and irreligious introduction into life; they go to universities and trades, without any sense of duty or danger, and being unarmed, are soon surprised by those temptations with which an evil world is filled, and which a depraved nature is too ready to embrace, to their utter ruin and destruction. To prevent this, labour after a true understanding of the christian religion, and regulate your tempers and conduct by it in every scene of life. I. Let a sincere love and reverence of God, and desire of his acceptance and favour through Christ Jesus, be the governing spring and motive of all your actions. When the mind is devoted to God, and bent on pleasing him, we have the strongest security against present guilt and folly, and future misery and punishment. If we sincerely serve him, he will surely bless us; he will interest himself in our concerns, support us under our difficulties, give us the direction of his wisdom, and the consolations of his grace, and preserve us from a thousand follies and miserics, by which those are overtaken, who make worldly gain, or their own lusts and vicious appetites, the governing principles of their lives. Believe it Sirs, it is as much your interest as your duty, to be early and truly religious, and to remember your Creator in your youth." It is this for which you were created and redeemed, and are supported and maintained in life; and which the majesty of heaven claims of you as his due. Let the business of your callings be prosecuted, "not with eye service, as pleasing men only, but as the servants of Christ, with good will doing service as unto the Lord, and not to men.' This will ennoble the meanest employment, and secure your highest end and truest happiness, whatever your success may be in other respects.* 99 2. In dependence upon the help of God, let your religious principles be accompanied with steady resolutions. Temptations and difficulties unknown before attend every new scene of life, which soon overcome the unprepared and irresolute mind: but if you discern the hook as well as the bait, and consider the consequences as well as the incentives to evil, by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, you may escape. Of all temptations to which the young are exposed, none is more fatal and pernicious than evil company. Such are to be found * Teach me, my God and King, To do it as for thee: A servant with this clause, Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws, Makes that and th' action fine. HERBERT. every where, who like the fallen angels, having revolted from their allegiance to God, endeavour to draw others into the same guilt and condemnation with themselves. Begin, therefore, no friendship with any, until you have a worthy character of them from a judicious hand or have had a sufficient time and opportunity to be satisfied of their seriousness, from your own observation. Let not former acquaintance only be thought a sufficient foundation for after friendship; for he might be very innocent at school, who is now very vicious and profane. Let no accomplishments of wit or learning, breeding or fortune, engage your heart to an intimacy with any who despise or ridicule a life of serious religion and strict virtue; for the more agreeable they are in other respects, so much the more fatal is their converse likely to be. Herein you must be resolute: two or three positive denials will free you from their solicitations, whereas easiness and compliance will strengthen their importunity, and when once you are entangled in the snare of evil company, you will find it very difficult to disengage yourself. If you are sometimes forced, on account of business or relation, to converse with persons of this character, let it ever be with a prudent reservedness; and if you at any time perceive your mind begin to fluctuate, and your zeal for religion abate by the sneers of folly and profaneness, seriously in spect the word of God, and see what infinite wisdom dictates as the duty and happiness of man, and consider which it it is best to follow, the judgment of God, or that of blind and deluded sinners. Observe whether holiness and virtue be any more than the real and vital influence and practice of that religion which they themselves, however, vainly profess to believe. Consider whether in the prospect of death and at the day of judgment, they w not curse themselves and their own folly, for the neglect of that religion which they now impiously and madly deride and then think whether he does not deserve to perish, who will forsake his God, his duty, and his best interest, for the sneers of such madmen; enquire therefore after the prudent, the wise, and religious of your age, and converse with them; for he that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Maintain also a resolute industry under the labours and difficulties of your callings. Time and use will make that easy and tolerable, which at first appears difficult and burdensome. The powers of the body and mind enlarge and strengthen by practice, and with ease and pleasure perform those things, which once were thought most grievous. Having therefore a tolerable capacity for your business, resolve to apply to it with firmness of mind. Nor be discouraged if you meet with some D severities, to which you have not been accustomed; as stern and angry looks, harsh words or unkind usage; divine providence permits these things to humble that pride, and tame that wantonness to which youth is prone; therefore patiently and cheerfully submit to what is sufferable in your calling, and still hope that peace and satisfaction will succeed toil and trouble. 3. Particularly let me recommend to you humility and faithfulness, as most necessary to procure esteem from those you serve, and respect from all mankind. Humility will make you easy and contented in every condition of life; you will then be ready to be commanded; easy to be pleased; hard to be provoked; and generally beloved. An humble mind thinks every good it receives more than it deserves, and every evil less. It will not think itself too great or too good to stoop to the meanest services of an honest employment; nor be wanting in a modest and respectful behaviour to others. You will not then be disputing when you should obey; fretting when you should submit; envying those you should respect, or contemning those you should embrace. These are the consequences of pride of heart; a disposition which will make you hateful to God, disrespected of men, and uneasy to yourselves; every labour will be thought too |