MY Beloved Brethren, I would desire you all, both young and old, rich and poor, or of what degrée soever you be, I say, I would have you to take notice what is here set down, which I hope is for the good of your salvation.

And first of all I would desire every Child of God to make good use of what is declared unto you: and my first exhortation is to obedi­ence; and with the same words as the Apostle Paul spake to the Ephesians: Children obey your Parents in the Lord, for this is right, Ephes▪ 6. 1. Here you sée the obedience of Christian▪ [Page 6] [...]ne to another, is part of the first Commande­ [...]ent with promise, as in y^e first verse of this Chapter: But indéed this is contrary to many [...]ens minds now adays, for there is many [...]hat will not indure to hear talk of obeying [...]ne another, no not so much as to suffer their [...]hildren to show any duty to them: which we [...]ay perceive that they strive to bring them [...]p quite contrary to the Commandements of God, and yet they do profess themselves to be [...]ervants of God: but how can we say with a [...]afe conscience that we be y^e servants of God, [...]hen we deny his Commandements: nay, our [...]isobedience is not all, but our daily séeking [...]o intice & seduce others: for as we are taught [...]y our parents, so we shall be apt to do: For [...]rain up a child in the way he should go, and [...]hen he is old he will not depart from it. And [...]ndéed we may sée it so with us here now, for [...]here is so many ancient people that is so [...]lindly led, as I may say, that they will suffer [...]o child they have to show them, nor to any o­ [...]her: and this is contrary to that Comman­ [...]ement of God, for as I told you before, look [...]nto Ephes. 6. 2. and there's your assurance [...]or it, in the words, for the words says there, [...]onour thy Father and Mother, which is the first [...]ommandement with prom [...]se? Nay, if you [Page 7] do but read the third verse of this Chapter, you may plainly understand the promise which is made unto all such as do strive to kéep this Commandment of Obedience, for there the Apostle tells us, why we should be obedient; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayst live long on the earth; and no doubt but that it will go well with every poor soul that doth strive to kéep the Commande­ments.

For as it is in Proverbs the second, the first and second verses, My Son forget not my law, but let thy heart keep my Commandements: For length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add unto thee. Hear ye Children the in­structions of a Father, and attend to know un­derstanding; for I give you good Doctrine: Forsake you not my law, for I was my Fathers Son, tender and onely beloved in the sight of my Mother: He taught me also, and said unt [...] me, Let thine heart retain my words, keep my Commandements and live, Prov. 4. to the 4▪ verse.

O that every one of us would but strive t [...] kéep the Commandements of God, and t [...] hearken to the good instructions of our goodl [...] minded Teachers, and not to give our mind [...] to bearken to the inticements of every vai [...] [Page 8] fellow which would seek night and day to de­lude you to difobedience towards God and man, as I may say: For he that strives to counsel any man, woman, or child to disobe­dience towards their Parents, they strive to draw you away from Gods Commande­ments.

But I desire you all that be here present to have a care of such people; and as the Apostle Paul exhorteth the Ephesians, so I desire to ex­hort you all, Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these thing cometh the wrath of God upon the Ch [...]ldren of disobedi­ence, be not ye therefore pertakers with them, Eph. 1. [...]6, 7. Know therefore in this thy day, and consider in thine heart th [...]t the Lord he is God [...]n Heaven above, thou shalt keep therefore h [...]s Statutes, and his Commandements, which I [...]ommand thee this day, Deut. 4. 39, 40.

How can that man say he keeps Gods com­ [...]andem [...]nts, when he daily and hourly seeks [...]o break them by being disobedient both to God and man: for he that doth not obey his [...]arents. doth not over Gods Word: there­ [...]re I desire every Christian to consider with [...]imself, wh [...]ther it be be [...]ter to obey the true [...]ord of God, or be led away with the fancy [Page 9] of men: meaning such as will give no obe­dience unto their Parents: For this I will assure you, that the disobedience you carry towards your Parents, is a fore-runner, and a great sign of your disobeying God. For can a man obey God, and deny the two Doctrines of his word? no certainly no man c [...]n do it:

Indéed I must néeds tell you, that the diso­bedience of a Christian is more abomination to the Lord then many do take it to be, or else p [...]ople would have a great deal of more care to obey his will, and to kéep his Commande­ments. I pray you look into the 27. of Deut. and there you shall see the curse that is allot­ted for those that are disobedient to Father or Mother. For the Word saith there, Cursed be he that setteth light by his Father and Mother, Deut. 27. 16. I pray God that there be not too many now a days that deserves this curse: For certainly there is too many such abroad that hath but little care of their Parents: Nay, I must needs tell the Pa­rents that hath such children, that it is long of them, and not of their Children. For how should a Child learn obedience, when they are brought up where it is not taught? how should a scholl [...]r▪learn all languages, [Page 10] that never hears no word but English; teach them that which is good, and they will learn it: for as the Text saith, train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Oh happy is that man or woman, that hath so much grace in their hearts, as to bring up their children in the fear of God, and to learn them to know their duty towards God and man: For how should they know their duty toward God, which they nev [...]r saw, when they will not show no duty to their own Parents which they are daily withal: Therefore give ear a while unto me, and I will let you un­derstand a little more concerning the ioy and comfort that belongs to the obedient child.

And then lastly I shall by Gods assistance declare to you the torments which belongs to them which are disobedient: for look but into the 28. Chap. of Deuteronomy, and begin at the first verse and so on, I pray give your at­tention to it, and when you have heard it, the Lord of his mercy give you all grace to make good use of it.

And it shall come to pass, If thou shalt hearken d [...]ligently unto the voice of the Lo [...]d thy God, to observe and do all his Commande­ments which I command thee this day? then the [Page 11] Lord thy God will set thee above all Nations of the Earth, and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee: If thou hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, then blessed shalt thou be in the City, and blessed shalt thou be in the field, blessed shall be the fruits of thy body, and fruits of thy ground, Deut. 28. 1, to 5.

Nay, this is but small to the blessings which is promised to them that strive to be obedient and kéep his Commandements: For if thou wilt be pleased but to read this Chapter at thy leisure, you will find a great many com­fortable blessings for those that truely honour obedience, and do their indeavours to kéep Gods Commandements, which I pray God give us all grace so to do, truly I desire at the hands of our gracious God, that he would put it into the hearts of every one of us to con­sider how the Lord threatned the people for their sins, as you may find in Isaiah the third.

I pray you consider with your selves, whi­ther you be not in the very same condition at this present day: For behold the Lord, the Lord of Hosts doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water. The mighty man, and the man of war, the Judge and the Prophet, and the Prudent, and the Ancient, [Page 12] the Captain of fifty and the honourable man, and the Counsellor, and the cunning Artificer, and the eloquent Orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and Babes to rule over them. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his Neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable, Isa. 3. 1, to 6. And as before, I say still: I pray God that we be not almost under the same punishment as those people was, for what sin can we read of in Scripture, but that we are subject unto; Then how should we think to go frée from the punishments which are ordained for those sins?

For when was there more crying out a­gainst false decrées and unrighteous deal­ings then there is now adays? or when could you hear of more wrong done to the Widow and the Fatherless as there is now, and hath been this many a da [...]: But I desire every one that hath any hand in such matters, to look into Isa. 10. 1, and 2. verses: there you may see the woe that is pronounced against these that oppress the Widow and the Fatherless: for there he saith, Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness [Page 13] which they have prescribed: To turn aside the needy from judgement, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that Widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the Fa­therless. Isaiah the 10. Chapter, the first and second verses.

But now a days we make no conscience at all to wrong the Widow and the Fatherless, and to oppress the poor and needy.

No, no, I am afraid that there be too many that make a common practice to wrong the widow and fatherless: But the Lord of his mercy give every one more grace. For he that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to naught, Prov. 22. 16.

He that giveth to the poor shall never lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse, Proverbs 8. 22. And too many there be that will turn away their faces from the poor, but you may sée many that is ready to give to the rich,

But, alas my Brethen, you may see by this place of Scripture, that it is contrary [Page 14] to Gods Comandements, which is a vile and terrible thing, for if we would but secretly examine our hearts and consciences, and consider with our selves, and we shall find that this precéeds from a disobedient heart, and therefore we should pray God to give us obedient hearts. Which I pray God give e­very one grace to consider in time, and pray to the Lord night and day, that he spake not to us as he spake to the people in Isa. 43. 22. and these be the words, But thou hast not called upon me O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

Truly it is to be feared, the Lord hath a just cause to speak the same words to us: For how can we say but that we are weary of him, when we will not strive to kéep his Com­mandements? O let [...]s turn unto the Lord, and he will look upon us with the eye of mercy▪ as in Isa. 45. 22. Look upon me, and be ye saved all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Oh what a blessed and comfortable spéech was here spoken to poor sinners, this was from the mouth of God, and not from man. O what a miserable condition is this, that we should be so stony-hearted one towards another, when we sée the Lord so loving to us.

[Page 15] Can a woman forget her sucking Child, that she should have compassion on the Son of her womb? yea they may forget: yet I will not forget thee, Isa. 49. 15. O what a comfortable spéech is this, if we would but consider on them: for though it is possible for a woman to forget her Child which she gives suck, yet the Lord says he will not forget a sinner: Indéed if our hearts be not made of flint, these loving mer­cies of the Lord shewed to us, would mollifie and soften the flintiest heart in the world. Oh my beloved, awake out of the deadly sléep of sin, and let us cry unto the Lord and say, Who is among us, that feareth the Lord God of Hosts? Oh let us shake off those old Rags of sin, and strive to cloath our selves with this winter Garment of righteousness.

Oh it is warm clothing! Oh it is cloath­ing that will kéep warm both body and soul! Oh let us cry out. The Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded.

Happy is that Christian that hath so much confidence in the Lord: For the Lord desireth not the death of a sinner, but rathe [...] he would turn from his wicked [...]ess and live.

I desire every one of you which be her [...] present to look into the eleventh Chapter o [...] Jeremiah, beginning at the second verse, an [...] [Page 16] there you may hear how the Prophet pro­claimed Gods Covenant to the Iews, and how he re [...]ked them for their disodedience: I pray you take notice of it, cursed is the man that obeyeth not the word of this covenant; And I pray God this Nation wherein we live do not deserve the same curse: For I be­lieve no Nation under the Sun hath rebelled more against Gods commandements then we: and there is no way to escape his punish­ment but by prayer, and repentance, and turn unto the Lord, and call unto him for mercy: and as Job says, in Job 26. 5. Behold he is mighty in strength, he preserveth not the life of the wicked, but giveth right to the poo [...]. O here is comfort for poor sinners, for the Text says, the Lord despiseth no sinner: but alas we are too prone to fall into sin, as hatred, and [...]nvying, and the like: but look into Job 34. and youl find that 'tis not fit to give angry words one towards another: for is it fit to say to the King, thou art wicked, much less to him that accepteth not the person of Princes, no nor the rich more then the poor, for they are all the works of his hands? Here we may perceive that we ought not to revile one another, either poor or rich, King or Magistrate, for as Dav [...]d says in the 36. Psalm, about the 2, 3. [Page 17] He flatters himself in his own eyes until his wick­edness be found hateful: the words of his mouth are in [...]quity and deceit, &c. And [...]ndéed there is too many that deviseth mischief night and day, but the Lord give us all more grace, and to call upon him for mercy. And as David says in Psalm 3. Let us all cry, bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, &c. and in Psa. 10. he tells us, like as a Father pittieth his child, so the Lord pittieth all them that fear him. Here you may sée the Lord doth promise very much to poor sinners, if so they would but strive to kéep his Commandements, which the Lord of his mercy give us all grace so to do. And so much concerning the obedi­ence of a Christian: and as I have shewed you the joys and benefits of those that obey God and their Parents: so I have declared the torments of the disobedient: So I pray God give us all grace to be obedient to him, to our Parents, Prince, and Governours: and so I conclude with this short Exhortation, out of Prov. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. Read at your leisure, So the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, bless, guide, and keep you all, this day, and for ever more, Amen.

THe second Part of this Book, doth teach young Schollars their duty to all sorts of people.

First, those Schollars that desire to serve God, must every morning prepare their hearts to put on this Winter Garment of fa [...]th, and strive to shake off the old rags of sin, which must be done by faithful prayer.

First, down on thy knées every morning, and pray to the Lord to give a blessing to thy up-rising, and to thy down-lying, to thy going out, and to thy comming in; and when thou hast done so, down on thy knées to thy parents, and desire them to pray to God to give you a blessing: and no question but the Lord will bless such children which be obedient to him, and their Parents; For as Solomon saith, in Prov. 4. 4. Hear ye children the instructions of a Father, and attend to know understanding: and in chap. 6. there he saith, My Son, keep thou thy Fathers commandement, and forget not the law of thy Mother.

So I desire all you that be Schollars, that either reads it, or hears it read, let it be a good instruction for you all, in the first place to [Page 19] learn to serve God: secondly, to give honour and obedience to thy Parents: thirdly, let not thy heart over-slip thée with [...]nvy and ha­tred towards thy Neighbour; but be always ready with diligence to do any thing for them which lyeth in thy power to do; not wrong­ing thy Parents nor thy self. The duty of a Scholar is, if thou méet any man or woman in the stréet, thou art to carry thy self very ci­villy, to put off thy hat, and to give them the time of the day, for in so doing thou shewest thy bréeding: more-over there will be some sign of grace in thy old age, for as y^e Scripture saith, Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. And I pray God give every child grace to lead his life in his youth, that he may have joy and comfort both in this world, and in the world to come without end, Amen.

A short Prayer for every Schollar to learn every morning before he goes to School, o [...] beginneth any labour, then after this y^e Lord [...] Prayer.

Lastly, when thou hast spent the day, call into thy mind how thou hast spent it; and if thou hast done any thing which thy consci­ence telleth thée is not right, then fall on thy knées, and desire the Lord to forgive thée, and that with a true heart, and then no doubt but the Lord will hear thy prayers.