Pillars of salt. An history of some criminals executed in this land, for capital…

And that this Advice, may reach to more, that are greatly concerned in it, I now further say, Behold, how much you that have had a Religious Education, are to be careful that you do not Irreligiously Sin against that Education. It may be Remarked, That there are no greater Prodigies of Wickedness, and Scoffers and Haters o• Religion, than many who have had a Religious Education: There is a Corruptio Optimi, in them; the most Generous Wine, produces the sourest and sharpest Vinegar of Wickedness. They who in their Childhood were Instructed, and Inspected, and Corrected by their Pious Parents, do sometimes prove Impious Apostates. They Apostatize to Superstition, They Apostatize to Profanity,, They Turn the veriest Villains on Earth and Firebrands of Hell; It may be said of them, as it was about the Sons of that Eminent Minister of God, Old Eli, The Sin of the Young men is Great: At Last, they have that Epitaph upon their Graves, They Died in Youth, and their Life was among the Unclean! Why does this come to pass? Why, 'Tis the Irritated Vengeance of God upon them, for their Unfruitfulness under a Religious Education. They have made no Good Improvement of the Godly Precepts, and the Godly Patterns, which they have had from their Godly Parents: And the God of Heaven Therefore so Forsakes them, that at Last, they are more Improved ⟨p. 49⟩in Presumptuous Wickedness, than any other Young Men that Sin against Him. Hearken my young Folks; Oh! Work out your own Salvation, with a Fear of becoming thus very Desolate.

And that this Advice, may reach to more, that are greatly concerned in it, I now further say, Behold, how much you that have had a Religious Education, are to be careful that you do not Irreligiously Sin against that Education. It may be Remark'd, That there are no greater Prodigies of Wickedness, and Scoffers and Haters o• Religion, than many who have had a Religious Education: There is a Corruptio Optimi, in them; the most Generous Wine, produces the sowrest and sharpest Vinegar of Wickedness. They who in their Childhood were Instructed, and Inspected, and Corrected by their Pious Parents, do sometimes prove Impious Apostates. They Apostatize to Superstition, They Apostatize to Profanity,, They Turn the veriest Villians on Earth and Firebrands of Hell; It may be said of them, as it was about the Sons of that Eminent Minister of God, Old Eli, The Sin of the Young men is Great: At Last, they have that Epitaph upon their Graves, They Dy'd in Youth, and their Life was among the Unclean! Why does this come to pass? Why, 'Tis the Irritated Vengeance of God upon them, for their Unfruitfulness under a Religious Education. They have made no Good Improvement of the Godly Precepts, and the Godly Patterns, which they have had from their Godly Parents: And the God of Heaven Therefore so Forsakes them, that at Last, they are more Improved