with most natural and â—â—easant inclinations For it 's hard to act â—gainst tide invita Minverva this makes â—ut â—oil and labour to little purpose and â—ithout proficiency And although Suâ—eriors are not fully to be concluded by â—â—e swing of their Children's inclinations â—et are they carefully to observe their â—ay in their after Education and Act â—ccordingly in the Observing the methods of the Stage following STAGE Fourth From the 12 to the 18 Year of Man's Age. The Contents Resumeth the Doctrine and Instructions for Children And further presseth home the special concerns of their life wâ—â— the Reinforcement of the Care and Duâ—â— of Parents and Overseers with a Traâ—â—tion from Child hood to Growing Aâ—â— and entrance upon the Limits of Youâ—â— with some Rules and Motives directâ—â— and pressing this § 1. IT is now high time for theâ— O Man to lift up thy Eyeâ— higher then the firmament and 〈◊〉 mind thy Creator look well then thaâ— thou consider thy bounden duty 〈◊〉 GOD the timous dedication and givinâ— up of thy name to Him and to poâ—der thy early engadgement and Baptismal Vow and as Baptism is the Lâ—ver of Regeneration thou art to look 〈◊〉 it hath any influence upon thee and 〈◊〉 thou finds any thing of the motions of aâ— new life within thee if Baptism has haâ—â— lowed thee and if thou does seriously consider that thou art washed that thou mavest begin now to escape the polutious of the World through lust and that as new born Babes thou desire the sincere milk of the word that thou mayest grow thereby and if thou hast learned the Language of Canaan to speak with GOD and for GOD if thou hast attained to any discretion to put on Modesty humility and patience If thou hast learned to govern thy homour propassions and passions If thou yet knows any thing of the Vanity and Deceitfulness of the World and the necessity of renuncing the same If these things be in thee O Child of Man then thou layest a good foundation against the time to come and for thy progress in Piety and Vertue § 2. And for Parents and Overseers Let me in all modesty enquire of you if your heart approves you as to your Duty to your Children and Pupils in order to their Religious education Some are ready to boast of Blood and Kinred Friends and Riches and other worldly priviledges but the great bussiness is to look well they be illuminated with the Rayes of Grace and the beauties and properties of Religion As also if you have used the rod with discretion for he that spareth the rod hateth the Child sayeth Solomon Which must be used not out of passion but from good Principles to holy ends For this is an instance of your Tender love of them since GOD Himself the Father of us all hath said Whom I love I Chastise that we may be Zealous and Repent Rev. 3. 21. And â—e chastneth every 〈◊〉 whom He Receiveth Heb 12. 6. Folly is knit to the heart of the Child till the Rod of Correction take it out And it is far better for your Children to feel the Lash of your Rod then to be stricken and wounded with the effects of their own after miscarriage when their own Iniquity find them out § 3. And it is an excellent Mean for your Childrens happiness that you study their genius and proper Gift as I before hinted that so ye may prepare them to enter such Callings as may make them most useful in their Generation That their Calling be laudable and approved as little lyable to snares as possible a Calling that may most naturally dispose them for a course of Vertue And therefore they would be instructed to be Industrious Honest and diligent in the Exercise thereof And of whatever Rank they be it is a greater blemish then obscure blood to be idle in their Generation So that even the Noble and Rich as they have a High and Noble general Caling So must they act in some particular Calling and Exercise in these more Eminent Spheres GOD has placed them in And if ye find your Children's genius so disposed it may be very helpful and behoveful for their Comfort in this Life and that to come to give them to GOD and separate them for the Holy Tribe by the Holy and Honourable Calling of the Gospel Ministry Wherein if Men would answer their Character they might get Esteem and Respect and with their Master Grow in favour with GOD and Man § 4. Neither is the Femal Sex to be neglected as to this Religious Education The Daughters are to be directed as well as the Sons For as they have Interest in the Covenant 2 Cor 6. to the end I will be a Father unto you sayeth the LORD and ye shall be unto Me Sons and Daughters So when our Sons are as plants grown up in their Youth and our Daughters as Corner Stones polished after the similitude of a Palace it is a great token of the Happiness of a People Psal 144. 12. 15. Our Danghters are not born or bred to be idle For beside their General they have a particular Calling to be Employed in For which end and to illuminate their life they are to be very careful and such as Oversee them that they be neither like a gadding Dina nor a painted Jezebel or like the Daughter of Midian who were a stumbling block by the counsel of Balaam to the People of GOD They must shun the way of the prostitute Woman in the Prov and learn to do vertuously after the Copy of the gravest Matrons And to attire themselves with modesty and Vail themselves with shamefacedness and learn Humility which is a foundation Grace and to beware of pride and vanity since this may make them like the daughters of Zion Isa 2. 24. and bring baldness and a Scab upoâ— them in stead of Beauty They would labour also to refine Purifie all their Passions by giving Christ who is fairer than the Soâ—â— of Men The first and highest place in their love and to Espouse themselves to such a Blessed Husband ere they think upon their Nupâ—ials That when by the Approved methods of GOD and their Parents they begin a conjugal state they may enter the Marriage bed White as Swans and Purer then the Snow of Lebanon They would learn also to moderate all their affections speech and way with the Spirit of meekness for a meek and quiet Spirit is the Ornament of a Woman 1 Pet. 3. 4. And this being observed let them be as vertuous as they can both in a single and married life Let reason rather then Romances be their Study let them Deck their minds ere they adorn their Body Let them consider that they are the Weaker Vessel and under subjection and still think it to be unsuitable to their Sex and way to be Imperious and not to keep within the Sphere in which GOD hath placed them least they make Clamour Noise and in discretion which doth
THE MAP OF THE Little WORLD ILLUMINATED WITH RELIGION Being a Practical Treatise directing Man to a Religious Scope and right Measure in all the Periods of his Life With Devotion suitable To which is added an Appendix containing a GOSPEL MINISTERS Legacie to his Flock in some Sermons upon 2 Pet. 1. 12 c. By PATRICK STRACHAN Minister of the Gospel at St. VIGEANS EDINBURGH Printed by John Reid to be sold by Thomas Brown John Vallange their Shops over against the Parliament-Closs Anno Dom. M. DC XCIII Unto the Right Honourable and truely NOBLE JAMES EARL of PANMURE Lord MAUL BREGHIN and NAVAR c. My most Generous PATRON May it please Your Lordship IN Your Goodness to accept of this small Testimony of my bounded Duty for Your Lordships Patrociny and Singular Kindness to me and mine in a constant Course of Favour which hath still issued from Your Noble Ancestors without the least Umbrage in your Noble Person and your most Honourable Lady Who tho the Daughter of a Prince and One of the greatest Peers of this Ancient Kingdomâ— doth add to Her Natural Splendor thâ— Lusture of a Condescending and Courteouâ— Mean as if her Ladyship were of a loweâ— Extract I cannot but express the Thankful Sentiments I Entertain of the Favouâ— of your Noble Predecessors and of youâ— Honourable and most Worthy Motherâ— Whose approved Conduct Prudent Câ—vil and Edifying Way hath not only Engaged me but all who have had the Honour of her Ladyship's Converse to looâ— upon her as a Woman among a Thousanâ— But I know your Lordship needs no borowed Rayes from the Applauses 〈◊〉 Men And therefore I shal not insist Bâ— only to Begg your Favourable Acceptanâ— of this small Mite of my Gratitudeâ— which tho Weak and Unworthy yet presumes to Kiss your Noble Hands because of its general Design to Advance that Glorious Religion which if it were not opposed by the Lusts of Men and if left to its own Innocence and Native Power would transform the World from a Chaos of Confusion to a wonderous Light So Wishing the Blessings of the LORD' 's Right and Left Hand to your Lordship and Noble Family I shall add no more but that I am in all sincere Duty My LORD Your Lordships Humble Devoted Servant in CHRIST Pat Strachan From my Study at St. Vigeans 14 July 1693. TO THE READER Courteous Readâ—r IF thou shall be pleased to peruse this little Treatise with the Denvedness and Charity wherewith I have laboured to digest and publish it I hope it will meet with little Censure for this is forbidden Jam 3. 1. And it is very much contrary to the Gospel Spirit and argues too much pride Self conceit in the Cenâ—urer and a very malevolent humor that will not allow the offer of a little Mite for the building of the LORDs House by another without Disdaine and contempt and because self is so natural ready like the Ivy to twist it self in with the best of our Essayes I here solemnly renounce it so that if this weak Work may be any wise usefull to the Church and promotive of the Glory of GOD I have my End Reward It is not calculated to the Luxurient fancies of Men nor to any sphere of more sublime Judgements but only that it may be helpfull to such of lower Capacities I send it forth without affection not with the Excellencie of words of Mans wisdom but in the simplicity of the Gospel And therefore I humbly commend it to the Acceptance of GOD it being but a smal thing to be judged by Man such as read it let them do it with Humility denyedness and simplicity And I hope they shall not regrate their pains and if it can do any good it s better done than undone and may possibly drop upon some and afford them a little Oyl to their Lamps to take the blessed Rod of the Kings High Way to lead them through the Laborinth of Time and after all the Wyndings and Traverses of the Stages of our Life happlly bring us by a safe Conduct to the Land of Joy and Peace which that it may contribute to is the earnest Wish of Thy Servant for CHRIST's Sake P. S. The Contents The Entrance Period 1. OF our beginning and bygone life page 1 The prayer Ibid Stage 1. 2 Of the Formation of the Infant 3 Of the propagation of the Soul 5 Of Original sin 7 Of Infant Baptism 10 Stage 2d Of the care of Parents 12 Of Regeneration 13 Of Confirmation 16 Stage third of the evils incident to Children 18 A brief Reinforcement of the duty of Parents 25 A prayer of parents for their Children Ibid A prayer of a Child 27 Stage 4 which Resumeth the instructions for Children 29 The prayer 36 Period 2. Stage 1. Which considereth the portracture and lineaments of Youth 37 The evils incident to Youth 43 Directions for the recovery of Youth 49 The motives Page 58 The prayer 60 Stage 2d Of mans entring into a settled state with suitable Directions 63 The necessity of domestick devotion 72 A morning prayer to be used in a family 75 The evening Prayer 77 Suitable prayer for the bygone stage 79 Stage 3d. which divideth into three courses 80 Course first of the ordering thy person family c. 82 The means and methods to mannage this state of life aright 85 Which are 1st Wisdom Ibid 2ly Prudence 86 3ly Providence 87 4ly Government 88 5ly Improvement Ibid Motives to mannage this state of life 89 The prayer 113 Course 3d. What fine your labour in vertue and piety c. hath come to Ibid Period 3. Of what is to come in the declensians of Nature 119 Stage first Of a serious Recollection of thy self c. 120 What now remains to be done 128 A continuation of this Stage to the outmost Extent of mans life 131 The Prayer 138 Stage 2d Of the 4 last things 139 Of Death ibid Prayer in order to Death 148 Of Judgement 149 The Prayer 155 Of Hell 156 The prayer 159 Of Heaven ibid The prayer 163 A Lamentation for the decay of Religion 167 The Prayer 176 A Vindication of the Forms of Devotion used in this Treatiâ—e Ibid Prayers according to the dayes of the Week 179 Of Psalmodie 189 Of the Doxologie 190 A Vale to the World 195 Devotion suitable 204 In the Appendix SErmon I. Of the compact Chain of our Holie Religion c. page 1. Sermon II. The dutie and diligence of the Apostolick Curate discribed c. page 10. Sermon III. of the expediency and usefulness of the means for the advancement of practical Religion c. page 26. Sermon IV. Of the practical knowledge of Death and the Information that the LORD giveth some of his favorites thereof c. page 36 Sermon V. Of the endeavours which faithful Ministers have to make their labours useful after their decease c. page 45. Sermon VI. Concerning the truth and excellency of our Holy Religion
not be so well made eflectual let both Pastors and Parents double their Diligence in bearing in the Principles and Practices of Religion into the tender Hearts of their Children by Prayer and other laudable means for that Holy End STAGE III. The Contents Of the evils incident to Children in this Stageâ— their Life Some Rules for the Orderingâ— their Life VVith a Reinforcement of tâ— care Incumbent to those that are over thâ— with sutable Devotion § 1. IT is a sad Complaint of the Spiâ—â— of GOD Gen 6. 5 That the Imâ—ginations of the thoughts of the heart of man 〈◊〉 evil and only evil continually and that 〈◊〉 pueritia from his Childhood Which 〈◊〉 we consider aright Man shall find that 〈◊〉 hath all the Dimensions of the Bodyâ—â— sin and Death Rom 7 to the end 〈◊〉 tho where Grace comes this Canaaniâ—â— not ejected tho dejected this corruptiâ—â— hath invenomed our whole Nature 〈◊〉 hath its seat in our Heart and never ceâ—â—eth to foam and to boil like the Bottomâ—â— pit It is a deep thing that no Humaâ—â— Engine can reach for The heart is decâ—â—ful above all things VVho can know it Jeâ—â— 17. 9. This disease doth alienate us from tâ—â— Life of GOD Eph 4 18. It hardneth ouâ— heart depraveth our will perverteth ouâ— affections infecteth our Senses and inflameth our Appetite after evll O man search and dissect this disease and thou shall find the Poison of Asps not only under thy tongue but in thy heart Rom 3. 11. And the very nature of the Serpent in all thy Faculties Which if reflected upon aright may through the Grace of GOD begin the Rise and kindle the first sparks of Regeneration § 2. Although it be hard to Enumerate all the evils of Childhood Yet to the help of any considering Man in his Reflection I shall hint at some Blemishes thereof Some have mentioned Vitium naturae gentis personae The common Vice of Nature and the more particular evils of the Clime and Person All have the common disease which vents it self in Nations Families and Complexions in a different manner So some Natures are more mild some more fervide In some the Irascible in others the Concupiscible appetite doth Predomine This would be well considered that man may be the more fitted to correct the corruption of this inconsiderat time of his Age But the more particular errors of this Circumstance are Ignorance Idleness Careleness Inconsideraâ—ness and Falsenâ—â— whereby Man is Inclined to Lying Châ—â—ing and Stealing So that this indiscâ—â— Fool hath some Wisdom to do evil 〈◊〉 he be simple to good As also Envy 〈◊〉 Spirit that is in us sayeth St. James lustâ—â— to Envy and St. Augustine after him saiâ—â— Vidi zelantem puerum a sort of Emulatiâ—â— and Envy in Young Ones together wiâ—â— evil custom Especially in speech wheâ—â— by a man alas layes aside his Glorâ—â— and soon learneth to speak the Languaâ—â— of Hell As also how prone is the Nâ—ture of man in this Circumstance to leaâ—â— and use sinfull Childish Tricks In thinâ—â— belonging to Nature which fair Natuâ—â— hath put a Vail over to hid theâ—â— from the Eyes of Curiosity And aâ—â— these are Nursed by an inconsiderate minâ—â— and an unactive Conscience But whaâ—â— need I mention these evils Since thâ—â— poor Stripling is exposed naked to all evils under the Sun So that Manâ—â— when he hath any power to reflect is to consider the mercy of GOD that ever he hath been reduced to any Sense and Judgement For § 3. If he shall now delineat himself he shall find the Root the rise the spruteing of these evils in him Ignorance is the â—â—ause of all our wandrings he is born blind â—nd like a whelp seeth not till such a day â—s long ere the scales fall off his eyes and â—s by a mercifull miracle of Grace that â—ver he sees He 's ignorant of GOD â—hat rude conceptions and Ideas doth his â—ind and phansy conceive of the Deity â—ot considering GOD in his Spiritual and â—oly Nature and excellent Properties the Eternal and first Being the infinite Reaâ—on and Light of all the rational World And so good that if known Man cannot â—ut adore fear love and choise him â—hen he beholds him in the mirrour of â—is word and works and in the express iâ—age of his person Jesus Christ He is also â—gnorant of himself tho' nosâ—e teipsum be a common principle He knows not whom he represents being the image of the invisible GOD tho much eclipsed by sin Yet there remains some sparks and scintils of it in his Rational Nature Which if by Grace improved may reduce this wandring Creature to the paths of Righteousness He is also ignorant of the way to Salvation and his eyes will be no sooner opâ—ed but he 'l have reason to cry out What shall I do to be saved Acts 20. 37. altho he may think at first the way to 〈◊〉 strait for so indeed it is sayeth our Savioâ—â— Yet shall he see his corruption to be 〈◊〉 cause that it is so difficult and if throuâ—â— GOD's blessing he shall consult Graceâ—â— he shall find rhe way so straight and plaâ—â— that a wayfairing Man tho a fool shall 〈◊〉 err therein Isaiah 35 8. § 4. I shall not enlarge upon the othâ—â— evils incident to our Nature Since if thâ—â— of Ignorance were Removed and Coâ—â—scence awaked to any exercise man shaâ—â— find it highly rational to correct the reâ—â— for when Light comes in it will make 〈◊〉 ashamed of those things we have taken pleasuâ—â— in When we feed the Brute in Darkneâ—â— and forgot the Soul and left it lyinâ—â— maimed and dying in its Blood Thâ—â— light will easily discover the preferance of love to Envy Truth and Honesty to falshood And make the man when he finds himself naked to hid his eyes from himself and bestow the more abundant honour upon his more uncomely parts this light will discover the Leopards spots of ill custome and turn the man from black to white It will reduce the straying sheep and let him see where he is what he is and what he shall do § 5. Solomon gives unto such an excelâ—ent Direction The fear of the LORD is the â—eginning of Wisdom And the LORD's word makes the simple wise sayeth the Psalmist This parents and teachers should mainly â—nculcate upon young and tender Hearts And as man has by Education The advantage of these Instructions So he would be also taught to moderate and Govern his passions and to Rule his own Spirit especially ro guard against any peculiar and personal infirmity of his nature and to strangle the Eruption thereof by Discretion And with-all to learn to bow his knee betimes and seek Grace from GOD who giveth liberally and upbraideth no man For which he is to consider the advantage of Early piety and to weaken sin ere it come to an habite Isaack had the advantage of good education but his sons were more pregmatick and possibly lost much of his
be diligent since we know not the hour § 7 It cannâ—t then be impertinent seriously to warn the World to look to the Periods of their Life Which is the great Scope and Design of the following Treatise to lead the Christian through the Labyrinth of Life that he may well consider how short his time is with the Psalmist Psal 86. 47. And follow the Threed of the Word of GOD to direct him in all the Stages and Periods of his Life which is here set before thee in the following Periods Period first Of our Beginning and bygone Life and the Stages thereof Period second Of our present Time and the State of Our Growing Age and the several Stages thereof Period third Of the future Age or what is to come in the Declensions of Nature and the Stages thereof With a Vale to the WORLD Period first Of our beginning and bygone life and the Stages thereof MAn's Age is but a Span and but an Instant 'twixt our birth and our death Man comes to the World and knows not how and goes to a World of Eternity and knows not when He lives he groans he acts awhile and dyes And it takes a great part of the short Span of his time ' ere he well know where he is how he is and what he hath to do He lives long the life of a Brute as it were without reason It 's fit then when he begins to reflect to act as a rational Creature that he consider what he is and review the bygone time Yesterday can not be brought back But time may be Redeemed His life is but a dream yet he may gather some good out of it When he awakes if he consider The Prayer ANd Thou O LORD who only Remains unchangeable in all the stages and Changes of time and the inexpressible permanence of Eternal ages World without end Fix the heart of unconstant Man upon thee alone Our Soul is the Daughter of an high House Give us Grace with the Psalmist to say unto thee LORD thou art my LORD Psal 16. 2. Keep us O GOD in thy Name and make us pure and clean to be fit for Thee Keep our Immortal Soul in life and still upon wing to Flee to its Center and repose for where shall it Flee to be happie but to Thee thou only has the words of Eternal Life O JESV the Powerful attractive of Hearts who makes all Generous Souls sigh after thee draw us to thee for this is our Rest and only repose which sweetneth all the acerbities of time and Bitterness of this World here will we dwell for ever and If we Change upon the Wheel of time we roll indeed but in Thee we can not be moved nor Removed Amen Come I now to consider the stages and several Tuâ—ns of the first Period of our Life STAGE First The Contents OF the Formation and Production of the Infant of the propagation of the Soul and of sin of Infant Baptism and the right that the Children of Church Members have unto it The duty to be extended to Infants as Care Provision Prayer for them to study their Nature and Humour and acting accordingly Grave example and a serious timeous dedication of them to GOD which for more distinct clear uptaking thereof shall be considered by a Particular account of the purpose and dâ—ctrine of the first Stage in the first period of our life § 1. Let Naturalists and Ancient or modern Masters of Medicine discourse of the Formation of the Child in the womb Job and the Royal Psalmist draweth this unseen Embryo best with a Divine Pencil Job 10. 8. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me together round about thou hast fashioned me as the Clay Has thou not powred me out as Milk and croudled me as Chees Thou hast Clothed me with Skin and Flesh and fenced me with Bones and Sinews And Psal 139. from 13. Thou hast possessed my Reins thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made and Curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth and in thy book all my members were written which in continuance were fashioned when yet there was none of them Man 's a wonder before the World see him lying in the dark Cells of the womb and if he consider from what he Flows and his little Chamber in the womb and how nourished there It may humble him he flows from Blood and lives on Blood and dwells amongst Blood and Ordurs Thy very nature may humble thee For as it proves the Wisdom and power of the GOD of Nature who can extract a quintessence out of Dullest matters so doth it bid thee look unto thy Original All the Earth being of one Blood Acts 17. 26. And there being no differance 'twixt the Prince and the Peasent and that GOD who teacheth Art to extract Rarities who by nature brings Silk from a Worm a Pearl from a Shell and precious Minerals from Dust and Rubbish doth make this Raritie Man Ex Humo Eccle. 12 7. For Dust thou art and to Dust thou shalt return thou comes from the womb and goes to thy long home the Grave If thou boast of thy Pedigree Go to the House of Rottenness and look to the worms that makes thy Flesh to shrink and learn to confess with Abraham that thou art Dust and Ashes Gen 17. 28. And with Job abhor thy self in Dust and Ashes Job 42. 6. And if thou shall consider that thou art not only Dust but fallen in the Dust and comes forth with a Contaminate Blood dying in thy sin and no Eye pitying thee Ezek 16. 1. it may further abase thee and not suffer thee to be proud when thou lyest in the Dunghill all besmeared with filth and uncleanness Consider then thy rise and thy fall and learn to be humble else thou art proud of nothing or worse than nothing § 2. Next As to the Propogation of the Soul and how the dust body comes to be animated not only with vital spirits but with a rational Soul I shall leave the curiousity of this also to Philosophers For altho some will have the Soul ex traduce because if not so Man doth not beget a perfect Man and commonly Children Patriscent follow the ill of the Parents and they are Father-like there is not only vitium Gentis familiae of the Nation and Family but also personae of the Person Yet its safest to joyn with the universal Church that the soul is infused according to that of St. Aug Creando infunditur infundendo Creature By creation it is infused and by the infusion of the Soul it is created And this common Vote is not infringed by the sentiments of some Private Men For although Man begetteth not a Soul yet he begets a spirituâ— Organ and Embryo disposed for the Soul aâ— so doth he begett Man Virtually And the Scripture favours this Infusion as Solomon sayeth Dust shall return to Dust and the spirit to
their phansie who deny CHRIST's Offices Ministers Ordinances and Institutions will be so bold as to contradict it And therefore it concerns Parents Religiously to go about the Baptism of their Children and remember the great obligation they stand under for their pious Education And of Children baptized to reflect upon it when they come to any Knowledge and to improve it well by the Instruction of their Parents and Tutors whose serious Instructions grave Example and earnest Prayer for Young Ones may help to instill and drop in such Counsels into their easie and blank minds as may leave some Relish as a Vessel may still keep something of the tast and smell of the first liquor according to that Ancient observe quo semel est imbuta c. and this stage of our life may be reckoned to the fourth year of our Age. STAGE Second The Contents Of the particular care of Parents and Governours as to Children from four years old to twelve of studying their nature and genious and the inâ—â—â—ling and droping in some clear and common principles of Religion with the consideration of Regeneration and when the Children come to be about twelve years of age of their solemn Confirmation § 1. As the Children grows so should the care of their Parents increase towards them its dangerous to suffer the evil of their Nature to take rooting for then it will turn tenacious and obstinate it 's better to take the little Foxes that hurt their tender Gardens Cant. 2. 6. and by Religious conduct use the best means to Eradicate the corruption of their Nature and to correct that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and disorder that is naturally in them by frequent and gradual dropping of good counsel into their hearts especially by fixing in them the common notion of a GOD and fearing of Him of honouring their Parents And withal to acquaint them with their Baptismal Dedication and in as much as is possible to open up unto them the mâ—sterie of their redemption through Jesus Christ and that not only they know to Repeat the Law the Creed and Lords Prayer But also to make them according to their capacitie to understand these Thus entereth Knowledge into their Hearts as a little Drop by frequent falling makes a cavity and hollowness in the stone § 2. Although the Spirit of GOD the Author of Regeneration like the wind bloweth when where and how he pleases Joh. 3. v. 8. And calleth some sooner some later yet is it not improper to set it down here for that same LORD that Blessed Babs can Sow the Seed of Grace in their Hearts And of this Regeneration I shall only remember Man of the Necessity Nature and Evidence thereof First as to the necessity Our Saviour is very positive Job 3. v. 2. and 3. Except a man be Born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD and no outward exercise of Religion can avail us without the New Creature the Old-man must be Crucified and the New-man formed and Nurished ere we can be fit for the Kingdom of GOD. And 2ly We cannot better take up the Nature of it than by considering the Author and the manner of his Operation in producing this Work It is only the Spirit of GOD that doth it so is every one that is born of the Spirit John 3. 8. Of His own Will begatt He us that we should be a kind of first Fruits of His Creatures Jam 1. 18. This New Creature then is clearly the Product of the Spirit of GOD Who doth this work mediatly by the use of means especially by the Word oâ— Truth and other holy Engines that he is pleased to make use of Yet is not this Work produced of any means but by the concurse of the principal Agent the Word illuminats and perswads but there 's more then Moral Swasion in this Work for GOD's promise in the Covenant is to put his Laws in our inward parts Jer 3. 33. They receive by their Conversion a heavenly seed which abideth in them that will not suffer them to sin as the wicked do John 3. 9. Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of GOD. Yet as to the production of this new Creature it may be so secret for a time like the Infant in the Womb so clouded and over-powr'd by Temptation and Corruption that it doth little appear and it takes a long time ere it become perfect in degrees and visibly compleat as to parts althô the Child tho little and weak is potentially a perfect man Parents then and Governours should with St. Paul travel in birth till Christ be formed in their Children 3ly As to its Evidence the Apostle manifests it fully 2 cor 5. 17 Behold all things are become New The man is wholly renewed in Quality tho not in Substance so that he may very well say Ego non sum ego He hath a more generous spirit with Caleb a better heart with David a more shininâ— face with Moses and the lips of the Righteous feed many And tho no man caâ— make this Change yet is he exhorted to make him a new heart Ezek. 18 31. Thâ—â— is to use the means and well to consider that the spirit of GOD begets this neâ— Creature by the word of Truth Jam 1 18 That such may be a kind of first fruits of Hâ—â— Creatures and for himself to show forthâ— His praise Who hath called them from darkness to Light § 3. It is very promotive of Grace also when Children comes to this state of Life that they be Confirmed after they can give any account of their Creed and of their Prayers according to the Blessed Pattern The LORDS Prayer For we read frequently in the Acts of Confirming the Disciples after they were Proseâ—â—ted to the Christian Religion whereby the new Plantation was fixed and by a sort of personal Covenanting with GOD they were Engaged to His Service by their Voluntar Consent This is the practice of the Universal Church Which if simply done and not elevated unto a Sacrament is laudable and promotive of the Ends of Religion And tho it be quarrelled with by some in this Nation Yet if it could be got well done in every particular Parish Since the Bishop may not be alwayes Vacant it may be thought no Disorder for the Parish Minister every year as Occasion offers to do this in the presence of the Parents and famous Witnesses personally and particularly to joyn them to the LORD And if there were not alas too great incuriousness about matters of Religion a mean so helpful to the ends thereof may be put in use So to conclude this Point I shall Reinforce my earnest Exhortation to Christian Parents in behalf of their Children for this particular instance of their Care for their Souls and to remember Gospel Ministers of their duty as to this And since through the unsetledness of the Times it can
pious instructions yet doubtless Jacob was well principled from the beginning which made him so anxious for the Blessing Abijah came only to the Grave in peace of all the Sons of Jeroboam Good Josiah was tender hearted in his Tender Age Timothy was instructed in the Scriptures from a Child 2 Tim. 3. 15. St. John was a young Disciple yet much beloved of his Master Some get their callâ— in the morning and have much of their work done ere the heat of the day and man should receive this Call least GOD pursue him with the Rod. It s a sad thing to be Satan's Slave from the womb No Creature loves to be fettered and were noâ— man a dull brute he would cast off the Chains of Satan It 's high time to awake out of the sleep of sin and by actual care to Restrain the Power of his natural Corruption This Age if it do noâ— answer It 's education will after cry out O mihi Praeteritos c. Because he did noâ— obey the voice of his Teachers Prov. 5. 13. For shall he let his body Grow and the Spiritâ—â—ly in a trance To have nimble Limbs and a lasy spirit Man must therefore begin at the heart where the Root of the evil lyes for out of the heart comâ—th all evil sayes our Saviour He must therefore Wash Watch Keep Guard cleanse and purifie the heart and seek the Blessing of the Covenant Jer. 4. 14. Psal 51. 10. Man in this Circumstance must shun evil Company and not listen to the black art of Knowing the tricks of sin He would have great care that things be right in the first Region for if there be an error in the first concoction the soundness of Grace will be much Obstructed by our natural diseases O then present thy soul and sores to GOD and seek the Balm of Gilead to heal thy soul but bewar of hypocrisy to pray and sin and sin and pray and thus Run thy self into a Circle thus to fall into Satans Labyrinth from whence the Out-gate is difficult as the Ingress is dangerous Rather beginn thy General Calling as a Christian and prepare thy self to Climb up to the Zenith of a more perfect age § 6. And the Rudeness of this Inconsiderate age should of it self inforce the Duty of Parents and such as are Over Children to make Conscience of their Education Deut 1. Compared with Eph 6. to be much in Prayer for them and to teach them to be serious And pray in the Forms following The Prayer Of Parents for their Children O LORD who hath granted me Children give the Blessing and grant them graciously as thou did to Jacob LORD make them thy Children For better for them never to have been born then not to be born again It had been better for me that I had been barren then that they be not fruitful to Thee I have cast them upon Thee from the Womb anâ— dedicate them to Thee LORD accept of theâ— for his sake who became the Son of Man anâ— in the dayes of his flesh was very kind to Littâ—â— Ones heal the Corruption of their Natureâ— save them from the snares of Sin and Satanâ— Open the Eyes of their mind early that thâ— may know thee O GOD Put something 〈◊〉 them that may put them up to Thee Sanctiâ—â— their Education save them from the unlawfâ— tricks of sin and be Thou their Tutor anâ— Governour take them LORD by the beaâ— and by the hand and lead them in a plain pathâ— prosper them in a course of vertue and never leaâ— them nor forsake them And LORD giâ— them that blessing that they never forsake Theâ— least they fall in a ditch and Ruine Be thou 〈◊〉 GOD their Portion in the Land of the Livingâ— and make them so happy and us in them thaâ— thev may be Enclined to a Lawful Calling and serve Thee both in General and Particular Sanctifie their Baptism and bless it to them iâ— all the Periods of their Life that they mav be so devouted to Thee that they may be amongst the number of these Little Ones that shall see Thy Face for ever Amen The Prayer of Children O Thou Eternal Creator Who made me fearfully and wonderfully in the Dark â—ells of the Womb and hast now brought me 〈◊〉 the light and stated me upon the stage of time 〈◊〉 act my part and given me the advantage of â—e light of the Glorious Gospel through the â—iety of my Parents good Education and Inâ—â—uction Grant me the Grace to do what is â—â—ght in Thy sight and Religiously answer the â—â—ains and Means 〈◊〉 for my Good save me â—â—om Idleness Negligence and Indiscretion â—â—d all the Evils that follows and flow from 〈◊〉 blind mind Give me to awake and seek â—hee in the morning of my Day How siâ—ly hath â—â—y degenerate Nature made me How little differ I from a Brute and how much obscure I the Light of Reason by follv flesh sense and sin LORD give me now as much Light as to see how weak and Vile I have been and to know what thou wilt have me to do remember not against me the Vanities of this inconsiderate Age But shape and sharpen me for Thy self that I may by Thy Grace leave the darknessess and shadows of my twilight-time and look up to Higher Regions of Reason and Religion and so begin to be serious in this indiscreet Period 〈◊〉 my time and put away Childish things 〈◊〉 me to feel the motions of the Rational 〈◊〉 and not to be only acted by the natural Spiâ—â— O my Soul listen now to the Light of 〈◊〉 LORD open now all the windows of thy 〈◊〉 to the beams of His Light and Life Awâ—â— thou that sleepest that CHRIâ—â— may Give thee Light LORD loose me 〈◊〉 my pleasant fetters of nature and sin 〈◊〉 grant me solid Judgement and pure affectâ—â— Put too thy hand and lift me up And then 〈◊〉 I walk at liberty in the â—athâ— of thy preâ—â— Thou hast brought me through the weakneâ—â— a Brittle age and â—â—as I have been a capâ—â— slave LORD Redeem me for thy mâ—â—cies sake and Give me so much of solid Gâ—â— as may help me to keep my feet in after trâ—â— of following Periods And put my soul on wâ—â— and grant me the Gentle Air of Heavenly breâ—â— Now to live in a better and a more Soluâ—â— element and breath a more free Air for 〈◊〉 ligion and Vertue Amen § 7. Now are we to look upon Maâ—â— as come through the Stage of Infanâ—â— Child-hood and the pedagogy of sorâ—â— discipline and education and to haâ—â— arrived at or about twelve years of Age have now learned something of Art and â—â—tered upon the threshold of Science and â—ade capable to think Reflect and exâ—rcise the faculties of his mind bv speculaâ—â—on study In which stage Parents and Overseers should look well to the Genius â—f Children and their proper gift since â—â—ery one hath his Peculiar gift of GOD which 〈◊〉 should manure
of GOD it is all in light life and love If it could be seen it would be fairer than the Sun It puts such a principle in thee that thô sin may infest yet it shall not prevail because the Seed of GOD Remains in thee and makes the Righteous man more excellent than his Neighbour Prov. 12 26. 3ly The guidance of the Spirit which is not only the Character But the Priviledge of the Children of GOD The wayfairing man hath an unerring guide and tho thou should not lean to a Phanatick and Enthusiastick Spirit yet in the use of the means thou must Rely upon the gracious conduct of GOD's Spirit For If thou be led by the Spirit thou art the Son of GOD. Rom. 8 14. 4ly The Guardianship of Angels The elder Children guard the younger If thou walk in GOD's way they get charge over thee Psal 91. 11. They rejoice at thy conversion delight in thy duty and keep thee in all thy wayes 5ly The inheritance All is yours and ye are Christs and Christ is GODS 1 Cor. chap. 3 to the end Heirs and Coheirs with CHRIST and have interest in that inheritance that is incorruptible with the Saints in light which should make the World be little in thine eye The Prayer O LORD I am now in a dangerous Stage of my Life Ready to run Round in a Circle of sin to my own Ruine O ancient of Dayes take me by the Heart and hand in the morning of my life to noon tide anoint me with Fresh Oyland guide me by Thy Word and Spirit for Man that understandeth not is like the beast that perish Creat in me a clean heart and let me do nothing unworthy of my Birth and hopes give me the faculty to open mine eyes to look up to Thee and deliver me from Vnbelief and youthfull follies It hath pleased Thee to call some of the worst of Youth give so much Grace as may illuminate and direct an inconsiderat mind water the little and tender plantation of my heart inflâ—ence me with such Heavenly motions as may awaken me out of my first sleep wherein I have alas slumbered too too long possess Thy own purchase and let not Satan or any lust get peaceable residence where Thy holy feeâ— have trod Give me to see the Rarities and Glories of the New World of Grace make me a miracle and a monument thereof that I may rejoice that once I was darkness and now am light in the LORD restore me to a Right Mind cast out of it all dregs of sin and turn it from a den of thives to a Temple for Thee give me Grace not only to remember but serve my Creator and with solid Judgement swear under thy banner and Vow an inviolable fidelity to thee my LORD and Master that I may grow in Grace as in dayes that in due time I may be perfected Amen STAGE second From the 22 to the 30 Year of our Age. The Contents After some Introduction the setled life of 〈◊〉 Christian in this Period is considered particularly as to the Marriage and a lawfuâ— Calling with helps and directions suteableâ— motives to excite him to duty in this Stagâ— of his life with some practice of Devotion especially to the Meaner sort as to the hallowing of their House and calling § 1. THe Race of Mans life Rolls on a wheel and the Spoak that is ascendant Immediatly goes down and declines thou shouldest therefore run that thou mayest obtain improve well the present because bygone is past and thou knows not what 's before thee But this thou art sure of that time passeth as a thought and Eternity can-not be comprehended with thy thoughts thon spends thy time here in an Imaginary world But eterniâ—â— is solid and cannot alter § 2. It will be fit then in this Stage if thou hast come to any solidity 1. to look back to thy former wayes 2ly To consider what frame thou art now in as to thy present Circumstances After which it being now the ordinary time that man begins to think upon a settled life Consider to enter there-into especially a married state with great deliberation and be carefull that thou manage and exercise thy particular Calling by the Rules and measure of Religion with means to conduct and lead you in the Right path and with Seasonable Motives to perswad thee into the duties of a foris-familiated Life and the Employ of thy Calling All which are summed up with some serious Reflexion and suitable Devotion § 3. First I thought upon my former wayes sayeth the Psalmist Psal 119. 57. Thou will not get that which is passed again nor the Res Gesta the thing done undone But by Repentance so the Psalmist prayes Let not the errors of my Youth be remembred Look that thou leave not an error in the first Region least thy following Life be not so healthful If thou leave any Intemperat Work behind it may turn to A root of Bitterness Heb. 12. 15. Thou must found well and bring up your Work upon a right Base For alas some are unhappy for want of Education aâ—â— Instruction some abuse and neglectâ—â— and improve only as to Gifts but notâ—â— Grace They learn a profession but 〈◊〉 Christ Let thy heart therefore be evâ—â— in the Covenant thy Faith real thy Repentance unfeigned and thy Engagâ—ments solide And then thou may haâ—â— some clearness and peace as to Religioâ—â— and Vertue § 4. 2ly Look to thy present Tenâ—â— and Temper O if thou hadst known eâ—â— thou in this thy day Said Christ wiâ—â— weeping Eyes to Jerusalem Luke 19 2â—â— To day if you will hear his Voice Psal 81. 〈◊〉 the end It is now high time to be wisâ—â— than before Thou hast Work enougâ—â— adoe both for Time and Eternity Buâ—â— therefore an Aâ—k to save thee tho thâ—â— World moâ—k thee as it did Noahâ—â— Seek first the Kingdom of GOD and othâ—â— things will be added to thee Remembeâ—â— Hoc opus hoc age is our Motto There 〈◊〉 much to be done and much to be undone in Order to Religion Indulge not sin Especially garde against a course of sin Forecast dangers and be as frugal in duty as possible which will help to fasten thee at the Root which will not be soon shaken with Temptation § 5. And with this premonition thou must act under GOD for thy self and thou hadst never more need of right Conduct than now This being the ordinary time that Man sets out to a setled Life and under GOD good Example and the Conduct of the Holy Word and Spitit he doth begin to think upon a relative and a conjugal Life And set up in the Exercise of his particular Calling It will be fitting that he be led by the Hand as to both these by sound and solid Direction And the influence of Motives to excite him to Duty § 6. As to the fifst it will not be amiss to speak a little to these particulars following First That thou lay a
settling of your Family and the Education of yoâ— Children I have already discoursed 〈◊〉 that now it remains principally that yâ—â— be instructed in your present duty Aâ—â— for this there be these things worthy 〈◊〉 your enquiry and observation First Wâ— Product and fine your work is come to both as your generall and particular Calling 2ly Wâ—â— course ye are upon as to the setting forth 〈◊〉 religious and rational settlement of the Childrâ— that God has given you 3ly If you have religioâ— disposed of all your spiritual and secular Conâ—â—n to good and holy Ends. § 2. First In this Course of thy lifâ— its time to stand and pause look about yoâ— behind you and before you its high tiâ— now to know where ye are and what yâ—â— are and if â—e have gathered any Stock Grace and Vertue and in fine what the Product of your general and particulaâ— Calling § 3. And for the Resolution of the first Qâ—ere thou must look what thou has done since every one must give an account of himself to GOD and thou knows not how soon Yea thô thou should neglect GOD hath a Register Let conscience therefore read the legend of thy life seriously digest the scenes acts thereof that so thou may attain to some clearness as to thy state and case and be the Better prepared for following duties and tryals To think on thy former wayes Psalâ— 119. 59. Reâ—apitulate and Recognize thy former doings that thou mayest take a more serious account of thy errors failours and â—ollies that you May retract what is amiss and it is high time now seriously and unâ—eignedly to Repent and to correct what hath been wrong to put your self in a better dress for your following Life and for Death and Judgement which are to follow that And if thou has been so happy by Grace to do any Good you are to keep warm the Nursery of your Vertues Take the little Foxes that hurt the Vineyard and seek to serve GOD with full purpose of Heart and a settled and solid Course of Duty And if thou lean upon GODS Direction and not to thine own Understanding The LOâ—â— hath fully shewed thee what 〈◊〉 good Mic 6. 8. And here it will be very pertinent for thee to regrate thy former â—â—rayings and sad omissions O 〈…〉 rmer life is but like a Dream Learn therefore O man to be sober and Vigilant and build suitable Work Work out your Salvation and by the diligent use of the means and practice of Vertue Make your Calling and Election sure Look to the frame of thine Heart the state of thine Affairs and the Case of your Family and particular Calling And do not satisfie thy self so as not to acknowledge that thou might have done more than thou has done and to take that Check from the Apostle that Whereas ye might have been teachers of others ye had need to be taught the first principles of the Oracles of GOD Heb 5. 12. If a Man now be scrious he will easily see great blanks in his Life And great emptiness in what he has done particularly as to Devotion and Charity Which our LORD declares will be a great Charge against the World in that day he will Judge it And if thou will be convinced thou shall find that thou has much adoe that the most part does less than they should do for there is much Work behind thee to undoe To put away all superfluety of naughtiness as St. James sayeth Jam 1. 21. we cannot indeed get Yesterday again nor undo sin once done but there is yet time for thee to take such wise measures as to undo thy sins by Repentance and make up thy failoures through Faith in the perfect satisfaction of Christ who sayes himself I have done the work which Thou gavest me to do Joh 17 5. § 4. 3ly Look how thou hast ordered thy family the oeconomy whereof if it be guided by Grace and Peace doth very much advance Religion and Humane society for if Families were walking in the clear Orb of Religion it would lay the foundation of Righteousness in a Nation if the Husband were dutiefull to the Wife of his bosom and the Wife respectfull to the Husband of her Youth if the Children were obedient to their Parents and the Parents carefull for the spiritual and secular concerns of their Children if the servants were dutiefull to their Masters and the Masters gave what is just and right to them then would a golden Age revive and the Land shine as a lamp and especially if the Parents labour to ripen their Children to Religion and Vertue and to settle them in a course of life that may tend to contentment and by all means labour to promote love peace and comely order of theâ—r station and of the Church of GOD that from their house as a Bethelâ— they go up to the Temple and there receive instruction and offer sacrifice and return home with the bâ—â—ssing of the Gospel of peace and that it be the great care of younger elder to shun idleness unnecessary digressions ill company divisive destructive Employments having such a great work adoe as to commend Religion by their ways and walk worthily in their Generation The Prayer LORD who knows his errors cleanse thou me from secret and known sins I know enough of my self to humbâ—e me But thy Eyes which are as flames of fire sees more in me than I can observe Accept Good LORD the humble designes I have had to do well and pity my faint performance make up my wants through him who is perfâ—ct in whom thou aquiesces and I repose I find great dissatisfaction in any thing in me that has been contrary to thy Eternal will and holy word LORD now I aim no lower than to center my soul in thee I have been but too slow give me the wings and alacrity of an Angel to do thy will I can never be well till I be at thee O help me GOD. Amen Period third Of the future Age or what is to come in the Declensions of Nature And the Stages thereof MAN is now to be looked upon as enterring his declining Age For as he riseth in his Youth and maketh progress in the Augment of his Life from the 30 year thereof to the 50 So hath he much adoe when he begins to hang his Head and to decline from the 50 year of his Age to the End His gloss and sprightful Feature is now much failed and he looketh out with the aspect of old Age And gray hairs are here and there upon him Hos 7. 9. And except some be swelled with a load of Flesh and have a Ruddy Tincture from the Cup and there are others that do Remain longer undecayed through a more vigorous Constitution yet shall they begin to find some declining in all the Organs and therefore from what we have seen in our by gone time and what we see in our selves and others We may