Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…

CHAP. III. Of what Public Concernment the Quality of Youth is.

CHAP. III. Of what Publick Concernment the Quality of Youth is.

§ 1. The welfare of the World is of far greater worth than of any single person; and he hath put off Humanity who doth not more earnestly desire it. If this World consisted but of one Generation, then to make that Generation wise and good, would be enough to make it a happy World. But it is not so: In Heaven, and in the future glorious Kingdom, there is neither marrying, nor giving in marriage, but they are as the Angels, in a fixed everlasting State, and one continued Generation maketh up the New Jerusalem: Being once holy and happy, they are so for ever: But here it is not so: One Generation ⟨p. 12⟩cometh, and another goeth: If the Father be as wise as Solomon, the Son may be as foolish as Rehoboam: O what a great work it is to make a man truly wise and good! How many years study doth it usually require? What wisdom and diligence in Teachers? What teachableness and diligence in Learners; and especially the Grace of God! And when all is done, the man quickly dieth, and obtaineth his ends in another world: But his Children are born as ignorant, and perhaps as bad as he was born: He can neither leave them his Knowledge; nor his Grace. They must have all the same teaching, and labour, and blessing as he had, to bring them to the same attainments: The Mercy and Covenant of God taketh them into his Church, where they have great advantages and helps, and promiseth them more mercy for their relation to a faithful Parent, if he or they do make no forfeiture of it: But as their Nature is the same with others, so their actual Wisdom must come by Gods blessing on the use of the same means, which are necessary to the Children of the worst men. A Christian's Child is born with no more Knowledge than a Heathen's, and must have as much labour and study to make him wise.

§ 1. THe welfare of the World is of far greater worth than of any single person; and he hath put off Humanity who doth not more earnestly desire it. If this World consisted but of one Generation, then to make that Generation wise and good, would be enough to make it a happy World. But it is not so: In Heaven, and in the future glorious Kingdom, there is neither marrying, nor giving in marriage, but they are as the Angels, in a fixed everlasting State, and one continued Generation maketh up the New Ierusalem: Being once holy and happy, they are so for ever: But here it is not so: One Generation