may beg a blessing on yourself, and on all your business that day. Do not begin with the world in the morning, before you have been with God. In the evening, I cannot say, the later the better: but rather embrace the first convenient evening hour that offers, lest you be drowsy. However, it is much better to pray late, than not to pray at all. If, at any time, you are hindered in the morning, be sure, if possible, that you be not hindered in the evening too. But, the best way is, to keep pretty nearly the same seasons, every day, for your morning and evening retirements, if your circumstances will allow it.

:

IV. Seek a proper and convenient place for your secret retirements it is no matter what the place, if it be free from all disturbance. A bed-chamber is generally a proper place for those who have not the conveniency of closets. Be not afraid to go alone, though it may be sometimes in the dark you are going to meet with God, and he is ever near to them that call upon him. The presence of God is an almighty security against all manner of evils. Nothing can hurt you while God is with you.

V. If you have time, in your secret worship, read a chapter or two, and a psalm before you pray. For my part, I could wish there were select portions of scripture chosen out, and printed by themselves, for children to read in private. However, for want of this, I would recommend the book of Genesis, and of Exodus, as far as the twentieth chapter, and the book of Proverbs, and the four gospels, with some practical chapters out of the epistles, and especially the book of Psalms, to be the chief subjects of their reading in secret, in their younger years. The book of Proverbs abounds in useful lessons of prudence, and instructions of piety: the book of Psalms is full of prayers and praises. And let the word not be read in a careless and hasty manner, but with diligent attention, and with an endeavour to remember something of it every day.

VI. Leave your business and sports, and all thoughts of them behind, when you retire for worship. Let your spirit be composed to great seriousness when you begin to pray. The reading of a chapter will help to compose your thoughts, and fix them more on divine things. Fall down upon your knees before God in a humble posture, and re

member, that you are come into the presence of the Great God, that you are going to speak to the Majesty of heaven, before whom angels worship, and at whose name devils tremble; take heed therefore, that you do not trifle with him, nor take his holy name in vain. He sees your heart, he knows all your thoughts, and he observes all your wanderings. And, for your encouragement also remember, that he takes kind notice of every sincere desire, that rises from your heart.

VII. Take heed, that you speak not any thing to God in prayer, which is not the sincere thought and desire of your own soul. See to it, that your heart agree to the words of your prayer, or else do not utter them before God. "God

is a spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." He hates a hypocrite, who speaks what he does not mean. If there be, therefore, any sentence in the prayer, which is not suitable to your present case, or which your heart does not agree to, leave it out, and speak what is the sense of your own heart.

VIII. Take notice, every day, what good or evil falls out relating to you, and by this means, perhaps, you will often have some particular thing in your mind to mention before God; it may be some sin to confess, some sorrow to complain of, some blessing to desire, or some mercy to give thanks for: then be sure to speak it with freedom in your own language: the great God, who hears the young ravens when they cry, will much more take notice of the voice and language of young children, when they pray to him and he understands the meaning of your heart, though your expressions may not be so proper as you could wish. This will be the way to learn to pray, and gain an ability in time to address God in a proper manner, without the necessity of forms.

IX. If any person whatsoever takes notice of your retiring daily, to pray to God in secret, never be ashamed of it, nor leave off prayer, for fear of being seen or known to be religious. If you are ashamed of worshipping God your heavenly Father in this world, God will be ashamed to own you for one of his children, in the world to come.

X.. When several children join together, and one of them repeats any prayers, take care that nothing be done with

rudeness or confusion, but let all decency and gravity be practised. Let not him that speaks begin, till all are come in, and have fallen down on their knees; and let every one attend to the words spoken, and lift up his heart to God, in all the several sentences; that the prayer of every one may be accepted of God, and that God may delight to answer the united prayers of children, and pour down his blessing on so religious a family.

XI. To sum up all, I should add in the last place: Let all your behaviour in the world, both toward God and toward superiors and toward your fellows, be such as becomes those who profess religion, and pray to God morning and evening. Let a pious care to please God, and, a fear of offending him, run through all your speeches and actions. Honour and obey your parents and teachers: love your brothers and sisters: Be courteous and kind to all: abstain from all evil words and sinful works: for your prayers will be useless, if you continue in wilful sins: "The prayers of the wicked, who will not repent, are an abomination to the Lord "

Make it appear, that your hearts are sincére and honest in your prayers to God, by endeavouring always to avoid these sins which you have confessed, as well as to practise those duties, in which you have prayed God to assist you; and let it be your daily care to obtain all those blessings, as far as in you lies, which you have asked God to bestow upon you. Thus while prayer and practice go together, you will become christians indeed, you will be the comfort and joy of your friends in this world, you will always find acceptance with God through the mediation of Jesus Christ, and in the world to come, be made happy to all eternity. Amen.

ANDOVER:

PRINTED FOR THE NEW ENGLAND TRACT SOCIETY

BY FLAGG AND GOULD.

1820.

[5th edit. 6000.

THE

WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY'S

SHORTER CATECHISM.

1. What is the chief end of man?

Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy him?

The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

3. What do the scriptures principally teach?

The scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. 4. What is God?

God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. 5. Are there more Gods than one?

There is but one only, the living and true God.

6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one GOD, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

7. What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his own will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

8. How does God execute his decrees?

God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

9. What is the work of creation?

The work of creation is God's making all things of 'nothing by the word of his power in the space of six days, and all very good..

10. How did God create man?

God created man male and female after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over his creatures.

11. What are God's works of providence?

God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions.

12. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man, in the state wherein he was created?

When God created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil upon pain of death.

13. Did our first parents continue in the state, wherein they were first created?

Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

14. What is sin?

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.

15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the state wherein they were created?

The sin,whereby our first parents fell from the state, wherein they were created, was their eating of the forbidden fruit. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity, all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

17. Into what state did the fall bring mankind?

The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that state, whereinto man fell?

The sinfulness of that state wherinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whoie nature, which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual transgressions, which proceed from it.

19. What is the misery of that state whereinto man fell? All mankind by the fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, & so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of Hell forever. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in this state of sin and misery?

God, having out of his mere good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of a state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer.