lamentations over him He that converses but the least with their Wâ—itings will soon understand what sorry titles of honour what mean and sad descriptions they bestowed upon their own nature and its present condition in the World The pattern of frailty the spoile of time the sport of fortune the very picture of sickleness silthiness from the birth too too much a least all his life no better than a feast for worms in death This was the Language they generally gave of Man and they thought they miscalled him not Poor men they were eye witnesses indeed of the sickness they saw things were ill but they scarce understood the rise and cause of the disease They could only cry out in the generall as one of them bitterly did Woe woe is me and yet what is it that I cry out so mournfully of Oh! it is the manifold miseries we lie exposed unto Dear Youths you must be perswaded to sit down and apply the Story The case is naturally yours the case is too truly every mans Oh! smite upon your breasts in a due sense of these things and say with David I Lord I am the man It is I who have thus sinned against heaven and am no more worthy to be called thy Son Fourthly This being your wound where shall we now find any balm or healing for it We are not likely you see to stay long here on earth â—nd without pardon of sin we can never expect to come at heaven The love the dear love of God through sin is already lost the life of grace extinguished a debt and guilt the saddest the greatest that ever were conâ—racted the comforts of this present life decayed the strength and sting of death exceedingly encreased We may now too truly name our selves Magor-Missabib fear and terrour round about Yet be not too much dismaied there is hope in Israel concerning our case And I may and must though not without much trembling invite you this day to Iesus Christ. Oh! hunger and thirst after him and his righteousness that in him your sins may be covered and your souls cloathed with the garments of salvation It is not Musick it is not Wine that a condemned person desires but a Pardon Go you and do likewise I told you even now a saddening story I may now bring you tidings of a more welcome one Oh! receive it as becomes you in the Lord. The Father of mercies hath from his Sanctuary looked down upon our low estate He saw we were sold for bond-men and for bond-women falling into the hands of Satan and misery for ever There was no eye to pity us Our own strength and righteousness departed from us The redemption of our souls likely to cease for ever In these great streights his bowels were moved to have compassion on us His own arm undeserved undesired brought salvation to us The work was great and he trusts no meaner Person than his own Son with it Him the Father sends and seals Him he gives to death and raises up to life and all for this sweet end that he might be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to such poor Creatures as You and I are Behold the love wherewith the Father hath loved us The Son accepts it As it was written in the Volume of Gods Book he is content to come If his Death will procure our Life he goes willingly to it He submitteth himself by imputation to be made sin who yet actually knew no sin that we worthless we might be made the righteousness of God in him In pursuance of this unsearchable and unutterable love it is that the Spirit of God so often knocks at our hearts That the Ambassadors of Christ are sent in such earnestness unto us to beseech us to be reconciled unto God That the Word of the Lord is left as his Agent alwaies Resident in our houses to treat with us that we might receive the pardon of sin and live This is that rich grace which the Prophets so long ago enquired after and prophesied of And this in the Lords name I humbly encourage and exhort you in Pardon of sin may verily be had only seek it aâ—ight Turn not the grace of God I charge you into wantonness Boast not you as if your condition were therefore out of danger because there are it may be some soveraign Antidotes in the shop or a rich Cordial in the glass The sick man may nevertheless languish and die if he makes not a real use of them Oh! go humbly to the Lord go by Prayer go by Faith go with a full purpose of heart that if the Lord shall please to speak peace you will no more return to folly Prostrate your selves spread your case before him tell him it is not Corn or Wine or Oyl that you come for but the light of his Countenance Tell him oh tell him it is the pardon of your sins and justification in the bloud of his Son that is to you the mercy of all mercies which you above all things stand in most need of and that if he would please to give you leave this is all your desire and humble boldness by the hand of faith to touch his golden Scepter to take hold of his tender mercies in Christ and live It may be he will say as in the Gospel Son arise Daughter arise be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee I could even bitterly mourn that this sacred mercy this fundamental mercy is no more in all our thoughts Men may weary themselves in wide discourses to find out wherein their chief happiness consists and who is at length the happy man But alas the wise man needs not glory in his wisdom the rich man may forbear boasting in his riches We may once for all once for ever conclude with David It is he and none but he whose sins are pardoned whose iniquities in Christ are covered who is the truly blessed man before the Lord. Fifthly If God shall shew this great mercy in the fifth place be you careful to return the answer of a good conscience and give up your selves intirely and unfâ—inedly to the Lord in a truly gracious life Therefore indeed hath the dear grace of God appeared in the world to enoble our conversations above the principles or course of nature to an higher life the life of grace And if any shall ask more narrowly what Christianity means We may answer in the language of that holy man This is the sum of the Christians Religion to live free from sin and wickedness in the world It is manifestly the highest testimony and commendation that we poor creatures are ever able to give to Religion when we do not barely complement it Ephraim-like with goodly words but practically offer our selves such as we are to the service of it endeavouring to acquit our selves in the just performance of great and gracious things The
shâ—ke your selves frâ—m the dust and vanities of Youth Bring a blessing with you into your Generation the Woâ—ld in these lâ—st declining Times greatly needs it Carry a blessing hence with you when ere you die your selves shall reap the sweet and everlasting comfort of it Your work is great your day is shâ—â—t the Master imporâ—â—â—te and your promise is alreadie passed To recoile now were as the Father well said to keep back part of the price and even to lie to the Holy Ghost To make our selves guiltie of the greatest perjury before the Lord. Oh â— hasten and put on the garments of your Elder Brother Gird up the loyns of your mind and run your Race Hasten and linger not lest night overtake you and you sit for ever mourning under the region and shadow of death See that ye covet earnestlie the best things Set your hearts unmoveablie upon heaven and â—ll the glorie of it Say humblie to the Lord as Luther You neither can nor dare take these soâ—â—y earthly things for your portion Strive as Ionathan to climbe up the Rock Love and Fear the Lord. Honour and obey your Parents Be careful and redeem your own time Design as becomes youâ— an ingenuous â—ife on Earth Design above all a gloâ—ious life in heâ—ven and God your God shall be with you I might now leave your Parents â—nd neâ—râ—â—t Friends to pleâ—d this righteous câ—use of the Lord yet further with you You cannot be strangers to all their affectionate and dayly prayers on your behalf their ardent and even restless desires of your welfare You are to them their dear Ascanius's on whom their hearts so much are set in whom as Iacob in Benjamin their life is almost bound up and their Parental cares night and day longing and waiting scarce desirous of any greater joy than this To see their Children walking wisely in the truth as we have all received a Commandment from the Father Me thinks both I and you cannot but hear them speâ—king to you in the very language of their hearts as once Cicero so Father-like to his Son Know my Child thou art already exceeding dear unto me but shalt yet become far dearer if thou shalt hearken to wise Counsel and thine own welfare What words can I further use I charge you by all the sparks of filial good nature that are yet alive in any of your bosoms oh quench not these affections Oh! frustrate not these so righteous expectations of your indulgent Parents Let me oh let me perswade you and rely upon you that you will not be wanting to your selves whatever in you lieth to greaten their dearest love and affection toward you In which hopes I take my leave and part at present with you Oh! let me rejoyce in the day of Christ that this Letter hath not been in vain unto you Let no man â—â—spise your Youth though young in years be ye as the Iews were wont proverbially to say as the Aged in all gravity and wisdom of carriage Fare ye well The Lord himself make you branches of righteousness bringing forth every one of you fruits unto holiness that God the Lord may be glorified Amen Amen My Son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that râ—proacheâ—h me Pro. 27.11 FINIS THE Young Mans MEDITATION OR Some few Sacred POEMS UPON Select Subjects and Scriptures By Samuel Crossman B.D. Noâ— modo divina contemplantur sed Cantica Hymnos ad Deum Sacratioribus omnis generis melâ—orum carminum rhythmis gâ—aâ—iter conâ—â—runâ—t Philo de Religios in Aegypt apud Eusâ—b A Verse may find hâ—m whom a Sermon flâ—es And turn delâ—ght into a Sacrifice Mr. Herberts Temple Loâ—don Prâ—nted by I. H. and are to be sold by S. Tâ—ompson at the Bishops head in St. Pauls Church-yard and T. Parkhurst at the three Crowâ—s at the lower end of Cheapside near the Conduit 1664. The Gift If thou knowest the gift of God c. Joh. 4.10 1. THis is the Gift thy Gift oh Lord The token of thy dearest love The orient jewel of thy word Sent down my thankfulness to prove 2. Great is his gift in all mens eyes Who gives himself his Friend to save My Lord does more for Foes he dies This Gift no parallel may have 3. Great is the Gift the Giver great Both justly to a wonder rise Thou giv'st thy Lamb to thine for meat And for their Sins a Sacrifice 4. But Lord whil'st thou thus giv'st to thine Others arose to vie with thee The World and Satan did combine And they would needs a giving be 5. Satan sins pleasures offered And almost forc'd them upon me But while they bloom'd they withered And Lord thy Gift my choice shall be 6. Then did the World its gayes present And still alluring cri'd see see Here 's that may rather give content But Lord thy Gift my choice shall be 7. These cannot give they 'd sâ—eal away From me my Heâ—v'n my heart from thee What e'r they offer I 'll say nay Still Lord thy Gift my choice shall be All flesh is grass and all the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field The grass withereth the flower sâ—deth but the Word of our God shall stand for ever Isa. 40.6 8. 1. VVElcom sweet words is 't is most meet We will you in our bosomes hide Sweet words for present but most sweet Because for ever you abide 2. All flesh is as the fading grass The voice from Heav'n to Earth thus cri'd The whole Worlds glory away doth pass But Lord thy words they still abide 3. Man speaks but all his words are wind They ebb and flow with time and tide Fit Emblems of his fickle mind But Lord thy words they still abide 4. Our selves sometimes stand promising Great things while we by thee are tri'd Our blossoms fall no fruit they bring But Lord thy words they still abide 5. Bless'd words Dear Lord no words like thine In darkness light through them is spi'd Till death and after death they shine Then Lord even then thy words abide 6. These words the Lamb's sweet writings be Of love and dowry to his Bride Here may his Saints their portions see Portions which ever shall abide 7. Welcome sweet words sweet words indeed Heaven's Agent here to Heav'n our Guide What e'r is needless these we need Lord let these words with us abide Upon the Fifth of November The Archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him and hated him But his Bow abode in strength Gen. 49.23 24. 1. THe day allows thy praises Lord Our grateful hearts to thee shall sing Our thankful lips they shall record Thine ancient loves Eternal King 2. Our Land shall boast the holy One My great preserver is become My Friend my Foes hath overthrown And made the pit they digg'd their â—oome 3. With Parthian bows the Archers came Romes poisonous oyl on the Arrows shone Thy Turtle was the Archers aime
Shoot shoot saies Satan all 's our owne 4. Fond foolish Rome how dat'st oppose Whom God in his safe bosome laies Thy malice may it self disclose But frustrate still shall turn to praise 5. The Crozier staff thy Triple Crown Those ensigns of deceit and pride Thy Purple Robe thy blaz'd Renown The dust shall ever ever hide 6. Thy Merchants shall thy fall lament Thy Lovers all in sackcloath mourn While Heav'n and Earth in one consent Shall sing Amen let Babylon burn 7. Then Lord thy Spouse whose dropping eyes Whose sighs whose sufferings prove her thine Shall from her pensive sorrows rise And as the Lamb 's fair Bride shall shine 8. Sweet day sweet day when shall it be Why staies my Lord Dear Saviour come Thy mourning Spouse cries after thee Stay with me here or take me home He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Isa. 53.5 1. THus died the Prince of life thus he That could not die even died for me My thoughtful heart Lord shall arise And ponder these deep mysteries 2. What means his death who knew no sin Or what my life who live therein Mine was the debt and death my due Though thou wast pleas'd thy Son to sue 3. Thou Lord I wast pleas'd on him to lay The debt and he the price to pay Thy Gospell feasts though sweet to me Are th' Emblems of his Agony 4. And oh how great his sufferings were Who th' wrath of God and man did bear The Father then forsakes the Son And Creatures 'gainst their Maker run 5. Iudas betraies Disciples flee Whil'st Jews and Romans crucifie Hereat the Sun furls up his light And cloaths the Earth in sable night 6. The joyless Stars even seem'd to say Israel had quench'd the Lamp of day The stubbourn Mountains they lament The Rocks they are asunder rent 7. The Graves their sealed doors unclose The Dead awakened also rose Th' amaz'd Centurion mourning cries Oh! 't is the Son of God that dies 8. Thus these all labour to consels Thy Deity thy righteousness Enough dear Lord these offer me Supports for th' utmost faith in thee God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Iesus Christ Gal. 6.14 1. MY Song is love unknown My Saviours love to me Love to the loveless shown That they might lovely be Oh who am I That for my sake My Lord should take Frail flesh and die 2. He came from his bless'd Throne Salvation to bestow But men made strange and none The long'd-for Christ would know But oh my Friend My Friend indeed Who at my need His life did spend 3. Sometimes they strow his way And his sweet praises sing Resounding all the day Hosannah's to their King Then Crucifie Is all their breath And for his death They thirst and crie 4. Why what hath my Lord done What makes this rage and spite He made the Lame to run He gave the Blind their sight Sweet injuries Yet they at these Themselves displease And 'gainst him rise 5. They rise and needs will have My dear Lord made away A Murderer they save The Prince of life they slay Yet cheerful he To suff'ring goes That he his Foes From thence might free 6. In life no house no home My Lord on earth might have In death no friendly tombe But what a Stranger gave What may I say Heav'n was his home But mine the tombe Wherein he lay 7. Here might I stay and sing No story so divine Never was love dear King Never was grief like thine This is my Friend In whose sweet praise I all my daies Could gladly spend The Pilgrims Farewell to the World For we have here no continuing City but we seek one to come Heb. 13.14 1. FArewel poor World I must be gone Thou art no home no rest for me I 'll take my staff and travel on Till I a better World may see 2. Why art thou loth my heart oh why Do'st thus recoil within my breast Grieve not but say farewel and fly Unto the Arke my Dove there 's rest 3. I come my Lord a Pilgrims pace Weary and weak I slowly move Longing but can't yet reach the place The gladsom place of rest above 4. I come my Lord the slouds here rise These troubled Seas foam nought but mire My Dove back to my bosom Flies Farewel poor World Heav'n's my desire 5. Stay stay said Earth whither fond one Here 's a fair World what wouldst thou have Fair World oh no thy beautie 's gone An heav'nly Canaan Lord I crave 6. Thus th' ancient Travellers thus they Weary of Earth sigh'd after thee They are gone before I may not stay Till I both thee and them may see 7. Put on my Soul put on with speed Though th' way belong the end is sweet Once more poor World Farewel indeed In leaving thee my Lord I meet Christs future coming to Judgment the Christians present Meditation Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him Rev. 1.7 1. BEhold he comes comes from on high Like lightning through the flaming skie The Saint's desire the Sinner's fear Behold that solemn day draws near 2. He comes who unto Judgment shall All flesh to his Tribunal call Me thinks I see the burnish'd Throne Whereon my Saviour sits alone 3. Me thinks I see at his right hand His smiling Saints in triumph stand Me thinks I hear condemned ones Howling their never-dying groans 4. Me thinks I see even Time expire The Heav'ns and Earth on flaming fire Think not my Soul thy self to hide Thou canst not 'scape but shalt be tri'd 5. Loe here the Book whence Justice reads Sentence on Sinners sinful deeds Loe here the Mercy Psalm wherein My Judge speaks pardon to my sin 6. I tremble Lord yet must I say This is my long'd-for wedding day My Bridegroom is my Soveraign Lord My Joynture drawn in his fair Woâ—d 7. My Mansion built by him on High Where I may rest eternally Then come my Lord dear Saviour come And when thou pleasest take me home Amen Even so come Lord Iesuâ— come quickly The Resurrection Though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God Job 19.26 1. MY Life 's a shade my daies Apace to death decline My Lord is life he 'l raise My dust again even mine Sweet truth to me I shall arise And with these eyes My Saviour see 2. My peaceful grave shall keep My bones till that sweet day I wake from my long sleep And leave my bed of Clay Sweet truth to me I shall arise And with these eyes My Saviour see 3. My Lord his Angels shall Their Golden Trumpets sound At whose most welcome call My grave shall be unbound Sweet truth to me c. 4. I said sometimes with tears Ah me I 'm loth to die Lord silence thou those fears My life 's with thee on high
The Young Mans Monitor OR A modest Offer toward the Pious and Vertuous Composure of Life FROM Youth to Riper Years By Samuel Crossman B.D. Wherewithal shall a Yoâ—ng man cleâ—nse his way By taking heed thâ—reto according to thy Word Psal. 11 99. Verecundo Adolescence quid amabilius Pera Gratum est quod patriae civem populoque dedisti Si facis ut Patriae sit idoneus c. Iuvenal Loâ—doâ— Printed by I.H. and are to be sold by S. Thompson at the Bishops head in St. Pauls Church-yard and T. Parkhurst at the three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside near the Conduit 1664. The Epistle to the Reader More particularly to Parents Courteous Reader YOu are here presented with these ensuing Pages intended for the endearing of God and the bringing up a good report upon Piety and Vertue in the hearts and hearing of Young Persons if by any means the Generation now rising up might become what we are all so justly desirous they should be a real blessing to the next Age. Wisely taken off from the Follies and Vices of Youth timely and truly perswaded to the love of all goodness and in conclusion as Origen to his Father the dear joy of Parents the happy revival of their fading life the praise and beauty of the Land The Paper such as it is was first sent as a more private Letter to the Children and Servants of some Friends for their encouragement and direction in the good waies of God though since thus far enlarged as you now receive it The truth is the season under which it was drawn up both then and now was unto flesh and bloud sadning enough and too disadvantagious to the competent rendring a work of this nature as the words of the wise had need be acceptable and set in some good order for the gaining of the shie affections of Youth to any good resentment or acceptance of their own welfare But what God in his high wisdom appoints we must not sinistrously charge with harshness or folly What he is pleased inwardly to sweeten we may not ungratefully call bitter nor unadvisedly open our lips with uncomely complaints thereof It is of his free and dear mercies must we all say and that chearfully too that we are not consumed Reader you are not neither shall you here be challenged into the fields of Contention Nature indeed is very forward as the Disciple in the Gospel to draw its Sword but we scarce any of us well know though we are all too favourable interpreters of our selves what spirits we are of So easie is it to mistake carnal passion for that which is far higher and more divine a truly gracious composure in Religion We might all too truly confess with the Father We can easily arm on almost all sides under those golden names of God and his Church and yet as readily turn the Cannons mouths in conclusion against them both It may justly become the sore lamentation which we may all mournfully take up for these last daies That Peace the sweetest of mercies the sum and scaling up of all other blessings as the Iewes so chearfully delight to call it is through our great unworthiness judicially taken away from amongst the Sons of men Love the rich and precious perfume of life the peculiar character of the true Disciple the pathetical recommendation of a dying Saviour how is it as the beauty of Israel fallen in the streets Nobleness and Sweetness of spirit are put away as strangers that have no form nor comliness in them A common good the great and just concernment of all how oh how is it unknown unregarded of most It may lie like him in the Gospel wounded upon the rode and yet scarce any that turns aside to comfort it or to shew any friendly kindness to it A Catiline saies the Saâ—yrist a troubler of mankind grows as the weed almost every where But a Brutus a worthy Patriot that bears the welfare of others the true prosperity of his native Land upon his heart and sets his eyes perpetually thereon for good such an one is a rare Iewel worthy of all honour and embraces wherever he is found Such enobled Spirits saies the great Orator in his affectionate language they are the dear off-spring the delight and care of God A divine race it is from the Heavens they come down to us and to the Heavens again when ever they take their leaves of us shall they triumphantly return But oh that our heads were Fountains and our eyes Rivers of tears For amongst all the children that Nature hath brought forth they are few that take her by the hand and wisely lead her Amongst the numerous Family that are registred unto Religion few that are willing to be true to God or kind to each other Therefore must the pious mourn and the lover of his Country go with the Prophet into his secret places and weep bitterly crying out with that holy man Who would not be willing with the price of his very life to redress and heal that endless strife and variance so unkindly sprung up amongst us These are as the Poet sadly sung the wars that can never be crowned with any triumph The amazing prospect our hearts must even tremble at the very uttering of it where Bibles against Bibles are the known Ensigns on both sides As if Religion had sounded a Martial Alarum calling her Children like those Young men before Abner and Joab to arise and slay each other Thus with the foolish Bees instead of gathering true honey we quarrel and sling each other Till death comes in and parts all by throwing its dust upon our cold herse And then shall these combats will we nill we break up and be no more In the mean time this Spirit we must all confess it is not of God The banner of Christ is a banner of love And our best Character will be meekness and Gentleness as becomes us in the Lord. It were no betraying of the Sacred Principles of Religion for all the true Professors of it to conclude as Alexander well answered one that importuned him to sharpness Rigour may please you but mildness and sweetness will best become me They are indeed daies of great agitation wherein we live Great thoughts of heart on the right hand and on the left And there is doubtless much of the truth of God in Concernment upon the Stage which in its time shall safely rest as the Arke upon a quiet Mountain We may adventure it as David against the greatest Giants in fighting the Lords Battels With its own bare arm as the Ancients are wont proverbially to say shall it win it self the victory But there is withal too much of the wrath and frowardness of man as dross immixed with this Gold both Pro and Con. So that the gracious heart could almoct conclude It is safer being a sorrowful mourner for both then a
wretchedly departed from the Profession they had sometimes made in their former yeares and poor men never joyed good hour after I cannot but even beseech you in the Language of the Ancients Oh! spare for Gods sake spare your sweet Youth take some pity upon it and give not that lovely flesh of yours for food to everlasting burnings Gods Children should be as those Hebrew Servants staying with him for the love they bear unto him He hath the words of Eternal life and whether else can they find in their hearts to go If any man draw back this is the sad message must be sent after him the Lord shall have no pleasure in him Men shall also scorn him and say this is salt which hath lost its savour tread it henceforth under foot Ah poor man it had been better for him a sad Better God knows but it had been better for him saied the Apostle never to have know the way of righteousness than after he hath known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto him Be you then as Iosiah gracious in your Youth but be ye also even to Gray-hairs as aged Israel waiting for the salvation of God when you come to dye CHAP. X. The Objections that usually ensnare and detain young people answered I Have now counselled you but shall I say I have also perswaded you It is likely you have your discouragements I know you cannot be without some recoylings of nature Trifles and vanities will hang it may be about your mind as being loth to be now shaken off An holy man found it so which made him complain as we also too truly may My former customes though worse were plainly too strong and trod down things far better because they had been as yet but little used The most righteous waies of God they are indeed blessed they are safe they are honourable but still they are scarce pleasing to flesh and blood Our wretched hearts are too like distempered stomacks that are easily distasted and find no relish in the most wholsome food I am sensible also how busie Satan stands at your right hand ready to resist you continually incensing and prejudicing your thoughts all that ever he can against your own mercies He that makes it his wicked trade to pervert the right waies of God will be forward enough to tell you as once he did Eve You may eat of the forbidden fruit and yet not die You may forbear this serious care and yet speed well at last But oh believe him not his Crocodile flatteries have undone thousands at his feet He that was a liar and a murderer from the beginning will scarce be either true or kind to you He may seem now a smooth and pleasing Tempter but he will soon become as open and forward an Accuser Those very sins he now enticeth to when time shall serve in the presence of God of Angels and of Men will he be ready with all their aggravations to charge you with As you love your souls resist him and account it an essential Principle in true Religion to give a constant Nay to all his temptations Let Men and Devils say what they will sin is sin still An evil saies the very Heathen that must not be pleaded for that cannot be excused An unexcusable breach of a righteous Law the utmost endangering of a precious and immortal soul a wretched and ungrateful flying in the face of a most tender and loving Father This is that Rabshekah that blasphemes the God of Heaven that Achan that troubles the whole Creation this oh this is that Accursed thing that brings evil upon our selves that Needle that too surely draws a thread of divine vengeance after it Let Men and Devils say what they will there must be sowing to the Spirit here if we expect to reap a blessed harvest hereafter Nature tells us so Experience tells us so all the World knows it is so No running the Race now saies the Father and there can be no Crown in the end No fighting the good fight in the Valley and there can be no triumph of victory or honour upon the Everlasting Hills There must be striving to the utmost if we desire to enter in at the straight Gate The Kingdom of Heaven should even suffer violence and the violent are to take it by an holy force Up then in the name of God and be a doing let nothing hinder you Consider call your thoughts to a solemn and impartial debate lay your case in the ballances of the Sanctuary See oh see how Eternity lies at stake your Candle is shortly going out tomorrow it may be will not serve for that which may be done to day You have had your time of Childhood wherein according to the infant feebleness of your minds You spake as Children you understood as Children you thought as Children but now it is time it is high time to out-grow those daies of Vanity What the Lord in much mercy winckt at then would very ill become you now As you become men it will be expected and it will be your honour to put away Childish things These Years and this Age call upon you to converse with more serious things the things that belong to your souls everlasting peace First Say not any of you within your selves in way of objection I am too young for those things He that is old enough to sin cannot think himself too young to repent Doth God say To day while it is called to day and darest thou speak of to Morrow Thou wouldst not adventure to answer thy Natural Parents with such delaies how can God take them well at thine hands Let the pious expostulation of the Father with his soul be rather the language of thine heart also within thee How long oh my Soul how long must this be all thy note to Morrow to Morrow And why not now Why not this very hour a period to all thy former filthiness For how indeed canst thou content thy selfe to venture so much as a day longer in thy present condition without the pardon of sin without the favour of God without any solid provisions for another world The hazard is verily great that thou arâ— running Oh! consider seriously what thou dost If thy soul and the saving of it be unto thee as certainly it is more than all the world besides take thy best time for thy best work Arise as Abraham while it is yet early in the morning of thy life and go about it Fear not it shall be no injury to thy following life that thou hast acquainted thy self with God that thou hast imbraced his good waies while thou art young The Sun in the Spring when it ariseth soonest all men observe the daies are then far the sweetest far the chearliest Secondly Say not Such a strict religious care I see but few of my equalls that undertake it It hath been indeed the sad
Christian saies the Father then and then only shews himself worthy of his Christian name when he walks in his Conversation Christianly By this shall men know that we like our Religion indeed that we account the Lord faithful and his righteous waies worth our careful walking in The Gospel deserves it men expect it we should fulfil it All people are ready enough and will walk every one in the name of his God and let us also though upon better grounds walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever But alas herein Christianity covers its face sits down with tears upon its cheeks and bewailes it self as one neglected too much neglected on all hands Me thinks I hear its groanes as in the Lamentations Is it nothing to you oh all you that pass by You that are called Christians and which is yet more you that have come forth as Protestants from the Corruptions of former Ages that ye might as Israel going out of the Land of Egypt the better serve the Lord when oh when shall wisdom be practically justified of these her children The profane man doth the Devils work with all his might he runs violently to the utmost excess of riot The worldly man his heart taketh not its rest in the night he is drudge enough and enough to the world for the recompence he is ever like to have from it These spare no pains but act like themselves too true to their principles such as they are where-ever they come But oh the professors of the everlasting Gospel how do they faint in the head of the Streets How cold and weak are they How sparing and slow to adorn the Doctrine of God and our Saviour With Ananias and Saphira we keep backpart of the price We offer the form but too often withhold the power Oh Sirs if we have judged Religion worth professing let us also judge it worth the practizing It may be our care and labour of love may one day be found as a sweet memorial before the Lord. Dear Youths You will meet with many it may be possing a Iehu's pace in the Opinions and Traditions of men for indeed a carnal forwardness in such things whether on the right hand or on the left costs us not much it is self-grown nature can afford it But oh Lord how rare a thing doth it still remain to find an Hezechiah that can testifie upon his death-bed in what uprightness he hath walked before the Lord all his life Israel may be as the sand by the Sea-shore for common profession but these will still be too near the Lords reckoning One of a City and two of a Tribe that is very few Wherefore I will even entreat you to revive that sweet Inscription which was once engraven upon Aarons breast-plate oh Copy it out fair in your lives and be ye Holiness to the Lord. Let this be your kindness to that sacred Name of God by which you are called not to leave it as too many do subject to everyones reproach by the carelesness of your carriage but by the cleanness and vertuousness of your deportment whatever you can to make it a praise in the Earth Sixthly When at any time your tender hearts shall be desirous to refresh and ease themselves from the sorrows of this life Evermore go to God and the sweet comforts of Religion This was the solemn counsel and farewel the Jews were wont to leave with their dearest Friends when most overwhâ—lmed with sadness We wish you as the best Cordial the comforts of heaven We might herein not without just indignation say as Elijah once did Is it because there is no God in Israel that men send to Baal-Zebub the God of Ekron Is it because the All-sufficient God is become as an empty Vine that there is such hurrying after the world and its fading comforts The provocation and indignity that is herein offered to the Lord is exceeding high it is in effect a denying of that God that is above Oh that men would not deal so dishonourably by Religion That whereunto we appeal for our future salvation in the name of God let us therewith consist for our present consolation It was from hence the Martyrs drew all their joyes They justly might and did thank the Lord for it that their Prisons were to them as Palaces their chains as so many bracelets of Gold It was Religion that feasted them in their dungeons that enabled them to write so cheerfully to their Friends as many of them did I am in the esteem of men in hell for outward misery But I am in my own sense as in heaven for all inward comfort in the Lord. And it is from hence that we also if we be not wanting to our selves may as well draw waters of joy for our souls out of the Wells of salvation Dear Children be perswaded whenever you have occasion in the day of your sadness to make use of Religion it may be you may find it your best comforter in the whole world Cheerfulness is indeed that Mannah which nature is so desirous as oft as may be to taste of and God is as freely willing that we should have it He hath provided that for us Ioy is sown for the righteous And he hath invited us to that Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart You may soon find in the Lord all apposite and sutable comforts for every condition There is an estate for the poor strength for the weak a Father for the Fatherless pardon for the bleeding sinner healing for the broken in heart a better world for those that are graciously weary of this immortality and blessedness for all that choose and love it Heaven and happiness so transcendent so glorious that we may modestly say the heavens which we here behold are but as earth without form and beauty in comparison of that Heaven of heavens which God hath appointed for the everlasting rest the true home and habitation of his people Such a God and such comforts are enough when ever we are to walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need fear no evil these joyes of the Lord may be an everlasting strength unto us There can be no affliction so sad but you may arise and lead your captivity captive You may make the proudest of them as Adonibezek serve under your Table Or as Tamberlane did by his conquered foes make them draw at your Chariot wheels and serve to the encrease of your triumph Let the fiercest Lion come against you when it will you as Sampson may overcome it and may propose it as your Christian Riddle that out of the eater the most devouring affliction can you fetch meat Religion allows all its true followers to rejoyce in the very face of tribulations knowing that they how unlikely soever yet work for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of
remains in my heart or the least measure of warm breath shall sit upon my trembling lips Him will I love and combate for him against the gates of hell All in Christ is exceeâ—ing dear to him His Offices his Ordinances his Person He pleaseth himself to be often piously thinking what Christ hath done for him but above all in the thoughts of what glory he shall shortly have with him Such a Saviour he cannot but dearly love the desire of his soul is toward him and having heard by the hearing of the ear a report so sweet and so comfortable concerning him he henceforth even longeth till he may come where he may see him In the mean time he waits with patience and saies with Peter though trembling yet truly Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee 3. He is one that greatly reverenceth and desireth much enjoyment of the Spirit of God What others either carelesly know not or carnally speak evil of he hath set his heart much upon He sees the Spirit of this world and what that is a foolish low worthless and froward thing It is to him as Saul in his fury and he desires it should sway no Scepter in his bosome The Spirit of God he understands it is far nobler a Spirit of power and yet so of power as it is withal a Spirit of much sweetness and love A Spirit indeed of many excellencies rarely contempered together A Spirit of power of love and of a sound mind which makes him still cry as David Lord uphold me with thy free Spirit Which is as the pleasant Emphasis of the radical word imports Thy Princely generous ingenuous and noble Spirit A Spirit of Divine Conduct a Spirit of Soveraign Command So fit to guide so able in the greatest straights to order to govern and lead the whole man The Spirit of God may be unworthily blasphemed by some and falsely pretended to by others but it carries its own testimony with it bright rayes of divine luster and beauty will quickly appear quickly shine forth and shew themselves wherever it truly comes He understands as indeed the poor Heathen likewise did in the affairs of this life there is nothing of worth to be performed without the common gifts of it No man said the great Orator ever became eminent without some peculiar breathings of a divine spirit upon him And in the concernments of grace he sees yet more plainly it is by this good Spirit of God that we poor earthen Vessels are prepared to receive any heavenly treasures This is as Zerubhabel without which the work of the Temple goes not on No praying no hearing no duty no service no true professing of Christ without this Spirit No man can say in language acceptable to God that Iesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost This is that blessed Guide which should lead him into all truth the Comforter he so much longs for which should relieve his soul the Spirit of Witness which is to seal him up to safety and keep him alwaies ready to the great day of Redemption He humbly purposeth through grace never to grieve never to quench this Spirit He esteems it as the Sun to the Day as the Soul to the Body and begs of God that he may all his daies live in it and in all his waies be led by it 4. He is one that desires and labours to acquit himself Christianly toward his Conscience This is that Theam so slightly talked of almost every where He is willing to sit down and study it more seriously before the Lord. He takes notice it is set as Gods Vicegerent for the government of all his waies and under him to be his greatest comforter or tormentor which may not be despised neither can it with all our frowardness be deposed This is that faithful Register that against the wills of many so carefully transcribes and preserves forth-coming upon indeleble Characters whatever is put into its hands whether good or evil He is loth it should slumber in his bosome as those Idols in the Psalmist which have eyes and see not ears and hear not neither do they understand And he is as cautious that it be not causelesly frighted or superstitiously put in fear where no fear is That usually proves as the Historian easily saw a deifying indeed of our own Idols but an open neglect of the true God and in conclusion a carnal treading down all good Religion He therefore takes great heed that his conscience be not over-ruled and brought in bondage by Customes Times Interests Examples or whatever is not of God He brings it frequently to God and his word he dares not perplex it with perverse disputings or endless intricacies but leaves this one great charge instead of many with it Know thou oh my conscience The voice of the shepheard but trouble not thy self whatever strangers shall buz in thine ear or say unto thee Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Thus to treat our Conscience were honourable indeed It might put some period to our wearisom strifes and would certainly become the praise of profession and our great rejoycing before the Lord. Conscience though it riots not yet it feasteth and being duly respected is truly pleasant ever chearful And happy is that Young Man who reflecting upon his former waies can in his riper years truly read those great words of the Apostle and say Herein have I exercised my self to have alwaies a Conscience void of offence toward God and toward man 5. He is one that loves and delights indeed in his Bible It is to him the Oracle of God and he is willing it should be the man of his Counsel It is no offence to him that he finds it as the Father in its phrase so familiar and open he finds it nevertheless in its success exceeding powerful filled every where with the deep mysteries of God And he accounts it a sin of a very high nature for any to neglect or esteem lightly of it He could heartily write upon it as once that noble Lady the night before she suffered in the first Leaf of 〈◊〉 Testament she gave her Sister I have here sent you good Sister a book which although it be not outwardly trimmed with Gold and Pearls yet inwardly is more worth than all precious stones It is the Book dear Sister of the Law of the Lord. It is his Testament and last Will which he bequeathed unto us poor wretches which shall lead you unto the path of eternal joy He sees the great instability the tossings and unfruitfulness of men in Religion and fears it ariseth from their being too great strangers to the Word of God And therefore endeavours for his part wisely and graciously to prevent the growing of such evils upon himself and believes a pious and constant converse with the Scriptures
your evil waies for why why indeed will ye die oh house of Israel Such are the Fathers bowels toward us too too regardless of our selves What answer as the Father piously said can ever be solidly made if such bowels of love such dear such free salvation as this should be ungratefully slighted Oh let your hearts even melt and your very souls be dissolved within you If the Lord be willing be not you unwilling neither let these tender arms of mercy be spread forth all the day long in vain Behold the Lord Jesus Christ at the Fathers right hand making continual intercession and the poor of the flock are his care the weary and broken in spirit the Objects of his pity It is their names he bears on his breast-plate and commends with such endearing arguments unto the Father Suppose your selves hearing him calling to you and arguing with your trembling thoughtful hearts on this wise Wherefore thinkest thou poor soul was I numbred amongst the transgressors and made a man of sorrows Wherefore was my Side pierced with the Spear my Head with Thorns and my dearest Bloud poured forth What dost thou conceive should move me to take upon me Humane Nature and become so near akin unto thee if it had not been to perform the office of a Kinsman and take the right of thy Redemtion upon me What could have perswaded me to sustain the bitter the accursed death of the Cross if it had not been to save such as thou art from thy sins Hast thou no need of my Righteousness What shall I do for thee What dost thou want What is it thy thirsty affections most pant after for thy souls good Speak freely and forbear not I am now ascended to my Fathers right hand and able to relieve thee Where are thy Prayers and I my Self will present them to my Father as from me perfumed with the sweet incense of my righteousness and he will shew favour unto thee Oh blessed encouragement here is the Golden Scepter held sorth indeeâ— What answer wilt thou now return to all this such overflowing love of so dear a Saviour Sit down with thy self poor Heart Advise by meditation what to aske and then send forth Faith and Prayer as the trusty and successful Messengers to fetch in supply Go thy waies take thy life in thy hands as once Hester did present thy Petition and say as she still did If I have found favour in thine eyes oh Lord let my life the life of my soul be given me at my request Do thou cry and he will hear He will graciously wash thy leprous soul in his own bloud and send his blessed Spirit as the Chariots and Horsemen of Israel to prepare and bring thee safely to glory Behold also the holy Angels of God waiting ready to rejoyce in your even in your Conversion There is not the meanest the poorest of you but your Repentance might become an occasion of much joy in Heaven It is a fresh feast to those noble Creatures to see the least encrease of the Kingdom of God To see though but one single sheep added to the flock of Christ. So precious is Grace so dearly is the recovery of a lost soul esteemed on high I might further tell you the damned themselves even groan unto you saying as in the Parable Oh! take warning by us and come not into this place of torments There is not one no throughout the whole Creation there is not so much as one that can heartily say unto you Go on in evil waies and prosper I charge you before the elect Angels and as you tender their comfort I charge you by the flaming pâ—ins and cries of the damned and as you would be loath to share with them iâ— all their Mâ—series take heed take serious heed to the saving of your souls All the divine threatnings of God stand naked and open before you as the hand-writing upon the wall that stand not there for nought They sound as so many shrill Trumpets from Mount Ebal and they also charge you to break off your sins by repentance Or else as sure as God is in Heaven iniquity will one day become your ruine All the sweet Promises are lastly appointed to attend your encouragement and furtherance in your Salvation They are sent forth in Gods name to invite you to his blessed kingdom and to assure you from him whatever pains you faithfully take heavenward your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. These are the Christians choice Feast and Banquet the Promises that you so joyfully should study that speak so comfortablie and withall as truly to the wearie soul. God himself hath made them and he will fulfil them It is the Concern of his glorie to make good the word that is gone out of his lips his faithfulness lies at stake therein Whosoever cometh unto him thus filiallie quoting and relying upon hiâ— Fathers word he will in no wise cast him out Come you and welcome Your work is good your wages will be great your fellow Servants the Excellent of the Earth your Master you are to go unto the lovingest the â—blest the Faithfullest the justest the kâ—ndest that ever was served Whaâ— can you possibly scruple Or where can you mend your selves Speak your hearts and spare not What danger think you can come of being safely reconciled unto the Lord What hinderance shall this be to any to be made an Heir of the Crown of life What wrong to others to save our selves What discredit to become a Child of the most High What Embasement of spirit to be renewed in our minds to the blessed Image of God Or what sadness can this ever occasion to be intituled to everlasting joyes We must even blush and holily fall out with our selves in the language of the Father saying as he Whence oh my soul whence is this horrid this strange and unreasonable thing that thou wilt be under no Command accept of no mercy heavenward Men may revile and our own wretched hearts may suspect the holy Counsels of God but the waies of the Lord are right and happy is that man that chooseth to walk therein He shall be able to lift up his face with Comfort not ashamed of his God nor disappointed of his hope â—hen the greatest pâ—rt of the World â—n the very depths of all distress and horrour shall call but alas in vâ—in 〈◊〉 Rocks and Mountains to fall upon them Awake then I beseech you for the Lords sâ—ke while it is yet the morning of your life the flower of your yeâ—rs Let your life be what indeed â—ll our lives ought to be a living Epistle a fair exemplification of the Gospel thâ—t men may see in you what in Primitive times the very Heathen saw so legible in Christians then The true portraiture of your Saviours life the just account of his Doctrine in the answerableness of your deportment and conversation Awake and arise
from being Barbarians to others and they to us This is its short Description An Apeâ—les if he were to draw it in its most lively complexion before us must present it as that neat Orator with its face serene and clear as the sky having no clouds to disgrace or obscure it It s carriage is every way answerable It behaves not it self unseemly It is not austere and froward but exceeding mild and very taking Not subject to the least exception but highly dear to all As to its deportment it is not nicely artificial or affected neither is it willing to be sordid or neglected It tempers its carriage as its cloaths such as it may best dispatch its business in for decency and for service It is burdensome to none by unseasonable visits by idle interruptions by wearisome detainments by fruitless discourses by importunate or unbecomming requests It hath not so learnt the Laws of converse These Solaecisms in conversation were not to offer good company but to commit a violent and forcible assault upon civill Society It cordially honours and affects a publike and common good Reckoning that its private Cabbin shares with the common condition of the Ship and that the best way to secure that is to help what we can in the preserving of the Vessel He that truly seeks the good of others doth therein ultimately a kindness also to himself It sometimes allows it self a little to study the dispositions of others Not as a Fluterer that it might see how to insinuate it self or humour them in evil Not as a Pâ—rate to find where nature is weakest and might be easiest boarded by some crafty design but as the Physitian studies his Patient for the more dexterous and friendly application of it self It readily respects and values endowments and gifts in others It acknowledges them precious Jewels from the Father of Lights and heartily wishes much good and honour may they do to those on whom they are bestowed It buries also with as much modesty their weaknesses saying The Lord in Christ may have forgiven them I may and will humbly pray for them and if I have opportunity will endeavor in a spirit of meeknes to heal them but it would by no means become me unkindly to grate or take in them It hath a very happy disposition as to the easie forgetting of injuries And it is likewise as happy in the constant the ready and grateful remembrance of kindnesses It takes little delight in burdening its memory with the evils of others there is no such desirableness in them they are Errata's the sooner expunged the better It rather stores its mind with the candid thoughts of its own duty as the better and more becoming treasure It striveth cordially to overcome evil with good and abhors as much where it receiveth good to render evil It chearfully rejoyces with them that rejoyce feasting it self with the good of others as if they were so many dishes at its own table It condoles likewise as affectionately with the afflicted and freely puts it self in mourning at its own charge as being one nearly related of the same kindred and family of mankind Thus is it both able and ready to serve in any capacity to accommodate its self to every office for the repairing of the breaches too too open every where To the weak it makes it self weak to the strong it becomes strong it stoops and becomes all things still vertuously unto all that so by any means it might serve some To its Superiours it is respectful To its Equals it is loving To its Inferiours it is courteous To All it is truly candid Affable and temperate in speech Clean and modest in behaviour Pleasant and ingenuous in countenance And above all kindly affectionate and gentle in heart Thus doth it shew forth it self with a constellation of many vertues united and shining together This was above all his other conquests Cyrus his most renowned Victory as Xenophon tells us without wounds or scars to himself without grievance or regret to others The places that were impregnable by strength of arms he overcame and took them by his rare and unparallelled humanity Many Daughters have done vertuously but this for sweetness in an angry world seems greatly to excell them all Such love shall justly deserve and easily procure love back again love free from envy respect without constraint Oh â— that you dear Children may walk with so happy so even a foot in all your waies CHAP. V. Instruction in respect of relation and a right deportment therein BUt this precedent Subject being exceeding large even as large as life it self with all the various occurrences and passages of it I must forbear the further unfolding of it it is more than this present Paper is able to admit I shall only now request you 1. As Children to an obediential carriage toward your Parents 2. As Servants to a due subjection toward your Masters First As Children in relation to your Parents Let it not seem a burden to you to honour them as becomes you in the Lord. God doth not so much urge your duty upon you by force of bare command but fatherly sweetens it with a very welcome and grateful promise Honour thy Father and thy Mother which is the first Commandment with promise Be you truly dutiful to those from whom under God your life came and God shall poure forth his dear blessing upon you and your whole life all your daies in the Land of the living Sow not sparingly if you desire to reap plentifully Writers have been on all hands voluminous in this righteous and lovely subject and have frequently told us There is no equal requital can be made to God or Parents So great is your debt so great is your duty to both The Heathen have been very full and express in it professing that it is no waies enough that we barely refrain such evil courses as would become a positive grief and sorrow to Parents which yet too many will not forbear but it will be further expected that we do not privatively detain from them that joy and comfort which is their just due but endeavour in the most filial deportment to lay before them all sweet matter of gladness and of rejoycing Honour them and obey them It was no meaner Person than our Saviour himself of whom we read that he went down with Ioseph and Mary his Mother and came to Nazareth and was subject to them Loe here an example indeed Be ye followers of Christ as dear Children Accept their Counsels with thankfulness They are the counsels of their long-drawn experience and may be of great use faithful guides through your following life Bear their rebukes with meekness they are the rebukes of Parents that have authority over you they are the fruits of tenderest love which your selves know they so affectionately bear unto you Despise not their age though frail slight not their persons though mean
Divulge not their infirmities though many lest the Curse of Cham overtake you for adding to their weakness your wickedness These things it may be the Lord may thus order for your trial for the more kindly and genuine expression of your duty Hearken unto thy Father that begat thee and despise not thy Mother when she is old Where the hedge is lowest God repairs it strongest that our duty might still remain inviolable If they be as Iacob in any straights be you as Ioseph their staff or like the pious Stork the nourisher of their Age. If God shall hereafter shine upon you and raise your future condition to an honour amongst men Hide not your eyes from your meaner Parents Acknowledge them chearfully Honour them willingly Behave your selves in their presence very respectfully Say still as that King of France Though I be now Superiour to many others I am still Inferiour to my Parents The glory of the Aged is their experience and their wisdom The glory of the young man is his modesty and submission And we may truly say as the Apostle in a case not altogether unlike He that honoureth not his natural Parents whom he hath seen how shall he honour his heavenly Father whom he hath not seen Your Parents have hitherto cared for you with an exceeding great care and what shall now be done for them Oh! requite their affectionate tenderness toward you with a filial Ingenuity and Respectfulness toward them He were hard-hearted indeed and unnatural beyond expression who could requite his Parents evil for all their good Secondly As Servants in relation to your Masters Be ye indeed their Servants to whom you yield your selves to obey Your very relation speaks you not your own but theirs If you receive their wages do not your own much less Satans work Be you to your several Masters as Eleazar once to Abraham religious prudent industrious and faithful in all your Masters business Interesting the Lord as he by humble prayer in all your undertakings Careful as he also was though at the greatest distance from your Masters eye Speaking as he likewise did becomingly of the Family in the hearing of strangers and very desirous as he still shewed himself that your Masters affairs might prosper under your hands Such a Servant the heart of his Master shall rejoyce and easily trust in him Such a Servant we may truly say is already preferred to an higher place The Apostle plainly tels us that such serve the Lord Christ and shall of him receive the reward of inheritance Faithful Servants whatever others do God will take a particular care of them and will see that their wages shall not be abridged or detained from them Their Masters may account with them for their outward service but when they have so done God will assuredly yet further requite them an hundred fold because they have done this thing in the singleness of their hearts serving their Masters as in the sight of God and for his sake You are ready it may be sometimes too dejectedly to sit down and complain That the Orbe and Sphaere in which you are placed is low and mean and so indeed comparatively it is but still it is such that the Lord reckons his very Gospel stands capable of receiving great lustre much honour from you and your gracious carriage It is you that in so particular a manner may adorn the doctrine of God and our Saviour To be saved by the Gospel is much but to be an ornament to the Gospel seems more yet this may the meanest the poorest Servant be And oh what praise like the widows mite above the stately gifts of richer ones doth it offer to the name of the Lord when a Child of God intituled to heaven can bring down his heart willingly to stoop and serve him in the meanest capacity which he shall please to set him in here on earth Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall sind so doing Be ye then satisfied rest your selves contented in the condition wherein the Lord hath called you Service may seem some Eclipse but still as the Eclipse it needs noâ—â—e total Your nobler part your soul without the least injury to your service may nevertheless fairly enjoy a divine liberty Service and freedom the Lord himself tells us are sweetly compatible You may be servants to others accordin to the flesh and yet as truly the Lords freemen walking in much liberty of Spirit Cast not away your encouragements Let not the comforts that are so peculiarly suâ—ed to your condition seem mean in your eyes A vertuous Epiâ—letus may at any time live sâ— better and more honourably upon his poor service than a vicious Nero upon a whole Empire Your service in your several places for the present it is not your Mâ—sters advantage only but your own alsâ— it is your preparation and making ready for your selves against the 〈◊〉 wherein we may all too â—ruly conclude â—vil courses under anothers roof are rarely mended very selâ—om redressed when we come to live under our own Be â—â—â—eful to serve the Families wherein you â—â—r preâ—en◠〈◊〉 diligently cherfully and 〈◊〉 now and in that sweet habituâ—l â—â—â—â—sition you shall grâ—w up and becoâ—e a blessing to yours whenever God shall make you 〈◊〉 by your selves CHAP. VI. Characters of the truly vertuous Young Man First Negative I Have thus far exhorted you I shall now endeavour once more to write the Vision before you and make it what I can as in the Prophet plain upon the Tables that you may see as in a glass what manner of young persons I have been recommending and am still setting before you for your imitation 1. I shall first describe them by their negative Characters what they are not That you may therein understand what you also ought to keep your selves free from 2. I shall describe them by their affirmative Characters what they plainly are That you may therein see what you likewise ought to be First Negatively the Young Person of vertue or hopefulness he is 1. Not one that â—ver râ—viles Religion or religious people Oh! no Though as yet he hath not much understanding in these things yet he sees Religion it is sacred The preserver of a most divine Correspondency between Heaven and Earth Our Prerogative above the Beasts The sweet means of our Converse with the Lord The greatest appeal that can be made The highest claim that man can possibly say toward Eternity Contempt herein he finds it so odious hat all Ages have even trembled at it and the very Heathen would never bear it against their sorry Idols much less dares â—e contumeliously offer it against the true God This is Crimen laesae Majestatis High Treason against the throne and dignity of Heaven Vengeance in these cases is very particularly the Lords And he will surely and soon enough see to the repaying of