Epitome ugaiainonton logon, or, A taste of the truth as it is in Jesus consisting of ten questions and answers, and a brief exposition upon the same : whereunto are added ten generall directions ... intended chiefly for the benefit of my countreymen, kindred, and acquaintance in Lancashire / composed by John Jackson, M.A.

The fourth Direction declares unto you, how you are to Worship God in the extraor∣dinary duties of Fasting and Thanksgi∣ving, both in your Person alone, and in the Family and Congregation you belong unto: As also in ordinary duties, as you are in more relations then ordinarily private Christians are; This Direction likewise shews you how you are to behave your self, as you are in an unmarried condition, and contains in it so∣lutions to divers cases of Con∣science, as you may see all along the margent.

FOurthly, When you are called to keep a pri∣vate Fast (and have liberty thereunto) be∣twixt God and your self (a) 1.1 either by reason of a judgement felt (b) 1.2 feared (c) 1.3 or deserved (d) 1.4 or by a blessing desired and expected (e) 1.5 Re∣member it the evening before so as to end sea∣sonably your worldly businesse (For you are not only to abstain from all manner of food (so far as your body will bear it) but also from worldly thoughts, speeches, and actions, and to keep the whole day in manner of the Sab∣bath holy to the Lord (f) 1.6 so as to meditate of the occasion that moves you to seek God by praier and fasting, and of the present sins you

live in, that you may afflict your soul for them, (g) 1.7 and so as to seek God in your evening prai∣er for the preparation of your heart thereunto, according to the occasion of the Fast; And after your timely rising, and thoughts of Gods goodnesse to you the night past: seriously call to minde how grear and terrible the Lord is, with whom you have to doe (h) 1.8 : how good and gracious the Lord is and hath been unto you notwithstanding your by-past and present sins, iniquities, and transgressions (i) 1.9 how sin∣full he, she, or they are and have been (if you be to keep a fast for another, whether a friend, a family, a town, a county, or a kingdome) notwithstanding the riches of Gods goodnesse unto them: How ready God is (through his free mercy in Christ) to pardon, spare, de∣liver, save, and blesse those with the blessings of this life and a better, that unfainedly repent and beleeve (k) 1.10 and what the mercies and blessings are that you would have God to be∣stow upon you, yours, or any of his; This being done pray earnestly for a spirit of grace and supplication, whereby you may perform an acceptable fast to the Lord (l) 1.11 humbly con∣fessing your sins of all sorts (m) 1.12 with their se∣verall aggravations that make you and those you are to seek God for (according as the day of humiliation is for your self, or some other) unworthy of what you would have, whether it be the obtaining of a blessing, or the pre∣venting, or the averting of a judgement; And crie mightilie to God for pardoning, and heal∣ing grace (acting faith on the promise as you pray) and more especially for what the

occasion of the Fast calls you unto. After that, * 1.13 read, or meditate upon some part of Gods word (n) 1.14 that may most dispose you to humiliation, and that is most sutable unto the businesse of the day: and endeavour more particularly to finde out the sins of your self, and those for whom you chiefly seek God, more fully ac∣knowledging your iniquities with deep humi∣liation; * 1.15 and praying more fervently for par∣don, help, and deliverance from evils felt, feared, or deserved, and for the obtaining of the blessings that you, and yours desire and stand in need of. And as soon as you have again reviewed your own sins, and the sins of those for whom you fast and pray. * 1.16 Renew your humiliations, acknowledgments of sin, supplications for all sorts of mercies you stand in need of: particularly be importune with God for to give you, and those for whom you make your prayers grace and strength through Christ to break off your iniquities with righte∣ousnesse, that the good things you desire may not be withholden from you because of them (o) 1.17 And having considered what God hath done for you while you have been waiting upon him in prayer and fasting: * 1.18 How you have failed, and come short of Gods glory and your duty: whar your sins are that you have not been humbled for to this day (p) 1.19 what the wants of your self are, and of those you are to pray for, conclude the day with a return of thanks according to what you have received, * 1.20 with an humble acknowledgement of your fai∣lings: with a full purpose of heart in the strength of Christ (q) 1.21 to lay aside ••very sin,

and to take up every duty, and so to have res∣pect to all Gods Commandements: with a determination to relieve the poor (r) 1.22 accor∣ding to what God hath given you, or if you be a receiver, to approve your self unto God that you have a willing minde thereunto: with praier for all men, particularly for the Gover∣nours, and the governed of the family, town, and kingdome where you live, and for such mercies as the day was set apart for; and so commit your self to God, and be confident that God will bring to passe what is for his glory, and his peoples good, (s) 1.23 And if your private fast be about the estate of your soul, that you might know whether you be under grace and Christ, or under sin and Satan (t) 1.24 Then take speciall notice of the present sins you live in, of the grace you want, of the evidences you have of salvation, and of the severall things that make you to doubt your condition (u) 1.25 that you may look up to God d••y and night for help therein, That you may thereby in processe of time sensibly discern the decay of the old man sin in you, and the in∣crease of the new man Christ, and the graces of his spirit (x) 1.26 The removall of your doubts and the clearing up of your evidences for hea∣ven (y) 1.27 Take the like notice of the estate of your soul, when you receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.

And when you are called by the like occa∣sion to fasting and prayer in a Family, or in a publike Congregation (z) 1.28 So prepare for it, and so begin and end it in your closet as you did your private fast, and with enlarge∣ments

according to the occasions of the day: And let your whole carriage be such in all the duties of the day, whether it be in a family, * 1.29 or in a congregation, as that you may appear un∣to God and man to be of a contrite and hum∣ble spirit (a) 1.30 Preparing your self (if you be called to exercise in a family fast) according to the occasion of the day, and the nature of the duties you are to perform.

And when God shall be pleased to give you that you sought him for: let your thanksgiving be answerable in some sincere measure to Gods mercies, and to his return of your praiers or∣dinary and extraordinary (b) 1.31 And in keeping of a private day of thanksgiving, be mindefull of it the evening before, that you may timely lay aside your earthly affairs, so as that you may have a better opportunity then you have other evenings for the preparing of your heart for it by reading and meditating of such things as are sutable to the occasion of the day, * 1.32 and by importuning the Lord in your evening praier, for a thankfull heart for Gods goodnesse to you; And after you have awaked right early with the Lord, * 1.33 and solemnly meditated (ac∣cording to the occasion of the day, be it for your self or some other) of the generall and parti∣cular causes you have to be thankfull through the free grace and goodnesse of God to you, and yours: To be humbled through the sinfull∣nesse of your natures and lives: To call upon God for the preparation of your heart to that heavenly duty of thanksgiving, through the insufficiency of your self either to pray to God for what you want, or to praise him for what

you do receive from him; Make your requests to God by confession, * 1.34 praier, and supplication, with thanksgiving in all humility, and joy∣fulnesse of heart, Then read (but remember th••t the necessary worldly businesse of your place be seasonably looked after) or meditate upon some part of Gods word (c) 1.35 as may quicken you to give God the praise that is due to his name; * 1.36 And after you have in a serious way reviewed over all your sins that makes you and yours lesse then the least of Gods mercies: And all the mercies that you, yours, or any of Gods people have received from the Lord; * 1.37 Pray fervently to God for Christs sake to blot out your sins, to subdue your iniquities, by rea∣son of which he might deprive you, * 1.38 and yours of all the mercies you do injoy both for you•…•… bodies and souls; * 1.39 and pour out all manner of curses upon you in the room thereof; And praise the Lord with your soul, and with all that is within you for all his mercies, above all for his Christ, that is the greatest cause of thanksgiving that ever was or can be given to the sons of men (d) 1.40 particularly for those bles∣sings you set the day apart for: intreating the Lord for Christs sake to give you, * 1.41 yours, and all his to make a right use of his mercies, spea∣king to your self afterward in Psalms, and Hymns, and spirituall songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (e) 1.42 deligh∣ting your self with the good creatures of God more then at other times (f) 1.43 So as that you be not carnall, but spirituall therein, setting forth the praise of Gods bounty and goodnesse to you in your food, or apparell, liberty, live∣lyhood,

and in all you are and have; Causing your poor, sick, hungry, naked, distressed, * 1.44 disagreeing neighbours, especially those that are more visibly Saints, and those of your own kinred (g) 1.45 to blesse God with you, and for you, in visiting, feeding, cloathing, relee∣ving them, and in making and maintaining peace and concord among them (h) 1.46 Or if you be a reciever, and not giver, manifest the wil∣lingnesse of your minde to give, if you had it, in giving your heart to God (i) 1.47 in devoting your self to his service; And learn to be con∣tented with your condition; (k) 1.48 when God sees you fit to improve more for his glory, you shall have more; (l) 1.49 Humble your self there∣fore under the mighty hand of God, and cast your care upon him (m) 1.50 and then be confident that he will never leave, nor forsake you (n) 1.51 And in the close of the day after you have seri∣ously considered that you have more and more cause to blesse God, that the life of thanks-gi∣ving consists in a holy life (o) 1.52 that your by-past and present sins, might provoke God to take away his mercies from you: or to curse them to you; that you cannot of your self walk worthy of the riches of Gods goodnesse towards you; (p) 1.53 Inlarge your self in due and solemn thanks-giving for all mercies but more especially for the present occasion you have of giving of thanks: Spread forth your cofessions with shame and confusion of face: pray for the Churches of God, the King, the State, and for the continuance and the increase of Gods goodnesse to you, yours, and to all the Saints, as need shall be; And promise and resolve in

the strength of Christ to lay aside all your sins, to take up every duty you know, or may know God requires of you, and so to order your own conversation, and to further others so to order their life, as that you may by your good exam∣ple cause your heavenly father to be glorified, (q) 1.54 And vvhen in like manner God shall give you an opportunity and a call to keep a day of thanks-giving in a family, * 1.55 or in a Congrega∣tion: Let your preparation for it, and entrance upon it, and conclusion of it, be such, or to the like effect, as you have been directed to prepare for, to begin, and end a private day of thanksgiving. And so behave your self in all the duties of the day as one that is desirous to have God to inhabit your praises (r) 1.56 and as one who zealously covets to be skilfull in the heavenly work of Saints and Angels, who are wholly taken up in the divine praises of God, and will be for ever and ever. Preparing your self the Evening or Morning before (if you have a call to perform some of the duties of a day of thanks giving kept in a Family) accor∣ding to the businesse of the day, and the na∣ture of the duties you are to perform, * 1.57 and in such a manner as m••y be most for Gods ho∣nour, and your mutu••ll comfort.

And as you are a private man that keeps ser∣vants, you ought to instruct them, and to pray with them, and for them, and to use all means to win their souls, (s) 1.58 Likewise as you are a private man and a Teacher of young children, you ought to perform the duties of parents unto them in point of instruction, praier and cor∣re••••ion, because they are under your charge,

and you either do or ought to receive au∣thority from their parents to teach and correct them in their stead. * 1.59

It behooves you also to prepare your self for family-duties, that you may be enabled to pray in your family, Morning; Noon-time, & Evening in the absence of the Governour thereof: as al∣so that you may be fitted for to worship God with all your house, as soon as the Lord shall call you to be a Governour of a Family

And as you are a Christian woman that keeps maids, you should teach them, * 1.60 and pray ordinarily with them; yea, and Fast and pray with them upon extraordinary occasions (^t).

In like manner as you are a private Christian woman, and one that undertakes the educa∣tion of young Children, you ought to instruct them in the principles of Christian Religion, and that continually, as you walk in your way, * 1.61 as you sit at your work, when you lie down, and when you rise up, Deut. 6.7. and to pray with them, and for them, as also to give them that correction that is due unto them: because they were committed unto you by their parents, for those ends, as well as for their instruction in any learning or art whatsoever. * 1.62

It is meet and equall also that you should prepare your self for the performance of the duties of Governesses of Families, that you may perform them when you are called unto them.

And as you are a private Christian Man or Woman, and as yet unmarried, endeavour to possesse your own vessell in holinesse, and be∣ware not only of actuall fornication, and adul∣terie,

but also of all unclean behaviour with your self, * 1.63 or any other; I have read of some that have gone Mad with horrour of conscience about wickednesses of that nature; I knew one in his sicknes, before his death, that cryed out in the bitternesse of his soul, to this purpose: O that all the unclean persons of the world knew in what a hell of torments I am in, about my be∣ing unclean with my self and others! O that I could speak, write, or send my minde to those whom I have moved to any kinde of folly and un∣cleannesse, or with whom I have sinned any kinde of sin or wickednesse! But I fear I must never hear of them untill I be tormented with them, and for them, in hell, in hell, in hell! O that I knew how to warn the world to beware of my wicked∣nesse, to wit, of neglecting honourable Marriage, of following base and vile courses! Thereupon he did determine to use all means whereby those (whom he had provoked to sinne, and with whom he had been unclean) might know what bitter things God had writ against him, by reason of his own and his other mens sins: And did desire that all the Ministers of the land might know his sinne and wickednesse, (u) 1.64 As namely his being unclean with himself at times, for sixteen years together, his frequent tempting of others to uncleannesse, fornica∣tion and adulterie, and his sinning those sinnes sometimes with others, for that end that they might warne their people to take heed of it, and that they might advise them to Marrie in the Lord, not only to avoid fornication, but also all uncleannesses of bodie and spirit with themselves, or others;

O then let it be your care to be holie in bodie and spirit, (y) 1.65 least you be likewise tormented in conscience here, and be hereafter cast into everlasting torments prepared for the devil and his angels; And that you may be holie; * 1.66 Be much in praier and fasting, and in exercising of faith in the promises of sanctification. Use (as your constitution is) a spare, wary, tem∣perate diet: Be diligent in your calling, or in some honest labour to fit you for a calling: Take pains, rise earlie, wake late; wave all unnecessary communion with all that are not of your own sex: Doe not look upon them, (I mean in a wanton manner (z) 1.67 ) nor talk with them, nor touch them; (a) 1.68 Be much in Meditation upon heaven, and heavenly things, and in ejaculatory praier unto God, that your busie phancie may be kept from vile, and base imaginations; And if God bestow the gift of chastitie upon you, in the use of these or the like means, then you may continue in your unmarried condition, so long as God shall in∣cline you thereunto, and you may and ought to use the like means (as you have a need there∣of) for the continuance of the same; * 1.69 But if you finde your heart inclinable to Marriage notwithstanding the use of the means afore∣mentioned for some terme of time, and that you must Marrie or else sin: (b) 1.70 Then resolve to Marrie in the Lord, assoon as God shall pro∣vide a wife or a husband for you; And being all things are sanctified unto us by the word and praier, (c) 1.71 therefore solemnly seek God by praier and fasting for a wife, or husband that may be a meet help for you; And seriously

consider (before you call upon God upon this oceasion) what your iniquities, transgressions and sins are, and have been (for I alwaies ad∣vise you, before all manner of solemn praier, to think of your sins, not that you might despair, and draw back through unbelief, as if you were to satisfie for them: nor yet that you might be sorrie for them, as one without hope of par∣don. But that your heart might be kept hum∣ble and low in the sence of them, and that the memoriall of them might work a new de∣sire in you, to be found in Christ, and a new affection in you unto Christ) by reason of which God might justly curse you in all the relations that you are, or may be in: And call to minde how unprepared you are to serve God in that relation you are seeking after, and how unfit you are to make choise of a meet help or guide for your self in his service; This being done, desire God for Christs sake to re∣member your sins no more, to direct you unto friends, and by friends unto one that may be a comfortable yoke-fellow for you, and to give you grace to carry your self so in your looking out for a wife or a husband, as that you may neither dishonour him, nor wrong your self, by irrationall, irreligious, untimely engagements, either in your affections, or in your promises; Afterward acquaint your parent or chief friends of our own sex, how God inclines your heart to Marrie, and be ruled by them in a rationall religious way: Advisedly (and not rashly) choosing a help or a guide (according to the direction of your friends, (d) 1.72 and your own approbation (e) 1.73 ) that may be sutable for you,

both in regard of religion, age, disposition, and condition: Acquainting the party (if it be once upon treatie) and the parties friends, what they may expect from you, both for re∣ligion and all other matters: Demanding the like of them: Carrying your self religiously (for it is the weightiest matter that ever you went about belonging to this life) in the whole businesse, as becomes a servant of Jesus Christ: Preparing your self (from your first solemne thoughts of Marriage) to worship God in that relation according to his word; And if God doe bring it about, in causing you and the partie to love and to like each other, and both you, and your friends to accord together in all substantiall matters: Then Marrie in the Lord, according to the or∣der of the Church and State, and give up your selves unto him, to serve him so in that relati∣on, as becomes holinesse: * 1.74 Praying together (before you bed together) for the forgivenesse of all your sins, that might provoke God to imbitter all relations unto you: For the fa∣vour and countenance of God upon you that is the happinesse of everie condition of life: For new hearts, new estate: For a sanctified use of the Married condition, that it may be a furtherance unto you both (and not a hinde∣rance) in your serving of God; Praying after∣ward frequentlie, as you are a husband (accor∣ding to the advise given you in the following Directions) for, and with your wife: Con∣fessing unto God (among your other sin••) one anothers failings: Asking (for Christs sake) pardon of them, and power against them, and

grace to preserve your first love, to bear each o∣thers infirmities, to cover them with love, to observe each others tempers, for one anothers good, to be chast, to love each others compa∣nie, to be faithfull each to other, to be in∣dustrious and provident one for another, to tender each others good name: More espe∣cially intreat the Lord to give you, and your wife grace to perform those duties to him, and one to another, that you know you are negli∣gent in; Thus by praier you may tell one a∣nother of your failings, and yet not provoke one another to anger, but to godlie sorrow for the same: Thus you may exhort one another to dutie, and yet not stir up hatred one against another, but love one to another. O then con∣tinue in praier, and live, and love, and cease not to love, till ye cease to live.

How you are further to worship God as a husband or a wife, or as a father, or a mother: The Directions for Governours and Gover∣nesses of Families will shew you.

And being there is an occasion offered by these Directions to some weak Christians to propound some cases of conscience: * 1.75 Therefore I will endeavour briefly to answer these fol∣lowing questions.

[Quer, 1] First, Must I alwaies prepare for praier, reading and hearing of the word, receiving of the Sacrament, and the like holie duties before I undertake to perform them?

[Answ.] Yea alwaies, untill you can perform them to Gods honour without preparation: (f) 1.76 as you can in some measure if you goe about your earthly affairs with an heavenly minde, without

having your heart and affections taken off there∣with from things above, and if you be continu∣ally mindefull of your dependance upon God for all you are and have. (g) 1.77

[Quer, 2] Secondly, What if I do not prepare for holy duties through forgetfulnes, want of watchful∣nes: or cannot, through want of opportunity, or knowlege of them, before I am called to perform them; shall I omit them because of my unpreparednes?

[Answ.] No, Because it is a greater sinne wholly to omit, or to lay aside duties, then it is to fail in them (h) 1.78 through want of preparednesse or the like: But be sorrie for your unpreparation, and so fall upon holy duties, (if you doe not doubt of them (i) 1.79 ) unfainedly endeavouring to give God that glorie in them, that is in some measure fit for a God to have. (k) 1.80

[Quer, 3] Thirdly, What if when I doe prepare my self for holy duties, I finde my heart not fit for them: shall I for the present forbear the per∣formance of them, because of my unprepa∣ration?

[Answ.] In no wise, Because if you should neglect duties by reason of your unpreparednes in this case, you would be lesse fit for them the next time that you were to perform them, and so you might be tempted to omit them continu∣ally: (l) 1.81 But prepare your self as well as you can for holy duties, that is one part of your du∣tie, and then go on in them with all zeal for Gods glorie: praying, hearing, receiving the Sacrament (if you be free from ignorance, and all manner of wickednesse that makes you alto∣gether unworthie to come to the Lords Table)

and performing the like holy duties, that you may be the better fitted to glorifie God by them the next time you are to performe them. (m) 1.82

[Quer, 4] Fourthly, If I perform holy duties, by these or the like Directions you have given me; How shall I know whether I perform them in the strength of my parts and gifts, by the help of such and such Directions: or through the strength of Christ, and the help of the spirit?

[Answ.] If when you perform dutie, you look up to God for the help of his spirit, and depend upon him for the same, and be carried to him in du∣tie, so as to have your heart affected with him, and bettered by him, in your serving of him: Then you may be said to perform dutie in the strength of Christ, through the help of his spi∣rit, and not in your own strength through the help of your naturall parts and gifts; (n) 1.83 be∣cause they that are acted by naturall parts have not their hearts bettered thereby, but act from themselves, for their own peace and quiet of conscience, and not from the Lord unto his glorie. (o) 1.84

[Quer, 5] Fiftly, How shall I know whether I per∣form dutie for God and the honour of his name: or meerly for my self and the satisfying of my own conscience?

[Answ.] If you perform holy duties, because God re∣quires them, for that end that you might ho∣nour God in them, rejoicing that others are able to honour him more in them then your self, and do get strength by them, whereby you have communion with God in them: Then you have good evidence to your soul that God

puts you upon dutie for his own honour, and not your self alone for your own peace; (p) 1.85 For they that are acted meerly by self and naturall conscience, perform dutie more because their conscience requires them, then because God commands them, and no more nor oftner then they are for their peace and quiet of conscience, neither rejoicing in them, nor finding strength in them. (q) 1.86

[Quer, 6] Sixtly, Being without faith it is impossible to please God, How shall I know whether I please God by my duties, when as I am scrupu∣lous whether I truely beleeve in Christ, and so consequently whether my person be accepted of God, yea or no?

[Answ.] If you be united unto Christ (as you are if you have been drawn to Christ, and doe still cleave unto him (r) 1.87 ) then your person is and will be alwaies accepted of God through Christ, (s) 1.88 though you be not alwaies sensi∣ble of it: ••nd if your person be accepted, then your holy duties that are performed according to Gods word, for Gods honour in Christs name are acceptable to God, notwithstanding your present scruples; (t) 1.89 because your doubt∣fulnes, whether your person and performances be accepted of God, is but a failing of your faith, and all the failings of your holy duties are covered by Christs righteousnes, (u) 1.90 and so they are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (x) 1.91

[Quer, 7] Seventhly, Suppose I be for the present ig∣norant of the way of Christ, or doubtfull which of the Governments is the Government of Christ, that are now so much spoken of, and writ about; what shall I do in this case?

[Answ.]

Wait upon God in the use of all means, both publike and private, ordinary and ex∣traordinary, whereby you may know the Government of Christ, and that Gospel-order that Christ hath appointed his Disciples to walk in, for that end that you may submit to it, as soon as it shall be revealed to you, (y) 1.92 In the mean while walk uprightly before God, according to your present light (z) 1.93 and perform all Gospel-duties as far as you can to all sorts of Christians that will suf∣fer you to perform them, but especially to those that shew forth the vertues and gra∣ces of Christ in their life and conversation, (a) 1.94 Beleeving that Christ will be all in all unto you in the room of those Ordinan∣ces you are for the present (through your ignorance, or doubtfullnesse) deprived of (b) 1.95 .

[Quest. 8] Eightly, Suppose I live in a place (after the Discipline of Christ hath been in some measure made known unto me) where the Gospel is but seldome preached, where the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is not at all administred, and where the Government of Christ is not set up; what shall I do in this condition?

[Answ.] Diligently use all means in a godly, pea∣ceable manner, and wait upon God in the same, where by you may live under an able Minister of the Gospel, and whereby you may belong unto a Congregation that hath all the Ordinances of Christ in it, there∣unto appertaining; (c) 1.96 And for the present improve such means of grace as you partake of or Gods honour and your souls good (d) 1.97

and live upon Christ by faith without Gospel ordinances and order when you cannot have them, and in the use of them, when you have them: (e) 1.98 Beleeving that Christ will be all in all unto you, not only in the enjoiment, but also in the want of means when they cannot be had: That Christ will be your Minister and Prophet to teach you, (f) 1.99 your Priest to make intercession for you, (g) 1.100 your Pastor and Shepherd, (h) 1.101 to feed you with knowledge and understanding, and to nourish up your soul with his own flesh and bloud unto eternall life, that it shall not perish: (i) 1.102 your King, to set up his Government in your soul, to keep your inward man in order, to write his laws in your heart, to give you a heart after his own heart, a heart as willing to obey God, as God is you should obey him: To excommunicate and destroy the carnall corrupt part in you, that your soul may be saved in his day. (k) 1.103 See the conclusion of the fifth part of the Directions for private Christians, and of the third and fourth branch of the Directions for Governors of families, about answers to Queries and Ob∣jections against the advise I have given you for all manner of prayer.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  2 Sam. 12.16. Mat. 6.17.
• (b) 1.2

  Isa. 22.12. 2 Cro. 7.13.14.
• (c) 1.3

  Est. 4.16.
• (d) 1.4

  Ion. 3.4.5
• (e) 1.5

  Iudg. 20.27.28. How you are to pre∣pare for a priva••e fast.
• (f) 1.6

  Lev. 23.27 28 to 33. Est. 4.16. Isa 58.13. Exo. 33.4.
• (g) 1.7

  Lam. 3.4. Isa. 58.5. How you are to begin it.
• (h) 1.8

  Dan. 9.4. 2 Pet. 2.4. to 0.1
• (i) 1.9

  Neh. 9.6. to 38.
• (k) 1.10

  2 Cro. 7.13, 14. Psa. 130.4. Ezek. 33.11. Act. 10.43. Act 16.30.
• (l) 1.11

  Zac. 12 10
• (m) 1.12

  Neh. 9.2, Psa. 32.5.
• * 1.13

  How you are to go on in it, in rea∣ding or me∣ditating up∣on the word
• (n) 1.14

  Neh. 9.3.
• * 1.15

  In praier.
• * 1.16

  In renewing your Medi∣tations and Praiers.
• (o) 1.17

  Ier. 5.25.
• * 1.18

  How you are to end a private? Fast by Me∣ditation.
• (p) 1.19

  Ier. 44.10
• * 1.20

  By praier and thanks∣giving.
• (q) 1.21

  Phil. 4.13.
• (r) 1.22

  Isa, 58.7.
• (s) 1.23

  Psa. 37.5. Pro. 16.3.
• (t) 1.24

  2 Cor. 13.5. What you are to do if your pri∣vate Fast be about the estate of your soul.
• (u) 1.25

  Phil. 2.12 1 Cor. 10.12.
• (x) 1.26

  2 Cor. 4.16.
• (y) 1.27

  2 Pet. 1.5. to 13. Note. How you are to begin and end a Family or a Congregati∣onall Fast.
• (z) 1.28

  Zac. 12, 12 Act. 14 23.
• * 1.29

  How you are to ca••ry your self throughout the day.
• (a) 1.30

  Isa. 57.13
• (b) 1.31

  2 Chro. 32.25.
• * 1.32

  How you are to pre∣pare for a private day of thanksgi∣ving.
• * 1.33

  How you are to be∣gin it by Meditation.
• * 1.34

  By praier and thanks∣giving.
• (c) 1.35

  Neh. 8.8.
• * 1.36

  How you are to pro∣ceed in it by reading and medita∣ting upon the word.
• * 1.37

  By renew∣ing your me∣ditations.
• * 1.38

  Prayers.
• * 1.39

  And thanks∣givings.
• (d) 1.40

  Luk. 2.10 20 15.
• * 1.41

  By singing of Psalms.
• (e) 1.42

  Ep. 5.19. Iam. 5.13.
• (f) 1.43

  Est 9 22. Neh 8.1••.
• * 1.44

  By setting forth Gods Gods praise with all you are, and have.
• (g) 1.45

  1 Tim. 5.4. Gal. 6.10.
• (h) 1.46

  Mat. 25.34. to 41. Mat. 5.9,
• (i) 1.47

  Pro. 23.26
• (k) 1.48

  Phil. 4 10
• (l) 1.49

  Psa. 34.9, 10.
• (m) 1.50

  2 Pet. 5.6.7.
• (n) 1.51

  Heb. 13.5 How you are to con∣clude a pri∣vate day of thanksgi∣ving.
• (o) 1.52

  Psa. 40.23
• (p) 1.53

  2 Cor. 3.5
• (q) 1.54

  1 Pet. 2.12
• * 1.55

  How you are to be∣have your self in your closet be∣twixt God and your self, in your preparing for, and in your begin∣ning and en∣ding a day of thanksgi∣ving, in a Family or in a Con∣gregation.
• (r) 1.56

  Psa. 22.3.
• * 1.57

  How you are to pre∣pare for a day of thanks-gi∣ving in a Fa∣mily if you be to exer∣cise in it.
• (s) 1.58

  Gen. 18.29. Pro. 11.30.
• * 1.59

  How you are as a School∣master to perform the duties of parents in point of in∣struction: prayer, and correction.
• * 1.60

  How you are to pre∣pare to per∣form the duties of a Master of a Family. Hest. 4.26.
• * 1.61

  How you are as a Mistresse of Children, to instruct them and to pray with them.
• * 1.62

  How you are to pre∣pare to per∣form the du∣ties of a Go∣vernesse of a Family. How you are to behave your self as you are un∣married. 1 Thes. 4.4.
• * 1.63

  A sad exam∣ple of one wounded in conscience about self-pollution.
• (u) 1.64

  Gen. 38.9.10. Rom. 1, 27.
• (y) 1.65

  1 Cor. 7.34,
• * 1.66

  What means you are to use that you may possesse your vessell in holinesse.
• (z) 1.67

  Mar. 5.28.
• (a) 1.68

  1 Cor. 7.1.
• * 1.69

  When you may and ought to Marry.
• (b) 1.70

  1 Cor. 7.8. How you are to seek a husband or a wife by prayer and other means
• (c) 1.71

  1 Tim. 4.4, 5.
• (d) 1.72

  Deut. 7.3. 1 Cor. 7.36, 37.
• (e) 1.73

  Gen. 24.57, 58.
• * 1.74

  When, and how hus∣band and wife are to pray toge∣ther.
• * 1.75

  Fight Que∣ries, or cases of consci∣ence briefly answered.
• (f) 1.76

  Lev. 10.3. 1 Pet. 1.15. 1 Pet. 3.15.
• (g) 1.77

  1 Cor. 15.10. Phil. 3.20. 2 Tim. 2.21,
• (h) 1.78

  Ex. 4.24.25. Iob 1514.
• (i) 1.79

  Rom. 14, 23.
• (k) 1.80

  1 Chron. 16.29. 1 Chron. 29.11, to 14.
• (l) 1.81

  Pro. 10.29 Iob 17.9. 2 Tim. 3.13, 14.
• (m) 1.82

  2 Chron, 30.18, 19. 1 Cor. 11.28.
• (n) 1.83

  Rom. 8 16. 2 Cor. 3.5. Phil. 4.13. Psal. 101.2. Iam. 1, 17. Luk, 24.31, 32.
• (o) 1.84

  Isa. 58.1. to 8. Matth. 6, 1. to 11.
• (p) 1.85

  Psal. 27.8.4.42.1, 2. Psal. 84.4. Prov. 10.29. Mark. 9.23, 24. Ioh 5.44.12.43.
• (q) 1.86

  Iob. 27.10.
• (r) 1.87

  Ioh. 4.44.15.4. Act 11.23.
• (s) 1.88

  Eph. 16. Heb. 3.4, 16, 17, 18. Iude 5.
• (t) 1.89

  Act 10.4.34. Ioh. 14.13, 14. Col. 3.17. 1 Pet. 2.5.
• (u) 1.90

  Rom. 4.5, to 9. Rev. 8.3.
• (x) 1.91

  1 Pet. 2.5.
• (y) 1.92

  Ifa, 64.4. Prov. 8.34. Pro. 8.38. Pro. 2••3, to 10 Ioh 16 13. Mar 8, 38.
• (z) 1.93

  Ioh. 7 17.
• (a) 1.94

  Gal. 6.16.
• (b) 1.95

  Ioh. 6.67. to 0. Col. 3.11.
• (c) 1.96

  Ier. 3.12.13. Mat. 9.38.
• (d) 1.97

  Mat. 13.1 2, 3, 4. Mat. 25.20.•• to 31.
• (e) 1.98

  Ioh. 6.57 Rom, 1.17.
• (f) 1.99

  Heb. 8.11
• (g) 1.100

  Heb. 7.25 1 Ioh. 2.12.
• (h) 1.101

  Heb. 13.20. 1 Pet. 2.25.
• (i) 1.102

  Ioh. 6.51, to 58.
• (k) 1.103

  Isa. 9 6, 7. Ezek. 36.••5. to 29.