A choice manual containing what is to be believed, practised, and desired or prayed for; the prayers being fitted to the several days of the week. Also festival hymns, according to the manner of the ancient church. Composed for the use of the devout, especially of younger persons, by Jeremy Taylor, D.D.

THE DIARY OR, A RULE to spend each day religiously.

SECT. 1.

• 1. SUppose every day to be a day of business: for your whole life is a race, and a battel; a merchandise, and a journey. Every day propound to your self a Rosary or a Chaplet of good works to present to God at night.
• 2. Rise as soon as your health and

• other occasions shall permit; but it is good to be as regular as you can, and as early. Remember, he that rises first to Prayer hath a more early title to a Blessing. Bnt he that changes night into day, labour into idleness, watch∣fulness into sleep, changes his hopes of blessing into a dream.
• 3. Never let any one think it an ex∣cuse to lie in bed, because he hath no∣thing to do when he is up: for who∣ever hath a Soul, and hopes to save that Soul, hath work enough to do to make his calling and election sure, to serve God and to pray, to read and to medi∣tate, to repent and to amend, to do good to others, and to keep evil from themselves. And if thou hast little to do, thou ought'st to imploy the more time in laying up for a greater Crown of Glory.
• 4. At your opening your eyes, enter upon the day with some act of piety.
  • 1. Of Thanksgiving for the preser∣vation of you the night past.
  • 2. Of the Glorification of God for the works of the Creation, or any thing for the honour of God.
• 5. When you first go off from your

• bed, solemnly and devoutly bow your head, and worship the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
• 6. When you are making ready, be as silent as you can, and spend that time in holy thoughts; there being no way left to redeem that time from loss, but by meditation and short mental prayers. If you chuse to speak, speak somthing of God's praises, of his goodness, his mercies, or his greatness. Ever re∣solving that the first fruits of thy Reason and of all thy Faculties shall be presen∣ted to God, to sanctfie the whole har∣vest of thy conversation.
• 7. Be not curious, nor careless in your Habit, but always keep these measures.
  • 1. Be not troublesome to thy self or to others by unhandsomness or uncleanness.
  • 2. Let it be according to your state and quality.
  • 3. Make Religion to be the diffe∣rence of your habit, so as to be best attired upon Holy or Festival daies.
• ...

  8. In your dressing, let there be eja∣culations fitted to the several actions of dressing: as at washing your hands and

• ...

  face, pray God to cleanse your Soul from sin; in putting on your cloaths, pray him to cloth your Soul with the righte∣ousness of your Saviour and so in all the rest.

  For Religion must not onely be the garment of your Soul, to invest it all o∣ver; but it must be also as the fringes to every of your actions, that something of Religion appear in every one of them, besides the innocence of all of them.

• 9. As soon as you are dressed with the first preparation of your cloaths, that you can decently do it, kneel and say the Lord's Prayer; then rise from your knees and do what is necessary for you in or∣der to your farther dressing, or affairs of the house, which is speedily to be done; and then finish your dressing according to the foregoing Rules.
• 10. When you are dressed, retire your self to your Closet, and go to your usual devotions; which it is good that at the first prayers they were divided into seven actions of Piety.
  • 1. An act of Adoration.
  • 2. Of Thanksgiving.
  • 3. Of Oblation.
  • 4. Of Confession.
  • ...

• ...
  • 5. Of Petition.
  • 6. Of Intercession.
  • 7. Of Meditation, or serious, deli∣berate, useful reading of the holy Scriptures.
• 11. I advise that your reading should be go∣verned by these mea∣sures.
  • 1. Let it not be of the whole Bible in order, but for your devotion use the New Testament, and such portions of the Old as con∣tain the Precepts of holy life.
  • 2. The Historical and less useful part, let it be read at such other times which you have of leisure from your domestick imploy∣ments.
  • 3. Those portions of Scripture which you use in your prayers, let them not be long: a Chapter at once, no more. But then what time you can afford, spend it in thinking and meditating upon the holy Precepts w^ch you read.
  • 4. Be sure to meditate so long, till you make some act of piety upon the occasion of what you medi∣tate

• ...
  • either that you get some new arguments against a sin, or some new incouragements to vertue; some spiritual strength and ad∣vantage, or else some act of Pray∣er to God, or glorification of him.
  • 5. I advise that you would read your Chapter in the midst of your Prayers in the Morning, if they be divided according to the num∣ber of the former actions; be∣cause little interruptions will be apt to make your Prayers less te∣dious, and your self more attent upon them. But if you find any other way more agreeing to your spirit and disposition, use your li∣berty without scruple.
• 12. Before you go forth of your Clo∣set, after your Prayers are done, set your self down a little while and con∣sider what you are to do that day, what matter or business is like to imploy you or to tempt you; and take particular re∣solution against that, whether it be mat∣ter of wrangling, or anger, or covetous∣ness, or vain courtship, or feasting; and when you enter upon it, remember up∣on what you resolved in your Closet.

• If yo are likely to have nothing extra∣ordinary that day, a general recommen∣dation of the affairs of that day to God in your prayers will be sufficient: but if there be any thing foreseen that is not usual, be sure to be armed for it by a hearty, though a short, prayer, and an earnest prudent resolution before-hand, and then watch when the thing comes.
• 13. Whosoever hath Children or Ser∣vants, let him or her take care that all the Children and Servants of the Family say their Prayers before they begin their work. The Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments, with the short verse at the end of every Commandment which the Church uses, and the Creed, is a very good office for them, if they be not fitted for more regular offices. And to these also it were good that some proper Prayer were apportioned, and they taught it. It were well if they would serve themselves of this Form set down at the end of this Diary.
• 14. Then go about the affairs of your house and proper imployment, ever avoiding idleness, or too much earnest∣ness of affection upon the things of the world: Do your business prudently,

• ... temperately, diligently, humbly, charitably.
• 15. Let there be no idle person in or about your family, of beggars or un∣imployed Servants, but find them all work and meat, call upon them careful∣ly, reprove them without reproaches or fierce railings. Be a master or a mistress, and a friend to them, and exact of them to be faithful and diligent.
• 16. In your Servants suffer any of∣fence against your self rather than against God; endure not that they should swear, or lie, or steal, or be wanton, or curse each other, or be railers, or slan∣derers, or tell-tales, or sowers of dissenti∣on in the family, or amongst neighbours.
• 17. In all your entercourse with your neighbours in the day, let your affairs be wholly matter of business or civility, and always managed with Justice and Charity: never let it be matter of curi∣osity or enquiry into the actions of o∣thers, always without censuring or rash judgment, without backbiting, slander∣ing or detraction: Do it not your self, neither converse with them that do. He or she that loves tale-bearers shall never be beloved, or be innocent.
• 18. Before dinner and supper, as of∣ten

• as it is convenient or can be had, let the publick Prayers of the Church, or some parts of them be said publickly in the family, and let as many be present as you can. The same rule is also to be observed for Sundays and Holy-days, for their going to Church. Let no servant be always detained, but relieved and provided for by changes.
• 19. Let your meal be temperate and wholesom according to your quality and the season, begun and ended with Prayer: and be sure that in the course of your meal, and before you rise, you re∣collect your self, and send your heart up to God with some holy and short Ejacu∣lation; remembring your duty, fearing to offend, or desiring and sighing after the eternal Supper of the Lamb.
• 20. After meal use what innocent refreshment you please, to refresh your mind or body with these measures.
  • 1. Let it not be too expensive of time.
  • 2. Let it not hinder your devotion, nor your business.
  • 3. Let it be always without vio∣lence or passion.
  • 4. Let it not then wholly take you

• ...
  • up when you are at it; but let your heart retire with some holy thoughts and sober recollecti∣ons, lest your mind be seized up∣on by it, and your affections car∣ried off from better things: se∣cure your affections for God, and sober and severe imployment. Here you may be refreshed, but take heed you neither dwell here, nor sin here. It is better never to use recreation, than at any time to sin by it: But you may use recreation, and avoid sin, and that's the best temper. But if you cannot do both, be more careful of your Soul than of your re∣freshment; and that's the best security. But then, in what you use to sin, carefully avoid it, and change your refreshment for some other instance in which you can be more innocent.
• 21. Entertain no long discourse with any, but, if you can, bring in something to season it with Religion: as God must be in all your thoughts, so, if it be possi∣ble, let him be in all your discourses, at least let him be at one end of it; and

• when you can speak of him, be sure you forget not to think of him.
• ...

  22. Towards the declining of the day, be sure to retire to your private devoti∣ons: Read, meditate and pray. In which I propound to you this method, On the Lord's day meditate of the glo∣ries of the Creation, of the works of God, and all his benefits to mankind, and to you in particular. Then let your devotion be, humbly upon your knees to say over the 8^th and 9^th Psalms, and sometimes the 104^th, with proper Col∣lects which you shall find or get: ad∣ding the form of Thanksgiving which is in the Rule of Holy Living, pag. 378. in the manner as is there directed, or some other of your own chusing.

  Medi∣tate on	Monday	on	1. Death
  Tuesday	2. Judgment
  Wednesday	3. Heaven
  Thursday	4. Hell.

  Saying your usual Prayers, and adding some Ejaculations or short sayings of your own, according to the matter of your devotion.

  On Friday recollect your sins that you have done that week, and all your life-time and let your devotion be to

• ...

  recite humbly and devoutly some peni∣tential Litanies, whereof you may serve your self in the Rule of Holy Living, pag. 373.

  On Saturday at the serne time, medi∣tate on the Passion of our blessed Savi∣our and all the mysteries of our Redemp∣tion, which you may do and pray toge∣ther by using the forms made to that purpose in the Rule of Holy Living, pag. 391. in all your devotions begin and end with the Lord's Prayer.

  Upon these two days and Sunday you may chuse some partions out of The Life of Christ, to read and help your medi∣tation, proper to the mysteries you are appointed to meditate, or any other de∣vout books.

• 23. Read not much at a time; but meditate as much as your time and capa∣city and disposition will give you leave: ever remembring, that little reading and much thinking, little speaking and much hearing, frequent and short prayers and great devotion is the best way to be wise, to be holy, to be devout.
• 24. before you go to bed, bethink your self of the day past: if nothing ex∣traordinary hath hapned, your Consci∣ence

• is the sooner examined; but if you have had any difference or disagreeing with any one, or a great feast, or great company, or a great joy, or a great sor∣row, then recollect your self with the more diligence: ask pardon for what is amiss; give God thanks for what was good. If you have omitted any duty, make amends next day; and yet if no∣thing be found that was amiss, be hum∣bled still, and thankful, and pray God for pardon if any thing be amiss that you know not of. If all these things be in your offices, for your last prayers be sure to apply them according to what you find in your examination: but if they be not, supply them with short eja∣culations before you begin your last prayers, or at the end of them. Remem∣ber also and be sure to take notice of all the mercies and deliverances of your self and your Relatives that day.
• 25. As you are going to bed, as of∣ten as you can conveniently, or that you are not hindred by company, meditate of death and the preparations to your grave. When you lie down, close your eyes with a short prayer, commit your self into the hands of your faithful Crea∣tor:

• and when you have done, trust him with your self, as you must do when you are dying.
• 26. If you awake in the night, fill up the intervals or spaces of your not sleep∣ing by holy thoughts and aspirations, and remember the sins of your youth: and sometimes remember your dead, and that you shall die; and pray to God to send to you and all mankind a mercy in the day of Judgment.
• 27. Upon the Holy-days observe the same Rules; only let the matter of your meditations be according to the mystery of the day. As upon Christmas∣day meditate on the Birth of our Bles∣sed Saviour, and read the Story and Con∣siderations which are in The Life of Christ: and to your ordinary devotions of every day add the prayer which is fit∣ted to the mystery, which you shall find in The Life of Christ, or The Rule of Holy Living. Upon the day of the An∣nunciation, or our Lady-day, meditate on the Incarnation of our Blessed Savi∣our; and so upon all the Festivals of the year.
• 28. Set apart one day for fasting once a week, or once a fortnight, or once a

• month at least: but let it be with these cautions and measures.
  • 1. Do not chuse a Festival of the Church for your Fasting-day.
  • 2. Eat nothing till your afternoon∣devotions be done, if the health of your body will permit it: if not, take something, though it be the less.
  • 3. When you eat your meal, let it be no more than ordinary, lest your fasting day end in an in∣temperate evening.
  • 4. Let the actions of all the day be proportionable ot it; abstain from your usual recreations on that day, and from greater mirth.
  • 5. Be sure to design before-hand the purposes of your fast, either for. Repentance, or for Mortifica∣tion, or for the advantages of Prayer, and let your devotins be accordingly. But be sure not to think fasting, or eating fish, or eating nothing of it self to be pleasing to God, but as it serves to one of these purposes.
  • 6. Let some part of that day extra∣ordinary be set apart for Prayer

• ...
  • for the actions of Repentance, for Confession of sins, and for beg∣ging of those Graces for whose sake you set apart that day.
  • 7. Be sure that on that day you set apart something for the poor; for Fasting and Alms are the Wings or Prayer.
  • 8. It is best to chuse that day for your fast which is used generally by all Christians, as Friday and Saturday: but do not call it a fasting-day, unless also it be a day of extraordinary devotion and of Alms.
• 29. From observation of all the days of your life, gather out the four extra∣ordinaries.
  • 1. All the great and shameful sins you have committed.
  • 2. All the excellent or greater acts of Piety which by God's grace you have performed.
  • 3. All the great blessings you have received.
  • 4. All the dangers and great sick∣nesses you have escaped: and upon all the days of your extra∣ordinary devotions, let them be

• ...
  • brought forth, and produce their acts of vertue.
  • 1. Repentance and prayers for par∣don.
  • 2. Resolutions to proceed and in∣crease in good works.
  • 3. Thanksgiving to God.
  • 4. Fear and watchfulness, lest we fall into worse, as a punishment for our sin.
• 30 Keep a little Catalogue of these, and at the foot of them set down what Promises and Vows you have made, and kept or broken, and do according as you are obliged.
• 31. Receive the blessed Sacrament as often as you can: endeavour to have it once a month, besides the solemn and great Festivals of the year.
• ...

  32. Confess your sins often, hear the Word of God, make Religion the busi∣ness of your life, your study, and chief∣est care; and be sure that in all things a spiritual Guide take you by the hand.

  Thou shalt always rejoyce in the Evening, if thou dost spend the day vertuously.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉S. Chrys.Hom.3.de Lazaro