Christian's pocket-book, or, A bundle of familiar exhortations to the practice of piety (2)

THE

Chriſtian's Pocket-Book:

OR, A BUNDLE OF

FAMILIAR EXHORTATIONS

TO THE

PRACTICE OF PIETY.

SUCCINCTLY AND ADVISEDLY ADAPTED TO THE

MEANEST CAPACITIES, BOTH AS TO

STYLE AND MATTER.

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BY A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.

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I THESSALONIANS iv. I.

We beſeech you, and exhort you by the Lord Jeſus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to pleaſe God, ſo ye would abound more and more.

HEBREWS xiii. 22.

I beſeech you, ſuffer the word of Exhortation, for I have written unto you in few words.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

DIRECTIONS for READING the BIBLE;

and ſhewing its Worth and Excellency.

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GLASGOW,

PRINTED BY J. AND M. ROBERTSON,

SALTMARKET, 1802.

PREFACE.

THERE are many who either are not able to buy books of great price, or not willing to carry about with them books of great bulk; therefore, we have caſt into this ſmall portable Pocket-book, the following Bundle of Exhortations, which, we hope, compendiouſly contain the chief ſubſtantials of practical religion; which are of moſt common uſe, and that people ſhould moſt carefully mind, and be daily exerciſed in; We have adviſedly contracted matters into ſmall bounds, and expreſſed them in plain terms, ſo that we expect, none will grudge either the price they pay for this ſchedule, or their pains in peruſing it. We would not have the Reader ſatisfy himſelf with once reading, or viewing it over, to pleaſe his curious or critical fancy anent what is written; it is not the feeding of fancy which the Author deſigns, but propoſing duty, and exhorting to the daily practice thereof; hence we exhort you to read over theſe exhortations frequently, and to form your daily walk agreeably thereto: we wiſh God's bleſſing on your peruſal thereof.

A

Bundle of Familiar Exhortations.

EXHORTATION I.

CONSIDER your ſoul concerns with the greateſt ſeriouſneſs; all other concerns are but trifles and vanities in compariſon hereof: inconſideration is the bane and ruin of ſouls, it is the parent of ſloth and of ſecurity, and the great hinderance of needful reſolution: and ſpecially conſider, that ye have precious immortal ſouls, which, after the end of this ſhort life, will live for ever, either in everlaſting happineſs, or everlaſting miſery. It is your chief concern to ſee to theſalvation of your ſouls, as ye would not be found inconſiderate fools, or ſtupid ſots, Mat. xvi. 20. Hoſ. ii. 12.

Exh. 2. Lay deeply to heart your natural ſtate of ſin and miſery: Bethink you, that beſides your original guilt, and the corruption of your whole nature, which was brought to the world with you, that you are alſo guilty of innumerable actual ſins, by breaking all the commands of God in thought, word, and deed: for all which you are worthy of God's heavy curſe and wrath to purſue you, both in this world, and that which is to come: and neither can you relieve yourſelves out of this dangerous condition. Pſal. li. 4, 5. Rom. v. 8, 19. Gal. iii. 10.

Exh. 3. Flee ſpeedily to Chriſt Jeſus the only Son of God, and the only Saviour of ſinners; renouncing your own righteouſneſs, by true faith reſt and rely upon his merits, and imputed righteouſneſs, firmly expecting to be juſtified, pardoned, and ſaved thereby. Rom. v. 22, 24, 25. Rom. x. 4, 5.

Exh. 4. Reflect ſeriouſly on your baptiſmal vows and covenant, whereby ye are faſt bound to be the Lord's; and to renounce, and reſiſt the devil, the world, and the fleſh, as the great enemies of your peace and ſalvation, and make conſcience of keeping your ſolemn engagements, as ye deſire and hope to partake of Chriſt and his benefits: Alſo, ſet apart ſome ſhare of time, on purpoſe to renew your baptiſmal covenant in your own perſons, expreſsly accepting Chriſt Jeſus for your Prophet, Prieſt, and King; for your portion, guide, guard, and all in all, and devoting yourſelves to him, to be his ſubjects and ſervants as long as ye live: Frequently renew your perſonal covenant with him, and faithfully keep it. Iſa. xliv. 5. Rom. xii. 2. Exod. xix. 5.

Exh. 5. Make an entire reſignation of yourſelves to God, and of all that you enjoy, and have an affection for; referring frankly to his will, wiſdom and goodneſs, to diſpoſe of you and yours in all things, in all caſes, and at all times, as ſeemeth good and right in his fight: live a life of dependence on him, and truſt in him, who can make all things work together for good to you. Matth. vi. 10. Rom. viii. 18.

Exh. 6. Daily read ſome portion of the holy ſcriptures, diligently meditate on what you read, and ſtudy to underſtand and remember what you meditate; that thereby you may come to know both ſin and duty, and how to be both holy and happy; read alſo other good practical books; and ſeek the Lord's bleſſing on your readings. John v. 39. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16, 17.

Ex. 7. Pray daily unto God Almighty morning and evening at leaſt; and ſee you be not formal or lazy in your devotions; and, beſides ſecret cloſet prayer, alſo make conſcience of family duties; ſet up, and keep up the worſhip of God in your families, by reading in the Bible, and by prayers and praiſes to God, who only can bleſs you and yours in all your actions and intereſts, prayerleſs perſons, are juſtly to be looked on as godleſs perſons. Pſal. lv. 17. Mat. vi. 6, 7, 9. Joſhua xxiv. 15.

Exh. 8. Exerciſe yourſelves alſo ſometimes to ſpiritual meditations; think often of the joys of heaven, of the torments of hell, of the ſweetneſs of God's promiſes, of the terribleneſs of his threatnings, of the hatefulneſs of ſin, of the beauty of holineſs, of the vanity of the world, of the advantage of real godlineſs, of your hazards thro' manifold temptations, and of the readineſs and ability of Jeſus Chriſt to help and comfort you in all caſes, &c. When ye riſe up, or ly down, when ye walk in the ſtreets, or in the fields, when you are employed in any part of your lawful calling, even at all times, and every where, by night or by day, you may have good thoughts towards God, and about your ſoul concerns. Gen. xxiv. 63. Pſ. lxiii. 6. civ. 34. Phil iv. 8.

Exh. 9. Entertain and nouriſh tenderly the motions and impulſes of God's Spirit on your ſpirits: when ye find kindly inclinations to duty, fall in with them; when you feel inward checks and fears with reſpect to ſin, improve them to reſtrain you from all iniquity; take ſpecial heed you do not ſmother convictions, or wilfully reſiſt and quench the Spirit's workings in your hearts. Rom. viii. 1,5,—13. 1. Theſſ. v. 19, 20.

Exh. 10. Wait punctually on public ordinances, and always prepare for appearing before the Lord in the ſanctuary; hear the word reverently. Let it be your earneſt deſire to meet with God, and to get your ſouls edified in the grace and knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus; make particular application both of promiſes and threatnings, agreeably to your caſes: When you are returned home, meditate and confer on what you have been hearing; and frequently pray that God may give you good of his word: Neglect not to mind your miniſter in your ſupplications, that he may be always bleſſed with divine aſſiſtance and ſucceſs. Pſal. lxiii. 1, 2. Mat. xv. 10. Luke viii. 13, 18. 2 Theſſ. iii. 1.

Exh. 11. Frequently take the ſacrament of the Lord's Supper, but ere you venture on that holy ordinance, prepare carefully by examining yourſelves anent your ſoul's ſtate and condition, try if you be in a holy, humble, lively, and tender frame; penitently mourn over your ſins: reſolve upon amendment and newneſs of life; renew your perſonal covenant, and uſe the ſacrament as a ſeal of it; ſerve a bill of divorce againſt all your idols and ſtrange lovers, that have courted and carried your affections off Chriſt; hunger and thirſt for cloſe communion with him: in the act of communicating watch narrowly over your treacherous hearts, that they gad and go not aſtray from the Lord. And after you have communicated, try what good ye have gotten, let it appear in your after walk, that ye have been with Jeſus, feaſting with him, and upon him. 1 Cor. xi. 26.

Exh. 12. Remember the ſabbath-day, to keep it holy, not only by public worſhip, but by religious duties in your families, and in ſecret: put away all vain, impertinent, and earthly thoughts; talk not of worldly affairs, neither do any worldly buſineſs, but what works of mercy and neceſſity may call you to; miſpend no part of the Lord's day, either in idle diſcourſe, loitering at home, or unneceſſary walking in the fields. Ex. xx. 8,—11.

Exh. 13. Look on ſin to be the worſt thing in the world, as being defiling to your conſciences, miſchievous and damnable both to ſoul and body; and which is worſt of all, diſhonourable and diſpleaſing to the great God of heaven. Jer. ii. 19.

Exh. 14. Shun and reſiſt temptations, be ſtill upon your guard, watching over your deceitful hearts, keeping the door of your lips, and being circumſpect in all your ways; you are encompaſſed about on all hands with ſnares and temptations. Mat. xxvi. 41. Prov. vi. 23. Pſal. xxxix. 1, 2. Eph. v. 15. 1 Pet. v. 8, 9.

Exh. 15. Daily repent of ſin: you are daily ſinning in thought, word and deed, for which уe ſhould every evening take an account of yourſelves; and what faults you find ye are guilty of, confeſs them, mourn over them, reſolve, by God's grace, not to do the like again: have a care your repentance prove not ſighing and going backward: more over, not only repent of your own faults, but lament over the ſins of your relations, neighbours, and the places ye live in. Acts xvii. 30. Job xxxiv. 32. Pſalm cxix. 136.

Exh. 16. Mortify and bear down the inward paſſions, and corrupt affections of your heart, ſuch as anger, envy, malice, privy hatred, revenge, luſtfulneſs, covetouſneſs, pride, ambition, and all ſecret inclinations to impiety: till your ſouls be purged of theſe, ye cannot expect the Holy Ghoſt will dwell in you as a temple. Col. iii. 5, 8. 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17.

Exh. 17. Keep at the utmoſt diſtance from the common ſins of the times, from curſing, ſwearing, drunkenneſs, ſtealing, cheating, lying, reviling, baudy-language, fornication, and all uncleanneſs, deriding or mocking true godlineſs, or wiſhing evil to the godly, &c. For becauſe of theſe things cometh the wrath of God on the guilty. Eph. v. 3, 4, 5.

Exh. 18. Keep out of ill company, bad examples corrupt good manners: Think ſhame to converſe familiary with openly profane and debauched perſons; this will neither be for your credit, comfort, nor profit; rather chuſe virtuous, ſober and godly people to be your ordinary companions: Such a man as ye would be, draw you to like company. Prov. xxii. 24. Pſ cxix. 63.

Exh. 19. Lead a holy and religious life, walking ſincerely according to the righteous commands of God: Set the Lord always before your face; content not yourſelves with a bare form, and outward ſhew of godlineſs without the power of it; but be intirely holy in all your ways. 1 Pet. i. 15, 16. 2 Tim. iii. 5.

Exh. 20. Be good in all relations; not only a good Chriſtian in general, that daily reads, and prays, and runs to preachings and communions; but be a good huſband; a good wife; be a dutiful parent, and an obedient child; be a righteous maſter, and a diligent and honeſt ſervant; be a good peaceable neighbour, wronging nobody either with tongue or hands; thus be good and godly in all relations and capacities. Rom. xii. 28. Col. iii. 18,—24.

Exh. 21. Be ſtrong in the grace that is in Chriſt; be not ſatisfied with ſmall meaſures of grace; uſe all fit and proper means for growing in grace, and keeping it in lively exerciſe; without the exerciſe of grace, ye can do nothing to purpoſe either in performing duties, ſubduing corruptions, bearing afflictions, or reſiſting temptations, &c. Have a care of ſpiritual ſloth, unwatchfulneſs: daily make uſe of Chriſt for quickening and increaſing your graces. John i. 16. 2 Pet. 1, 5,—9. 2 Pet. iii. 18.

Exh. 22. Airth and fix your affections right: Love not the world, nor any earthly comfort immoderately: Give your heart's love to precious Chriſt above all things, who is only worthy of your chief deſires. Col. iii. 1, 2. 1 John ii. 15. Mat. xvii. 37.

Exh. 23. Be not vain or proud of any temporal thing: neither of riches, honour, beauty, ſtrength of body, parts nor gifts of mind, nay not of grace itſelf; all earthly poſſeſſions and goods are uncertain, vain, and liable to innumerable chances, and changes. Eccl. i. 2,14.

Exh. 24. Be moderate in all things: in your judgement of yourſelves, and opinion of others: be moderate in eating, that you be not gluttonous; in drinking, that it be not to exceſs; in apparel, that ye be not prodigal; in your houſe-keeping, that ye ſtretch not either beyond your rank or ability; in your recreations, that ye miſpend not precious time; ſobriety is always ſafe and commendable. Philip. iv. 5. Tit. ii. 12.

Exh. 25. Make as much conſcience of ſin and duty in ſecret before God alone, as openly in the ſight of men: have a care of Phariſaical righteouſneſs. Gen. xxxix. 9. Mat. vi. 1, 4, 5, 6.

Exh. 26. Follow your lawful calling diligently, never be idle, but have your hand always in a turn, the hand of the diligent maketh rich; yet be not ſo much ſwallowed up with your worldly affairs, as to forget God, or your ſouls, or juſtle out religious duties: keep a good mind in all your affairs, ſwaying to no extreme, either of neglecting your lawful calling, under the pretence of conſtant devotion, or of too much engagement in throng of worldly buſineſs, under the pretence of dutiful providing for your families; every thing is beautiful in its ſeaſon. Eccl. ix. 10. Rom. xii. 11.

Exh. 27. Look more to God's providence and bleſſing for making you thrive and proſper in the world, than to your own ſkill or induſtry; and, as you would expect God's bleſſing, be juſt, upright, and honeſt in your dealings; cheating no man, defrauding no man, by lying, equivocating, or over-reaching. Prov. xxii. 10.

Exh. 28. Be content with your lot, whatever be the circumſtances and ingredients thereof; be not your own carvers, leſt you cut your fingers in the carving; whatever God gives to you, whatever he takes from you, acquieſce in his will, which ſhould never be quarrelled; own your needy dependence on his providence, and in all the changes of your condition, ſay, Good is the will of the Lord. Heb. xiii. 5. Job i. 21, 22.

Exh. 29. Bear afflictions patiently and ſubmiſſively, and be more concerned to get the ſanctified uſe of your troubles, than how to be freed from them: look to the hand of God, in all the pains, ſickneſs, croſſes, loſſes, diſappointments, reproaches and vexations ye meet with; in faith and hope, caſt your cares and burdens upon the Lord. Heb. xii. 5, 9, 11. Pſal. lv. 22. 1 Pet. v. 7.

Exh. 30. Thank God heartily for all the mercies you receive; whether with reſpect to your bodies or your ſouls; freely acknowledge you get more mercies than you are worthy of, more than you improve or guide well, more than you are ſuitably thankful for, and far more mercies than many others get, who are better, and more ſerviceable to God than you: Reckon it a great mercy that you are out of hell, and that you have the opportunity of the precious goſpel of Chriſt: notice and record all the mercies of God; and ſometimes take a while on ſet purpoſe, to thank and praiſe God for them. Pſal. ciii. to the end.

Exh. 31. Specially remark and treaſure up ſpiritual experiences; ſuch as the anſwer of prayer, victory over temptations, the ſenſible preſence of God in ordinances and duties, &c. never deny, hide, or ſmother Chriſt's kindneſs, this is baſtard humility, and true ingratitude. Pſ. xlii. 6, 8. Pſ. lxvi. 16, 17, 20.

Exh. 32. Be charitable to the poor, as far as you are able; if you cannot help them with your purſe, help them with your prayers and ſympathy, and ſuch offices of kindneſs and humility, as may make the miſerable to bleſs you. Prov. xxii. 9. xix. 17. Job xiii. 29.

Exh. 33. Study more to be well grounded in the fundamental principles of religion, than to ſpend your time about matters debatable, and leſs neceſſary to be known; ſee you do nothing that may break the peace and unity of the church: go not without the bounds of your ſtation, under a pretence of zeal and a public ſpirit. John xvii. 3. 1 Pet. iii. 15. Pſ. cxxxi. 1.

Exh. 34. Carry a due reſpect both to magiſtrates and miniſters; obey them in all things lawful, if in any thing you be public faulters and offenders, willingly ſubject both to civil puniſhment, and to church diſcipline and cenſures: regard and reverence rulers as your ſuperiors. Rom. xiii. 1,—8. Heb. xiii. 13.

Exh. 35. Do all you can in your ſtation for promoting the intereſts of the goſpel, as God doth call and enable you: join not at all with ill men and perſecutors, to trouble any body for their religion and conſcience: Sympathize with the perſecuted people of God in foreign churches, alſo ſympathize much with the blinded Jews, and Heathen nations, daily pray that God may pity and convert them, and make the light of the goſpel ſhine through the world. Acts ix. 26, 29.

Obadiah 11,———18. Pſalm li. 18.

Exh. 36. Reſolve upon ſufferings for Chriſt; be at leaſt martyrs in reſolution; if you have a mind for Chriſt and the crown, you muſt alſo be content to take Chriſt and the croſs; this is one of the ſpecial articles in his new covenant bargain with ſinners; prepare for trials, you know not what you may meet with ere you go off the ſtage of time: Arm yourſelves againſt all peradventures. Matth. xvi. 24.

Exh. 37. Mind religion as your main buſineſs; and all your other affairs but as petty by buſineſſes; be not as the bulk and body of the blinded demented world, who live without God, without Chriſt, and without hope; who live as if they were not to die, as if there were neither heaven nor hell, nor a day of judgement after this life. Eph. ii. 12. Tit. i. 16.

Exh. 38. Propoſe God's glory as the chief end of all your actions, and make his word the rule of them: take heed that baſe, ſelfiſh by-ends be not your main end either in duties towards God, or towards man: He that walketh uprightly, walketh ſurely. 1 Cor. x. 31. Prov. x. 9.

Exh. 39. Spend your time well and profitably; time is a precious, but a paſſing thing, and, when once paſt, cannot be brought back again. When you are to leave time, nothing will more gall you, than the tormenting thoughts of miſpent time: as, on the other hand, nothing will be more comfortable, than the conſideration of managing your golden hours profitably: mind, God will call you to an account for every minute of time, how you have improven that excellent talent: O what a valuable, yet what an abuſed mercy, is precious time. Eph. v. 16.

Exh. 40. Mind ſeriouſly ye are frail mortal creatures, liable to a thouſand dangerous accidents; Moſt certain it is, you muſt die, but when, where, or how, no body knows: Neither young, nor old, can promiſe themſelves a day, or an hour, beyond the moment they breath in; therefore, account it the care of cares to prepare for death, judgement, and eternity: Study to be always ready, by making your peace with God, by ſecuring an intereſt in Chriſt, by living near God in the daily practice of piety, and by avoiding all wickedneſs, that when the Lord ſhall send you a ſummons to remove hence to your long home, you may be found fit to die, and to ſtep into eternity. Deut. xxxii. 29. Pſ. ix. 3, 9, 12. Heb. ix. 27. 1 Pet. i. 14. James iv. 8.

THE END.

DIRECTIONS on Reading the BIBLE; wherein its Worth and Excellency are ſhewed.

IN reading the word of God, if ye would profit by it, then look to God for his bleſſing upon it when ye begin, pray that he may bleſs it to you, and open your ears and hearts to hear and comply with it as the voice of God.

II. Read it with reverence, not as the word of man; but, as it is indeed, the word of the great God.

Endeavour to get your hears impreſſed by his bleſſed word. The doctrines, laws, and very Spirit of our Bibles, ſhould be tranſcribed into our very ſouls. Let then God's word ſtand not only in your Bibles, but dwell in your hearts.

III. Have an eye to Chriſt in every thing ye read; for he is the end, ſcope and ſubſtance of the whole Bible; and every thing in it is reducible to him.

IV. Mark the ſpecial paſſages of the word, either theſe that are moſt important in themſelves, or moſt applicable to you. Mark the duties enjoined, and ſins forbidden, with the promiſes to the one, and threatening againſt the other: Faſten theſe upon your memories, and hide them in your hearts. Meditate on them, and pray that God may keep them in your minds, ready for uſe againſt the time of need. There are ſundry evangelical laws and precepts in the word of God which you ſhould obſerve; as, believing in God, doing all religious exerciſes in his name, depending upon his merits, grace, and interceſſion; looking only for acceptance in him; a perſuaſion of the neceſſity and uſefulneſs of his offices, as Mediator, Prophet, Prieſt, and King: An apprehenſion of your own ignorance, guilt, weakneſs, miſery, and nothingneſs without Chriſt, a relying on him in all his offices. We alſo ſhould remark concerning the Spirit, that he is a Spirit of conviction, illumination, prayer, holineſs, conduct, comfort, and ſealing: So we would accept of his help, cheriſh his motions, and influences.

V. Conſider the worth and excellence of the word, and how ſuitable it is to any ſtate and condition we may be in. It is a rich mine of heavenly pleaſures, a ſtore-houſe of all ſpiritual conſolation; a common ſhop of medicines for the ſoul, full of rich privileges, promiſes, and large legacies to the people of God: It is a ſtaff and ſtay to the old, an ornament and guide to the young. In the word of God, we read the love which God bears to his children from all eternity, and will continue to have for them, when time shall be no more. Here are found the leaves of the tree of life, which God hath ordained for the healing of the nations. In a word, here is the true judge of controverſies, a hammer for hereticks, a touch-ſtone for doctrine, a rule for our lives, a comforter and counſellor in this houſe of our pilgrimage: a ſovereign cordial in all our souls' diſtreſſes; David found it ſo to his ſweet experience, Pſalm cxix. 50. This is my comfort in my afflictions, for thy word hath quickened me. O! how excellent is the word, and who can ſet forth all its excellency? It is a glaſs to diſcover our ſpots, a lamp to guide us in the dark, a fire to warm our cold affections, a magazine to ſupply us with armour against our ſpiritual enemies. Here are ſuitable cordials for all our various caſes; be it deſertion, temptation, poverty, ſickneſs, reproach or perſecution; here is the heavenly rain, for making ſoft and tender hearts, here is meat for ſtrong men, and milk for babes, which, through the divine bleſſing, will be both food and physic to our ſouls.

It is ſurely the Chriſtian's duty, to read and meditate much on God's most excellent word, and that with pleaſure and delight; the child delights to read his father's will and teſtament, and ſee what is bequeathed to him; citizens delight to read their charters, to ſee their privileges; the malefactor acquitted, delights to read his pardon; and the prodigal that is received into favour, delights to read the affectionate letters of his father to him: Then if ye are received into favour, and born of God, you cannot but be the lovers of this moſt excellent word of God; and read and meditate on it both day and night. Pſalm i. 2.

VI. We are to contend for the ſcriptures; the precious jewel is too good to be parted with, Prov. iv. 13. 'Keep her ſhe is thy life.' It is our duty, not only to love, read, and underſtand the ſcriptures, but alſo to contend for the ſame. Hereticks fight againſt it, we muſt therefore contend for it, Jude ver. 3. The ſcriptures are our book of evidence for heaven, ſhall we part with our evidences? The ſaints of old were both advocates and martyrs for the truth, they held faſt ſcripture, though it was at the expence of their lives. David ſpends the whole cxix. Pſalm, to ſhew his intimate affection to it: Moſes eſteems it above all the learning of other nations, Deut. iv. 5, 6. Solomon prefers it before pearls, Prov. iii. 15. Job prefers it before his food, Job xxii. 12. Jeremiah makes it his joy, Jer. xv. 16. In a word, all the children of God have been great lovers of God's word, and could never be prevailed with to part with it, though perſecuted for the ſame.

VII. Read this excellent word with application to yourſelves, as if God ſpoke to you by name and ſirname in every line of it. Read it as a love-letter ſent ſtraight from heaven to you, and to ſtir you up to faith and holineſs. Let us accept of its reproofs and admonitions, with thankfulneſs: and ſay, what a great mercy is it, that we may read our Father's will in our mother tongue? And, that God ſpeaks his mind ſo plainly to us in his word, ſhewing us what we are to believe, what we are to do, and what we are to pray for, in order to God's glory, and our own happineſs.

FINIS.

GLASGOW,

PRINTED BY J. AND M. ROBERTSON,

1802.