A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, in the Abbey…A sermon preached before the Right Honourable the House of Peeres, in the Abbey…

APPLICATION.

First, you see of what great use Religion is to great men. You who are Noblemen and Gentlemen, who have great estates to leave to your children, are not your desires and endeavours that they may have breeding suitable to your estates you intend to leave them? how vile a thing is it in the eyes of all men, for one to have a great estate, but no breeding! he is a fool, he knows not how to manage his estate now he hath it, he will quickly embezzle it away, and undo himself. Why should you not then account it a great evil for your selves or children, to have honours and estates, but no skill to know how to use them for God, and the furtherance of your or their eternal good? It is only godliness learned in the school of Christ teacheth this. This is the most necessary, the most honourable breeding. Breed up your young heirs, and the rest of your children, in the knowledge, and as much as in you lies, in the love of godliness, that when they come to enjoy those fair estates they succeed you in, they may be eminent for the honour of God, and the good of their Country, in their generation. Be in love with godliness, ye rich men, and especially the Nobles of our Land; how happy were we if there were a hopeful succession ⟨p. 40⟩of Nobility and Gentry! our sufferings are from the disaffection so many of these have had to Religion; I hope there is yet a time when godliness shall be honoured upon the earth by great ones. Seek for grace for your selves and posterity; God hath given you plenty of the lower springs, seek the upper.

FIrst, you see of what great use Religion is to great men. You who are Noblemen and Gentlemen, who have great estates to leave to your children, are not your desires and endeavours that they may have breeding sutable to your estates you intend to leave them? how vile a thing is it in the eyes of all men, for one to have a great estate, but no breeding! he is a foole, he knowes not how to manage his estate now hee hath it, he will quickly embezell it away, and undoe himselfe. Why should you not then account it a great evill for your selves or children, to have honours and estates, but no skill to know how to use them for God, and the furtherance of your or their eternall good? It is onely godlinesse learned in the schoole of Christ teacheth this. This is the most necessary, the most honourable breeding. Breed up your young heyres, and the rest of your children, in the knowledge, and as much as in you lies, in the love of godlinesse, that when they come to enjoy those faire estates they succeed you in, they may be eminent for the honour of God, and the good of their Countrey, in their generation. Be in love with godlinesse, ye rich men, and especially the Nobles of our Land; how happy were we if there were a hopefull succession