in, or that Company we converfe with; that our Guard may be fet in the right Place, where we are moft alarmed with Danger, and where Surprize would be most fatal. For fo great is the Power of Paffion and Custom to give fair Colours to very great Disorders, fo mifchievous is the Complaifance of Friends and Flatterers to fortify thefe wrong Notions, that except we are very watchful, we shall unavoidably be made a Prey.

Q. How does Watchfulness avoid Dangers?

A. By making Use of the fitteft and properest Means to defeat thofe Defigns of the Enemy of our Salvation, which we have happily discovered. For Temptations must be refifted differently, according to their different Kinds. To this End God hath provided several Sorts of Grace, the Ufe whereof is of great Importance to us. When Temptations flatter our corrupt Nature, our Victory confifts in Flight; when they would discourage us with Difficulties and Dangers, we can never be Conquerors without looking them in the Face, and encountering them with Resolution. Without this Caution, the best Difpofition of Mind will hardly perferve us from falling.

Q. How does Watchfulness prepare us to encounter Dangers?

A. By putting on the whole Armour of God, and Eph. vi. fortifying thofe weak Places in which we are most "1. likely to be attacked. If we would not facrifice our Confcience to establish our Fortune, we must have impreffed upon our Minds a frong Belief of another World, where Virtue will prevail more than Riches and Honour. If we would not be overcome by the Pleasures of Senfe, we fhould live under a lively Hope of enjoying thofe Pleasures which are at God's right Hand for evermore. We should gird Eph. vi. ourselves with Truth, and then no Profit would 14. vail upon us to perjure ourselves, and to be infincere

pre

Ver. 17.

For the

Perferva

tion ofthe

from falfe

in our Words and Promises, but we should be firm
and steady in all our Actions. We should guard
our Minds with Righteoufnefs, and keepa Confcience
void of Offence, if ever we intend to overcome the
Perfecutions and Sufferings we may be expofed to,
upon the Account of our Faith. We fhould put
on the Sword of the Spirit, encounter all Tempta-
tions with those stronger Motives which the Word
of God offers to engage our Obedience, and then
they would lofe their Force, and appear contemp-
tible.

Q. Whence arifes the Neceffity of this Duty of
Watchfulness?

A. From the Nature of our Condition in this
World, which is furrounded with Variety of Temp-
tations, fo that there is no Circumftance of Life
which is entirely free from fome Sort of Affault or
other; all our Ways being ftrewed with Snares.
From the Power and Strength of our Adversary,
who is Prince of the Air, and wants neither Skill
nor Industry to work our Ruin. From our own
Frailty and Weakness, whereby we have no Power
of ourselves to help ourselves; and from the Dan-
ger of our Overthrow, whereby we become liable
to the Miseries of a fad Eternity.

Almighty God, who into the Place of the Traitor Judas didft chufe thy faithful Servant Church Matthias to be of the Number of the twelve Teachers. Apoftles; grant that thy Church, being always preferved from falfe Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true Paftors, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

GOD, who knoweft me to be fet in the Midft For

Strength

of the Frailty of my Nature, I cannot always ftand Dangers. upright; grant to me fuch Strength and Protection, as may support me in all Dangers, and carry me through all Temptations, through Jefus Chrift. Amen.

III.

Directi

GOD, who feeft I have no Power of myfelf For God's to help myself; that I am not wife enough for on. my own Direction, not able enough for my own Defence; let me acknowledge thee in all my Ways, and not lean to my own Understanding. Let thy Light guide me, thy Providence protect me, thy Grace enable me, that I may faithfully discharge all the public and private Duties thou shalt think fit to call me to; that being thus armed with thy Defence, I may be preferved from all Dangers, through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV.

Againft

GOD, who art the Author and Giver of all Covetthat I enjoy, moderate my Affections to the oufness. Things of this World, that I may not pursue them with an eager and unfatiable Defire. Let no Greedinefs of Gain tempt me to the leaft Injustice, either by Fraud or Oppreffion, but that I may commit myself to thy Providence in the Ufe of honest and lawful Endeavours, and not torment myself with anxious Care about the Succefs. Suffer not the Concerns of this Life to make me negligent in the Concernments of much greater Importance; that while I am fupporting a dying Body, I may remember I have an immortalSoul, which infinitely deferves my chiefeft Care. And as for thofe good Things thou hast been pleased to bestow upon me,

teach

Luke i. 13.

Chap. ix.

teach me to enjoy them as with Temperance, fo
with Thankfulness and Charity, and readily to part
with them rather than forfake thy Truth, or to
make Shipwreck of a good Confcience. That being
delivered from the covetous Temper of the Traitor
Judas, I may escape thofe Sins which fuch vile Af-
fections lead to, and that Punishment which he felt,
and those deserve; and this I beg for Chrift his
Sake. Amen.

CHA P. XIV.

The Annunciation of the Blelled Uizgin
MARY, March 25.

QWHAT is meant by the Annunciation of the
bleffed Virgin, which the Church this Day

celebrates?

A. The Declaration which the Angel Gabriel
made to the blessed Virgin Mary, that she should be
Mother of our Lord Jefus Chrift; that this her Son
fhould be great, and called the Son of the Highest;
that the Lord God fhould give unto him the
Throne of his Father David; that he should reign
over the House of Jacob for ever; and that of his
Kingdom there should be no End.

Q. What doth this Defcription made by the Angel
Gabriel refer to?

A. To the Prophecy of Ifaiab concerning the
Mellias, who foretold, That the Government should
be upon his Shoulder, and his Name fhould be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Ever-
lafting Father, the Prince of Peace; of the Incrcafe
of his Government and Peace there fhouldbeno End,
upon the Throne of David, and upon his Kingdom,
to order it, and to establish it with Judgment and
with Juftice, from henceforth even for ever.

Q. What

་

What is the Importance of the Angel's Defcription of the Meffias?

A. That God fhould fettle upon the Meias a Spiritual Kingdom (of which that Temporal of David was but an imperfect Reprefentation) the abfolute Government of the Church, that spiritual House of Jacob; and that this Kingdom of his shall continue for ever, fhall never be destroyed, as the Kingdom of the Jews was to be.

Q. What preceded this Declaration?

A. The Salutation made to the bleffed Virgin by Luke i.a8. the fame Angel in those Words, Hail, thou that art bigbly favoured, the Lord is with thee, blefed art thou among Women.

Q. What was the Meaning of this Salutation?

A. That the bleffed Virgin was most excellently disposed to receive the greateft Honour that ever was done to the Daughters of Men; her Employment being holy and pious, her Body chafte, and her Soul adorned with all Virtues, particularly with Humility, which is in the Sight of God of great Price; for though fhe was to be the Mother of an univerfal and everlasting Bleffing, which all former Ages had defired, and all future Times fhould rejoice in; yet fhe refigns all this Glory to him that gave it her, and declares whence fhe received it,that no other Name but his might have the Glory.

Q. How did the blessed Virgin receive this Salutation? A. She was troubled at the Saying of the Angel, Ver- 29. and caft in her Mind what Manner of Salutation it

fhould be; judging herfelf unworthy of fo great an Honour, and being furprized with the Strangeness of fuch an Apearance in her Retirement. But when the Angel pofitively affirmed that the fhould conceive and bring forth the Mellias, the enquires how that could be, fince the knew not a Man.

Q. What is implied in this Anfwer of the blessed Virgin?

A. No