TO MY
Welbeloved FRIENDS
THE
PARISHIONERS
OF
St. Paul Covent Garden.
THere being a solemn Vow upon you,
made in Baptisme, to keep Gods
holy will and Commandments;
it is as necessary to understand
them, as it is to be honest men, and
not to falsifie or break your word. For
an help therefore to the meanest capacities in a business
of such importance, I have drawn up an exposition
of the Ten Commandments in this plain
and familiar way of Questions and Answers: not
knowing what other course to take that would be of
such general use. For the Ignorant can reap little
benefit by that which is purposely contrived to the
pitch of the wise; but there is no man of such understanding
that may not serve himself very much
of that which is writ to the simple people. And to
say the truth, the plainer and more common any notion

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is, of the greater weight and moment we shall
find it, and the more every man is concerned in it.
Let me intreat you then not to despise this little Paper,
but to read it deliberately, and ponder every sentence
in it: For it being so brief that the memory
may not be burdened there is not a word superfluous,
which is not necessary to the unfolding the sense of
the command Search the Scriptures also whereby
every thing is proved, and afterward search and examine
your selves about the breach of any of these
Precepts, either in whole or in part. And if the
Judgments of God that lie now so heavy upon us,
have begot any purposes of amendment, do not add
this new aggravation of your guilt, to break those
fresh Vows whereby you have bound your selves to
God. And for the strengthning of them, Give
your selves to Prayer, as the Psalmists phrase is
Ps 109.4. Considering also seriously as an help to
that what it is you ask of God in that form of
Prayer which our Lord made, of which I have also
added a short Explication. And remember withall,
that all the Prayers you make will not profit you,
unless they cause you to keep Gods commands better,
which is the end likewise of all you believe. Read
over that which we call the Apostles Creed, and
you will find that every branch of it doth naturally
bring forth an holy life. When you confess God to
be the Creator of the World; it plainly implies his
Supream Authority over you, and the obedience you
owe him upon that account. When you acknowledg
Jesus to be his Son and your Lord, it lays a necessary
ingagement on you to be governed by those Laws
which the Father Almighty hath sent him to give
us. For he died and rose again to confirm and seal
them. He ascended to heaven to take upon him
the government of the whole World. And he will
come again to Judg both the quick and dead according
to their works. And therefore what manner of
persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and
godliness, that you may be found in peace at his appearing?
But it is not my business now to expound
the Creed; whose words are better understood then
it's designe; which is I say to lead us to the obedience
of Gods holy will in all things. That is it
which I would gladly promote. And I earnestly
beseech you that this small labour may have no small
effect, but be so successfull as to excite in you such a
working Faith as will save your souls.
God Almighty take you into his protection, and
revoke the Orders he hath given to the destroying
Angel; that you may not die, but live, to declare
the works of the Lord, and to pay your Vows to the
most High. Amen.
Sept. 13. 1665.