J. GOD whom we ought to serve, i Cbron.

xxviii. 9.
1. His Ellence, Exod. ii

14.
2. His Propertics, Exod. xxxiv. 6.
3. His Works.

I. Creation.

2 Providence. 2. Christ, by whom alone we can serve him,

Fobn xvii. 3. I Cor. ii 2.
3. The Scriptures, Mat. xxii. 29.
4. Our Duty contained in them, the whole

Moral Law,
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

II. How may we attain true Knowledge? In order thereunto, 1. Be sensible of your own ignorance, and by

consequence careful not to coceit your felves to be wife, and knowing People,

Prov. xxvi. 12. i Cor, iii. 18. 2. Avoid carnal Pleasures and sensual Delights,

Eph. iv. 18. 3. Devote your selves to Holiness and a Pious

Life, Psal. cxix. 99, 100. John xiv. 21.

Psal. xxv. 14 4. Be lowly and humble in your own Eyes, not

only in re pect of Knowledge, but also of Grace and Virtue, Rom xii. 3. otherwise

you will not be qualifyed for it, i Pet. v.s. Being by thele means qualifyed for true Chri

stian Knowledge, use the means appointed. 1. Pray for it, fam. i. s. Pfal. cxix. 18.

i Kings iii. 9, 12 2. Read and hear the Word of GOD,

2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. To which may be added, Catechising and Mc

ditation.

R3

3. Pra tice

3. Practice what you know, and that is the

way to know more, Fobn xiii. 17.

HI Why should you labour after so much Knowledge? 1. Without Knowledge yeare like brute Beutts,

Pfal. xxxii. 9. yea worse, Ija. i. 2; 3. 2. Ignorance is the cause of Error and Herélie,

Mat. xxii. 29. 3. It is the cause of sin too, 1 Cor. ii. 8. Pf.

cxix. 33, 34 4 And of Destruction, Hof. iv. 6. 5. Without Knowledge you can do no good

Work, Rom. x. 2, 3: 6. Nor ever get to Heav'n, Luke xi. 52. Hence see the Necessity of Catechising. Teach your Children at home, and send them

hither.

2 PET.

2 PET. i. 6.

And to knowledge temperance.

IW

Hat is Temperance? 1. GOD hath made several Objects pleaGng

to Man's Senses. 2. The Affections of the Soul are apt to fol

low the Senses of the Body. 3. Hence sensual Pleasures are apt to draw us

into Vice. 4. It is our great Duty and Interest to mo

derate our Affections to sensual Plea

sures. 5. Herein confifteth the true Nature of

Temperance, not in destroying the Af

fections. More particularly it consisteth, 1. In keeping our Affections subject to Rea

son and Religion, and so denying them

what is unlawful, Tit. ii. 12. 2. In abstaining especially from such Lusts,

as by our Calling, Condition or Consti

tution, we are most subject to, 1 Pet. 3. In abstaining from the inward Defires, as

well as the outward Acts of Intemperance, Col. iii. 5. Rom. viii. 13. Mat. v.

28. 4. In not being too much lift up with the

Increase, nor cast down with the Loss of sensual Pleasures, 1 Cor. vii. 29, 30, 31. 2 Cor. vi. 10,

iv.2, 3,4

II. How may we attain this Vertue? 1. Consider that all Intemperance leaves a

Sting, a Curse behind it, Prov. xxiii.

29, 30. Ifa.v. 11. 2. Consider that it makes a Man unfit for his

particular, much more for his general Calling, Hof. iv. II. Luke xxi. 34. and so is an Inlet to all inanner of Villany

and Wickedness. To Adultery, Fornication, Theft, Mur

der, Perjury, and what not? 3. Hence look not at sensual Pleasures as they

come, but as they go, Rom. vi. 21. 4. Refuse and suppress the first Motions to

Intemperance, Jam. i. 14, 15. And keep not Company with those who are

addicted to it, 1 Cor. v.u. s. Consider otten the

great Work

you

have to do, and how necessary Temperance is, in order to the effecting of it,

i Cor. ix, 24, 25, 27. 6. Employ your Affections upon their pro

per Objects, and you will soon despise all Brucish Pleasures.

2
2 PET.

2 PET. 1. 6.

And to temperance patience.

1.

What is

Hat is Patience ?

1. GOD orders the World, and disposeth

of every thing in it, Mat. x. 29, 30. 2. As he gives Comforts, so it is he too that

gives Troubles, Ifa. xlv. 7. Job. i. 2.

and ii. 10. 3. As we are to moderate our Affections to

the Pleasures, so we are to moderate them to Troubles too. The first is Temperance, and the other Patience.

So as

1. Not to faint under any Trouble,Heb. xii.

s. Prov. xxiv. 10. Heb. x. 35, 36. 2. Not to murmur or repine against GOD,

I Cor. x. 10. Rom. ix. 20. 3. Nor retain any Malice or revengeful

Thoughts against his - Inftruments,

1 Pet. ii. 20. and iii. 9. Mat. V. 44. 4. But to be always ready to bear any

Trouble, Aits xxi. 13. s. That we rejoyce and be thankful for

whatsoever we here meet with, Heb. X. 34. Aits v. 41. Mat. v. 11, 12, Job i. 22. Jam. v. 11.

II. What Reason have we to be patient under all our Trouble? Because, 1. They are no more than what GOD may justly lay upon us, we having justly de

served