ao = %MHV>JO : S;OF-CA1IFO% .fcUft ,\M,[;f. ( ^ C?* C- =e / fr ^~ z r f l ~-K 5 = f (5 ' UBRAHV; - P R A C T I C E O F True Devotion, In RELATION to the END, as well as the MEANS RELIGION; With an O F F I C E for the HOLY COMMUNION. Great Peace have they that fai'e tfy La~v, and nothing Jhall offend them. PSAL. cxix. 165. Dum beatam quairunt vitam, beat.im ngunt; & dum adhuc ambiunt, jam confequuntur. S. EUCHER. By ROBERT NELSON, Eiq r i euitiom To which is added The CHARACTER of" the AUTHOR. L O N D O A": Printed for B. Don, Bookfeller to THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE ; .It ib/e aixiATiry mA-vc-MnrjLaxe. M.DCC.T.XIV. 8524'! [ Si 3 THE PREFACE HE present divided Staff of Chriftianity, is fo Me- lancholy a Confederation to all Pious and Good Men, who thoroughly apprehend the dreadjul Confluences of it ; that they do not more frequently lament, than they do mofl frequently beg of GOD, a Sovereign Remedy Jor thofe unhappy Divifions that prevail in the World j and labour as earneltly in their federal Stations to Juggtftjuch Methods as way prove moft efleftual to preferve the Unity of the A 2 Faith ; iv Tie PREFACE. Faith j and may lave the greatejl 'Ten- dency to reconcile the Minds of Men to one anotber. It is but too manifeft y that among ike many vifible ill Efiecls of Parties, ive may reasonably reckon^ as a very con fider able one, the great Decay of the Spirit and Life of Devotion \for while Men are fo deeply concerned for their federal Schemes, and purfue them with the Vigour of their Minds, and the Bent of their Afreclions ; the folid and fub- itantialPtfrt of Religion is apt te eva- porate 5 and Charity, the very Bond of Peace and of all Virtues, without which whofoever tiveth is counted dead before GOD, is but too frequently made a Sa- crifice to thoje Differences that divide us. Not that any one Jhould forbear contending for the Faith once de- livered to the Saints, Jude ver. 3. ac- cording to the Exhortation of the holy Apoftle; but that they flwuld remem- ber, as the fame infpired Writer ad* vifes, when they build up themfelves on their mod holy Faith, that they pray in the Holy Ghoft, and keep themfelves PREFACE. v themfelves in the Love of GOD; looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal Life, ver. 20 21. In order therefore to give fome to this growing Evil, the following Me- thod of Devotion is recommended to the confront Practice ofallfuch Chriftians, who are not 'willing to content them/elves with only a Form of Godlinefs ; and 'who are not defrous to be Jound among the Number of thofe that go fuch a fan- tring Pace towards Heaven, as if they were indifferent whether they arrived or no at thoje Manfions of Blifs : The Defign whereof is to fix in their Minds the great Duties of Religion, and to give them Hints I. oiv to exercife the fame in their Thoughts, Words > and dttiom ; and moreover to prefs them to a frequent and ferious Ufe of the Means of Grace, with that Aim and Purpcje^ that fLvy may be transformed by the renewing of their Minds. To make thtje more effcflual, in the fatter Part are added Prayers for the A 3 Clofct, vi T^e PREFACE. Clofet, and for the Family, and at the Holy Communion, and upon other Oc- cafions that require cur Aadreji to GOD; and the Whole contrived in fo jhort a Compafs^ ikat it might be eafily pur chafed by the poorer Sort, for wkofe UJe this Undertaking was chiefly engaged in j and to ivboje Salvation 1 beg of' GOD it may prove effecluaL ROB. NELSON. THE [vii] THE Nature and Wifdom of True Devotion, Page i CHAP. I. A general Method for the Exercife of True Devotion, 27 CHAP. II. 76 CHAP. V. For Monday, ffle Love of our Neigh- bour , 85 CHAP. VI. For Tuefday. Humility, 96 CHAP. VII. JFbr Wednefday. Patience and Refig- nation, 106 CHAP. VIII. For Thnrfday. Of the Improvement of Talents, and Co-operation with God's Grace> 117 CHAP. The CONTENTS. ix CHAP. IX. For Friday. Mortification, Page 125 CHAP. X. For Saturday. Chaftity, 134 CHAP. XI. Reflections relating to the Conquering of any Vice, 148 CHAP. XII. To be fervent in Spirit) &c. is an ad- tnirabk Injlrument of Cbrijlian Per- Jeflion> \ 54 CHAP. XIII. General Reflexions upon that Devotion that relates to the Means of Reli- gion, 165 CHAP. XIV. For Sunday. Prajer, 172 CHAP. * : The CONTENTS*' C H A P. XV. For Monday. Reading the Holy Scriptures^ and other Books of Piety 9 Page 184 C HT A P. XVI. For Tuefday. Meditation^ 197 C H A P. XVH. For Wednefday. Examination^ 205 CHAP. XVIIL For Thurfday. Conformation^ 2 1 7 CHAP. XIX. for Friday. Receiving the Holy Com- munion, 226 CHAP. XX. For Saturday. Htanng of Sermons, 244 A Morning Hymn, 256^ ' j An The C o N T JE N T xi jin Evening Hymn, Page 259 A Midnight Hymn, 260 A Morning Prayer jftr a Child, 263 Evening Prayer for a Child, 264 A Morning Prayer for a Per/on in private, 266 A Prayer for a Perfon that daily works, 273 An Evening Prayer for a Perfon in private, 274 A Morning Prayer for a family, 283 Evening Prayer for a Family, 289 A Prayer Jor ajick Perfon, to be added upon Occafion, ft f far to the Clojet or Family Prayer, 294 A Prayer for afck Perfon, 'when there appeareth Jmall Hope of Recovery, 295 A Prayer for a Perfon under Trouble of Mind, 297 A Prayer before a journey, 298 A Thankfgiving after a "Journey, 299 A Thankfgiving^rrf Perjon recovered from Stc knefs, 301 A Prayer for a Woman drawing near the "Time of her Travail, 302 A Prayer when any Pwjon comttb into the Church, 303 A Prayer xtt The CONTENTS. A Prayer after the Service of the Church is ended, Page 304 A Prayer to be ufed by a Per/on pre- paring for Confirmation, ibid. A Prayer after Confirmation, 307 Ajhprt Office for the Holy Commu- nion, 309 Lately Pullijhed, (A Book highly Neceffary for all Chrijlian Famil'id, being a moft ufeful Companion for the Reading and rightly Underftanding the Holy Scriptures) H E Arguments of the Books and Chapters of A the Old and New Teftaments, with Practical Obfervations. Written Originally in French, by the Rev. Mr OSTERYALD, Profeflbr of Divinity, and one of the Minirters of the Church at Neufckatel in Snvitxe rland : And by him prefented to THE SOCI- ETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. Tranflated by JOHN CHAMBERLAYNE, Efq; In THREE VOLUMES, 8vo. The FOURTH EDITION, RpvifeJ, Correfled, and very much Enlarged from the Folio Edition printed at Neufchatel, 1744. Price Bound only 12$. Printed for B. Don, at the Bible and Kej'in. Mary Lane, near heard thy Name and fmil'd : Thy Name the tawny Malabar has known, Beyond the wide Atlantic Gulf 'tis flown. Nor ought fo mean as Gold thy Cares employ'd, $crfo/did Pelf, deilru&ye, while enjoy 'd; Bat 1 On Mr N E L S 7s r . xv But that for which thy LORD a Ranfom gave, Which coft the precious Blood of GOD to fave. Exalted Worth, like thine, Applaufe commands From warring Factions and contending Lands : The Romi/b Schifm and ours in this agree, And wonder at each other's Charity. No narrow Party NELSON'S Love confin'd, But, like the Sun, it fhone on all Mankind ; The Cottage and the Palace blefs'd his Ray?,.. Acior'd the Maker, and the Work did praife. IN Words that match'd his Senfe, fublime and neat, He taught the Noble to be truly Great : To emulate alone in Virtue's Strife, And fcorn the Trappings and the Gauds of Life ; To know 'tis more, far more of true Renown, Ourfelves to conquer than to dorm a Town. The Men of Letters might from NELSON learn, What always not the gieateil Clerks d fctrrn ; Truth and fair Manners too (at once) retain, Nor ftrive unlawfully, nor ftrive in vain. His *iaell- d Judgment could avoid Ext reams Of formal Scemings, and Enthufiaft Dreams. Who made the compound Man, demands him whole, Not though tie is Matter, or up. body 'd Soul : His Inftituticns are for both defign'd, Tc^-rule the Bcd-y, and to raife the Mind; a 2 J'oj xvi On Mr N E L S N. For both did NELSON'S Pen and Life contend, Nor carelefs of the Way, nor mindlefs of the End. His Stations fix'd, as the returning Year ; Yet nought to fee of haughty or fevere : No Pburafaic Gloom did e'er difgrace GOD's Image, well exprefs'd in NELSON'S Face.' The four Judean Youths did thus appear, Who homely Pulfe preferr'd to Regal Fare. Thus Mofes, when for forty Days he troj The Heights of Sinai, and.convers'd with GOD, What Glories then, too pow'rful to be born, Whatdoubl'd Splendor did his Heav'nly Face adorn? But milder Luflre we in NELSON fee, Rebated by his Veil of Modefty ; Yet ftill renew'd : As foon the Sun to fet, As he his Lauds and Vefpers could forget. He * oft, when Night with holy Hymns was worn, Prevented Prime, and wak'd the rifing Morn : Nor needed the Cart human's Mattin Bell, Which drag? the drowfy Hermit from his Cell. Unforc'd by Vows, his pure Devotions rife, And voluntary flow, like Streams in Paradife. With Praife he made the Sabbath yet more blefi'd, The Means and Emblem of Eternal Reft. Taught how to take the rr.yftic Bread and Wine, T' adore the Subflance, nor neglect the Sign j Nor * This I petfonally know to be true, He fung Bi/hop KENN'S Hymns. On Mr NELSON, xvii Nor thofe defpife, to whom Commi&on's giv'n, Thro' all the World, to deal the Dole of Heav'n. Tho* fome their Paftors Lives with Rigour fcan, And prize the Office as they like the Man ; What mining Virtues in the Priejl appear, Their gracious Condefcenfion may revere : But if a Judas Heav'nly Tidings tells, Their Hate of Sin preferves them Infidels. NELSON more wife, their empty Scoffs difdain'd, Since Weaknefs makes not the Commffion feign'd. 4 jult Refpeft could for the Office find, (Yet deep his Learning, yet enlarg'd h ; s Mind) Nor paid implicit Faith, nor fhew'd Obedience blind. HE fhew'd d\M.n'armtl) and Strength mightwell a In fobcr, ftrong, affecting Piety. Nor e'er fliould Reafon and Devotion part, The cooler! Head fuits bcft the warmelt Heart. Yet, Champion for the Faith, he wifely knew How fmall a Profpedt terminates our View : That Infinite no Finite comprehends, That here our Faith begins, and Reafon ends. He drove for Truth,nor fought, yet gain'dAppIaufej' His Candor Praife, if not Conviction, draws, Far as a Mortal can, defcrving of his Caufe. For Zeal and Moderation well agree, And conilant Firmnefs hurts net Charity. He xviii On Mr NELSON'. He oft the Way has to thofe Wand'rers fhown, Who Reafon idolize ; - but 'tis their own : Who meafure Faith by Mathematic Line ; By Human Wifdom would correct Divine : At all their empty Vauntings undifmay'd, Their Schemes he in the Sacked Balance weigh 'd : The Scale flew up, their Proofs than Air more light, Triumphed the Faith, and Error fled to endlefs Night* With pious Zeal the frozen World he warm'd j And thus againft each fly Seducer arm'd : " Shall Truth for long Poflefiion lefs be priz'd ? " Becaufe 'tis Venerable, be defpis'd ? " What is Eternal, never can decay, " 'Tis ftill in Bloom, while Ages roll away : " Faljhood t like Vice, is wither'd while 'tis new, 11 Not all its Paint can hide its odious Hue. " Beware the Hag, beware that Syren Face ! f* Death's in her Smiles, and Hell in her NOR was his Soul of fo confin'd a View, As what was Good to flight, becaufe 'twas new. Nothing was e'er of Public Ufe proposal, But with the Project NELSON warmly clos'd;- Turn'd, and improv'd,and brought at lafl to bear,. Supported by his Bounty and his Care. He ne'er unaided could his SAVIOUR fee By. Sicknefs prefs'd, or Cham?, or Penury. AH On Mr NELSON. six All Shapes of Woe his gen'rous Pity mov'd, His Maker's Face he faw, and feeing lov'd. Yet farther Love his Piety has fhown, Not to the Body's Wants, confin'd alone ; Inftructing all to place their Hopes on High, Refign'd to Live, and innocent to Die. Tis kind to heal the Wounds th' Affiided feels, "Pis kinder ftill preventing future Ills. On Infants Heads behold his Bounty flows, Preferv'd from Guilt, and fure attending Woes ; Their Manners form'd aright with early Care, Ere blafted yet their Bloom with tainted Air. 'Tis Thit muft flop th' Infection of.our Crimes, And firm Foundations lay for brighter Times : For This, to GOD are folemn Praifes giv'n, And Crowdi of Orphans fend their Songs to Heav'n. O glorious Alms ! O Goodnefs beft defign'd ! To feed the Body, and to fave the Mind. Our SAVIOUR, Gracious, gave his Hearers Bread, His Sermons teaching whom his Wonders fed. How far diffus'd is Charity diftrect ! How vaft th' Advantage to be Good and Great ! How Godlike may the Rich their Elcjjlrgs fhow'r, Whene'er their Will is equal to their Pow'r ! How wide their Pow'r to benefit Mankind ! Who Mercy fhew, only lhail Mercy find. Waat xx On Mr N E L S AT. What various GWthe Theme of NELSON'S Thought, Who living praclis'd what he dying taught ? What Heat divine his lateft Counfel breathes f He leaves his Art, as he his Soul bequeaths. Let this, ye Mighty, your Ambition be, T' improve his friendly, noble Legacy. The Benefaftor-Saint is now no more : Begriev'd, ye Virtuous, and lament, ye Poor; Since not till we another NELSON find, His Lofs will be repair'd to all Mankind. LET Friendship's facred Name at lead excufe, This laft Effort of a retiring Mufe : For NEWON oft fhe ftrung her humble Lyre, And on his Tomb may decently expire. THE THE NATURE and WISDOM O F True Devotion. The INTRODUCTION. Treating of Devotion in General. HERE are too many, God knows, in all Communions, who place all their Devotion in the Means of Religion ; pro- vided they pray cuftomarily, hear many Sermons, and Ibmetimes receive the ho- ly Communion, they conclude the Man B of 2 The Nature and Wlfdom of of God made perfect ; they think no- thing more necefiary to entitle them to the Favour of the Almighty, or if they are fenfible they fall fhorc of their Duty in other Particulars, yet they flatter them- fe^ves, that their Exactnefs in the external Parts of Religion will make Amends for all fuch Defeats. Whereas, in Truth, the Defign of all thofe Means of Grace God has eftablifhed in Chriftianity, was to conduct us to folid and fubltantial Piety, to plant in our Minds the Love and Fear of God's holy Name, and an utter Ab- horrence of every Thing that is Evil ; to make us juft and upright in all our Deal- ings with our Neighbour, temperate in all our Enjoyments, charitable towards the Needy and Afflicted, and zealous for the Salvation of our Brethren : And i art her, fo to fpiritualize our Affections, that they might be railed above the trifling Con- cerns of this perifhing Life, and fixed up- on a Good that is everlafting and immu- table, So that if we do not ufe them to this End and Purpofe, they will no ways be acceptable in God's Sight, but rather provoke his Wrath and Indignation a- gainft us, and increafe our Condemnation, in that we pervert the very Means of our Recovery. T~ TRUE DEVOTIONT.' 3 To Pray frequently, to Read and Hear the holy Word of God, to Receive the blefied Sacrament, to Fad, to Examine ourfelves, to Meditate upon divme Sub- jects, are all holy and Chriftian A&ions, what God requires from us ; and there- fore, without Doubt, the Performance of them, as they are fit to promote our Sal- vation, fo they tend to his Honour and Glory : But yet, if this were the only Path that leadeth to eternal Life, there would not be fo few--that find it. God expects that we (hould become New Crea- tures j that the prevailing Temper and Bent of our Souls mould be, to bring forth all the Fruits of Righteoufnefs ; that we mould fieri ftce to him our darling PafTions and Inclinations, and whatfoever oppofeth his ilivine Will. The Vidlim we fhould offer, fhould be the Idol of cur Heart, that which corrupt Nature moil inclines us to, that which bad Cuf- tom confirms and nourifhes in us. The Covetous are eafily prevailed upon to re- nounce that Luxury of Life, that is main- rained by the Extravagance of Expences. And Vanity may perluade others to re- lieve the Necefllties of the Poor, from that public Applaufe that is paid to Cha- rity , but flill thefe Sacrifices are very imperfect-, becaufe the darling Paflion is B 2 ilill 4 The Nature and Wifdom of ftill' retain^; ;Jn thefe Cafc$, the vain Man muii become Modeft and Humble, and glory only in" the, Lord j and the co- vetous Man muft abound in Alms-deeds, and'fi* his,Mind upon durable Riches: The Choleric and Revengeful, may pre- ferve tbemfelves from the ill Effects of the teader Paflions ; and the Soft and Ef- feminate may find no great Difficulty to fupprefs their Refentments: But if the Revengeful could be perfuaded to turn his Anger againft himfeif, and the Man of Pleaiure to place his Delight in God, both tnight be numbered amongft the truly de- vout. Therefore, we mult ufe the Means of Grace, in order to overcome the irre- gular Motions of our own Hearts ; in or- der to give up that to God, which Na- ture would refer ve for her i elf : This is the fhorteft and fureft Way. AND as we muft ufe the Means of ReHgion, in order to the aforementioned End and Purpofe, fo we muft not be partial in the Ufe of thofe Means, pick out fome, and leave out others. For we muft look upon ourfelvcs in the Hands of God, as ficlc Men in the Hands of an able Phyfician, who requires an exact Compliance with all his Prefcriptions ; that fome Medicines fhculd be taken at one Time, feme at another, and that nD.ie be TRUE DEVOTION. 5 be omitted -, the 'Patient's Recovery de- pending not fo much upon one Medicine, as upon the punctual Ufe of all he has directed : For want of this Obfervation, I am afraid, many fall fhort in working out their Salvation ; for God, who knows our Frame, and remembers that we are but Duft, has fuited the Means of our Kecovery to the complicated Maladies of our Souls-, fo that if we neglect any of them, we may juflly fear being difap- pointed in attaining folid and fubitantia) Piety, which is the true Health of our Minds. THUS fome lay the great Strefs upon Hearing of Sermons, as if the Knowledge of their Duty were the one Thing necef- fary. Others are fo entirely devoted to the Prayers of the Church, that they have but a mean Opinion of thole Inductions that are delivered by the Priefls of the Lord, whofe Lips are to prefirvc Know- ledge ; as if defiring God to make us Good, were fufficient, without the Know- ledge of the Way and Manner of being fo. Some depend upon their private De- votions, for mortifying the Deeds of the Flefh, even to the Contempt of Fafting, as a Piece of Will-worfhip, though it is a Chriftian Duty, enjoined for the bringing under our Bodies. Others are punctual B 3 in l6 *fbe Nature and Wtfdom of in their bodily Exercifes, but neglect thoie Prayers which are neceflary to make them effectual. And thofe who are en- gaged in the Ufe of fome, or all of thefe Means, yet live in a moft fhameful Neg- lect of receiving the Holy Sacrament, as if that were no ways neceflary to enable them to grow in Grace-; whereas it was inftituted to that very End and Purpofe,. that the Benefits of (Thrift's Death mighc thereby be conveyed to them. There- fore, if ever we fincerely defire to fuc- ceed in our holy Pur.po.fes, we muft con- ftamly and diligently make ufe of all thofe Means which God has ordained to- wards the obtaining eternal Life j fince it is by the joint Ule of them all, that we ace made meet to le Partakers of the Inheritance- of the Saints in Light. THERE is another Extreme, which I hope is the Cafe of but few ; but fince it is incident to thofe who make the great- eft Pretences to Spirituality ; it ought to be taken Notice of; which is, from a Pur- pofe of greater Perfection, to lay afide the ordinary Means of Grace, which God has eftablifhed : They frequent not the Inftru&ions of God's Ambafladors, be- caufe they find themfelves more enlight- ned from their own Meditations : They approach not frequently the holy Com- munion* TRUE DEVOTION. 7 munion, to feed themfelves with the Bread of Life there diitributed, becaufe they feel not thofe Raptures, which they are fupplied with from their own Con- templations : They feem to have a mean Opinion of all the holy Functions of the Priefthood, becaufe the Men that exercife them are not animated with their Spirit. Now that this is a great Delufion, is apparent, becaufe it contradicts that Or- der and Method that God has revealed for the attaining everlafling Happincfs. He has fet apart an Order of Men under the Gofpel, on purpofe to afTift us in the great Bufinefs of our Salvation ^ He has given them Power to declare to us the Terms upon which it is to be obtained ; they are the deputed Minifters of Recon- ciliation, and therefore we ought to at- tend their Inftruclions : He has farther authorized them to adminiiler Sacra- ments, that we might be made Members of Chrift's Body, and nourifhed with all Goodnefs. Thefe holy Actions receive their Efficacy from the divine Inftitution, which we mull keep clofe to, if we pre- tend to receive the Influences and Affiit- ances of God's Holy Spirit. To enlight- en our Understandings in the Knowledge of our Duty, to influence our Wills in the Practice of it, he has revealed to us the B 4 holy 8 'The Natvtre and Wijdom of holy Scripture, which, as it lays down the bcft Method for the attaining that Perfection we are capable of in this Life; fo it furnifhes us with the bed Argu- ments for the Profecution of it : And though I am fatisfied, that the Spirit of God does farther direct and excite thofe that ferioufly and reverently apply them- felves to the Ufe of this Rule of Belief and Practice ; yet they that lay it afide, under Pretence of Infpirations of equal Authority, have reafon to doubt their own Infpirations. For if they proceeded from the Spirit of God, they would put the greateft Strefs and highefl Value up- on what has been ftamped with his Mark, by being confirmed by the Teftimony of Miracles, the Demonflration of the Spi- rit, and what has been received by the Catholic Church, as the undoubted "Word of God : Befides, fince it is agreed that we are unable of onrfelves to do any Thing that is Good ; and that the Grace of God is neceflary to ftrengthen our Weaknefs, and to aflift us in the Per- formance of our Duty , how can we ex- pect the Influences of his Holy Spirit, if we neglect the Ufe of thofe Means which are prefcribed by divine Institution, to convey to us the Benefits and Advantages of it. IT TRUE DEVOTION^ 9 IT is certain, therefore, that as we mould not, fo rely upon any toutward Performance, as to neglect the Improve- ment of our Minds, left our Fatting become an unprofitable Trouble, and our Prayers a vain Lip-Labour v fo neither mould we pretend to inward Perfection, by flighting the outward Obfervances of Religion, left our Thoughts grow proud and fantaftic, and all our Arguments prove but a Cover for Delufion. A Man may be a bad Man, and ufe them all; and yet there is no being good without them. FROM hence it appears, That true Devotion is not fo properly a particular Virtue, as it. is the Way and Manner of performing all the Inftances of our Du- ty ; and that it confifts in a conflant ar.d ready Chearfulnefs of Mind in doing tbe Will of God, however manifefted to us : for this mews we are entirely devoted to his Service. It is an Earneftnefs of Soul to be conformed in every Thing to the divine Pleafure ; fo that the Covetous do not more eagerly long for Wealth, the Ambitious for Honour, and' the Epi- cure for Pleafure, than the devout Soul does to live in all the Commandments of the Lord blamelefs i That is to fay, that he is ready to facrifice the Satisfactions of B 5 Life, \J o The Nature and Wifdom of Life, and to expofe even Life itfelf, to gratify this Defire, which inflames his Heart ; all the Ways that lead to Hea- ven, are the Objects of his Delight ^ and he would willingly choofe the moft rugged and ftraiteft Way, provided it does but prove the fhorteft and the fureft. THIS truly religious Temper of Mind, which we call Devotion, will put us upon nquiring into all the Particulars of OUL Duty, which we owe both to God and Man ; we fhall be at a Stand no longer than till we know the Way wherein we fhould walk. The natural Language of fuch a Sold is, Lord, what wouldeft Thou. bave me to do? Let me but be acquainted with thy Will* and I am ready to obey it ; nothing can abate his Courage, or cool his Zeal^ in ftedfaftly purfuing what he is convinced God's Laws require from HE bears with admirable Compofed- nefs all the various Humours of thofe with whom he converles, which too often diforder and affect weak Minds. The Senfe of his own great Imperfections, neither diftjuiet or difcourage him, but jnake him more diligent to reform and amend them. His ccnftant Employment is, to fubdue his Paffions, to quell thofe Storms that are at to arife in his Mindj Ttfufi DEVOTION. M Mind ; and he contemns all the vain Cenfures of worldly Men, which feek to ruffle and difcompofe him. He aims at Perfection, by an exact Performance of the Duties of that Station whereirv tire Providence of God has placed him. He lives not according to the Flefh, but ac- cording to the Spirit -, and is dead to the World, and to all the Cares and Enjoy- ments of it. He lays a greater Strefs up- on doing his Duty, than upon thofe out- ward or inward Confolations that attend it. He is no ways terrified by thofe Dif- ficulties that are fometimes ftrewed in the Path of Life \ they rather raife his Cou- rage, increafe his RefoJution, and make him more intent upon Victory. Pro- fperity and Adverfity appear to him no- farther agreeable or grievous, than as they advance or hinder his great Defign. He- frequents not the Afiemblies of the Men of Pleafure , but lets a greater Value up- on his Time, than to confume it in tri- fling and unneceflary Diverfions. His greateft Delight is, to mortify his Senlls, to live by Faith -, well knowing, that the Things which are feen are Temporal, but that the Things which are not feen are Eternal. His chiefeft Pleafu-re i$, re converfe with God ; and therefore you find him fo often in the Ctuucta -and at the 12 be Nature #nd Wifdom of the Altar, as the fureft Places to enjoy Him here below. Whenever he appears in the Prefence of infinite Love, he adores with the loweft Humiliation of Soul and Body. He frequents the public Prayers, and receives the Holy Communion with heavenly Affections, and with holy Im- patience for the Bleffings of God's Love. In the midft of Bufmefs his Mind is upon Heaven , and even in Converfation with others, he .filently breathes forth pi- ous Ejaculations to the bleffed Object of his Love and Defire, He lives under a conftant Senfe of God's Omniprefence ; and therefore he is not more upon his guard not to offend Him, than he is in- tent upon doing thofe Things that are ac- ceptable in his Sight. AND this his Devotion does not more influence his own Conduct, than appear amiable and pleafing to all about him. For the Sick and Needy will love your Devotion, if they find Comfort and Re- lief from it. Your Family will love your Devotion, if it makes you Meek, Quiet, and Peaceable. Your Superiors will love your Devotion, if it makes you more Submiffive and Obedient. And all Men will love your Devotion, if it makes you Faithful and Sincere, Courte- ous and Affable, ready to do all good Offices, TRUE DEVOTION. 13 Offices, and to comply with their Incli- nations, when it no way contradicts your Duty; and above all, if in the Practice of your pwn Exercifes of Piety, you do not cenfure and condemn them when their Conduct is different from your own, and you do not think them obliged to govern themfelves exactly by your Rules and Meafures. I AM very well aware, that the De- fcription I have made of Devotion, fome- what differs from the common Appre- henfions of Men concerning it. In Dif- courfe, we generally underftand by a devout Man^ one who prays often, with all the Appearances of a Serious and Re- ligious Mind , and the frequent Exercife of the Means of Grace, efpecially Pray- er, feems to have engrofled the Charac- ter of Devotion. Now though this is fo far true, that we in vain pretend to this fpiritual Frame of Mind, except we employ the Vigour of our Souls in the lincere and attentive Ufe of all the Means of Grace, efpecially in frequent and fer- vent Prayer to God , yet we fhall fall fhort of this Character, and the Reward that is prepared for it, if we (lop here. Thefe are happy Inftruments of enabling us to work out our Salvation \ but ex- cept we bring forth the Fruit of the Spi- rit, 14 f&f Nature and Wifdom of rit, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-fufering, Gen- tlenefs, Goodnefi, Faith, Meeknefs, Temper- ance ; except we crucify the Flejh, with the Affeftiom andLufts thereof-, except we live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, we fhall not inherit the Kitgdom of Heaven, that infinite Happioefs that is promifed to all devout Souls. I AM very fenfible this Practice of De- votion pafles very often, in the Judgment of worldly and fenfual Men* for Folly and Indifcretion : It is blamed as carrying Things to an Extreme, as laying unne- ceflary Burdens upon ourfelves ; and they charge thofe that purfue it, as not know* ing how to accommodate themfelves to Times and Seafens 5 as neglecting the true Meafures and Rules of Things; they account his Life Madnefs ; that he feeds himfelf with idle Fancies, and purfues them by an over- heated Imagination. To deftroy an Opinion fo falfe in it- lelf, and fo injurious to Devotion, it is necefiary to obferve, that the Perfection of Wifdom ought to have thefe two Qualifications ; to propofe the bed End, and to choofe fuch Means as are fitted to attain it. Where the Firft is want- ing, our Labour may pafs for Folly^ and the. moft ferious Application may efteemed a trifling Amufement , and when we mifcarry in the latter, we reap nothing by our Pains but Difappoint- ment. Now if we meaftfre the Conduct of the Devout by this Rule, pray, wherein is it defective ? The only End they pro<- pofe in all their Actions, is to ferve Al- mighty God, the Fountain of their Be- ing ; and to prepare themfelves for the Enjoyment of Him, the Perfection of Happinefs. W E commend a Man, who having it in- his Choice, engages in the Service of a Prince who is wife and generous ; who glories in being true to his Word, and never abandons thofe that depend up- on him : And by this Teft, nothing can be more judicious than the Conduct of the Devout ; for they give up themfelves to a God) who only has Immortality, wfco is incapable of not performing what he has promifed, either through Treachery or Weaknefs ; to a Mafter, who openly declares himfelf in Favour of all thole that belong to him, and makes every Thing work for Good to them that kve him -, to a Mafter^ in fhor.t, to whom every Thing fubmits, THE World, we know, has but a mean Opinion of thofe, who have a Re- gard 1 6 The Nature and Wifdom of gard only to the prefent ; who do not apply themfelves to fecure a comfortable and happy Old Age, and to eftablilh fuch Fortunes as may make their Pofte- rity confiderable : Although at the fame Time, no Body can be fure of lengthen- ing their Days, or of leaving Children to enjoy their Acquifitions. Can there be therefore any greater Wifdom, than to carry our Views into Eternity itfelf, which will infallibly fucceed to the few Years we live ? And this is the Wifdom of the Devout. EVEN in Politics, where Prudence is thought to have its nobleft and princi- pal Employment, the moft Difcerning lay it down as an eftablifhed Maxim, al- ways to have our chiefeft Intereft in View, to difpenfe with Matters of fmall Confequence, and to facrifke inconfide- rable Pretenfions, in order to fecure thofe that are efiential. But what are all the Projects of the greateft Princes, and of their ableft Minifters, in comparifon of that general End, at which all Men ought to aim ? in comparifon of that Affair, where the Gaining or Lofing eternal Happinefs is concerned, and of lofing it without the Poffibility of any Recovery ? From whence it follows, that it is moft reafonable to neglect all Things, TRUE DEVOTION. 17 Things, even Life itfelf, rather than not fecure our Salvation, becaufe they are of much lefs Importance , and that the Devout, who, for this Reafon little value what the World moft efteems, read a LefTon of Prudence even to the Politi- cians themfelves, which has more intrin- fic Worth in it, than all their beaded Maxims. BESIDES, they who are the great Matters in Politics, do not only give great Affairs the Preference to thofe of lefs Moment, but there is nothing they do fo inconfiderable, that does not tend to advance their End : So that it may be really faid, they have but one Bufinefs, Their moft indifferent Difcourfe, their moft common Actions, even their Di- verfions and their Leifure, are concerted and done with Defign -, for which Rea- fon, all their Steps are narrowly obferv- ed, and as induftrioufly ftudied by others. Now this furely abundantly juftifies the Prudence and the Zeal of fuch, who are not fatisfied only to labour for the chief Knd, and to have a fort of Contempt for all other Things -, but who think it ne- cefiary always to keep this End in view ; to govern all their Thoughts and Ac- tions fo, that they may have fome Ten- dency that Way j that every Thing may have . 1 8 fbe Nature and Wijdom of have a Reference to God and Eternity, and may in fome manner prove fervice- able to promote their eternal Salvation. AND the Devout are not more dif- tinguifhed by their Wifdom, in propof- ing the beft End, than they are by thole Means they make ufe of in order to at- tain it. Now in this Choice, Prudence always prefers fuch as lead to it with the greateft Security and Expedition ; and looks upon that Way to be the beft, that is the fhorteft and the fureft. Therefore if they contemn the World, and its falfe Maxims j if they crucify the Flefli with, the Affections and Lufts thereof, they follow the Dictates of infinite Wifdom, who, when incarnate, not only recom- mended Self-denial and Mortification by his divine Precepts, but fet us the Pattern of it by his own perfect Example : And who can guide us in the Paths of Blifs. fo furely, as He who is the IVifdom cf ibg Father ? YET if, after all, the World re- proaches you for giving up yourfelf to a Life of Devotion , if it ridicules you for interrupting your Commerce with the Vain and Foolifh, that is, the fm- ful Part of Mankind ; confider from whence thefe Reflections come. Js it not ftoin fuch as think themfelves mighty prudent TRUE DEVOTION. 19 prudent in doing that for the World, which you do for Heaven ; who are fo involved in Bufinefs or Pleafure, that they have no Leifure for the Concerns of their Souls; who, from the Maxims of falfe Wifdom, fubject Religion to their worldly intereft, and even perfuade themfelves that Religion itfelf is but a Piece of Policy, which ought to be ad- juiled to Times, and to the Necefilties of temporal Affairs ? Good God ! fhall it be Folly, IndifcFetion, and Madnefs, to do that for Thee, that the World does agawft Thee ! and fhall Zeal be never reafonable, but when it fupports Impi- ety ? BUT nothing does fo fenfibly juftify the Wifdom of Devotion, as that Peace, and Comfort, and Joy, that attends it upon a Death-Bed. There are then two Profpects, which entirely employ the Mind of a Man, viz. what he has been, and what he is about to be : For {landing as it were upon the Brink of Time and Eternity, his Thoughts are divided be- tween that Time which is about to con- clude, and that Eternity which is about to begin ; and according to what prefents kfelf upon thefe Views, the Man is either opprefied with Horror and Amazement,, or comforted with Joy and Satisfaction. Now, 2O tfhe Nature and Wtfdom of Now, to a devout Man, who has made it the Bufinefs of his Life to ferve God with all the Strength and Vigour of his Soul, the Reflection upon what is pad, does in no wife make Death terrible to him ; becaufe in going out of Life, he leaves nothing but what he has always contemned and defpifed, and carries with him what he judged worthy of his Love and Efteem. His Body he parts with, without Regret, becaufe he has main- tained a perpetual War againft it, and now fees it conclude by the entire Defeat of his Enemy \ befides, he lays it down in the Duft, with a full Afiurance that he mall receive it again glorious, fpiri- tual, and incorruptible. His great Study has been to fit loofe to the World ; and he never valued his Riches, but as Instruments of doing Good. So that now they are about to vanifti, he rather rejoices in the true Judgement he made concerning them, and triumphs, that by the Grace of God he was enabled to make fo right a Choice in a Matter of fuch Con- fequence. THE Remembrance of his peniten- tial and retired Life, then fills his Soul with unfpeakable Comfort , and his Time, which has always been well employed, and rendered precious by fo many fervent TRU E DEVOTION. 21 fervent Exercifes of Piety, by fo many good Works, by fo many excellent Vir- tues, prefents itfelf to his Memory as a great Treafure, as a Heap of immenfe Riches,, which will infallibly accompany him into the other World. Blefied be God 1 he defcends not into the Chambers of Death naked and ftript, neither does he leave behind him the Fruit of his Labour and his Pains ; for thefe are Goods that he can carry with, him, and are not to be fliared among thofe that iurvive h-im. THE precious promifes of God, made to his faithful Servants, then raife him, under the Senfe of his own Weaknels , becaufe he, has been enabled^ by the Power of his Grace, to attain, in fome meafure, thofe Virtues, which, for Chrift's Sal^e, God has promiled to reward ; that Humility, which fhall be exalted , that Mourning, which mall be comforted \ thole Tears, which -mall be changed into eternal Confolation ; that Contempt of the World, to which belongs the Kingdom of God ; that Purity, which dilpoies for the beatific Vifion ; that Self-denial, *to which is promifcd a Hundred-fold} and all thole Works of Mercy, for which Heaven was prepared before the Beginning of the World. AND 22 $be Nature and Wifdom of AND as what is paft gives him rather Joy than Sorrow ; fo what is to come, renders his Joy full and compleat. For what is there in that terrible Judgement that follows Death, that fhould frighten or amaze a truly devout Soul ? What is there in that Judgement, that does not admimfter to him Comfort and Support ?' ft is true, an Inquiry will then be made into all our Thoughts, Words, and Ac- tions ; into thofe Talents we have been en- truited with, and into the Ufe we have made of all thofe temporal good Things which have been committed to our Stew- ardfhip ; and this is juft Matter of Hor- ror and Amazement to thofe, who have contemned and defpifed the Counfel of God, who have caft his Laws behind their Backs, who have fhewn no Regard for the Ways of Piety and Devotion. But to a regular Chriftian, who has been fer- vent and zealous in his Maker's Service, tvhat more defirable than an Account of this Nature ? A GENERAL, who in fix 1 Months Time has gained Buttles, taken Towns, reduo &1 Provinces ; who has fpared neither lLaboUr nor Blood to make the Arms of his Prince victorious, what does he long for more, than to come to Court, to produce the Spoils taken from the Ene- my ; TRUE DEVOTION. 23 my ; to mew his Wounds, and to re- late to his Prince the Detail of fo glori- ous a Campaign ? It is a terrible Thing to be obliged to give an Account of fo great and fo important an Adminiftra- tion, as that which we are intrufted with, when it has been the leaft Part of our Care faithfully to difcharge it ; when the Intereft of our Maftcr has been to- tally neglected. But can any Thing be more grateful than giving an Account when Gains and Profits, and Increafe can be pleaded ? When we can fay with the faithful Servant in the Gcfpel, Lord* tbou gave/I me f-ve 'Talents \ behold^ / have gained five Talents more. * 1 ac- * knowledge, O Lord, I ought to have ' made a greater Improvement of thy * Gifts i however, I have not wrapt * up my Talents in a Napkin, but, 'by thy Grace, I have been enabled to * inert- ale them. Thou haft given me * Riches, but I have not u'frd them to 4 fupport Luxury and Vanity ; the Poor * have had their $!ure, as well as my * Family ; I have clothed thy Mcm- * bers, and adorned the Place v. here thy 4 Honour dwcllcth. Thou haft given * me the Command of Time ; I never * thought fo great a Treafure \vas.grant- * ed m only to be trilled away : I have * confederated 24 7/k Nature and Wifdom of confecrated my Leifure to the Medi- tation of thy divine Laws, to the Con- < templation of the Chriftian Myfteries, < to the Inftruction and Sanclification of < others ; my Vifits have been made to < the Sick and Weak -, .my Bufinefs has c been to comfort the DiftrefTed, to pa- 6 cify and reconcile thofe Differences which have unhappily rifen among my Neighbours. Thou haft given ' me Eyes, I have ufed them in read- ' ing pious and devout Books. Thou hall given me Ears, which have been always open to thy Word, and to fuch < Difcourfe as was edifying. Thou hail * given me a Tongue, whofe greateil ' Pleafure has been, to fpeak either to ' Thee, or of Thee. I have endea- voured to make a good Ufe of all thy holy Infpirations. Thou haft dif-, pofed me to Retirement, and I have.. * avoided the Converfation of the great ' World. Thou haft inclined me to * mortify my Senfes, and I have de-, * prived myfelf of the moft tempting Pleafures. Thou haft given me a ' Defire to pray, and I have perfifted * in it, in defpite of all Difcourage- * ments. Thou haft required me to love 4 my Brother ; and Thou knoweft, O * Lord, I have never omitted praying. 4 for TRUE DEVOTION. 25 1 for my Enemies. Thou haft fent me ' Sicknefs, and I have born it with Pa- ' tience, without Murmuring-, great Lof- * fes, and I have bleffed thy holy Name; * Calamities and Afflictions, and I have ' received them with Thankfgiving.' WHEN Accounts are in this State and Condition, there is Joy and Comfort in the Examination of them. And the well- grounded Hope of God's Favour, and of receiving that joyful Sentence, Come, ye BlejJ'ed ; is Ib great a Source of Con- folation in that gloomy Seafon, upon the Approach of Death, when the Men of this World are leized with Trembling and Aftonifhment, that it is impofllble to ex- prefs the Satisfaction and Tranfport of a devout Soul, upon the Point of conclud- ing a toilibme and laborious Life, expof- ed to fo many and fo great Dangers ; and ready to take Pofleflion of thofc durable Riches, thole lailing Honours, and thofc never-failing Pleafures, which are at God's right Hand for evermore. So that if the Love of the mod perfect and moft amiable Object is Wildom ; and if the continual and delightful Enjoy- ment of what one loves, and the certain Expectation of enjoying it eternally, may C b- 26 The Nature and Wtfdom^ &c. be accounted Pleafure : I hope the de- vout Man's Choice may be fufficiently ju (lifted. Grant cnly, Lord, who haft prepared for them that hue Thee fitch good Things as pafs Man's Under/landing, that my Heart may be v flamed with fuch Love towards Tbee^ that I loving 'Thee above all Things, may obtain thy Promifes> which ex- ceed all that I can defire^ through Cbrift our Lord. Amen. * * * 4 * * 4- * * * * * THE THE PRACTICE O F Devotion, In RELATION both to the END and MEANS O F C H A P. I. A general Method for the Exercife of True Devotion. E F O R K I come to treat of par- ticular Virtues, which are the End of Religion, and of thofe Methods which are ellablifhcd for the attaining of them, which are the Me:ins of Religion, C 2 I defign 2 8 A general Method fcr Ch. i. I defign to lay down fome Rules for the general Conduct of a Chriftian Life -, and to acquaint Men at the fame Time, with thole Occafions and Opportunities when t;hey may put them in practice. None ought to be furprifed if they find fome Difficulty at the Beginning, in making ufe of them : The firft Attempts in any Thing that is excellent, are always attend- ed with Labour and Pains ; but if Men will be perluaded to pcrfevere in them for a Seafon, with fome degree of Re- folution, Guitom and the Grace of God will quickly make them eafy and plea- fant. I. -RISING. As- foon as t-hou awaki-ft fjom Sleep, dedicate thy firft Thoughts to God, whole Providence has preferved you from the Dangers of the pait Night j adore his Goodnels, and cxprefs your Thankfulnefs in fome Ihort Kjacuhitions; exercife your Love and Affection towards Him, or any other Virtue your Thoughts fhall fuggett to you : And in order that the devout Soul may be provided wuh fit Materials for this Purpofe, I cannot but advife the getting the Three Hymns with- out Book, for Morning^ Evening^ and hiiiimgbt, which are added at the End of this Trcatife, among the Devotions. The Trouble Ch. i. TRUE DEVOTION. 29 Trouble of charging your Memory will be quickly paft, the daily Repeating of them will make you perfect in them, but the good Fruit of them will abide with you all your Days. Ule yourfelf to a conftant Hour of Rifing, and continue in your Bed no longer than you have offer- ed up your firft Thoughts to God : This will prevent Lazinefs, and hinder vain, loofe and extravagant Thoughts, which will be ready to rife in our Minds, when we amufe ourfelves in Bed long awake. In Dreffing yourfelf, you may rrfiecl up- on the true End of Clothing , which was, to preferve Modefty and Health, to dif- tinguifh Quality and Sex ; which will be uietul to guard you from Vanity and Pride : And in all thofe Actions that relate to Dreffing, let no Lightnefs or Immodefty ever appear : Remember to reverence yourfelf, II. MORNING PRAYER. You mud be fure never to omit your Morning Devotions, however preffing and urgent your Bufinefs may be. I will fuggeit to you the Method of it, in that Part of this Tu j atife which relates to the Means cf Religion. We cannot reafonably exped: the Bleffing of God upon our temporal Affairs, it we do not beg it of him with C 3 entire 30 A general Method for Ch. r; entire Submiflion to his Will and Plea- fure , neither can our fpiritual Affairs fuc- eeed, without the Affiftance and Direc- tion of his Grace, which we mud always implore by fervent and diligent Prayer. When we are retired for our Devotions, \ve fhould entertain ourfelves with reatf- ing fome Portion of the holy Scriptures ; and befides, if we feed our Minds with pern (ing fome good Books, though for a quarter of an Hour, we mall receive greac Profit and Advantage from it ; the Sub- ject will be apt to occur to our Thoughts in thofe Minutes of the Day when we are moft at Leifure, efpecially if we have di- gefted what we read by ferious Medita- tion. It will be alfo very proper to con- fider with thyfelf, what Opportunities may prefent of ferving God that Day, and what Temptations may offer to offend him ; that you may be prepared, by a fixed Re- folution, to embrace the one, and to avoid and fhun the other. They who govern a Family, mud charge themfelves with it as their Duty, to call them together every Morning to wormip God. They are an- fwerable for the Souls of thofe that are under their Care, either Children or Ser-- vants , and this Practice is the bed Me- thod to make them dutiful and obedient* and. fer.vi.Qeable in, their, different Stations. IIL PUBLIC Ch. i. TRUE DEVOTION. 31 III. PUBLIC PRAYER. Thofe whom the Providence of God has intruded with a great Command of their Time, cannon better employ it, than by attending daily the Service of the Church, fo admirably contrived to nourifh the Devotion of all her Children \ and indeed the Nature of their Circumftances feems to require it from them. And there are very few that are very much involved in worldly Af- fairs, but fpend more Time than that re- quires, in Diverfion or vain Amufe- ments ; fo that if the Men of Bufmels were as intent upon working out their Salvation, as they are upon heaping up Riches, and growing Great, they would certainly fo contrive their ArTuirs, as fre- quently to dedicate half an Hour in four and twenty, to the public Service of God. A Mind thoroughly warmed with the Love of God, need not be prefied to this Duty -, it is the Delight of fuch to d'^ell in bis Courts^ to be thankful unto him, and to fpeak good of his Name. IV. BUSINESS, or cur Calling. Take Cure to difcharge all the particular Duties or. tlut Eftate and Condition whertin the Providence of God has placed you, wirh Juilice and Indullry,. and wifely to ma- GL 4. nage 32 A general Method for Ch. r. nage your Time, of which you muft one Day give a drift Account. IF you are under a NecefTity of work- ing for your Living, blefs God that he has by-this Means fectired you from Idle- nsfs, the Root of all Evil : And of what Nature ibever your Employment is, ex- ercife it with Juflice and Fidelity. If a plentiful Fortune has let you above any Calling, remember it is your Bufinefs to rrumigeyourF.rtate to the beft Advantage-, to govern your Family with Prudence and Piety $ to adminifter Juftice in your Country diligently and impartially , and to attend to the publick Affairs of the Nation, with a firm Refolution, in all your Proceedings, to aim at the Good and Welfare of the Church and State. You muft not confume your Time in im- pertinent Vifits, and in trifling Converfa- tions, and in continual Diverfions, or in unaccountable Sloth ; for Mirth and do- ing nothing was never defigned for the Bufinefs of Life. Unhappy is that Man, whofe whole Employment is Gaming and Debauchery, and fludies only for fome new Diversion. IN whatever Condition you are, fome Employment may be found out, ufeful either to yourfelf or your Neighbour. And in the Labour either of Body or Mind>, Ch. i. TRUE DEVOTION. 35 Mind, prefcribe to. yourfeJf a Diftribution of your Time, for every Thing you have to do every Day , and obferve exactly the Regulation you have pitched upon : By this means Time will never lie upon your Hands, and you will be delivered from many Temptations of offending 4 God. BEFORE you begin your Work, or any other of your Actions, offer them to God, if you defign they mould be ac- ceptable to him. O my God! it is to com- ply with the Order of thy Providence, arid to obey thy holy Will, that I engage in my worldly Affairs ; make them ftrviccabk to my Sulfijtancc and thy Glory , and to the' Sahation <