The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

12. In the last place be exceeding conscientious and cautelous in disposing them abroad,¹ when either their education or profession requires it. As to the Schools, when young and tender, choose out such Guides and Masters, as may edify them, and imprint something more ⟨p. 207⟩of God upon their hearts. It is a great fault in many that take up any neighbour-school where there are profane and wicked children, such as have learnt of their Parents to swear, and take Gods Name in vain; Many times little youths gather a great deal of filth, and soil, and pollution in such places, that sticks by them many years after. It is a good work [[Greek or Hebrew]] to prohibit and keep them off from all illiberal and sordid speeches and spectacles.² There was it seems a great crew of naughty children at Bethel, in the days of Elijah, that mocked the Prophet; a place that was a Seminary and Nursery for young ones in knowledge.³ Oh how sad is it for children that have been diligently taught at home in the fear of God, to unlearn all in wicked schools! Have a great eye to this, and especially if they be such as are designed for Academical learning, that they be placed under godly Tutors at the University; or if for Trades, or other Mechanical Mysteries, that you choose out the blessed shadow of a godly Master and Mistress, that may rivet and clench the nail that thou hast knocked in. Great will be thy comfort in this, if thou soughtest more a pious family, than a great and rich Trade. A family wherein ships go to Heaven, and a Trade is driven to Canaan. But especially in the grand concernment of Marriage, that they may match into a godly family, in whose veins the blood of the Covenant doth run. An Heiress of the Divine Promises is a greater match than an Empress of the whole world. He that hath but one foot of Land in Mount Zion, is richer than he that holds a Sceptre over the round Globe.

12. In the last place be exceeding conscientious and cautelous in disposing them abroad,¹