A. To walk in the Light, as God is in the Light; there being no Communion with his holy Nature without Sanctity. Humbly and cheerfully to acknowledge so great a Benefit. To express an ardent Affection to those Saints which live, and a reverent Respect to those which are now with God. And particularly to direct and enlarge our Charity to those who are of the Household of Faith.

Q. What may we learn from the Observation of this Festival?

A. The Wisdom and Happiness of being religious. That Heaven deserves the utmost we can do or suffer to obtain it. That through many Tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God. That we ought to honour the Saints, by commemorating their Piety, congratulating their Victories over the World, and rejoicing in their Glory; but chiefly by propounding their Example for our Imitation; to learn from them to be humble and meek, and to submit all our Desires to the Will of God; to govern our Senses by Reason, and our Reason by the Dictates of Revelation; to take up the Cross, and resist unto Blood; striving against Sin; that by living as the Saints once did, we may at length inherit those Promises which they, by their Faith and Patience in this World, now inherit in the next.

Q. Wherein consists the Advantage of propounding the Examples of the blessed Saints for our Imitation? A. It convinces us of the Possibility of performing our Duty, by shewing us Men, clothed with Flesh and Blood, that have practised it; and so is apt to cure that Sloth and Despondency, which the Weakness of our Nature is apt to suggest to us. It gives us sensible Evidences of the happy Fruits of a pious Life, which make greaterImpressions than thoseConsequences which Reason draws for our Conviction; and hereby disposes us vigorously to imitate those Virtues which shined in them with so great a Lustre.

Q. If Examples at so great a Distance have such a Power, ought we not to exercise great Care, in reference to what Company we daily converse with?

A. Solomon hath long since observed, that he that Prov. xiii. walketh with wise Men shall be wise: but that the 20. Companion of Fools shall be destroyed: Which sufficiently denotes, that if we design any Progress in Piety and Virtue, that Wisdom which Solomon recommends, we must frequent those who are eminent Examples of it; and avoid, as much as is possible, such Fools who make a Mock at Sin. And this xiv. 19. Method is common to Mankind in all other Cases; when they aim at Perfections in any particular Skill or Part of Learning, they covet the Conversation of those who are known to excel that Way.

Q. Is it possible, in the general Converse of the World, to avoid bad Company?

A. It is very difficult for those whose Business and Circumstances carry them into a great deal of Company always to avoid that which is bad; and Charity sometimes may oblige good Men to converse with such in order to their Reformation, where there are any probable Hopes of making bad Men better; but however it is very much in every Man's Power to chuse what sort of Company he designs for his Diversion and Entertainment; a Matter of such Importance, that it requires most serious Consideration. Q. What ought a Man chiefly to consider in the Choice of his Company?

A. He ought chiefly to fix upon such as have virtuous and Christian Principles, and who endeavour to shew the Effects of them in their Lives and Conversations; for as Men of no Principles are very much unqualified for Friendship, because they have no Foundation to support it; so Men that act contrary to their good Principles, give but a scurvy Proof of their Sincerity. Besides, Men sceptically inclined, may endanger the Firmness of our Faith, as wicked Men may the Strength of our Virtue.

Q. What other Rules may be observed in the Choice of our Company?

A. When we have secured the main Point, and fenced against the greatest Danger of Conversation, we ought to have a particular Regard to the Temper

and Disposition of those we pitch upon for our constant Companions; for if they have a great deal of Passion, and a little Share of Sense, our Freedom and Friendship will expose us to vexatious Difficulties. Though we are never so much upon our Guard, a great deal of Fire will sometimes heat us; we may be provoked, and then we are the worse for such Company. After these Cautions, I think the Advantages of Learning and Wisdom, of Quickness and Vivacity, may justly challenge a Regard, since they must be very agreeable Entertainments when good Men of mild Tempers are the Masters of them.

Q. Who ought to have the greatest Regard to the Choice of their Company?

A. It concerns all good Christians to take Care in this Point; for the Contagion of Vice is powerful, and their greatest Security is in standing at a Distance from it; the Frailty of Virtue is great, therefore all Cautions should be used not to expose it to an infectious Air. But young Men, when they first appear in the World, ought to have a particular Regard to it, their future Happiness, both Temporal and Eternal, depending so much upon the Qualifications of those they converse with. Though they have received good Principles in their Education, yet they want Practice to confirm the Habits of Virtue and Courage, to resist the Allurements of Vice. They are apt to catch at any Thing that indulges and countenances their irregular Appetites. The Misfortune is, when they want Prudence most, they have least of it; therefore it is happy when they will listen to the Advice of their Parents, or some experienced Relation, who is able to direct them in an Affair of such Consequence.

Q. What are the mischievous Effects of bad Company to good Men?

A. If they are not by Degrees entirely corrupted, yet the Horror they ought to have for Sin is very much abated by their seeing it frequently committed. They are led into uncharitable Thoughts concerning their Neighbour, whose Reputation in

such Company is never spared, but loaded with all injurious and contumelious Usage. Besides, it makes their own Duty difficult, for by not discountenancing such Practices, by one Means or other they may contract a Share in the Guilt of them, and embroil their own Minds by reflecting, whether or no they did what became good Christians upon such Occasions. So that Fire may as well be taken into a Man's Bosom without burning, and Pitch touched without defiling, as bad Company frequented and delighted in, without receiving Damage, and contracting Pollution.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

of the

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together for the thine Elect in one Communion and Fellowship, in the mystical Body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Saints. grant me Grace so to follow thy blessed Saints. in all virtuous and godly Living, that I may come to those unspeakable Joys which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

God.

O GOD, who hast prepared for them that love For the thee, such good Things as pass Man's Under-Love of standing; pour into my Heart such Love towards thee, that I, loving thee above all Things, may obtain thy Promises, which exceed all that I can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

the Ex

departed.

ALMIGHTY God, make me so wise in this For folState of Probation and Trial, as to provide for Eter-lowing nity, by walking in those Paths that conducted thy ample of blessed Saints to everlasting Bliss. Keep it for ever good Men in the Purpose of my Heart, as it was in theirs, to obey those Laws which thou my Maker and Sovereign hast enjoined, and according to which I shall be one Day judged. Grant that I may with all possible Care avoid Sin, the greatest Evil, and the

Thanksgiving for the Perse

verance

of good Men.

most mischievous to my main Interest; and that I may at any Expence seek thy Favour, which is better than Life: That following thy blessed Saints in the Meekness and Humility of their Minds, in the Mortification of their carnal Appetites, in their entire Submission to thy divine Will, in their Charity to the Souls and Bodies of Men, in their Patience under Sufferings, and in their Readiness to take up the Cross, I may attain that Happiness they now possess, and inherit those Promises which they are made Partakers of, through the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV.

MOST gracious God, the Author of Sanctity,

and Lover of Unity, whose Wisdom hath established an admirable Communion between the Members of the same mystical Body, whereof thy Son Jesus Christ is the Head; I bless and praise thy Holy Name for all thy Servants departed this Life in thy Faith and Fear. I congratulate their Victories over the World, who overcame themselves, and led in Triumph their own Passions. I commemorate with all Thankfulness their heroic Piety, who served their Lord in Hunger and Thirst, in Prison and Chains, on Racks and in Tortures, and who undauntedly encountered Death, armed with the greatest Terror. I rejoice in the Glory and Happiness they are now advanced to, the Greatness of which the Heart of Man cannot conceive. Beseeching thee to give me Grace so to follow their good Examples, in the wise bestowing of my Time here below, that I may follow them in their happy Passage out of this World, and with them be made Partaker of thy heavenly Kingdom, which I beseech thee to hasten, and shortly to accomplish the Number of thine Elect; that I, with all those that are departed in the true Faith of thy Holy Name, may have our perfect Consummation and Bliss, both in Body and Soul, in thy eternal and everlasting Glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The End of the FESTIVALS.