Useful instructions for a professing people in times of great security and degeneracy

1. Learn, that there is no safety in […] with the Spirit of God; who comes early to bespeak your Souls for God. God shows that he hath a quarrel with the Youth for slighting and despising Counsels and Reproofs, he would that you should know he is in haste for an answer, and will not wait long if you […] away your time: God looks that where there is so much of Gospel light, and so many endeavours used by Church and Common-wealth for the instruction of Youth in the Ways of God, there should be answerable improvement made, and will have you to know that his patience will not wait so long as in places of ignorance. Let it therefore teach you to beware how you presume upon hereafter, and promising your selves that there is time enough, you may follow your vain courses yet a little longer: Whiles you are thinking it is too soon to repent and amend, how soon may God come and declare that it is too late, that his patience is spent, and there is no more room left for Repentance.

1. Learn, that there is no safety in 〈…〉 with the Spirit of God; who comes early to bespea• your Souls for God. God shews that he hath a quarrel with the Youth for slighting and despising Counsels and Reproofs, he would that you should know he is in haste for an answer, and will not wait long if you 〈…〉 away your time: God looks that where there is so much of Gospel light, and so many endeavours used by Church and Common-wealth for the instruction of Youth in the Wayes of God, there should be answerable improvement made, and will have you to know that his patience will not wait so long as in places of ignorance. Let it therefore teach you to beware how you presume upon hereafter, and promising your selves that there is time enough, you may follow your vain courses yet a little longer: Whiles you are thinking it is too soon to repent and amend, how soon may God come and declare that it is too late, that his patience is spent, and there is no more room left for Repentance.

2. That either God or the Devil will have your young time: you are here at your choice, God by his Word and Spirit is tendering you to receive you into his service, and declaring how acceptable and pleasing it will be to him, but if you will not give your time to him, you will to a worse Master, the Devil stands waiting, yea endeavouring for you, and if Gods yoke please you not, he will easily persuade you to take his, and though that may seem delightful for the present, yet know it, it will be bitterness in the latter end.