The true watch Or A direction for the examination of our spirituall estate (according to the word of God, whereby wee must be iudged at the last day) to helpe to preserue vs from apostacie, or decaying in grace, and to further our daily growth in Christ.

Title

The true watch Or A direction for the examination of our spirituall estate (according to the word of God, whereby wee must be iudged at the last day) to helpe to preserue vs from apostacie, or decaying in grace, and to further our daily growth in Christ.

Author

Brinsley, John, fl. 1581-1624.

Publication

At London :: Printed by G. Eld, for Samuel Macham and Mat. Cooke and are to be sold at the Tigers head in Pauls Church yard,

1606.

Rights/Permissions

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Subject terms

Conscience, Examination of -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/a16879.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"The true watch Or A direction for the examination of our spirituall estate (according to the word of God, whereby wee must be iudged at the last day) to helpe to preserue vs from apostacie, or decaying in grace, and to further our daily growth in Christ." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16879.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 2, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• Contents.
• To the right Honou∣rable, Henry Earle of Huntingdon, Lord Hastings, Hungerford, Botre∣aux, Molines and Moiles, my singular good Lord.
• To the Christian Reader.
• Meditate seriously of these worthy places of scripture.
• The triall of our estate.
  • The meanes whereby we may obtaine a certaine assurance, that we are the children of God, and in his fauour, and also get the same more confirmed daylie.
  • 2. The rule of our triall.
  • 3. The Subiect of our triall or parts to be examined,
  • Time of our examination.
  • Place for our examination.
• Helpes before our examination, to make it more powerfull.
  • The first helpe, viz. danger of impe∣nitency in any sinne.
  • The second helpe, viz. by considering the circumstances whereby our sinnes are made so sinfull.
  • The third helpe, viz. by considering the blessings following a holy con∣uersation.
• Some other rules to be obserued for our di∣rection & comfort in our examinatiō.
• The Glasse of the Law, or Map of the narrow way of life, thorow euery comman∣dement, whereby we beholding our owne naturall misery, may be driuen dayly to put on Christ, and considering our wayes, may turne our feete to the testi∣monies of the Lord.
  • 1. Commaundement. Thou shalt haue no other Gods before me.
    • Here we are to examine how we walke foreward more cherfully in these principal duties, which are the very entrances to all true godlinesse.
    • Abhorring contrarily all the breaches of this commaundement; as the mother sins, of all the fearefull abhominations that are committed in the world.
  • 2. Commaundement, Thou shalt make thee no grauen image &c.
    • Here we are to examine how we walke on more conscionably.
    • Abhorring all breaches of this commandement.
  • 3. Commaundement, Thou shalt not take the name of &c.]
    • Here we are to vewe how we run on more cherefully in these duties.
    • And contrarily mourning for and abhor∣ring all abuses of the glorious name of our God▪ as
  • 4. Commandement, Remember the Sabboth to keepe it holy]
    • Here we are to consider well how we grow in a conscionable pract∣ise of all the dueties of the Sabboth.
      • I. Before the assemblies,
      • 2. At the assemblies.
      • 3. After the Assemblies.
    • Auoyding as warily all the breaches of the Sabath, as
  • 5. Commaundement. Honor thy father and thy mother, &c.
    • Here we are to examine how wee performe these duties.
      • 1. Towards Superiors.
      • 2. Towards Equalls.
      • 3. Towards our selues.
      • 4. Towards Inferiours.
      • 1 Magistrates speciall dueties.
      • 2 Dueties of them that are vnder authority.
      • 4. Ministers duties.
      • 5. Peoples duties towards their pastor.
      • 6. Husbands duties.
      • 7. Wiues speciall dueties.
      • 8. Parents duties.
      • 9. Childrens duties.
      • 10. Maisters dueties.
      • 11. Seruants dueties.
      • 12. Schoolemasters duties.
      • 13. Schollers duties.
  • 6 Commandement. Thou shalt not kill]
    • Here we are to examine how we indea∣uour to performe all these duties with more conscience.
      • 1. Which may preserue or make this present life more comfortable.
      • 2. Concerning the life and comfort of our neighbour.
    • 2. Auoyding as carefully all occasi∣ons of the contrary, as
      • 1. In heart.
      • 1. In wordes.
      • 2. In deeds.
    • 2. Concerning our soules or spiri∣tuall life wee are to examine how we increase in care.
      • 1. For the sauing our owne soules by,
      • 2. Concerning the saluation of others.
  • 7. Commaundement. Thou shalt not commit adulterie]
    • Here wee are to examine how wee in∣crease in 1. Chastitie, possessing our vessels in holines & honour, both in the single & married estate, by vsing carefuly these helpes and preseruatiues.
    • 2. Abhorring not only those mon∣strous kinds of vncleanes which ought not to bee named amongst Christians, as fornication, adulterie, incest, rape, Sodomy and the like, which the very light of nature condemnes, but more
  • 8. Commaundement. Thou shalt not steale]
    • Here we are to examine, 1. How we labour to maintain our estate holily and honestly, according to our place and calling, walking in all these duties more cheerefully.
    • 2. We are to examine, whether wee indeuour to imploy our goods a∣right according to Gods will.
    • 3. How we preuaile in rooting out of our hearts that bitter roote of
    • 4. How we grow in our detestation of all kinds of thefts proceeding from couetousnesse.
      • 1. Thefts in the Church.
      • 2. Thefts in ciuill dealings.
      • 3. Thefts in lending.
      • 4. Thefts in withholding.
      • 5. Theftes, whereby we rob our selues and those who depend vpon vs, disabling vs to performe the duties which wee owe to them and others.
      • 6. Other ordinarie thefts, in getting goods by vnlawfull meanes.
  • 9. Command. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse a∣gainst thy neighbour]
    • things to do
      • 1. For our owne good name wee are to examine how we grow.
      • 2. Concerning our Christian neigh∣bours good name, whereby God is glorified.
    • Abhorring these contrary vices.
  • 10. Com. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house]
    • Here we must examine our hearts how we grow.
• The glasse of the Gospell, or the examina∣tion of our faith, according to the Ar∣ticles of faith, which containe the summe of the Gospell. Rules.
  • 1. Article.
    • I beleeue in God]
    • Father]
    • Almighty]
    • Maker of heauen and earth]
  • 2. Article.
    • And in Iesus]
    • Christ.
    • His onely sonne]
    • Our Lord]
  • 3. Article.
    • Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost, borne of the virgin Mary]
  • 4. Article.
    • Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate: was cru∣cified]
    • Dead.]
    • And buried]
    • He descended into hell]
  • 5. Article.
    • The third day he rose again from the dead]
  • 6. Article.
    • He ascended into heauen]
    • And sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty]
  • 7. Article.
    • From thence hee shall come, to iudge the quicke and the dead.]
  • 8. Article.
    • I beleeue in the holie Ghost]
  • 9. Article.
    • The holy catholike Church.]
    • The communion of Saints.]
  • 10. Article.
    • The forgiuenesse of sinnes]
  • 11. Article.
    • The resurrection of the body].
  • 12. Article.
    • The life euerlasting]
• The benefits of this practise of examina∣tion to incourage vs vnto it, sith it is wearisome and vnpleasant to flesh and bloud.
• Some necessary questions appertayning hereunto.
  • 1. Of senselesnesse in sinne.
  • Of obstinacy in sinne.
  • 3. To whom sound comfort belongs.
    • Experiment generall.
  • 4. Quest. Of the causes of backsliding.
• Some speciall preseruatiues a∣gainst euerie sinne.
• Meanes to keepe alwaies a ten∣der conscience.