12 d. 1 m. PURPOSES. It will bee for the Glory of God, that I should observe, the following RULES OF SPEECH. Oh! Lord God, in Jesus Christ, help mee! I. Lett mee in a solemn Way, give my Speech up unto God, as a Faculty to be everlastingly improved for Him. II. Lett my future Care, in and of my Words, declare the Sinceritie of such a Dedication. And therefore, lett mee seek Rules of right Speaking. 1. By praying daily to God, Lord, lett my Mouth show forth thy Praise. 2. By Reading, both of exemplary Men, and of profitable Books, which may teach mee, the Government of the Tongue. Lett mee then use the Rules which I have sought. especially Lip. 1. By being a Person of but few Words. 2. By being deliberate in the Motions of my Tongue and 3. By avoiding all Expressions, which I apprehend will trespass on the Commandments of God. 4. By rarely coming into Company, without seeking of useful Discourse in the Company. In so doing, the Tongue of the Stammerer shall speak plainly. 26 d. 1 m. A PURPOSE. I have, by happy Experience, been convinced what good may bee done, by Visits religiously performed. I would, as soon, as is convenient, sett apart one Afternoon, every Week, to visit all the Families, in our Neighbourhood; and therein essay, as handsomely as I can, to bring Persons of all Ages and Sexes, unto an Acquaintance with God. 30 d. 1 m. In Prayer, the Lord filled mee, with Faith and Joy, when I considered that admirable Clause in the new Covenant, I will not turn away from them to do them good; and when I professed unto the Lord, that since the Covenant, and all the inestimable Blessings of it, were offered unto my Acceptance, I did humbly lay hold thereon; And I desired, not only an Interest, in all that Salvation, which the Covenant proposed, and above all, that highest Blessedness, of being made like to God and Jesus Christ; but also I consented that Jesus Christ, the Surety of the Covenant, should bee the Way, in which all Mercy should bee communicated unto mee. 16 d. 2 m. [April.] PURPOSES. The Lord hath graciously given mee to see, that I have but one Thing to do in the World, and that is, to become acquainted with Him, so as to bee continually acting of Grace upon Him. The greater my Attainments in this kind, are, the more Glory shall I bring to my Blessed Maker and Master. Wherefore, hereunto, I press on. 1. Lett mee bee abundant in secret Prayers. 2. Lett mee carefully read some excellent Books, which my Saviour, in His infinite Faithfulness, has bestowed upon mee. And among the rest. Howes Blessedness of the Righteous.1 In the whole former part of this Year there occurr'd little Remarkable, concerning the Experiences of my life. Wherefore, but little is Recorded. 5 d. 3 m. [May.] Upon many Calls thereunto I spent this Day in secret Prayer with Fasting, before the Lord. And I will, to give one instructive Instance, unto my few Friends, with whom I leave these papers, particularly recite the Method of my Proceedings, from the Beginning, to the Conclusion, of the Day. 1 1 John Howe (1630-1705), domestic chaplain to Oliver Cromwell. His Treatise on the Blessedness of the Righteous was printed in 1668. 1. I Began the Day, with expressing before the Lord, my Beleef, of His being a Rewarder of them which diligently seek Him, and my Request, that Hee would now strengthen mee to seek Him. 2. I then read the Chapters of the Bible, which occurred unto mee, in my Course of Reading; and those Chapters, I largely turned into Prayers, before the Lord. 3. Afterwards, I essayed in Meditation; to affect my own Heart, with a Sense of the manifold Vileness wherewith I have provoked God: My old Sins, and my late Sins; especially my woful Unfruitfulness, under my marvellous Enjoyments, Priviledges and Advantages. All which, I then confessed, and bewayled, upon my Knees, before God. 4. This done; I sang unto the Lord, that Hymn of Barton's, which is called, Confession of Sin.1 5. Hereupon, I spent some Time in pondering of a profitable and a seasonable Quæstion; and then in forming of some occasional Reflections. 6. I then went again unto my Supplications; wherein I considered, that after all my Vileness, the Lord is willing to deal with mee, in the way of the Covenant of Grace; and for that End, offered unto mee such a Surety and a Saviour, as the Blessed Jesus. Wherefore, I now stirr'd up myself, to take hold of Him, earnestly putting my Soul, into the Hands of the Mediator, and crying to Him that Hee would convey unto mee, not only Pardon of Sin, but also Power against it, and make mee an happy Subject of all His redeeming Works. 7. Now, I sang unto the Lord, that Hymn in Barton's which is entitled, Humble Confessions and Supplications. And I sett myself, by further Meditation, to establish 1 William Barton (1598?-1678), hymnologist, whose verse translation of the Psalms was first published in 1644, and ran through many editions in the lifetime of the author, and with many alterations of text. He complained of editions printed by stealth, but in large numbers, both in England and in Holland. myself, in the use of such Rules of Speech, as might render mee, a perfect Man. 1 8. From which, I betook myself unto Prayer. And my Prayer now was, especially for such a Door of Utterance, as from Time to Time in my Ministry I might have occasion for. And I had a full Assurance, that I was heard in this Petition. 9. I then sang Part of the 51st Psalm. And so proceeded unto another Prayer, wherein I presented before the Lord, the Desire of Solomon for Wisdome; and for the Presence of God with mee, in all the Concerns of my Ministry. 10. Which being finished, I sang Part of the 103d. Psalm. And then I examined myself by the signs of a State of Nature, and a State of Grace, given in Mr N. Vincent's, True Touchstone;1 and found Joyful cause to hope. II. In the next Place, I made another Prayer; to recommend unto the Blessing of God, my particular Friends, and all His people. 12. So I went unto a Meeting of Christians, that were præparing for the Communion tomorrow and pray'd and preach'd with them. 13. Leaving them I visited a sick Neighbour and pray'd with him. 14. And last of all, I shutt up the Day, renouncing all Apprehension of Merit, in my own Duties, and relying upon the Lord Jesus Christ alone, for Acceptance and Salvation. 12 d. 3 m. This Evening, I had much Satisfaction of Mind in contriving what noble Attainments, I should bee continually pursuing of. And while I was lying on my 1 Nathaniel Vincent (1639?-1697), an ejected minister. The True Touchstone was printed in 1681. "Mr. Vincent," wrote Samuel Baker to Increase Mather in January, 1682-83, "a London minister, convicted on the 35th of Eliz: lies a prisoner his 3 months, then must leave the king's dominions or suffer death.” 4 Collections, VIII. 511. Couch, in the Dark of the Evening, I extempore composed the following Hymn, which I then sang unto the Lord. High Attainments. Lord, what shall I return unto Him, from Whom all my mercies flow? (I) To mee to live, it Christ shall bee, But in the Love of Thee above. (VI) Ejaculations shall ascend, Not seldome from mee. (VII.) I'l attend Turn all to Gold that comes to hand. (VII)1 And in particular, among My Cares, I'll try to make my Tongue, As bee accountable who seall. (IX) But last, yea, first, of all I will Thy Son my Surety make, and still I designed rather Pietie, than Poetrie, in these Lines. But being truly, and briefly, expressive, of the Desires, working in my Soul, I afterwards wrote the following Explications of them. NOTES. 1. That I may press after the apostolical Excellency. To mee to live is Christ, I would endeavour to dedicate every Day of my Life unto God, yea, to dedicate each 1 Error for VIII. |