O Yee my constant cares, but unconstant com­forts; Let me turn to you, before I turne to earth! O, to what end did I take care to waste my selfe, for that which others without care intend to waste? Why should I become so foolishly frugall, as to make my Heire sick of a Father; riot in his Funerall; and in his death to act to life the part of a Prodigall? O how many children had far'd well in the world, had their Parents set their hearts lesse on the world! A Worldlings common Ob­jection. Oh, but who provides not for his Family, is worse then an Infidell! Much more for his Posterity, being the dearest of his Family, the nearest of his Meniey. O my Indulgence! What a discomfort hast thou occasioned to me in the One, what a disorder in the Other! I was lessoned by a Good Father, August. Med. cap. 1. to make nothing a greater stranger to me in the way of my Pilgrimage, then towards my Fa­miliars impiety; towards my Servants severity; to­wards my Neighbours extremity. Which Lesson, though I have not learned as well as I should, yet have I labour'd to observe it as well as I could. Meane time, [Page 10] while I look'd upon mine owne, I found my too tender Nature of such a temper, as it needed no such direction. Before I was a Father, I mused much how so wise a Sage as Agesilaus, could so strangely play the Childe, as to ride on Hobby-horse with his Children. But remem­bring his Answer, I could not choose but approve an indiscreet act, proceeding from so affectionate a Nature: Doe not condemne me of Folly, till you have Children of your owne.

O Nature, how swift art thou in thy descending! how slow in thy ascending!

Henry the Second, then whom none more happy in his Youth; more unfortunate in his Age; having obser­ved the mutability of his condition, how hee could not be more numerous in yeares, then he was surpriz'd with aged cares; being esteemed least by those who should reverence him most, devised this Henricus aeta­te confectus; quo tempore a Libe­ris gravissimis affectus fuerit odiis; Emblema sibi contraxit ab Aquila, quatuor pullis adumbra­to; quorum duo oculos A­quilae eruentes; alii duo ungui bus erant velli­cantes. Embleme, to repre­sent his Parentall affliction: An Eagle personating Him­selfe, with foure young ones, presenting his foure Sonnes; two whereof were ever billing and pecking at his eyes: the other two scratching his face. These were unkind Chickens; unnaturall Eaglets; yet many such Bran­chers may we find ayring neare most of our Nests. But heavy judgements are reserv'd for such Unnaturalists. The Ravens shall pick out their eyes; and the terrors of un­prepared ends shall surprize them. These who are sick of a Father, shall find sickly comforts in the death of a Father. The Inheritance which their Nimrod-desires hunted after with such greedinesse, shall but serve for fuell to increase their unhappinesse. As their wishes mur­dred him living, so shall his ill-requited memory pre­sent to their profuse houres, and mis-spent Estates, [Page 11] Myriads of miseries at their dying.

But admit (which were rare to finde) that these longing Heires should be followers of their Fathers steps, in a thriving providence: yet must they expect from their children in offices of Obedience a just Acquittance.

Such Parents seldome God blesseth with obedient Children; who neglected the duty they ought to their Parents when they were Children. Illud expectan­dum est à nobis, quod praestitimus nostris. Paterculus. So as, whether these undutifull ones be Frugall or Prodigall, Misery, through a loathed satiety; or Poverty, through their profuse so­ciety, have ever accompanyed their Evening. Yea, I have known some of these, who either touch'd with remorse of Conscience, or driven to want through their own licentiousness, could have wisht to have digg'd up their contemned Fathers with their nayles, so they might have injoy'd them: For all the dis-esteem which their neglectfull youth, while they were living exprest unto them: or poysonous disgraces their unmanag'd course aspersed on them: Yet was it no Filiall Zeale, but an Experimentall want that wrought upon them this course.

O the deceiving hopes of a disconsolate Father! What restlesse cares, anxious hopes, and solicitous feares hourely awake him, sleeping; and daily incounter him, waking! He neglects no time to increase his store; no wayes unsought to improve his estate. He eates the bread of carefulnesse, and apportions himselfe the very least of all his Family, to raise an higher foundation to his posterity. O sandie ground-work! What an im­prudent house-holder is He, who shares in his owne, with the least and lowest of his Meniey? to beget afflicti­on to himselfe; dis-affection in others! Where Large [Page 12] Inventories commonly make forgetfull Executors; loose Successors! Poore indisposed providence! Be these the fruites of broken sleepes; and needy repasts? Is it wis­dom to lay up his treasure in the hopes of those, who mourne for nothing more then to be their owne Trea­surers; by disseising a too industrious Father of his care and coyne together? O what a joyfull sound does the Passing Bell afford to a thirsty Prodigall! who, long be­fore the crawling worme has either untwisted his Shrowd: or those funerall flowers which stuck his Corpse, lost their colour; has buried the memory of his indulgent Father in those healthlesse Healths of lasting Oblivion. In what ac­count are we to hold those houres, that are incountred with such con­fluence of griefs? Peruse Annals of Time, and in what did Old Priam exceed young Tro [...]lus, but in years, teares, calami­tous Children, and numerous cares? Let the foolish Father, whose penurious life has bene wholly bestow'd on Sparing, to give more length of line to his Successours Spending; cast up his Accounts, and examine what profit or parentall comfort his nightly cares and watchfull indeavours have returned him. Me­thinks I see him turne over leafe after leafe, and ac­compt day after day: yet he findes nothing worthy his care, nor what may answer his toyle.

Yet take this notice, as an Addition to his folly. Though He found nothing all his time, that might pro­mise him least assurance in them of performing his Be­quest; yet such is his groundlesse confidence; as He re­commends to their care, what he forgot to doe in his life. Sundry pious workes, which eyther his affection, so closely cemented to the World, would not suffer him to performe: Or the foolish hope He had in his Heire, made him transferre that Worke to his trust. But the carelesse Unthrift makes his late Fathers Charge, the least of his Care: He findes in himselfe such liberty of con­science, as He can dispence with the Execution of such Be­quests; [Page 13] He findes all that his Father left him, little enough for his owne Share; as He hopes within short time the World will shew it. Memorialls of dead Fa­thers are to be buried with them. Thus discharge such as these their trust to purpose. Legacies and Pious Of­fices must become their owne Trustees. Their Testator is committed to Earth: whose memory accompanies his Obsequies; Both subject to one Fate: And depo­sited in one Urne. And those who survive Him, hold him rightly serv'd. What mad Man is He, that will in­trust Him, at his Death; who never answered his trust in his life? Expectance begets obedi­ence: Injoy­ment shutts up affection in an Act of Oblivion. If hopes make not a Child Obedient: Pos­session of what He hoped for, will hardly doe it. O see, to what shadows this Worldlings substance is reduced! Before He returne well to Earth, all his early and late providence is resolved to Ayre. He has bid the World a long farewell; which makes his jolly Spend-thrift farewell and deliciously in it. Those Consorts which his Father hated, must be his onely Copesmates. In their Careere, they sing a merry Requiem for his Soule, whose Rest is the least of their Care. His interment gives inter­tainment to those, who will never leave his debaucht Heire, till his Estate has left him. He has made choise of them, and for a World he would not change them; whose onely Office it is, to contrive the way how he may gallantly spend: as it is His, to finde a purse how to de­fray the charge of their Projects.

Thus must an aged providence be thawed and to no­thing dissolved by a Youthfull expence. Were the length of his dayes proportion'd to his expence, his ex­hausted State, before he saw halfe of his dayes, would be contracted to a Scrip: or his Prospect, through his nu­merous [Page 14] ingagements, confined to a Grate. But Death is many times so kinde, as to impose a period to his mi­series: and to end him, before they wholly make an end of him. But be his dayes long or short, his memory cannot chuse but rot, being a branch shred and cut off from the root. It is a promise, and He is faithfull in his performance that makes it: Length of dayes shall be un­to him, who Honours his Parents: which implyes an Abridgment to his, who dishonours them. The wicked and deceitfull man shall not live to see halfe his Dayes. And shew me a more deceitfull Liver, then He who deceives the trust of a Father! If Obedience be bet­ter then Sacrifice; no doubt, but Disobedience is the Sa­crifice of Fooles. It seemes he desires to have his dayes short, who by his Rebellious course, labours to shorten his Fathers dayes. The foundation of his hopes cannot stand. But future judgements are strangers to his thoughts. So he may injoy the pleasures of Sinne for a season; E­ternity is quite razed out of the Calendar of his me­mory.

He holds the Pellican a good naturall Mother in feed­ing her young-ones to her owne ruine: but he holds that Child a meere Naturall, that would requite that parentall favour to his owne danger. Whence it is, that He ac­counts no Bird more foolish then the Storke, in carrying his aged Parents upon his Wings: and providing for them, whose unweldy condition cannot purvey for themselves. I have often observ'd it, nor could I well cre­dit what my eyes had seene: how Nature could possibly become such a Changeling, as to wish no being, to those from whom they had their being. Many Children have found their Parents to be their best Stewards: yet rather [Page 15] then be troubled with such Dispensers, they could wish that care supplyed by Hyrelings.

There was an antient Decree, that He who neglected his Parents in their age, should reap no benefit by their Death. Var de Antiq. Rom. Viget. Macrob. Valer. Max. Rhodolph. Agric. de Leg. Nat. Now, how many Children should we finde disinherited, were this Law to all intents and purposes executed? That Law, no doubt, was well intended, if it were but ordain'd onely to preserve in their Progeny, pretenses of Duty. It is hope of preferment, that begets in most Children this Shady Semblance of Obedience. Take away this Hope, and you shall finde an icy Zeale. Broad-spred Sycamours, all for Shadow; none for Fruit. Were it not then just, for Parents to adopt Strangers their Heyres; seeing those who should be their Lineall Heyres, make themselves such Strangers to their cares? But the heart of a Father is of a more waxen and indulgent tem­per: so blind has affection made him, as He gene­rally values those most, whose actions deserve least. These he tenderly huggs, who would follow his Hearse with dry eyes: and who in the height of his extreames, will rather Prey on him, then Pray for him. So apt is Nature to deprave judgement: and to play the Impostor with her Multiplying Glasse; presenting more comforts in the worst, then can possibly appeare in the best. When affection has forfeited her discretion, and lost the eyes of her judgement by mistakes; Vertues seeme Vices: and Vices Vertues. It were wisdome then for Nature to suspend her eyes: and to fixe them with an imparti­all reflexe both on merit and immerit. This will beget that emulation in goodnesse, which Children before knew not, at least pursude not; because they were by their Parents undistinguished or unrewarded. But little [Page 16] need we to presse this Argument: Experience tells you whom I should admonish; that a Father is more ready to give, then a Child to requite. Be it your care to reteine, in this my last Farewell, these finall Directions; which may prove as usefull to you, as any Portion I can be­queath you.

Your youth inform'd me, that your Dispositions were different; which caus'd me to bestow you severall waies. For Philosophy had told me, and Experience taught me, that Nature could not be forc'd. Yet have I highly tax'd my Indulgence for giving such way to the freedome of youth. Some of you pretended for Armes; others for Arts. You, who were for Armes had got such a Surfet of the Schoole, as your Plea was incapacity to your Booke; by reason of your want of memory, or impregnancy, or some other innate defect. So as, your desire was to in­list your selves, after the garbe of these stirring times, amongst Souldiers of Fortune; to ingage your persons for the Campe: but (as I conceited it) only to dis-ingage your selves of the Whip. And I assented to it: and some progression have you made in it, without much losse or increment of Honour.

March along then with this advice; In the first place, be no lesse Cautious then Conscientious of the Grounds for which you fight. Be He never so valiant, if the Cause be nought for which he ingageth; it is Rashnesse and no Valour; For win He or lose He, the issue redounds ever to his Dishonour. Sub quocunque Regimine critis constituti, non reluctantes, sed integrè subditi. Albanus. Arnobius. Evander. Euthymius. Allegeance is a just ground; in what Orbe soever, the State be Spheared: though in these dayes unfortunately mannaged. But Actions are not to derive their equity from event or successe: Nor to receive their Censure from the losse of a Field. [Page 17] Fortune is not alwaies Vertues Shadow. If this last de­signe of theirs bearing such a face of Loyal­ty, redeeme their fame, it is an unex­spected recove­ry. England can­not be more in Gods eye, then Iudaea: and yet Infidels are become Lords of that Seat, where our Heavenly Lord and his Apostles trode.

Let me advise you; be no Scotch pretenders; in making Religion your colour, when Plunder is your aime. Though their booties inrich them, & their Newtrall Fa­ctions seemingly secure them, They must come off with losse, before the maine Battaile determine the Quarrell.

☞ Make not such use of your strength, as injuriously to intrench upon an others State. Doe no man wrong; When the Sword is in your hand, let Grace be in your heart. Let that daring insolence, so familiar with a Soul­dier, be to you an uncivill Stranger. Walke in the wayes of Innocency: and end these dayes of your warfare in it. Preferre a glorious Death, before a vicious life. Better is it to dye with an Abel, then to live a Cain.

Be it your prime care every Morne to make your peace with God; Suffer not your inward Enemy to have any advantage of you: Whatsoever your Outward have. Though the Bullet make no distinction betwixt a Prince and a Common Souldier: Those Christian Memori­alls recommended to you in your youth, should better prepare you then to fall like Beasts, without remem­bring your future condition.

The Marriner and Souldier ought of all others to be ever provided of this Spirituall Armour. Three inches onely distanceth the One from Death: and a Paper­sconce the Other. Of all Others, every houre may be your last: Be it then your constant Taske, in the Ser­vice of your Campe, to make Heaven your Care. March after this manner, and the Lord of Hoasts will goe a­long [Page 18] with you: and improve these actions of valour to your Fame, His Honour.

Now for you, who are for Arts. As it has beene my care to season you in all Sciences, Humane and Divine: be it your care not to invert them, but rank them accor­ding to their Degrees. Imploy your Humane as Hand­maids; your Divine as their Mistresses. Now, Religion must be the foundation; which being strengthned and cherished by that sweetly-distilling influence of Devo­tion, is not to consist onely in Speculative knowledge, but Proficiency of Action.

For Religion, being the Mystery of our Salvation, is a practicall Syllogisme, whose premisses goe for nothing, if there be not the active conclusion of well-doing. The promise is not made to Him that knowes this, but to Him that does this. Doe this and thou shalt live.

In the expence of your houres, be carefull how you bestow your selves in them: Account these so pretious, as the whole world cannot reduce nor recall one Minute of them. Have not your eye on the Glasse how it runnes: no [...] on the Clock what it strikes. Contemplation should be more fixt, then to be so easily distracted. He, who in his Study gives more eare to the houre, then those lines he reades; must give me leave to hold him such a profi­cient, as He is rather to be accounted a Truant then a Stu­dent. Make every Evening, an Accomptant of the fore­spent day. Your age is not to be reckoned by yeares but houres: Many are young in houres, who are old in yeares. Bestow your time in Learning to your profit: but in­tertaine such humility in your improvement, as with mo­desty to acknowledge it. The Zone where you live admits no Solstice: your Academick Studies hold correspondence [Page 19] with no Station. You must either be Proficients or De­ficients. In one word, make God the Beginning and Ending of all your Labours: and then with a cheerfull Evening will He crown all your Endeavours.

Now to you, my Daughters, whose choisest Consorts should be Modesty, Humility and pious Industry; though your Mother were taken from you, before She could well informe you: or your selves capable of what She might recommend unto you; yet are you supplyed in her want, by One; who, though a Step-Mother, (a Name imploying an harsh Nature) yet be her Steps so imitable, that if you walke in them, they may sufficiently enable you by Her example. Doe not then Steppe over Her with an awlesse reverence: But observe her Directions as usefull Lessons, for the knowledge of your Selves: and performance of those Officers, wherein you stand obliged to God and the World. I shall be sparing in speaking much to you, being so confident of Her care with whom you are: and to whose Education and Tuition next under God, I commend you; as She will never desert you, unlesse you desert your selves.

Now the blessing of God, and a poore languishing, but truly-loving Father be among you: and direct you in all your waies and works, to His honour who made you.