An introduction to pietie and humanitie containing, first, a short catechisme for vnderstanding the grounds of religion: secondly, certaine briefe and effectuall rules for life and conuersation. Penned specially for the vse of the poore children of Christ's Hospitall in London: but generallie may serue for any other that would be instructed therein. By Gregorie Brovvne.

TO THE GODLY PARENTS, Masters and ouerseers for Edu∣cation of youth.

NAture is best adorned with Religion and nurture: for as religion informeth the minde; so narture reformeth the man∣ners. And as the fertillest soyle without manuring will soon ouergrow with weeds, so the aptest wits without education, will soone corrupt in manners. An vnmanaged Colt will be wilde, and a childe left at li∣berty will grow wilfull. And as the occa∣sions in children and youth, vnto vice and euill are many; so the care and indeuour in elders to restraine and amend them should abound: Parents by nature should, Ma∣sters by charge ought, Magistrates by law, neighbours of loue and curtesie, and all men of common humanity, for maintai∣ning Christian loue and piety, ciuill society,

and godly policie: that the wickednes of youth bee not imputed to the remisnes of the aged, and both punished with old Elies corrections. From which the Lord keepe vs, and giue vs all grace and knowledge in all things.

Teach a child in the trade of his waies, and when he is old he will keep it. Prou. 22.

CERTAINE BRIEFE AND effectuall Rules for life and Conuersation▪ and first of behauiour in the morning.

FIrst in the morning thinke vpon God, and remember thy Creator in thy youth, in the prime of thy daies, and in the spring of the morning; and know that he hath said; My sonne giue me thy heart; let him haue the first place, in thy thoughts, words and actions, lifting vp thy heart and hands with humble minde and voyce vnto him.

And if time permit, let some good praier be said of thee, or some other; crauing par∣don for thy sins in the name of Iesus Christ, and for his sake, praying for all things need∣full for thee, for the state and place thou li∣uest in: with the parties from whom thou

receiuest mainteinance, education and com∣fort: and if thou hast not leasure to pray thus, yet let the Lords prayer feelingly and with deuout reuerence be said of thee; let∣ting thy minde and voice ioyne and consent together, thinking on him only vnto whom thou doest pray.

See thou remember to vse and frequent these exercises of prayer, at morning and e∣uening; at meate time and other appointed; so shall the continuall vse put thee in minde that thou forget it not.

Remember that the ten Commandements of God be repeated and said of thee, once in the day at the least, that so the continuall vse thereof, may put thee in minde of thy dutie towards God, and lead thee to Christ for grace.

Also the Articles of faith, see thou vse re∣uerently to repeate; praying for grace, to beleeue with the heart, that which thou confessest with thy mouth, that thou maist increase in faith, hope and loue, without which thou canst not be saued.

With prayer to God do thou begin: That he may keepe thee from all sin.

WHFN THOV APPAR∣rellest thy selfe.

1 SEE that thy cloathes and apparrell bee cleane from head to foote; decently and comly put on, tied, pointed, and pinned a∣bout thee.

2 Delight in decent cleanlynes, neatnes and comlines in the body and garments; so shall it make thee gratefull in company, and loued of the best; if otherwise, loathed and not regarded: for by the fashion and wea∣ring of the apparrell, may bee iudged the quality of the minde.

3 Thy head, see thou combe and rubbe, at the least thrise in the weeke, keeping it cleane, from that which may annoy or dis∣credit thee.

4 Thy hands and face wash also, for that is both wholesome and hansome.

5 Thy bed see thou decently turne vp vntill thou be ready to make it, which see it be well and hansomely done, for therein thou shewest thy selfe to differ from a beast.

Neate and cleanlie see thou be; As is befitting thy degree.

OF BEHAVIOVR TO Schoole-ward.

BEing apparrelled and thy prayers said, and other things performed according∣ly, repaire without delay or loytering, vnto the schoole, or other busines appointed or belonging vnto thee, vsing all diligence, and faithfulnes therein.

By the way go soberly, orderly, and man∣nerly: salute thy elders and betters with re∣uerent regard, and good words of the time of the day; and thy familiars and fellowes friendly with such diuersity of reuerence & curteous behauiour, as is befitting to the dignity and condition of the persons: for nothing gaineth so much with so little cost, as humilitie and curtesie doth.

Humilitie and curtesie, Are signes of grace and pietie.

Remembrances.

FOrget not thy bookes, pennor, incke∣horne, pennes, paper, & all other things fit; keepe them safe, cleane and plaine from tearing, losing, blotting or soyling, &c.

OF BEHAƲIOR AT Schoole.

BEing in Schoole play not, laugh not, vse no vncomely gesture, nor vndecent be∣hauiour in speech or signe; but humblie and carefully submit thy selfe to obey, and learn those good letters and sciences, there inde∣uored to be taught thee, that learning to o∣bey in youth, thou maiest knowe how to teach and gouerne in age; and remember that a diligent youth maketh a learned age; a ioyfull life, & blessed death; for there is no gaine without paine, no treasure without trauell, nor learning without labour: there∣fore shew thy selfe to thy Maister diligent and carefull to learne, coueting the fellow∣ship of such as are better learned then thy selfe: contend with none but for learning, learne diligently and retaine faithfully, pra∣ctise painefully, and be ashamed to be van∣quished, but striue to get before others: be not dogged and sullen when thou art cor∣rected, reioyce when thou art praised, pro∣mise to thy selfe great things by thy paines, and feare correction.

Paines in youth brings honor in age: But idlenes doth euill presage.

OF BEHAVIOVR HOME∣ward.

REturning from Schoole, let thy behaui∣our bee such as may giue grace and countenance, to the place from whence thou camest, & credit to the persons, which haue the teaching and educating of thee.

If any meete thee that are thy betters or elders, giue them the wall, and vpper hand, vailing thy bonnet reuerētly; for the tongue is the interpreter of the minde, and manners the image of mankind; therefore if any que∣stion be demaunded of thee, answere with the like modestie with thy head bare, and thy countenance sad, not sowre and sullain, iearing and laughing, but with a modest and cheerefull countenance standing vp∣right and looking them in the face soberly; not turning and winding like a foole, not trifeling and fumbling with the fingers like an Ape, nor lifting vp the legge like a goose; remembring that humility and lowlines of minde obtaineth the fauour of God, and gentle speech and curteous behauiour win∣neth the hearts of men.

Dutie, meekenes, thankes and loue, Are vertues sprung from God aboue.

OF BEHAƲIOVR AT home, at the Table.

BEing come home, vse all reuerent dutie and obedience to thy parents and el∣ders, as becommeth thee; and se thou come not into the hall, or in their sight, vndecent∣ly and vnmannerly, with thy hose vngarte∣red, thy shooes foule, broken or vntied; thy coate vnbuttoned, vnpointed, torne, or vncleane; thy hands and face vnwashed, & filthie: but comely and reuerently, see thou approach into their sight, as in the presence of God, whose instruments for thy good they are, and whose blessings thou commest now to receiue, for the sustentation of thy naturall life; and forget not to pray vnto, and praise the Lord of life, by whom wee liue, moue and haue our being.

Be not like the filthie swine, But pray to God before thou dine.

OF BEHAVIOVR WHEN ANY part of Scripture is read.

IF there bee any exercise of reading and hearing Gods word and prayer, before mcale or after, or at the time of refection,

see that with all meekenes and reuerence, with deuout attention & loue, thou marke the sense and matter of that which is read, as well as the words, so shalt thou inrich thy minde and wit with true wisedome, and thy tongue with gratious words.

See that with like deuotion and reuerence thou behaue thy selfe, in time of prayer and grace, lifting vp thy heart & hands to God, during the time, thinking vpon him in heauen, vpon whom thou doest call heere on earth; and know that he is a consuming fire, and will not be mocked.

Being at exercise diuine, Ʋse reuerence in such a time.

Of behauiour at meale time.

1 VVHen thou feedest, vse mannerly modestie and modest sobriety; moderately and temperately eating and drinking that which is appointed for thee, without greedinesse and excesse, that after thy meat, thy wit and minde may be fresher and not duller, and thy body more liuely, and not heauier and vnapt to study, &c.

Many thousands their death doe eate: When few haue died for lacke of meate.

2. Let thy talke be little and sparing, except

when iust occasion be offered, or question asked, and then speake or answere aptly & distinctly; thinke before thou speake, and speake soberly and truly; if thy betters aske thee a question, answere them reuerently; and thy fellowes and equalles curteously, without biting taunts or loud vnreuerent words. Take thy meate without snatching, for that is dog-like; and doe not murmure or grudge, for that is swine-like: be not the first in the dish, nor the last sufficed; for that is a token of a greedy & vnsatiable deuou∣rer, especially eschew excesse in drinking.

More with drinke their bellies burst Then euer yet haue died of thurst.

With thankefull minde and contented heart, receaue that which is prepared for thee, & reuerently rise as thou satest downe with giuing of thankes to God.

Be not like a foolish Asse, But giue God thankes before thou passe.

OF BEHAVIOVR ON THE Sabbath day.

THink on the Lords day the day before, and make an end if possible thou maiest of all such things & businesses as should

any way hinder that daies exercise, of hea∣ring, reading, speaking or meditating of Gods Word and workes.

1. Of Preparation.

In the morning early prepare thee to rise vp in mind & body, to serue God the Crea∣tor, and the Son our Sauiour, through the grace of the sanctifying spirit of grace, shunning and hating all sinne and euill, in thoughts, words, and deedes, as thou art commanded to sanctifie and keepe holy the Sabbath day; not doing thine owne will, not speaking vaine words, nor thinking euill thoughts; but let thy will be led to do the will of God heere in earth as it is in heauen; and let thy minde cary vp thy thoughts to meditate on the creation of all by almighty God, of the redemption of all by our blessed Sauiour, who is our sanctifi∣cation, righteousnes and eternall rest.

2. In the Church.

And when thou commest into the Church or congregation assembled in the name of God to heare his word, and to pray and cal vpon his name; know that thou art in the presence of the eternall God and his holy Angels, who not only seeth thee and thy behauiour, but also vnderstandeth thy

thoughts and secret motions; see therefor•• thy gesture be comely.

3. Of Hearing.

And thy behauiour reuerent, giuing due regard with meekenes vnto the word of God, that the sense and substance thereof may enter into thy mind, as the sound doth pierce thy eare; for it is the power of God, to saue thy soule, if thou so heare and re∣teine it; or else it is the sauor of death vnto death, vnto thy eternall damnation, with the Diuell and his Angels, if thou doest carelessely neglect, contemne & despise it: but if thou be carefull to marke what sinne is reproued, and flye the same; and what vertue is commended, and embrace th•• same, it shall then amend thy memory, and manners to grow in knowledge, to learne to liue and die as a Christian.

4. Of Praying.

In the time of prayer, thy body must bee humble and cast downe vpon thy knees, meekly and reuerently lifting vp thy hands and heart vnto God in heauen; ioyning with them that speake in praier, to say with them as occasion is, or to lift vp thy minde with audible and good voice and harty affection, saying Amen.

And remember that it is said, Whosoeuer calleth vpon the name of the Lord, and depar∣teth from iniquitie shall be saued: but whosoe∣uer doth not, it is an euident token of a wicked and vngodly minde, as it is said The wicked call not vpon the Lord, and therefore there is no faith, no hope, no saluation, for them.

5. Of the articles of the faith.

When the Articles of faith be repeated, thou must with like reuerence & affection, either standing or kneeling, pronounce it audibly and distinctly; for as thou beleeuest with thy heart, so must thou confesse with thy mouth vnto saluation, remembring alwayes to ioyne with the rest, in saying Amen.

6. Of the ten Commandements.

When the ten Commandements are re∣peated and said, heare them with great re∣uerence and feare, considering in euery one thy sin and defects, praying for mercy and grace, through Christ Iesus, to endeuour all thy heart to keepe them; and then that which thou canst not doe, he wil performe.

7. Of singing Psalmes.

Likewise when Psalmes and praises to God are singing, vse all care and reuerence

in singing with a grace and affectionate heart, keeping tune and time orderly, to the praise of the God of order.

8. Not to goe away.

Remember thou gad not in and out of the Church and Congregation, at thy plea∣sure; for that is vngodly, vnseemely, and verie offensiue.

9. Not to prate.

Neither vse to prattle, or priuatly to reade or thinke of matters, not pertaining to the place and worke in hand; for that is to offer the sacrifice of fooles. Tarie vntill all the ser∣uice of God be performed, and the blessing pronounced, lest thou shew thy selfe a con∣temner of holy things, and one vnworthy to be partaker thereof; as Iudas was, who made more hast then good speede, and sped accordingly.

10. Practise.

Returning out, vse like reuerent behaui∣our, and thinke often vpon that which out of Gods word thou hast heard; to practise it in thy behauiour; and know, that practise 〈…〉〈…〉 ••nd of faith and knowledge▪ For not

the hearers of the word, but the doers of the will of God shall be saued.

The Sabbath see thou sanctifie, Auoyding all impietie.

OF BEHAVIOVR IN TIME of recreation and play.

VSE such exercises of bodie as are with∣out offence and perill either to thy selfe or others, either in bones or ioynts, name or estimation; that it may be such as fitte best for thy minde to increase in good lear∣ning, and for thy body, for health and strength: remembring there is a time of pastime and mirth, (as the wise man saith) but take heed it be done in due time and measure: as he also counselleth, saying, If thou finde hony, eate thereof; but eate not too much; for the excesse of euery thing is sinne, therefore exceed not in losse of time, but see thou redeeme it with the losse of pleasure, & thou shalt finde increase of greater profit.

Vse pastime and pleasure, In due time and measure.

OF BEHAVIOVR AT night.

1 AT night when all the duties of the day are ended, and that the time of rest is come, approach quietly and or∣derly into thy ward and place of rest appo∣inted; and then with due reuerence addresse thee, to the reuerent hearing and reading of the word of God, according as the nightly exercises require; if it be in singing of Psalmes, see that it be done also reuerently with due regard of the matter as well as the method, and melodie, which must also be regarded, as we are by God commanded to sing with feeling and a grace in the heart, with vnderstanding and skil in due marking and keeping the time and tune, for the God of order delighteth in concord and harmo∣ny, and hateth confusion and discord, espe∣cially in his speciall seruices. Therefore sing reuerently, orderly and deuoutly, keeping time and tune; so shall it please God, and be comended of men.

2 These ended, commit thy selfe into the

tuition of God by prayer, remembring wherein thou hast faulted or failed of thy duty, to call for mercy, & wherein through grace thou hast performed or desired any good, to be thankefull vnto him that is the fountaine and giuer of all goodnes.

3 See thy hose and shooes be cleane, and thy cloathes decently laid vp, readily of thee to be found in the morning when thou shalt rise to put them on.

To bed see that thou goe in time, And rise likewise, the gaine is thine.

OF BEHAVIOVR ABROAD in seruice.

VVHEN thou art abroad in seruice remember and practise diligently the counsell of God, which saith, Seruants, * 1.1 be obedient and subiect vnto them that are your masters, and please them in all things good and lawfull (for otherwise, better it is to obey God then man) not with eie-seruice, as men pleasers, but in singlenes of hart fearing God; and whatsoeuer you do, do it hartily as to the Lord, and not vnto men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receaue the reward.

Therefore, saith he, be not answerers a∣gaine, * 1.2 nor saucy, be not pickers nor purloy∣ners, but shew all good faithfulnes, & faith∣full diligence as vnto thy father, yea as vnto the Lord himselfe, who serued for vs, a ser∣uant to all, that hee might wi••ne all from slauery, and seruice of sin & Sathan. Remem∣ber among many, the duties of thy calling, as thou art a seruant; these foure especiallie are required of thee. First, faithfulnes voide of fraud, and filthy flattery; Secondly, dili∣gence void of sloth and grudging; Thirdly, to seeke and procure their profit and good, before thine own profit or pleasure; Fourth∣ly, to be silent and secret, not answering a∣gaine rudely and saucily, nor reuealing their secrets abroad; therefore it is wittily said by one, that a good seruant should haue the back of an Asse to beare patiently; the snout of a Swine to feed homely; the tongue of a sheepe to keepe silence gently. Or thus, To haue large eares to heare readilie, a short tongue, speaking seldome; and truly light feete, swift in seruice and message; & cleane hands void of pilfering and cousenage.

Take pains in youth while strength dost last, Then rest in age when health is past.

Be loath to offen, be diligent to please, Be willing to amend, of sufferance comes ease. Good paine•• breedeth honor, true ••ertue getteth fame, Sloth bringeth miserie, and vice ••ternall shame. A youth void of industrie, An age void of honestie. Where vice in youth doth beare the sway, There vertues will in age decay. A youth well instructed, Makes an age wel•• disposed. H•• that in youth, by reas•••• guides his daies, In age shall keepe his footsteps from decayes.

SHORT SAYINGS FOR FVR∣ther instruction of dutie towards God and man.

1. Towards God.

• LEarne to know God in his word.
• Beleeue in God and his promises.
• Feare God in his iudgements.
• Loue God in his mercies.
• Pray to him for grace.
• Praise him for his goodnes.
• Reade and heare his Word diligently.
• Loue and reuerence his Ministers.
• Frequent the places of prayer.
• Be careful often to heare the word preached
• Quench not the spirit dispise not prophesing
• Feare God & keepe his Commandements.

2. Towards our Superiours.

• Honor the King.
• Obey good lawes.
• Loue reuerence, & pray for the Magistrates,
• Pay all duties to thy power.
• Speake well of them in authoritie.
• If they be good, thanke God for them.
• If they be euill, pray for their amendement.
• Princes are as the glasse, the schoole the booke, where subiects eies, do reade, do learne, do looke Kings on earth are Ima∣ges of God in heauen,

3. Towards our Parents.

• Honor thy Parents.
• Reuerence their good counsell.
• Obey their good Commandements.
• Be subiect to their corrections.
• Be humble, reuerent, and dutifull to them.
• By good behauiour make them glad.
• By ill demeanor make them not sad.
• Deserue and seeke for their blessing.
• Deserue not their curse.
• Pray daily for them.
• Releeue them if they be in want.

4. Towards the aged.

• Reuerence the aged.
• Be dutifull to thy betters.
• Be humble and lowly to them.

• Be kinde and curteous to all.

5. Of familiaritie.

• Be friendly and familiar with the good.
• Keepe no company with the euill.
• Try before thou trust.
• Hinder no mans good name.
• Reioyce not in anothers crosse.
• Beare with others infirmities, that others may beare with thee.
• Reioyce with those that reioyce.
• Mourne with them that mourne.
• Be gētle & curteous to al, offensiue to none.

Of Anger.

• Be angrie against sin, but sin not.
• Appease debate, absteine from hate.
• If anger arise, let not sin surprise.
• Be not hard to be appeased.
• Be mercifull and pitifull.
• Be gentle and courteous.

6. Of Speech.

• Be slow to speake, especially euill.
• Be swift to heare good things.
• Thinke before thou speake.
• Speake aduisedly and truly.
• Speake not vainely and skurrillously.
• Answere aptly and mannerly.
• Keepe counsell committed vnto thee.
• Reueale not thy masters secrets.

• Reueale not thine owne to euery friend.
• Promise aduisedly.
• pay thy debts truly.
• Performe constantly.
• Be not rash and foole-hardie.
• Be not wise in thine owne conceipt.
• Be not arrogant.
• Striue not with thy ouer-match.
• Be at peace with vertue, & warre with vice.

7. Of learning and knowledge.

• Loue vertue and knowledge.
• Hate vice and ignorance.
• Haunt wise mens company.
• Shunne foolish society.
• Praier, hearing, and reading, increase know∣ledge, without knowledge the mind is not good.

8. Of thine estate.

• Maintaine thy selfe iustly.
• Liue in order.
• Liue within thy compasse.
• Be content with thine estate.
• Pouerty is no hinderance to vertue.
• Contented meane is greatest wealth.

9. Of Apparell.

• Be comely and cleane in thine apparell.
• Be not proud and curious.
• Be not slouenlike and rude.
• Be sober in gesture and gate.

• Be not idle and vaine.

10. Of Diet.

• Take heed of all excesse, for that is sinne.
• Be temperat in diet.
• Drinke moderatly, and eate soberly.
• Surfeting and drunkennes is a deadly sin.
• Abstinence is good for soule and body.

11. Of Recreation.

• Vse moderate exercises.
• Play not in any thing exceeding modestie and measure.
• Redeeme the time and leese it not.
• No greater losse then time, and nothing lesse accounted of.
• Neglected time, is follies chiefest signe.

12. Of the end.

• The true and best ende of all is the feare of God.
• ...When vertuous daies do end they are not done:
• ...But liue two liues, where others haue but one.
• In all beginnings remember the end.
• For to begin well is good, but to end well is better.
• ...Leud life is losse, good death felicity,
• ...The chiefest gaine, the end of misery.
• ...For that's not death to change the life and die:
• ...But that is death, which doth all ioyes deny.

• ... Then happy he, who doth in time prepare
• ...To die, to liue, the end of worldly care.

The end of all things is at hand; be sober therefore and watch vnto prayer.

A PRAYER TO BE SAID EVE∣rie morning and euening by the Chil∣dren in their seuerall Wards.

And first remember that.

• Without knowledge the mind is not good.
• Without faith no pleasing of God.
• Without nurture, no attaining to vertue.
• Without praier, no hope of grace.

Therefore,

• Euery one that is godly will pray in time conue¦nient. * 1.3
• But the wicked call not vpon God.
• The Lord is nigh all them that call vpon him in truth, and faithfully.
• ...For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect vnto the lowly: As for the proud hee behol∣deth them a farre off.

O Eternall God and mercifull Fa∣ther in Christ Iesus, we humblie beseech thee to haue mercy v∣pon vs thy poore children, and

pardon all our sinnes committed against thy Diuine Maiestie at any time of our life here∣tofore, either in omitting or committing a∣ny thing against thy blessed word and holy will; and graunt vs thy grace, O Lord, that we may be truly repentant for them and har∣tily thankfull vnto thee for all thy vndeser∣ued mercies and fauours bestowed vpon vs, and the state and place wherein we liue, be∣seeching thee for Christ his sake to continue and increase them euer hereafter both in soule and body vnto vs, and also to receiue vs all into thy blessed protection, that nei∣ther sinne, nor Sathan assaile or preuaile a∣gainst vs, to hurt the peace of our soules, or health of our bodies, but that being blessed and protected by thee, O Lord, we may be better able and more carefull, to serue thee in our seuerall places & callings, to become thy faithfull seruants, & instruments of thy glory, for the good of thy Church, & Com∣mon-weale of our countrie wherin we liue. O Lord blesse and defend our Soueraigne King, the Queene, and the Prince their Son, with the rest of their Royal Progenie; blesse his Maiesties honorable Counsellors and Nobles, & direct them, & all in office in the Church and State vnder him, especially to

aduance true religion and vertue, and to pu∣nish sin and impiety. Continue thy mercie and protection O Lord towards these his Maiesties Dominions of great Britaine, and countries annexed, and thy people and Churches in them: increase the number of faithfull and painefull Preachers amongst them, that so thy most holy name may be hallowed, thy kingdome inlarged, and thy blessed will accomplished in faith and loue, in verity & vnity. O Lord blesse and defend this Citie, with the Gouernors and gouern∣ment thereof, together with this house and whole societie, and all those from whom we receaue this comfortable maintenance, reliefe and godly education; increase thy spirituall graces in them, and multiplie thy temporall blessings vpon them, O Lord, that they neuer want will and meanes to go for∣ward in performing the good workes thou hast begun for the aduancement of thy glo∣rie, the comfort of vs and others thy poore distressed ones, & the increase of their owne comfort in the assurance of thy mercy in Christ Iesus. These mercies and all other blessings needfull, O blessed God of grace and mercy, we pray thee to graunt vnto vs, and the rest of thy Church, euen for Chris••

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Notes

• * 1.1

  Col. 3. 22.
• * 1.2

  T••••. 2. 9.
• * 1.3

  ••sal. 34. 14. 6. ••sal. 31. 7. 8. ••sal. 14. 9. ••0. ••sal. 145. 18 ••sal. 138. 6.