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

by James Clark (1660-1723)

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.

EDINBURGH:

Printed by J. Morren Cowgate.

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 of it and frqeently tol ook over these exhortations, and to form your daily walk and conversation agreeably thereto.

A Bundle of Familiar Exhortations,

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exhortation I.

Consider your foul concerns with the ⟨greatest⟩ seriousness; all other concerns ⟨are⟩ but trifles and vanities in comparison hereof: inconsiderations is the bane ⟨and⟩ ruin of souls, it is the parent of sloth ⟨and⟩ security, and the great hinderance of needful resolution: and specially consider, that you have precious and 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 the salvation of your souls, as you would not be foun dinconsiderate 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 deserve God's heavy curse and 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, 16 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 you, are fast bound to the Lord, 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 babtismal covenant, in your own persons, expressly accepting Christ Jesus for your Propet, Priest and King; for your portion, guide, guard, and all in all, and 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. six. 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 cafes, and at all times, as seemeth good and right in his sight: live a life of dependance on him, and trust in him, who can make all things work together for good to you. Math. 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 mediate; that thereby you may come to now 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. Tim, iii. 15, 16, 17.

Exh. 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 prayer and praises to God, who only can bless you and yours in all your actions and interests prayerless persons, are surely to be looked on as Godless persons. Ps, Iv. 17. Mat. vi 6,7.

Exh. 8. Exercise yourselves also sometimes to spiritual meditations; think often of the joys of heaven, of the torments of hell, of the sweetuess of God's promises, of terribleness, of his threatnings, of the hatefulness of sin, of the beauty of holiness, of the vanity of the world, of the advantages of real godliness, of your hazards through 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 lye down when you 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 place,by night or by day. ⟨You⟩ may have good thoughts toward God, ⟨and⟩ about your soul concerns. Gen. xxiv. 3. Psal lxiii. 9. and 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 retrain 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. 3. 1 Thess. v. 16, 20.

Exh 10. Wait punctuIlly 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 to the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus; make particular application both of promises and ⟨threatenings⟩ agreeablely 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 blessed with divine assistance and success. Psal. lxiii. I,. Mat. xv. 10. Luke viii. 15. 18.

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 the state of your soul, try if you be in a holy, humble, lively, and tender frame; penitently mourn over your sins; resolve on amendment and newness of life; renew your personal covenant, and use the sacrament a 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 third for close communion with him: in the act of communicating, watch narrowly over your treacherous hearts, that they gad not and go 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. I Cor xi. 20.

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 wordly affairs, neither do any wordly 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 strolling in the streets and fields Ex. viii. 20.

Exh. 13. Look on sin to be the worst thing in the world, as being defiling to your consciences, and damnable to both soul and body; and which is worst of all, dishonourable and displeasing to the great God of heaven. Jer. ii. 16.

I Exh. 14. Shun and resist temptations, he 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. Ps. xxxix. 1, 2. Eph v. 15. 1 Pet. v. 8, 9.

Exh. 15 Daily repent of sin; you are daily sining in thought, word and deed, for which you should every evening take an account, of yourselves; and what faults you find you 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 a fighting and going backward: moreover, not only repent of your own faults, but over the sins of your relations, neighbours, and the places ye live in. Acts xvii. 30. Job xxxiv. 32. Psal. 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; untill your souls be purged of these, you cannot expect he 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, furnication, bady-language, and all uncleanness, deriding or mocking true godliness, or wishing evil to the godly, &c. For because of these things comes the wrath of God on the guilty. Eph. v. 3, 4, 5.

Exh, 18. Keep out of ill company, bad examples corrupt good manners: Thing ⟨shame⟩ to converse familiarly with openly profane and debauched persons; this will neitherbe for your credit, comfort, or profit, rather chase virtuous, sober and godly people to be your companions: Such a man as ye would be, draw to like company. Prov. xxii. 24. Psal. cxix. 63.

Ex. 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; be out entirely holy in all your ways. I Pet, 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 preachngs and communions; but be a good husband, a wife; be a dutiful parent, and an obedient child be a righteous master, and diligent and honest servant, be good and peaceful neighbour; wrong nobody either with tongue or hands; thus be good and godly in all relations and capacities. Rom. vii 18. 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 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, resisting temptations, or bearing afflictions, &c. Have a care of spiritual sloth, unwatchfulness: daily make use of Christ for quickening your graces. John i. 16. 1 Pet. i. 5,—9. 2 Pet. iii. 18.

Exh 22. Look 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. I John ii. 15, Mat. xxii 27.

Exh. 23. be not vain or proud of any temporal thing; neither riches or honour, beauty, strength of body, parts nor gifts of the 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 opposition of others; be moderate in eating, ⟨so that⟩ you be not gluttonous, in drinking, ⟨that⟩ it be not to excess; in apparel, that ⟨it⟩ be not prodigal; in your house-keeping, that ye stretch not beyond your rank ⟨and⟩ ability; in your recreations, mispend ⟨not⟩ precious time; sobriety is always safe ⟨and⟩ commendable. Phili. iv. 5 Ti. ii. 12.

Exh 25. Make as much conscience of (illegible text) and duty in secret before God alone, ⟨and⟩ openly in the sight of men have a ⟨care⟩ of Pharisaical righteousness. Gen. (illegible text)xix. 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 ⟨of⟩ all your affairs, swaying to no extreme, ⟨tither⟩ 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. II.

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 equivocating, lying, or over-reaching. Prov. xxii. 10.

Exh. 28 Be content with your lot, whatever be the circumstances and ingredients thereof; be not your own carver, lest you cut your fingers; whatever God gives to you, whatever he takes from you, acquiesce in his will; which should never be quarrelled; own your needy dependance on his providence, and in all the changes of your condition, say. Good is the will of the Lord. Heb xiii 3 Job i 21.

Exh. 26 Bear afflictions patiently and submissively, and be more concerned to get the sactified use of your troubles, than how to be freed from them, look to the hand of God in all pains, sicknes, crosses, losses, disappointments, reproaches and vexations ye meet with; in faith and hope lift your and burdens upon the Lord. Jeb. vii. 3, 9, 11 I's 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 ⟨profitably⟩ thankful for, and 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 ⟨at⟩ times take a while on purpose to thank ⟨and⟩ praise God for them. Psal. ciii.

Exh. 31. Specially remark and treasure up spiritual experiences; such as the ⟨answer⟩ of prayer, victory over temptations, the sensible presence of Gon in ordinances and duties, &c. Never deny, (illegible text)ide, or smother Christ's kindness, this is ⟨bastard⟩ humility, and true ingratitude, Psal. xlii, 6, 8. and xlvi, 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 praycrs and sympathy, and such offices of kindness and humility, as may make the miserable to bless you. Prov. xxii 9 and xix, 17. Job xiii 26.

Exh. 33. Study more to be well grounded in the fundemental principles of religion, than spending your time about matters debetable, or disputable; 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 public spirit. John xvii 3 1 Pet. iii. 15 Psal. cxxxi. 1,

Exh. 34. Carry a due respect; both ⟨the⟩ 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 ⟨the⟩ 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 with any perfecutors, to trouble any one for their religion and conscience ⟨sympathize⟩ with the persecuted people ⟨of⟩ God in foreign churches; daily pray ⟨for⟩ the blinded Jews and heathen nations, ⟨that⟩ God may take pity and convert them ⟨and⟩ make the light of the gospel shine ⟨throughout⟩ the world. Acts ix 26, 29. Obadiah,—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 Math, xvi. 24

Exh 37 Mind religion as your main businesss; 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. 10

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. I 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 ate to leave time, nothing will more gall you than the tormenting thoughts of having, mispent it; 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 gift, 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,: Must certain it is you must die, but when, where, or how, nobody 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 judgment and eternity. ⟨Study⟩ to be aways 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 to ⟨your⟩ long home, you may be fit to step ⟨into⟩ eternity. Deut. xxxii 29. Ps. ix, 3, (illegible text), 12. Heb. ix 27. 1 Pet i. 14. Jam. iv. 8.

directions for reading the bible.

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

2. 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 hearts impressed by his blessed word. The doctrines, laws, and very Spirit of our Bibles ⟨should⟩ be transcribed to 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 substancc of the whole Biblo; ⟨and⟩ every thing in it is reducible to him.

IV. Mark the special passages of ⟨the⟩ word, either these that are of most ⟨import⟩ in themselves, or most applicable to ⟨you.⟩ Mark the duties enjoined, and sins forbidden, with the promises to the one, ⟨and⟩ threatenings against the other; ⟨Fasten⟩ these upon your memories, and ⟨hide⟩ them in your hearts. Meditate on then 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 God, which you should observe; as, believing in God, doing all religious exercises in has 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 at 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 (illegible text) a Spirit of conviction, illumination, ⟨prayer⟩, holiness, conduct, comfort, and (illegible text)ling: So we would accept of his help, ⟨cherish⟩ his motions, and influences.

5. Consider the worth and ⟨excellence⟩ of the word, and how suitable it is ⟨to⟩ any state or condition we may be in.

It is a rich mine of heavenly treasures, ⟨store-house⟩ of all spiritual consolation; ⟨a⟩ common shop of medicines for the ⟨soul⟩, full of rich priviliges, promises, and ⟨sage⟩ 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 docttrine, 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 excllency? 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 train, 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 holy word, and that with pleasure and delight the child delights to read his father's will and testament, and see what is been ⟨dedicateed⟩ to him; citizens delight to read ⟨their⟩ charters, to see their privileges; ⟨the⟩ malefacture who is acquitted, delights ⟨to⟩ read his pardon; and the prodigal that ⟨is⟩ received into favour, delights to read ⟨the⟩ affectionate letters of his father to ⟨them⟩: Then if ye are received into ⟨favour⟩, and born of God, you cannot but (illegible text) the lovers of his most excellent word; ⟨and⟩ read and meditate on it both day ⟨and⟩ night. Psal. i. 2.

6. We are to contend for the scriptures; the precious jewel is too good to ⟨be⟩ parted with, Prov iv. 13, 'Keep her (illegible text)e is thy life.' It is our duty, not only to ⟨have⟩, read and understand the scriptures, ⟨but⟩ also to contend for the same: Here(illegible text)cks fight against it, we must therefore ⟨contend⟩ for it, Jude, 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 by scripture, ⟨though⟩ it was at the expence of their ⟨lives⟩. David spends the whole cxix Psal, ⟨to⟩ show his intimate affection to it: ⟨Moses⟩ esteems it above all the learning of other nation’s, Deut. iv. 5, 6. Solomon prefers it before pearls, Prov iii. 15. ⟨John⟩ prefers it before his food, 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 onto part ⟨with⟩ it, though persecuted for the same

7: 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.