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 second generall Direction declares unto you how a Christian Governour of a Family is to be mindefull of the Lords day before it come, for him∣self, and his family, and how he is to keep it holy, and to per∣form the duties thereof with them when it is come.

SEcondly, As you are in your family to serve God every day, so especially on the Lords day; (a) And therefore you are to be mindefull of it for your self and for all in your house generally every day, so as to prepare your self and them who are in communion together, 1 Cor 10.16, 17. for the Lords Sup∣per if administred, particularly the day before, that the worldly businesses of your whole house may be so ordered as that they may be timely ended; so as that every one of the fa∣mily may have somewhat more space for their private duties in their closet then ordinarily they have other evenings, and so as that you may have sufficient time this evening to instruct and catechize your people, though you should have none in the evenings of the work daies before. And before you enter upon your fa∣mily duties, call to minde something to speak of unto them, that may tend to the preparation

of their hearts for the due sanctifying of the day, and the right receiving of the Sacrament if administred. And after you have thought (about the time of your going to praier in your familie) of your unworthinesse to have any thing to doe with God, (b) and of your insufficiencie to teach, minde or quicken your self, or them to any good work, or word; (c) Call upon God for communion with him through his Christ, and for a blessing from him upon his ordinances, that thereby he may be glorified, and you somewhat furthered to eternall life. Then examine them who are to receive the Sacrament (if there be a communion) about the Author, (d) and the signes of the Sacrament, and the ends for which it was ordained: As also about their knowledge, faith, repentance, charitie, desire after the Sacrament; And call upon them further to examine themselves that they may become worthy receivers, and to carry them∣selves at, and after their receiving in such a manner as they are advised to doe as private Christians; Afterward instruct the rest of your family that have not been as yet admit∣ted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in any reformed-Gospel-like way, or order, in the principles of the Doctrine of Christ; And when you perceive any of them willing to communicate with the Saints at the Lords Table, then make it known unto your Mini∣ster and unto the Elders who may jointly de∣clare their meetnes to the Brethren of the Church, whose consent is requisite to their more free and comfortable admission.

And if there be no communion, then cate∣chize them in the grounds of Religion, or reade the third branch of the first part of the Directions: Examining them in it, char∣ging them in the name of Christ to pre∣pare for, and to keep holy the Sabbath, as they are therein directed. And so conclude the exercise as you doe other evenings with inlar∣ged praiers for grace to sanctifie the Lord in your hearts, and his day when it comes: im∣portuning the Lord in a particular manner (when you have no opportunitie to teach and examine them as I have even now shewed you) to minde you of your duties, and to strength∣en you through Christ to perform them con∣cerning your preparation for, and your keep∣ing holy of his day: Requiring your familie to finish the works of their particular callings betimes, and seasonably to go to their rest, that they may awake with the Lord right early, and wait for him more then they that watch for the morning: I say, more then they that watch for the morning. (e)

And in the morning after you have ended your private duties, and so disposed of all your necessarie worldly affaires in, or about your house, as that none may be therewith unne∣cessary kept from, or cumbred in the sanctify∣ing of the day; Meditate of the riches of Gods goodnesse to your familie at all times, parti∣cularly the week past: of the sins you are be∣come guilty of, the by-past week, morning, or at any time: of the mercies, especially spiri∣tuall that you, your familie, or any that you are to pray for, want, and that you would

have God that day to bestow upon you; After that (your people being come together) praise God for all his blessings temporall in earthly things, and spirituall in heavenly things that you have, doe, or hope to partake of: Be humbled for your sins of all sorts, ask what you want: fervently praying for grace to sanctifie the Lord, and his day, for commu∣nion and fellowship with him, through his Christ, and for a blessing upon your Minister, his Ministery, and upon all the ordinances you are to partake of that day, that every one of you may profit somewhat thereby to his glorie and your own comfort. Appointing them afterward to take that food in due season they stand in need of, to go with you to the publike ordinances, and to be attentive unto them from first, to last; (*) Advising them to attend their own Minister (if he be conceived by the Church to be a true Minister of Christ) whom God hath set over them, as one that must give an account of their souls, (f) and from whose Ministery they may rather expect a •…•…lessing, then from any other, although he be •…•…f weaker parts, and of meaner gifts then o∣•…•…hers, and subject to more infirmities then o∣•…•…hers; (g) not giving way unto them to leave •…•…im but by his generall consent and leave, (h) 〈…〉〈…〉 least they grieve the spirit of Christ in vexing •…•…is soul, and be found despisers of Christ in be∣•…•…ng contemners of him and his Ministery (i) ) •…•…nd at such times when they can either approve •…•…heir hearts to God, and manifest i•• to man •…•…hat they can profit more by some other then •…•…y him: or when a speciall occasion is offered

unto them of hearing another that is preach∣ing upon a subject that is sutable to the estate of their souls. Walking so before them in your going to the publique worship, in your abiding at it, (hearing then and alwaies for your self and them too) in your return from it (bringing some poor home with you, (k) or approving your heart to God (if you be a receiver) that you have a willing minde there∣unto, if you had wherewithall to relieve them) in your continuing at home, in your giving of thanks, in your eating, drinking, and confe∣rence, as that you may be a pattern of piety to them, and to all that shall behold you; (l) Ordering them so as that the day be neither profaned by worldly words, works, vain sports, nor through idlenesse neglected by them: Preparing your self in private for familie duties (that the publique ordinances may be impro∣ved by you to the uttermost for Gods glorie and the good of your soules) by considering with your self how you should explain, and apply the word sutably to every soul for their profit: how you should pray with them and for them, and what sutable Psalme you should propound unto them, whereby you, and they may sing with understanding, and grace in your hearts to Gods glorie. Causing after∣ward your whole house to attend those exerci∣ses, and (having called upon God for a bles∣sing upon them, for one may preach, and ano∣ther may repeat and all in vain without Gods blessing. (m) ) either repeat the Sermon, or cause it to be repeated, if it was writ by any of you, or if any of you were able to remember it:

or speak of it unto them what you can remem∣ber that concerns them: or require them to give an account of their profiting, or turn the heads of the Sermon into questions sutable to every person of them: or teach and examine them any way as you are able, and as you conceive may be most for their edification, Concluding the exercise with singing of Psalms, thanks-giving, and praier for a blessing upon the Ministery and means of grace you are further that day to partake of: Remembring so to order and end these private duties as that you may be in due time at the publike worship: choosing rather to omit them, then to neglect the publike; Going so before them the following part of the day in the per∣formance of all holy duties that you are advi∣sed to perform as a private Christian: as that they and others beholding your godly conver∣sation may glorifie your Father which is in heaven; (n) Looking so after the necessary works of your Family as that neither man, nor beast may be neglected (o) Preparing for and performing of duty in the evening (and at all times in the like manner upon the like occasion) after such a manner as you were advised to prepare for and to perform duty betwixt Sermons; yea inlarging your preme∣ditations, praises, praiers, confessions of neg∣ligences, defects, and failings in duty; Beha∣ving your self so, the ensuing part of the eve∣ning, whether you eat or drink or whatsoe∣ver you do, as becomes a godly Governour of a Family: Taking those of your Sex into your closet on every Lords day in the evening

(or whensoever else you have opportunity) fo•…•… to teach and examine them about the estate o•…•… their souls, and whether they pray, and ho•…•… they pray: for to pray with them, and for t•…•… direct them how to pray, using all means al•…•… manner of waies, that you might save som•…•… (p) Appointing the Governesse of the famil•…•… to do likewise, with those of her sex; Remem¦bring this day and alwaies so to appoint•…•… and so to conclude all these duties as tha•…•… they may be neither burthensome (p) to you•…•… self nor others, and so as that neither yo•…•… nor they may be kept from, nor hindere•…•… in your private duties; Spending the da•…•… (if you should at any time be deptive•…•… of the publike Ordinances) in prayer in reading, in catechizing, in holy confe¦rence, or the like; Commending them to God, and the word of his grace, whic•…•… is able to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among them that are san¦ctified (q) .

Notes

• How you are to pre∣pare for the sanctifying of the Sab∣bath.
• (a)

  Exo. 20.8 to 12.
• By your timely lay∣ing aside your worldly businesse.
• (b)

  Luk. 18.13.
• (c)

  Ioh. 15.5. 2 Cor. 3.5. 1 Cor. 3 6, 7. By exami∣ning your family a∣bout the truth and growth of grace in them if the Lords Sup∣per be ad∣ministred.
• (d)

  1 Cor. 11.23.
• Or (if there be no com∣munion) by teaching and catechi∣zing of them in the grounds of Religion.
• (e)

  Ps. 130.6. Psal. 63.1.
• How you are to begin the day in pri∣vate.
• How you are to pre∣meditate be∣fore praier.
• How, and after what manner you are to pray.
• (*)

  Zac. 8.21. How you are to coun∣sell them to to attend their own Minister.
• (f)

  Heb. 13.17. Ezek. 34.10. Compare these Scri∣ptures toge∣ther.
• (g)

  Ier. 3.15. 1 Pet. 5.2. to 6. Heb. 13.17. 1 Cor. 16.10. Ephes. 4.7. 1 Cor. 12 7.
• (h)

  1 Thes. 5.13.
• (i)

  Luk. 10.16.
• (k)

  Iob 31.16, 17. Ps 41.1, 2, 3, 4.
• 2 Cor. 8.12. How you are to be an ensample of holines un∣to them.
• (l)

  1 Tim. 4.12.
• How you are to pre∣pare for, and to perform duty betwixt Sermons.
• (m)

  1 Cor. 3.5, 6, 7.
• How you are to be ex∣emplarily holy in the following part of the day.
• (n)

  Mat. 5.16.
• (o)

  Mat. 12.1. to 14. How you are to pre∣pare for, and to perform duty in the Evening.
• How you are to use all diligenc•• to win their souls to God
• (p)

  1 Cor. 9.19. to 23. 1 Cor. 10.33. Pro. 11.30.
• (p)

  Mat. 9.13.12, 7. Mat. 26.41.
• (q)

  Act, 20.32.