And all the rest of the People, both of Clergy and Laity, ftrove to contribute largely and li berally to the Poor; that fuch as begged Relief might be able to rejoice, when the common Fountain of our Mercies was remembered; and herein they are fit Patterns for our Imitation.

Q. What may we learn from the Commemoration of our Saviour's Refurrection?

A. To establish ourselves in the Belief of his holy Religion, which receives the utmoft Confirmation by his Refurrection. To quicken our Repentance, fince we are now affured, that he hath made full Satisfaction for our Sins, and that by believing in him we may obtain Remiffion of them, and the Juftification of our Perfons. To rife from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteoufnefs, that being qualified with the Graces of God's Holy Spirit, we may be meet to be accounted Children of the Refurrection. To live under a lively Senfe of that Happiness he hath completely purchased for us by rifing from the Dead. To fet our Affections upon Things above; to breathe after that State of unfpeakable and endless Joy, that perfect Freedom from Sin and Mifery.

Q. What do you mean by feeking and fetting our Affections upon Things above?

A. Such a frequent and ferious Confideration of that happy and glorious State which is prepared for good Men in another World, as may engage our conftant and fincere Endeavours in obtaining it. Such a Conviction of the Excellency of those heavenly Joys, as may determine our Wills to prefer them before all the Honours and Riches of this World, and wing

N 4

all

22.

all the Faculties of our Souls to the swifteft Profecution of them.

Q. When may we be faid to fet our Affections on Things above?

A. When we govern all our Actions with a Refpect to the next Life, and make it our great Bufinefs to please God, who is the first and Rom. 6. chiefeft Good: For our Fruit must be unto Holinefs, before our End can be everlasting Life. When we have a low and mean Opinion of the Enjoyments of this World, in Comparison of thofe of the next; and are ready to part with what is moft dear to us to fecure our, Eternal Inheritance. When we are zealous and induftrious in doing all the Good we can, and bear all the Miferies and Calamities of Life with Patience and Refignation, without murmuring, without Defpondency, because they Rom. 8. are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that fhall be revealed. When we frequently entertain ourfelves with fpiritual Subjects, and embrace all convenient Opportunities of converfing with God by Prayer, and by approaching his holy Pfal. 84. Table; and had rather be Door-keepers in the Houfe of God, than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedness. When we can look upon Death as a Paffage to a bleffed Immortality, and welcome its Approach, not only without Fear, but with, 2Cor. 5.1. Comfort and Satisfaction. Knowing that when this earthly Tabernacle fhall be diffolved, we shall have a Houfe not made with Hands, eternal in the Heavens.

18.

10.

The

The PRAYERS.

I.

Lmighty God, who through thy only-be- For the

gotten Son Jefus Chrift, haft overcome bleffed Death, and opened unto us the Gate of everlaft- Effects of ing Life; I humbly beseech thee, that as by RefurrecChrift's thy fpecial Grace preventing me, thou doft put tion. into my Mind good Defires, fo by thy continual Help I may bring the fame to good Effect, through Jefus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, World without End.

II.

Father, who hast

Amen.

Son to die for our Sins, and to rife again verfion for our Juftification; grant me fo to put away from Sin. the Leaven of Malice and Wickednets, that I may always ferve thee in Pureness of Living and Truth, through the Merits of the same thy Son Jefus Chrift. Amen.

III.

I tion.

T is very meet, right, and my bounden Duty, Thankfthat I fhould at all Times, and in all Places, giving for Chrift's give Thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, RefurrecAlmighty everlafting God: But chiefly am bound to praise thee, for the glorious Refurrection of thy Son Jefus Christ our Lord; for he is the very Pafchal Lamb which was offered for us, and hath taken away the Sin of the World; who by his Death hath destroyed Death, and by his rifing to Life again, hath restored us

to

For the
Effects of

Chrift's

tion.

to Everlasting Life: Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the Company of Heaven, I laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praifing thee, and faying, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hofts, Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory! Glory be to thee, O Lord moft High. Amen.

IV.

Leffed Jefus, who haft triumphed over the Powers of Darknefs, and conquered Hell Refurrec. and the Grave, who by thy glorious Refurrection haft made known the Power of thy Divinity, and proved thyself to be the true Meffias; keep me ftedfaft in this Faith, and grant that all the Actions of my Life may teftify the Reality and Sincerity of my Belief. Make me to rife from the Death of Sin to the Life of Righteoufnefs; that as I am buried with thee by Baptifm, I may mortify all my corrupt Lufts and Affections; and no longer efteem the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World, and by being conformed to the Likeness of thy Refurrection, may put on the new Man, which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holinefs. That I may place my Affections entirely on Things above, and fpend the remaining Part of my Life to fecure that Happinefs thou haft purchased for me; that by thy Strength I may fight against all my ghostly Enemies, and by thy Power overcome them. Suffer not the

Thoughts of Death to be any longer uneafy to me, fince thou haft taken out the Sting, and divested it of any Power to hurt But teach me to look upon it as a Deliverance from Sin and Sorrow, and as a Paffage to a happy Eter

nity; that when I fhall depart this Life, I may reft in thee, and at the general Resurrection at the last Day be found acceptable in thy Sight, O Lord, my Saviour and my Redeemer. Amen.

QW

CHAP. XIV.

Easter Monday.

HAT fheweth the great Solemnity of the Eafter Festival?

A. The particular Care the Church hath taken to fet apart the two following Days after the Sunday, for the Exercise of Religious Duties, to the End that we might have Leifure to confirm our Faith in the grand Article of our Saviour's Refurrection, and to exert our devout Affections in all thofe happy Confequences that are deducible from it.

Q. What are the Confequences deducible from our Saviour's Refurrection?

A. That though through the Fall of Adam we are all made fubject to Death, yet that our Souls, when feparated from our Bodies, fhall live in another State; and that even our Bodies, tho❞ committed to the Grave, and turned to Duft, shall, at the last Day, rife again, and be united to our Souls; and being thus united and purified, the whole Man, Body and Soul, shall be made capable of Happinefs to all Eternity. By our Saviour's rifing from the Dead, he is become the First-fruits of them that fleep; and he who hath promised