I shall not further enlarge this Epistle, more than to pray, that God may be pleased to assist you by His Divine grace, carefully to observe such useful instructions as be herein given you not vainly jangling, and talking of religion; but, according to the covenant you have made with your God, "to keep His Holy Will and Commandments, and to walk in the same all the days of your life;" remembering Who it is that hath said it, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments."" And that you may observe the one as the way to the other, I humbly beg may be thine for me, as it is mine for thee, even the constant prayer of It is the happiness of man, above that of the beasts that perish, that he can both converse with himself and the blessed Creator of himself, Who hath enstamped His Divine Image upon his immortal soul, to have his conversation in Heaven; and amidst the most startling changes of this mortal life, have his heart surely fixed there where true joys are to be found. Mens in Cœlis, quies in terris. If we set our affections on things above, all will be in quiet here below; so that we may securely sail through the troubled waters of the many various opinions and divisions, uncharitable contentions and disputes in religion, too irreligiously maintained and managed to the great decay both of its life and lustre in the hearts and lives of its professors. And finally, through all the turbulent sects and factions of these last and most tempestuous times, to arrive safely at the much-desired haven of the Heavenly Land of Promise; where alone dwells unity and peace, sweet blessed peace, and that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory: whither may our mutual prayers for each other, with such devout tears and sighs which are the breathings of the Holy Spirit of God, waft and conduct us all, through the alone merits of our dear Redeemer and this I humbly beg may be thine as it is mine, even the constant prayer of thy loving brother in the Lord, The Rule of Self-Examination by the Vow in Baptism CHAPTER III. The Rule of Self-Examination by the Creed; or, by the second part of the Vow in Baptism, To believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith CHAPTER IV. The Rule of Self-Examination by the Decalogue or by the third part of the Vow in Baptism, To keep God's holy Will and Commandments, &c. CHAPTER V. The Examination of Religious Actions 49 58 65 67 98 A Form of Confession of Sin, fitted to the Rules of SelfExamination, whereunto every one may add or subtract, as he finds himself guilty or not guilty. CHAPTER IX. An ancient Form of Confession, extant Biblioth. Pa 114 The Seven Penitential Psalms Paraphrased CHAPTER XII. Meditations and Prayers to be Partakers of the Merits of what our Blessed Redeemer hath done and suffered for us 149 154 186 193 Meditations upon the Disease and Cure of the Soul 203 |