A26903:19
Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…
Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity, physic, and law, III. the sons of magistrates and rich men / by Richard Baxter.Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity, physick, and law, III. the sons of magistrates and rich men / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by T.S., 1681
Chapter 2: To begin betimes to live to God, is of unspeakable importance▪ to your selves.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
6. And be it known to you, if God in mercy convert and save you, yet the bitter fruit of your youthful folly may follow you in this World to the grave. God may forgive the pains of Hell to a penitent sinner, and not forgive the temporal chastisement to his flesh. If you waste your Estate in Youth, you may be poor at Age: If you marry a wicked Wife, you may feel it till death, notwithstanding your Repentance: If by drinking, gluttony, idleness, or filthy lust, you contract any uncurable Diseases in Youth, Repentance may not cure them till death. All this might easily have been prevented, if you had but had fore-seeing Wisdom. Beggary, Prisons, Shame, Consumptions, Dropsies, Stone, Gout, Pox, which make the lives of many miserable, are usually caused by youthful sins.
7. And if ever you think to be men of any great wisdom, and usefulness in the World, to your selves or others, your preparations must be made in Youth. Great Wisdom is not got in a little time. Who ever was an able Lawyer, Physician, or Philosopher, without long and hard Study? If you will not learn in the Grammar-Schools ⟨p. 9⟩in your Childhood, you will be unfit for the University at riper Age; and if when you should be Doctors, you are to learn to Spell and Read, your shame will tell you, that you should have sooner begun. O that you well knew how much of the safety, fruitfulness and comfort of all your after-life, dependeth on the preparations of your Youth! on the Wisdom and the Grace which you should then obtain! As mens after trading doth on their Apprenticeship!
7. And if ever you think to be men of any great wisdom, and usefulness in the World, to your selves or others, your preparations must be made in Youth. Great Wisdom is not got in a little time. Who ever was an able Lawyer, Physician, or Philosopher, without long and hard Study? If you will not learn in the Grammar-Schools ⟨p. 9⟩in your Childhood, you will be unfit for the University at riper Age; and if when you should be Doctors, you are to learn to Spell and Read, your shame will tell you, that you should have sooner begun. O that you well knew how much of the safety, fruitfulness and comfort of all your after-life, dependeth on the preparations of your Youth! on the Wisdom and the Grace which you should then obtain! As mens after trading doth on their Apprentiship!