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1. That we should befides, our folemn prayers, fend up frequent, mental, ejaculatory prayers unto the Lord for his Grace, help, and affift

ance.

2. That every night we should retire, and reflect upon all our actions, and whole behavi- . our in the day paft, and fo fet all at rights between God and our fouls before we go to fleep.

And because, whoever defires to grow in Knowledge and Grace, must confcientiously make ufe of, and improve the means of Grace that God affords him, therefore in the Sixth Chapter I

treat,

1. Of the careful obfervation of the Lords day. Shewing why we should obferve it, and how. For my part I never faw true Religion and the power of Godlineffe thrive in any perfon, family, er Parish, where the religious and confcientious obfervance of that day was neglected.

2. Concerning hearing the Word, where directions are given;

1. How we are to prepare our felves before we go to hear.

7. How we are to behave our felves in time' of hearing.

3. What we are to do after we have heard. And oh that I might prevail with you to read thefe Directions often (especially on Saturday-nights)

that

that fo you might come prepared. The great reafon of the unprofitableneffe of preaching, and that Sermons do no more good, is, because people come without preparation.

3. Seeing that Heavenly duty of finging Pfalms and lifting up the praises of the moft High, now fome question'd (as indeed what is not that tends to Gods Glory and mans good?) I purpofely handle that fabject, and prove it to be a duty under the Gospel, answer the Objections againft it, and give fome Directions for the right performing of it.

4. Forafmuch as Chriftians might exceedingly benefit one another by Religious conference; thereby warming and enlivening one another, and provoking one another to love and to good works,

In the next place I speak of that duty, and fet down fome Rules concerning it.

Lastly, Because without meditation 'tis not to be expected the Word fhould do much good, nor that the foul fhould ever thrive in Knowledge and Grace, Ifhem the excellency and benefit thereof, and give fome Directions for the practife of it.

The Seventh Chapter treats of the danger of frequenting, and unneceffarily converfing with bad company, whereby many have been everlastingly undone. A man that prayes to be delivered from temptations, must not wilfully run himself

into them. And becaufe 'tis the duty of all true Chriftians both for their own peace fake, and that they may adorn the Gospel of Chrift, to ferve their generation in fome honeft and commendable way (avoiding Idleneffe, that great snare of the Devil.)

In the eighth Chapter I difcourfe of diligence and confcientioufneffe in our particular places and callings.

And that the Name of God may not be blafphemed by the ill lives and practises of fuch as profefle themselves Chriftians;

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In the Ninth Chapter I treat of just and right dealing in Trading and Commerce, giving fome Rules both to buyers and fellers, and fhew the neceffity of making reftitution of, or fatisfaction for ill gotten goods.

The Tenth Chapter contains the duties of Governours of Families, which I defire all that are in that relation often to read over, and feriously to meditate upon. There is a great duty lies upon them, and greater than they usually are aware of. They may be exceeding inftrumental of the falvation of thofe under their care, if they discharge their duties as they ought. But through their negle&t of the Worship of God in their houses, and their ill lives and examples they prove too often an occafion of the ruine of many in their Families. And becaufe very much of the life of Godlineffe confifts in a faithful discharge of relative duties,

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The Eleventh Chapter fhews the duties of Husband and Wife.

The Twelfth of Mafters and Servants.

The Thirteenth of Parents and Children.

The Fourteenth of fuch as are in office and of Inferiours.

ce The Fifteenth of People towards their Paftors and fpiritual Guides. O what an honour would it be to Chriftian Religion, if all they that f call themselves Chriftians, would endeavour to walk uprightly and faithfully in their respective places.

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And feeing it is a real kindneffe, and an excellent expreffion of trae Christian friendship, to keep one another off from the pit of deftruction, and to help one another on towards Heaven,

In the Sixteenth Chapter I treat of that great and hard duty of Chriftian reproof and admonition, which if it were prudently and faithfully difchar ged, would (by the bleffing of God) much abate fin in the world, and exceedingly advance Piety.

The Seventeenth Chapter contains the duties of rich and poor. Many duties belong to them both; and both have great temptations, therefore they had need be careful to discharge the one, and avoid the other.

The Eighteenth Chapter speaks of the duties of Young and Old. Ministers find by experience that the Word hath the greatest operation on those that are young,who have not contracted

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fuch

fuch strong habits of fin, nor fo long refifted the Grace of God,nor fo much provoked him to give them up to their own hearts lufts, as many ancient people have done,who have liv'd a great while in an unconverted ftate,under the light of the GoSpel. I have therefore fhewed young perfons the danger of delaies, the advantages of turning to God betimes, and answered the Objections that many are apt to make against it. And becaufe a Minifter is also to have a care of the fouls of the Ancient, and (to his utmost skill) to endeavour their falvation, I have laid down feveral awakening confiderations for them to think upon. I have fhewed them the danger of vain prefumptions and groundleffe hopes of Heaven. I have Jet down fome of those false grounds and fandy foundations whereon many ancient people build their hopes of happinesse, that fo they may be undeceived, and may look better about them to fecure their fouls, while there is time.

In the Nineteenth Chapter there are Directions given for the healthy and the fick. To deal wifely and faithfully with fick perfons in order to their fouls welfare, is one of the hardest pieces of the Minifterial work, and requires much skill to perform it aright. And feeing a Minister is not ever at hand to vifit fuch fick perfons as may need his help (and many times they stand in need of much help and inftruction) I have drawn up fuch directions as I judged needful for

them;

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