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

But because I touched much of this in the second Chapter, I will pass by the rest of your own Concerns, and a little further consider how sad the case of such wretched Youths is also unto others.

But because I touch'd much of this in the second Chapter, I will pass by the rest of your own Concerns, and a little further consider how sad the case of such wretched Youths is also unto others.

§ 8. And if Parents be wise and godly, and understand such Children's case, what a grief must it needs be to their hearts, to think that they have begot and bred ⟨p. 44⟩up a Child for Sin and Hell, and cannot make him willing to prevent it? To see their Counsel set at nought, their Teaching lost, their Tears despised, and an obstinate Lad seem wiser to himself than all his Teachers, even when he is swallowing the Devil's Bait, and cruelly murdering his own Soul. [Ah! thinks a believing Father and Mother, have I brought thee into the World for this? Hath all my tender, natural Love so sad an issue? Is this the fruit of all my sorrows, my care, and kindness, to see the Child of my Bowels, whom I dedicated in Baptism to Christ, to make himself the Child of the Devil, the Slave of the Flesh and World, the Enemy of God and Holiness, and his own destroyer? and all this wilfully, obstinately and against all the Counsel, and means that I can use. Alas! must I breed up a Child to become an Enemy to the Church of God, into which he was baptized? and a Soldier for Satan against Christ? Must I breed up a Child for Hell, and see him miserable for ever? and cannot persuade him to be willing to be saved.] O what a heart breaking must this be to those, that Nature and Grace have taught to love them, with tenderness, even as themselves!

§ 8. And if Parents be wise and godly, and understand such Childrens case, what a grief must it needs be to their hearts, to think that they have begot and bred ⟨p. 44⟩