The country-curate's advice to his parishioners, in four parts I. Directs us, how to serve God on the Lord's day, II. On the week day, III. How to discharge our duty in our several relations, as husband and wife, parents and children, masters and servants, IV. How to prepare for death / by H.C.

CHAP. IV. Of Family-Duty ere we go to God's House. (Book 4)

AFter thou hast fitted thy Self for Church, thy next care must be carefully and conscientiously to perform Family-Duties: Jos. 24.15. Let others do what they will, I and my House (saith he) will serve the Lord. In order to the performance of which duty, take along with you these following Rules.

1. See that your Servants and Children waste not away the Morning in sleep and idleness.

2. Cause them to join together in Prayer, reading, or any other Godly Exercise, Gen. 18.19.

3. Make them accompany you to Church, command their Bodies, though you cannot their Souls.

4. Inform your selves and them, what a great and glorious Majesty and Master you are to serve: a God so glorious, that the very Angels vail and cover their Faces, not being able to behold the brightness of his Glory. And if this lowly Reverence be per∣formed

by them, who are in such nearness to God; what posture is low enough for us, who, in comparison of those Heavenly Spi∣rits, are viler than the ground we tread on.

5. Make them sensible, what poor Worms and wretched Creatures they are, Dust and Ashes; their Hearts full of Putrefaction, and a sink of Sin: and therefore ought to come crawling, crouching and trembling, to the Throne of Grace.

6. Examine what Preparation they have made for the Sabbath; whether they have not spent more time and care to dress their Body for the Eye of Man, than to deck their Soul for the Eye of God. Whether they have prayed in private for a blessing on God's Or∣dinance.

7. Inform them seriously of the great work they go about, what a weighty work it is, how that their Weeks Works are but toys and trifles in comparison of it. What are Sheep, Oxen, or Shops; to Grace, Christ, and Heaven? Exhort them all to be careful and serious in God's work, in Soul-Salvation-Work: and therefore they ought to prepare themselves with all their might.

Remember the Fourth Commandment binds you to look to all within your care, both Man-Servant and Maid-Servant, &c. Whosoever rides them unnecessary Journeys

on that day, the groans of the tired Beast, will rise up in judgment against them, and condemn them for breaking God's Com∣mand.

As Motives hereunto, consider

1. That it is God in a Family, not Man only that maketh it to prosper: so that if thou wouldest have it go well with thy Fa∣mily; then oughtest thou to set up the worship of God in it. The Lord blessed the House of Obed-Edom for the Arks sake: so God will bless thy House, if the Ark, that is, his worship be there. Wouldst thou have thy Family flourish, set up the worship of God in it. Let no wicked Person remain in thine House. He that will not pray and join in the worship of God with thee; Let him not eat with thee. Make Joshua's resolution; As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.

2. Remember you must be accountable to God for those Souls he hath committed to your charge: you ought therefore to take care that they be trained up in the fear of the Lord. See that none of your Family be given to any Vice, viz. Swearing, Drinking, Lying, or the like. Make choice of such Servants as fear God: chuse for him some∣what, and not altogether for your self. En∣quire in the first place, whether they will submit to his word: if not, let them not

come under thy roof. As thou wouldst not have the Devils Company in thine House; so do not entertain any of his Friends and Servants; but rather let it be an Harbour and Habitation of God's Children: for so shalt thou be blessed. You know that God blessed Laban for Jacob's sake: so may you likewise expect a Blessing, if you entertain such in your House.

A Family-Prayer before we go to Church.

O Lord, encrease our Faith, and by thy holy Spirit prepare our hearts to pray as we ought; and for Christ's sake accept this Morning Sacrifice of Prayer, though weak and imperfect, which in his Name, and by his Mediation and Intercession we offer up to Thee.

We humbly and heartily acknowledge thy infi∣nite Wisdom, tender Love, and Fatherly Good∣ness towards us thy unworthy Servants , most vile and wretched Sinners, in that it hath plea∣sed thee not only to give us a liberal allowance of time to do our own Works, and follow our own Callings and Recreations, for the health of our Bo∣dies, and the necessities of this present Life: but also to appoint us one day in seven to attend up∣on thee, do thy Work, and fit our selves to keep with thee an Everlasting Sabbath in the highest Heavens.

We know, O Lord, that we are bound in Con∣science to serve and worship thee every day of the Week; and every day to set apart some time for Spiritual and Heavenly Exercises; yea, and when we are in Earthly business, to carry Hea∣venly minds about with us: yet it hath pleased thee further to allow us one day in seven to attend wholly upon thee, and more throughly to acquaint our selves with thee; with thy ways, and with our sinful and deceitful hearts: to wean them from the Love of this World, and set them upon Heavenly Joys.

And now, O Lord, as thou hast given us a day to serve thee; fit and prepare every Soul to worship thee as we ought. To this end, give us the assistance of thy holy Spirit, that we may learn to redeem time, and number all our days, our Sabbaths more especially; that so we may apply our hearts unto Wisdom: that we may now get wise, religious, believing and Repenting Hearts. O Lord, give us Grace to consecrate this day, as a day of delight, holy and honour∣able to thee: not doing our own Works, nor fol∣lowing our own Pleasures, nor speaking our own words; but exercising our selves in duties of Piety and Mercy, publickly and privately: in thy House and in our own. So that we may make this Season a day not only of reconciliation for the Sins of the Week past; but also a day of Preparation and spiritual Provision, furnishing

our selves for the better performance of the duties of the Week to come.

And now, O Heavenly Father, we are going to thy House to partake of thy Ordinances, we beseech thee to go with us thither, and stand by us there; and bring us back again: rejoicing when we shall find our Faith encreased, our Hope quick∣ned, our Zeal kindled, our Hearts inflamed with the Love of thee and our Brethren. Let us not, we beseech thee, make thy House, which is an House of Prayer and Spiritual Exercises, to be a Den of Thieves: but let us look to our Feet, that so we may be more ready to hear, than to offer up the Sacrifice of Fools.

It is a fearful thing, when this word which should he a Savour of Life unto Life, does prove a Savour of Death unto Death; as it does to many who regard not what they hear.

Grant therefore, O Lord, that we may take diligent heed what we hear, and how we hear: keep us we humbly pray thee, that we be not like unto them that be compared unto the high way; who do not so much as bend their minds to regard what is taught: nor to them, who are compared to the stony ground; who do it but shallowly and superficially: nor to them that be compared to the thorny ground; that do choak and smother it, with minding their ease, pleasure, gain and pro∣fit over much. But give us Grace to be like the good ground; who coming to the word with ho∣nest

and good hearts, bring forth good Fruit, with Patience, and in good Season: So that keeping this day as we ought to do; we may be transla∣ted to keep an Everlasting Sabbath in the highest Heaven. Amen.