176 A Prayer for one who desires to attend. Chap. 18. "Bond as I could wish, would I heartily pray, that Thy "Blessing may be on all Thy People: That Thou wouldst "feed Thine Heritage, and lift them up for ever (t)! "May every Christian Society flourish in Knowledge, in “Holiness, and in Love! May all Thy Priests be clothed "with Salvation, that by their Means Thy chosen People 66 may be made joyful (u)! And may there be a glori<< ous Accession to Thy Churches every where, of those "who may fly to them as a Cloud, and as Doves to their "Windows (w)! May Thy Table, O Lord, be furnished "with Guests (x); and may all that love Thy Salvation 66 say, Let the Lord be magnified, who hath Pleasure in the "Prosperity of His Servants (y)! And I earnestly pray, "that all who profess to have received Christ Jesus the "Lord, may be duly careful to walk in Him (z); and "that we may all be preparing for the general Assembly "of the First-born, and may join in that nobler and 66 more immediate Worship, where all these Types and "Shadows shall be laid aside; where even these Memo"rials shall be no longer necessary; but a living, present Redeemer shall be the everlasting Joy of those, who here in His Absence have delighted to commemorate His "Death! Amen." (t) Psal. xxviii. 9. (w) Isa. Ix. 8. (y) Psal. xxxv. 27. (z) Col. ii. 6. N. B. I purposed to have added something here, concerning a regular Approach to the Lord's Table, a proper Attendance upon it, and suitable Reflections after it: But I find this Work swell under my Hand, beyond what I at first expected; and therefore, as these Articles have been handled by so many valuable Writers, I chuse to refer to them, and particularly to Dr. Earl's Sacramental Exercises, and Mr. Grove's Devotional Exercises relating to the Lord's Supper: Books which I think remarkably excellent in their Kind, and which may be had at very easy Rates. Yet for the farther Assistance of devout Communicants, I have some Thoughts of publishing a small Volume of Sacramental Meditations on Select Texts of Scripture, if GoD spare me to finish my Exposition on the New Testament, and some other Pieces, which I have now in Hand. СНАР, Chap. 19. Directions for Daily walking with God. 177 CHAP. XIX. Some more particular Directions for maintaining continual Communion with God, or being in His Fear all the Day long. A Letter to a pious Friend on this Subject introduced here. §. 1. A General Plan of Directions, §. 2. [I.] For the Beginning of the Day: §. 3. (1.) Lifting up the Heart to GOD at our first Awakening: §. 4. (2.) Setting ourselves to the secret Devotions of the Morning; with Respect to which particular Advices are given, §. 5. -10. [II.] For the Progress of the Day: §. 11. Directions are given concerning, (1.) Seriousness in Devotion, §. 12. (2.) Diligence in Business, §. 13. (3.) Prudence in Recreations, §. 14. (4.) Observation of Providences, §. 15. (5.) Watchfulness against Temptations, §. 16. (6.) Dependance on Divine Influences, §. 17. (7.) Government of the Thoughts when in Solitude, §. 18. (8.) Management of Discourse in Company, §. 19. [III.] For the Conclusion of the Day: §. 20. (1.) With the secret Devotions of the Evening, §. 21. Directions for SelfExamination at large, §. 22, 23. (2.) Lying down with a proper Temper, §. 24. Conclusion of the Letter, §. 25. and of the Chapter, §. 26. With a serious View of Death, proper to be taken at the close of the Day. §. 1. I WOULD hope, that upon serious Consideration, Self-Examination, and Prayer, the Reader may by this Time be come to a Resolution to attend the Table of the Lord, and to seal his Vows there, I will now suppose that solemn Transaction to be over, or some other 178 A Letter on this Subject introduced. Yet Chap. 19. other deliberate Act to have passed by which he has given himself up to the Service of God; and that his Concern now is to enquire, how he may act according to the Vows of GOD which are upon him. Now for his farther Assistance here, besides the General View I have already given of the Christian Temper and Character, I will propose some more particular Directions, relating to maintain that devout, spiritual, and heavenly Character, which may, in the Language of Scripture, be called a daily walking with God, or being in His Fear all the Day long (a). And I know not how I can express the Idea and Plan, which I have formed of this, in a more clear and distinct Manner than I did in a Letter, which I wrote many Years ago* to a Young Person of eminent Piety, with whom I had then an intimate Friendship; and who, to the great Grief of all that knew him, died a few Months after he received it. I hope he lived long enough to reduce the Directions into Practice, which I wish and pray that every Reader may do, so far as they may properly suit his Capacities and Circumstances in Life, considering it as if addressed to himself.I say, (and desire it may be observed,) that I wish my Reader may act on these Directions, so far as they may properly suit his Capacities and Circumstances in Life; for I would be far from laying down the following Particulars as universal Rules for all, or for any one Person in the World, at all Times. Let them be practised by those that are able, and when they have Leisure: And when you cannot reach them all, come as near the most important of them as you conveniently can. With this Precaution I proceed to the Letter, which I would hope, after this previous Care to guard against the Danger of mistaking it, will not discouragé any the weakest Christian. Let us humbly and cheerfully do our best, and rejoice that we have so gracious á Father who knows all our Infirmities, and so compussionate an High Priest to recommend to Divine Accep tance the feeblest Efforts of sincere Duty and Love! My (a) Prov. xxiii. 17. *N. B. It was in the Year 1727. Chap. 19. Directions for the beginning of the Day. 179 My dear Friend, Since you desire my Thoughts in Writing, and at large, on the Subject of our late Conversation, viz. By what particular Methods in our daily Conduct, a "Life of Devotion and Usefulness may be most hap pily maintained and secured ?" I set myself with Cheerfulness, to recollect and digest the Hints which I then gave you; hoping it may be of some Service to you in your most important Interest; and may also fix on my own Mind a deeper Sense of my Obligations to govern my own Life by the Rules I offer to others. I esteem Attempts of this Kind among the pleasantest Fruits, and the surest Cements of Friendship, and as I hope ours will last for ever, I am persuaded a mutual Care to cherish Sentiments of this Kind will add everlasting Endearments to it. §. 2. The Directions you will expect from me on this Occasion, naturally divide themselves into Three Heads, How we are to regard Gop,in the Beginning—— the Progress, and the Close of the Day. I will open my Heart freely to you with regard to each, and will leave you to judge how far these Hints may suit your Circumstances; aiming at least to keep between the Extremes, of a superstitious Strictness in Trifles, and of an indolent Remissness, which, if admitted in little Things, may draw after it criminal Neglects, and at length more criminal Indulgences. §. 3. [1.] In the Beginning of the Day: It should certainly be our Care,- -to lift up our Hearts to GOD, as soon as we wake, and while we are arising ——and then, to set ourselves seriously and immediately to the secret Devotions of the Morning. §. 4. For the first of these, it seems exceedingly natural. There are so many Things that may suggest a great Variety of pious Reflections and Ejaculations, which are so obvious, that one would think a serious Mind could hardly miss them. The Ease and Cheerful, ness of our Mind at our first Awakening; the Refresh ment 180 Particular Advices given, with Respect Chap. 19. ment we find from Sleep; the Security we have enjoyed in that defenceless State; the Provision of warm and decent Apparel; the cheerful Light of the returning Sun; or even, (which is not unfit to mention to you,) the Contrivances of Art, taught and furnished by the great Author of all our Conveniences, to supply us with many useful Hours of Life in the Absence of the Sun; the Hope of returning to the dear Society of our Friends; the Prospect of spending another Day, in the Service of GOD, and the Improvement of our own Minds; and above all, the lively Hope of a joyful Resurrection to an eternal Day of Happiness and Glory: Any of these Particulars, and many more which I do not mention, may furnish us with Matter of pleasing Reflection, and cheerful Praise, while we are rising. And for our farther Assistance, when we are alone at this Time, it may not be improper to speak sometimes to ourselves, and sometimes to our Heavenly Father, in the natural Expressions of Joy and Thankfulness. Permit me, Sir, to add, that if we find our Hearts in such a Frame at our first awakening, even that is just Matter of Praise, and the rather, as perhaps it is an Answer to the Prayer with which we lay down. §. 5. For the Exercise of secret Devotion in the Morning, which I hope will generally be our first Work, I cannot prescribe an exact Method to another. You must, my dear Friend, consult your own Taste in some Measure. The constituent Parts of the Service, are in the general Plain. Were I to propose a particular Model for those, who have Half, or Three Quarters of an Hour at Command, (which with prudent Conduct I suppose most may have) it should be this: §. 6. To begin the stated Devotions of the Day with a solemn Act of Praise, offered to GoD on our Knees, and generally with a low, yet distinct voice; acknow ledging the Mercics we had been reflecting on while rising; never forgetting to mention Christ, as the great Foundation of all our Enjoyments and our Hopes, or to return Thanks for the Influences of the blessed Spirit, which have led our Hearts to GoD, or are then engaging us to seek Him. This, as well as other Offices of Devotion afterwards mentioned, must be done attentively and sincerely; for not to offer our Praises heartily, is in the |