come to Church; no trivial Pretences were then admitted for any one's Abfence from the Congregation, but, according to the Merit of the Caufe, fevere Cenfures were paffed upon them. Q. What are the great Adventages of the Religious Obfervation of the Lord's Day? A. It keeps up the Solemn and Public Worship of God, which might be very much neglected, if it were left to depend upon the Determinations of Human Authority. It preferves the Knowledge and vifible Profeffion of the Chriftian Religion in the World,when,notwithstanding the great Differences there are among Chriftians in other Matters, they yet all concur in obferving this Day in Memory of our Saviour's Refurrection. And confidering how much Time is taken up, by the greatest Part of Mankind, in providing for the Neceffaries of Life; and how negligent and careless they are in the Concerns of their Souls, who flow in Plenty and Abundance; this flated Seafon is highly useful to inftruct the Ignorant by Preaching and Catechifing, and to put those in Mind of their Duty, who in their Profperity are apt to forget God. Moreover,by fpending this Day in Religious Exercifes, we acquire new Strength and Refolution to perform God's Will in our feveral Stations the Week following. Since a great Part of the Duty of the Day confits in Thanksgiving, pray what is implied in that Duty? A. A due Acknowledgment of God's Bleffings; a juft Value and Efteem of them; and a Defire and Endeavour to make all poilible Returns. Q. When may we be faid duly to acknowledge God's Mercies? A. When we do not let them pafs undiscerned and unregarded by us, but carefully confider and take Notice of them; and when we do not afcribe the good Things he has given us to our own Deferts C 2 and Ecclus XXXV. 2. Bp. Ken for a devout Ob fervation of the Lord's Day. and Endeavours, or to any other Thing or Creature, but only to him. All glorying in ourselves, takes from the Acknowledgment of theGiver's Bounty. Q. When may we be faid to have a just Valve and Efteem of God's Mercies? A. When we retain them in our Memory, and make frequent Reflections upon them; it being natural to remember thofe Things we highly prize. When we do not grudge or repine at our Portion, but are contented with thofe Circumftances which the Providence of God has made to be our Lot. Q. What Return ought we to make to God as a Teftimony of our Thankfulnefs? A. We ought to profefs our Dependance upon him, and our Obligations to him for the good Things we enjoy. We ought to publifh to the World our Senfe of his Goodness with the Voice of Praife, and tell of all his wondrous Works. We ought to comfort his Servants and Children in their Afflictions, and relieve his poor diftreffed Members in their manifold Neceflities; for he that giveth Alms, facrificeth Praife. We ought carefully to obey him in all thofe Inftances wherein he has declared his Will and Pleafure, and be ready to facrifice the dearest Things in this World, even our Lives, for the Advancement of his Glory, and the Maintenance of his Truth. The PRAYER S. GLORY be to thee, O my God, who in Com- mainder Let me ever esteem it mainder to our own Ufe. II. Thankf WORTHY art thou, O Lord of Heaven A General and Earth, to receive Glory, and Honour, giving. and Power, for thou haft created all Things, and for thy Pleasure they are and were created. Thou haft made Heaven the Heaven of Heavens, with all their Hoft, the Earth and all Things that are therein; thou preferveft them all, and the Hoft of Heaven praifeth thee. Glory by to thee, O Lord God Almighty, for creating Man after thine own C 3 Image, Image, and making fo great a Variety of Creatures to minifter to his Ufe, Glory be to thee O Heavenly Father, for my Being and Prefervation, Strength and Health, Understanding and Memory, Friends and Benefactors, and for all my Abilities of Mind and Body. Glory be to thee, for my competent Livelihood, for the Advantages of my Education, for all my known or unobferved Deliverances; and for the Guard the holy Angels keep over me. But above all, Glory be to thee, for giving thy Son to die for my Sins; and for all the fpiritual Bleffings he has purchased for me; for my Baptifm, and all the Opportunities thou giveft me of ferving thee, and of receiving the holy Eucharift; for whatever Sin I have escaped, for whatever Good I have done, or thought, for all my Helps of Grace and Hopes of Heaven, Glory be to thee. Praife the Lord, O 31) Soul, and all that is within me praife his holy Name. Glory be to thee, O Lord Jefus! for thy inexpreffible Love to loft Man, for condefcending to take our frail Nature on thee, for all thy heavenly Doctrine to inftruct us, thy great Miracles to convince us, and thy unblamable Example to be a Guide to us. Glory be to thee, for thy Agony and bloody Sweat, for all the Torments and Anguifh of thy bitter Paffion. Glory be to thee, for thy glorious Refurrection and Afcenfion into Heaven, and Interceffion for us at the right Hand of thy Father. O gracious Lord, thou who haft done fo much for me, how can I ever fufficiently praife and love thee! Praife the Lord Jefus, O my Soul, and all that is within me praife his holy Name. Glory be to thee, O bleffed Spirit, Glory be to thee, for all the miraculous Gifts and Graces thou didit bestow on the Apoftles to fit them to convert the World, and for infpiring the facred Penmen of Holy Scripture! Glory be to thee, for inftilling holy Thoughts into my Soul, for all the Ghoftly Strength and Support, Comfort and Illumination I receive from thee; for all thy preventing, and reftraining and fanctifying Grace! Glory be to thee, Bleffed Spirit! let me never more by my Sins grieve thee, who art the Author of Life and Joy to me! Praise the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me praife bis boly Name. Bleffing and Honour, Thanksgiving and Praise, more than I can utter, more than I can conceive, be unto thee, O most adorable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, by all Angels, all Men, all Creatures, for ever and for ever. Amen, Amen. CHA P. II. Advent Sundays, Q. WHAT do you mean by Advent Sundays? A. The firft Sunday in Advent is always the nearest Sunday to the Feast of St. Andrew, whether before or after. Q. With what Temper of Mind ought we to commemorate the great Bleffing of Christ's Coming in the Flesh? A. With firm Purposes and fincere Refolutions of conforming ourselves to the End and Design of our Saviour's coming into the World. For fince the Son of God was manifefled to deftroy the Works of John iii. 8, the Devil, the great Care and Bufinefs of our Lives fhould tend to avoid every Thing that is evil, to mortify the Deeds of the Flesh, and not fuffer Sin |