Verus Christianus, or, Directions for private devotions and retirements dedicated to ... Gilbert Ld. Arch Bishop of Canterbury ... by David Stokes.

GENERAL ADVICE more briefly set down for their sakes, that have much other businesse.

In the Morning.

1. When we are fully awake, we may use these, or the like Ejaculations.

PRaise the Lord, O my Soul, that hath delivered me from the dangers of this night, and by a sweet and quiet rest fitted me the better for his service this day. And, O my Soul, let his service be the chief work of this day!

O let the first-fruits of this and every day be His; and the first opening of my mouth, the blessing of his holy name.

Let my hearty prayers and praises come be∣fore him, like the Incense, to season and sweeten my thoughts for the whole Day: that I may the more chearfully serve my God, the God of all Mercy and Consolation.

2. When we are retired into our Closets, or

Studies, some Ejaculations or prayers may be u∣sed to this purpose.

Lord, give me grace to study how I may love Thee above all; in whom are all things most eminently, that are most worthy of our love.

Teach me, how to serve and honour Thee a∣bove all, whose Service is both perfect freedom from the slavery of sin, and the most honourable way of Employment.

Teach me how to fear thee above all, that I may need to fear nothing else,

Before we come out of our Closets, let us ask our selves, how we mean to spend the present day? in what actions, or entertainments? And (that we may choose the best) let us take a short Memoran∣dum from the wise man, which may serve as a short Sermon, or Instruction for every day.

A short Sermon, taken chiefly out of the first and last words, in the book of the Preacher.

VAnity of vanities, saith the Preacher, Eccl. 1. that is, All things in the world (whatsoever they may be in our mistaken o∣pinion) are indeed extreme vanity, in respect of those things which are above, which should be the chief object of our desires. If you will hear the Preacher: This is the summe of all that is worth the hearing. c. ult. v. 13.

Fear God and keephis Commandements: for that is the

whole Dutie of man, who being a reasonable Creature, owes that service to his Creator, and to Him alone.

Therefore the Preacher adds, v. 14. that

God will bring every thing unto Judgment (discovering all our secret thoughts and actions, good or bad, and passing his last irrevocable sentence upon them all.)

The best Use that can be made of this truth, may be gathered out of the Preachers own words, directed to every one of us, c. 11. 6.

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the eve∣ning withhold not thy hand that is, Lay hold upon all opportunities of doing good every day. Begin, and persevere to the end: and do it with all thy might, as well as thou canst. c. 9. 10. For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou art going apace:

This short Sermon may sharpen our desires, & endeavours to make this & everyday a Prepa∣ration to the last day that we may be fitted for mercy before that day come: after which it can∣not be done in all the infinite length of Eterni∣ty.

And in all our Meditations of Death, and the last Judgment, let me comfort my self with this, that He only is to be my Judge, that is my blessed Saviour, and hath fully paid the ransom for my Sinnes, and desires not the death of a Sinner, but the death of Sin.

3. Before we leave our Closets, let us have recourse to some sett form of Devotion, wherein we may faithfully and thankfully expresse God's tender mercies, and our bounden duty.

Such expressions we may find in the Psalms, and Hymns, and Anthems, or other parts of our publick Service: and such are these.

Be merciful to me, O Lord, the God of all mercy and consolation, give me grace not to pore too much upon the greatnesse of my sins, but to fix my thoughts rather upon the greatness of my Saviours love that suffered for them, and so purchased my lihertie, changing my slavery under sin and Sathan, into the happy and ho∣nourable Title of the Servant of the most high God, which carrieth perfect freedom along with it. Teach me to make thy holy prae∣cepts sweeter to me then the hony, and the ho∣ny comb: and of more value then the richest treasures, and beauties, & honours of the world.

For thou, O Lord, art the thing that I long for. Ps. 7. 4. Thy loving kindness is better then life it self. Ps. 63. 2. Whom have I in hea∣ven but thee? and there's none upon earth, tha•…•… desire in comparison of thee. Ps. 73. 24.

Anthem.

Above the Stars my Saviour dwels, I love, I care for nothing else; Dear Saviour raise my duller eyne, To see some of thy beams divine:

And wondering let me often say, Come Lord Jesu, come away.

O fit me for thy coming; and then make no long tarrying O my God. Psal. 40. 21. and in the mean time, Give me Grace to continue in the number of those that wait and long for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave him∣self for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to Himself a peculiar peo∣ple, zealous of good works. Tit. 2. 13.

4. Such a short Morning task will quickly set us at liberty for our daily occasions: but when publick Prayer time comes on, let us listen to the Bells that invite us to God's House, the place of his special presence. Whither let us not come without due Preparation: and be∣fore we enter in, let us look to our feet, (our affections, that bring us in,) and admonish our selves, not to offer the sacrifice of fools in God's house. For while we are there, we are made a spectacle to God, to Angels, and to Men. Therefore we should hoc agere, and use such good heed, rever•…•…nce, attention, and devotion, that we may end with a blessing, and so go out better then we came in.

5. After our return from publick Service, a few hours well spent may produce a chearful heart all day, and a sweet rest at night. Espe∣cially if we begin or end the night with a short Scrutiny, and examination of our selves: what

we have done well, in the day time, to thank God for it; and what we have done ill, to ask pardon, and resolve by the grace of God to do better next day.

After our Scrutiny, when we draw neer toward bed-time, let us remember the affinitie betwixt Death and Sleep, & how soon one may be chang'd into the other. That will oblige us to take order, that as the body is to rest, so the soul also may rest upon her proper pillow, (the Peace of God that passeth all understanding,) and rely upon the custody of Him, that nei∣ther slumbers, nor sleeps.

This being done, doubt not, but (if we live) a sweet sleep shall render us chearful and vi∣gorous the next day; and, if we be carried from the bed to the grave, (as perhaps we may) thence God will raise us to a better life, and change our vile bodies to the likenesse of his glorious Body; and from our Mother-earth, bring us to our Heavenly Father, whom none can see, and not be everlastingly happy.

A few daies thus ordered may be an Intro∣duction to all the rest, according to this good Beginning.

But, what's all the rest? Who knows what the rest of our Dayes may prove, whether few, or none?

Live well a few dayes, and your life will be at an end, as the Emperour An∣toninus was wont to say.

The longest life is but a few daies: Few and evil, saith the Patriarch

Jacob of his; for with us good daies are prospe∣rous daies, all other are counted evil daies, or nights of affliction, rather then dayes. Put all together, Dayes and Nights, Good and Evil, they will all be quickly ended, and we shall be∣gin our Eternitie.

Lets every day strive to make that happy

Ab hoc momento pendet Aeternitas.