TO THE Children of Friends, and other Young People belonging to Falmouth, and elsewhere.  
Dear Friends, & wellbeloved Children,  
IN that love that earnestly longs for your Prosperity, and growth in the Truth and Power of Godliness, I do tenderly Salute you; desiring that you may grow up to be Trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lords Right Hand, that he may be glorified: I have often beheld you with an Eye of Love and Pity, and of late it hath been with meat divers seasons to Visit you with a few Lines, if possible to stir up that Mind or Spirit in you which is pure, by way of remembrance, that you may give diligent heed thereto in all your Conversations, and so may be preserved in the Truth of God over all the wiles of your Souls Adversary.  
And let me tell you by the way, Truth is the most excellent thing in the whole Earth, and there is nothing to be desired in comparison with it, you may read of many of its Excellencies in the Holy Scriptures; But as you become obedient hereunto you will experience it so in yourselves, and will know the Lord to be your Leader, who will lead you out of all Iniquity to the perfecting Holiness in his fear; To which end it is your duty and place not to neglect the Gift of God which is in you, that which in the secret of your Hearts shows you that you ought not to Lie, to Steal, to be Proud, Vain, or Wanton; be diligent in harkening thereunto, and be very careful that you incline not to follow the Enemy in these or any other of his Temptations; But have an Eye to the Lord, and let your desires be to him, who administers strength to the Weak, that he may endue you with spiritual Blessings in the knowledge of himself, and that you may grow up to a living Zeal for the Honour of his Truth. And let me further tell you, though your privileges be very great, and your Advantages much beyond others, in that you have believing Parents, (at least some of you) who have been unto you good Patterns of Holiness, and not only so, 〈◊〉 their Souls have been often poured out unto the Lord on your behalves, that he may bless you with his Heaveanly Dayspring from on high, and bring you unto his divine Truth; yet after all this, and all the pains and care they used in your Education, if you come not to know some Portion of the same Life, and quickening Power in your own Hearts, that wrought in the minds of those your tender Parents, or Friends, you will be as dead and lifeless, and as certainly unaceptable to the Lord as any other Children whatsoever. And therefore the Apostle's advice to Timothy is very expedient for you, 2 Tim. 1. 6, 7. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the Gift of God that is in thee, and the unfeigned Faith which dwelled first thy Parents; for God hath not given us the Spirit of fear (the Spirit of carelessness and indifferency) but of Power, of Love, and a Sound Mind. Now examine yourselves, whether you have this Spirit of Power Whether you have dominion over your Soul's enemy. Or whether your minds yet go after the Earth, or the vain Customs or Fashions of it. If so, you have not this Spirit of Power, nor of the Love of God, and so are far from a Sound Mind.  
Therefore, Dear Children, be very watchful, walk circumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wise; put away Lying, speak every one the Truth to each other; They are my People, said the Lord, Children that will not Lie. So he was their Father [Mark] God is a Father to those who will not Lie; here is a glorious Privilege that you are called to, even to be Children of God.  
Be careful likewise, that none of you be Busy-bodies, meddling with the affairs of others, or ready to carry Tales and stories, for this will certainly corrupt your Minds from the Simplicity of the Truth, and it will make you idle and impertinent, that the Lord will have no regard unto you, nor his People any respect for you.  
And let all take care that they study not to outdo one another in  and Dress, as who shall be finest: But rather, Dear Children, and young People, if there be an emulation betwixt you, let it be who shall be humblest, and who shall be lowest; For it's the lowly God exalts, and the Meek he guides in Judgement, and with the humble he will abide: And this I have to say, where that over-earnest desire is to appear as fine as others, (though with such things as may seem plain) yet Pride creeps in under that Spirit, and your Profession will no more keep you out of the reach of the Enemy's Power, than it does those who wear Laces, Fringes and Ribbons, but you will as really fall under, the just Judgement of the Righteous God as any other proud People whatsoever.  
I have this likewise to tell you, that it is your duty to be very careful of what acquaintance, and society you use yourselves to; that you may keep out of the World's Ways, and Fellowships, and that you who are young Boys and Girls, may not run with them in their Plays, and Sports, but may be grave and sober as becomes those professing Godliness; for be assured such as your Companions be, such are you like to be in a short time; and therefore it behoves you to seek after the society of sober Friends, and such as love Truth, that your love thereto may grow and increase, and the Lord may kindle a Zeal in your Spirits, and make you serviceable to him in the days of your Youth.  
And, Dear Children, be careful likewise to frequent Meetings, and to sit soberly and in good order when you are there, and think not that it is enough to appear there with your Bodies while your Minds go astray from the Lord, but know the Lord abhors that Sacrifice, and has regard to the diligent and careful, whose Minds are exercised in his Law, and who are under an holy awe and fear, lest they should come short of that Inheritance to the which God hath called them; I believe you are not without your enemy, who when he hath a little clouded the mind, endeavours to be wilder it by drawing it into many thoughts, wand'ring up and down in a multitude of unnecessary Cogitations, or else on the other hand to settle down in a dry drowsy, sleepy state, and condition; which is a great shame to behold, and a dishonour to the Name of the Lord; and must therefore be watched against diligently; and let your earnset and hearty Petition be to the Lord, that he may perserve you out of those evils, for where these things become habitual, or customary to a People, Such in time lose the sense of God's Refreshments & the renewings of Life, and Power which he communicates tohis watchful People.  
Therefore, Dear Friends, be concerned, God waits to be Gracious to you, my Soul is a witness for him, he hath not been wanting to us to bless our Assemblies with his Presence and the bedewings of his precious Life; And why should any of us either Young or Old, be careless of so great a Blessing, and let our mind's rest in earthly foolish things? Oh! Dear Friends, let us be a concerned people before the Lord, that his Truth may shine in our Conversations, and in all our Meetings, This is what the Lord looks for, that we may be a living People, lively towards him, and if there be any deadness remains, let it be towards that which is evil, that the Enemy of our Souls, may never have his purpose on any of us, but that we may wait more and more for God's Salvation; who will certainly be near unto us as in sincerity we draw near unto him.  
And Dear Children, and Young People, I do further advise you, that you keep in the simplicity of the Truth, out of all craft, and cunning, and out of all shows and appearances beyond what you really are. But let it be your desire and endeavour to appear simply unto all, as you are in the view of the Lord, and it's no matter how foolish men may esteem you: And that your earnest breathe be, that the Lord may search and try you, and whatever evil is in you, that he may do it away; and as your Hearts become thus exercised God will meet with you, he will show you the joy of his Salvation, and make you beautiful in his House of Prayer, and who knows but he may kindle such loving Zeal in your Spirits as to concern you for the good of others, and furnish you with an Heavenly effectual Gift, for the reproving and admonishing those who go out of the way, and for comforting the weak and feeble, as he pleaseth to move in you; And therefore it behoves you who are young, to be sober minded, and to wait on the Lord that you may daily know his Instructions, and may follow Him who is a Teacher near, when we have no outward Instructor. To the Word of whose divine Grace that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the Presence of his Glory, with exceeding joy, I hearty Recommend you, and Remain,  
Your Dearly Loving Friend and Brother in the Truth, Thomas Gwin.   

Postcript.  
THere is yet somewhat more on my mind to communicate to you, in respect of your behaviour towards your Parents, or any other Friends, who may be concerned to caution you for your good, that you may receive it in meekness and goodwill, and take heed of an angry obstinate Spirit that is heady, and high minded, and kicks against reproof; God and good men hate that Spirit, and if you go on therein it will surely destroy you, and the way of Peace you will never know. Therefore be Jealous over your own Hearts, and let Judgement have its free course, for That in you which hates reproof, and turns Judgement backward, is the greatest of all your Enemies.  
And you who are more grown, take care of letting out your Affections hastily after any man or Woman in order to Marriage, but soberly wait the Lord's time, seek first Gods Kingdom and the Righteousness thereof, and know thy maker to be thy Husband, who will sufficiently care for thee, and whose love is better than the Love of the whole Earth. Be Cautious therefore and retired, for those who let out their Minds, not having a regard to the Lord and the guidance of Truth in these things, They fall (as the Apostle said in another Case) into a snare, and many foolish and hurtful Lusts, which drown men in Perdition.  
After this sort I have been often concerned to write to you, Dear Children and Young People, and I hearty wish it may be effectual to the Spiritual benefit of any one particular of you, which would be a sufficient recompense to your well wishing Friend.  
And you who are Parents of Children, the Concern that aught to be on you is great, not only to instruct and admonish your tender Ones, but that you may be patterns and examples of Holiness unto them, for children's Eyes are usually more upon the manners and behaviour of their Parents than upon their Precepts and Instructions; dost thou think, Oh vain Man or Woman! that when thou tellest thyChild he ought not to Lie, and thou liest; or that he ought not to be Proud, whilst thou art Proud; or that he must not be Obstinate, Vain or Angry; whilst thou art so; dost thou think thy instructions will prevail more than thy Example? truly it's not very likely they should; what a care than ought to be on us in respect of our Issue, that they may see our good examples, and follow us, and Glorify God on our behalves! And so we shall be a blessing unto them, and they may be blessings unto us, and the Lord as he hath begun will continue to bless us with his divine Presence, and the early and latter Rain of his Favour, which causes a freshness, and a springing up of the Pure Seed, to the Praise Honour and Glory of his divine Name, who is over all eternally worthy, saith my Soul and let the Dominion, and Authority be to him forever and for evermore.  
Falmouth 14th of the 9th Month, 1690. T. G.  
THE END.