A Looking-Glass FOR CHILDREN Being a Narrative of God's gracious Dealings with some Little Children Recollected by Henry Jessey in his life-time Together with sundry seasonable Lessons and Instructions to Youth calling them early to remember their Creator Written by Abr. Chear late of Plymouth The Third Edition Corrected and Amended To which is added many other Poems very sutable As also some Elegies on departed Friends made by the said Abraham Chear All now faithfully gathered together for the benefit of Young and Old by H. P. Psal 66. 16. Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my Soul Deut. 31. 19. Now therefore write ye this Song for you and teach it the Children of Israel put it in their mouths that this Song may be a witness for me c. London Printed for Robert Boulter at the Turks-Head in Cornhil 1673. To the Reader THou hast here gentle Reader brought to thy view in the first part of this Book a Narrative of the gracious dealings of God with several Children and what they gained in an early looking Heaven-ward in which thou mayest see and behold the condescention of the Lord to such little Ones in opening their understanding and giving them a sight and sense of their undone estate by nature from whence they were made to seek and enquire after a Saviour and by Grace helped to apply and improve his gracious Calls and Invitations to a full satisfaction in and by Faith a cleaving to His undertakings as the alone way and means to Salvation to their great comfort here and firm hope of glory hereafter All which was wonderfully effected to the praise of the free Grace of God and admiration of Relations and Beholders and now presented to thee being first written by that faithful Servant of the Lord Mr. Henry Jessey who in his life time gave it me to transcribe in order for the then Printing But it being small I waited to have somewhat to adjoyn to it which Providence hath lately brought to my hand as that which is worthy of publication being the Fruit of some idle hours of that Servant of the Lord Mr. Abraham Chear whilst in bonds for the truth of Christ wherein he expresses his well-wishes to the Souls of divers poor Children towards whom he then stood nearly related and dearly affected as by the second Part hereof you may largely see and if helped of God to make improvement of it so as carefully to mind and heedfully to walk in the practice of what is seasonably advised in the said Discourse you will have great cause to bless the Lord for such endeavours now published for your profit and advantage The Motive provoking me thus to recollect this little Book is chiefly from consideration of my daily observation of Youths great need of all endeavours to prompt them to that which is good they being naturally addicted to be drawn away through their own inclinations and the powerful prevalency of Satan to sin and disobedience by which they wrong their precious Souls Prov. 8. 36. thereby incurring Gods displeasure to their daily hardning their hearts from his fear and following the sins and pleasures of this vain World until they are prepared as Vessels of wrath fitted for Destruction and Perdition which is the certain effect of Sin ruling and reigning without restraint in the hearts of the Children of Disobedience Col. 3. 6. Which evil and judgment may be timely prevented by hearkning to Gods Call Prov. 9. 6. seeking and serving him betimes Prov. 8. 17. believing his Word avoiding evil company Prov. 4. 15 16. slighting the allurements of present pleasure and the sinful delights of the flesh and by making good-men examples to walk after Prov. 2. 20. Heb. 6. 12. 2. Chron. 29. 2. and therein esteeming and highly prizing the excellency of the Lord Jesus in all his glorious undertakings for poor sinners Phil. 3. 8. cleaving to his Righteousness only for Justification and Salvation 1 Cor. 1. 30. Which Mercy is greatly desired may accompany the Reader of this little Piece whereby he may say it was worth perusing for that by it the Lord made him to consider his latter end and remember him in the dayes of his Youth so as to make his Calling and Election sure as did these pretty Children That being my aim and end in the publishing hereof I shall daily wait for its success and remain yours In true desires after your Eternal happiness H. P. Go little Book and speak for them that be Lanch'd with great safety to Eternity Engaging Others by what they did find Their everlasting Peace chiefly to mind Their names are blest and had in memory They served God and thence in peace did die All you that read be earnest to obtain True faith in Christ which will be lasting gain And if while young God do his Work begin Vpon your Soul take heeâ— beware of sin It will prove to your Crown another day To cleave to Righteousness whilst yet you may Preceed in fear in love with true delight Vnto the Lord to serve him with your might Observe the Lessons given by Abram Chear That they your Soul may unto Christ endear Such Songs are good if well improved be Sung by experience with Soul harmony The Truths therein inserted make your own By practice in true love to Christ alone Mind chiefly now your everlasting Rest That in compare with all things is the best Love God and fear him in sincerity So shall you praise him to Eternity London 12th Month 12 day 1672. H. P. Of hopeful young Children the great joy of their Parents remembring their Creator in the dayes of their Youth Being trained up in the Holy Scriptures from their Infancy First Of Mary Warren Born in May 1651 Aged Ten years in May 1661. WHen his Child was about five or six years old she had a new plain Tammy Coat and when she was made ready was to be carried with other Children into Morefields But having looked upon her Coat how fine she was she presently went to her Chair sate down her tears running down her eyes she wept seriously by her self Her Mother seeing it said to her How now Are you not well What is the matter that you weep The Child answered Yes I am well but I would I had not been made ready for I am afraid my fine Cloaths will cast me down to Hell Her Mother said It 's not our Cloaths but wicked Hearts that hurt us She answered Aye Mother fine Cloaths make our hearts proud The Scriptures being daily read in the House when one had read Luke 10. she laid to heart the end of the Chapter how Mary sate at Christs feet and heard him And Martha complained and Jesus said Martha Martha Thou art careful and cumbred about many things but one thing iâ— needful Mary hath chosen that good part that shall not be taken from her Hearing this the tears ran down and she wept sore Being
Comeliness I want Thy Beauty may I have I shall be fair beyond compare Though cripled to my Grave And if above it all To Christ I married be My living Springs Oh king of Kings Will still run fresh in thee Vpon a Bible sent as a Token to a young Virgin wherein the worth of the holy Scripture is minded WHile I was musing what was 〈◊〉 unto your hands to send That of your Souls eternal rest my care I might commend The Holy Scriptures I bethought oft tendring to your heart That your affections might be brought to choose the better part There you may read what guilt of sin into the World you brought And since what filthiness hath bin in Word in Deed in Thought How God's long-suffering sins have prest as sheaves do press a Cart And nothing else can make you blest but Mary's better part That God hath holy jealous eyes the Scriptures do unfold By which heart-secrets he espies yet cannot sin behold Through shades of Death and darkest night these piercing Beams do dart He looks on nothing with delight but on that better part With flaming fire you also read a Judgment day design'd Where every idle Thought and Deed Must righteous Sentence find There Kings stand naked Death hath harl'd their Robes and Crowns apart Then but too late they 'l give the World for Mary's better part Then to have Jesus Christ ones own will be admired Grace To stand with boldness at the Throne and see the Father's Face To sit on Thrones when Christ shall say Ye wicked ones depart But come ye blessed in my day ye chose the better Part. The tenders of his Grace so rich here Jesus doth display He scarlet-sinners doth beseech his Gospel to obey To let sins settered Captives free and heal the broken heart He begs them on his bended knee to chuse the better part Deep Myst'ries of eternal Love hid from the Saints of old To Babes and Sucklings from above these Scriptures do unfold Not in the words of frothy Wits or humane terms of art But such simplicity as fits the Spirit 's better part The glory of the Father's Face the burning Law declares The beauty of Christ's precious Grace the Gospel here prepares Both Grace and Glory here unite to heal sins deadly smart The spirit and the Bride invite to chuse this better part The blessed truths display'd herein all your dear pleasures make It s sharp rebukes of every sin as healing Balsom take For though convictions to the flesh so bitter seem and tart Yet is their issue to refresh and heal the better part Oh! then upon this Word of Truth place high and great esteem This point of Wisdom learn in youth your precious time redeem To know Christ's from a strangers Voice account the highest Art Your richest treasure is your choâ—ce of Mary's better part A Poetical Meditation wherein the Vsefulness Excellency and several perfections of the holy Scriptures are briefly hinted perform'd by J. C. but turn'd into more familiar verse for the use of Children by Abr. Chear AMong thy glorious gifts Lord thou thy Word hast given Precious and pure sweet holy sure To guide me hence to heaven Here I abound with straits Wants and necessities There I have store heapt running o're With plenteous rich supplies Temptations here abound With terrors dangers fears These petty Hels thy Word expels And all my passage clears When Satan fiercely shoots His fiery darts at me Then Lord they Word is shield and Sword Me saves and makes them flee The present world commends Its Objects fresh and fair But yet thy Word doth that afford Which proves more precious Ware When fleshly lusts intice To their alluring pleasure To rare delights thy Word invites More choice in weight and measure The Errors of the Times Their cheating Wares display But Scripture sayes shun Errors wayes My Rule shall guide your way When by the Tempter's Wiles I tempted am to sin By thy Words Art hid in my heart Both field and Prize I win Nay though I foiled be And sin defile my Soul Thy Word can cleanse these noisome Dens And sins best strength controul An unbelieving heart Do I till now inherit Lord thy Word hath Pow'r to work Faith By thy most Holy Spirit If this be my Disease An hard and stony heart Thy Word thus deals first kills then heals And cures me by this smart Will not my frozen heart With Gospel Grace comply Thy Royal Law this heart can thaw And cause a weeping eye Doth lofty towring thoughts Puff up my tempted Breast Thy word brings low the proudest Foe Less makes me than the least Do muttering thoughts arise Grudge murmur or repine Thy Rod and Word teach patience Lord And still these thoughts of mine Am I tongue-ty'd in Prayer And know not what to say Thy Word inspires praying desires Tell 's how and what to Pray When like a lost sheep I In darkness err and stray Thy word 's a Light most clear and bright And guides me in my way A simple fool I be And destitute of eyes Thy word 's a Rule Master and School To make its Schollars wise I see my self undone Distressed naked poor Thy Words infold a Mine of Gold Rich pearls and precious store By sinful nature I And God are still at odds Thy Word my Soul converteth whole From Satan's Will to Gods Do troubles from without And floods of inward grief My Soul torment thy Word is lent With Joy and Soul relief Or is my Soul perplext With reasonings doubts and fears Thy Word of Grace resolves the case My cloudy Judgment clears Or do despairing thoughts My tempted Soul o'rtake Thy word doth give me hopes to live For Christ my Saviour's sake When floods and multitudes Of troubled thoughts me press I call to mind thy word and find Its joyes my Soul refresh Though in this vale of tears I thirst faint hunger Pine Thy word me feeds in these my ne Its Bread and Milk and Wine Or am I weakned out And cannot walk alone Thy word then is strength to my knees And staff to lean upon And though in scorn and pain Forsook and poor I be Thy word alone hath all in one Health Wealth Friends all to me Thus though my pained Soul Be sick and wounded sore With grievous sin which doth begin To fester more and more Thy word directs me where My healing may be had And doth me guide to Christ's pierc'd side For Balme of Gilead Nay though no life at all Nor quickning there remain Thy word is good and liveing Food Which fetcheth life again And if I would desire A Life that lasts for ever The Scripture shows whence water flows To drink and perish never Blest be the Lord my God Who evermore provides And filleth full my empty Soul With Food that still abides My Soul O bless the Lord Who bounteously hath given Strength light guide way lest thou shouldst stray In this thy way to Heaven This Holy Book of God
bitterly crying out thus My sins are greater than I can bear I doubt God will not forgive them telling her Father I am in unbelief and I cannot believe Yet she was drawn out to pray many times in those words of Psal 25. For thy names sake O Lord pardon my sin for it is great Thus she lay oft mourning for sin and said I had rather have Christ than health She would repeat many promises of Gods Mercy and Grace but said she could not believe When she had been complaining that she was not prepared her Father opening the Bible his eyes first fixed upon these words in Psal 10. 17. Lord thou wilt prepare the heart thou wilt cause thine ear to hear and he bid her take notice of the Lords providence therein ordering the opening of the Book and his eyes to pitch on these words The next day when she was mourning for sin he opening it again his eyes fixed on those words in Maâ—th 5. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted He bid her observe that Providence of also But as yet her time was not come and she still mourned under her unbelief The next day being then the 24th of the 6th month 1661. he praying that morning with his godly Family as his usual way hath been for many years to pray with them and read the Scriptures or Catâ—chise them daily morning and evening Behold and see what gracious incouragement the Lord gave him in his Service as he was praying to this effect That we might not look for any thing in us to rest in or trust unto for our Justitfication to stand righteous before God but only in Jesus Christ alone who died for our sins at Jerusalem and rose again for our Justification Whilst he was praying to that effect the Lord raised her Soul up to believe as she told her Father when Prayer was ended Now I believe in Christ and I am not afraid of Death After this she said I had rather die than sin against God Since that time she hath continued quiet in mind as one that hath peace with God As for this young Child I have been comforted in seeing her and hearing her answer some Questions propounded to her five years ago Her Father saith that since she was five years old he remembred not that either a Lie or an Oath hath ever come out of her mouth neither would she have wronged any to the value of a Pin. Henry Jessey Here ends the first part Here follows now some of the Fruits of Mr. Abraham Chear's spare hours improvement whilst a Prisoner Made and directed to some he was nearly related to and dearly affected Remember now thy Creator in the dayes of thy Youth 1. SWeet Children Wisdom you invites to hearken to her Voice She offers to you rare delights Most worthy of your choice Eternal blessings in his wayes You shall be sure to find Oh! therefore in your youthful dayes your great Creator mind 2. The joy that other pleasure brings with vanities abound â—ay when in straits they take them wings vexations they are found Your very Vitals thus decayes and torments leave behind Oh! therefore in your youthful days your Great Creator mind 3. They may affect depraved sense while they subject your Reason They say to conscience get you hence and fear it for a season But though a kind of sottish ease you hereby seem to find I beg you in your youthfull dayes your Great Creator mind 4. The dreadful danger heed I pray of such strange wayes at length When you have sin'd your time away and wasted all your strength Be sure in chains of darkness these your hands and seet will bind Oh! therefore in your youthful days your Great Creator mind 5. Observe how poor mortal men their precious seasons spend To satisfie those lusts but then must perish in the end This saving Counsel would you please upon your heart to bind Oh! in your early yourthful dayes your Great Creator mind 6. Upon a World vain toylsome foul a journey now you enter The welfare of your living Soul you dangerously adventure If as the isâ—ue of your wayes yoâ—ve happiness design'd Oh! in your early youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 7. Friends parents all who you affect observe your budding spring Your prosperous Summer they expect a fruitful Crop will bring A witness in this age to raise to Grace of every kind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Greatâ— Creator mind 8. Young Isaack's who lift up their eyes and meditate in Fields Young Jacob's who the Blessing prize this age but seldome yeelds Few Samuel's leaving their playes to Temple Work resign'd Few do as these in youthful dayes their Great Creator mind 9. How precious Obodiah's bâ— that feared God in youth How seldome Timothy's we see â—erst in the Word of Truth Few Babes and Sucklings publish praise th' Avengers Rage to bind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 10. Few tender-hearted youths as was Josiah Judah's King Hoâ—annah in the high'st alas how seldom Children Sing Youth 's rarely ask for Zion's wayes they 'd rather pleasure find But oh in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 11. What Children Pulse and Water chuse continually to eat Rather then Conscience should accuse for tasting Royal Meat Would you not bow a King to please though tortures were behind Oh! then in these your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 12. Those worthy Mirrors of thier Age obtain'd a precious Name Their living Patern should engage your souls to do the same And though in this strait narrow way you few Companions find The rather in your youthful day your Great Creator mind 13. How worthy Christ is could you learn to claim your Flower and Prime And how well pleasing 't is discern to dedicate your time You pleasantly would make essayes to get your Souls enclin'd And gladly in your youthful dayes your Great Creator mind 14. This Garland wreath'd of youthful flowers to Jesus you would bring This Morn made up of Golden Hours you would present the King You 'd humbly bow without delayes Grace in his sight to find And gladly now and all your dayes your Great Creator mind More of Mr. Chear's Verses Written to a young Virgin Anno 1663. Sweet Child When I bethink what need there is of care For precious souls to save themselves from snare That Satan as a subtil Fouler layes To take and keep them captive all their dayes In youthfâ—l folly and in sensual rest To keep them off from being truly blest What strange devices he hath to expel Their thoughts of Judgment Death of Heaven or Hell And minding what engagâ—ments on me lie To you and others Christ to testifie This Song I thought you now and then might sing If God would follow it to mind to bring Your state by Nature and the Gospel Path To set you free from everlasting Wrath. If morn by morn you in this Glass
These Sentences these Lines Each Word and Letter to me are better Than Pearls and Golden Mines 'T is Heaven it self transcrib'd And Glory lively pen'd God's truth no doubt was copied out When he this Gift did send It 's Truth brought forth to light God did hereby intend Man's word should fall Heaven Earth and all But this should never end Dear Soul admiring stand At that blest hand and Quill That did produce for sinners use Th' eternal Sovereign Will Astonished admire The Author too and when Thou canst not raise sufficient praise With wondring say Amen To my Cousin John H. SWeet John I send you here A Song by heart to learn Not it to say as Parrots may But wisely to discern Oh! lay it deep to heart And mind it well I pray God grant you Grace to grow apace In virtue day by day As yet a Child you be And childish Toyes do please you But you 'l complain they all are vain When ever Grace shall seize you Nay When Convictions come In Gospel-Power and Truth You 'l surely cry Ah wretch am I Thus to have spent my youth Childhood and Youth were spent In things not to be nam'd Alas whaâ— praise was in those dayes Whereof I 'm now asham'd Dear John then lay to heart This needful timely hint Before the day of which you 'l say What pleasure have I in 't Begin to mind the Lord Who form'd you out of dust And did you raise to shew his praise Him love and fear you must In things that are of earth Spend not your youthful strength Its joyes and cares are all but snares To mischief you at length Where Christ in glory sits Place there your prime delight Let things above have all your love Your time care mind and might John Christ's fore-runner mind From whom you have your name Though from his birth liv'd mean on earth A shining Light became He chose a Desart life Fed hard was coorse attir'd He left the sport of Herod's Court Though he was there admir'd Sin he reprov'd in all And kept true witness clear He never sought himself in ought That Christ might more appear Another John you find The lov'd Disciple nam'd Who lean'd for rest on Jesus Breast With Gospel-love inflam'd To every Truth of Christ A witness bold he bear Though an Exile in Patmos-Isle Choice Visions he had there A Pattern if they be To you in word and deed Jehovah's eye will make supply To whatsoe're you need To my Cousin Sam. B. DEar Cousin Sam my pretty Lam this Song to you I send Whatever play aside you lay learn this from end to end With God begin take heed of sin know Jesus out of hand Betimes you must flee youthful lust Its first assaults withstand Spend not your dayes in wanton playes Though naughty boyes intice They first begin with little sin but end in deadly vice If naughty Boyes allure with Toyes to sin or lies to tell Then tell them plain you tempt in vain such wayes go down to Hell God's holy Eye our faults do spy and will to Judgment call us We must fear God more than the Rod or ought that can befall us How oft have I been like to die yea Death is alwayes near Chuse whom you will to follow still I Christ must love and fear Fathers best Boy and Mothers joy I then shall surely be And that that 's best of all the rest God will provide for me To my Cousin W. L. DEar Child although my Father's Will in Prison me hath bound Through uprightness and patience still my comforts here are found The presence of a gracious God doth this a Pallace make It makes the bitter of the Rod be sweet for Jesus sake But Oh! when guilt brings any here in Fetters to be bound Because of God they had no fear but were in evil found To such it is a dreadful place here guilt to judgment binds them Where if they don't repent apace Death Wrath and Vengeance finds them Of you dear Child with carefulness my heart hath many a thought Least you through youthful wantonness to greater sins be brought And so by adding sin to sin you wast your time and strength And when your judgment doth begin in vain you mourn at length I charge you then in any sort your great Creator mind Spend not your youthful dayes in sport that cannot be regain'd Avoid those rude and wicked Boyes that make a mock of sin Love not their playes and sinful Toyes to fear the Lord begin Keep close to School read Scriptures oft in private learn to pray Your Gospel-grounds keep still in thought Your Parents both obey Your Brethren love and teach them good a Christian learn to be Then God will give you clothes and food and you 'l be dear to me To my Kinsman A. L. MY pretty Child remember well you must your wayes amend For wicked Children go to Hell that way their courses tend But heark to me if you to be the Child of God desire The broad and open road must flee which multitudes admire Sâ—rive every day to mend you way learn Christ while you are young Take constant heed to every deed heart feet hands and tongue You may be quickly sick and die and put into the Grave From whence to judgment you must fly and righteous Sentence have Learn then to fear while you live here with Christ your time imploy Labour to live and die as one that leaves the World with joy My strength in cries I shall imploy that God will bless your youth I can have nothing like this joy My Children walk in truth To my youngest Kinsman R. L. MY little Cousin if you 'l be your Uncles dearest Boy You must take heed of every deed that would your Soul destroy You must not curse nor fight nor steal nor spend your time in games Nor make a lie what e're you aile nor call ungodly names With wicked Children do not play for such to Hell will go The Devils Children sin all day but you must not do so Begin I pray to learn that way that doth to Heaven tend O learn a little day by day which leadeth to that end For God and good men love such Boyes and will them good things give Father and Mother will rejoyce and I in comfort live Another to a Child insisting on Psal 119. 9. SInce I am naturally bent to take delight in Songs A Friend from Prison one hath sent that to my Soul belongs Which when I sing he doth intreat I would not mind my play But frequently with weight repeat How may I cleanse my way It is the use of such as I to Dance and Play and sing Or else to lie and rail and cry for will in every thing Why should our wantonness be crost or pleasures night and day We fear no danger to be loft what need we cleanse our way Should we our jovial play-mates shun when we return from Schools Should we not fight and
climb and run we should be counted fools If in the Hedges Streets and Field our sports you take away What good will food and raiment yield why should we change our way When up to youth and strength we grow 't is brave to have our wills To heed no Check whate're we do of lust to take our fills To fight drink game to swear and curse to lie out night and day To spend and whore grow worse and worse what youth will cleanse his way 'T is true the Holy Scriptures teach our Catechisms tell Some Ministers we hear do preach Youths must take heed of Hell Our Parents at our wildness grieve exhort reprove and pray But after all we scarce believe we need to cleanse our way We see some that were thought the best their high profession leaving And greedily as do the rest to earth and Pleasure cleaving No Check of Conscience doth appear in what they do or say This greatly hardens us from fear or thoughts to cleanse our way With Cart-ropes to draw youthful lust this day all help affords It is a sport Christ's bonds to burst and cast away his Cords If one from wickedness dissent he makes himself a prey This yields but small encouragement for youth to cleanse his way As the young Ass that snuffs the wind Youth loves to have its swinge But hates attempts its lust to bind or liberty infringe Yet ther 's a month in which the Lord our full career can stay And can according to his Word turn change and cleanse our way No less then an Almighty Power such torrents can withstand The influences of this hour tempt with so high a hand Amongst a thousand scarce one Lad with weepings we may say Of whom assurance may be had he strives to cleanse his way Oh! with what grief upon their wayes should Parents then reflect Whose fawning in our infant dayes doth Word and Rod neglect Till our incorrigible years are apt by deeds to say Although you break your heart with tears we will not cleanse our way Were our Salvation their design our Souls their highest care They would be careful to decline all steps that might ensnare What holy walks before our sight as patterns should they lay Which might endear us with delight betimes to cleanse our way Above deep learning breeding wit they for us grace would prize Rich Trades or stocks compar'd with it were dung before their eyes The greatest Matches they could find with heaps of yellow Clay Were no Preferment to their mind like to a cleansed way To a Virgin inclining to enquire after the Lord. A Soliloquie COme pray thee Precious Soul of mine let 's seriously retire And under eye and aid Divine God's Oracles enquire Call in those thoughts that range about with awfulness incline To get this question out of doubt Is Jesus truly mine It 's high time now to fix our thought O let time past suffice That we the lusts of flesh have wrought in youthful vanities What profit in those wayes is sound which down to Hell incline What real pleasure can redound if Christ be none of mine 'T is true a Maid can scarce forget her ornamental tire The Virgins her at nought will set whose eye is fixed higher But should I my bright morning wast to make me 〈◊〉 and fine 'T will be but bitterness at last if Christ be none of mine With Dinah should I gad to see the Daughters of the Land My intimates if such should be who Christ don't understand My complements and gaâ—e might I as is the mode refin'd But wretched should I live and die if Christ be none of mine Or if through deep convictions I my vain companions leave And to the Saints for company in dear affections cleave Though they as Angels speak to me sweet words as spiced Wine Of what advantage could it be if Christ be none of mine Of his inestimable worth if I by Saints am told Or how the Gospel sets him forth transcending heaps of Gold Though one among a thousand he in full perfection shine What will this Glory be to me if Christ be none of mine If by reforming I essay self righteousness should stand I may conjecture I obey the Law 's exact command Nay to the Gospel's outward call my steps I may refine Yet short of glory I shall fall If Christ be none of mine How Satan acts an Angel's part I cannot well discern The windings of a treacherous heart I cannot quickly learn How close hypocrisie in all may hide it's deep design The stateliest Structure then must fall if Christ be none of mine Of a Child somewhat indulged by reason of Sickliness IF any would my Age be told this answer they may have A weakly Child of ten years old oft very near the Grave My Life 's a wonder to my Friends continued to this day And doubtless is for higher ends then eat and drink and play To these things Childhood is inclin'd yea to great evils bending And little doth it heed or mind to what such wayes are tending If Parents give us our contents and take delight to please us We little lay to heart events though dreadful Plagues should seize us Some Parents in this sinful Age will no wayes cross our course Whilest other 's filthy rayling rage to desperate wayes enforce But did the love and fear of God in Parents hearts bear sway And were the doctrine of the Rod their study day by day Were their and our iniquities more deeply laid to heart Did love to our immortal Souls of fondness get the start They 'd learn with gravity to smile and tenderness to smile Correct and pitty all the while rebuke and yet delight Chastisements would with teaching meet reproofs be sharp yet mild God's admonition would be sweet and wholsome to the Child We should grow flexible and kind great guilt it would prevent This early with a willing mind would lead us to repent It would seem bitter to the flesh to travel thus again But Ah! the forming Christ afresh will pay for all this pain A Dialogue betwixt the love of Christ and the lust of the flesh written by the said Ab. Chear setting forth the deceitful nature of sin in its alluring the Soul from goodness to its ruine and destruction and the powerful influence of Christ's love engaging to an early imbracing his invitations to a well-grounded hope of Everlasting Glory It s Prologue Respected Friend I am obliged to tell you what 's a doing There are at hand to you design'd for woing Two fair-spoke-Suitors both look fair and fresh The love of Jesus and the lust of Flesh They are Corrivals each Proposals brings As if the Heirs apparent of some Kings Had terms to tender to engage your favour Of such vast interests their offers savour Hear now and well observe a stander-by Who long hath known how their concerns do lie And who by dear experience hath been taught To what result such suits are often brought If