Perhaps, there may be some children, who are called to school, as soon as ever they rise in the morning, or are bound to obey some other orders in a family, so that they cannot find any so proper time as noon for their retirement: Then let them use chiefly the morning prayer: But let them not content themselves, with praying once a day, if it be possible for them to find another fit season, in the afternoon, or evening: And if they are forced to omit it once now and then, let it not grow to a custom or constant practice to omit their evening devotions; yet rather pray once a day, than not at all.

IV. Seek a proper and convenient place for your secret retirements: It is no matter what or where the place be, if it be, freest from all disturbance. A bed-chamber is generally a proper place for those who have not the conveniency of closets for themselves. Be not afraid to go alone by yourselves, 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 and defence, against all manner of evils, that you can suspect or fear. Nothing can hurt you, while God is with you.

V. If you have time and conveniency for it, 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, that their time devoted to religion and worship, might not be spent in such parts of the Bible as are of very little use to them. However, for want of this, I would recommend the book of Genesis, and of Exodus, as far as the xx. 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 of God not be read in a slight, or careless and hasty manner, but with a diligent attention, and with an endeavour to remember something of it every day.

VI. Leave your business and your sports and all thoughts of them behind you, when you retire for worship. Let you 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 remember, 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 from him. And, for your encouragement also remember that he takes kind notice of every sincere desire, and every pious wish 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 he will be worshipped 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, which is not expressed, so plainly in the words of the prayer; 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 such forms.

IX. Use a low voice in secret prayer: It may be so loud, that yourself may just hear it, but scarce loud enough for others to hear it, in a distant part even of the same room. A small voice will be of some use to keep your thonghts from wandering, but a loud voice may, perhaps, give occasion for other persons to charge you with hypocrisy, as though you practised your duties, on purpose to be seen and heard of men, and to make a shew of your goodness and religion. And yet,

X.

If any persons whatsoever take 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.

XI. When several children join together, and one of them repeats any of these 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 blessings on so religious a family.

XII. To sum up all, I should add in the last place: Let all your carriage and behaviour in the world, both toward God, and toward your 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 sincere 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 seek 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.

QUESTIONS

PROPER FOR

STUDENTS IN DIVINITY,

CANDIDATES OF THE MINISTRY,

AND

YOUNG CHRISTIANS.

TO BE

PROPOSED TO THEM, BY THEMSELVES, OR BY OTHERS.

QUESTIONS

PROPER FOR

STUDENTS IN DIVINITY, &c.

I. QUESTIONS OF SERIOUS IMPORTANCE, FOR STUDENTS IN DIVINITY, FREQUENTLY TO PUT TO THEIR OWN CONSCIENCES.

WHAT was my great design, in devoting myself to study for the ministry, and what

is my daily view and purpose in pursuing it?

Have I entirely given up myself to our Lord Jesus Christ, as a christian, that I may be fitter to become a faithful minister?

Do I every day seek direction and blessing from God, in all my studies for this end? In labouring after knowledge in human sciences, do I always make the service of Christ, in the ministry, my supreme design, either that I may be better fitted for it, or better accepted in it?

Do I pursue my studies daily, as one that must give an account of my time, and of all my advantages?

Note, These two questions put close to the heart, will guard students against idleness, or against wasting too much of their time, in any favourite human study.

How many hours have I spent this day in study, or for the pursuit of knowledge, allowing that great maxim, "Bené orâsse est bene studiesse." To pray well is to study well.

Do I pursue practical divinity, as well as the knowledge of doctrines and contro

versies?

Am I solicitous that my soul may grow in grace, by every increasing degree of christian knowledge, that so I may preach to others, what my own soul has known by experience?

Do I choose my company by their seriousness, as well as by their ingenuity and learning?

Do I take constant care to avoid all company, which may be dangerous to my morals, or to my studies?

Have I been in any company this week, or this day, whereby I have gotten any good myself, or done any good to others?

Have I indulged myself in any thing this week, or this day, whereby my soul has been put out of frame for evening-worship?

Have I suffered nothing to carry away my heart from God, so as to make me neglect devotion, or perform it in a slight or careless manner?

Do I watch against all evil appetites and passions, and endeavour to subdue them early, that I may be fitted to teach others to do it?

Do I ever take any proper occasion, in my dis course, to make some essay towards the conversion or edification of souls, as preparatories for my future ministry?