I have received your Letter of the 28th of Octo­ber last, which hath afforded me no small Joy and Content; since by the reading of it, I have been duly informed, as well con­cerning [Page 2]the prosperity of your first Voyage, as of your own good health, and of the notable proof you have alrea­dy given of your advance­ment and progress in the knowledge of good Letters; seeing that, at your first arri­val, and upon your first Tri­al, you have been judged worthy of the highest Form: God be praised for it, and give you grace to continue better and better: I do very much commend your frugali­ty, for Magnum est vectigal Parsimonia, (Good Husban­dry is a great Revenue,) but I would blame you exceed­ingly [Page 3]if you should be too sparing to the Cost of your Reputation, or of your Health; which you ought to prefer to the purchase of all Arts and Sciences, since, by reason of your indisposition, they would become useless and unfruitful. Therefore, flie all Excess of Labour of the Mind, and rather learn in two years, what you might learn in one, if with the loss of your health; being always mindful, That your Studies must be regulated by and pro­portionated unto your Natu­ral Strength; Studia enim Na­turae Regula metienda sunt. [Page 4]Have a due regard to your small AgeBeing then but fifteen years and ten Mo­neths, and but tender [...] and sickly by Na­ture, though in process of time, by Labour and Cus­tom, through Gods blessing, hardened into a healthful Temper. and to the weakness of your Natural Strength. Beware also of suf­fering extream Colds, which you must shake off sprightful­ly by exercise of Body; which will render you supple, cheer­ful, and active, and capable of greater Labour: purcha­sing thereby to your self a strong and able Constitution and habit of Body: And seeing that God hath put into your heart the resolu­tion to chuse, and to fol­low so holy and so lauda­ble a Vocation (of which notwithstanding you ought [Page 5]notThe Father being a Doctor of Law, did in­tend his Son for the same Faculty; in which Study al­so, out of filial o­bedience, he spent some years, till he propound­ed to his Father his incli­nation for the holy Mi­nistry, but still with sub­mission to his consent, which he freely signified afterwards by his Letter to Dr. Morton, the late L. Bishop, then of Litchfield and after of Durham; by whom the Son received Holy Or­ders. to have made choice of your self) to the end you may become worthy and capable of it, to discharge the same as be­cometh; you must wholly dispose your self to live so­berly Titus ii. 12. righteously, and god­ly, endeavoring, by all pos­sible means, to lead your life answerable to your Professi­on; to this end be courteous unto all men, but familiar to few: Do not frequent the com­pany of those whom you will not resemble; but if debau­ched [Page 6]persons should entice you to their evil Courses, consent you not, lest by their Conversation, and bad Dis­courses, your good Nature be perverted, corrupted, or al­tered for the worse. Corrum­punt enim Bonos Mores Collo­quia prava: 1 Cor. xv. 33. Evil Com­munications corrupt good Man­ners. Be sincere and upright, fearing God, and turn away from evil, as Ecclesiastes ad­monisheth you in the last Chapter, verse 15. Fear God and keep his Commandements, for that is the whole duty of man: And sinceProv. i. 7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of [Page 7]wisdom, Prov. iii. 5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding: By the practice of so serious an Admonition, you will more and more draw down upon you, and your Labours and Studies the Blessing of God, when you still refer them all to his Honour and Glory; for if (as you ought to do) you acknowledge God in all your ways, Prov. iii. 6. he will direct your paths. We will joyn our fervent and instant prayers with yours, that asPhil ii. 13. God hath given you to will, so he will give you power to do, of his good pleasure? to [Page 8]his Glory, your own Salvati­on, and our Comfort: Mean while, recreate your self from time to time by seasonable Divertisements from your Stu­dies to Exercises commenda­ble, vertuous, and no ways Childish1 Cor. xiii. 2. Terent. Siquidem alia aetas alios mores postulat: Change of Age requires change of Manners. Give your self also, at your spare hours, to learn the Language of the Countrey where you are, as also the Art of Musick, and to write as good a hand as you possibly can: It will not be one of the least per­fections you may purchase, [Page 9]to get a good hand, and very legible. But chiefly you must not study so much to have your Head well filled, as to have a Head well fitted or composed. Accustom your self also, as much as you can­to speak treatably and distinct­ly; even when you learn your Lessons: because Custom turns into an Habit. Est e­nim Consuetudo altera Natura: For Custom is a second Na­ture. Be sure of this, that by a kind of volubility, and an over-hasty Tongue, or precipitated Pronunciation, you will find your self put to it, when you are to acquit [Page 10]your self well of the duty which belongs to your Office: That defect may ren­der your Function unpleasing, void of gracefulness, and without Edification. Take heed of being any wayes Vindicative, or given to Re­venge, but reserve the Ven­geance to God.Rom. xii. 19. For Ven­geance is mine, and I will re­pay it, saith the Lord. But on the contrary, be charita­ble, meek, gentle, and gra­cious; and be always mind­ful thatProv. xv. 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grie­vous words stir up anger. Never do that to another, [Page 11]which you would be loath another should do to you; and be sure, ThatProv. x. 9 [...]. he that walketh uprightly walk­eth surely, but he that per­verteth his wayes shall be known. Shun and detest therefore all manner of Pride and of Hypocrisie: BecauseLuke i. 51. God scattereth the Proud, in the Imagination of their heart; and Prov. xi. 2. whensoever Pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the Lowly is Wisdom. This is it I do now exhort you to follow, and to put in practice: Ad­ding to this end, for your encouragement, what wise [Page 12] Solomon hath delivered in the first Chapter of the Proverbs, verses 8. and 9. My Son, hear the Instruction of thy Father, and forsake not the Law of thy Mother: for they shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head, and Chains about thy Neck. Your good Propensi­ons, and natural Inclinations, put me in good hope that you will make good use of these my Fatherly Instructi­ons. The Plague continues still in this City, without truce or abatement; God in mercy will asswage it, if it be his good pleasure, when we shall turn, away from our [Page 13]own evil wayes. Be mindful of us in all your prayers, as we keep a continual remem­brance of you in the prayers which we here daily offer up unto God; you may be sure, that, in so doing, you shall not, by the Grace of God, want our supply & assistance, so far as shall be requisite and necessary for the Continu­ance, Progress, and Con­summation, of your Studies; if it shall please God to pro­long our lives, till that time wherein you may have accom­plished them. Upon this ground, I shall beseech God, my dear Son, to preserve you [Page 14]in his holy Tuition and Pro­tection, and to fulfil you with his Blessings Spiritual and Cor­poral. Farewel.