and Body must sunder, The Body sleep and be Refined in the Dust till the last Trump.  
§. 7. 3ly. How it is. The way and manner of Death is dark, it comes either by nature or by accident: It hovers over our heads like an Eagle in the Air; It is like a ship in the Sea, whose footsteps are not known. It lurks as a Serpent under the Herb, And the more hidden. the more dangerous; it kills us as a Basalisks, when we see it not; It kills many with pleasure, as it hath been observed Plures pereunt G●● qvam Gladio: It besets us before and behi●● so that it is good to have our Wit'st bout us.  
§. 8. 4ly. When it is. In the beginnings progress and end of our Race. When 〈◊〉 for thou gins to Live thou Dies, an● thy Breath is within thy Nostirles And Death hath smitten the Cedar an● the Grass, the Good and Bad, the Rid● and Poor; in divers manners, and very un● expectedly to many: it comes as a Thi●● by Night and taketh our earthly house by surprise, and although in general. th● Term of our Life be determined by GOD Job: 7. 1 Yet are there so many incident Trials and exercises, that Man being ●eft to the freedom of his own will, by unlucky adventures makes his own Diet of Dying, though so sore against his will when it comes: so the wicked is said to die before their time, and in the midst of their days.  
§. 9 5ly. The strength and sting of Death. Death hath a great strength, for no man can see it and live, and that which imbi●ters it, is sin. If thou therefore inortifie sin, thou plays upon the hole of the A●p, and needs not fea● the Sting of the S●●pent; It is only sin that makes Death dreadful, for it poisons its dart and makes it bitter to the Unsanctified; But CHRISTs Death sweetens all its Acerbities to the Godly, and makes them say with Our Saviour, The Cup that is given us of GOD, shall we not Drink?  
§ 10. 6ly, The victory over it. There is no Cure of Death, But in the Prince of Life, if we ●ie with Him we shall Live with him; We live in our Head, and it is he that can say, O Death I●e be thy Death; There is no Herb on Earth that can cure Death, but there is a Tree of Life in Heaven, and to such as apply this aright, Death is but a passage to Life, and because Christ Lives, such shall Live also.   

Secondly, THE CONSIDERATION OF DEATH REDUCED TO PRACTICE.  
§. 11. It is excellently well observed by Dr. Taylor, that the Scripture acquaints us with one only Way to Die well, which is to Live well; Which generally holds of all them that have the Use of Reason, and of the Means of Grace; so that Instance of the Convert Thief, doth rather extol the wonderful Love and Merit of our Dying Lord, than give any exception against the general Rule; For, although such as have lived bad lives may die with a sort of Peace, Yet, t●● is no peace, sayeth my GOD, to the wicked, a●● it is only the Upright and the Perfect Ma● Whose latter end is Peace. But, This new Life● not to be measured by daily Excursio● of Temptation, but from an habitu●● Course of sincere Obedience: Since righ● preparation for death consists in a Hol● Life, and a daily dying to sin, and 〈◊〉 Life being but a Vapour (as St. James sayeth) It is sad to let it Evaporate in sin and folly● It is good then to keep Memento mori in the Vade-mecum of our Mind, that we may be ready to render up our Soul, unto the Hands of a Faithful Creator.  
ss. 12. 2ly. Thou must be willing to die Death is indeed Irksome to Nature, bu● when thou considerest it as a passage to thy Father's house, it is pleasant, thou must be so willing as to submit to GOD, and resign thy Life to His Will, for GOD'S Will is still Good, and g●ided with excellent judgement, & whether thou Nill or Will, thy times are in His band: Consult not therefore Flesh and Blood, but Faith; and cheerfully drink of that Cup, that all before us have tasted; which is sweetened by the death of Christ; and better to die willingly, than to live in ●pposition to GOD'S Will; say therefore with old Eli, the Will of the LORD be done: And if it be well principled, thy willingness will come up the length of a desire to die, not of a peevish discontent, with Jo●●h; But with an Apostolic and Heavenly Spirit, to desire to departed and be with Christ, which is best of all. Let not therefore the dreadour of death hinder thy desire, since GOD is with thee, to give thee a safe passage; Death simply cannot case thee, but it is dying in the LORD, that makes thee Blesse●: It is goo● then to have a well dected Mind and Soul; For, there are such attractives in the Recompense of Reward, the Crown of Righteousness, and of being ever with th● LORD; As may make thee desire to be unclothed, that mortality may be swallowed up in Life, 2 Cor: 5. 4. I ●issintangle therefore thyself of Worldly Letts, that thy Soul may as naturally tend to Heaven as the sparks flee upward.  
ss. 13. 3 l●: M●ke Death familiar to thee; for many put off the Evil Day; and leave the thoughts of Death to ●ick and Dying Persons: but thou should be more prudent & walk every day as it were thy Last Day; and frequent thoughts of it will make it to be no strange nor sad thing to die. Frequent use makes the habit Easie, and 〈◊〉 well prepared Christian will say. my he●● s fixed.  
§. 14 4ly. If any doubts & fears arise, whi●● may be incident to Christians, when ●he● come seriously to look upon Eternity & 〈◊〉 dark passage of death, leading thereunto thy death can make thee doubt of nothing but what state it will put thee into; but Giv● no place to doubt, since it is certain, 〈◊〉 thou Rely on Christ, thou art secure Thou must not consult the disorders 〈◊〉 thy life, but the well ordered covenant Are thy sins many? GOD hath a multitude of mercies: are they great? he ca●● pardon them, because they are great hast thou Backslidings? He can hea● thy Backsliding: Hast thou difficulties? Light can clear thee: art thou tempted? He can Secure thee: Art thou dijected? He can comfort thee. So whatever by thy case, if thou come to Him upon the terms of the Gospel, thou mayest be Satisfied in his love. I● death be the King of terrors. CHRIST is the King of comforts, Thou needs not fear, in f●tifaucibus in the jaws of Death, If 〈◊〉 be i● Gremio Dei in the B●some of GOD: let the dart of Death strike, the shield of Fa●th will resist its force. All Mortals before you have suffered ●eath, even Children and the Weaker Sex, and it is a silly thing to dread that which is conquered & can do nothing to a Christian but lose him from Bondage. There is nothing dreadful in Death but to fall into the hands of an Angry GOD, and if your pasillanimous Mind makes thee flee Death it follows thee. Get thy Heart and conscience in a right frame then, and then thou has nothing to do but to lie d●wn and sleep: ●et thy faith and hope on work, and By a heavenly Spirit, lahour with Samson, to destroy GOD'S Enemies: Colect thy powers, to render up thy Soul with comfort; and that same GOD who has made Martyrs Rejoice in their tortoures, may make th●e sing as a Swan in death, and Triumph with St. Paul; O Death where is thy Sting? 1 Cor. 15. 55.  
§ 15 6ly. To pray for a happy death. Labour to die well, and i● it be the LORD's will, deprecate any thing extraordinary in thy Death, except an extraordinary Repentance, and a heavenly frame of Spirit: Thou shouldest submit to the time and mann●r of thy Death, but with all beg a comfortable demission to departed in peace; and since there are thousand accidents incident to thy lif● and many have been taken off the Stag● by surprise, and in the act of sin; tho● art to pray for a happy Death, and composed mind in dying; and think it n● unsuitable to Deprecate a sudden Death; tak● Sanctuary in GOD, that in the uncertanties of this World, thou mayest be secure. Labour to Kill this Pasisisk, with the Ey● of Faith. Daily die to sin; and cleay to Christ: pay the debt of nature with pleasure; Lay down thy Body to a Grave, perfumed with CHRIST's Burial, and commit thy soul to a faithful Creator, and Blessed Redeemer.   

Prayer in order to Death.  
O LORD G●D of Life and Death; Tho● only hast the empire over Death, O Prince of Life who was once dead, and art now alive, Give me to live for Thee, and in Thee; and I shall not die, but sleep, Thy Love ca● keep my Soul warm in the dark Valley of Death, save me from the bondage of the fear of Death, and the sting of it, and then I may harmlessly like a Child play on the hole of the Asp: Fill me with Light and Spiritual Life, and deliver me from ●●y thing that may make Death irksome, that I may lay up store in my best circumstances against the power of it. Save me from procuring my Death by the ill Government of my Life, save me from all Misdemeanour that may procure a violent Death. Deliver me from sudden Death, if it be Thy Holy Will, and let me not he surprised by my last Enemy: Into Thy Hands I commend my spirit, perfect Thy Grace in me, that I may attain to the end of the Upright, and perfect Man, to die in Peace;  
Amen.   

The Second last Thing JUDGEMEMT.  
§. 1. AFter Death the Judgement. The belief of a Judgement is an Article of our ●reed, and a great principle of our Religion, Death and Judgement are both decreed, Heathens have believed it, and Nill they Will they, Conscience asserts it, and the worst of Men in Crosses and about their dying, have had apprehensions of Judgement, and such as have stifled convictions, have now within them fatal and fearful Convulsions; for as GOD is, so is He just, and will bring all things to Judgement, and though Sentence be not presently execute here, Yet there remains 〈◊〉 Judgement: Concerning which let● it 〈◊〉 first enquired, as to the Truth of it, 〈◊〉 The time of its Commencement. 3ly. The Judge. 4ly. the Process. And 5ly, Th● Sentence.  
§: 2. First, That there is a Judgement to come, is the Faith of the Church, the hope of the Just, the comfort of the afflicted, and the great Crise and Result of of mortal Life; Which will determine all the Intriges of Providence, and destribute Rewards and Punishments according to their Works: The●e is a principle and faculty in every Man, which makes him accountable to GOD. This, as it is an Article of our Creed, so the Scripture fully determines it, Ecc. 12 14. Matt: 25. Acts: 17. 30. 2 Cor: 5. 10. GOD will be publicly manifested in His Holiness and Justice, the Equity and Reasonableness of His Laws, and severity against sin; Who will not acquit thy guilty; And the monuments of Grace will s●e their Demerit, had not the Merit of Christ prevented the punishment: Fix then this Truth in thine heart, and constantly apprehend ●●th an Ancient Father, that thou hearest 〈◊〉 S●u●d●ngs of the last Trump, with ●he Voice of GOD; Arise Dead and come to Judgement:  
§. 3. 2ly, That this Judgement in a part commenceth immediately after Death, is ass●rted by the Apostle, Heb: 9 27. The Saints of old have inherited the Promises. The Convert Thief immediately after, was judged, and entered Paradise, and the rich Glutton got his Doom, and after his death, was set to the place of Torment. But the open, visible and general Assize of the whole World, is delayed to the time of the Restitution of all things; When and where, Soul and Body, Good & bad, Young and Old, without Law and under Law, will be judged According to their Works, and though in the Apostles times, some were fanatic & said that the Resurrection was past, some Atheitical scoffers (as St. Peter sayeth) Impiously Ragging and scorning, where is the promise of his coming, not knowing, that God worketh hitherto, & hath great patience; in whose Eternal View a Thousand years are but as one day: yet when his works is done, all the World will be judged, which day and Hour GOD hath kept secret in his Eternal Council; 〈◊〉 good and holy ends: And there somethings yet unaccomplished before 〈◊〉 end, to wit, the full conversion of the Je● Rom. 11. 26 and the discovery of 〈◊〉 declension of the Christian Church; 〈◊〉 exposing of that man of sin, and son Perdition; The pure Gospel become 〈◊〉 divive, and the Christian Church be mu● liberated from the great Corruption, 〈◊〉 manners and worship, according to 〈◊〉 Primitive Pattern. When these shall come● pass, and not till then, shall the end 〈◊〉 In the mean time let us possess our sel● with the Belief of This truth, that all 〈◊〉 nerations shall be judged before the Tribunal of the Sovereign Judge.  
ss. 4. 3ly. The Judge; GOD hath committed all Judgement to the Son; A●● hath appointed a day in which he will Judge 〈◊〉 world in Righteousness by him. Acts. 17. 3● We must all appear before the judgement sea● 〈◊〉 CHRIST, 2 ●or. 5. 10. When the Son 〈◊〉 Man shall appear in his Glory: Matt. 25. 3●● And in this he Exerciseth his mediatorial Kingdom, which will continue t●● the last Enemy be destroyed, which 〈◊〉 Death. He declined to be a Judge on ●arth, but came to be Judged, and it is ●ighly reasonable that he who was unjustly judged, should judge the World in Righteousness; Then shall they who have ●earced him, by their sins, mourn and ●owl; But His afflicted people shall lift up ●heir head, and say, This is the Day that ●he LORD hath made, Blessed is He who comes to save us: For, our LORD and King●o whom the Godly have submitted in ●heir time, whose Sceptre & Cross they willingly have born, is now come to deliver ●hem; He that bore our sins on His own Body, on the Tree. He that is a Compassionate High Priest, He that is the King of Peace, is now come to Judge them, according to the Gospel of Peace, and His easy Yoke, which they did take upon them, and walked under: What then shall such expect, but Love and Peace and Pity, from their LORD, King and Brother? Who is much Meeker than Moses, more Loving than David, and more Merciful than Man can be: Whereas, it shall be a great dreadour to the wicked, to behold this Meek LAMB, roa● like a Lion against them.  
§. 5. 4ly, The Process, We cannot coneeive how soon, and yet how exactly this-shall be done; since every one's Conscience is in the place of a Thousand Witnesses, and the Judge needeth no Information nor farther probation: Every one than will be Judged according to that Law which was Given them to walk by; And such as are under the Gospel shall be Judged by the Law of liberty, Jam: 1. 25. And the Issue will be, whether they have obeyed or disobeyed the Gospel? and walked suitably thereunto, and answered the opurtunities they have enjoyed above o● there's, to make them Christians indeed; And fit for the Kingdom of GOD.  
ss. 6. 5ly. The Sentence, will be accord. to thy works, though thou be justified by Faith, and saved by Grace. yet the LORD will reward according to thy works: For, to the true Christian, there is a wonderful mitigation of the Rigour of the Law, by the easy terms of the Gospel, and such shall receive sentence according to that Infinite Love revealed therein; then shall the great shepherd appear in Glory, yet probably with the Honourable marks of the Cross, that all who have gloried in Hi● Cross may rejoice, & such as have stumbled at ●t, hang their heads; The Sentence shall decide in favours of Believers, and all who have Closed with the conditions of the Gospel, and Obeyed the Faith. 1. 5. Which is the great specific of Christanity: Such may appear before him with his marks upon them, of Faith, Mortification, and Self-denial. etc. And that in their time they have born Testimony against a sinful Generation, they shall receive that favourable sentence, Come ye Blessed, etc.   

The Prayer.  
O Sovereign Judge, prepare me for Death and Judgement; It is much my comfort that thou art Judge, Competent and Compassionate, Thou wilt not acquit the Guilty, yet Thou delights in mercy, and there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou may be feared, LORD give me my discharge in time, for, Who can condemn? CHRIST has died. I make my humble application to the Mercies of Thy Infinite Bowels, the Merit of Thy Death, the worth of thy Blood, and the Power of Thy Intercession: I have many Accusers. & am convict, But LORD say to me that thou will not condemn me. Thou knows all the Intrigs of my Soul, What I cannot clear, LORD do Thou cancel. I make Mercy my claim Thy Merit my Trust, and Thy Righteousness my Justification, Give me the White stone to refresh my Soul, till Thou grant me the Crown o● Righteousness at Thy Appearing.  
Amen.   

The Third Last Thing HELL.  
1. TO treat of Hell is a sad Subject Tophet should have a Beaco● set over it that Passangers may be ware. Let us then consider, 1, The Certainty of a future punishment of the Wicked, in another World, and the equity thereof, 2ly. The Nature of it, particularly as expressed by fire. 3ly: How to evite it.  
§. 2. First, Even the Heathen World, as they had their Elysium, so had they some thoughts of their Tartara and dark Cells for their wicked: and the most wicked have been postest with a dread of future rewards and punishments. Snares, fire and Brimstone, shall be the portion of the Wickeds Cup. And this is so clearly revealed in the Word, and even to natural Conscience, that no Man except he be a Dull Brute can deny it: GOD hath not set up Tophet to boggel us, and fill us with Panic fears, but that ye may fear Him, Who can cast your Soul and Body into Hell, and in so far as sin is in thee, it kindles this fi●e which shall burn to the lowest hell, and a sinful Nature is devilish and makes hell: regard this Truth then to purify thy affections, and make th●e flee from the wrath to come, for verily, it shall be ill with the Wicked.  
§. 3. 2ly. As to the nature of it; If the wrath of GOD and his fiery Indignation against sin, Be more Terrible than a River of Brimstone; than it is needless to be Curious into the nature of Hell; and it is one of the most sad and unfortunate sciences, that mortals can Experiment: for though sometimes It signifies Affliction as Jonah 2. 2. And the Psalmist Calls his trouble a horrible Pit. And also, though Hell do sometimes express the Grave; yet Our Saviour still mentions it as the punishment of the Wi●ked: It was never questioned in the Apostolic times, whether its fire was material or not: Our LORD is positive. Matt. 25. 41. Depart ye Wicked into ●verlasting fire. And St. Paul. Rom. 2. 1: Calls it fiery indignation. And the Apostle Judas, the Vengeance of Eternal Fire; It is best for us to believe according to the Scripture, and such an apprehension of it may be very useful to the Godly, to s●ir up in them a holy Fear. Some of the Schoolmen have laboured to prove a material fire for the spirit of the Wicked: By the Sympathy of Body, and Spirit; and that Contact that is still betwixt them. Some have called it Light, Because of the clear manifestation, the wicked have of the wrath of GOD there: Some have called i● hidden, because it is much hidden from mortals, at least the most part will not consider of it. But it is safest to keep by the Scriptures, and well to apprehend the sentiments of men; their spirit feeling in time the Troubles of the Body, so may it in Eternity.  
§ 4. It is therefore, Thirdly, best to leave Curiosity, and labour how to escape the wrath of GOD, by abandoning sin, and possessing our Hearts with a Religious fear to ●ffend him, knowing that it is a fearful ●hing to fall in the hands of the living GOD; For, our GOD is a consuming fire.   

The Prayer.  
O Lord, who has the Re●es of Hell, free me from the bands of sin; expel all the fuel of Hell from my heart and nature: And grant me such knowledge, from thy word, of the evil of sin, and its merit, that I never experimentally feel H●ll: LORD, where thou art not there is Hell: Thy Face makes Heaven, and Thy Fury makes Hell; Expel, O LORD the Wildfire of sin, and all the long after the forbidden Fruit; Save me, that I walk not in darkness of sin, that I may escape these dark Regions, where thou art not; Grant me such a Godly sorrow for sin, that all my Hell may be a Penitent Remorse on Earth, that I may be delivered from that Gnawing Worm, that never dies; Grant me that Holy revenge of sin by Repentance that I may escape the vengeance of GOD in the place of torment, where there is Weeping and Gnashing of teeth. Give me to believe Hell, that I live not a dying life in it. Amen.   

The fourth last thing, HEAVEN.  
THOU canst not vigorously strive to enter in, except thou hast some foretaste and foresight of it; Grace is the beginning of Heaven in thee, the Holy Man is a●● Heavenly Man. To discourse of Heaven aright, requires great Light and Insight i● the Things of God, and to help the● Christ came from Heaven to Reveal it. His word is the pathway to it, and the Holy Spirit the Blessed Guide of the Church: And though thou attain not to Raptures with St. John, Rev: 2ly Yet true Faith gives us a view of it, so as that we may have our Conversation there, Phil: 3. 20. And therefore let us consider. 1st The Vam●ie of this World. 2ly. That Heaven upon Ear●● to which the Saints should aspire. 3ly, The full Satisfaction and Joy, which is to be the Porti● of the Saints in Glory.  
ss. 2. First, The World is an empty thing, but a Phantasm and shadow; It cannot satisfy, it hath not substance, men are eager in the pursuit of it, as a Fish after a rotten Worm, and when it is catcht, it proves unsavoury; Let us therefore set our Affections on things Above.  
§. 3. 2lie Set up Heaven in our hearts by setting up Christ therein: For, where His Image is stamped, it makes us all in Glory; keep a closely Communion with God and you are in a Heaven upon Earth, for thus are ye carried on from Grace to Glory, and from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of God.  
§. But 3ly. The full Enjoyment of Heaven, is so sublimc & incommunicable that Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard what good things He hath laid up for them that love Him. And though this too Radiant Object, in a manner hurts our weak spiritual Senses, yet must we look upon it, though not directly, yet by Reflection, and View it in the Glories of of the Word, For Glorious Things are speken ●f the City ●f GOD. The Crown of Gl●ry i● the Gift of GOD, the purchase of CHRIST, and the Transcendent Pertection of the Saints, there is enough revealed to attract our Hearts, to refine our Natures, and to ripen ●ur Graces for Glory, and to repose us in our proper Centre Which is GOD Himself, and this being such a precious Pearl, let us be Vigorous in pursuit after it, and labour by Faith and Patience and a constant course of Virtue, to find the accomplishment of the Promises. The Apostle had His Plerophory. Rom: 8, end. And such as follow him as he followed CHRIST, may attain to a well grounded Hope, for it is a pregnant and approved Proposition, that such as believe in CHRIST shall not perish; but h● everlasting Life, (to wit, with a Lively, perative and Obediential Faith, shall undoubtedly saved: But the Second Pr●position is of ourselves, to wit, I belie● which is not so certain as the first; that De side, This being only, de nobis, T● Conclusion halts therefore, except we g●● All diligence to make sure our Calling and E●tion, so that we can say, I do unfienged close with CHRIST, and the Terms His Covenant, and I resolve whatever Temptation occur, to stand to my P●● in His strength, I count all things loss 〈◊〉 Him, Who is my LORD, My Love a● my Choice, I believe, LORD help 〈◊〉 Unbelief, I renunce all affection to S●● and the Life which I now live is by Fa●● in the Son of GOD, I choice the way 〈◊〉 Righteousness which produceth peace an● Assurance for ever. This builds our hou● upon the Rock, when we can say with St. Paul, I know in Whom I have trusted, that he 〈◊〉 able to keep that I have committed to His trust. A diligent and constant endurance is fairest for the full assurance. GOD is sure, CHRIST is fixed, the Covenant is steady and duty the plain way to serenity and peace; labour then to ensure unto your selves this inneffable Joy, which is calcu●ed to the highest aspiration of our immortal Souls.   

The Prayer.  
O Exalted King, who dwelleth in the Imperial Heaven, I long to be happy with thee: ●ake my Soul humble, sia●ere and contrite, to a spiritual Throne to the High and exalted ●e, Purify and clarify my Heart and Nature ●at I may be fitted to feed on these pleasures at ●hy Right Hand for ever, set up Heaven in me, ●at I may be ripe for Heaven, give me to feel the ●wer of the other World, and to be an overjoyed citizen of Zion, and be the Lord's free Man ●or ever,  
Amen.    

STAGE Third. Treateth of such things as the serious Consideration of Eternity should suggest.  
ss. 1. The best way to conceive Eternity is to read the WORD that endureth for ever; and to improve our short time, and well digest in our mind; What will be for ever more; it is impossible in this mortal state to have full conceptions of Eternity, for we Roll in a course of time; O● thoughts are measured by day's a● years. We should not therefore too mu●● by speculation, poor upon this Vast Expansion, lest instead of clear conception we turn confused. Rest therefore 〈◊〉 mind in these modest considerations. I. th● Eternity is the Orb of the Eternal GO● & as by searching, we cannot find out th● Almighty (for no man can see GOD a●● live) so we cannot conceive of Eterni●● It is only Faith that gets satisfaction 〈◊〉 this matter, while Curiosity lies in th● dark. Eternity is much hidden from M●● tals, therefore we should not inquire 〈◊〉 it, since it is hidden: Look well then 〈◊〉 thy duty in order to Eternity, and lea●● the uptaking, till thou be more capacitate by the Beatific vision; delay till tho● come to Eternity, and then thou shall be satisfied; be very busy here, because tho●● wo●ks for Eternity.  
ss. 2. 2ly. After this life we shall be like th● Angels, of nimble conception, but no● such knowledge is too high for us, it 〈◊〉 supra nos, in the instant of our life, and the●● fore as to speculation, Non ad nos, in th●● interim of time; We can scarcely con●●eive of time, much less of Eternity: our ●●ith prompts us to Prepare for Eternal life ●●t not to stand, and poor in the Sun, ●●ast we dazzle our Eyes and fall in the ●●itch. It is our Wisdom then to number ●●wr days in time, because we cannot number the Ages of Eternity: these two words Never and Ever have great emphasis; O sad! To be never happy and ever miserable! O Bles●ed thing, to be ever happ● and never miserable; Sow then, the good seed for Eternity, and fix thy house so in time as to bring thee through all the storms of life; to have a house with GOD Eternal in the Heavens, lay up treasure ●o● yourself in heaven, which may mantain you World without end, work with intense projects for Eternity; every seed we sow in our finite life tends to infinity, and let a sinner be still stated in his formercirum● stances, he would sin in infinitum, and never cease to be evil: And this is the reason that some of the School men give for the Eternal punishment of sin; For a sinner, as a sinner, would live in a perpetual enmity against GOD, but the seed sown by the Godly, has a great virtue, to spring in time, and last to Eternity where Grace is crowned with Glor● We should therefore, like Noah, build a● Ark to carry us through the storms of Lif● and make us ar●ive on a mountain, mu●● more fixed than Ararat; there to dwell 〈◊〉 Eternal Splendours; for Mount ●ion 〈◊〉 not be removed. Ex●rcise then your Gra● aright, that your Faith may end, in seeing your hope in Fruition, and your labour in Rest.  

The Prayer.  
LORD GOD of Eternal Perfection, 〈◊〉 Glory, before the World was, shined, and ●●dures to Eternity; fix my wavering mind, to centre and repose in thee, and l●t never th● Transitory Pleasures of this Life, hinder me fro● a vigorous pursuit of these pleasures, at 〈◊〉 Right Hand, which are for evermore: Gi●● me to be a person of a large Heart, and high designs, above the World; that I may work for Eternity, and through Thy Grace be so happy as to enjoy Thee, O Eternal GOD, World without End,   
Amen.   

STAGE Last,  
The Contents.  
A Lamentation for the sad decay of Religion, and Apology for the Devotion used in this Treatise, with a Vale to the World. And all sweetened with suitable Devotion.  
ss. 1. I Should thus concluded; were not, that I cannot well ommit to vent my Lamentation, for the great neglect, and decay of practical Religion; and speak something concerning the Devotion used in this Treatise.  
ss. 2. And First, Of that Pathetic throne and regrate for the great Declension of Christian piety and practice, which has been well handled by an unknown Author and others some years ago: But alas time hath still produced great Causes of Regrate: For, such is the Impiety, Irreligion, and immorality of the most part of men under the Christian Name; that the first Propogators of this excellent Religion, so perfective of humane Nature, would now misken the Christian Chutch, and see nothing but a Rudera and Confusion, in stead of the well compact beauty of Zion: For even they that pretend to be the true Church, and would enhance the whole Prerogatives thereof, to their own Romis● Sect: What errors of Doctrine? What corruption of Worship? What jameness of Morals is among them, I leave it to any such serious men as travels into these places: What darkness and ignorance? What profanity? What leaudness and abomination is there, is but too Visible to all the World; Moreover, that Church that carries that Glorious Name of Protestant, and Reform, is much deformed and degenerate in manners from the practice of the purest primitive times: And GOD'S Laws are violated by a profane age, Christ's Gospel, Offices, in stitutious and Ministers are all vilified, contemned, dissowened, and almost utterly rejected by our licentious Age, and wicked Generation. O What boldness of Men! affrontedly in the f●ce of the Sun, to incroatch & invade all things Sacred: what swearing for swearing, what profanity, what pe●jur●; does the great part of the Chris● tian World manifest, that not like Moses in a ●i●t of Zeal breaks both Tables; but in a course of impious madness, they say, Come let us break the bonds of the Lord and His Anointed asunder, They have said in their hearts that there is no GOD: and as to the Universal decay of Religion it may be now said comparatively, There is none that doth good, no not one; And they act the worst of crimes habitually, and with freedom; they deny GOD by their works, and so live as if they had a new Creed, and espoused the Anathema of another Gospel, to believe and so live as if GOD had forsaken the Earth, Ezek: 9 9 and t●at he, Whose Eyes see, and his E●e-lids try the Children of Men, did indulge and allow them to lick up the Vomit, that the Heathen hath cast our, and to be much more wicked than their Fathers. Fellow the most of men, even to that piece of Formality, which is all their Religion, in coming to the Church, ye may hear some of them, cursing, swearing, laughing, raging, as men intoxicat with Mammon and Sensuality; Behold them in the Church, ●ou shall see them as dull as the seats they sit upon; And follow them from the Church, ye shall find some of them haunting the Tavern, and others wandering and erring, as if they had not a GOD to fear, nor a Soul to save; And amongst many, as little Religion in their Family, as among their Oxen, Isa● 1. 3. Is not this then a Lamentation, and for a Lamentation? Is not the LORDS Wrath to be feared, that he will be avenged on such a Nation 〈◊〉 ●bis; The World now in the last times is secure as the old world, before the Deluge, and that which aggravates all, ●ew or none lay it to heart.  
§. 3. It will not he amiss then, modestly to inquire into the Case, The Cause, and the Cure or Remedy, of this sad declension o● the Church.  
§. 4. First, The Case, is both sad and singular, against such Grace, such Light, and such wondrous Demonstration of the Love of GOD, to Man; to sin against Love, Light and Mercy, and all the Endearments of Heaven; to sin against the Coming of the LORD JESUS His Word, His spirit, His Blood and Powerful Intercession: The sin of the old World had it● own aggravation, that it was Epidemic, that all flesh had corrupted its way, and against the Pathetic Preaching of Noab, before the Deluge: The sin of the Jews was also very great, against the Indulgence, and the peculiar Instances of Mercy to that people, that GOD in a manner in the ordinary strains of reclaiming people, Can not done more Isa: 5. 5. and it was their great gratitude that makes the LORD by His Prophet complain, That he had nourished and brought up people that had rebelled against Him; which is such an amazing transgression, that it ma● be very well, with the Prophet expostulated, Be astonished O ye Heavens, &c: Isa. 1. 2. For my people hath committed two evils, they have forsaken Me the Fountain of Living Waters, and digged to themselves broken Cisterns, that can hold no water: And although GOD did punish them with the Assyrian and Babylonish Rod. after which, upon their Repentance, H● restored them; yet, when the cup of their sin, came to the brim, as that of the Ammonites before them, He did with great Indignation, destroy that City, and People, and abandoned them to perpetual Exile: Yet, after all this, there was some hope of Outgate, a new dispensation to follow; And the Son of GOD came in the flesh to save both Jews and Gentiles: But good LORD! Where shall the corrupt Christian appear? that hath rejected Christ, and the Glotious ●eams of His Light: For, if they escaped not who despised Moses Law, Of how much sorer punishment shall the● be accounted werthy, who have trampled under foot, the blood of the Covenant? What can they now foresee, but look for a fiery Indignation! and hav● nothing to stand in the gap, against th● wrath of an angry God: And if this Gospel be not a powerful enough engine to cu●● and heal them, they cannot expect another, nor other Terms, nor another Heavenly Messenger, to come down to sav● them: What remains then? but Desperation and dismal dread our, of that wrath which shall burn in great fervour, upo● that Miserable Victim; that exposed miscrea● that hath no Sacrifice nor Propitiatory, to present, but himself, to be a miserable Victim to eternal fire; and that which make● this Case yet the more sad, is the consideration of that inavoidable Judgement, that cannot but fall upon such that have slighted the opportunities of Grace, and sinned against the whole Series of GOD'S Love, and infinite Mercies.  
§. 5. 2ly. As to the cause of this sad Case, it lies in the corrupt Nature of Man, which though it may be closed up for a time, when the Church is in Vigour, yet as a sluse of Water that is restrained for a while to run; it comes out with the greater force when it gets any liberty, and makes the man like a Brute, without Fetters; to run at random, and so they cast off the ties of Religion, and turn either brutal or devilish, and take pleasure to greatifie their Lusts in the Expressions of the Irascible or Concupiscible appetite; and in Regard this Excellent Religion of Christianity, Puts a stop to their Carrier; If they were not deaf and unreasonable, they Reject it while they grow worse and worse, and sin without fear, and keep thei● Delilahs' in their bosom, notwithstanding of the dreadful Threaten of the wrath of GOD: So that having their Eves darkened, and being alienated from the life of GOD, they run to all excess of Riot, and work wickedness with greediness, in which continuing, in the frequency of use, they habitually sin against GOD, and cannot more change their customs, than the Ethtopian can change his hue, and being thus separated from GOD, they are turned into brutal savagness, with Nebuchadnezar, and so provoke GOD to give them up to a Judicial stroke, and leave them 〈◊〉 the GOD of this World, to blind their 〈◊〉, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel should Shine upon them, 2 Cor. 4. 4. Tha● as their opportunities of Light and Grace, were the more ample, being under the dispensation of the Blessed Gospel, thei● Judgement and dreadful Declension from the way of GOD, is the more dreadful and criminal; That as St. Peter sayeth it had been better for them not to have known the way of Righteousness, than after they had known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment; And being thus Stricken of GOD, they are glad of licentious times, and an armless Church, that every one may do according to the Imagination of his wicked heart.  
§. 6. 3ly. We may easily then perceive what will be the proper cure of this. And that is, that the Gospel of CHRIST and the Oeconomy of His House be received and punctually observ●d, for in effect the Gospel of itself is such a powerful Engine, even the Power of GOD unto Salvation Rom: 7. 16. that if it were not opposed by the petty power of Men, (and GOD may suffer this for good and holy ends) it would certainly make a sensible change in the Christian World. This Gospel not only pressing and propounding a pure Faith and also good manners, and impartially distributing to every Rank their Duty, It cannot be suffered in this Luxurient and Wanton Age, when the lusts of Men, not the Gol● pel carries the sway; And further, if th● methods of Christ's Oeconomy, for the government, and the Education of His Disciples, were not despised, and not considered; all would be observant of their Station and Relation: But alas! Baptism and Baptismal Engagements, are very little headed by Parents or Children, and Confirmation is either not in use, or not in force; And the Keys both of Doctrine and Discipline, are cunningly thrusted out of the Church's hands: and the great Men of the World will have it so, and the most of Men hate restraint, and therefore love to have it so: but let the Godly humble and mourn for all this, and pray that the Gospel may yet have its Native Power, and the Sacraments and the Discipline of CHRIST have their Genuine force, that the Church may be yet Patronised and become fair as the Moon, beautiful as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners; Cant. 3. 6. Then would Religion shine in its glory, then would differences be healed, and good and bad be discovered; then People would return to the LORD with their faces thitherward; then would GOD'S Day, ordinances and Ministers Be punctually looked to, and respected, then would GOD be set up in the Houses and Hearts, profession and practices of Men, and a golden Age woul● be Restored, that all the Godly might cry, grace to the work, and Glory to the Worke●.  

The Prayer.  
LORD heal a sinful World and a sadly corrupted Church, and open the Eyes of the powers and of all people, more to mind the things o● Jesus Christ: Heal the Backslidings of this s●●ful Generation, and bring us out to the Light, th● we may see thy Righteousness; let the time, even th● set time to favour Zion come● and regard tho● O LORD, the Prayer of the destitute, who loves Zion even in the Dust. Revive the pregnant P●●rity of Primitive Christianity, after the direful declensions of many generations; come LORD down upon mount Zion, O Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and roar with terror, that all the wicked of the Earth may tremble; And display 〈◊〉 banner for all that long and wait for thy Salvation. Amen.  
§. 7. 2ly. As to any Form of Devotion used in this Treatise; I need not apologise much, since this hath been impressed upon the Rational World, by invincable rabble Arguments; Only as to my Mite and Measure; I shall desire you to consider; First, That by the Commandment of GOD himself, Forms were used in the Jewish Church, And not only the Matter but the Words, were put in Moses' mouth, by the LORD, Num: 6: from 22. to the end. And at the resting of the Camp of Israel. And by the Prophet Hosea returning Israel, is bid take with him words, Hosea 14. 2. And say, Take away all iniquity: And the whole of the Jewish worship & Sacrifices, was directed by GOD in a constant form of Incense and Oblations: And in the times of the new Test: John the Baptist taught his Disciples the form of Prayer, and Christ's Disciples crave of Him the same direction; who said unto them; when ●e pray, say, Our Father, etc. Which Prayer was still in use amongst the Disciples of Christ, as it is probably inferred from that of St. Peter, If ye call on the Father, etc. 1 Pet: 1. 17. Where probably, the Apostle Judgeth it to be the constant custom of Christians to say the LORDS Prayer: And the Primitive Church had its Liturgies, which hath been the practice of the best of Churches: It were therefore Good that a novice sect of men, that are so much against forms, should not so superciliously imagine that doubtless they are the People, and that Wisdom dwells with them, And that they are only competent to Reform the Christian World in its practice of Devotion, for 16 Ages; since they themselves use a form of Benediction and dimission of the people according to the Appostolick practice, T●● Grace of our Lord Jesus, etc. And 2ly. If it be considered impartially, this doth not restrict Men, especially Gospel Ministers, to a Form, but are allowed without doubt to express their mind to GOD, in the method of their own conceptions, providing it be done with gravity, knowledge, and great deliberation; But it would be adverted that Forms do not stint the expressions of men's Gifts, and the Spirit of Prayer doth not solely assist in these extemporary Gifts, but also doth Act in the Calm Element of an approved form, since it is not the matter only, but the heart guided by the Spirit, that helpeth to a Right way of Devotion; and it may be in Charity Judged that the devout, pra●ing The LORDS Prayer; may do it with as much, if not more of the Spirit than by an extemporary Gift, and I am confident. The experiences of many de● your persons will say no less: So that it seems a Stupendious conceit in men, to deny the constant use of that Divine Prayer, uttered by the heart and lips of him● that was full of the HOLY GHOST. And for myself, I would Shrink to lay aside the use of these venerable and comprehensive words which are ●o be looked upon as the season and incense of all our Oblations. And therefore I hope It shall not be thought impertinent to Sum up the matter of this treatise, in all its Periods and Stages, into some particular Suitable forms, which for clearness sake, I shall ser down according to the six days of the Week, and the LORDS Day.   

The Prayer to be used upon Monday, for Childhood.  
OCreatour, and Preserver of Man, Thou made us and not we ourselves, Psal: 100 And I was cast upon thee from the Womb, Psal: 22. 9 Thou madest me hope with an implicit Dependence, while I was upon the Breasts; O what a Blessing is it to be sanctified in the Womb, and from the Womb! This is a singular Grace indeed, and all that are under the Rays of the Gospel, have the nearest access thereunto, especially, when by the happiness of Education, it is early transmitted unto the Mind: O LORD, there have been myriads and millions of people before me; And thou hast brought me forth in the last days, and I am nothing but an empty Vessel without Thee; I am lately sprung out of nothing, and am nothing, and have nothing; and better had it been for me, to have been nothing, than want Thy Incorruptible Grace: O LORD prevent me in the morning of my short day, and Instill some Tincture, in this new Vessel, which may give it a lasting Relish; Season my Heart with the Salt of Grace, and make me to grow in Grace; Imprint, O LORD, upon the Table of my Heart, the A, B, C, of Christianity; teach me to know, Love, Fear, Choice and Obey Thee; give me to savour something of Reason and Religion in my ruder Age, that I may mind my moment, & not trifle my time away abou● things of no moment; Pardon and heal the corruption of my nature, and the Vices of my person; give me the new Heart in my younger days, take away all Impediments and prejudices at Virtue and Religion: And so shape, sharpen and Sanctify me, that I may become an Instrument of Thy Glory and be prepared for Duty, in the following Periods of the Life that thou shalt grant me;  
Amen.   

Devotion in order to Youth, to be Exercised on Tuesday.  
NOw Blessed GOD, thou hast enlarged me from the bondage of None-Age, & the yoke of Discipline: Keep me under thy Discipline, For, thy yoke is easy, and thy commands are not grievous; I am now lifted up to the Prime of my Age, LORD make me steady by Thy Grace, that I do not turn giddy and stagger; When I look back, I find I have been Childish in mind, as well as body: What dark conceptions have I had of thee? And any little spark of Grace was smuthered with a Mass of corruption, & the Brute in me much mastered it: How raw and rude were my Notions of Religion? And how contracted and deadened was my Conscience? I was almost in all evil and knew it not, and much under the Senses, and sensitive Appetite: The root of all evil was in me, and I was content with my pleasant Fetters, and were not Thy Mercy, Thou hadst fully cast me off the Stage, as a miscreant unworthy to live: Yet LORD thou hast brought through all this dark trance of Childhood, 1 Kings, 18. 26. Save me from youthful lusts, and grant mewith Obadiab, that I may fear thee from my youth, purge me from the Dregs of Nature, Let them not fix in my Bones lest in fuller years I ●e made to possess the sins of my Youth. Jo●● 20. 11. Make me vigorous to engage under the Banner of CHRIST, to fight against the infernal Trinity, the devil, the world and the Flesh, and own the Holy TRINITY Blessed for ever: Give me to offer the first fruits of my Life to Thee LORD make me to relish the sweetness of Virtue above all the pleasures of the World, and pardon the Errors of my Youth, Psal. 25, 11. and so ballast and establish me with Grace, that I may launch out unto a longer Life, and not make shipwreck of Faith, and good Conscience; but have Thy Word for my Pilot. Thy Spirit for my Star, Humility for my Ballast, the Gail of Grace to fill the Soul of my Affections, Thy Glory for my End, and Eternal Life for my Harbour, Through JESUS CHRIST My LORD,  
Amen.   

3ly. Devotion. As to our Entrance to a ●alling and Relation; to be exercised on Wednesday.  
O GOD of Love, the Father of all sweet Harmony and Peace; and the great Proveditor of Man; Thou hast made him a Sociable Creature, and hast united Mankind in a Society, as Members of one Body, Thou hast ordained him to live by his own Industry, in the use of the Means, which by Thy Blessing tends to his Provision. As Nature abhores Vacuity, so Thou O LORD abhores Idleness; and hath given a particular Vocation to Man for Virtue: LORD make me religious in my general Calling as a Christian, and frugal in my particular Calling, grant me the composed Wisdom to make choice of a Helper like unto Me, let neither Lightness, fondness, nor carnal fancy be the principle and measures of my Affection and choice, let the Advice and council of those, whom I ought to follow be consulted; and bless me with such purity in my Design, that if by Thy Allowance I enter into a conjugal State; I may ascend that bed with Innocence and Whiteness, without the very knowledge of the carnal Tricks of Sin, and Satan: And when entered● to entertain a constant Conjugal Affection, to the wife (or Husband) of my Youth; and if ever I have escaped in the least, wash me throughly, and Cement our Relation, with the Endearments of the best Bond; that our Family may be a Bet●el to Thee. Make our Calling Honest and Creditable, and wherein we may be useful to Thee, and if Thy Providence hath brought us to Fortunes, give us to consider that Thou wilt only honour them that honour Thee, make us useful in our Generation, in the Stations Thou hast put us, and may we with all Discretion pursue the Ends of our General and particular Calling, to Thy Glory, and our Comfort.  
Amen.   

Fourthly, Devotion for our Riper years, to be exercised on Thursday.  
O Eternal Life and Action, who dwells in a perpetual Repose, grant me in all my Actions to aim Thee, and repose in Thee; and since now I must resolve with Action, having not only the charge of myself, but of a Family, grant me to be active to what is accountable and agreeable, for the increase of my Talents and the Improvement, of the opportunities of my Time and Station; Save me from vexing cares and doubtful anxiety, but grant me rational and providential Ca●e, in the diligent Use of the Means: Help me to Cast all my Care upon Thee, 1 Pet: 5 7. And as to distrust; to be careful for nothing: Save me from all impertinent and destructive digresions, and let me never be worse than an Infidel, in not providing for my Family, and grant me O LORD Thy Blessing, without which my ●arly and late Endeavours, will not profit us: Save me from all wrong measures, in the Improvement of my Stock, knowing that A little that the Righteous Man hath, is better th●n the Treasures of the wicked: For, thou can turn my Mite into Talents. Give me to seek the Kingdom of GOD, and mind the one Thing necessary without which all bussiness is but trouble, give me to win my Soul and do Good, in my place and time, that when I cease from my labours I may enter into the Repose of everlasting Rest, Through JESUS CHRIST my LORD,  
Amen.   

3ly, Devotion, For our Declining Age, on Friday.  
O Uncha●geable GOD, the same to Day, Yesterday & for ever; the whole Creation hath been, is, and will be under a Decay until the Deliverance of the Children of GOD. Our Life is but a vapour and a shadow, the World so weights us, that man gins to Decline ere he well consider that he lives: Help, O LORD, my bowing and declining age, give me to cloth myself against the Winter, and fill me well against a troubled Sea; LORD give me to superstruct well, upon solid Foundations, to build my House upon a Rock: 'Tis time for me now to be wise, since I have seen and done so much folly, I will not choice the World for my portion, it is Thee O LORD, and Thee only as the Cen●er and Repose of my Soul: I choice thy Statutes as my Heritage, in the Land of my pilgrimage, and Thy Salvation as my Inheritance for ever: Give me victory over the World, by Faith, and grant me Peace, Patience, and Perseverance to the End,  
Amen.   

Sixthly. Devotion for Old Age, on Saturday.  
O Ancient of Days, who remains still in that prime of purest Light and Glory, look upon me, whom Thou hast preserved in all the periods of life in great mercy, Visit me in this my groaning stage, with Thy Salvation; Let all the errors of my Youth, and by gone Age be done away, that I may have no burden, from my former life, & now support me when old age hath overtaken me, Blessed be God that I have escaped sad Accidents, and the hurtful effects of any miss-government of my Life: Grant I may now be taken up with Heavenly Exercise and contemplations, that I may Receive Dimission with Christ, not only in my Arms but in my Heart: Renew my inner-man day by day, that though my Limbs be weak, my Faith, Hope and Charity may be strong; And grant me a house with Thee 2 Cor. 5. 1. When my Earthly House shall fall. I entered into the World with a groan, and nature of necessity must groan, being Burdened: But Lord exhilera●e my Spirit, that I may leave the World with great Joy, that the day of my Redemption draweth near, and may be Refreshed in the Suburbs of Heaven, with the Joyful Music of the Saints, that so I may sing in Death, and triumph over the Grave, through JESUS CHRIST the Prince of life, my LORD and life, my strength and Redeemer  
Amen.   

Devotion, in order to the Eternal Sabbath; On Sunday, or the Christians LORDS Day.  
O Lord of Sabbaoth, I Bless thee that has brought me out of the toils of the World to rest with thyself; Lord take me up to some mou●t to ●ee thy Glory, where I may erect a Tabernacle not for Earth but Heaven: Quicken me with the Life of CHRIST, to seek those things above; and if I look back to the World, it is not for love to it, but to see its vanity. I admire the works of Creation and providence, and the portrait of the little World, to show the praise of GOD; But I cannot get words nor thoughts to expatiat tiat on the work of our Redemption, by Thy Son, Nor capacity to Comprehend the height, depth, breadth and length of thy love in him; But I desire so love him with all my heart, and above all the World: I behold him now Rising from a Sea of Blood▪ with the Glory of all his conquest: LORD put me in the Spirit on this day to Relish the sweet influences of the Holy Ghost that I may be fitted fo● the Eternal Sabbath, where all duties and longing, shall be turned into rewards and enjoyments, and thy Name be Celebrated with Everlasting wonder, Hymns & Hallelujahs, World without end. Amen.  
AND in Regard, that Evangelical work of Praise and Singing of Psalms is a special Part of Devotion, cease not in thy Pilgrimage and Solitudes, to Sing: And if you restrict yourselves to David's Psalms; For your Birth and Childhood, Sing Psalm, 51. From the Beginning, and the 71. Psalms, from Verse 5. For your Youth, Psalm, 25. And Psalm 109 from Verse 9 For your ●iper Years, and your Family, the 101 Psalms: and Psalm: 144, at the End. For your Old Age, Psalm. 71, 9, and 18, Verses, and if the Church thought fit, ye may also make use in your Devotion other Scripture Psalms, The Song of Israel on the Banks of the Red-Sea, ●he Song of Simeon, Zacharias and the Blessed Virgin, and the Songs in the 1, 5. and 7. Chapters of the Revelation: And particularly the Doxology, which hath been of constant use in the Christian Church, and is no other but an ascribing of sempeternal Praise, to the Ever Blessed Trinity; Which though the Leprous Church of Rome use, yet is it Clean to the Pure, and it is very sad that it should be controverted in the Militant Church, since it will be sung for ever in the Triumphant: And since the Mysterious but Salutary Doctrine of the Trinity was contradicted by the Arians in Old, and some of that same Gang under another Name of Late, there is still occasion for the using of it: And to distinguish the Modest and Regular Christian from such as in. vade it by Opposition, for to commend their Beloved Sect, it is not amiss to rise up in token of a more immediate Address, and closing with the custom of the Church, wherein we should not be contentious.   

And if ●ou please in your Private Devotion to Sing after this manner:  

1.  
MY heart is fixed, my ●eart is fixed,  
now will I sing and praise,  
I'll praise the Lord with songs unmixed,  
and still Thy Glory raise.   

2.  
Now Ha●elujah's shall extol  
the Lord God of my praise,  
And still in praises Thee enrol,  
and laud, and never cease.   

3.  
My little Harp is tuned to laud  
my Lord, my God, my Love,  
With Heavenly Queer Thy Name applaud,  
Thy Glories all approve.   

4.  
All Songs below ●ad not the Clief,  
to raise Thee thus in ault;  
They were sincere, but not the chief;  
as those which GOD exalt.    

Second Hymn.  

1.  
I Wear the Crown, Christ still renown,  
I reign, and He's Supreme,  
I am extolled to praise my King,  
and glory in His Name.   

2.  
I am as well as heart can wish,  
m● Soul is all in bless,  
With Joy and Peace Rests, and Relish,  
the sweets I now express.   

3.  
I see my God, my Christ, my joy,  
all mysteries are gone,  
Nothing now but Love I know,  
and melody Divine.   

4.  
The Tree of Life ma●tains my life,  
never to die again;  
O Death! in time, thou art so rife,  
but here thy strength is vain.   

5.  
I live, I love, I much delight,  
I ●raise and never cease,  
I see and fee● with Soul and Spirit,  
I▪ m all in Light and Bless.   

6▪  
What can I ●ake? For I have all,  
my God is here with me;  
And I with him perpetual,  
my Christ and God to see.   

7.  
Here without doubt I'll glory give,  
to Father, Son, and Spirit,  
I'll praise my God, and not deprive,  
fr●m his just Right and Merit.   

8.  
From the first Minute, to Ages all,  
I will assert ●●y Golre,  
In melodies sempiternal,  
to Tri●e Vne evermore.    

Third Hymn.  

1.  
O Spirit of Light, tune now my spirit,  
with Heaven fill my heart,  
And give me se●se of that great Light,  
that I may act my part.   

2.  
With all the Host and Heav'nlie Queer,  
that never ceass to cry,  
Thrice holy Lord, and Thee admire;  
in Peace and Rest and Joy.   

3  
My Soul, my Heart, my Spirit, my Powers,  
all join to Praise Thy Name,  
My GOD, my Life, my Hope, my Help,  
I'll praise Thy Mercies Fame.   

4  
Thy Help in need, hath made me Glad,  
Thy Grace was still my claim,  
And fresh Supply hath me relieved,  
I magnify Thy Name.   

5.  
I'll Praise, I'll ●ing, I'll Hope and Joy,  
in Thy great Grace so Good,  
I'll still advance and mend my pace  
in every Period.   

6  
A monument I was, and am  
of Grace, and still remain,  
I'll Bless and Laud and never cease  
with Praise, to say, Amen.     

A VALE to the WORLD.  
§ 1. FArewel to all the flattering hopes of Happiness upon Earth; All that have been in pursuit of this Shad●w, have been frustrated: For, all is Vanit● and Vexation of Spirit, there is no satisfaction in the World, separated from GOD: And what portion we have of it from Him, we must use it as the Means but not as the End. Give me LORD, the Victory over the World by Faith, that I use it well and never abuse it, Let me never over value it, lest it undo me, and make me a miserable wretch of no Value.  
ss 2. Away with all the follies of Childhood, and all the prejudices of that imperfect age, against what is  and Serious. Away with all the indigested notions that flow from the simple Brain of such as have not yet well form Reason and Religion.  
§. 3. Away with all the promising Notions, which our Ruder Fantasies ●●rm in this State, with all the follies tha●●●ow in this Age, with all Glorying in Strength, Beauty, Feature, and Fawning Fortune▪ with all ostentive Boasting of Gifts and Parts, and even of Grace, as it were ou● own, since we have nothing but what we have received: together with all Garnal fancy, Fondness, Folly, and amorous conceits, since Wisdom is the principal Thing, it being only Solid and Permanent.  
§ 4 Away with all eggar desire after the World, and all Covetous Courtship of that Idolgod, let it fall like Dagon before the ARK, with all petted and fretting humour, the Unruliness of Passion and all the Distempers of Youthful Age, and all discontents and disorders, and anxious fears for our Provision, with all carking Care anent the World, let us study Honesty, for falsehood hath no feet, and he that walketh Uprightly, walketh surely.  
§. 5. Away with all Immaturities of Growing Age, let us labour well, get Good Seed, and wait the Season of the Grace of GOD, beware of the deceitful World which is not faithful in its Promises; it is but a Cheat, we should not believe it when it speaketh favourably, for all that is in the World; is but the lust of the fl●sh, of the eye, and pride of Life, and is Enmity against GOD, we should not love Gods' enemy though it pretend friendship.  
§. 6. Away with all impertinencies of our former Life, for alas we have been foolish and dissobedient, and too much taken up with vain customs of the World, Ah, how many acts the fool upon this Stage, and do pass their time in a Comedy till their end be tragical.  
§. 7. Away with all that discomposeth our reason, that we may well conduct our Mind and Life, and not to expose ourselves to the floating billows of the Storms of this Life: Learn rather to be Catholic and Uniform in thy Course, and pray GOD to bring in our straying hearts and unite them to fear His Name.  
§. 8 Away with all debates and contradictions among Relations, and let us be Careful to keep our Soul and house in order, to guide our Spirit and Passion with moderation and patience, even Under Provocations, and not to trouble ourselves much with the extravagancies of others, & learn to quench incident heats in converse and families, let us submit one to another, and comport with infirmity, and co 〈…〉 mit our cause to GOD, lest such free 〈…〉ing and discontents, embitter our ne 〈…〉 est Relations, listen not to an● lust th' 〈…〉 may feed the flame, & still keep Religion and reason on your side: Put awa● therefore all Clamour, ill speaking and Bitterness▪ Kindly loving one another, forgiving one another as GOD, for CHRIST'S sake hath forgiven 〈◊〉.  
§. 9 Away with all ●●i●kie policy to Circumvee● our Neighbour's, with all hastiness to be Rich and to compass the World, for it is very uncertain, and takes Wings and flees away; and let ou● pursuits of it be with the conduct of Religion, within the lines of equity and honesty, otherways we ma● find all its Product to turn as a Mushroom or Jonah's Gourd, let us be Anxiously ●areful for nothing, and seek first the Kingdom of GOD and his Righteousness. Matt. 6 33. And other things that are good for us, will be added: Let us never Glory but in GOD, and be humble in our best Circumstances. Let not the World go above its Sphere lest it take fire and Consume itself and us; Study the Art of contentment, How can any men complain that have GOD for their Portion? and if we secure our interest 〈◊〉 Christ, than all is ours. Solace thyself 〈◊〉 GOD, delight in him and he will Give thee the desire of thine heart. Psal. 37. 4. and if thy Crosses be bitter and heavy they are the liker Christ's; if your troubles pinch you and put you in a manner, to your wit's end, come out of yourself and stay upon the name of God, for he can give strength to bear the Temptation and a Gracious out gate; and say, with Jehosaphat I wet not what to do, but my Eyes are towards thee.  
§. 11. Away with all murmurs under the burdens and infirmities of declining Age, as pains of Body, dimness of Sight, dullness of Hearing, Rehums and Rehumatisms, difficulties of Breathing, weakness of Stomach, Obstructons, Gravel, Gut, Feebleness, and other incident Infirmities; Let the GOD of Hope and Patience be your Hope and Strength, and learn to exercise thy patience.  
§. 12. Away with all too Carnal Love to any thing of the World, and if we have known any after the flesh, Henceforth know we them no more.  
§. 13. Away with all doubts of GOD'S Mercy and fears of death, providing we be unitted to CHRIST, Rom: 8▪ to the end. When we cannot act much, let u● take up ourselves with Contemplation's and by Faith take a View of that Glory which is to be revealed, that unspeakable Glory that is Yonder, above in our▪ Father's House: Let us draw Water out of the Well of Salvation, in the Conduits which GOD hath made to entertain a Communion betwixt HEAVEN and Earth: Doubt not of any difficulty about the Intrigs of Providence, for though some of the Godly have been shaken with the prosperity of the wicked; as David, Psal: 73. and Jeremiah chap: 12. Yet settle yourself, that GOD can bring Light out of darkness, and can make all things work together for the Good of them that love Him; and that there is a day of Retribution, and Restitution of all things when the Sovereign Judge will destribute Rewards, according to these two Attributes, of Justice and Mercy.  
§. 14. Away with all debates, Divisions and contests in the Christian Church, for now we pass to the Land o● peace to be joined in the Harmony of love and concord; where we hope the East and west Church in the beginning of Christianity; it contests anent the feast of Easter is now fully made up in the perpetual festival, which they shall enjoy in their Father's house; where we hope Luther and Calvin, and their biguit adherents: Having kept the main of Religion are now agreed: And all the debates about Modus Rei, the manner of our LORDS presence in the Eucharist are now settled and satisfied in the Celestial Communion; Where all debates anent the outward policy of the Church shall vanish, When we come to a continual Doxology of the Trine-Une GOD an● attain unto the General Assemly of the firstborn: where also we hope that Papists who have walked suitably to fundamentals of Religion, yet through the Unhappiness of their Birth and Education, have been under a sort of invincible Ignorance, shall join with the Protestant. Where also we do charitably h●pe, that many who are without, a●d have answered their Light in Morality, and have implicitly closed with the Mercy of GOD, which takes in all the methods of its communication, may come to share of the depth of that Mercy, which is the very Nature of GOD▪ And that Tremendous Justice which rendereth to every man according to his Works, and impartial Judgeth such as are under, and such as a●● without Law: And particulary, we ho●● that all the private Contests among Fam 〈…〉 lies and Relations, which have flowe●● from humour, weakness, temptations, and incumberances of the World, shall all be gone, when the warm Flame of the infinite Love of GOD shall fill their Hearts.  
§ 15. Away with all biguit adherance, to a Sect or Party, since neither Papis● nor Protestanism, Parity nor Prelacy will save us if we be not real Christians; We ought indeed to search all things, and hold what is best, but withal, we should not so much lean to our own understanding, but follow after Charity, that Ephraim, no more vex Israel, but all be joined in one faith to the LORD.  
§. 16. Away with all fears of the frowns of providence, for there is a wise disposer; Away with all vexation about the troubles of Revolutions, since we hope to be Citizens of a Continuing City, that hath a Foundation. Let us labour to vanquish the World by Faith, and be still doing good, and we need not fear what man can do.  
ss. 17. Adieu all Relatives and Acquaintances; We leave you to the ●race and Guidance of God: Farewell Sun ●nd M●on and that glorious Canopy of ●he Firmament, bespangled with divided Lights: For we hope to Live above ●he Clouds, in our Father's House, where there is no need of the Sun, because the Son of Righteousness is there, we leave all the flowers and pleasures of an earthly paradise to feed upon the Tree of Life.  
And last of all; farewell beloved Body, the Spirit and Voice of our Beloved, says come, we must gird up the loins of our Mind, we leave thee to the dust, but we hope to return-again, for though thou hast been corrupted by sin, yet now sanctified by the Blessed Body of CHRIST, we lay thee down as precious dust, to be refined in the bowels of the Earth, Our Souls can not be fully perfect without Thee,  go to thy Dormitory, and sleeping house, till the last Trump sound, and then shall we be made perfect in Soul and Body, and be ever with the LORD.  

The Devotion Suitable.  
ANd now what clogs and fetters thee O my Soul? thou sees what sin and the world can do, linger not but arise for this●● not thy Rest, look to the recompense of reward with Moses, think upon the calmness of a better life, in the t●mpests of this, fight the Good fight of Faith, and GOD will give thee the Crown of Life; Prepare for Judgement and Eternity, for the Judge is a● the Door.   

The Prayer  
LORD make up my wants▪ and Remove what is superfluous in me; adorn me with the We●ing Garment, and deck my soul that through thy Grace I may be able to enter in. Courage, Courage O my Soul for CHRIST'S mercy and Grace i● before thee; let not Death be Irksome to thee, but LORD grant me the Wish that I have long breathed for to Die in peace and lay down my Tabernacle with joy, and render up my Soul to GOD with delight. I have seen an end of all perfection in the short span of my life, I have seen the Glory of the World pass away like a Scroll, there's nothing certain but in Thee, all flesh is Grass, but thy word endureth for ever. I have seen Riches flee away with the Wings of the morning, and strength and vigour turn to weakness, but Thou O LORD art the only sure portion of thy People. I count all things loss for thee, & I have none in Heaven but thee, and none is there on Earth that I desire beside Thee; I aquiesce in thee as my Repose for ever; Thou art all my bless and happiness for ever.  
Amen.     
The End   

AN APPENDIX The Pastoral legacy, and latter will of a Gospel Minister to his flock, in some Sermous upon 2 Pet: Chap. 1. from v 12. to the middle of 16. Preached from the 2 Sunday of April, to the 4th. Sunday of June, 1693.  

To the Reader  
Courteous Reader.  
COnsidering the weakness and uncertainty of my life, being under often Infirmities some years' bygon; to which I humbly submit, and kisses the hand that smites me: considering also the uncertainty of the times, not knowing how soon I may be turned out; I did resolve to leave this Valedictarie behind me, for the good of my flock, and of any that shall pursue it, which I dedicated to the glory of GOD, and the Edification of the Church, and to my Reverend Brethren of the Ministry.  
Moses took high leave of Israel, and left directions after him, Deut. 1. 32. So did Solomon, Eccl. 12. 8. And He that is greater than Solomon our Blessed Lord had his farewell Sermon, John chap▪ 14, 15, 16▪ Saint Paul, Acts 20, 29. And. St. Peter here; So I desire to leave my Flock with some Advertisement and monument of my care for them.   

Sermon I.  
Containing the Compact Chain of our Holy Religion, exactly knitting the Privileges and Properties of a Christian together in one link, in the particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wherefore.  
I Shall leave it to such as write upon the whole Epistle to vindicate it from the false Aspersion of some who denied it to be Canonical, of whom Eus: speaks in his Church history, 3, Book 25. Chap, Which indeed was very unjust since the Epistle savours of its Author, and the genius of Christianity. So that its like whoever they were that refused it to be Canonic could not b●● be among the number of those false prophets mentioned by this Apostle, Chap: 2 d, Verse, 1. Or of ●hese scoffers of whom he writes Chap: 3 d: Verse, 1.  
Neither shall I insist upon the design and scope of this Epistle, since it is so clearly manifest to any that ●eads it, mentioning the great privileges and properties of a Christian, and a preserv ●ive against false prophets and Scoff●rs at Religion.  
So I come to the Text in th●se verese, which contain a● Application of the preceding Doctri●e, conecting the Privilidges & Properties of a Christian, in the particle Six Wherefore, Quamobrem, upon which account, etc. 2ly, The Apostles care to inculcat the Truth upon the people to whom he writes. 3ly The Sense, the Apostle hath of improving the Opportunity; in doing so, as long as he is in this Tabernacle. 4ly; The practical Knowledge of Death, and Resolution with it. 5ly. His provident and frugal care to store his people with the Knowledge of the Gospel, which they may improve after his decease, so the Spiritual Pa●●●tlayes up for his Children against the time to com●, When he is gone. 6ly, The ba●e and sure Foundation of Gospel Truth, Verse, 16.  
The First, Clearly discovereth to us this Truth, that the Christian who Doct: preten●● to the highest Privileges, of his holy Religion, must be accomplished with the true ppoperties thereof 'Tis a special Art to advance practical Religion, & twist together the Christian privileges and properties, Our Crown and Our Claim. Profession and Practice, Promise and Precept, Justification and Sanctification, Glory and Duty, The Race and the Prize; and Labour and Rest. The Gospel Net must be well knit, and we must follow the line and thread of Duty. Ou● Salvation is linked in a Chain, there is a Corner Stone that knits the Building from the Foundation to the Top, Rom: 8, 26. There must be the Prima, Media & Vltima. We must begin, proceed, and perfect our Work, for non progredi est Regredi. To stand in our Religion hinders our Race, We must add to our Faith, Virtue, for Faith without Works is Dead.  
This is not only the Doctrine of St. Peter here, and formerly Chap. 1. 5. 6. 7. But of St. James Chap. 2. And they both writing to the Jews had need to press this, for that People spleeted upon the Rock of their Privileges, to whom St. Paul gives a Check, Rom. 2 1. He is not a Jew that is one outwardly, but he is a Jew that is one inwardly. For a great part of the visible Church, tests much here, and are ready to say, LORD, LORD, when they do not the works that he Commands them: And so become partial in their Religion, and leave the half of it unpractised, they can take Christ for a Saviour, but not a Sancti●er: And follow Him for L●avs but n●t for duty and labour, they can cry The Temple of the LORD. Jer. 7. 4. But study not the new Creature; They may keep the ordinances, but not observe their design, and can be hired to help to build an A●k, but not to enter it.  
2ly. All desi●e to be happy, but all take not the R●ght way to happiness; they leap after the ●nd, but stand in the way, and neglect the means, that promove the end: whereas true blessedness comes only to the Vndefilea in the way, Psal. 119. 1. And the Psalmist, J●●ns justification and Sanctification together, in order to Blessedness, Psal. 32. 1. Sin cannot enter Heaven, no more a sinner, but we must ascend the Mount and carry nothing with us that is defiled: We must be meet for the inheritance, for without holiness none shall see GOD: Elijah's Chariot could not carry a wicked Ahab to Glory; And the best must be with Elijah, Purged by fire, ere they enter the splendours of Glory: GOD hath a Furnace to purge us, a plummat to square us, we must be pure and Refined ere we can dwell with everlasting burn; and though we be not Justified by works Rom. 4. 6 4. Ye● must we be Judged according to our works; For, though GOD justifieth the ungodly, Yet he only saves the Right 〈…〉.  
3ly Wherefore let us observe the scope of this Dying Apostle, and learn 
Appius:  to make our Holy Religion practical: fo● by so doing we shall not only make ou● Calling and Election sure; But hereby an entrance shall be made unto us, unto the Kingdom of our ●ORD JE●US Christ. And that we may be Glad to make this improvement the more Cheerfully, let us consider that this tends most,  

1. To the Glory of GOD.  
2ly. The Reputation of Religion.  
3ly. To our own Good and the benefit of others.  
4ly. It assureth our interest in Glory, much more than all the instincts, Enthusiasms and Raptures men can be affected with.   
1. This tends most to the Glory of GOD: Our good works should be ●o solid and visible, that they may show forth the Glory of GOD, the light of Grace shines more and more unto the perfect day, till it be more Radiant in Glory. GOD's Glory i● the great end of our Religion, and a Right conversation Glorifies him, and tends to our salvation, Psal. 50. 23. Holiness proclaims the Honour of the thrice, Holy, Holy, Holy GOD; And GOD delights more in it than in Hecatombs of sacrifices: We need not say, with Moses. LORD show me thy Glory, for Holiness i● the very Ray and Beam of the Glory of GOD, and the Divine Emanation of that Light and life that is in GOD: The Holy Person is the only Fruit bearing Tree and a holy Life giv●s GOD the Glory, discovers Heaven and perfects the Beleiver, For, without Holiness no ●●●an can see GOD.  
2ly. As Nothing disparageth Our Religion more than Hypocrisy, so nothing advanceth its Reputation more than a well Qualified Christian, for if once Practical Religion, did exert its Native Power and Quality, it would commend itself as th● product of GOD, it would appear a Wonder, it would make the so●s of Men say with Pharaoh's Magicians. This is the finger of GOD, it would give us a more noble Spirit than the World, I● would make us the fi●st born of GOD, and pattake of the Divine Nature, it would make the Men of the World, as St. Paul says, in another case, fall upon their face and say, GOD is in it of a Truth it would appear no phantasm or contrivance, to ammuse the World, And would make the Truly Godly Religion as their bage and Cognizance, and make Men say that this is the Work of GOD, it would make us like CHRIST to be pure as He is pure, it would appear to be no Superstition flowing from fear, but it would appear a Lively, Amiable, and lovely Thing, and attract men's hearts, it would make the Hypocrisy cast off his Mask, the profane put off shame, and the Formalist seck after substance, and the Power of Godliness, it would make Men Saints, and turn Angels, and be so excellent as to delight others, Psal: 16, 2 And in fine make them elect and precious, as their faith is.  
3ly, This will also afford solid meat, and the Kernal of Religion to refresh us, it will be to us a Tree of Life and hidden Manna, and more refreshing than the Nectaer and Ambrosia of the heathen Gods, and when Christ is form in us, then have we Light Life, and Comfort, Then shall we eat the Kernal of Religion, when the shell is br●ken, and Strangers shall not meddle with our J●ye●; nor the Impure eat the children's food, This shall confute all such as decry Religion and comfort all that have the Real Life of it, and make them say with St. Paul, The Life we now live is by Faith in the Son of GOD.  
4ly. This will open a door and Entrance to the Kingdom of O●r LORD JESUS CHRIST and will prove a more solid way to make us Draw near to GOD, with full assurance of faith? and be a more sure ground to us than all the heats and heights of Religion, which are but transient, and perhaps, flow from humour and Complexion; but this makes the spirit of Glory dwell in us. Gives us a clean conscience washed with pure water, Heb 10. end; to draw near to GOD: So that a trembling, humble Gh●istian, that with St. Paul, cries ●ut; O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. end May be nearer the Joy of the Lord than the other. So that whoever seek a proof of Christ sn us, We shall prove it best by Works and Fruits, and the New Creature is the most infallible mark of bein● in Christ, 2, Cor, 5, 17. and True si●●cere Obedience is the great specific and genuine property of true Christianism.  
And further to clear you in all this let us confront the privilidges and properties of the Christi●n, if any separate them he is like a Man catching the Crown with out the Conquest, but the true Christian reacheth one hand in the Crown and wi●h the other holds his Weapon, to fight for the Prize that through ●aith and patience and unwearied W●ll ●●ing, he may inherit the Promises: What more excellent than the precious Promis●p●ut we must add Virtue to our faith 〈◊〉 th●se Promises; the Christians Claim is ind●ed great for all are yours sayeth 〈◊〉 But such as are Christ's, sayeth he, have crucified the flesh with its lusts and effections.  
But to come nearer the context, from 2. ver. to this 12 the Apostle speaks of beleivers attaining like precious faith with the Apostlesfor, their is but one faith; (which the Apostles Believed. & propagated) once delivered to the Sa 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 J●de sayeth; and this faith Acts 15. 9 purifieth the heart and life. And having that same faith of the Apostles, we should live, according to our measures, as the Apostles, than should the Pure and Primitive Church revive; But alas! Were St. Paul now at Rome, he should find it much more Heathen than in his time, and very unlike these whose faith was spoken of through the World. O then if people would walk suitably to that noble Gift of Faith, which is given us.  
2ly. The full Instructions, the Christians have. All things, says the Apostle, that pertain to Life and Godliness, Glory and Veri●e: We want nothing to furnish us for every good Work; The whole Council of GOD, Acts, 20. 27. All things to make us Godly and Glorious, we have the Word of GOD to make us wise to Salvation, and the Spirit of GOD to lead us into all Truth. Improve then your privileges For, if ve know these things, happy are ye if ve do them.  
3ly, We have the great Gift of the Promises, as the Apostle sayeth here; But yet having these Promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all silthiness of flesh and spirit, 2 Cor. 7. 1. and take head least (a promise being made thus of entering into his Rest) we fall short: But if Piety be joined with the Promises, than we partake of the Divine Nature, and have another Spirit, a new Heart, Lif● and new Affections; and thus the Sai●● are, in their measure, Divinized and sp●ritualsed, and Created after GOD, 〈◊〉 Righteousness and true Holmess.  
And so to conclude this truth, 〈◊〉 would warn you, not ha●ilv to catch a● the Promises, but labour to lay hold on them by a lively Faith and Welldoing Be not too ●aring, lest ye presume; prove your title, first, And then glory in your privileges; make yourselves meet for the Inheritance, and then you are sure of it; and let the glory of that great Claim indeer your Hearts to Duty, to jo●n yourselves in a perpetual Covenant with the LORD, never to be forgot, Jer. 50.   

Sermon II.  
The Duty and Diligence of the Apostolic C●rate, or Gospel Minister, described: With the Matter and manner of his Preaching, and the Quality of Christians in the time of the prime of Christianity. Upon Verse, 12.  
THe Apostle falls now to a closely Application of the Doctrine, formerly mentioned in this Chapter, wherein he relates the Duty of the Minister, that he should not be negligent, but busy in the exercise of his holy Office. 2ly, The great Subject of his Doctrine, these Things. 3ly, The way of his Inculcating the said Doctrine upon the Hearts of People. And 4ly, The Qualification of People in these Times.  
I begin with the First, b●th negatively and positively described, Doct. 1 which teacheth us, That a Gospel Minister, should be very intent upon his great and weighty Work; This St Peter declares of himself, and St. Paul also frequently mentions his great business; These two Pillars, of the Church, the Apostles of the Circumcision & Uncircumcision follow the the great Luminary, their Blessed Master, and stand as eminent Examples to all the Officers of the Church of Christ: And this Apostle describeth his Duty.  

1st. In his care for the Good of Souls to whom he wrote.  
2ly. That he was not negligent, but Diligent in his Employment.   
First, His great care for the Church, and the good of Souls; The care of Souls is worthy to ●e fined from the most intensive affections of the Heart, It is such 〈◊〉 Pious and Divine Affection, that GOD Himself describs His earnest Compassion● to His People, thereby: As our Saviout shows us, in His Sermon upon the Mount, Upon which account, St. Paul bids us be careful for nothing, but by Prayer and Supplication make our request known to GOD: And St. Peter so exhorts also, casting all your ca●es upon GOD who careth for you.  
It was our Saviour's care for Souls, that brought Him from Heaven to us, and when on Earth, made Him so diligent to Preach, Pray, and Weep for his Church. This care of Souls went nearer St. Paul's Hea●t, than all his troubles; for, beside all things that are without (said he) that which comes upon me daily, the care for all the Churches: The true natural Father hath a great care for his Children, and the Spiritual Parent no less, for I have no greater Joy (sayeth St. John) than to see my Children walking in the Truth.  
F●r, such is the subtlety and labour of the evil one, ●o seduce and corrupt our Flock: And alas! such is the carelessness and incuriousness of the most, as to Spiritnol Matters, (like Gallio caring for none of these things) and such are the many encumbrances anent the World. and what is worst of all, even a careful Contriunance of many, to prosecute their sinful ends; that a faithful Minister shall find great Reason of serious care, and even to 〈◊〉 out with St. Paul. Who is sufficient for these things? For his trust is great, his Charge we●ght● and his Opposition strong, and his people for the most, running seriously in pursuit of their lusts: That upon all these Considerations, he may be a most faithful Watchman, and give ●meous, Loud, seasonable and impartial warning to all; that he may be free of their blood; This care will make him spend, and be spent for the interest of their Souls. The worth of a Soul is unspeakable, and the winning of a Soul is greater than the winning of a strong City; And such as know the worth of a Soul, which GOD made after His own Image; And Christ shed His Blood for, will think they cann●t be enough serious in doing their Duty in order to its Salvation: this care. as it cannot but take up the man, so is it very essential to the Holy Office, and may serve to take off the hearts of such as are employed, from Worldly cares and vanities, and to set us about out Work with all care and seriousness, knowing that as the w●rk i● great, so ●he Reward is glorious, and such as turn many to righteousness shall shine as the firmament. Dan. 12. 3.  
And this care will certainly not suffer any serious Man, to be negligent in his Office, but very diligent and dutieful: For, No Man that knows the great compassion of the High Priest, and his inspection over all, with searching eyes like flames of fire, and that knows the natural eflects of Sloth and negligence, especially in concerns of greatest consequence; and considers the account of his Stewartship, and the great Glory of being faithful in his Generation; will fold his hands, to sleep in sloth and negligence: And in Regard that this negligence, is so unbecoming a Man in Holy Orders, it ● will be found to be one of the greatest defects of a Gospel Minister: Ah! to be negligent when Satan is vigilant, and when others are busy about their secular Callings; to s●●ep in the time of Harvest, and to stand idle when the Vineyard hath need of dressing, to be negligent in the concern of Souls, and Salvation argues a great security and unworthiness.  
And that thou be not negligent, Thou must mind the concerns and ends of ●●y holy Calling, that thou eat unnecessary dive●sions, and leave not thy Flock, lest the Wolf come, and thou expose thyself to sin, and disrepute, and thy people like a Cornfield, to be overgrown with Weeds: Thou hast work enough at H●m●, to read, pray, contemplate GOD, search the Sc●tptures, and like a good Physician study the Case of thy People, that thou mavest apply suitable cures, and have th● flock in order, and such a face of Religion in it, that thou have the Applause of Man, and the Approbation of GOD and receive that Euge, Well done, Good and Faithful Servant.  
And ●or the positive part, to be diligent is no less necessary, for to rise in the morning and be idle all the day, is no Advantage to the common Interest: No, No, our Work is worthy of our While; and our Calling of our Cair and bussiness: Let our diligence therefore appear first in our Willing Going about our Work as St. Paul speaks, If I do this willingly: Which Alacrity, was so in him that he protests Woe unte me if I preach not the Gospel, 1 Cor: 9 1. and St. Peter presseth this Willingness, 〈◊〉 Pet. 5 1. diligence imports a delight, we should no●serve God as the Israelites under the Task Masters of Egypt, we are anointed we should ●un g●●●ly.  
2ly, This Diligence in a Gospel Minister carries in it the Use of all the Means, that may serve to reach the ends of the Gospel, as faithful preaching, seasonable dispensation of the Sacraments, painful instruction of People, impartial Discipline and sincere, earnest and constant Devotion, which now I shall not enlarge upon, since it is ad Cler●m.  
And 3ly, A firm and steady resolution to endure hardness, and never to complain of our Calling; because of the difficulties in this World that attend it: so that in fine, if the business of our Calling be our Work, our Cair, our Duty, and Delight; we hope we shall not be accounted negligent and incurious, but Concerned and Diligent, by our Great Master; for it is a small thing to be judged by Man, there is One that judgeth, and that is the LORD.  
Yet as the Ministers of the Gospel are Angels by their Commission, they are but Angels in the Body, and have the Treasure of the Gospel in Earthen Vessels; So that People must look upon them not a● all spirit, th● they be labouring to walk after the spirit, and receive their word, not as the word of Man, but as indeed it is the word of GOD: and as the best of men will not refuse ●o confess their infirmity, especially for such a holy Work; so should not people, because of their infirmites', Refuse the word, but labour to be the more diligent themselves; especially in being Serious, solicitous and diligent in the matters of Religion, and their Soul: And when I consider, how busy men are about the World, and nimble in pursuit of their lusts, the little care they have of their Soul, and the concerns of their Salvation; how negligent they are in duty and attending of Ordinances, what little attention goes along with their hearing, and so small Meditation after it; I fear we may conclude that the great fault lies at your own door: Therefore; Good people, look to yourselves, bestir yourselves more in the affairs of Religion; and this will make your Pastors Sprighty, and animate them to be lively in praying for you, and Preaching to you: For dull people very much deadens and discourages a Gospel Minister, and it is very sad to be gathering good purpose every week for a careless people, that will scarce gather to hea● him, and if they come, they too much discover the Bias of their heart, which they have left behind them.  
I come now to the 〈◊〉 to wit● the subject matter of the A●●stle's writing 
〈◊〉 Brench  & preaching, to wit 〈…〉 concerning these things, which are the things of CHRIST, the things of Salvation, the great Concern of Souls, and the things of duty and the Kingdom of GOD; which things our LORD mentions. John 13. 17. If ●e know these things, etc. The Gospel and the great things thereof, mostly contradicted by the World.  
So that it is clearly observable, that the holy Apostles in their writings Doct 2d. and Preaching keepe● close to the Gospel; and this is the Theme that all our Sermons should aim at, to Preach CHRIST, and the Glad things through him; It is a subject of so great light, that i● it be well pursued, it will dissipate all the Clouds of error, ignorance, sin and unbelief; it is the life and Soul of our Religion; and it argues a great decay when Circumstances are pressed with so much violence, and the substance of faith and holiness, so much neglected: The Pharises in old turned superficial in their Religion, by their Zeal for their traditions; and it is to be feared that Christianity is much exanimated, by such a cry, for the outward part, with too great neglect of Charity, and the holiest of all; where only we can find the propiratory.  
And to be more particular, these things that we are mainly to insist upon, may be taken up in these particulars following.  

1. The necessaria, or things absoluty needful to Salvation.  
2ly The Prosecution of the great design of the Gospel.  
3ly. The Right informing of what we have been, what we are, and what we shall be.  
4ly. The consideration of the last things, so useful for the salvation of our souls, and so clearly manifested in the Gospel.   
First, the things absolutely necessary for salvation; as the true Knowledge of GOD, and the Mediator, and the operations of the Holy Ghost, in the illumination and sanctification of our hearts; These are the Revelation of that mystery, that was hid from ages, which refresh the Soul in the true knowledge of GOD, and directs our Spirit to worship him in spirit, and in tr●th; and to love, fear, ●bey and choose him, as our Portion, ●●●e and hereafter; w●ich overaweth the ●●ul with a reverential fear of his na●e and sha●tech abroad Divine love in our hear●s, whereby we are ve●●y much Ref●●sh●d with the Bread of Angels and Saint: And ●hen we look upon GOD, in the Mediator, we take him up aright: And by our applying of, and employing CHRIST in his Mediatorial office, we come to get Victory o● for Hell and Death; and by the commiting ourselves to the Guidance of the Spirit, it makes a spirit of Glory Rest upon us: It fills our hearts with a wondrous Jubilation and joy, and fi●●s us t● have our Conversation in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour. Phil. 3. 20.  
2ly, The prosecution of the great design of the Gospel; We are taught by the Appearance of the Grace of GOD, to deny all ungodliness and Worldly lusts, and to live Godly, Righteous●●, and Soberly in this present World, Ti● 2. 11. This is the right management o● our Knowledge and Christian Calling, whereby we are directed and assisted, to put in Practice our holy Religion.  
3ly, And it is very behoouful in our Christian Course, well to consider, what we have been, that we may be humbled; To consider what we are, that we may be Cautious, and Circumspect; And jabour to grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge to our LORD JESUS CHRIST; To answer our Gospel Education in all tke Relations and Turns, and Exigents of our Life: And what we shall be, is best known by,  
4ly, The consideration of the Novissima, or Last Things; That we entertain frequent Meditations of Death, that so we may be ready when GOD's time comes; To be wise to consider our latter End, and wisely to number up our Days; To Judge ourselves that we be not condemned at the Last Judgement; To consider H●ll, that we may put a Beacon over Tophet, to flee from it. And to recreate ourselves with the Prospect of Heaven to encourrage us, To make meet for that Inheritance, with the Saints in Light.  
N●w that all these things may be laid to Heart, entertained and improved in our Christian Life, I shall subjoin these Reasons following,  

1st. The Original of these things.  
2ly, These things contain our Right and Title to Glorv.  
And 3ly, They contain our Portion and Patrimony in HEAVEN.   
First, There Original, They are ● 〈◊〉, from above, They are wholly Div●ne, the Eternal Truth of the Eternal GOD; They are neither Humane Inventions, nor Traditions, but the ●●ictates of Eternal Reason; so Pure, so Excellent so True, and so Just, that they discover the Fountain from whence they flow: The Gospel than is a Divine Thing, every Truth thereof is a Ray of Eternal Light; and the Preaching of the ●ross of CHRIST, though to the blinded World, of no account, being to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; Yet is it to be Gloried in, by true Beleivers, as the Issue of Eternal Love, and the great product of Heavenly Council and Covenant; 'Tis wholly composed of Glories, discovers unto us the everlasting Love, Precious CHRIST, and Precious Promises, great Rewards, and an Eternal Crown.  
2ly, These Things contain our Title to Glory; Our Charter of Inheritance with the Saints, in Light; Which Composed according to the Terms of the Covenant of Grace; That GOD is our GOD, and we His People; Which Charter w● should understand, as being sealed with the Word a●d Oath of GOD: And upon our part, aught to be sealed with persevering Fidelity, so that we need not run to turn the leaves of our destiny, in the secret Council of GOD, but search the revealed Will, that our names, by Well doing, may appear to us, to be written in the Book of Life  
3ly, These things contain our Portion and Heavenly Patrimony; For, 1 Cor: 3. End, If we be CHRIST●, all is ours. If Genuine Christians; Then are we Sons, Heirs and Coheirs with CHRIST. Gal: 4. 7. The Unsearchable Riches of CHRIST are Thine: We should then often read our Charter, rejoice in our high Descent, improve our Privileges, as the Children of GOD, and labour to comprehend with all Saints, the dimensions of the Love of GOD, seek to have a heart to these things for they contain a great prize, if not put in the hand of a fool: These Things are the Light of a Christian and the Conscience of them, the Conduct of a Believer, and the Beleif of these Things, his ●rown.  
And as to the manner of the Apostle's bearing in these Things upon People, is by way of Remembrance; Gospel Ministe●● are subordinate Mediators, betwixt GOD and people. They are the LORD's R●● memb●ances, Isa: 62. 6. 7. For the People's Good, and People's Remembrances of their Duty to GOD, they must warn, admonish, Remember and inculcate Truth upon People's hearts, by frequent Admonition and Repetition, Phil: 3. 3● But this Remembering being so much mentioned, by the Apostle here, I shall refer to a particular discourse ere I conclude this subject, and so I come to the last par● ticular.  
Which containeth the Knowledge and Establishment of Christians, in the prime of Christianity, and clearly informeth us of the exact Instruction and stability of Primitive Christians, in the 
〈◊〉 3d.  Faith. The Prophets foretold this Light, that the People should be all taught of GOD. Which is clearly fulfilled under the Gospel, as you may see by comparing 2 Chap: of st. John. with 2, Chap of the Acts For in effect Ignorance is the greatest impediment of the Comfort and Duty of Religion, and a great Prognostic of a fatal and judicial stroke, it hindereth the Action of Religion, and the Pleasures of it, and putteth People in an Element, where Satan the prince of darkness, works, and hinders them from the Light and Liberty of the Children of GOD.   

Sermon III.  
The Expediency and usefulness of the Means, for the Advancement of Practical Religion: And the short while that Gospel Ministers, ca● be useful to the Church.  
I thi●k i● meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle, to remember you of these Things, Verse. 13.  
THIS Serious and Experienced Apostle, doth in this Verse vent unto us, the result of his Maturest thoughts, that he judged it expedient to use all laudable Means, for the serving of the Ends of the Gospel; And declares his fixed Resolution, to the Term of his Lives End; As long as he is in h●s Tabernacle so to do: Which affords to us these following Observes.  

1st. The Expediency, usefulness and Conveniency of all laudable and approved Means, for the Propagation of the Gospel.  
2ly, That the best of Men cannot more be useful to the Church, but during their Abode in this Tabernacle of the Body.   
As to the First, Ministers should Preach nothing but what is Expedient, Useful and tending to Edification; Doct. 1 And they should be at the pains to select and wile well what they say, that with the Preacher, they may search out fit and acceptable Words, Ecc: 12. 9 all things are lawful to me (sayeth St. Paul) but all things are not expedient: Every thing is good in its season, and every Pastor should learn of Christ to speak a word in season to souls: But I shall insist most upon the expediency of the use of means, for the Good of souls; For, GOD that hath ordained the end, hath appointed the means whereby to attain it.  
Now The great mean to know GOD and the Mediator, is by dropping in wholesome Doctrine into the Ears and hearts of People, yea, also all the subservient means for that end are to be observed, as the conviction of sin, the discovery of the evil of sin, the beauty of Grace and holiness sound and solid diretions for the Government of our life, and the discovery of that Glory that is to be Revealed, to animate Christians to a strict and Religious life: And to be more particular, I shall comprehend this, in these following heads.  

1. The necessity, 

of PREACHING    
2ly. The expediency,  
3ly. What things are not convenient to be insisted upon.  
4ly what things are most useful and expedient for the Good of souls.   
First, the necessity of Preaching the Gospel; How can they believe without a Preacher? And it pleased GOD by the Foolishness of Preaching to save Souls. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST (sayeth the Apostle) Rom: 4, 18, For it is the Power of GOD unto Salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. GOD can indeed work without means, and above them, because he is absolute Master of the hearts of men, but he hath chosen this way, hath sanctified it by his spirit in the Prophets, by his Son while in the Flesh and by his Apostles after CHRIST, which hath been that approved and wonderful engine, to convert the World, and to edify and build up the Church, whose Officers, since the Apostles, stand under an Apostolic precept, 2 Tim 4. 2: to preach the Word; so that they must be very selfconceited, proud and presumptuous that think it below them to hear the Word; For, although Men speak it, yet it is the Dictate of GOD Himself: Although they may use other means, as Reading and Conference, yet GOD hath commanded us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and many have found it experimentally true, that there is some latent Energy and Force in the Word preached, to which GOD hath promised his blessing.  
2ly. The expediency of Preaching. Some things are lawful but not expedient, but things that are necessary are always expedient, especially in Things that are absosolutely necessary to our Salvation, and the Expediency, Pheasableness, Convenience and Usefulness of Gospel Preaching, as it was the practice of CHRIST and His Apostles, so hath it been the constant Course of the Church in all Ages, from Moses to CHRIST the Word of the LORD did drop by Preaching, and from the 1st. to the 2 d: Advent of CHRIST it shall be so: For the Consideration of the Divine Special Presence in Church Assemblies, the Influence that an auditory may have upon the Preacher: and the sweet and gentle Voice in the Gospel, with all other Circumstances, makes it out to be very pheasable, and expedient to have the Gospel not only Read, but Explained and Applied every Lord's day; this except people be obdurate, sends in light to the Soul, warmeth the Heart with cheerful Affections, and produceth so much good, as to be a bond of Religion, so that we fear, if the Church doors be shu●, that the expediency and necessity of Preaching would too soon appear, and the people's carriage would but too sadly answer the Apostles Question, How should they believe without a Preacher? Then perhaps some who contemned the Church and public Preaching, may wander from one sea bank to another, to seek the Word of the LORD, and not find it. Amos 8. 12.  
3ly. What things are not convenient to be insisted upon in Preaching: And first, I humbly conceive, that it is not very fit to be too daring in our Doctrine anent the Council and Decrees of GOD, especially to conclude from them any thing that may encroatch upon the goodness and mercy of our Good and Gracious GOD, it is better with humble modesty to cry out, with St. Paul, O the depth, etc. 2ly, It is not very needful to insist much upon Circumstances, for such are but Time-purposes, and the least of Policy in order to Religion: And it had been well for this Church, if these had been much more mi●igat●● and mutilated, and true Gospel Truth, and Doctrine according to Godliness, had been more pursued. Neither 3ly, ●● it fit to cry out publicly against 〈◊〉, except there hath been lawful previous Admonition, for reflections may exasperate and embitter the heart, whereas the Gospel Spirit, is Tender, Me●k, Kindly, and Gentle; and it is much more  to be, a Barnabas, a son of Consolation, than Boanerges, Sons of Thunder. It is true, to cry aloud and not spare, may be sometimes seasonable, but a calm voice hath GOD in it, and may be much more profitable. 4ly. It's not very safe to be too peremptory, about marks, l●st we mistake the marks; The Spirit of GOD indeed gives marks in Scripture●, particularly, in the First Epistle of Saint John, but the Spirit of Man is fallible, as to the application.  
4ly. What we are to insist on; and that is to preach the whole Council of GOD, Acts 20. 29. Judas 20. etc. 2ly. To build up people in their holy Faith. 3ly. To wa●● every man in all Wisdom. 4ly. To preach up morality, whatever things are Just, Honest, and of good Report, Col. 1. 28 P●il. 4. 8. etc. to persuade people to these.  
2ly. I observe that the best of Men have their great Work Doctrine 2 ado to the good of the Church, while they are in this Tabernacle; Here's the time of ploughing and sowing, in order to our great harvest, We must work while it is called the day, for the night cometh wherein no man worketh, John 9 11. What ever our hand findeth to do, we must do it with our might, for there is no knowledge nor work in the grave, Ecl. 10. 9 The present time is the season of preaching, ●o day if he will hear his Voice, Ere long the Pastor's Mouth will be closed, as well as your Ears, GOD useth not to send a Seminary from the Dead, to preach the Gospel, the Living shall praise Him, and act for Him, for in this short Life all our Bussiness must be done in order to Eternity, the LORD doth not cause preach to the Dead, for, in the state of Separation our Bodily Organs are consumed, and the Soul is under its everlasting Sentence, it's therefore absolutely necessary that we ply our Work in time, with all Alacrity and Diligence.  
But this must be more particularly unfolded, by the consideration of these following heads. 

1. The great care that serious men should have to make use of the Season.  
2ly. Their great Diligence that they should manifest in their weighty Work.  
3ly. The Frailty and Brittleness of our mortal Life, our Soul is in a Tent or Tabernacle.  
4ly. The Reinforcement of the Remembrance upon this account.    
1. The great Care that Serious Men should have to make use of the Season. This is not the Work of Yesterday, for that is past and cannot be recalled, nor of to Morrow, for we know not what then may be Prov. 27: 1. Therefore we should not boast of it, for we know not what a Day may bring forth. But it is the Work of the Present 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Instant, which passeth as a Thought and will not abide Delays, and as we know not, if we shall preach another Day, so people know not how long the Voice may be behind them, saying This is the Way. But this they may know that it is the Voice of GOD, that calls them, and they know not how soon i● it may be silent, and the Heavenly Oracle give no more Response.  
2ly, The great diligence that Serious Men should manifest in their Weighty Work: Their Work is a Harvest, the Labourers should be busy, and though GOD doth not allow, that with too fast driving we put ourselves out of Breath, yet since the Work though very weighty is so pleasant and so necessary, and the exercise of the greatest Charity of the World, to do good to Souls; and since we have anointing Oil and the Aid of the Spirit to enable us, we should not be idle nor taken up with Trifles and vain things, and especially shun all worldly and sinful Distractions, that we may be well exercised in so good and necessary a Work.  
3ly. The frailty and Brittleness of our mortal life; Our life is both short and uncertain, we are Pilgrims on Earth and sojurn as all our Fathers have done, our Soul is in a tent, and our life is but Transient, ambulatory, and transitory, we are Pilgrims, Soldiers, strangers, and not at home, we have no continuing abode here; the Tabernacle and Tent may soon be loosed & our passing house fall about our ears: Which as it should prevent our taking our Rest on Earth, so should it make us busy, while we are in this Tabernacle and animate us in all our travels on earth, with our privilege that we shall come to a Temple, and have a House with GOD, Eternal in the Heavens.  
4ly. The Reinforcement of the Remembrance upon this account; the Apostle makes much use of this Word, for Ministers are GOD's mouth, they should admonish and incite People to duty; People should be warned; for they are secure, and become tuchy, when they are awakened, they are ready to say, Peace Peace, before sudden destruction Come. We should therefore seek supply to our Lamps in time, and to have our Wedding Garment in hand against the Bridegroom come; there be many things to give us Memento, and Ministers should never forget to give this warning, but labour to keep people on foot to Run their Race unto the End.   

Sermon IU.  
Of the Practical Knowledge of Death, and the Information and Warning that the LORD giveth some of His Favourites thereof.  
Knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle, Verse, 14.  
ALTHOUGH (no doubt) this Holy and Reverend Father, had his Soul still upon readiness to render it up on his Master's Call, with all Cheerfulness; And though he was animated to Duty by an extraordinary Help of the Spirit; Yet the Knowledge, he was shortly to put off his Tabernacle, did serve as a motive in him, to excite him in his holy Work: As his Master before him, John, 9 4. 2 Wherein we may Consider. 1st, His Resolution, & Practical Knowledge of his approaching dissolution. 2ly, His favourable Representation of Death, a putting off this Tabernacle, and giving the Soul more room to commerce with GOD. 3ly, His more than ordinary Information of this his Deseace.  
As to the First, we may observe, that the Practical Knowledge of Death serves much to make serious Doct. 1 Men well Employed: All men know they must die, but few consider and improve it: Which maketh Moses in the Name of the LORD so pathetically, cry out, O that they were wise to consider their latter End, Deut. 32. 26. And Jeremiah so sadly to lament, That Jerusalem was taken away, because she knew not her last end: The best of Men have laid this to Heart, I have run, sayeth St. Paul. Cor: 9 26. For,  
Death puts a Period to all Business, Eccles: 9 10. Death puts us, ab agendis, a Judgement immediately follows, where account must be given of our Stewartship: Who is then that faithful Servant, that when the LORD cometh shall find so doing? and busy about his work: Do not say, the LORD delayeth his coming, let not GOD's Patience make thee procrastinate, but be the more busy, that thou hast a day to labour in. 2ly. If thy Work be imperfect and not done, it will remain undone for ever, and except Christ stand for thee, thou will enter imperfect to ternity. It is dangerous to sleep our time, or trifle it, but rather if thou hast loitered, double thy diligence.  
This practical knowledge of Death concerns all Men; Omnes Tangit, from the Court to the Country, from the Palace to the Cottage; Death hath an Universal Empire over all Ranks, Sexes & Ages; Goodness, Greatness, Riches, and the Greatest power and strength cannot prevent it, bribe it, nor oppose it: It is the Messenger of the Great King. It cannot be deforced: disce mori, learn to die, is a great lesson, it is a great principle in Practical Religion, as nosce teipsum, to know thyself is necessary: Death comes upon many with a surprise and unaware, it creeps on, Grey hares are here and there on us ere we advert: There are some inconsiderate, and lays it not to heart; Some are dead and drowned in interest, and sing a Requiem, while perhaps immediately their Soul may be taken from them: Some put off the day of Death, and many run to another extreme, and hasten their Death by sensuality, and look upon it as fatality, and so grow careless. Some are so swelled with the World, that they can not here mement● fili; but the old World, Sodom, Belshazer, the Rich Glutton, Her●● Annanias and Saphira, and others are Beaco● to thee, to guard against precipices, a●● learn thee to be considerate, practically t● think upon thy latter End.  
And yet further this practical knowledge of Death is very useful to advance practical Religion.  

1st. Guarding against security, and surprise:  
2ly. Stirring up men to ply their work in time well.  
3ly. To dissarm of its Sting and dreadour.  
4ly. To prepare us for our decease.   
Fitst, This practical knowledge of Death, saves us from the greatest of evils, and that is security and surprise, in a matter of such a consequence, as passing to our final Doom; Security is the great Temptation: And it produceth most dierful effects, as the Old World, and Worldly men, set forth by Christ in the case of Dives, doth declare: It lays the hold open to the enemy, and takes the man off the Stage of time, ere he hath done any good in it. Sudden destruction follows such as cry Peace; It hath made tall Cedars fall: But to be awake and to be armed, let 〈◊〉 not fix our Repose upon Earth whe● it cannot be had, for the Voice 〈◊〉 GOD sayeth, Arise, this is not thy R●● And to be thus prepared, delivers us fro● the dreadour of Death: For, how dreadful is Death to the Man at ease? said th● son of Sirrah.  
2ly, The practical knowledge of Death, cannot but make any Serious Man to ply his Work in time; it will not suffer him to delay and put off; Our Life is but a Vapour and very uncertain, and therefore, we should do our Work now or never, we should neither boast of to morrow, nor put of till to morrow; but do the Work of the Day: Accidents and Incident troubles and diseases may soon lay us by, by the blast of the Wrath of GOD; For, all men are but Grass, etc. Isa. 40. 6.  
3ly, To dissarm Death of its sting and dreadour; the most of men live under the bondage of the fear of Death, the most of their time: And certainly, to have the practical knowledge of it, would make the consideration of Death, to be easy and familiar to us; When we can say, with Job, I know that thou will bring me to death. And Death gathers a great and venomous sting, if we labour not to re● move sin, and interest ourselves in the Death of Christ, and then we may triumph with St. Paul, O death where is thy ●ting?  
4ly, This practical Knowledge, serves to prepare us for our death and to make us ready to render up our Soul, that we may expire in the Arms of Christ, and with old Simeon, have Christ in our Arms, and therefore desire to departed in Peace: And this practical Knowledge, serves much to make us lead a good Life, which is the only way to a happy Death.  
Let this then learn all Christians, (especially Gospel Ministers) to study this practical Knowledge of Death, 
Appius:  which made St. chrysostom say, Offeramus DEO voluntarie quod ●ro debito debemur reddere, give that freely to GOD which we own in Debt, to Him: Ministers of the Gospel should be mortified, their Life should preach Mortification, they have a great account to make at Death, and therefore by their Well doing should undo it. There are no men who have more need of Wisdom than they, and it is the greatest Wisdom to consider our Latter End.  
2ly, The favourable Representations the Apostle here gives of Death; a putti●● off or laying down this Tabernacle, Where observe, That Death is not dreadful to the Godly; Nature Doct: 2d. may shrink, but Faith preva●●● Death is but a long sleep, the Grave a do●● mitory, it is but a taking up of our Tent, and a passing to our Father's House, leaveing our Pilgrimage to possess our Inheritance: Death is very kindly to a well resolved Christian, it puts our Body in a Chamber, gives us a Covert from the storm, Isa: 26. 20. In which state of Separation, we have no more sense to feel than the Dust we lie amongst, the irksomeness is only in our Apprehension: It is the common fate of all Mortals. We cannot tell how we did grow in the Womb, much less how we shall rot in the Grave: The Body was an Instrument of sin, it must be corrupted, and in a manner refined in the Grave, to rise incorruptible at the Resurrection.  
Let us then pay the debt of nature freely; willingly, and with a sort of Holy Faith concur with GOD, and lay down our Tabernacle with Joy, and render up our Soul with Delight, that having our Work done and our Loins girt up, we may mount Nebo with Moses, and flee to Heaven with Elijah.  
3dly. Come I now to consider, how the Lord did show this Apostle of his Death: Some makes this refer to the time of his Death, some to the manner of it, as John 21. 16. Thou shalt follow me hereafter, etc. saith Christ to him: I shall not be very positive in determining, providing that this one general be observed, that the Term of our Life is uncertain; we know we must die, but when, how, or where, is only known to God; there is no Oracle but that of God which can clear us; and Horoscops, as they are too daring; in meddling with the secret things of God, & as they are dangerous, so are they frequently ●a●al, and leaves the Curious Enquirer as Wise as he was:  
Yet it may be observed, That some Favourites have much more of Doct. 3d. GOD'S Mind in this matter, than the generality of Men. We find Moses and A●r●n, and the famous 〈…〉 the●● Pass from their Master, and did lie down and die; and the Sons of the Prophets knew, and said to Elisha, Knowest thou not that God will take away thy Master this day? And God doth wonderfully insinuate his Will in this by Dreams and Visions in th● Night.  
O than labour to do thy work, and then thou has no more ado but to die Die daily and this will fit thee for thy da●● and since thou knows not the hour, wat●● till thou get thy dying Call.   

Sermon V.  
Of the Endeavours Faithful Ministers have to make their Labours useful to People, after their Decease, and to fix such Monuments as may serve after. Generations● Ver. 15. Moreover, etc.  
O Fall the Offices and Works in the World, the Work of the Ministry is most for Eternity, it's all Divine, it came from Heaven, and tends thither; so that a Gospel Minister, according to his Measure, may say with St. Paul, I received it not from Man. It's the Eternal Word which they Preach; the Sonls to whom they Preach are Immortal, and the Result of it, tends to Eternal Life. The Painter Appelles placed an imaginary fame in a curious Draught; and many for the Apprehension of a Fame make themselves infamous; as Alexander was called Totius Orbis Praedo: But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever, 1 Pet. 1. 25. which by the Gospel is Preached unto you.  
Many m●ns Reputation dies here, their Names ●ot: Bu●●aithful Preaching never dies, God has a Register of it, it'● received in the Heavens, impressed upon the Hearts of Converts, thereby is a living Monument erected, in the Lives of Men. Ye are our Epistle (says St. Paul) to the Corninthians; and though Faithful Ministers do not succeed; yet their Reward is with their GOD, and their Euge waits them in Heaven, Well done thou good and Faithful Servant.  
More particularly, let us consider the parts of this Text in these particulars, 

1. The Endeavours of this Faithful Minister.  
2. The extent of his Endeavours, even after his Decease.  
3. The Inculcating the Things of the Gospel, so as they may take Impression by way of Remembrance upon the Hearts of Men in all Ages.    
First, The Endeavours of this faithful Minister: And it teache●h us of this sacred employment, to follow this Copy, to contribute our best Endeavems for the good of Souls: This is all that man can do, Paul can but Plant and Apollo water, but GOD gives the increass: And though our endeavours be frustrate, yet if we do our duty, our judgement is with the LORD: We are but dispensers of the means of Grace. It is the LORD that giveth Grace, and we should be earnest with people, not to receive the Grace of GOD in vain, or that dispensation, wherein the Grace of God is given, that is, the Preaching the Gospel of CHRIST.  
We should contribute our outmost endeavours; for the work is great, the opposition strong: And since we have Received this Ministry, let us not faint our Blessed Saviour in his Ministerial Office was frustrate, How often would I have gathered thee, sayeth he to Jerusalem, and ●e would not? ●et us do our duty then, and commit the Event to GOD.  
2ly. The Extent of his Endeavours even after his Decease: A Faithful Mininister has Ministerial Affections for the Glory of GOD, and the good of the Church they cannot confine their wishes to the little compass of a short time, they expatiate in their desires, and if it were possible, they could tarry while CHRIST come (as it was groundlessly supposed by the Beloved Disciple.) They would be glad to improve the opportunity.  
But to consider more particularly the import of this his endeavour, it is certain, as he doth not here intent in a Ghostly way to preach to them after his decease, for GOD useth not to send to the Living from the Dead, the dispensation of the Gospel is now, to Day if ye will hear his Voice; so is it to be understood of his Actions in time, as Abel though dead yet speaketh, Moses his Word yet judgeth, and the Hand Writings of Ordinances yet stand, while they be cancelled: Thus CHRIST's Word shall Judge Men at the Great Day, and good Works shall have their Approbation then; And the Woman's anointing of our Saviour speaketh to every Generation, Mat: 25, 42, 43, Wherever This Gospel is preached; and the whole Cloud of Witnesses, have Monuments erected for them in the Word of GOD: And for this Apostle, besides his writing of some part of Canonic Scripture, which endureth for ever, he was an extraordinary person in his Call, in his Calling, in his miracles, in his Actions, and in his sufferings for CHRIST; all which serve to preach after his decease; which others in their measure also do.  
So that hence it may be observed, that Faithful Ministers of the Gospel, by their Doct. 1 Life and labours remains famous living Monuments after their Decease. Their works follow them, and also they leave impression behind them, it is a glory to do well in our Office, and die a faithful Stewart of the Mystery of GOD; to save our own Souls and them that hear us, to make after Generations bless us, Fame indeed should not be our design, for that may savour of Pride and Vanity; But the work, if good, will praise thee in the gate.  
O then let us act for Eternity, Preach as we shall give an 
Application.  account: labour to do well, and it shall not be forgotten; For to win a Soul is a great prize, and to help People's Faith and to follow them with wholesome Doctrine, that they may follow after Peace and Holiness, is a great duty; All true Holiness is from GOD, and he hath said, honorantes me honorabo; I●le honour them, that honour Me, 1 Sam. 4. 5. And the mercy of doing good, in our time, and in the Church, as it shall meet us in another World, so may it sweeten all the difficuldifficulties we meet with in the way of our duty in this.  
But the third thing, to wit, the inculcating the things of the Gospel, so as they may take impression, by way of Remem● branch upon the hearts of men in all Ages, will more clearly unfold this duty of a Gospel Minister, to help people to a well improved Remembrance: The Apostle much insists upon the word Remembrance, and every faithful Minister, and Particularly one who desires to be found faithful, shall labour to bring these things to people's Remembrance, both in this life, and after it, and so to leave his Flock, the most lasting legacy.  
It is clearly then observable, that it is a great part of Gospel Ministers duty Doct. 2 to help people's minds to retain and improve Gospel truths for their Salvation. To Preach these things, Phil: 4. 9 over and over again, to show them how much a sanctified memory of these things tends to their faith and happiness. For the mind of man is the Spirit within him, that is, the Candle of the LORD; The great Repository of holy truth: And makes Religious actings flow from a solid understanding, which influenceth the will freely to work and enlargeth the affections to run with delight in the ways of GOD.  
Now to be more particular in this, I shall desire you to consider.  

1st. Facultas Retinens, the mind Retaining.  
2ly Res retenta, the thing remembered.  
3ly. The help a faithful Minister gives to this Holy art of Remembering.  
4ly. People's improvement by right remembering.   
First, Facultas Retinens, the mind retaining. It may be considered that there is first a natural memory whereby some have said Nescio quid sit oblivisci, I know not what it is to forget: which is most fresh in youth, and turns Crazy in old age: others again are so dull in their mind, or rather careless, that their memory is like a Sieve which letteth Clean Water pass through but Retaineth Dregs, of such it may be said, that they wots not what it is to Remember. 2ly. There is an artificial memory much helped by Reading, and frequent study and Meditation. 3ly. There is a Religious memory wrought by the Spirit of GOD, who brings these things to Ou● Remembrance; The labour of faithful Ministers, the short and clear digest of our Holy Faith, and Gospel design as to good works, frequent Prayer for a Blessing upon our pains, and to digest these things well in our mind, so that they may take impression never to be obliterated.  
2ly. Res Retenta, the thing Remembered; which is the things of GOD, of CHRIST, and the Truths of the Gospel, the concerns of the Soul, and what is conducive to advance them.  
The first and second relates to the principles of our Religion; The third and fourth concerneth people as to their practice of these things: First, then let it be your care to know GOD and the Gospel, which if thou hast had any ear to hear, and heart to understand, thou may be a great proficient: But, alas! that may be said to many for which the Apostle reproveth the Hebrews, Heb. 5. 12. And secondly, If people would walk according to the Light they have, they might attain to the end of their Faith, which is the Salvation of their Souls: And this Practice would give them the more facility, to do the thing they know.  
3ly. The help of the Remembrances which consists in his Prayers, and patience that he weary not in his work, that he in● struck and warn every man, that he preach sound Doctrine, and observe the form of sound words, that he press and propagate the Essence of Religion, and do not please himself much with circumstances, and time debates; and that which the most of our people are not concerned in, And never a white the better, though they be: but the necessary things are our great instructions, from our Great Master, and to press these 
Qui populariter docet optime docet.  so popularly, as Luther said most profitably: And we must be intent upon our work; and press people to cooperate with GOD and us, and be busy themselves, attend the ordinances, and using the means; let Ministers also Rule well their own Life, that it may correspond with their Doctrine, and follow the steps of Holy Men, whose ashes seem yet to exhale from their Tombs, a sweet Savour; which makes their memory for ever Blessed, And if we put the Brethren in mind, of these things we shall be good Ministers.  
4ly, People's improvement by right Remembering. Memoria excolendo augetur. Culture and Industrie will make a barren ground Fertile; Improve well the many Remembrances thou gets from the Word, and that Monument Christ built for Himself by the Sacrament, remember the novissima, the last things, the prima, media & ultima, to wit, thy Conversion, Progress, and Perfection therein; Consider what thou hast been, what thou art, and what thou shall be; Be not a forgetful hearer, consider the Beacon set up in the Scripture a● 'gainst sin: Remember Lot's Wife, Jam: 1. 22. And the Encouragement of Virtue in the practice of Holy Men and Women; keep a Diary as to thy time, have thy Memorandum, and labour still, by remembering, to practice and do.   

Sermon VI.  
Concerning the Truth and Excellency of our Holy Religion, and the infallible Proofs thereof, with the Duty of such as own it.  
For we have no● followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known upto you the Power and Coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, etc. Verse, 16.  
THIS is the Base and Found of all Religion; Which as it Convinces Men to Embrace it, so doth it invite them to the Practice of it: And as this Apostle was very Competent to give his Sentiments of the Truth and Power of this Holy Religion, being called by Power, enlightened by Knowledge, and having seen a Demonstration of it in the Oracles and Miracles of his Master: So doth he direct Gospel Ministers to Inculcate upon their People, the Truth and Power of the Christian Religion, that every faithful Pastor may have the Occasion to attract People to the Obedience o● the Faith, and in their measure to say unto them, We preach not unto you vain and frivolous things, but the Magnalia Veritatis, the great Things of Truth: And it cannot but be great Satisfaction to a Gospel Minister, that he can refresh his mind, as well as satisfy the People, that he hath Preached nothing to them, but the Truth of GOD. For, when the account of the Stewartship is called for, it will afford but small Peace to the Pastor, to reflect, that he hath been taken up with ventilations of Controversy, Circumstances and External Polity of the Church; that he hath been biguit about his beloved Sect, that he hath Pharisaically insisted upon Gerimonies, and much neglected the Life and Power of the Truth of GOD.  
Now more particularly, to take up the Scope and Parts of this Text, I shall reduce it to these Points following,  

1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel is not a eunningly devised Fable, but the Infallible Truth of God.  
2. That though Christ and the Gospel came to the Eye of the World in Weakness, yet to a Right Discerner His coming was with Great Power and Majesty.  
3. As the coming of Christ is very evident by many infallible Proofs, so is it banded down to us, and confirmed by Eye-witnesses.   
First, That the Doctrine of the Gospel is not a cunningly devised Doct. 1 Fable, but the infallible Truth of GOD. It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all Acceptance, 2 Tin: 2. 1●. Nor a cunning fable and a subtle contrivance, to impose upon and deceive the World, No, ●ut let GOD be True, and all men liars.  
First, Then, It is no cunningly devised fable, (as the Apostle says here) but it is the Contrivance of the Wise Council of GOD, transacted in Heaven and given to Men as their Guide and Comfort, it is the Emanation of the Love and Good, Will of GOD to Man, through a Mediator, Have I not written unto thee, Things excellent, that thou mayest know the Words of Truth? Says GOD by Solomon. It is as true as CHRIST Himself, and He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. If He Himself was really upon Earth, which is evident as a Demonstration, and the most verified Matter of Fact that ever was in the World, not done in a Corner or Clancularly, but in the View of the sun and the sight of friends and foes. For He did more Miracles for the Confirmation of His Doctrine, and the discovering of His Person than ever was d●ne before Him; miracles of Mercy so great and stupendious, that had not the Ancient People, been prejudged at his Doctrine, and the Humility of His Person, and the fear of the Rulers; All Jury had gone after him. And further, the influence of his Doctrine had upon the Hearts of Men, and the great Demonstration of his being the Messiah, and the Son of GOD, by His Resurrection from the Dead, And the wonderful effects that the Preaching of the Cross of Christ, had upon Jew and Gentile: All these writ the Verity of our Religion with a Beam of the Sun, that the Gospel cannot be hid but to such as are lost. Moreover, If we consider the exact Impletion of the Prophecies concerning him, even unto the least circumstance of his Incarnation, Con●●●tion, Birth, Breeding, Life, Death and Resurrection; We have an Accumulation of Proofs, for the Verity of the Christian Religion, and the Founder of it: for if we consider its Original, the Purity of its Precepts, the Glory of its design, the Comfort of its promises; and the Divinity of its Proposals; We may acquiesce here, and confess its Truth and Verity: And if we shall confront it with other Religions, of the Jews, which was but temporary of the Heathens, which was but Vanity, of the Mabumitants which is a devilish delusion, made up of lies and impossibilities; We shall find that the Spirit of Christianity remains in the bosom of Glory, always Holy, Victorious, and Triumphant over impiety, and confirmed by a cloud of Witnesses, sealed by the blood of millions of Martyls, approved by General Councils, and the Universal Consent of the Catholic Church, and clearly demonstrated to be of GOD and for GOD; that a Christian may upon good Ground say, sit anima mea cum Christiani●, Let my Soul be with the Christians.  
But there is so much said to this purpose, that I cannot add, but to resume the Doctrine of the Apostle, That Christianity is not fabulous, but infallible Truth.  
And because there are so many Pretenders to True and Holy Religion, and the different Sentiments of the Papal and Protestant Church: And even Differences among themselves, I hope I shall not di gress from the Paths of T●u●, to assert that, True Protestanis●n in true Christianity; It being the very Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles, and the purest and primitive times of the Church: And having made Sucession from the Spurious Doctrine of the degenerate Church of Rome: And it may be safely said that the Trash of its impure Doctrine, its lying Wonders and Legends, doth expose that Church to the Impious and Blasphemous Expression of one of its Popes, who said, Quantum nob●● prodest haec fabula Christi? What avail is that Fable of Christ to us?  
And as the Truth of Christianity is fully demonstrated, so in the next place are we to consider The Power wherewith the coming of Christ was attended: It would seem from Isaiah 53. That he came in weakness; and so did the Jewish and Heathen World look upon him: But they took that measures from outward Appearance, and did not consider the Virtue that was in him, as God, and God man; which made his Manger, more glorious to the Eye of Faith, than a Palace or Bed of State; he was Crucified through Weakness, yet conceals His Power, for Who might abide the Day of his first coming, Mal. 3. 2. He was Glorious in his Abaseours, Honourable in his Humiliation, and was the King of Glory's Son, in his Pilgrimage; He was a Lamb in his Meekness, but a Lion in his Power: He came to dash the dark Kingdom, to destroy the Works of the Devil, and to bring Life and Immortality to Light, by his Gospel; and to cast down the Prince of this World, to deliver his People from Bondage, and to lead Captivity Captive, to tread Satan under our Feet, to discover the Evil of Sin, and the Beauty of Holiness: And this he did by a Seraphic and Angelical Purity, yet in a wondrous Condescension and Familiarity, attended with such Glorious Miracles, famous Monuments, & powerful Doctrine; With Authority, and not as the Scribes; That we shall see his Glories Conspicuous under the Veil of flesh; and all the Umbrage of his Life served to raise his Glory to a higher pitchy as the Sun is more conspicuous after a cloud. So that it is very evident and observable, That Christ's first coming was with Power, Doct. 2 and the Doctrine he propagate is the Power of God to Salvation: Let his People therefore be willing in the day of his Power. And learn to be swayed with the right Sceptre of this Kingdom. If a Foelix tremble before a Prisoner in a Chain! if King Agrippa be almost persuaded to be a Christian● Let us learn to give our Necks to his Powerful, though Easy yoke: Lest he dash us i● pieces, when there is none to deliver: Let us not stumble with the Jew, nor count it foolishness, with the Greek, but believe it, and we shall behold Christ the Power of God● and the Arm of God.  
Although there be no need of further Witnesses, yet the more to confirm us of the Truth and Power of the Gospel. We have this Apostle and others with him is, Oculati Testes of CHRIST's Majesty, famous and unanimous in their Testimony, who could say, vincit Veritas, Vidi, Scivi & audivi. Truth prevails, and has the Testimony of GOD, and Man, of Angels and Saints, Prophets and Apostles, Martyrs and Confessors; And every One that hath received this Testimony, hath put t●o their Seal that GOD is True.  
The grea● improvement that 
Improv:  I shall make of this whole purpose, is, that the Character of our life ccrrespond with the truth and Reality of our Religion; that is, that we be Ethically of true and morally true in the practice of our holy Profession; that we be not painted formal and false, as to a real way; bus suitable to the excellent principles of our holy faith: if ye abide in my word (says CHRIST) ye are my Disciples indeed, Joh. 8 3. It is not a name of a Christian, but the truth of Christianity, that approves us to GOD. Many have a name, not only general, as Christians, but as more eminent professors, I say, a name, that they are living, when dead: Rev: 3. 1. many flatter themselves in a Profession, and Church Privilege, even into the end, and will say, have we not eaten and drunken in thy presence? hast thou not taught in our streets? To whom CHRIST will say, depart from me, etc. I never owned nor approved you as mine. Many have CHRIST in their mouth, and can say, LORD, LORD, but do not the works that he bids them: This was a sad disease in the Ancient Church, for the Circumcised, l ived as the uncircumcised; Moab, Ammon, and Amalek were uncircumcised, and the house of Israel uncircumcised in their heart. This the Prophets cried out against, reproving people that boasted of the Temple. Jer: 8. And yet lived in villainy: But GOD and his Temple are not sanctu arie to profanity; and such boastings are so fan from excusing, that they aggravate People's faults; and in effect GOD says to the Wicked, what hast thou to do, to declare my statues? It was so in the times of our Saviour, and the Apostles; and in the beginning of Christianity, the filthy Gnostics were great boasters of knowledged and privileges; and profanity came to such a height, that Irreligion became to be patronised by false Prophets; As the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, Jezeb●l and others; and this Spirit of lies was justly poured out upon many, for not suitable to their holy principles, and by their life● denying obedience to the faith. And alas! If we descend to the dregs of time. we shall find many named Christians, Unchristian and Antichristian in their way: For such is now the contempt of the Gospel, the unsuitable walking to it, the despising of Holy things, as the LORDS Ministers Ordinances and day: such is the neglect of all thing that looks like duty to GOD, such is the heathenishness of families, for want of calling on the name of GOD, and such horrid immoralities among these, called Christians; that we may without breach of Charity, now say that a great part of the Christian World hath as to their practice, repea●ed th●t Blasphemous saying, that GOD hath now forsaken the Earth. Ez: 9 9  
It's now then very worthy of our while to consider better of the Character of a true Christian, that people be not fostered in their folly in boasting of a name, without the true life of Religion.  
This has been much declamed against by Pens and Pulpits, but alas! People delight themselves in their delusions, and for all that is said and done, content themselves to be nominal, not real christians. I am told that there is a little piece done by a foreign Divine in Latin, (Arnd: de vero Christianismo) which gives great clearness as to this and which perhaps, if I had seen, might have saved my labour, as to any thing that I can say on this purpose: But the sad times, and the corrupt manners of men stir me up to contribute my little mite, to hold in, the almost expiring life of practical Religion; and this shall be done in considering these purposes following;  

1st, That the Christian walk suitably to the discovery of the Principles of his Religion.  
2ly. That he walk suitably to the full digest of the rule, GOD has given him to guide his life by.  
3ly, That he answer the Gospel Spirit and Design.  
4ly, That he knit his Life suitably to the whole Chain of Graces, Virtues and Duties.  
5ly, That he answer the Means and Institutions of GOD, in his Word and Sacraments.  
6ly, That he advance to Perfection, in the Heavenly Exercise of a higher Pitch of Grace.  
7ly, That he suit that great Hope set before him of the Crown of Glory.  
And 8ly, That he be well prepared for a Dimission, from Time to Eternity.   
And to clear the plain path of these, to a Christian, in all the Stages of his Life: It would be considered. First, That the Seed and Habits of Grace, are infused in our first Conversion. 2ly, That Grace proceedeth gradually. 3ly, That Grace groweth and goeth along with the conscionable use of the Means.  
First, That the Seed and Herbs of Grace are infused together as our first Conversion; which is called by St. John, the Seed of GOD remaining in us, and by St. Paul, the Life of GOD, Gal: 2. 20. Or the Divine Nature, whereof Believers do partake; as St. Peter says, 2 Pet: 1. 4. For, a new born Child, if it want Life, cannot be capable of the Operations thereof: No more can a new Convert, exercise Grace without the principle of Life. Now, this new principle of Life in such as are born again, consists not of one, but of all Graces, and the power and faculty of gracious Operations flows from t●at Life, that animats all the faculties of the Soul: So that certainly there is more than the influence of an external Suasion, from the Word, in regard it is but a dead Letter, till it be animated with the Spirit of Life. And 2ly, It is no l●●s clear, That Grace proceeds by degrees, from Childhood to Manhood, thus we are exhorted to grow in Grace and Knowledge. 3ly, That Grace groweth, and goeth along with the Conscionable use of the Means; For if our Vineyard be not dressed and well manured, it will grow wild and full of weeds: It is to be confessed, that carelessness and the power of temptation may produce bad fruit, even in a Believer for a time; But be that is born and begotten of GOD, si●●eth not finally, but keepeth himself, and the wicked one toucheth him not, Joh: 5. 4.  
Having now premised these things for clearing, I proceed to handle the several Ranks of Christians, in the 8 forementioned Particulars. First then. That the Christian walk suitably to the discovery of the Principles of his Religion: Which is so clearly manifested in the Gospel Dispensation, especially in these four particulars following,  

1 saint. The Knowledge of ourselves, and our sinful misery by nature: Which calls for Humility, Reformation, and a new Life.  
2ly, As to the Revelation of GOD, whose Essence indeed is incomprehensible by mortals, yet is so clearly discovered, by Christ who dwelleth in the bosom of the Father, and hath revealled H●m unto us, that beside His incommunicable Attributes, of Immensitle, Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence, be is discovered to be so amiable in His Purity, Holiness, Goodness, Mercy and Truth, etc. that the Rational Soul cannot but love, choice, and embrace Him.  
3ly. As to the discovery of the Mediator.  
And 4ly, The clear Path Wa● to Happiness, so fully discovered by Jesus Christ, which calls for Faith and Obedience, and the embracing of Christ in His threefold Office.   
Secondly, That be walk suitably to the full D●gest of the Rule which GOD has given him, to guide his Life: The Law of the LORD is Perfect & so fully cleared from the false glosses of the Pharisees, by Christ in His Sermon upon the Mount; That now in the times of this Light, no man can pretend ignorance of the Rule, but either he that is negligent or prejudged at it: 'Tis true, the best cannot reach it in its Spirituality and Extent; But yet, a sincere Christian may and should come the length of Having a respect to all the Commandments, Psal: 119. 29. and the hatred of every false way  
3ly. That he answer the Gospel Spirit and Design. This is a great property of a Christian, to know what Spirit he is of, and that he close with the Gospel, in its Holy Design, not only to seek Salvation by Christ, but Sanctification; and to walk in the Way, that leads to Salvation: And this calls for Sincerity, Humility, Patience, and self denial, etc. And such a temper of spirit as suits its Design, and the heavenliness of its Author.  
4ly, That he knit his Life suitably to the whole Chain of Graces, Virtues and Duties: To be a Christian is a great Character, and requires a perfect exactness, not to live after the flesh but after the Spirit, Rom: 8. 1. Not to work the works of the flesh, but to Crucify it, with the lusts and affections thereof: and to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit, Gal: 5. 18. Which calls for the exercise of Graces, as we are called and related.  
5ly. That be answer the Means and Institutions of GOD, in His Word and Sacraments: He is a too high towering Christian, that neglects: the Means and Ordinances, Since the LORD did institute them, for excellent Ends, to propagate and perfect practical Religion. This calls for a meek Submission to the LORDS appointment, especially in the right improvement of the Word and sacraments, answering our cognizance, and having, with the Apostles, A fellowship with the Father and the Son.  
6ly, That he advance to perfection, in the 〈◊〉 exercise of a higher Pitch of Grace. Grace is of a growing nature; all means and ordinances are for the advancement thereof; true life cannot lurk, but will send forth emanations and exercises: And although we should not co●nt ourselves to have apprehended, Phil. 3. 13. Yet should we follow fast towards the prize of the high Calling. And this is very much evidenced in ourselves denyat● mottification victory over the World by saith, and our affections more sublime, than ●●put sue after the things of this world; Col. 3. 3. For the conversation of 〈◊〉 is in Heaven Phil. 3. 2. The true Christian then after many labours, tenrations, eclipses, and difficulty comes to be experienced, and now, as a proficient, and an expert Soul●●●, ri●teth to a higher 〈◊〉 of Grace, and Virtue: And this calls for a Heavenly elevated mind and a faith that will make us steady and faithful unto Death.  
7ly. That be suit that Great hope set before him of the Grown of Glory. This ●●●●tily animals a Christian, and carried him through difficulties, it fixeth him in ●●●pests, as an Anchor upon the Rock, i● sanctifies and saves the Christian; We are saved by hope, Rom 8. 24. (said St. Paul it helps us much in the way to Salvation. and whoever hath this hope in him ●●●fies himself as CHRIST i● pure, this calls for courage Resolution, confidence and patience, and through the Blessing of GOD expelleth that dreadful disease of 〈◊〉 dence and despair.  
8ly. That he be well prepared for a dimission from time to Eternity: It's happy for us, that GOD find us at our work, that the Lions, of our Mind be gir● up, that we be waiting our 〈◊〉 call shall our accounts be cleared, and our Soul and our Heart in a humble way, be full of Joy and Peace, with a ●lerophorv: or a full assurance of faith, that our eyes be closed upon the World & open to Heaven; That we have CHRIST in our hearts, & then we may say ●une dimittas, now: let thy servant dep●● in peace: This calls for a fixed preparation for Death, Judgement, and 〈◊〉 clear Conscience, a Willingness, and with submission and entire Resignation, A desire to be with CHRIST, which is best of all.  
I shall conclude then in lotting you know that the great Mean, to state you a true Christian, is Action, and the exercise of your Religion. I could have enlarged and added many other things, but that deserves a particular Treatise. And as for motive to persuade thee to be a true Christian, I shall add no more, but that you improve your Faith, look to your Claim, and by the Eyes of Faith, look to the splendour of that Crown, prepared for a true Christian, which ye shall wear with CHRIST, World without End. AMEN.   
The End.