He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.-ST. LUKE Viii. 8.
And behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me.-REV. xxii. 12.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE;

[684]

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY,

GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;

NO. 4 ROYAL EXCHANGE;

D.

BOL

ΑΓ

287-1897

LONDON:

WILLIAM WATTS, CROWN COURT, TEMPLE BAR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Concerning the nature and extent of Christian devotion.

CHAPTER II.

An inquiry into the reason, why the generality of Chris-

tians fall so far short of the holiness and devotion of

Christianity.

CHAPTER III.

Of the great danger and folly of not intending to be as

eminent and exemplary as we can, in the practice of all

Christian virtues

CHAPTER IV.

We can please God in no state or employment of life, but

by intending and devoting it all to his honour and glory, 37

CHAPTER V.

Persons that are free from the necessity of labour and em-

ployments, are to consider themselves as devoted to God

in a higher degree

Page

1

13

Containing the great obligations, and the great advantages

of making a wise and religious use of our estates and

fortunes

64

CHAPTER VII.

How the imprudent use of an estate corrupts all the tem-

pers of the mind, and fills the heart with poor and

ridiculous passions through the whole course of life;

represented in the character of Flavia..

CHAPTER VIII.

How the wise and pious use of an estate naturally carrieth

us to great perfection in all the virtues of the Christian

life; represented in the character of Miranda

75

84

CHAPTER IX.

Containing some reflections upon the life of Miranda; and

showing how it may, and ought to be imitated by all

her sex

CHAPTER X.

Showing how all orders and ranks of men and women of all

ages, are obliged to devote themselves unto God

CHAPTER XI.

114

Showing how great devotion fills our lives with the greatest

peace and happiness that can be enjoyed in this world.

134

The happiness of a life wholly devoted to God, farther

proved, from the vanity, the sensuality, and the ridicu-

lous poor enjoyments, which they are forced to take up

with, who live according to their own humours. This

represented in various characters

CHAPTER XIII.

That not only a life of vanity or sensuality, but even the

most regular kind of life, that is not governed by great

devotion, sufficiently shows its miseries, its wants, and

emptiness, to the eyes of all the world. This represented

in various characters

153

170

CHAPTER XIV.

Concerning that part of devotion which relates to times and

hours of prayer. Of daily early prayer in the morning.

How we are to improve our forms of prayer, and how to

increase the spirit of devotion

CHAPTER XV.

Of chanting, or singing of psalms in our private devotions.

Of the excellency and benefit of this kind of devotion.

Of the great effects it hath upon our hearts. Of the

means of performing it in the best manner

CHAPTER XVI.

Recommending devotions at nine o'clock in the morning,

called in Scripture the third hour of the day. The sub-

ject of these prayers is humility

CHAPTER XVII.

. 187

214

235

Showing how difficult the practice of humility is made, by

the general spirit and temper of the world. How Chris-

tianity requireth us to live contrary to the world . . .250