The Christians daily monitor to the performance of personal and relative duties With a resolution of some cases of conscience. Published for the benefit of young persons; By Joseph Church. Together with so much of Mr. Samuel Hierons catechisme, as concerns second table duties.

§. 20. 1. Directions for a mans daily carriage.

Question.

WHat must our work be in the morning?

Answer. To let our Prayer come be∣fore the Lord, and to praise his mer∣cy, which he shews in our continual pre∣servation; and thus to do is to awake with God, Psal. 139.13. Psal. 88.13. Psal. 59.16.

Quest. What must our apparel be?

Answ. Such as becometh those that profess the fear of God, 1 Tim. 2.10.b

Quest. What is next to be done?

Answ. We must follow our own bu∣siness with quietness,c 1 Thes. 4.11. 2 Thes. 3.12.

Quest. What must chiefly be cared for in our business?

Answ. To walk with God, Gen. 5.22.

Quest. What is it to walk with God in our Calling?

Answ. 1. To set the Lord alwayes before us, Psal. 16.8.

2. To labour to approve our selves to him in well pleasing, 2 Cor. 5.9.

3. To acknowledge him in all our wayes, Prov. 3.6.

4. To refer all to his Glory, 1. Cor. 10.31.

Quest. What must our Speech be?

Answ. Gracious alwayes, Col. 4.6.d

Quest. Why must we be so careful of our speech?

Answ. Because for every idle word we must give account, Mat. 12.36, 37.

Quest. Why else?

Answ. Because if any man seem to be Religious, and bridles not his tongue, his Religion is vain, Iam. 1.26.

Quest. What things must we chiefly avoid in speaking?

Answ. Lying, swearing, filthiness, foolish talking, jesting and railing, Eph. 4.25. ch. 5.4. Jam. 5.12. 1 Cor. 5.11.e

Quest. What company must we keep?

Answ. We must desire and endea∣vour to be companions of them that fear God, and let our delight be in the Saints which are on earth, and in them that excel in vertue, Psal. 16.3. Ps. 119.63.

Quest. Is there any danger in evil company?

Answ. Yes, for a companion of fools shall be destroyed, Prov. 13.20. Prov. 28.7.

Quest. What must we do in such com∣pany?

Answ. Learn not their evil wayes, and if sinners entice thee, consent not to them, Ier. 10.2. Prov. 1.10.

Quest. What must we do when we come to our meat?

Answ. We must do as Christ did, look up to Heaven and give thanks, Mat. 14.19.

Quest. How many things must we look to in our diet chiefly, as we are Christi∣ans, and reasonable Creatures?

Answ. Three things.

Quest. What is the first?

Answ. That our use of the Creatures be with sobriety, least our hearts be o∣ver-charged with surfeting and drun∣kenness, Luke 21.34.

Quest. What is the second?

Answ. That we forget not God, nor the operation of his hands, feeding our selves without fear, Isa. 5.12. Deut. 8.10, 11, 12. Jud. Ep. 12.

Quest. What is the third?

Answ. That of that which remain∣eth

nothing be lost, John 6.12.

Quest. Ought not some time to be set apart every day for spiritual uses?

Answ. We ought to redeeme the time, because the dayes are evil, Eph. 5.16.

Quest. May not Recreation be used?

Answ. Yes, there is a time to laugh, Eccl. 3.4.

Quest. What kind of sports may we use?

Answ. Such as be harmless and of good report, Phil. 4.8.

Quest. What particular Rules are there about Recreations?

Answ. Four especially.

Quest. What is the first?

Answ. Recreation must not be in the use of holy things, Exod. 20.7.

Quest. What is the second?

Answ. That we make not sport with the sins or offences of men, Prov. 14.9. Psal. 119.136. 2 Pet. 2.8.

Quest. What is the third?

Answ. That our rejoycing hinder not

better duties, 1 Thes. 5.16, 17.f

Quest. What is the fourth?

Answ. That we cause not our Chri∣stian liberty to be evil spoken of, Rom. 14.16.

Qu. What is our evening duty?

An. Prayer, Psal. 55.17.g

Qu. What else must we do?

An. Examine our selves upon our beds, and every man to say to himself, what have I done? Psal. 4.4. Jer. 8.6.

Qu. How many things make sleep com∣fortable?

An. Two. The first is honest labour, Eccl. 5.11.

Qu. What is the second?

An. A Godly care to thrive in Reli∣ligion, Prov. 3.13. compared with 21.24.

Qu. How must sleep be used?

An. Love it not, least thou come to poverty, Prov. 20.13.

Notes

• b

  Therefore neither costly beyond ability, nor garnish beyond modesty.
• c

  That is in those particular Callings God hath set us in.
• d

  Such as may witness Grace in the heart.
• e

  This is called, Eph. 4.29. rotten communica∣tion, because it discovers a rotten, corrupt heart.
• f

  Paul joynes rejoycing with Prayer, to teach that that mirth is evil that hinders or unfits for Prayer.
• g

  That the sin of the day past may be pardon∣ed, and that the night following we may be preserved.