Receive then, Dear Youths, the word of Advice which I now give you in the name of my Lord an• ⟨p. 13⟩Master, from whose mouth the Word did first proceed: Seek, first the Kingdom and righteousness of God. There is a generation of old ones who are going off the stage of the world, and you are coming on in their room; ere long they will lie down in the dust, and you not long since did spring out of it; they are almost come to their Journeys end, and you are setting forth on the way; they are even arrived at the Port, and you are now putting forth to Sea. It is of the greatest concernment in the world to take and follow good advice at the first, before you are engaged too far. Here therefore I shall put you in mind, that there are two ways or passages in which all the children of men are travelling; the one is the way of sin, the other is the path of righteousness: The way of sin is broad, an open, beaten road; you may easily know it by the multitude of Travellers, it is the course of the world. Your Parents when they bring you into the world, set you down in this way; and many, yea most of them go before you in it: It appeareth to you the smoothest and fairest way; it may seem a delightful way to you at the first, strewed with roses; such company, such enticements you may have in this way, as may render it most desirable, if you take Sense and Flesh for your guides and counsellors. But let me warn you before-hand that you walk not in this way, you will quickly find the pleasures in this way to drop and fade, the flowers will wither, the Sun will be clouded, the delights of sin will vanish; and heavy griefs, and bitter sorrows, and vexation of spirit will succeed, and blot out all the sweet relish you have had of unlawful enjoyments: You will find your selves bereaved, and disappointed in that satisfaction ⟨p. 14⟩and happiness you looked and hoped for it a sinful course. It is a dangerous way; there ar• unseen snares in it, and you will receive secret, bu• deep and mortal wounds, which are beyond the ar• of man to cure: It is the way which leadeth to destruction, Matth. 7. 14. It is the high road to Hell thither it will bring you: And if there be some sensual sweetness in the beginning of the way, think what bitterness there will be at the end thereof: Think how terrible Death will be unto you, after a life of sin:
Receive then, Dear Youths, the word of Advic• which I now give you in the name of my Lord an• ⟨p. 13⟩Master, from whose mouth the Word did first proceed: Seek, first the Kingdom and righteousnesse of God. There is a generation of old ones who are going off the stage of the world, and you are comeing on in their room; ere long they will lie down in the dust, and you not long since did spring out of it; they are almost come to their Journeys end, and you are setting forth on the way; they are even arrived at the Port, and you are now putting forth to Sea. It is of the greatest concernment in the world to take and follow good advice at the first, before you are engaged too farr. Here therefore I shall put you in minde, that there are two wayes or passages in which all the children of men are travelling; the one is the way of sin, the other is the path of righteousness: The way of sin is broad, an open, beaten road; you may easily know it by the multitude of Travellers, it is the course of the world. Your Parents when they bring you into the world, set you down in this way; and many, yea most of them go before you in it: It appeareth to you the smoothest and fairest way; it may seem a delightfull way to you at the first, strewed with roses; such company, such enticements you may have in this way, as may render it most desireable, if you take Sense and Flesh for your guides and counsellers. But let me warn you before-hand that you walk not in this way, you will quickly finde the pleasur•s in this way to drop and fade, the flowers will wither, the Sun will be clouded, the delights of sin will vanish; and heavy griefs, and bitter sorrows, and vexation of spirit will succeed, and blot out all the sweet relish you have had of unlawfull enjoyments: You will finde your selves bereaved, and disappointed in that satisfaction ⟨p. 14⟩and happiness you looked and hoped for it a sinfull course. It is a dangerous way; there ar• unseen snares in it, and you will receive secret, bu• deep and mortal wounds, which are beyond the ar• of man to cure: It is the way which leadeth to destruction, Matth. 7. 14. It is the high road to Hell thither it will bring you: And if there be some sensual sweetness in the beginning of the way, think what bitterness there will be at the end thereof: Think how terrible Death will be unto you, after a life of sin:
