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

Title

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

Author

Stokes, David, 1591?-1669.

Publication

Oxford :: Printed by A. & L. Lichfield for R. Davis,

1668.

Rights/Permissions

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Subject terms

Devotional literature.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61672.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"Verus Christianus, or, Directions for private devotions and retirements dedicated to ... Gilbert Ld. Arch Bishop of Canterbury ... by David Stokes." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A61672.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 12, 2025. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• The Preface, With some praevious Advice to the true-Christian Reader.
• A Transition of what follows in the Booke it self.
• GENERAL ADVICE more briefly set down for their sakes, that have much other businesse.
  • In the Morning.
  • A short Sermon, taken chiefly out of the first and last words, in the book of the Preacher.
• MORE PARTICVLAR ADVICE for times of Retirement, Medi∣tation, and Devotion.
  • I. The need we have of several holy retirements.
  • II. The Frequency, and Constancy of this holy Employment.
  • III. Incitements to Morning Devotion, drawn from the Examples, and Advice of others.
  • IV. The entertainment of our selves at our waking, looking up, attiring, washing, &c.
    • 1. When we wake and looke up.
    • 2. When we put on our apparrel, we may take some hints of holy ejaculations from these fol∣lowing places of Scripture.
    • 3. In the time of Washing.
    • 4. While we make use of the Looking-Glasse.
  • V. Preparation to our set-devotions, as soon as we are ready.
  • VI. A previous Consideration of Prayer in gene∣ral, and the best Motives to the use of it.
  • VII. Other preparatory Meditations before prayers in the morning, or at any other time.
  • VIII. A farther supply of such Preparatory Medi∣tations, as may make us fitter to be heard in our Prayers.
  • IX. Another sure way of Preparation, from our Love of God, and our Delight in Him.
  • X. Other Means to facilitate our accesse to God, by Prayer.
    • As, 1. Mercy in forgiving them.
    • 2. Mercy in relieving them.
    • 3. Due respect to Parents.
  • XI. Caveats for the Matter, and Manner of Prayer.
  • XIII. The close of this Meditation, with a returne to the time.
    • Preparatory Ejaculations, fit to be used, when we compose our selves to Prayer.
  • XIV. Confessio cum Precatione.
    • Pro Remissione Peccatorum.
  • XV. A Morning Devotion framed according to St Basil's direction (Constitut. Monast. c. 1) and the rare Patterne of the sweet Singer of Israel (in many Psalmes.)
  • XVI. Some places of Scripture, that may afford us matter of Meditation, fit to prepare us for the works of our Calling.
  • XVII. Our daily Duty, and the short Time al∣lotted to us.
  • XVIII. A view of our frailty, taken from the consideration of our first Materials.
  • XIX. The fulnes of our misery amplified by way of Instance.
  • XX. The close and fruit of the former Meditations.
    • A Morning Prayer
  • XXI. The Fulnes of misery here, answered with the best Fulnes hereafter.
  • XXII. The same Happines expressed under the promise of the Vision of God.
  • XXIII. The first means of attaining the former Happines.
  • XXIIII. Another reflection upon the proposall of the first Means.
  • XXV. The second Means of attaining the Happines, that was be∣fore proposed, out of Hebr. 12 14.
  • XXVI. Another reflexion upon the proposal of the second meanes, Hebr. 12. 14.
  • XXVII. Another view of this Means, with a fuller expression of the extent of it, out of Psal. 34. 13.
  • XXVIII. A Transition to that which im∣mediately followes, with the designe of it. And therein, first a De∣fence against assaults from without us.
  • XXIX: Advice concerning the dangers from within us.
  • XXX. Of the particular consequences (implied in the former Advice, and the delivery of it,) and first of the Possibility of kee∣ping the heart.
  • XXXI. Of the Necessity of keeping the Heart.
  • XXXII Of the means, and helps of keeping the Heart: and first of the prime, and su∣perior Meanes.
  • XXXIII. Of the subordinate Means, and helps for keeping the Heart. And first of the Antecedent, and Preparatory Means.
  • XXXIV. The particular subordinate Means of keeping the Heart.
  • XXXV. The Close, and Fruit of these last Meditations.
  • XXXVI. Instructions for those times, wherein we are called to the Church.
  • XXXVII. A second Task in this Prepa∣ration.
  • XXXVIII. Our passage toward the Church, and our entrance into it.
  • XXXIX. Our timely addresse, and stay to the end of Divine Service.
  • XL. At our first Kneeling.
  • XLI. Of publick Prayers, and Sermons.
  • XLII. Of singing the Psalmes, or Anthems.
  • XLIII. The influence that Preaching, and Pray∣er, and Reading of the holy Scripture should have upon our Practice.
  • XLIV. The necessity of frequent Prayer, both in publick, and private.
  • XLV. The set Hours of publick Prayer.
  • XLVI. The Place.
  • XLVII. Before our private reading of the Holy Scriptures.
  • XLVIII. Of short Ejaculations.
  • XLIX. The recollection of our selves at Night, and preparation to a Scrutinie.
  • L. A Preparative Meditation, and Exhor∣tation to such an Absteinious life, as may fit us for a happy Death.
  • LI. Of that Charity, or hearty love of God, which is our best Companion, while we live, and when we die.
• A Transition to what followes in the Appendix.
• title page
• An APPENDIX To the Directions for PRIVATE DEVOTIONS And RETIREMENTS.
  • Oratio Praeparatoria.
  • Confessio Peccatorum.
  • Oratiuncula post Confessionem.
  • subpart
  • subpart
    • Meditationum ante Intercessionem.
    • Meditationum ante .
    • Gratiarum actio.
    • Haec graecè paulò alitèr se habet.
    • Aliud gratissimae & devotissimae Animae Sacrificium Eucharisticum.
  • 1. Scrutinium, & Inquisitio, vel Examen.
  • Meditations, Prayers. and praises of God, which may be used (after the Scrutiny) before you goe to Bed.
  • A Paraphrastical Exposition of some Uer∣ses in the 139 Psalme.
• A TABLE Containing The Heads and Chapters In this Book.