wise Dictate of Nature of doing to others as we would they should do unto us, and is an open Violation of that Christian Doctrine of Charity, so dear to our Saviour, by which he distinguished his Disciples, and which was to remain as the true Character of the Children of God. It is the Sign of a weak Mind that is not able to bear the Lustre of Merit and Virtue; the Mark of a mean and cruel Temper, unworthy of a Man, to delight in wounding our Neighbour, or to widen those Wounds others have

made.

Q. What are those Disguises in which this Vice too often appears?

A. Sometimes it puts on the Appearance of Friendship, and is ushered in with great Commendations; that the Wound that is given may be sure and deep. Sometimes it counterfeits the Shape of Zeal for God's Glory: It pretends to be Love of Justice, and a compassionate Sense of the Faults of our Neighbour, or a violent and just Sorrow caused by that Outrage that is done to God. But, whatever false Reasons may be given for this Practice, it is always a Breach of the great Duty of Charity, and it is a Mark of false Devotion to tear in Pieces the Reputation of those that oppose our Designs, and to think to make an agreeable Offering to God of what we sacrifice either to our Revenge or to our Jealousy.

Q. How should we behave ourselves when we hear our Neighbour ill-spoken of?

A. We should endeavour to divert such Discourse, and discourage such sort of Conversation by all prudent Methods. We should urge what we can in our Neighbour's Vindication, and upon this Occasion cite the Examples of such innocent Persons as have been oppressed with Calummy. We should discover the Contradiction and Impossibility of what is advanced to defame him, if the Matter will admit We may appeal to his past Actions; and to the ill Reports concerning him, oppose all the Good

of it.

Y

For the

Protection

་

that is otherwise known of him, to weaken the Detraction, and to take off the Credit of it. If the Matter is too evident to be denied, we may endeavour to diminish the Guilt of it, by imputing it to Ignorance or Surprise, or to the Strength of Temptation; and by owning that the best People might have found Difficulties in such dangerous Circumstances. But by no means must we shew any Pleasure or Satisfaction in what is related to our Neighbour's Prejudice, lest we encourage the Detractor, and become Partakers with him in his Guilt.

Q. How may we conquer this epidemical Vice, so injurious to our Salvation?

A. By mortifying those irregular Passions from whence this unchristian Practice does proceed; as our Pride, which falsely persuades us that we exalt ourselves by debasing others; our Envy, which makes us look upon the Happiness of others with an evil Eye, and provokes us to disturb it; our Malice and Revenge which prompt us to injurious Resentments: our impertinent Curiosity, which is always meddling with what does not belong to us. But nothing is more necessary, in order to master this reigning Sin, than a firm Resolution never to speak the least Ill of any one; for whoever gives himself the Liberty to publish the Evil he knows of another, though never so inconsiderable, who ever talks with Pleasure of such Faults, though known by every Body, may be likely to fall into real Defamations. For it is difficult to stop where the Power and Corruption of Nature is strong; besides, by indulg ing small Neglects we fortify our evil Inclinations, and by Degrees contract a Habit of Detraction.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained of Angels, and constituted the Services of Angels and Men in a wonderful Order; mercifully grant, that

as thy holy Angels always do thee Service in Heaven, so by thy Appointment they may succour and defend me on Earth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

of our

ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no For God's Power of ourselves to help ourselves, keep me both Protection outwardly in my Body, and inwardly in my Soul, Souls and that I may be defended from all Adversities which Bodies. may happen to the Body, and from all evil Thoughts which may assault and hurt the Soul, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

of the

It is very meet, right, and my bounden Duty, that ThanksI should at all Times, and in all Places, give Thanks the Deliunto thee, O Lord Almighty and Everlasting verances God: Because thou hast in all Ages defended thy Church. holy Spouse the Church from the fiery Assaults of all her Enemies; from the Fraud and Malice of Heretics and deceitful Men; from the crafty Insinuations of all them that work Vanity; from the Cruelty and Barbarity of those who have openly sought her Destruction; and from the Treachery and Perfidiousness of those who have pretended Kindness, in order to ruin her with greater Advantage. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the Company of Heaven, I laud and magnify thy glorious Name, evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts, Heaven and Earth are full of thy Glory. be to thee, O Lord most High. Amen.

IV.

Glory

God's

BLESSED God, whose Throne is incircled with For the Miriads of glorious Spirits, who veil their Faces doing as not being able to behold the Brightness of thy Will on Majesty, and who delight in their Attendance upon is done in those Ministries whereunto thou hast appointed Heaven. them; I, thy unworthy Creature, prostrate myself

Earth as it

For the
Govern-

with all Humility at thy Footstool, beseeching thee to give me Grace to do thy Will on Earth with the same Diligence and Industry, with the same Zeal and Cheerfulness, as thy blessed Angels do it in Heaven; that imitating their exemplary Obedience, constant Devotion, profound Humility, unspotted Purity, and extensive Charity, I may engage their Protection in all my Necessities; and may particularly enjoy the Advantage of their Assistance in my last Hour, in that dismal Conflict with Death and the Powers of Darkness: and being by them conducted to the Mansions of Glory, may be advanced to a more intimate and happy Society with them in the Life to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

V.

SET a Guard, O Lord, upon my Lips, that I ment offend not with my Tongue. Let Prudence and Tongue. Circumspection always attend to shut out such Dis

of the

courses as border the least upon Evil-speaking. That I may be tender of the Reputation of my Neighbour, and never diminish his good Name by spreading any evil Reports concerning him: That the Deformity of his Body, and the Weakness of his Mind, may never be the Subject of my light Mirth. That I may never encourage Backbiters, by listening to their Suggestions, and by giving Credit to their Slanders. Thou hast given me a Tongue that I might praise thee, and that I might influence others to bless thy holy Name. O let this be the main Employment of that noble Gift, that my Words may chiefly aim at promoting thy Glory; either to soften the Pains of the Afflicted; to vindicate the Reputation of my Neighbour, whenever I hear it injured; to unite the Minds of those that are at Variance, or to instruct those that know thee not enough; and to entertain all the World, O God, with thy Greatness, and thy Goodness; to inflame all Hearts with thy Love, to provoke them to praise

thee, to bless thee, to glorify thee; that I may one Day mingle my Praises with those of thy Elect in Glory, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

CHAP. XXVII.

SAINT LUKE THE EVANGELIST.
OCTOBER 18.

Q. WHAT Festival doth the Church celebrate
this Day?

A. That of St. Luke the Evangelist,

Q. What mean you by an Evangelist?

A. The Name was at first given to those that preached the Gospel; but afterwards it was confined to those four that writ the History of the Life and Preaching of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose four Gospels make Part of the sacred Canon of Scripture. Q. Where was the Place of St. Luke's Nativity? A. Antioch the Metropolis of Syria, pleasant for Euseb. its Situation, fertile for its Soil, rich by its Traffic, lib. 3. c. 4. famous for Learning and Civility, and above all, renowned for this one peculiar Honour, that here Acts xi. 26. it was that the Disciples of Jesus were first called Christians.

Q. What was St. Luke's particular Profession? A. That of Physic; an Art in those Days generally managed by Persons of no better Rank than Servants: which made Grotius conceive that St. Grot. Se Luke, though a Syrian by Birth, was a servant at cun. Luc, Rome, where he sometimes practised Physic, and when made free, returned into his own Country. Q. What other Skill was he famous for besides Physic?

A. Painting; and there are some Pieces still in being, pretended to have been drawn by his own Hand: but I believe it will be somewhat difficult to prove them true Originals of our Evangelist.

Q. Was St. Luke one of the Seventy Disciples? A. Some of the Ancients thought he was, and that he deserted our Saviour upon the unwelcome