Practical piety, or, The pastor's last legacy to his beloved people directing how to walk with God in these apostatizing times. : With two most serious exhortatory epistles to satisfie the Christian readers, concerning the whole work. : To which is added morning and evening prayers for private families. / By that reverend divine, Mr. William Thomas, late rector of the Church of Ubley, in the County of Somerset, after his 44 years labours in the ministry in that place.

The Contents of the several Parts and Chapters of this Treatise.

• The First Part. Of Christian-Duties.
  • CHAP. 1. A Call to Reading of Scripture, Which is urged,
    • 1. FRom Scripture-Commands. pag. 1.
    • 2. From Scripture-Reasons, drawn from the end, nature, use and pro∣fit of the written Word of God. 5.
    • 3. From Scripture-examples, and the efficacy of that duty. 8
    • 4. From that blessedness, whereunto the Reading of Gods Word, is Gods way. 11.
    • 5. By answering Objections made against it. 11. to 16.
    • 6. By two motives provoking to it. 18.
  • CHAP. II. Instructions about the Lords Supper. Wherein
    • 1. Reasons of sollicitousness for Sacrament-Preparation are rendred, viz
      • 1. Imitation of the antient Church. 21.
      • 2. Christs strict command for it. ibid.
      • 3. The distinction of that Sacrament from other Ordinances. 23.
      • 4. The judgement of the Church of God. 26.
    • 2. A short Catechism followeth of the general grounds of Religion. 32
    • 3. A larger Catechism is added concerning the Lords Supper. 37.
  • CHAP. III. Of the Estimation of Ministers. Where the Scripture on which it is grounded, to wit, 1 Thess. 5. 12, 13, is,
    • 1. Recited and explained briefly.
    • 2. More largely insisted on, by declaring how Ministers are,
      • 1. To be known in their places, viz. by a knowledge,

        1. Of Observation.	48. to 52.
        2. Of Approbation.
        3. Of Imitation.

      • 2. To be esteemed, viz.
        • 1. For the degree [very highly] set forth in seven Evidences of it. 53. to 56.
        • 2. For the nature and quality of it [in love]. 57.
        • 3. For the ground of it [for their works sake]. Where is shewed,
          • 1. That men seem to esteem Ministers, when it is neither in love, nor for their works sake. 59.
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          • 2. What reason there is why they should be esteemed for their works sake. pag. 60.
          • 3. The grounds and motives to this estimation. 63. to 68.
  • CHAP. IV. Of the Lords-day Sabbath. Where, 68.
    • 1. The Scripture chosen to treat upon, viz. Neh. 13. 17, 18. is,

      1. Vindicated.	69.
      2. Explained.

    • 2. The Sabbath-subject is treated on in general. And therein three things handled,
      • 1. The Rest required on the Sabbath, and why, and with what al∣lowances. 72.
      • 2. The thing intended in that Rest, viz Holiness both in publike and private duties. 75.
      • 3. The extent of the Rest and Holiness, viz. for a whole day, not∣withstanding Objections. 81.
    • 3. How the fourth Commandement is in force for observing one day in seven for ever, is declared, with objections answered. 85. to 92.
    • 4. The Lords day is proved to be of Divine Institution, 92. to 97.
    • 5. An Exhortation is annexed for the due esteeming and observing of the Lords-day-Sabbath, urged. From
      • 1. The necessity of it. 97.
      • 2. The commodity. 100.
      • 3. The commendation. 102. to 105.
      • 4. The judgements of God on Sabbath-profaners. 105. to 108.
      • 5. The blessing of God on Observers. 108. to 118.
      • 6. A conclusion inciting to Lords-day-love. 118. to 131.
• The Second Part. Of Family-duties.
  • CHAP. I. Of Family-Catechising: And therein, 133.
    • 1. Several Texts of Scripture in the Old and New Testament are brought to prove it. And the common objection of taking Gods Name in vain by Catechising little Children, is answered, 137,
    • 2. Arguments are added to confirm it. As
      • 1. The necessity of it. 144.
      • 2. The profit both in regard of
        • (1.) Children. 146.
        • (2.) the Church of God. 148.
    • 3. And the motives to perswade to it, viz.

      1. Examples of godly Parents in Scripture.	149.
      2. The benefit of children—	152. & 153.
      3. The profit of Parents themselves.

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  • CHAP. II. Of Family-Prayer. Where there is, p. 155.
    • 1. Proofs for it, and the establishing of it.
      • 1. On Scripture-grounds in four Propositions, viz.
        • 1. The general doctrine of Scripture binds in all particulars rightly deduced from it. Which Proposition is,
          • 1. Confirmed by divers instances. 157. to 160.
          • 2. Made use of by reciting general Scripture-grounds for Family-Prayer, viz.
            • 1. Gods greater glorry. 161.
            • 2. Our greater good. 162.
          • Wherein an Objection is answered, drawn from the incapacity of several Members of Family for that duty. 163, 164.
        • 2. Approved examples of Scripture are binding in those things wherein the case is alike, whereof use is made by reciting and il∣lustrating divers Scripture examples tending to the confirmation of Family-Prayer. 165. to 168.
        • 3. Every Promise of Scripture contains in it a virtual command. 168.
        • 4. And every Threatning a real prohibition of the thing threatned, which is made use of by opening that Scripture-threat, Jer. 10. 25. 169.
      • 2. On Scripture reasonings, viz. Because
        • 1. God requires Society-service as well as single. 172.
        • 2. There are many common concernments of Families that require joynt Prayer. 173.
        • 3. The persons neglecting, and causes of the neglect of, this duty, are both sad. 174. to 177.
    • 2. A declaring of the time to be allotted to it, Where is shewed that it should be,
      • 1. Every day. 177.
      • 2. More particularly, Morning and Evening. 179.
  • CHAP. III. Of Family-Repetition of Sermons. Where are laid down, 182.
    • 1. Grounds of Scripture for Sermon-Repetition.
      • The first Scripture, Jer. 36. 2, 6. where writing Sermons (as an help to Repetition) is argued for. 182. to 187.
      • The second Scripture, Col. 4. 6. 187▪
    • 2. Reasons thereof,
      • 1. In General. 188.
      • 2. More Particularly, in regard of our selves and others. 189.
  • CHAP. IV. Of Singing Psalms, namely, in Families. Wherein 192.
    • 1. Objections against Singing of Psalms are answered. 192. to 195.
    • 2. The Exercise it self is pleaded for,
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      • 1. More generally, from Scripture, which,

        1. Declareth it to be necessary and profitable.	pag. 195.
        2. Giveth rules that it may be profitable.
        3. Sheweth it to be used in Christian Meetings.

      • 2. More particularly, and with respect to Families,

        1. Because the use of it is so profitable.	196. to 199.
        2. No where limited to Publike Meetings.
        3. Confirmed by our Saviours example
        4. Called to by Family-mercies.
        5. Justified from Ephes. 5. 18, 19.

      • 3. With Reasons annexed, it being an Exercise,
        • 1. Making much for the glory of God.
        • 2. For the spiritual profit of right Performers. For it is an Exercise,

          1. Teacching.	199 to 202.
          2. Quickning
          3. Comforting.

        • 3. Commended to Christians in way of Exchange for all other de∣lights. 202.
    • 3. Some advice is given that singing may be more profitable, viz.
      • 1. By marking the matter of the Psalm while it is singing. 204.
      • 2. By conferring of it, after. ibid.
    • 4. Lamentation for the neglect, and negligent performance of this duty: with a close quickning thereunto. In the close. 204. to 208
      • A Family-Prayer for the Morning. 209
      • A Family-Prayer for the Evening. 214.
      • A shorter Prayer for the Morning. 220.
      • A shorter Prayer for the Evening. 224.
      • Prayers for Children for Morning and Evening. 228. to 231