The Last ADVICE OF Mr. BEN. ALEXANDER (late Minister of West-Markham, in the County of Nottingham) To His CHILDREN. In Two Parts. The Contents follow. Prov. 24.21. My Son, fear thou the Lord, and the King: and Meddle not with them that are given to change. London, Printed for Nath. Ekins, at the Gun in S. Paul's Churchyard. 1659. The CONTENTS OF This BOOK. In the first Part. A Preface to Page 3. A catechistical Dialogue. to p. 13. A Godly Form of Prayer to p. 26. In the second Part. General and Particular Advice. 1 In Religion, from p. 29. to p. 43. 2 Opinion, to p. 48. 3 Morality to p. 60. 4 Government to p. 65. 5 Study. to p. 72. 6 Marriage. to p. 75. The ADVICE OF Mr. Benjamin Alexander To his CHILDREN. IT was great joy which S. John (3. Epistle of John v. 4.) had, when he heard that Gaius and his Children did walk in the truth; and, if it be a part of the glory of Heaven, to know what is done on earth, my glory should be exceeding glorious to know that you my Children did so: But whether I know it or know it not, if ye do so, ye are certain of the crown of glory. This which I have left you, concerneth you, first, as you stand to God, secondly, to men, thirdly, to yourselves: the Lord bless you, & these, and alother helps of piety to you, that you may be glorious through holiness here, and in holiness hereafter. Your loving Father Ben. Alexander. August 2. 1658. The first part. Sarah. I pray thee, Brother, let us sit under yonder green tree. Ben. I will, sister, for it is pleasant weather. But why wilt thou go to day? S. Because I am now at leisure, and would speak to thee in private. B. Let us go. S. Pray tell me one thing, Brother? B. Doubt not Sister, I will if I can. S. I have seen my Father oft times on his knees in the hall, and sometimes in the parlour, what doth he mean by that? B. My Father goeth then to prayers. S. To pray, what is that? B. It is a duty. S. Is there a duty due to any but my Father and Mother? B. Yea, Sister, that there is. S. To whom? B. To God. S. What is he? B. A Spirit. S. A Spirit, what is that? B. A spirit is an intelligent substance without body or bodily qualities. S. What is God then? B. God is a Spirit, most holy, most wise, eternal and infinite, in whom we live, move, and have our being. S. How many Gods are there? B. But one in essence, but three in persons (viz.) Father, Son, and holy Ghost. S. How shall I come to know him? B. Three ways. S. Which are they? B. By his works about us, his word unto us, his workings in us. S. What is his word? B. That which we call Scripture. S. How came that to us? B. God breathed it into men, who spoke as they were inspired by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. S. What men were they? B. Enoch, Moses, the Prophets, Evangelists, Apostles, etc. S. What are his works? B. The Creation of the world, and all the things therein; as Sun, Moon, Cloud, Earth, Sea, and his Powerful, and wise Providence, in upholding, and ordering all things, till the end come. S. What are his Workings? B. Light, Love, Fear, and all affections, acts of Conscience, Faith, and all Graces. S. But, why doth my Father Pray? B. That God would forgive our sins, and give all things necessary for life and godliness. S. What is sin? B. Sin is the transgression of the Law. S. And, have I any sin? B. Yea, Sister, and I also: for we were born in sin, and are thereby enemies to God, and all goodness, and subject to sicknesses, crosses, and losses in this life; yea, we must die also; and, without the special Grace of God, are cast away for ever and ever. S. Thou tellest me a strange thing: how cometh this to pass? B. By Adam's sin, in whose loins we were, and so are liable to these punishments. S. What did Adam do? B. He disobeyed the Commands of God, in eating the fruit, which he had forbidden. S. How is that proved, good Brother? B. See Rom. 5.12. By one man sin entered into the World, and death by him, and so death passed over all men, for that all have sinned. S. Is there any more Scripture for it? B. Yea, Sister. S. Which are they? B. Read Psal. 1.51.5. I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my Mother conceive, and Epes. 2.3. we are by nature the children of wrath, even as others. S. Alas, Brother, what case are we then in? B. In the state of damnation, and God may cast us into hell. S. Hell, what is that? B. The place of torments, by fire and brimstone, where is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. S. These are torments, the Lord deliver us from them; is there a way to escape them? B. Yea, Sister. S. How? B. By the Son of God. S. Who is he, that I may know him? B. Jesus Christ, of whom you read in the Bible. S. Is it he, of whom I read in my Psalter, that was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, risen again the third day, and shall come in the end of the world, to Judge the quick and the dead? B. Yea, Sister, the very same. S. What is he, that I may see him? B. He is in heaven, thou canst not see him yet. S. How then shall I know him? B. By mixing faith with thy reading of the Gospel. S. What is Faith? B. Faith is the gift of God, by which he giveth a mind to believe in Jesus Christ, and a full persuasion settled, that what he did, suffered in life or death, as it was sufficient, so it was efficacious for my salvation. S. And, is there nothing but this Faith required? B. Faith alone doth save us, but, this Faith never goeth alone, but, it worketh by love. S. Which is the Rule of love? B. The ten Commandments. S. What is the sum of the Commandments? B. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself. S. Faith than is a perfect jewel: how shall I find it? B. The Word begets it, Sacraments confirm it, Prayer increaseth it. S. And, will this bring me to Heaven? B. Yea, if you persevere to the end. S. But, you told me, I must die, how then can I go to Life? B. Death is the door to Life. S. Doth my soul die? B. No, that goeth to God that gave it. S. Then my body only stayeth in the grave. B. Yea. S. How shall that rise? B. According to the Scripture, by the Power of God. S. When? B. In the Resurrection of the last day, when they which have done good, shall go into everlasting life; but hypocrites, and unbelievers to eternal fire. S. Will you help me to Pray? B. Yea, Sister. S. I thank you Brother, how then must I pray? The Prayer. O Most glorious and gracious Lord God, the great Creator of Heaven and earth, and the wise Disposer of all things, which thou hast made for thine own glory, and for the good and welfare of all thy servants; we the most unworthiest of all thy servants, do desire to prostrate ourselves before thy divine Majesty, under an humble acknowledgement of thy goodness, thy grace, thy truth, and faithfulness; thy many mercies renewed and continued every day to us, and our great unworthiness of the least of any of them. We are not worthy of the crumbs that fall from thy Table; not only because we were born in sin, but because we have lived in sin, and have daily added to our sins, by the vanity of our thoughts, words, and actions, and the unsuitableness of the whole man to all thy commands: we are ignorant of them, yea we have digged to ourselves Cisterns that will hold no water, we have doubted of thy promises, and disinherited therein thy Covenants, broken thy Laws, polluted thy Ordinances, profaned thy Sabbaths, abused thy mercies, slighted thy judgements, sinned against the light of our own Consciences, against Grace received, against the motions of thy holy Spirit, against Heaven, and in thy sight, and we are not worthy to be called thy Children; and therefore most justly mayst thou pour down thy displeasure upon us, and empty the vials of thy wrath upon us and ours, making our lives bitter unto us, by diseases and manifold crosses, and deny us the fruition of thyself, in glory hereafter: and yet thou art just in all thy ways, and holy in all thy works; for this we abhor ourselves, and condemn ourselves, (oh let us escape the condemnation of thee our God): O enter not into judgement with us, for, in thy sight, shall no flesh living be justified; our only Hope is on the Merits of Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son our Saviour, of whom thou spakest from thy Excellent Glory, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; in him, O Lord, be well pleased with us, and sign thy good pleasure unto us, by a full, and free Pardon of all our sins; Lord, 'tis a great Request we beg of thee, and more than such sinners as we are, can hope for, to receive from thee, but, it was a great Price which was paid for us; not by corruptible things, as silver, and gold, but, the most Precious blood of thine own Son; we tender up to thee Lord Jesus Christ, upon the Altar of a believing soul; O receive him for us, thou laidst upon him the iniquities of us all; that we through his stripes, might be healed; magnify thy mercies towards us sinners, and thy Grace, by passing by our transgressions; and, Lord, Seal up thy Pardon, by giving thy holy Spirit unto us, in more enlarged fullness, and let him comfort us, and bear witness to our spirits, that we are thine, and thou art ours, that being delivered from the bondage of sin, we may cry out Abba Father. O let thy Spirit bring gracious answers to our soul's desires, plead the cause of our souls; shed abroad the love of thyself in our hearts, leading us into all necessary truths: guiding us by Grace here, that we may come o● Glory hereafter; And, as we desire Pardon of sins, so we pray thee subdue our sins, mortify those corruptions that dwell in us, and oft times do tyrannize over us, and bring us to subjection to the Law of sin, making us most wretched creatures; O let it pity thee, to see Satan rule over us, who takes us captive according to his will: bruise his power, limit his malice, shorten his chain, divide his Kingdom, hasten his final doom and condemnation; O let no Lord Rule over us, but thyself, for thou art our only God, and we will worship thee; And good Father, lead us not into temptation, deliver us from the evil thereof, strengthen us against them, sanctify us under them, and let us find the sufficiency of thy Grace under them, to make us conquerors through Jesus Christ; O make sin loathsome to us, help us to look upon sin, as thou dost look upon it, to Judge it and condemn it, give us a sight of it, in thy favour, a sorrow for it, and a resolution against it; and hold us up by the Power of thy Spirit, through Faith to Salvation; Help us to derive our Joy from Heaven, and our comforts from above the clouds, and to lay up our treasure above the sun, where the moth, and the thief cannot eat through and steal; Make good thy Covenant to us, in giving us a new heart, and renewing our spirit in us, let the Sceptre of Christ sway over the whole man: our understandings, wills, affections, bringing all to obedience of the Law of Christ; Remember thy whole Church, what promises thou hast for Jews and Gentiles, in thy good time make out to them, bring in the outcast of Israel, and all from the highways, that so thy house may be full; O let the Nations be thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the Earth be thy possession; Remember, and bless these Nations wherein we live; O Lord keep up England from falling from thee, let it not languish, nor decay in Godliness: and let not the wantonness under the means of Grace in it, procure the want of Grace in it; thou hast divided us, bring us together again; O Pardon the sins of our Nation, and help us, to keep ourselves free from the pollution thereof; thou art a God of order, O settle order in thy Church, and unity among thy Saints; let such as do err out of ignorance, learn knowledge, and such as have sinned against knowledge, find Repentance; endue the Magistrates with the knowledge of thy Spirit of Grace and wisdom, as well as with Power, that we may live a peaceable and quiet life under them, in all godliness and honesty. O let thy Ministers be clothed with holiness, writ it on their breast, let them shine by holiness of life, as well as by Doctrine, and Crown all their Labours with a Garland of souls. And remove not, O Father, thy Candlestick from us, for our unworthiness of it, and our unthankfulness for it, but Pardon our unprofitableness under it, and teach us to profit more and more. And, O Lord, comfort all the children of affliction, speak peace to the wounded and troubled spirit, bind up the broken hearted, power in wine and oil into their maladies, that the bones which thou hast broken, may rejoice; convert our enemies, and make our ways so to please thee, that our very enemies may be at peace with us; bless our Relations in consanguinity, affinity, and Christian friendship, that as there is a communion of Saints, so we maystudy to edify one another, in love and piety, by words and works. And good Father, set us higher than our crosses, and temporal afflictions in this life, help us to cast our care upon thee, who hath promised to care for us, and thou that regardest sparrows, tellest us, we are of far greater value than many sparrows. Now Lord, we bless thy good name for all thy Mercies and blessings, for deliverance from dangers seen, and unseen; for continuance in prosperity, for food and raiment, for life, health, peace, plenty and prosperity; for family blessings, and personal favours; we bless thee that we are born in the pale of thy Church, where there is the dew of Heaven, and fatness of the Earth the means of Grace plentifully vouchsafed unto us; O help us to walk worthy of these thy go out to us, and teach us the right use of all thy providence. Accompany us, holy Father, with thy Gracious presence, order us from day to day, be not far from us, but guide us by thy spirit, till thou shalt translate us to thy Glory, all which we crave from thee, not for any worthiness that is in us, but only for thy Son our Saviour's sake, to whom, with thyself and Spirit, be given all Glory, and thanksgiving, now, and for ever, Amen. The second Part. Containing GENERAL And PARTICULAR ADVICE, Touching Religion, Opinion, Morality, Government, Study, Marriage. The second Part. Containing GENERAL And PARTICULAR ADVICE, Touching Religion, Opinion, Morality, Government, Duty, Marriage. RELIGION. 1. QUestion not the least way, whether there be a God, or not, nei●her be curious concerning him: Non nunquam de D●vera loqui periculum est, &▪ And God is rather known 〈◊〉 what he is not, than what he 〈◊〉 2. Quarrel not in th● lest manner with the Mysteries of Religion, as the Trinity, the Generation of th●● Son, the Profession of th● Holy Ghost, but bring 〈◊〉 humble mind with thee and go not without th● guide of Faith, and frequent Prayer. 3. Thou art by Professi●● a Christian, therefore sit dow● and cast with thyself, tha● thou art to Love Things thou Seest not, Believe Things thou Knowest not, Apprehend Things thou Reachest not. 4. Though the Spirit of God worketh a full persuasion in the heart, concerning the things of God, yet outward Arguments are necessary; for, that which gave Thomas the Apostle an assurance of the Truth of Christ, was his sensery, Reach hither thy finger, John 2.27. 5. Let your Prayers be frequent, and among your premeditated Petitions, remember to Pray, that God would not lead thee into Temptation, for in these last days, the shorter Satan's reign, the sharper is his rage, 6. Oppose not any Truth, and be not like the Sea Pie that cannot rise, except it be by rising against the wind. 7. In matters of doubt, mingle Charity with your Judgement, and temper your zeal with discretion. 8. Where there are many Sects of Religion, take great heed what thou dost, for nothing is so hard, and chargeable to keep, as a good Conscience. 9 Remember this speech of one, that said, a good Religion may be made of the Papists Charity, the Puritans Words, and the Protestants Faith. 10. Read the Bible often, and with Reverence; in doubtful matters Consult the Church, in the purest Ages thereof, which is the Pillar and ground of Truth, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against thee. 11. Let your judgement be content, rather to wade where you find footeing, then to swim in sense of Scripture; in the one you shall know your grounds, in the other you will foot in uncertainties, or have but a sandy foundation. 12. Despise not Profession of Holiness, but take heed how you trust it, the Coat of Christ is more worn, than the practice of him. Keep thy Conscience free and clear, and let thy Conversation show it, that if dirt be cast at thee, it may not stick upon thy Reputation. 14. Have a care of your Carriage in the World, for no action will please, which cometh from one, whose Person and Profession is distasted. 15. If thy Teacher be wicked, look well to thyself; for the Teacher's error is the People's trial. 16. Preaching doth lift up Christ more highly than Reading, like spice bruised or pounded; so is the Word of more sweet savour, when it is Preached. 17. Milk in the breast of the Mother, is far better than Milk in the sucking-bottle; so Sermons, with lively actions, are far more edifying than the same Repeated. 18. Prayer is a most prevailing Duty, use it continually by yourselves, but Solemnly twice a day. 19 Take heed of pride, and let the joints of your conversation be oiled with Humility. 20. One bended knee will bend many hearts; but pride is an unwining quality, making thee to be scorned of thy betters, hated by thy equals, feared by thy inferiors, and beloved of no body, 21. Avoid sin, as to thyself, and consent not to it in others, for 'tis all one to hold the sack, and to fill it. 22 In all your losses, crosses, & sicknesses, set God's Glory before thine eyes, without much contemplation of thy particular condition; our Saviour gave the gifts of Miracles to his Apostles, to cure others, yet could not, or did not cure their own weakness; as St. Paul, Timothy, 1 Tim. 5.28. nor his own, 2 Cor. 1.8. 23. Let not dangers or difficulties cause thee to neglect Religion, all weather is fair to a willing mind. 24. Curious questions in Schoole-Divinity do whet the wit, and sharpen the brain, but dulls Faith, and proves an Enemy to soule-edification. 25. Ascube not to thine own endeavours, for Divine providence doth act more vigorously, then humane prudence. 26. Let not the errors of thy Teachers cause thee to imitate their vices; they have Treasure in earthen vessels, 2 Cor. 4.7. and he that will prove a pitcher of clay to be a pot of gold, takes great pains to small purpose. 27. Be not much wedded to your own opinion, but consult with men of knowledge and Religion, and then be firm and fixed, like the Axletree, though the wheels oft time run forward or backward. 28. You may serve, or bear office under them, that have ascended to the Throne by bloodshed; for there were some in Nero's house, Phil. 4.22. and in Herod's also, Acts 13.1. and other instances in Scripture. 29. Duels are an invention of the Devil, and against Piety and Religion, if thou overcomest, thou losest, and gainest a sting of Conscience, scarce to be pulled out again. 30. As a man that lieth uneasy, is subject to turning and tossing, so, a man unconstant in his Principles, is soon moved to change. 31. In times of change, men account of the Institution of the Church, as old Coin, not much better than counters; but slight not thou wholesome Doctrine, because of the General blemish it lieth under. 32. Reverence Antiquity, but conclude it not infallible; yet, take her word sooner than any particular learning, Doctrine being much cleared by experience. 33. If God bless thy basket, be charitable, though man be unthankful; for God will have some to be so, the better to reserve requital to himself. 34. Mark this, when the Common Wealth fadeth, the Church flourisheth not, one side of the face will not smile, when the other frowns. 35. 'Tis a vanity to use Pomps at Burials, Mourners like Crows devour the Living, under pretence of Honouring a dead carcase. 36. That man deserves to be forgotten, that hath nothing to Register his name, but a grave-stone. 37. Use not Religion as birds do their shells, which, while they are hatching, do preserve them; but, when they are hatched, are broken, and cast away. 38. Be not given to Acts of Cruelty; for bloody hands have rowing feet. 39 How little soever thou hast, get it honestly; no good useing of any thing, will make amends for the ill getting of it. 40. Thou art born in the Pale of the Church, and so art a visible Christian; but, content not thyself with that; many knew Nathaniel to be an Israelite, but, none but Christ could say, Behold, an Israelite, in whom there is no guile. 41. Have frequent thoughts of thy death, for life is but like a little bird, that flieth in at one window of the house, and goeth out at another. 42. Be eminent in nothing but Religion, Godliness hath the Promise of this life, and that which is to come; 1 Tim. 4.8. 43. While the men of the World hunt after greatness, do thou study goodness, it was great Honour that Paul giveth Ephenetus, that he was the first man that embraced the Faith in Acham, Rom. 16.5. 44. In Adam we lost three things, Gods 1. Image. 2. Favour. 3. Fellowship. Assure thyself of Christ, he is the Image of the Father, that hath purchased favour for thee, and fellowship with thee. 45. I fear that Popery will spread again in these Nations, try if your Principles be sound in the Faith, profound in Judgement. In order to this last Advice, observe these that follow. OPINIONS. 1. TAke heed of entertaining a new Opinion in point of Religion, for, if the passions of the mind be strong, they will easily sophisticate the understanding, and make it apt to believe upon slender warrant, and imagine infallible truth, where scarce any probable show appeareth. 2. The Socinian Religion is to a Trial, subtle and light; ●e Roman is too earthy ●nd worldly; embrace, and ●old fast the Reformed Religion, as the soundest and sa●est way to Salvation. 3. The Religion of the Church of Rome, especially of the Jesuits, is imperious, and if they cannot bend others ●o it, they will burn them; but, ●f thou canst warrant thy call, ●ather die, then deny the Truth. 4. The Millinaries have something like truth in them, nor were they condemned by any Council, for three hundred years after Christ. One Mr. Archer hath a book of that Opinion, buy it, if the Lord bless thee, an● observe it well. 5. The Schismatic in Gene●rall, and the Anabaptist in particular, is very fiery, and wi●● not be contented, unless 〈◊〉 hath such a Sanctity here o● Earth, which God never trusted yet out of Heaven 〈◊〉 etc. 6. The Ranters of Englan● are the same with the famil●● of love, formally, or rather o● the family of lust. 7. The Lutherans, abou● the Sacrament of the Suppe● do err; yet follow thou Luther's Motto, In quo aliqui● Christi video, illium dilig●●. 8. Run not eagerly after new Lights, nor endeavour t● put them out; for, he tha● will not quench the smoking of flax, may possibly accept of candles, though made of rushes. 9 Be not hasty to oppose one of a different opinion from thee; for new opinions rather gain reputation, then lose it by opposition. 10. When pretences of Religion are imperious, men carry breasts of steel against others of their own Profession. 11. Schism, like a flood let out, is only of force, at the first opening to drive on designs of Innovation; losing itself afterward, either out of weariness, or doubt of consequence. 12. If thou hast attained to any perfection in any thing, take heed you blemish it not by any absurdity; for his name that burned the Temple of Diana, outlasted his that built it. MORALITY. 1. TAke heed of wantonnesse, in word or deed for, the snuff of lust, goeth out with the stink of loathing. 2. Strive not for the upperhand with the Pharisees, lest thou lose the right hand of, friendship among Christians. 3. The Cordial wound of a faithful friend, will keep thee from the wounding cordials of a flattering foe. 4. Grieve not for what thou canst not help, for what is past cure, should be past care. 5. If God sends abundance into thy basket, deny thyself; for necessity will teach thee more, than overmuch enjoyed prosperity. 6. Go to the houses of Great men, for, men in Power esteem better of such, to whom they have done courtesies, then of those they have received greater from, they looking upon this as a shame, the other as an Honour. 7. Let nothing unjustifiable, dangerous, or, to be construed in an ill sense, come under your hand, for, some time it may rise up in judgement against you, when things spoken are forgotten, Litera scripta manet. 8. Speak disgracefully of no body at Public Meetings, lest a friend, or a kinsman be present, and hear thee; therefore look upon all free discourse, as dangerous in mixed companies. 9 Tell not to others your vices and infirmities, lest you make them censorious of your Actions, and judges of your condition. 10. Reveal not the pranks of other men to every body, lest thou sell thy friend, and give him an argument of distrust of your fidelity, and secrecy in other things. 11. Let your wit serve you rather as a buckler to defend you from others, than a sword to wound them; for a word cuts deeper than a sharp weapon; and a blow proceedeth from the hand, but a disgraceful speech from the heart. 12. Regard not vain talk, they are light leaves that do wag with every wind. 13. When thou art innocent, be not afraid of the high language of an insulting foe; the Sun looks then biggest on the earth, when it is ready to set. 14. Put not your sickle into another man's corn, lest you cut your fingers. 15. Burden not yourself with useless notions, no body will carry about with him that key, that will unlock no Treasure. 16. Search for the truth in a matter, before thou speakest, and then be bold, for truth may be blamed, but never shamed. 17. If thou be'st a Tenant to any man, consider who was before you, for, that man will get little with his fork, that succeeds him, that went before him with a rake. 18. When you writ a Letter, so writ it, as if the Person to whom you writ it, were present with you. 19 Have a care that you use no words, or phrases, which may be thought to be learned in unlearned company. 20. Give Advice, when you are desired, and continue it no longer, than you see 'tis acceptable. 21. Be not accounted an intelligencer, lest you come under the odious notion of a spy. 22. Grant a courtesy when asked, at the first, for expedition doubleth the worth of it. Bis dat qui citò dat. 23. Mend not the Copy of your Master, nor contradict his Commands, lest you be thought to value your conceit above his, and so be accounted proud. 24. Writ not the faults of Great Persons in a Letter, lest it be intercepted, and you sent out of the World before your time. 25. Wear your neat, but suitable to your fortune, lest on the one hand you be accounted a soven, or on the other, proud, and vain glorious. 26. Live frugally at present, that thou mayest grapple with what may come hereafter. 27. Have a care you meddle not with women's quarrels, for women's brawls, are men's thralls. 28. Let not thy judgement be corrupted by a gift, a bribe may not be taken, a boon may. 29. In expenses, spare, when you may, that you may spend when you should. 30. If anger do boil in your heart, let it not run over in your mouth, open scandal doth more hurt than concealed vice. 31. Do not too much enjoy prosperity, for Manna was despised for variety. 32. Be mindful of received courtesies, and, writ not good turns in sand, and ill turns in brass. 33. Reverence your Mother, and, if need be relieve her; love your brothers and sisters, remembering that ye are of a piece, and differ from one another in name only. 34. Take heed you lay not the aspersion of a witch upon any one, for, we are strangers to the secret Malignities of Nature, and mad men in their melancholy ecstasies, have had as prodigious confessions, and gestures as they. 35. At a conference be silent a while, to speak last is a great advantage, for, thereby shall you hear the matter debated, and the strength, or weakness of others Arguments, to guide your speech. 36. Despise none for the meanness of their birth, or poverty of breeding, for true virtue maylodge in a poor Cottage. 37. Be neither pleased nor grieved at reports, the good is enlarged, and the bad quenched, by nothing sooner than neglect. 38. Judge of nothing by the voice of fame, nor desire it much, for it carrieth a trumpet, which, for the most part, gathereth more enemies than friends. 39 Provoke not a coward too far, lest he turn valiant to thy overthrow. 40. Take heed what company you keep, for example prevaileth more than precepts. 41. When you speak to any, look them full in the face, other gestures do bewray want of breeding, confidence, or honesty, and dejected, eyes, argue, guilt or folly. 42. Ride not hastily through a Town, men do think that either the horse, or your brains are none of your own. 43. Keep a good horse, it is very useful for you, and much may be done that way, to oblige a friend. 44. If it may be, never buy, but with ready money: and not commonly of your friends and acquaintance; for they will take it ill, if you will not be cheated some times, to humour them. 45. When guilty of a fault, seek not to excuse it by niceties, a fine thread will soon be broke in the spinning. Concerning GOVERNORS. 1. A wicked man, and a bad Instrument, is to be obeyed, Christ and his Apostles did so. 2. In bad times 'tis better to be passive, then active; our blessed Saviour was never heard to inveigh against the present Power, though it made the head of John Baptist to be cut off. 3. Own the Power, but not the faults of Magistrates, and comply not with them, that under Pretence of Law, would defraud Naboth of his Vineyard. 4. Forfeit not the trust which is imposed upon you, in neither Peace nor War, there is none but will befriend virtue, though it be found in Arms against him. 5. Submit to that Government, which Providence hath placed over you, for Conscience sake, though of mean beginnings, and necessary deformities in obtaining the Sovereignty; David from a small rise, was made a King, and Treason it was not to obey him. 6. Stand not upon your innocency with those that are able to bring the greatest into a fault, 'tis no dishonour to submit to thiefs, if fallen into their hands. 7. To whom your Person must be subject, let your tongue be silent; a fool's tongue will sometimes or other cut his head off. 8. If you can enjoy your Conscience, and the designs of God's Glory, question not the Authority of those under whom you do it. 9 Consider all States and Kingdoms had their foundation laid in the dirt; be not therefore misled in Point of civil obedience, lest you make your guide your stumbling block. 11. If Religion, in the Profession thereof, be blemished, and Law lie dead, a golden tongue in a prudent head, will have great influence in a Commonwealth. 11. Meddle not with the Powers of a Land, for, he that draws his sword against his Prince, must throw away his scabbard. 12. What is required by men in Authority, though it be not thanks worthy to grant, yet 'tis dangerous to deny. 13. Censure not, nor talk at random of State Matters, there may be a moth under the Carpet of Council Tables, or a flea may leap into the bed chamber of Princes, and these are less than the birds which Solomon spoke of, Eccles. 10.20. Concerning. STUDY. 1. IN the first place, study t● know God, and call t● mind that advice of Davi● to his Son Solomon, 1 Chro. 28 9 And, thou my Son, know though the God of thy Father, and serula him with a perfect and willing mind; if thou seekest him, 〈◊〉 will be found of thee, if th● forsakest him, he will cast th● off for ever. 2. Latin is more necessary for you, than your own Mother tongue, being an universal Language, and much Learning is conveyed in it, apply yourself to the study of it. 3. Good and true writing is part of Grammar, and a blessing which God gave to one of the Tribes of Israel, (viz,) Zebulon, Judg. 5.14. Practise it daily, a competent substance is got by it, and 'tis very useful in a Commonwealth. 4. Arithmetic is a very liberal Science, Nature, Reason, and Art, freely contributing to it; of this, I may say, what Solomon speaketh Prov. 22.29. Seest thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before Kings, he shall not stand before mean men. 5. Have some inspection in Physic, that will add to your welcome where ever you come: 6. But, do not imagine the diseases you read of, are in herent in yourself, for, that will argue melancholy. 7. As for books, si non habes, quos leges, lege quos habes, few books well studied, nurish the understanding more, than many hundred, which are but gargled in the mouth, as many do. 8. Read as much as you can, but, withal consider, that the more you gather out of books, the poorer you proclaim your Natural parts. 9 Spend no time in difficult trifles and niceties, which, like tough meat ask more pains to chew, than they do yield profitable nourishment. 10. If you make use of Poetry, let it be rather your recreation, than your business; for, men of sound Judgement look upon it rather as fancy, than solid persuasion. 11. Content yourself with ordinary Invention, for, constant exercise in any Art, will teach you to attain excellent habits. 12. Make not Music your study, for, besides the unprofitableness of it, it rendereth a man suspected of Levity. 13. If thou attainest to any proficiency in parts, be humble; no greater ornament to Learning, than humility. 14. Leave your bed, when first sleep hath left you, 'tis very ill for your eyes to read lying, and worse for the mind, to be a cage of unclean thoughts. 15. Eat not so long as you are able, meats in England, which do most inveigle the stomach, are stewed up at last in great houses. 16. Drink not while you are hot, unless your drink be not, rather chew liquorish, or take tobacco. 17. Let not the irreligiousness of any place, cause thee to forget thy duty toward God; remember, God heard the Prayer of Daniel in Babylon, as well as David in ●●on. 18. Disputation is for the Schools, and eat thou all Disputes concerning Religion, 'tis commonly unprofitable, and sometimes dangerous. 19 But, if it be unavoiddable, make queries, rather than Arguments, for, a young Student must rather learn, then teach. 20. Be not curious concerning things that are future, lest you render your present condition uncomfortable. 21. Provide not room in your breast for the passion of fears, by a tedious expectation of what may come; ill fortune, it is as unconstant as good, and a wet day may be as short, as a fair day is pleasant. 22. Make not yourself stupid, by poring upon despair, nor wanton under contemplation of hope. MARRIAGE. 1. BE neither a Misogamist, nor a Misogunist, love is a winning quality, but lust is a deadly sin. 2. Pray for the gift of continency, and if God do give it thee, account it a most precious Jewel. 3. Marriage is Honourable in all, but, not all kind of Marriage; 'tis lawful for any to marry, but, not to marry with any, they that marry, must marry in the Lord, 1 Cor. 7.39. 4. Boast not of the favoures women bestow of you, lest you be accounted light. 5. Fly the embraces of women, and remember Joseph, lest you lose your liberty, strength, and Religion, and turn that to you, which is theirs (viz.) to have your will subject to them, Gen. 3.16. 6. Dote not upon beauty, 'tis the fruit of that Tree, which first of all destroyed man, and made him subject to slavery; suffering her to command, who, in right reason, aught to obey. 7. Marry not for beauty, 〈◊〉, unendowed handsomeness, ●st you bury your judgement in sensual affection. FINIS.