2. Thus of Superiors. A word to Inferiors, and I have done. Dear Lambs, the Searcher of Hearts knows how greatly I long after you all in the Bowels of Jesus Christ. Shall I prevail with you to remember this, when I am laid with my Fathers? viz. That 'tis no less your Duty to make Religion your business in the relation of Children and Servants, than 'tis ours in the relation of Parents and Masters. Oh what a credit, what a glory is it to drink in the Dews of Godliness in the morning of your lives? What a lovely sight to behold those Trees blossoming with the fruits of the Spirit in the Spring of their Age? Better is a poor and a wise Child, than an old and a foolish King, Eccl. 4.13. What a Garland of Honour doth the Holy Ghost put on the head of an holy Child? How profitable is early Piety? Some Fruits ripe early in the year are worth treble the price of latter Fruits. Godliness at any time brings in much gain; but he that comes first to the Market is like to make the best price of his Ware. On the other side, how dangerous are delays? Remember Children, late Repentance like untimely fruits seldom comes to any thing. Your lives are very uncertain. As young as you are, you may be old enough for a Grave: Oh then seek your God,1 and seek him when and whiles he may be found, Isa. 55.5. If thou refuse him now, he may refuse thee hereafter. I have heard of one that deferring Repentance to his old age, and then going about it, heard a voice, des illi furfurem, cui dedisti farinam; give him the Bran to whom thou hast given the Flour. Every day renders you more and more indisposed. The longer sin and Satan possess the Forts of your hearts, the more they will fortify and strengthen them against God and Holiness, Jer. 13.23. your God deserves your youth. The best God deserves the best of days. Briefly, your God will call you to an account for your youth, Eccles. 11.9. Here is a cooler for the high-flown Youngster's courage. The words after an Ironical concession thunder out a most dreadful commination. Well then, be persuaded truly to Reverence ⟨p. 230⟩and honour your Parents, Masters, Ministers. Even Lambs will kneel to their Dams.2 Reverence them inwardly in your hearts with an awful fear: outwardly in your lives, in language and in carriage, Gen. 4.12. 1 Kings 2.19. Obey your Superiors, Eph. 6.1. In a word, read Prov. 2.1. to 6th. 1.
2. Thus of Superiours. A word to Inferiours, and I have done. Dear Lambs, the Searcher of Hearts knows how greatly I long after you all in the Bowels of Jesus Christ. Shall I prevail with you to remember this, when I am laid with my Fathers? viz. That 'tis no less your Duty to make Religion your business in the relation of Children and Servants, than 'tis ours in the relation of Parents and Masters. Oh what a credit, what a glory is it to drink in the Dews of Godliness in the morning of your lives? What a lovely sight to behold those Trees blossoming with the fruits of the Spirit in the Spring of their Age? Better is a poor and a wise Child, than an old and a foolish King, Eccl. 4.13. What a Garland of Honour doth the Holy Ghost put on the head of an holy Child? How profitable is early Piety? Some Fruits ripe early in the year are worth treble the price of latter Fruits. Godliness at any time brings in much gain; but he that comes first to the Market is like to make the best price of his Ware. On the other side, how dangerous are delays? Remember Children, late Repentance like untimely fruits seldom comes to any thing. Your lives are very uncertain. As young as you are, you may be old enough for a Grave: Oh then seek your God,1 and seek him when and whiles he may be found, Isa. 55.5. If thou refuse him now, he may refuse thee hereafter. I have heard of one that deferring Repentance to his old age, and then going about it, heard a voice, des illi furfurem, cui dedisti farinam; give him the Bran to whom thou hast given the Flour. Every day renders you more and more indisposed. The longer sin and Satan possess the Forts of your hearts, the more they will fortifie and strengthen them against God and Holiness, Jer. 13.23. your God deserves your youth. The best God deserves the best of days. Briefly, your God will call you to an account for your youth, Eccles. 11.9. Here is a cooler for the high-flown Youngster's courage. The words after an Ironical concession thunder out a most dreadful commination. Well then, be perswaded truly to Reverence ⟨p. 230⟩and honor your Parents, Masters, Ministers. Even Lambs will kneel to their Dams.2 Reverence them inwardly in your hearts with an awful fear: outwardly in your lives, in language and in carriage,
- 11 Tim. 6.6. We read of one that truly repented at his last gasp, that so none might despair; but 'tis of but one, that none might presume.
- 2Mal. 1.6. Eph. 6 2. Levit. 19.3.
