A CHAP. XV. Of ABBREVIATIONS. or Anfw. Anfwer A. B. Artium Baccalaureus, Bachelor of Arts Abp. Archbishop Abr. Abraham Acct. Account Clem. Clement Co. or Comp. Company C.P. S. Cultos Privati Sigilli, the Seal- D.D.Doctor Divinitatis, Doc Dec. or tober. December Dep. Deputy Devon. Devonira Do Ditto, the fame Edm. Edmund Edw. Edward E. g. Exempli gratia, ar for Eliz. Elizabeth Eng. English, England Eph. Ephefians Ela. Efaias Efq. Efquire Exon. Exeter Feb. February Fr. France, French, Francis, .R. S. Fellow of the Royal | L. D. Lady-day -Society Gent. Gentleman Geo, George Gofp. Gopel Ldp. Lordship G. R. Georgius Rex, George Morn. Morning.. the King Greg. Gregory Hants. Hampshire Heb Hebrews Hen. Henry Her. Hieronymus, Jerom Honble. Honourable Hond. Honoured Hon's. Honours Holl. Holland m. manipulus, a Handful M. A. Magitter Artium, Mafter of Arts Ma. Madam M.B. Medicine Baccalaureus Bachelor of Phyfic Mty. Majefty Mar. March Marm. Marmaduke Mart. Martin, Martyr ibid. ibidem, in the fame Place Mat. Matthew Hum. Humphrey Hund. Hundred I. in Number, 1. Id. Idem, the fame i. e. id eft, that is J. H. S. Jefus Hominum Salvator, Jefus Saviour of Men Ifa. Ifaiah 1. liber, Book, an.libræ, Pounds | Ob: Objection Lam. Lamentations Obt. Obedient oa. Rev. Revelation, Reverend Rt.Wpful. Right Worshipful Rt.Honble. Right Honourable Salop. Shropshire S. South; and Solidus, a Shil ling Sr. Sir St. Saint. Sept. or 7ber. September Servt. Servant S.T. P. Sacro-fanctæ Theo- Theo. Theophilus ym. them yr. your vs. this yu. you or hou &. et. and &c. et cætera, and fo forth Note, Thefe Contractions ought to be avoided as much as poffible, unless it be for one's own private Ufe, and where it would be ridiculous to write them at length; as, Mr. for Mafter, and Mrs. for Miftrefs, &c. It argues likewife a Difrefpect and Slighting to use Contractions to our Betters, and is often puzzling to others. A New 7 New Guide to the English Tongue. A' PART IV. SENTENCES in PROSE. very Defire to excel others in Virtue, is commendable; and a Delight in obtaining Praife, deferves Encouragement, because it discovers an excellent Mind: But he is vicked, who employs his Thoughts only to out-going the worft in Villany. Such a Contention is diabolical. 2. A wife Man values Pleafure at a very little Rate, because itis the Bane of the Mind, and the Caufe of all Mifery: But he values no Poffeffion more than Virtue, because it is the Fountain of all public and private Happinefs. 3. Boaft not of thy Health and Strength too much; only whilst thou enjoyeft them, give Praife to Him that beftoweth all good Things upon all Men: Ufe them well, leit He deprive thee of them. God doth give to thee, return Him not Evil. 4. By the Fall of Adam from that glorious and happy State, wherein he was created, the divine Image on his Mind is quite changed and altered; and he, who was created but a little inferior to the Angels above, is now made but little fuperior to the Angels below. 5. Children are fuch as their Inftitution; Infancy is led altogether by Imitation; it hath neither Words nor Actions but what are infufed by others: If it have good or ill Language, it is borrowed, and the Shame or Thanks are only due to them that lent them. 6. Covetoufnefs brings nothing home. Sometimes Men are fo blinded with Avarice, that they contradict themfelves, and lose what is honeftly due to them, by coveting what is not juftly their own, and thereby give others an Opportunity of deceiving them. 7. Do 7. Do not the Work of God negligently; and let no your Heart be upon the World, when your Hand is lifted up in Prayer For that Time, you may be confident, is gained, which is prudently and zealously spent in God' Service. 8. Divine Providence difpofes all Things moft wifely; not only in what concerns the World in general, but every one of us in particular: So that in what Condition foeve he puts us, we may affure ourselves that it is beft for us fince He chufes it, who cannot err. 9. Ever fince the Tranfgreffion of our firft Parents, the Purity of Human Nature hath been miferably ftain'd; is Faculties have been fadly depraved; and its Affections very liable to be deluded, influenced, and overcome by the World. 10. Enquire not into the Secrets of God, but be content to learn your Duty according to the Quality of your Perfon or Employment. God's Commandments were proclaimed to all the World; but his Counfels are to himself, and his fecret ones, when they are admitted within the Veil. 11. Flatter not yourself that you have Faith towards God, if you want Charity towards your Neighbour; for the one is a certain Effect of the other. Neither follow a Multitude to Sin, left God make you share with them in their Punithment. 12. Gold, tho' the nobleft of Metais, lofeth its Luftre when continually worn in the fame Purfe with Copper, or Brafs; and the best Men, by affociating themfelves with the Wicked, are often corrupted with their Sins, and partake of their Punishments 13. Gregory Nyfen compared an Ufarer to a Man giving Water to one in a burning Fever; which does him more harm than good: So the Ufurer, tho' he feems for the prefent to relieve his Brother's Wants, yet afterwards he grevioufly torments him. 14. Happy is he who allows himself Time and Leifure to make his Peace with God, and fign a Truce with Heave; but more to be admired is he, who is obliged to live in the midft of Temptations, and yet can be in love with Religion to the aft Moment of his Life. 15. He that only pleafes himself, does himself no Kindnets, because he difpleafes God his Creator, who commands us to be kind and good to all Men, and to do to others thofe Things which we are willing fhould be done to ourselves. |