Horæ consecratæ, or, Spiritual pastime. concerning divine meditations upon the great mysteries of our faith and salvation : occasional meditations and gratulatory reflexions upon particular providences and deliverances, vouchsafed to the author and his family : also a scripture-catechisme dedicated to the service of his wife and children, and now published, together with other treatises mentioned in the following page for common use / by Sir James Harrington ...

A Directory Letter (Mutatis Mutandis) sent by the Author to every one of his Twelve Children, prefixt to the Manuscript of the following Epistle, now Printed for the use and benefit of other Christian Families.

Dear Daughter Mary,

I Commend unto your serious and often Reading and Medita∣tion this following Epistle, a Work which cost me much la∣bour, study, and time in the Collection, yet performed with much delight and chearfulness, as moved to write it to all my Relations, by the good Spirit of the Lord, as the best means I could use to counsel stir up, and advise them, with Mary, to choose the better part, which shall never be taken from them.

Wherefore loving Daughter, let me lay this Paternal Charge upon you, as I shall do upon the rest of your Brothers and Si∣sters, for whom I am preparing Transcripts out of the Original, written by my own hand: That you read it over at least once a Quarter, as long as you live, as being not mine, but the Epistle of our most dear Lord and Saviour presented to you only by my hands, his most unworthy Instrument. The subject matter there∣of being his most sacred Word, who is the Lord God of all the holy Prophets, the Pen-men hereof, And the great Prophet of his Church; whose Word, whosoever will not hear and obey, are threatned to be destroyed. My design herein, I hope, through the grace and mighty power of the most holy Spirit of Christ, will be prosperous, and effectual, as being not only a Letter of advice and counsel from an earthly Father, whom I am confident you love, and will obey in the Lord; But the Epistle, and most pow∣erful Exhortations of your heavenly Father, yea, the love-letter of your Head and Spouse the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath mar∣ried you unto himself in holiness and everlasting righteousness.

Dear Daughter, the holy Scriptures being the Foundation of all saving knowledge, and true Religion, I have by the direction and assistance of the Lord, skim'd off for you the Cream thereof,

and given you a few proofs of many, holding forth, as from his own mouth; First, The excellency of his Person: Secondly, The Fundamental Articles of the Christian faith, and belief in the words of the holy Scripture only: Thirdly, what things are to be practised by you, held forth in God's holy Law: Fourthly, what evil things are to be eschewed, either respecting Doctrine, or manners, wherein you have the Lord Jesus Christ's encourage∣ment and exhortation, to the attaining of all saving graces, and virtues, and his Dehortation from all errors in Doctrine, (espe∣cially those that are sowen, and profest in these worst of times) and from all sins and vices in practice: Fifthly, You have herein many of his Holy Counsels, directing how to walk holily, righte∣ously, circumspectly, and unblameably in your life and conversa∣tion, together with the holy means and Ordinances ordained by him, for the obtaining and strengthning his graces in you, which is concluded with his Prayer and mine to our Heavenly Father for a blessing. O let not then, much beloved Child, This Letter (should you neglect the counsel given you therein) after my de∣cease, bear witness against you: But let it be a Record and lasting Legacy read and practised by you, and your Childrens Children; which is the fervent Prayer of your

Most affectioned Father J. H.

Antwerpe this first of January, 1665.