52

Conclusion.

DIRECTIONS.

Thus having complied with the duties of the morning, you may refresh yourself with a temperate and cheerful meal, and thankfully enjoy the good things of this life which God hath blessed you with. As to the afternoon of this, and all other Lord's Days, you are piously and prudently to divide it between the public service, family duties, private devo­tions, offices of charity, if they present themselves; and I will add, your own necessary refreshment: for I am not so strict as totally to forbid you some time upon that day, to anbend your mind, and relax your thoughts, by any com­pany and conversation that is instructive, and innocently diverting; but I absolutely forewarn you against all places of public resort, all gaming, and sportful exercises, as giving offence to some, and bad examples to others; for they are unsuitable to the seriousness and solemnity of the duty, and indeed savouring too much of levity and profaneness.

N.B. After these good instructions and devotions, if you would, my devout Christian! persevere in your duty, and desire to lead a holy and godly life for the future, I would advise you, by all means, to make" Bishop Taylor's Intro­duction to a Holy Life" your companion for the Week en­suing, as it will furnish you with such considerations of the general instruments and means serving to a holy life, by the care of your time, purity of intention, and practice of the presence of God, in your daily walk and conversation: daily seeking the grace of God, that you may so pass through things temporal, that you finally lose not the things eternal. *** Those servants and others, who have not the com­mand of their own time, and therefore cannot employ as much of it in those exercises as they could wish and desire; they may rest assured that God approves and accepts their willing mind, provided they go on in a sincere resolution to avoid and forsake sin, and live in the fear of God; and behave themselves with conscience and honesty in those several stations of life which hus providence has appointed them.