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 generall Direction shews what course ignorant, and unlearned Ma∣sters of Families are to take that they and their house may sincerely serve God.

FOurthly, As you are one that cannot reade, learn to reade, (if you be not one way or other disinabled) and be diligent in the use of all means to know and understand your duties afore mentioned as you are a Christian Gover∣nour of a familie; For that end get a Bible and a catechisme, and one that can reade, into your house; And first of all appoint that part of the first Direction to be read unto you, that directs you how to call upon God morning and evening: causing afterward the rest of that and all the other Directions to be read unto you as you have occasion to make use of them: as also the Scriptures and this or some other catechisme as you have need thereof.

And whereas Governours of families that are learned, are advised often to reade and open the word to their people: or to repeat Ser∣mons, and to examine them about their pro∣fiting therein: as also to catechise them in this or some other catechisme, and in, and a∣bout these Directions; Doe you in the room of this (having sought God for a blessing)

appoint the word, or some part of this, or some other catechisme, or some part of the Directi∣ons that are for private Christians, as those pieces of the second branch that shews them how to call upon God, morning, noontime, and evening, and that doth direct them how to attend family duties, to be read unto your family, morning, evening or any time when you have opportunity: causing the third branch of the Directions to be read unto them the evening before the Sabbath: The fourth the evening before Fasts, or daies of Thanksgiving, and the rest of them as they have occasion to use them; This being done at any time, either examine them your self in the things that have been read unto them: or appoint some other to catechize them therein in such a manner as that you and they may be thereby edified; calling upon them to get their catechisme by heart, and the Directions that are for them, as they have occasion to make use thereof, and to hear and to examine one another therein as they have opportunity; concluding all such like exercises with thanksgiving to God for those private helps and the profit you receive thereby; which you may doe in your family prayer if they be immediately before your mor∣ning or evening praier.

Require them that can write to take Ser∣mons as they have opportunity to hear, and to repeat them the first spare time you have to attend them, demanding an account of every one after repetition, of their profiting by the word preached, or repeated; Remembring alwies to begin and end such like duties

with praier and thanksgiving.

If there be none that can write in your fa∣mily, then doe you on the Lords day betwixt Sermons, and afterward in the evening, and at every other time after you have heard the word preached, call upon God to help you by his spirit to remember, understand, and to pro∣fit by the word you are about to speak of; And tell them in a spirituall way what you can remember that you doe understand and beleeve, requiring them to doe likewise; And so (ha∣ving talked together in a holie manner about it,) conclude the exercise with thanks to God for the means of grace in publique, and in private, and for any benefit you partake of thereby.

And if there be any in your family of your sex that are more fit and able to perform fami∣lie duties then you are, Then procure them sometimes to perform them in your stead. In the mean while untill you have a Bible, a ca∣techisme, and one that can reade in your house, (and afterward as you see it needfull) pro∣cure your Minister, or some officer of the Church, or some neighbour Christian to come to your house once or twice a week for to in∣struct you and your family in the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven: Or go to them to be taught and instructed by them the things that may make you wise unto salvation; How∣ever ignorant and unskilfull you be for the present in the word of righteousnesse, Yet I doubt not but that you will be soon taught of God (if there be a willing minde in you to learn) how you and your house should serve

God in holinesse and righteousnesse all your daies; yea, and enabled through Christ there∣unto, as you are instructed therein.

But you may object and say, What if I can∣not pray in my family through the weaknesse of my memory, want of boldnes, utterance, or the like, either by these Directions or any other rules that have been commended unto me?

I answer, You ought to call upon God in your family, if there be any to join with you; And you may sooner and easier learn to pray (I mean thtough the help of the spirit) by these Directions I have given you: than by forms of praier got by heart (as some weak Christians have) as they are read unto you; And having learned them you may be enabled by the practice of them to pray more under∣standingly, spiritually, and sincerely, than you can by any formes of praier when you have them in your memory. For your further sa∣tisfaction herein let the latter end of the fift branch of the first part of the Directions, and of the third branch of the second part of the Directions be read unto you about objections and answers of the like nature.

And if you finde your self for the present altogether unfit for family exercises notwith∣standing these Directions and your endeavours to make use of them, then speak to your Mini∣ster or to some of the congregation, whereof you are a member to help you with one that may instruct your familie, and pray with them untill the Lord put you into a fitnes (I mean through your endeavours) for the performance of these duties your self.

Notes

• How, and for what end you are to have a Bible and a Catechisme and one that can reade in your family.
• How you are to ap∣point the word, and this, or some other Cate∣chisme to be read unto them.
• How you are to exa∣mine them: or to ap∣point some other to Ca∣techise them,
• How you are to cause them that can write to take Ser∣mons as of∣ten as they have oppor∣tunity to hear.
• How you are to im∣prove the word in your family after you have heard it preached on the Lords day, or at any other time.
• When, and upon what occasion you are to procure some other to instruct you and your family. Act. 10.3, 6.
• An Object.
• The Answer to it.
• When you are to pro∣cure ano∣ther to per∣form family duties for you. Act. 10.5, 6.